The stress of the start.
9 days to go....
No doubt, nerves are starting to mount. You might even be a little
irritable at this point. If you're not sure, ask your spouse or
work colleagues. They'll be honest with you.
The stress and tension of the last few days before the race are
normal. Everyone experiences it. The best way to handle it is to
be well prepared. The less unknowns the easier it is to handle, as
there won't be any (big) surprises.
So read through the notes on the route description, and know what
lies ahead. Look at the route profile and know where the hills
are. Have an idea of the landmarks along the route, though you
won't see all of them. Go read the route description on the
Comrades web site, and find other online articles about the route
and what to expect on the day.
Plan your trip to KZN - know what road you will drive, what time
you will leave home, when you will go to the registration / expo.
Plan also to put your feet up on Saturday - make sure this is part
of the family's plans that they don't expect a trip to the beach
when you need to be taking it easy.
Also, plan your meals well in advance. Decide now what you are
going to eat the 2 days before the race, bearing in mind what has
worked for you in the past. And make sure that these foods are
available wherever you might be staying.
I would highly recommend going to Comrades House in PMB. They have
a lovely Comrades museum depicting the history of the race, with
some nice displays to get you all motivated. They also have a
great model of the route on display, which will bring reality to
bare one last time.
The expo can also be exciting and enticing. They have great
products on display and for sale. But again, don't be tempted into
buying everything that is promised to help you on race day. If you
haven't trained with it, don't race with it. Go collect as many
free samples as possible that you can start trying out in July in
preparation for Comrades 2014.
Eat well on Friday and Saturday, and get as much sleep as
possible. Drink lots of water too - you need to be well hydrated
at the start of the race.
Plan to get to the start early - by 04h30. It gives you enough
time to find a toilet, settle into your seeding pen, and start
enjoying the vibe. The 30 minutes before the start is also the
best time to prepare the mind. You don't want to be stressing,
running around looking for a toilet, or find your seeding pen full
or closed when you arrive.
Take a newspaper with you to the start - it is great to sit on
once you are in your seeding pen. Newspaper provides a bit of
insulation from the ground, and you definitely don't want to be
standing for an hour.
Wrap yourself in a large garbage bag. The plastic will provide
some protection from the cold and wind in the early morning. You
can toss this just before the gun.
Take some breakfast with you to the start - a banana, or an oats
bar, or whatever works for you. Eating something 20-30 minutes
before the gun will not only help calm you, but also fuel your
body for the journey.
The first 2 water points are worth skipping. There is always lots
of congestion and stumbling through the first and often also the
second water point (depending where you might be seeded). Avoid
these water points, and rather take small bottle of water with you
that you can drink in the first 8km without having to struggle at
the water tables, or risk falling over people or litter at these
refreshment stations.
Take another bottle with you. A great receptacle to pee in at the
start. Once you are in your seeding pen, there is no getting out
to the toilets. Your next opportunity will be about 800m down the
road, as you go past the park, before the sharp right turn. And
stopping there will quickly take your C seeding to G. (Ladies
might need to pack a funnel...)
And remember - don't throw away your gloves or long sleeve T too
early in the race. Just as you start getting warm, you will run
into cold dips where the temperatures will plummet.
I'll be sending out a packing list in the next day or two, to help
you make sure you've got everything packed.
Until then, keep running. Even if it is just a few km. No need for
any more long runs. Keep the legs turning over, and the mind sane.
(And don't worry if you don't enjoy your short run - after all the
training you've done, at the moment running sucks!)
And don't get sick!!!
Cheers,
Andrew.
Part 1
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