Race day preparedness

Tristan

Barefooters
Sep 15, 2011
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So I got an email about an upcoming race, this particular race is the biggest one I'll have done and for the last couple months I get at least a couple emails a week about preparedness, training, info, whatever. Today I got one for race day prep since its coming up next week. And I was slightly annoyed with some of the 8 main concerns for race day they outlined. For example the #1 item was:

  • Shoes - Think of shoes as the foundation of your entire body. Each time your foot strikes down, over the course of either 13.1 or 26.2 miles, your shoe is controlling your foot and absorbing much of the shock. Since each foot is unique, it is so important that you are fit for the proper shoe for YOUR feet! A proper fitting will ensure that your feet are working efficiently over the course of your race to help fight unnecessary fatigue. Already in the right shoes? Make sure you haven't exceeded the 300-400 mile threshold! Keeping a fresh cushioning system in your shoe will also help reduce overwork.
Yeah, I dont think so.
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The next item was about socks. I'd agree with what they said if I was wearing shoes though, but I wont be. ;)

But also...

  • Nutrition - While water and sports drinks are extremely important during your race, taking down some fuel can also make or break a great race. Your body burns through and flushes out so many nutrients making it important to replace those electrolytes, sodium and carbs to fight fatigue and keep you energized through to the end. If you don't know which consistency you prefer- gel, block, bean or waffle-try out different varieties before race day.
"gel, block, bean or waffle" Is there even no suggestion of natural food anymore? Does everything have to be a factory made product now-a-days. :hungover:

No biggie, just thought some of y'all would get a kick out of that stuff.
 
Good lord, I read that and realize I'm going around foundationless. My feet are flapping around like spastic flippers. After work, I'm going do my best to crawl my way to the car and drive to the nearest location offering shoes that'll rein my spastic extremities in and give me a feeling of solid contact with the earth below me. I just hope it's not too late.
 
I'm prepared with proper fitting feet and dates, nature's gu, for fuel.

"your shoe is controlling the foot" ???

It is funny, assuming that hypothetically you would be wearing shoes, that they would wait until one week before the race to talk about it. That sounds like blisters waiting to happen
 
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It is funny, assuming that hypothetically you would be wearing shoes, that they would wait until one week before the race to talk about it. That sounds like blisters waiting to happen

Another aspect of this being silly I hadn't thought about. Yeah a week out if you were wearing shoes, the advice should be to avoid any impulse to buy new shoes and use what you have been using the most!

Oh and while you mentioned it, I've tried dates since your suggestion came up before. Honestly I don't think I've ever had a whole one ever before, just the hardish little bits a pieces thats sometimes in with dried fruit and trail mixes. These ones I got from the local organic store are quite large with the pits in them still, do you bring them along during your run or just before? I had been having them along with a banana before my long runs, once I think I had one mid run. I had grapes along with several of my runs recently too, and they seem to work great so far. But still debating if I should load up a pocket with just grapes or maybe throw in a date for variety.
 
I take the dates with me on any run over 2 hours. I get the medjool variety, they are big and gooey, and remove the pit and put them in a zip lock to take with me. Usually a few bananas or grapes before a long run and sometimes dates also before. Grapes sounds good for during a run, water and sugar at the same time but I am not sure they have enough calorie density.
 
Yep medjool is the ones I got. The pits are pretty big in those and I've never tried taking them out before, figured it might make a sticky mess, and no problem spitting them out on the trails (but may be a bit awkward on a crowded road race to spit em out). I'm still a bit unsure how many I should use and when to start using them. On my long runs, I generally start in on them around the half way point, ~10 miles. But I'm not running near the same intensity on a long run, and could probably complete the run without any food anyhow. Aside from one bad GU experience on a half marathon, this will be my first race trying to fuel along the way.
 
2 medjools would be about 1 gu. It is more calories but with the fiber it will not absorb like a gu. I take 8 for a marathon, 2 ea. at ~10, 15 and 20 miles. The last 2 are probably of no help fuel wise but I take them if I feel hunger in the last 10k to remove the distraction. I am running a marathon 4 weeks from now, they advertise apples and oranges at each water stop so I think I will not take the extras and grab orange slices toward the end if needed. Good luck with your race next week.
 
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Its funny, this obviously depends on the person...I was always of the belief that anything under a marathon I wouldn't need any extra calories...I think however that I now feel differently. A natural snack here or there seems like it would be super useful! I know that I could physically make it through a full without extra calories, but the question then becomes do I want to. :barefoot:
Seems like if I were to consume something like 1/2 a cliff bar at 10 and then 20 I would be in better shape.
 
PS: If you decide to wear socks I would definitely consider wearing shoes...otherwise you're going to get your socks all dirty... :eek: