3. Keep Expo Lingering to a Minimum
Race expos, particularly at larger events, have taken on a life of their own. Hundreds of exhibitors ply their wares from food to drink to running footwear and apparel. Weaving through these expos can become a race of its own, sapping legs in the precious hours prior to race day. When arriving at your race town, head to the expo, grab your bib and—with the exception of a few quick stops—head back to your home or hotel to get off your legs.
4. Try Nothing New
Prior to the 1997 Chicago Marathon, one of the athletes I was coaching decided it would be a great idea to try Ethiopian food for the first time. She spent race morning sick in the bathroom and away from an opportunity for a big personal best. When your race week arrives, change nothing. Use the same shoes on race day you have been using in training. Eat the same meal the night before your race that you have been eating before your previous races and hard workouts. Go to bed at the same hour you normally do and replicate your pre-hard workout routine on your big race day. In short, make your event day no different than your weekly routine.
