One day to go, marathoners!
While you're resting your legs and filling up on carbs and trying to calm your nerves, consider these 10 pieces of advice from Run For Your Life owner Tim Rhodes and his event team:
1. Dress for Mile 1, not the start line. Simple rule of thumb here: If you're warm enough before the gun goes off, you're overdressed. Think layers.
2. Take your mom's advice: Eat something already. Race-day nerves may have you thinking of anything but food, but you'll need some sort of fuel to start the day. Something simple like a banana and a piece of toast or a small bowl of oatmeal.
1. Dress for Mile 1, not the start line. Simple rule of thumb here: If you're warm enough before the gun goes off, you're overdressed. Think layers.
2. Take your mom's advice: Eat something already. Race-day nerves may have you thinking of anything but food, but you'll need some sort of fuel to start the day. Something simple like a banana and a piece of toast or a small bowl of oatmeal.
3. Set reasonable goals. This will allow you to celebrate success no matter what your race distance or finish time is.
4. Have a Plan "B" -- and "C". If your only goal is to finish the half-marathon in under two hours, or run a sub-20 minute 5K, then you're leaving quite a bit to chance.
5. Pace yourself. Walk through the pit stops, gas up with PowerAde, and get going! If you've got some juice left, punch it up and finish strong!
6. Have a post-race plan. Finish lines are busy places on race day and are not the best place for a post-race rendezvous with your family and friends. The Sprint 4G Family Reunion area would be a great place to meet!
7. Carry ID. You never know what can happen on race day. If you don't have an ID bracelet, necklace, etc., add it to your Christmas list. Write your name, emergency contact numbers and any allergies on the back of your race number.
8. Get there early. This is particularly important for folks who live in the Charlotte area. Make room for the unexpected -- and a potty break -- with time to spare.
9. Thank a volunteer. It takes a ton of folks, untold hours, countless phone calls, meetings and other duties great and small to pull off an event like this. Nearly everyone you see -- and don't see -- is doing it for free, or for a charitable cause.
10. Remember, Bloody Marys or mimosas offered by fans along the course are NOT considered "energy drinks." Also, don't stop to party too long with the folks in Plaza-Midwood. Let's just say they have a reputation and the marathon course closes at 2 p.m.!
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5 comments:
Woohoo! Getting excited here. I'm a first timer and am ready to freeze at 6:00am and start my thaw at 7:50. Thanks for the tips.
Isn't the rule of thumb to dress like it is 20 degress warmer than it really is? Good luck to everyone!
Don't forget to charge up your Garmin or other GPS watch. Hate for it to die in mid-race!
Thanks Theoden for all you have done for all runners! Did you register for the marathon?
Yes, I'm doing the full 26.2 tomorrow morning! See you guys there...
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