It's race week! You are excited, nervous and ready to finally put your months of training to the test. With so much extra rest built up from the taper, you are a bundle of energy with a full tank of gas and fresh legs.
LET'S DO THIS!
Hold up, wait a minute.
Before you go out there and put your competitive heart on the line, remember to do what you think is best in the moment while always avoiding these five things.
Don't Try Any New-to-You Foods
Stick to what you know or suffer the very unpleasant GI distress consequences. That goes for your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks the day or two before the race. It also pertains to your fuel prior to and during the race. You should practice what foods work best for your body during training so there are no unpleasant surprises on race day.
Don't Wear Anything New
During your training, you should find the perfect race day outfit. The one that won't chafe, ride up or make you feel uncomfortable no matter the distance you are covering or the conditions you face. There are exceptions to the rule, like my friend who forgot to pack her running shoes before her goal half marathon. She bought a brand new pair at the Expo and wore them on race day with no problems. But it's best to test everything out beforehand!
Don't Line Up in the Wrong Coral
Don't line up at the front of the pack, but then take selfies for the first mile. Some people are racing. Save the selfies for later or start farther back in the pack if you are running for fun with no time goals.
Don't Go Out Too Fast
Impulsively deciding to follow the runner ahead of you at the start just because they look fast is a good way to crash and burn early in the race. Be patient in the beginning, relax through the middle miles and give it your all in the final stretch. Trust your training will get you through the miles and always run your own race.
Don't Give Up
You trained hard for this race. When things get tough, don't throw in the towel. You owe it to yourself to finish the race even if it didn't go how you envisioned. Give it your all, believe in yourself and finish knowing you persisted.
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