Make sure you are race-ready to tackle the 42km, 10km or 4km fun run distances at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.
Here are 10 top pre-race tips to help ensure you go out and run your best race on January 24.
1) THE GOLDEN RULE – STICK TO YOUR PLANS
Don’t make any sudden, drastic or different changes to your training plan, diet or running regime before the race day itself. Stick to what you’ve been working on and what you know.
2) PREPARE YOUR KIT
It sounds like a basic piece of advice, but you don’t want to be rushing around preparing your kit on the morning of the race. It will make you sleep easier knowing that everything is prepared. Avoid cotton t-shirts and go for coolmax/nylon wear that will adsorb the sweat. It will feel cold at the 7am startline but the UAE heat will soon kick in.
3) DON’T TRY DIFFERENT TRAINERS ON RACE DAY
Ensure you are running in footwear you know and have tested (ran in) for race day. Don’t be tempted to wear brand-new shoes just to look the part, go with the footwear that has been there for you every step of the way throughout your training programme!
4) CARB LOADING
By eating foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, whole fruit, pasta, potatoes, bread and rice you can boost your glycogen (glucose) stores inside your body. This will help you to replenish energy levels quicker than normal and dip into your reserves when you need it most – probably during the tough moments towards the end of the marathon (last 10km).
Eat carbohydrate-rich foods in the days leading up to the race, but not too late at night, as you want to give your body time to digest the food before sleeping.
As for your breakfast on race day, no need to carb-load as such, but try and eat a very light breakfast.
5) KEEP HYDRATED
Make sure you drink plenty of water in the lead-up to the race and it’s very important to stay hydrated throughout the run, taking advantage of all the water stops and topping yourself up with sports drinks and energy gels, too.
6) FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE ROUTE
The majority of Dubai marathoners have probably ran part of the route on a training run and it’s helpful to know landmarks along the way, helping you to build mini targets. Visualization and having a sense of the details of the course map can often give you a bit of a mental boost.
7) CHILL OUT
It’s sometimes hard to get a good night’s sleep ahead of the marathon because of a mixture of nerves, excitement and the body’s unwillingness to completely switch off. But, if you can, just chill out on the Thursday night, do nothing, set your alarm and get an early night.
8) WARM UP
Whether that’s a thorough stretching routine, a light jog or both, it’s vital you get the blood flowing and your muscles are ready to go on January 24. Loosen up, work up a bit of a sweat and don’t feel cold, especially when you’re waiting nervously on the start line.
9) SET TWO GOALS
Have a goal/time in mind that you are aiming for and another as a back-up plan, just in case the race doesn’t go exactly to script.
Unfortunately, marathon running is a rare sport in which you can do all the best preparation but it is very much an ‘on the day event’.
At this stage, all the preparation is done so just go out there, enjoy the experience and give it your best shot.
10) RUN AT YOUR PACE
Adrenaline always kicks in at the start and it’s a good thing if you feel a few butterflies. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, stick to your pace and plan. It’s proven that it’s better to have negative splits and run the first half of a marathon slower than the second, leaving you more in the tank at the end.
We’d like to invite you to the free running coaching sessions offered by Standard Chartered. See FB for the schedule.
