PREPARING TO GO THE DISTANCE - DAY OF RACE

You are trained and ready, but if you've never run a race before, you probably have lots of questions and plenty of nervousness about the big day.  Here are a few things to help you on race day.

Get up early - It's better to be too early than too late on race day. 

Eat breakfast - Whatever works best for you to eat before your long runs is what you should eat.  You've experimented with your options during training, now go with what you know is best. 

Hydrate - make sure you drink water and/or sports drink the morning of the race.  Don't overdo it, but get some liquid in you.  Again, the amount you normally drink before a long run, is what you should go with.

Check the weather/temperature - While you checked the night before, you know that weather in the Pacific Northwest is quite often unpredictable.  You may need to grab a jacket or shed some layers.  Either way, make sure you're ready.

Make sure your clothing is comfortable - If that pesky tag is annoying you now, it may become all you can think about while you run. Take care of any wardrobe issues before you leave.  And, take the opportunity to apply your anti-chafing product to those trouble spots, even if you think you don't need it. 

Grab your supplies - That includes your race bib and safety pins if you picked them up the day before.  Since you got everything ready to go the night before, you should be able to just grab and go.  

Leave early - Make sure you have plenty of time to get to the race location.  Account for traffic, parking, etc.  If you need to pick up your race packet on the morning of the race, allow for time to stand in line for packet pick-up.

Use the restroom - Go before you leave home and go again once you're at the race location.  If you're like me, nerves may make you need to go several times before the race starts.  Leave yourself plenty of time to wait in line, as everyone else will be doing the same thing.  While there are usually port-a-potties along the route, you really don't want to have to stop mid-race.  (But, if it's necessary, it is certainly OK to stop!)

Prepare your body to run -  If you have a usual pre-run warm-up, do it!  If not, focus on moving all of your joints in every direction to prepare all of your muscles to run.  Running involves your entire body, so prepare everything, not just the legs.

Run your own race - Mentally prepare yourself for how you are going to run this race.  Don't let others change your plan.  This is your race.  You trained for it, now go get it done!  Enjoy the run.