Hello! Happy Monday! š
I brought Chandra to the airport a little while ago. It was sad saying goodbye to her and our fun weekend together. Vacation is officially over. Back to the grind. š
Breakfast
I started my morning with a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with fresh raspberries and granola. I also drank an iced coffee with soy milk.
Workout
After breakfast, I dropped off my car to get an oil change. (It was a good 1,500 miles over!) While it was being worked on, I hit the gym for a 50-minute elliptical workout. It felt good to get the blood flowing in my legs after yesterday’s race.
Lunch
After my workout, I headed home for lunch. Thankfully, there were lots of leftovers in the refrigerator because I was starving!! I reheated some Portobello & Goat Cheese Flatbread Pizza and some spicy vegetables from Lime Leaf. It was a GOOD lunch!
At the gym this morning, I read an article in Runner’s WorldĀ about lucky charms and how rituals can help runners. Some experts says that superstitions and prerace routines can boost performance.
Rituals focus your attention so you’re ready to race. They may also trigger muscle responses that relax your form. [source]
My superstition is getting an odd number for race day. For some reason, I feel better (even more confident) if I receive an odd number bid. Maybe yesterday’s 189 helped me run a good race?
Similarly, I was thankful and somewhat relieved that my marathon number was odd. I remember being so happy when I picked it up. I knew it was a sign that I would make it to the finish line.
Question of the Day
Do you have a pre-race ritual/routine or lucky charm? What is it?
64 Comments
I have lots! I eat black beans the night before. My breakfast is a hard-boiled egg and piece of multigrain toast with peanut butter. And I MUST have chapstick on my lips, or I just don’t feel right!
that leftover pizza looks awesome!!
YES! That is my superstition as well! Even weirder is that I thought that I was the ONLY one who had that weird superstition! And seriously, all my odd numbered bibs have made me ROCK my race! I am soooo nervous each time I get my bib- I feel like it can make or break a race! I still havent figured out what to (sanely) do if I get an even!!! HELP!
My pre-race ritual includes: showering, shaving my legs (to reduce any extra weight and to minimize drag š ), and putting on a pair of underwear that have a winged foot on. š
Once I get to the race, I will do some light jogging, lots of stretching, and get in the zone.
LOL!
I wore A LOT of pink yesterday during my race because I had a really great training run a few weeks back and was wearing almost the same exact outfit.
I just wrote about going past oil change deadlines today too! That’s funny š
I am horrible about oil changes! I go way over every single time!!
Interesting! I kind of have a thing with numbers. If my race number has the number 8 in it, it’s unlucky…. and if it has 18 in it…even more so! 18 is my unlucky number!
A good 1,500 miles over before getting oil changed? Sounds about like me, or worse! :s
that flatbread looks delicious! i just recently tried my first flat bread the other day at white spot – mushrooms, zucchini, red pepper, onion, feta cheese… mmm to die for!
and i’m running my first 5K in a few months! i have never done one before and i run on and off (i have spurts where i’ll run every day, then only a few times a week), but i am so excited for it!
I have to drink coffee and eat an energy gel before running, but other than that i don’t have any particular good luck charms.
Congrats on finishing the race!
9 is my lucky number, so I’m fond of combinations that add up to 9!
Hehehe, I like your odd number rule! I hope you get many of them! I don’t really have any, I just pray for no rain…
I am the opposite- it is lucky if I get an EVEN number š That makes me race faster I think! I also HAVE to eat out the night before a race. Always something tasty/yummy, but I need that ritual!
No good luck charms for me, but I usually drink coffee & eat an orange before a race.
I don’t race or have a lucky charm but I do think that rituals before athletic events are huge for confidence! I ate the same thing before every volleyball game and warmed up for every golf tourney the exact same way every time š
I have my very first race in 5 weeks and cant wait. Dont know if I will start any pre race ritual. Although I too oddly prefer odd numbers.
I run for Texas A&M, and I definitely have my pre race rituals. I wear the same lucky socks and sports bra every race, I have to wear my hair the same with a ribbon, I eat my same breakfast oatmeal and carnation drink, and do the same warm up routine! I also eat the same pre race meal….. a big peanut butter banana sandwich! hah I have alot, but I do think they help!! š I love your blog by the way, I found it a few days ago!!!
i haven’t done too many races, but I always drink iced coffee and something with peanut butter or banana. I also like to make a song playlist for the event.
Best song: “Breathe” by Telepopmusik. I put it on the mix 4 times so it plays more than once!
Me too!
I always wear a hat my friends bought me ! I think its good luck to wear something purchased for you by the ones who believe in you enough to wait at the finish line š
Have to eat the same breakfast – 2 slices of dry toast with a cup of black morning thunder tea.
I actually need an even number (preferably with a 2 or 6 in it)!!! I’m super superstitious about that and hate that you can’t control it.
I love reading about people’s lucky charms. I like the number 7. Don’t know why, it’s just my favorite.
I must have peanut butter and whole wheat bread. I nearly broke up with my bf on Sunday morning when I went to get my pre-race breakfast ready and learned that his definition of a “ton of peanut butter” is a spoonful in a nearly empty jar.
Luckily I soon discovered he had a back up jar and our relationship was saved.
I don’t really have a particular item or anything that I carry with me, but before all of my races over the past 5 years, I’ve eaten Nature’s Path Heritage O’s for breakfast!! It might not be a super exciting cereal, but I LOVE it and it sits well when I race for some reason.
I don’t really have any superstitions when it comes to races – I just try not to think too much about it or I freak out!
I always wear the same magenta Gold Toe brand socks on all my long runs and actual races. As a result, my sock tan is VERY well defined!
I don’t have a pre-race ritual, but I have my lucky (pricey) race socks and favorite Nike running crops that I always wear.
I’ve worn the same sports bra since high-school cross-country. Gross? Yes. Lucky? Yes. Though now I have to double it up, as it’s just a leeeeetle less supportive:)
What a yummy lunch! Those veggies look so good!
I like to get a DD coffee. Don’t know why but I am convinced Dunkin Donuts coffee will make me run faster, not just any other coffee brand.
I have to listen to ‘Right Now’ by Van Halen at the beginning of every race š
Hmm, I think my only pre-race (or pre-long run) ritual is eating two pieces of French toast. This has *always* worked for me! (Although I do tend to get a little sick of French toast toward the end of my training…).
i always chew gum when i run!
I have to wear my very first race shirt to bed the night before, wake up and eat a banana for breakfast.
I have to be sooooo careful about getting enough water and not eating anything stupid before a race. I make eating a picnic dinner my pre-race ritual because nothing about it upsets my tummy, it can be done inexpensively in my hotel room, and it’s been working like a charm!
I loved spotting a “DES MOINES Marathon” tshirt on your friend! Iowa holler! š
I don’t really have any rituals or superstitions when racing. Maybe I need to find one??
I have a few, it’s funny how we think they work!
My pre-race ritual to treat fiber like the devil and avoid it the week before a race. I still eat fruit and stuff, but I avoid all whole wheat breads and cereals. It makes me feel more confident that I won’t poop my pants during a race š
I always wear the same bra for every race I run. I had to get it on a whim at the Philadelphia half marathon a couple years ago because I forgot mine, I ran an awesome race and since then I’ve been wearing it for every race I’ve run š
I havent raced in ages but when i did, my race day lucky charm was hopefully not drinking too much the night before and just being able to make it there š
And I almost always wore the same pair of Nike shorts and sports bra!
i’ve only ran one official race so i haven’t developed any rituals yet. still kicked ass though, it’s such a mental thing, ya know? š
I don’t have a ritual yet, but maybe I should get one! I have a weird one for yoga–my toenails HAVE to be painted. if they aren’t I feel unbalanced! it’s wacky!
I actually dont think I have any ?!
Hmm..no rituals here, just the usual toast, pb, banana and coffee combo. And always making sure to…ahem..before each race. š
I actually don’t think I have a race day lucky charm. That’s unusual for me because I am such a “traditionalist” in the sense that if I’ve done it one way I almost hae to do it the same way the next time, almost regardless of what it is. For some reason that hasn’t spread over to racing though.
I’m the complete opposite with numbers though. I get really excited when my bib numbers are even, especially multiples of 4. Yeah…way too long of a story. š
Nope, no lucky charms or anything — although when I was in high school I would always wear the same pair of socks for basketball games — yes they were washed but they were always the same pair.
I tie my ponytail up in five hair bands. I have a race day sports bra and socks. I am ready to go. Oh! And tons of deodorant.
I seriously want that flatbread! I love mushrooms!