Running a 5km, 10km, half marathon or full marathon takes a lot of preparation. Months of training and pavement pounding go into preparing your body to reach your distance goal. As you fast approaching race day you may be wondering how you should prepare?
So, here are our top six tips to keep your feet, body and mind ready for the big race.
1. Stop stressing – 5km and 10km fun runs are largely community events you spend the day with friends and strangers and feel good that you are doing something healthy, do not stress about result, it’s all about having FUN!
2. Don’t do anything new. Race week isn’t the time to try new shoes, new food or drinks, new gear, or anything else you haven’t used on several prior workouts. Stick with the routine that works for you.
3. Get off your feet. In the days before your race, try to stay off your feet as much as possible. Relax, and leave the lawn mowing or shopping or sightseeing for after the race.
4. Graze, don’t chow down. Rather than devouring a gigantic bowl of pasta the night before the race, which could upset your stomach, try eating carbs in small increments throughout the day before the race. Eat what works best for you – what has given you a boost on your regular weekly workouts. On the big day, do not eat too much 2 hours before the race – try a fruit smoothie – and avoid excessive fibre to avoid GI upsets.
Runner cooling down after running
5. Hydrate the day before! It is very important to make sure you’re taking in enough water before beginning your race, especially on warm days.
6. Prepare yourself to arrive early! Get to the race at least one hour before the starting time. This way you’ll have time to pick your number (if you don’t already have it), use the port-a-potty, and warm-up. You don’t want to be running to the starting line!
Follow these simple tips and you will have your best race yet.