Originally, I wasn’t supposed to have today off from work – I get every other Friday off, but my scheduled Friday was last week. However, I was working in DC, so I had to move my off day to today. Which ended up being an awesome blessing in disguise, because today has become Marathon Prep Day for Sunday’s race!
Ha ha. I have been looking to Marathon Prep Day for a few weeks. On the agenda:
- teach strength class (since it’s Friday – this wouldn’t be on a normal Marathon Prep Day agenda) – DONE
- take a long nap – DONE
- get a massage (and hope that it helps prevent a bit of DOMS from am workout)
- paint nails to match race outfit
- carb load, probably something that looks like this:
Not on the list:
- pack race items (outfit is picked out, I can do that tomorrow)
- pick up bib (again, tomorrow)
- run (GAH! Why do I want to run so much during taper? That is another for tomorrow.)
What is your race day prep routine?
I actually do have three things I try to do before a race – take a nap (and distance), eat a burger and fries (if it’s a half or longer), and get a 3 mile run in (the day before). The massage thing is kind of new to me, but I got one before my last marathon and felt like it helped, so why not?!
Have a great race! I had a gyro and fries to help you with the carb loading 😉
I like to wear some compression socks the day before, drink way too much water and spend as little time as possible talking about the race.
Ooo, thanks for the help!
Ahh yes to the water and not talking about the race 🙂 Or thinking about it. Ha ha ha 🙂
Enjoy your prep day! I just ate a veggie burger and sweet potato fries and a smoothie, so I am helping you carb load in spirit. I hope the race goes great!
Awesome! That sounds so good 🙂
I like your marathon prep day agenda so much better than mine 🙂
I hope you get to do some of your prep rituals, if you have any 🙂
I got a little nap. Otherwise I am sick kiddo-ing it. Mainlining vitamin C. And hoping I don’t get it!
GAH! I hope not too! 🙁
I need to get a marathon prep routine together. The day before the 2011 NYC marathon I must have walked 10 miles all over Manhattan including walking around 3 art museums until 10pm. Probably not the best thing to do with a 4am wakeup to run 26.2, but I was excited to be in NYC and wanted to be a tourist. I think I burned off nervous energy a little too much! I am going to try going to movie and a quiet dinner the night before Chicago this year to see if that’s any better!
I bet some walking is good, but yeah, probably not 10 miles! Then again, if I were leaving right after the race, I would do it then, too! When I ran NYC I did a 5K the day before, then went to a comedy show in the city that night. LOL
I ALWAYS get my nails done. It’s a must and totally ridiculous, I know, but it’s a tradition. 🙂
Good luck!
Aww, that’s fun 🙂
Oooh, I’m excited for your race on Sunday!! Today’s (and tomorrow’s) plan sounds excellent.
Thank you!!!
I almost always have stir fry or some sort of rice pasta the day before, and 2 days before I try to up my carbs as well as I try to normally eat a lower carb diet. Other than that, I set my outfit/gear/fuel out the night before, and that’s it!
Have a GREAT race! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Yeah, I learned about carb loading two nights before last year, so you don’t start the race all heavy which makes SO MUCH SENSE. Hee hee. 🙂 Now I am hungry for stir fry! That is a good idea for tomorrow!
Thank you!
You’re going to kill it!
Thanks! 🙂
I really love that your prep includes a manicure. Have a great race!
Hee hee, thanks! I am starting them right now! OPI “Hey Baby.”
Thanks!
I love that you get every other Fri off. So many offices do that and I love it! And so perfect it worked out to be this week. Enjoy the carb-loading and GOOD LUCK!
I LOVE that schedule. I would do 4-10s to get every Friday off if they allowed it. I am grateful my office has so many work/life balance programs.
Thanks! 🙂
I hope your race goes really well! What’s in my pre-marathon routine: resting my legs the day before (ideally) and eating ALL THE CARBS!
Good luck with the race!
I almost always take a nap as pre-race prep. Then again, I try to always take naps…
That is a very good policy, and one I believe in, too 🙂
Have a great race…I’ll be waiting for your update!!!
Sounds like some good plans to me… Good luck and have a wonderful race – I hope above all that you enjoy yourself!!!
I really did, thanks! It was fun to run the first half with my girlies, and then the second alone – I talked to lots of new people 🙂
I drink less coffee and try to sit still. I used to swear by pizza but moved to protein/potato/veggies. In NYC I see lots of friends and usually walk too much, too!
Have a great race!!! Look forward to the recap!
Good luck tomorrow! I”m looking forward to hearing how it went!
I hope the race prep day went well! The massage sound like a grey idea 🙂
I always run the day before a big race (well, I run every day, but the day before a race I run 2-3 miles at least). I don’t know if it’s a mental thing or what, but I always feel better at the start line if I’ve gotten the junk out the day before.
I SO do too. I only know a few other people who are like that, though!
Yippee for a Friday off! How timely! Glad you used it to prep well. 🙂 Hope you have a fun race!
In other news are you running the Naperville 1/2 or full? I feel like you ran it last year, or am I thinking of something else? My friend & I were going to come run the 1/2 but it’s full. 🙁
I am not running it this year, but I did run the full last year. The whole thing is full now, right? I hope you come for another race!
I’m finally catching up on all these posts. What did you end up doing for marathon prep day? I hope it was fries at Red Robin (Yummmm. Haha). I’m kind of surprised that getting a massage works out so well before the race; I would think it would make you more sore. If it works though, that’s fantastic!!
I ended up getting a burger with fries for dinner two days before the race. The massage was that day too. It seems to work for me, to get it that close! I wouldn’t get it the day before, though! 😉