How to prepare for a race

Bet I'm not the only one. One wears a favorite dri-fit orange shirt (which he used when he met his PR at a 21k, didn't feel any leg pain, and felt really good afterwards). Another makes sure that she wears her Adidas climacool white cap - which she believes keeps her maintain a sub sixty for every 10k. Still another gulps down caffeine an hour before a race to keep her on her toes during an entire 10miler. And yet another wears Nike Elite Running Socks everytime he wants to finish an Ultra. Whatever the reason, there would always be that hope that we would achieve a certain running goal if we keep on doing this or wearing that or keeping this or taking that.

I decided to gulp down on caffeine the day before Globe's Run for Home and it was not my usual tall, mocha, hot at Starbucks but I tried Canada's Blenz Coffee Iced Cafe Mocha because I want my adrenalin pumping for the next day race. It was only at 2am, three hours before the race, that I realized I made a mistake. It worked for the Starbucks before, but the sheeps ran out on me this time.


the culprit


So, I guess every runner better keep these pointers in mind before each race:

1. Erroneous beliefs will not make you faster or keep you pumped up during a race. But what the heck, we all have our own misleading notions for everything we do.
2. If you want to get a good night’s sleep before a very important race, leave the coffee to the call center agents the night before. If you’re a caffeine addict, go ahead and spend another P150 for that Venti afterwards - it's your P150 anyway.
3. Never increase your distance if you have not started on a training program yet. Call on the Baldrunner (www.baldrunner.com) for a free running clinic and a good training program.
4. If you want a parking spot during the race, arrive early.
5. Bring your own hydration liquid. So you won't have to complain of diarrhea afterwards.
6. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – but if you don’t want an appendectomy, a whole egg, or a banana, or two slices of wheat bread and Gatorade will do. Take your pick.
7. Tie your shoelaces correctly. Read www.runnersworld.com for the proper way.
8. Early morning toxins must be released to avoid discomfort.
9. You want to stay healthy and run? Lucky strikes will not do you any good. And that goes for the alcohol load the night before.
10. Stretch those muscles but don’t keep them too warmed up.