It’s 24 hours before that famous gun fires, you’ve undertaken months and months of rigorous training and dieting – how are you going to benefit yourself even further?
The truth is, all the hard work is done, but there are still a few things that will massively help you in these last few hours. Take a look:
Hydration
It’s imperative that your body is fully hydrated when running such long distances, and these final 24 hours are crucial for doing exactly that. Drinking two litres of clear liquid the day before will do the job.
When we say clear liquids, that means obviously no alcohol, but also no tea and coffee. You need the purest form of hydration possible, there should be no workarounds this close to the race!
Power nap
Top level athletes such as Paula Radcliffe have often talked of taking power naps in the afternoon the day before the race. We all know you need at least 8 hours two nights before, but getting it the night before isn’t so easy.
Often wrecked with nerves and last minute panic, many a runner can get a rough night’s sleep the evening before. The last thing however you want to be is tired on the start line, so a nap the afternoon before means your body has definitely had enough sleep and rest to be full of energy!
Kit and food prep
Sort this out as soon as you can, the morning before or just before you nap, you want this off your mind so you can relax. But that’s point five!
Make sure you know what kit you’re wearing and the trainers are ready, as well as having any running watches / phones charged. That’s the relatively simple part, what may take longer is if you’re bringing along homemade supplements for the race.
As long as they’re tried and tested foods you can’t go wrong, but just give yourself enough time – you don’t want to be baking till the early hours of the morning!
Travel timetables
Much like the last point, it’s important to get this sorted early. Find out how to get there, where to park, what the nearest station is and when you need to leave the house (taking in account for delays).
Once this is off your mind, again you can relax; one last mini check before bedtime and in the morning for any traffic jams, cancelations and delays should see you arrive safe and sound.
Relax
Easier said than done, we know. However, it’s really important to try and keep your mind off things in these last 24 hours. You don’t want the adrenaline getting to you otherwise you’ll be a mental wreck on the start line, and all that energy you have saved would have been gone into worrying.
Go to the cinema, hang with friends, watch the football, go for a very light swim and jacuzzi, just enjoy your Saturday. You’re running a marathon, it can get lonely, so surround yourself with good memories to keep you going.
