Rob's Cork City Marathon Blog Week 12 - Your race day checklist
However, our journey is going to be just a little bit more arduous and there are no beaches or sun loungers at the finish line of the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon.
There is a big shiny medal, though, and lots and lots of free bananas. Here’s everything you need to ensure you get your hands on the bling.... and a banana or two.
If you’re feeling a little sniffly the week before the race then this is perfect for clearing the sinuses and will allow you to breath through the nose with ease.
Chafing is the scourge of runners and can be very painful and distracting during the race. Don’t be shy and make sure you use enough on your delicate parts and also across your forehead to stop sweat from running into your eyes.
Some runners like to use various different products after the race but I feel they can be useful while you’re running also - if only for a placebo effect.
I like Tiger Balm which is a rub that smells like Deep Heat. It’s available in numerous health shops and when applied gives a nice tingling feeling.
I rub it on my knees, thighs and calf muscles before setting off. It eases pain and if you are not suffering, it’s still reassuring to feel and smell it on your joints.
Cut your toenails. If you don’t, there will be blood. Cut your little piggies’ nails down as much as you can before race day. Otherwise your white socks will be a gory shade of red at the end.
I regularly see people running with energy gel packets hanging out of their belts and I wonder if they actually use them all.
Do whatever works for you, but as I’ve said before, gel supplements should be used correctly and at the right times.
I only use a couple during the race at the half-marathon point and 20 miles.
I tend to use a brand and flavour that I am familiar with to reduce the risk of feeling sick and always make sure to take them with water.
If you know any family or friends are going to be out supporting you then it’s no harm to ask them to have a bottle of sports drink waiting for you.
They will be available at certain water stops but the scrum might mean you miss out so have a back up plan in this instance.
Keeping warm is essential to starting the race well as there can often be lots of waiting around involved on race day.
The same goes for when you're finished as your immune system will be vulnerable.
If you need to shed the gear and get a good place near the start line, cut arm and head holes in a plastic bag.
It really works and you can just shove it in one of the many bins in Cork city centre when you no longer need it.
There will be bananas at the finish line and various different bits in your race goodie bag but in order to recover in the best way possible bring along something that you are used to eating at the end of a long run. It will help settle the stomach.
Make sure you have these to attach your race bib and don’t forget to fill out the form on the back regarding medical conditions and next of kin. You never know when you might need them.
It seems obvious but if you are going for a specific time then you’ll need to be timing your miles. Some of you will be all high-tech with watches that would nearly run the race for you, but for years I have relied on my trusty €12 Casio watch and it has never let me down.
Might be handy to stick in the pocket if it’s a sunny day as squinting from the sun’s glare is a huge waste of energy.
Being a man who is follicly challenged I am very aware of the importance of keeping the sun’s rays off my shiny bonce. You never know what kind of a day it’s going to be in Ireland so I would recommend applying sun cream before the race - even if it’s a dull morning.
Get normal sized and blister plasters and stick them in your bag in case of any discomfort or bleeding.
If you haven’t bought a decent pair of trainers by now then you're crazier than I thought you were. These are an absolute must and your race will be so much easier if you have the right support for your feet.
As always, happy running.
Follow and interact with @whatrobdidnext on Twitter and tweet your training pics to @IrishExaminer using the hashtag #IECorkMarathon.
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