All the things you do the day before a half marathon?

[hollyblueivy]

I don’t want to miss anything so let me know the things you do the day before a half marathon.

Some things to get started:

Take on carbs at breakfast lunch dinner and snacks too.

Lay out kit night before, clothes vest headphones gels footwear etc - Lucozade in fridge

Set alarm to get up early to eat breakfast

I was wondering weather a sauna and steam room would do me any benefit the day before?

I wouldn't sauna and steam unless it's something you do regularly.

Get the foam roller out instead & spend half an hour grimacing in front of the TV

Go to bed early.

Nothing new, so if you wouldn’t normally go to the sauna the day before, don’t now. Check travel, allow for parking to be an ordeal, make sure you hydrate really really wellz

😂 at the foam roller, I’m glad it’s not just me! Bloody thing!

Make sure you know exactly where you’re going, where to park etc

stick your number on your tshirt night before if you can

I wouldn’t go OTT on the carb loading. But a decent plate of pasta for tea

not sure about Sauna/steam room

I’d do some light exercise eg go for a walk. It will help you sleep. Don’t do any strength training

come back and let us know how you did

(I have my first marathon in three weeks, have done a few halfs)

good luck!

make sure you’re drinking plenty.

I've got four weeks to go til my next half, and I honestly don't do anything the day before to prepare.
If i think of it I'll dig out my race belt, but I don't use gels or anything like that, and I don't carb load.

As others have said, the most important thing is nothing new - so no sauna and steam unless you usually do that.

Don't over eat as you'll feel heavy and bloated in the morning; just have a carb-focused tea. Pasta with a plain-ish sauce is my go to.

Drink lots of water (clear pee before 3 is one old runners' adage I've heard) so you're not dehydrated tomorrow.

Definitely no strength training. I tend to have a little shake-out run with a few strides, but a walk is fine too.

Lay out your clothes for the morning and make sure you have safety pins. Pin your number on if you want to be really organised.

Get some flip flops out to put on after the race as you might want to get your running shoes off (depending on what you're running in).

Early night!

My daughter is running a one mile race the day before so I’ll run along with her which is a wee leg stretcher.

Are you are you’re allowed to wear headphone? Many don’t allow them, even bone conducting ones.
Charge your watch if you’re using one.

I did my first half marathon race last Saturday.
I just carried on with my normal day but drank a bit more water than normal. Had a bit of a walk and some fresh air. I didn’t go to bed early as I knew I’d just lie there fretting.
Make sure your alarm is set before you go to sleep!

Honestly it's a torture device that somehow they've persuaded runners is good for them. We're a gullible lot 😂

Be wary. If not used correctly they can compound problems not help them.

I don’t have a foam roller but I do have a massage gun so used that. I did a short steam and sauna two days before which worked well.

I hydrated well. Ate four small carb based meals through the day which I haven’t done before but it seemed to work as I felt so fresh and fuelled for the race. I took on 4 gels broadly every half an hour and this seemed to help
too. Carried a bottle of Lucozade and then took sips of water from the water stations too.

The headphone rule was none conducting into which I don’t have, so used one in ear headphone which I noticed many others did too. Kept it low so nice and safe.

The weather conditions were great. The hills weren’t the best and I walked them mostly but had a fab day.

I did a 25k race on Saturday. I didn’t go to my usual Friday night track session so that my legs would be fresh. Other than that just as normal really. Went to work, did the food shop, made and ate dinner (just what we fancied nothing special) drank 3 beers got 3 hours sleep and then ran.

I did get a few bits packed before and as it was trail and I needed to take my own water vessel, I sterilised my hydration vest so it didn’t kill me. I think that was the only special thing.

just don’t over do it with exercise the day before and you’ll be fine.

Updated to say. I see you’ve already done your half. Well done and glad you enjoyed it.

I didn’t do anything different, also didn’t use gels or anything. Just necked a bag of peanut m and ms for breakfast and still managed to come in with a sub 2 🤣

Well done OP.
It sounds like you are fairly new to racing. Will you do another half marathon?

Well done op

watch out, you might get addicted

managed my first half marathon in 2009. Several halves and a few longer distances later am doing my first full.