Hey there! How is everyone doing? How is it that summer break is almost over. While I am sad about it, I am also excited for a new school year.
This week’s Tuesday Topic: What’s your pre-race routine? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to link-up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!
I am lucky that my stomach can handle pretty much anything. One of the things I have to be careful about is eating too much spicy food. What happens is that the next morning I tend to spend an extra few minutes in the bathroom. I LOVE spicy food but try not to eat too much of it.
Where it is before a run or a race, I always have coffee. As a matter of fact, even if I am not running, I always have coffee first thing in the morning. I love the taste and the smell. If I am running less than 6 miles then I don’t eat anything. For longer runs I eat an Orgain Organic Protein Bar (chocolate cookie dough is my favorite). I drink my coffee and eat my protein bar while getting ready. If I am staying at a hotel, I find out if the hotel is offering a free breakfast and I usually get a bagel.
I try to have my clothes and gear ready the night before so that I can quickly get dressed. Oh yeah and so that I don’t forget anything.
Depending on the distance, I may drink UCAN on the way to a run or race. I’ve tried Cranberry Raspberry, Chocolate, Orange, and Cocoa Delite. My favorite one is Chocolate. Sometimes I make a gel with UCAN.
I’ve run over 100 races and still get nervous before a race. When will I learn? Being nervous makes me go a lot to the bathroom. I have counted and have sometimes used the port-a-potties 3-4 times before a race. Yikes!
Do you have your gear and clothes ready before a race? Have you forgotten something and realized it right before a race?
22 responses to “Tuesday Topics: My pre-race routines”
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I love that you can make a gel with the Generation UCAN – that’s so cool!
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Yes! Plus I still have two canisters of UCAN so why buy gels when I can make my own. 🙂
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Drinking my morning coffee as I read this! I’m always fueling first with coffee. And yes, I always get nervous before a race. I think that’s a good thing. It shows that you care.
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Haha, thanks Wendy. I thought I was weird for wanting to go that often.
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There have been a few times I’ve forgotten my music and my Garmin, usually because they’re still charging LOL They’re not “required” items, but I do feel uneasy without them.
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I can do without the music but not my Garmin. I think I would cry a little and then definitely run. 🙂
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I can understand the pre-race nerves! I get that way, too!
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I guess it is common for many runners.
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Yes always coffee before a race and everyday! I am always nervous too even for short races
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I guess being nervous is a common thing for many runners.
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I have forgotten a few non crucial items, but I almost always realize it before the race, thankfully. Most of the time I’m not terribly nervous — I’m excited.
My stomach is pretty strong, knock on wood, but I know that can also change as we get older.
But I always have breakfast. Always!
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Definitely breakfast! It is my favorite meal of the day.
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It’s so funny how so many people don’t eat at all before races — so not me. 🙂
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I agree!
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We have a very similar pre-race routine. Except my stomach has gotten more sensitive over the years so I watch what I eat starting 2 days prior.
I’ve never heard of UCAN. I’ll have to check it out.
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Yes, check out UCAN. I hope you like it!
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I get the pre-race nerves too! I know it’s just a nervous bladder and I probably really don’t need to go but I also don’t want to risk an accident…better safe than sorry 🙂
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I agree!
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I think I ma much too much of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of runner. I don’t really have any good pre-race routines. I am always tinkering, thinking I will try something new. I like to eat pizza the night before. That may be my pre-race routine.
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Definitely pizza!
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My stomach is such that I absolutely 100% cannot drink coffee before a run or race. That being said, I have used the portapotties multiple times before certain races due to nerves. It happens.
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No coffee? I just got nervous reading that but I totally understand. 🙂