You've made it to race day. You've followed your training plan as well as possible, staying healthy and injury-free. You got your bib (and maybe a wee bit more) at the expo and made sure to have it pinned onto your outfit before you left your hotel. So, what else is there to point out? Some of this will look very familiar.
1. Set your alarm (maybe even 2 or 3) so that you give yourself PLENTY of time to get to gear check and the start line. You want to be on the early side of all timeframes. Expect that Murphy will rear his head, so take that into account. Give yourself an extra 30-60 minutes to go to the bathroom at home before leaving (potentially multiple times), and an extra 30 minutes or more travel time compared to what you expect it to take. Budget enough time to have your race day breakfast, make coffee/tea (if that's typical for you), etc.
2. Make sure that everything that you need is set up/laid out before you go to sleep the night before the race:
- Band-Aids/Nip Tape and Body Glide
- Your clothing
- Your bib is pinned
- Timing chip is already on your sneaker (for those races that still use these)
- Any on-course nutrition and water, possibly separate from your gear check bag (so you don't accidentally gear check it)
- Post-race change of clothing is already in your gear check bag. Consider having a jacket or other warm layer if it is expected to be cool. Make sure to have dry socks and sneakers to change into - or flip-flops/Oofas instead.
- Include some extra snacks, water, and/or sports drinks in your gear check bag. While you should consume as much of the race-provided post-race food as possible as soon after the race as possible, it might not be enough. After a marathon, you need to take in yet more carbs, protein, electrolytes, and water. Whether you do that via lots of snacks or a nice hearty lunch (or both) soon afterwards is personal choice. Don't be so concerned about calories today -- you've earned it!
3. Know your directions (whether driving or public transportation) to get to the starter's village. Those of you who are dependent on Waze or other apps -- write out your directions on paper the night before and have those with you. Don't take the chance that your phone will crap out or some other technical glitch happens. Remember any parking passes or needed public transit card; if you're comfortable doing so, you can gear check the transit cards with the rest of your kit.
4. Know where any friends and family will be cheering you along the course and/or precisely where you will meet after you get past the finish line. Make sure they know your expected pace and timeframe for finishing to determine proper timing for seeing them during or after the race.
5. Get into your starting corral early. Make sure to find the pacer(s) for your page group time. Use them as much as possible to get through all the difficult spots (both physically and mentally).
6. Be mindful of your training. Make sure to eat your gels, etc. and drink water in the same timing as your body is already accustomed to.
7. Control your adrenaline rush -- do not go out fast. You should go slower than your goal pace during the first mile, at least. In fact, your pacer should be reminding you of that many times before and during the first mile or so. Listen to your pacer.
8. Soak in the atmosphere throughout the day. Enjoy it all. Laugh at all of the funny signs. Pretend that your name is the same as is listed on every personalized sign you see. Every last bit of positive energy from the crowd will help you get through it.
9. Even if you've needed to walk for a long amount of time because you hit the wall, so long as you are not injured, run the last at least 0.2 miles to and through the finish line. And do NOT stop right after crossing the line -- keep on moving, to get out of the newer finishers' way.
10. Revel in the finish. Don't hold back the tears that WILL flow. Accept how overwhelmingly emotional the finish is. (After 42 marathons to date over nearly 17 years, I still tear up almost every time.)
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