Goofy pre-race traditions/superstitions

William Jenks

I'm sure this topic has been done before, but it's good for a laugh now and then, right?  What's your goofy race tradition or superstition?

Mine is getting a short haircut.  As of today, I'm racing about 10 days from now and I'm driving myself crazy holding back from getting my hair cut so I can do it right before the race so I have my best "fast hair" on race day.  Silly, I know, but it's part of getting psyched to race. :-)

Michael Johnson

Embarrassed to admit....I will make sure I eat alot of fiber to "empy the bowels"......make sure Im as light as possible

Al Truscott

Posted By Michael Johnson on 22 Jul 2010 05:18 PM

Embarrassed to admit....I will make sure I eat alot of fiber to "empy the bowels"......make sure Im as light as possible

Same goal, opposite theory: Jamba Juice high calorie liquid dinner the night before an IM; no solid food after 1 PM the day before.

Dave Tallo

Guys, those don't even register on the superstition scale - what you've cited are downright practical pre-race preparations. 

(Once I work up the recklessness and have a few minutes, I'll post my OCD pre-race superstition.  'Weird' doesn't begin to describe it. )  

 

GregSVan

I take the opposite road. I eat nothing but cheese and bananas for one week before a race. I find carrying a double "load" makes the downhills faster. I also run faster to make it to the port a potties before making a muddy buddy.

Beth_S

Always race with a nice pedicure. I think if I show my feet respect they will be nice to me race day.

I usually have a good luck Star Wars Micromachine figure in my pocket.

Al Truscott

Posted By Beth Schwindt on 22 Jul 2010 08:56 PM

Always race with a nice pedicure. 

I get my pedicure DURING the race - I usually end up with one or more black toenails after a 26 mile run.

rah2774

@Al - LoL

@William I usually end up getting a hair cut the day or week before ... not on purpose, but it's just how the timing has worked out...and then I joke that it will make me faster.

my superstitions/traditions have been pre-marathon... day before I have to have at least one Smart water and one Penta water (which I've nicknamed "devil water" b/c of the "penta") and the morning of, green juice of some sort with breakfast.  The water issue is bc for my first marathon I was with 2 friends, also virgin marathoners.  Beth had gotten advice from lots of runner friends of hers who told her about the benefits of these particular brands of water... so we're in San Diego going into any store we see looking for these [damn] waters... and my morning routine at home included cereal, fruit, and green juice... when we finally found Penta water at a Whole Foods, I picked up a green juice... the tradition was born.  Have had the waters pre-race and the green juice morning of each of my 5 marathons.  I suppose since an IM has a marathon in it, this tradition will continue in Florida in November.

Nemo Brauch

I usually get my hair cut about a week or two before race day too. Wanna look nice in that photo finish and besides, need to keep the bangs out of my eyes!

I carry good luck charms with me. 2 mini stuffed animals (Doree and Blue) and now Moo Jo of course! But my pre-race traditions tend to be more about what I don't do- I won't buy any merchandise that has the name of the race on it and I won't walk accross the finish line. Those acts are sure to jinx the race!

William Jenks

@Nemo... that's funny about merch and the finish line - same for me!... I don't do all that many races that have merch, but I won't buy anything before the race either. I've made only one exception to that; I had to get out quick after the Boston marathon this year, and I went ahead and bought one of those jackets. I got lucky and had a good race, so I don't look at it and growl. :-)

@Al - Know what you mean about the in-race pedicure! More often than not, that "black" turns into "blank" for me in a few days! Did you see that article in the NY Times a while back about ultramarathoners who have their nails removed? That's on my "if I could just snap my fingers" list along with lasik (or whatever it's most recent cousin is)!

Nemo Brauch

Oh yeah, I broke the no merchandise pre-race rule at Boston too. Had to or I wouldn't have gotten a jacket in my size (in fact, I had to do quite a bit of scrambling even BEFORE the race to find a jacket in my size!) But I figured I'd qualified, therefore I was gonna buy the jacket even if I didn't do the race :-)

Kitboo

Yeah, I do the fiber/colon clean out thing too. Who wants to run around with all that poo inside?

I also absolutely, positively DO NOT complain about the weather. If it's Tarzan hot or torrential downpour, then so be it. I feel that if I complain the weather gods will rain down fiery hailstones from the sky.