Race Day Wisdom
It’s finally fall marathon – and half marathon – season! For lots of runners, this may a first time, or the first time in a long time since scratching that itch. By now your training plans are near complete, or you’re somewhere in the thick of those weekend long runs. Either way, you can do this!
To send you on your way with just a little more confidence, we asked our Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors for some race day encouragement and reminders. Experience is, after all, the very best teacher!
Get to the race early so you don’t feel rushed! — Meg Taylor
Eat your dinner earlier than usual the night before. On race day, have a transportation plan, get to the starting line early, and don’t wait to go to the bathroom. – Philip Sanford
When it starts getting tough, think about that post race brunch/treat. – Jay Jamison
Remember that it’s supposed to be fun. Sometimes the wheels fall off and the plan goes out the window. You can do everything right up until race day and then a cramp, stomach issues, bad weather etc. can pop up and ruin your day if you let it. Enjoy the race day energy with your fellow runners and the crowd. – Mike Cooke
I have a list of loved ones that I dedicate the last few miles of my races to (miles 21-26). When things are getting hard and the pain is setting in, it’s a reminder that I get to do this and if it weren’t for those people, I wouldn’t be in that moment to experience whatever I’m feeling (good or bad). Mile 26 is always for my wife who sees the struggle that most don’t and fuels me through training. The last .2 and beyond is for me. That last ~1.2 is usually the fastest for me of the entire race. – CJ Langley
Show up!! Trust your training, no matter what that is. As you get towards the middle of the race, and you’re tired. Remind yourself what you wanted at the beginning and don’t give up. It’s also okay to shift to plan B,C or D. – Lindsay B
Always, keep going, no matter the speed – Tia Smith
Post-race, do some periodic stretching throughout the day. It may be hard to do this, but going on a 1-2 mile walk a few hours after the race can be extremely beneficial for the soreness that comes – Josh Rhodes
There’s no shame in doing a run/walk interval. It can actually reduce your overall time. Don’t feel like you “have” to run the whole thing. You don’t have to “race” your first half/full marathon. Participation is just as exciting! – Lindsey McGee
Don’t start out too fast. Run with a pacer if you want to finish at a certain time, but don’t be disappointed if you can’t keep up! It’s your first marathon, so just enjoy it all!!! – Vanessa Falbo
Wake up earlier than you think you need to on race day, give your body time to digest food and get ready. – Sean Pedernales
Do not try anything new on race day. No new clothes or foods. Use whatever gels you have been using throughout training. Don’t go out too fast. It’s very easy to do that with race day excitement. – Siobhan Havlik
Make friends during the race!! Talk to the people around you, you’ll be spending a lot of time together! – Kate Hamilton
Cotton is rotten. Don’t try anything new on race day. Hydrate with electrolytes. Enjoy it, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. – Bekah Eljoundi
Make sure you get a good night’s rest and stretch for a couple days before and including the morning of. Do not start out fast. Slow and steady. – Tracy Dean
Got any event day advice or wisdom you’d like to share? Email us at ed@runcharlotte.com
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