The Little Things
October 12, 2015

It’s race week (I’m running Rock’n’Roll St. Louis!) which means that I’m jumping head first into all my race week traditions! I’m not sure if I’ve ever talked about my race week traditions, so I thought I’d share some of them now with you!

Food

The Sunday heading into race week, I make two meals, and will eat those meals all week (this is pretty standard for me, but this week it’s geared towards what I need nutritionally! My lunches are sweet potato quinoa salad, which includes sweet potato (cooked with salt and cinnamon on top), quinoa, craisins, slivered almonds, and more salt and turmeric on top! It’s delicious, smells just like fall, and gives salt, magnesium, and anti-inflammatory spices! I also make pasta for dinner and eggs for breakfast.

Race Week Foods

Race Week food!

Bananas all week!

The day before race day I snack on fruit snacks, swedish fish, or licorice as I drive to the expo.

The night before I race, I have a small snack of oatmeal before bed, along with about 6 ounces of orange juice.

I drink LOTS of water and nuun the week leading up to a race!

Nuun Run Race Hydrate Virtual Race

Handheld and Nuun!

Weather

Once race day pops up on the 10 day forecast, I check it every morning and every night… you know, since I can control the weather.

Nail Polish

Nail polish is no laughing matter when it comes to race week! While I have switched it up this year, I prefer to race in gray or silver. I set my last PR while wearing Essie’s “Smokin’ Hot”!

Essie Smokin' Hot Nail Polish

This is a picture of my race day nails last November!

Workouts

I will often do a very short and light bike ride about 5-6 days before the race. I do a 1.2 mile run 3 days before the race, and otherwise I’ll just do a few short walks as I taper. It drives me nuts.

Watch and Read

It’s important for me to gear myself up for the race and get excited, so I not only try to read several race recaps for the actual race, but also will read a few half marathon recaps from my own previous races. My Indy Monumental Half Marathon Race Recap from last November will be at the top of the list!

Indy Monumental Finish Line

I also watch at least part of a racing movie. The Spirit of the Marathon used to top the list, but now that it’s off of Netflix I’ve switched to watching Pre. I’m also watching the footage of the Chicago Marathon as I type this, and that’s getting me excited!

I do this each “race week” leading up to a half marathon, and I love the rhythm and excitement that it brings! I have lots of friends who make fun of me for my ridiculous race week traditions, but it works so I’m sticking to it! 🙂

Now it’s your turn to share! What’re your race week traditions?

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