With the Race Roll Call complete, many of us are preparing for upcoming race events with much to look forward to. Unfortunately, I hear all too often how “nervous” or “stressed out” a runner feels about an upcoming event.

Race day or event day is hardly stressful, if you have prepared properly. In fact, if you prepare and train properly, your race day can be a CELEBRATION…truly a day to celebrate the previous 16-20 weeks of training! You have done it! You have arrived at race day fully prepared, after having had the discipline to complete and stick to a regimented training schedule, diet, and race plan. This is a day to test your fitness level, stamina, desire, speed and runner’s mentality. Let’s face it, running the actual race is the easiest part of the past 4-5 months of your training. It’s getting out of bed at 5:45 am, passing on the ice cream sundaes, running that last mile repeat faster than the first, and just flat out doing it day in and day out! After 120-150 days of pure discipline you deserve to celebrate your big day by having some fun.

Here are my Top 5 race day thoughts to help you celebrate YOUR day:

1. Relax. Don’t take yourself too seriously (or any other runner for that matter). No one else really does. Even if you run a sub 3:00 marathon, likely 98% of people you ever talk to about running will even know if that is a “good” time or a “bad” time. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people tell me “Oh, I can run a 7 minute mile!” All you can do is smile. Let’s face it, the same people don’t know the total distance for a marathon, and driving that far is huge feat for some.
2. Smile. It’s okay to acknowledge spectator support and it’s okay to let people know that you actually like running (when you smile, you make it look easy).
3. Reflect. When faced with anxiety, stress, pain, doubt or any negative emotion, reflect or think back to the reason or reasons you started running.
4. Trust. Trust your training. If you can look yourself in the mirror and say “I worked my tail off the past 16-20 weeks to get here”, then you will have a great day. If you can’t honestly say that, and you have cut corners, then you are on your own, and I wish you luck…because you’ll need it. That’s one thing about running, it’s just you and the road (or trail), you can’t hide behind anyone else, gain an advantage through equipment or compensate your lack of fitness through some magic drink or potion. You have either trained or you haven’t. Either way it will show!
5. Run. Run like someone is watching you. Run because it makes you feel better. Run to push your limits, and simply stated…run because you CAN!

If you have additional race day perspectives that have helped you celebrate your race days, I encourage you to share your thoughts and insights so others might find a way to learn how to make their race day their own day of personal celebration!

“Big occasions and races which have been eagerly anticipated almost to the point of dread, are where great deeds can be accomplished. ”
– Jack Lovelock

“Forrest” (Schrenkspeed)

Tags: Forrest, Jack Lovelock, Race Day, Race Day Tips, Race Roll Call, Schrenkspeed

This entry was posted on Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 10:59 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.