Water
Drink lots of water throughout the week, not just on race morning.
Eating
Don't eat anything the day before the race that might upset your stomach. It can be helpful to eat some carbohydrates in order to give you energy for the race, but you don't need to overeat. On race morning, eat what you normally eat before your long runs.
Taper
You'll notice your running distance getting lower as you near race day. Trust the program! It's important to rest and let your muscles recover before the race. It can help prevent injury and give you the energy you need to finish.
Sleep
Get the rest your body needs! You might have trouble sleeping the night before the race, and it will probably be an early morning. That's okay. It just means it's important to get a good night’s sleep TWO nights before the race.
Night Before Prep
It might feel like you’re back in primary school, but lay out all of your clothes and gear the night before. Pin your bib to the front of your shirt and be sure you have your timing chip ready for your shoe. Race morning can be early and hectic, so this can help ease some of your nerves.
Race Day
Don't do anything new on race day! There might be people handing out lollies or gels, but if you haven't trained using things like this, don't try it. It might mess with your stomach...
This Is Not A Race
Well, it is. But take it easy! The start line is exciting and you'll be feeling great! But stick to your training pace and keep it slow, especially in the beginning. If you're still feeling great during the second half, you can always pick up the pace a little bit. Either way, the important thing is to finish feeling strong.
Pick Your Next Race
Even before race day, pick out your next race. It will help keep you motivated to continue your training and stay in the kind of shape you've worked hard to get to!
Relax!
You will be great!
You've been training hard, and now you get to see the payoff.
This is the fun part. :)