It’s the morning of your 5K. It’s day you’ve been training for (and worrying about) for weeks. You’ve put in the training, you’ve got your playlist set, but what else? Are you forgetting something you don’t even know about? Are you carrying too much? Here are a few tips for making your 5K race day a smooth one.
Lay everything out the night before. The last thing you want to do is be frantically running around in the morning trying to find your watch or your sunglasses. There’s a high likelihood that you will forget something and that will start your whole race on a bad foot (pun intended).
Don’t worry about carrying hydration. Unless it’s really hot and you’re worried about running out between aid stations, you should be fine for a 5K. Just make sure you drink 4-6 ounces about 30 minutes before your race, take a sip at the aid stations, and then rehydrate after.
Don’t try anything new. Try out any new refueling options (gels/bars/etc.), shoes, socks, or shirts on a training run - never try anything new on race day.
Get there early. You’ll want plenty of time to warm-up and get in line at the port-a-potty. Even if you don’t feel like you need to go, take a turn just in case.
Don’t go out too fast. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the race, but stick to your pace. If you’re still feeling good after the second mile, kick it in for the last one.
Celebrate! Finishing a race in an accomplishment - congratulations!