This is not a list about training, fueling, pacing, etc. It’s a list of simple things that can make your race day go smoothly.
1 Lay out everything the night before.
Sunblock, allergy pills, towel, sunglasses, vaseline, bib, your wallet, your socks, etc. I have a Running Checklists page that has more items to remember.
2 Leave a note for yourself in the morning.
I don’t think clearly at 5:00 am, so it’s nice to have a reminder note. For example, it might say: Leave by 5:30 am and don’t forget your drink that’s in the fridge.
3 Decide what food you are going to eat ahead of time.
I sometimes make bad decisions in the morning. Leave yourself a note that says exactly what you are going to eat.
4 Write a list ahead of time that has all of the details for the race.
Things like your parking location, the race starting time and location, the gear check info, etc.
5 Set two alarms.
Better to be safe than sorry.
6 Go to the bathroom – #2.
Sorry if this is gross but everyone prefers to go at home. This is a trick that usually works for me – drink coffee and then go on a short jog, that will usually make me have to go. If you don’t want to go outside you can do jumping jacks for 5 minutes.
7 Bring a bag with.
I always have a bunch of stuff in my car afterwards – clothes, a towel, the medal, drinks, and whatever else. It’s nice to have a bag to throw everything in.
8 Don’t wear anything that you haven’t run in before.
That includes your shoes, socks, hat, shirt, shorts or any accessories.
9 Have your parking situation figured out ahead of time.
If it’s a city race use Spot Hero. If it’s outside the city, make sure you know the recommended lot and write down the exact address (it’s usually on the race website).
10 Show up an hour early.
This is hard to do but it’s worth it. The trick is to not lounge around your home, get out the door. You’ll have extra time to stretch, warm up and mentally prepare. You also won’t have to worry about long bathroom lines.
11 Dress appropriately.
This might seem obvious but not everyone has the right clothes for all weather. Wind gear and rain gear are good to have. If you’re on the fence about bringing a hat, gloves, or a long sleeve shirt, I say bring them. It’s also good to have old clothes that you can throw away right before the start of the race if it’s going to be cold out.
12 Act normal.
Don’t tie your shoes extremely tight or do some aggressive warm up routine. I actually injured my quad doing that once.
13 Have a good attitude about it.
Remember that you’re doing it for fun. Worst case scenario you run a slow time and get some exercise and experience out of it. Try to be confident and strong, self-pity is the last thing you want to be feeling.
