What are the most important things to do the day before a race? If you’re feeling a mix of excitement, nerves, and a whole bunch of “What should I do?” vibes, you’re in the right place. I’ve been around the block as a runner and coach, and I’m here to spill the beans on how to make the most of the day before your marathon (or any other distance).
Why is the eve of the marathon such a big deal? It’s the final chapter of your training saga. All those early morning runs, strength training sessions, and maybe a few blisters – it’s all led to this moment.
I’m going to reference the marathon a lot, mostly because that’s when you start to have the most freakouts and come looking for last minute reassurance. But keep in mind, all of these tips can be helpful regardless of whether you’re running a 5k or a marathon or somewhere in between or beyond.
Now let’s get on with some of my top tips for what to do the day before a race!
What to Do Race Week?
Before we talk about specifics of the day before, let’s hit on a few things for race week in general.
1. Pack Your Bags
Depending on the location of your race, you may need to pack more than if it’s a local race, but in either scenario we’re doing a final gear check to make sure everything is clean, fuel is…
