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Why run the course before race day

hydration drinking during a race

Q: I’ve got a big race coming up and I want to be prepared. Should I consider running the course beforehand?

A: Yes. Checking out the course (or parts of the course if it’s a longer race) before the big day is always a wise move. There are a number of reasons why this will come in handy when you’re actually racing. The most obvious one is that you’re familiar with the course already. You’ll  have a clear picture of what’s left and you won’t have to worry about accidentally taking a wrong turn. By knowing the course, you can mentally break it up. You’ll know what the halfway point looks like and you can find markers that indicate that you’re almost there. By doing this, you can also plan for specific stretches. For example, if you know that the hill coming up towards the finish exhausts you, you can make up for it by going faster on a part of the course that allows you to do so.

Another reason why you want to run on the course prior to race day: to take in the scenery. When you’re racing, you’re seeing it, but you’re not totally taking it in. That’s because you’re so focused on the goal you’re trying to achieve. Maybe this is quite the scenic route. On your practice runs, take in the views of the mountains in the background or boats coming into the harbour. There may be an iconic landmark, slow down for a bit and appreciate that. You certainly won’t be doing that come race day!

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