Race week is finally here, and it is time to get your mind and body ready for the big day. Whether you are gearing up for your first marathon or your fifth, these simple steps will help you show up confident, rested, and ready to run your best race.
1. Prioritize Rest
Recovery is just as important as training. Quality sleep is when your muscles repair, hormones balance, and energy stores replenish, all of which directly impact race-day performance. Aim for consistent bedtimes, minimize screen time before bed, and let your body fully recharge. Cooling down post runs, foam rolling sore muscles once or twice a day, and compression boots can make a world of a difference!
2. Trust Your Training, Implement Light Activation Exercises
Feeling the urge to sneak in one more run or push your pace? Resist it. Your body has already done the work, and extra mileage this week can do more harm than good. Focus instead on light activation exercises to keep your muscles engaged and promote blood flow. Trust the process and the miles you have already logged.
3. Fuel Up (and Shake It Out)
What you eat before your race directly affects how you perform. During race week, gradually increase your carb intake to keep your glycogen stores full, which helps prevent that dreaded wall mid-race.
A shakeout run is also a great way to loosen your legs, ease pre-race nerves, and connect with other runners. Join our community shakeout run here to get your body moving and your energy right before race day.
4. Recover and Reset
Recovery is not just for after the finish line. It is an essential part of race week preparation. Modern recovery tools such as compression boots, foam rollers, massage guns, cupping, and laser therapy can boost circulation, reduce soreness, and help you bounce back faster.
If you are running the NYC Marathon, bring your medal into our NYC office after the race for complimentary recovery services. No reservation required, first come first served.
Ready, Set, Race!
You have trained hard, stayed consistent, and pushed through every challenge. Now it is time to enjoy the run and celebrate how far you have come. Your body has carried you here, and it deserves the rest and recovery that will keep you strong for what comes next.
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