[The_Professor]

So the topic of conversation during our long run this past weekend turned to pre-race rituals. My group had some interesting ones...just curious to hear all of yours.<br><br>
Here's mine:<br>
Night before - eat veggie pizza and red wine<br>
Morning of - Drink coffee (the 5th food group) eat whole wheat bagel with almond butter and honey and a banana. Take a shower and shave (that's my odd ball ritual, I HAVE to shave :blush<img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">.

 

[DEturtle]

Night before: Good Dinner, have found that French fires the night before work best for me.<br>
Morning of: Caffeine and eggs for breakfast... ahem... potty break... re-check bags with stuff. Water, Pee one last time before the start. Make sure Body glide applied.

 

[merigayle]

most of my rituals are about things, rather than food.<br><br>
I lay all my stuff out neurotically, on a table or spare bed in the hotel. I also bag up S! caps in 8 per bag. has to be 8. good number <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> I also tape my toes the night before and put socks on to sleep so the tape does not get messed up.<br><br>
I usually set 2-3 alarms. When i wake up i do my morning things and put my contacts in (this is the hardest part of the AM routine) and pee about a hundred times. I like to eat some sort of nutritional bar 30 mins before the race.

 

[phredmur]

Right before bedtime, I like to lay out my clothes on the hotel room floor in the correct position, so that it looks like a two-dimensional running man. i started that at the boston marathon years ago and my wife liked the looks, so i do it before all races now. it also helps me go over all the stuff i need to wear.<br><br>
For food, pasta the night before. coffee and bagel or toast in the morning.

 

[merigayle]

the technical term, which i learned from my running group, is FLAT MAN! <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">

 

[Chupacabra]

Is that wink for me?

 

[merigayle]

no, just that i am completely neurotic over a meaningless number. ie, OCD almost <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[markc7]

My wife sometimes does the neurotic ritual stuff. My ritual is to help her get ready and relax as much as possible. Also, whenever we camp the night before the race we have a tradition of being hit with a massive rain storm.

 

[AnthonyP]

Night before : I too like to lay out all of my gear and stuff. 2-3 alarms (like Merigayle) is the norm for me as well.<br><br>
Race morning : I don't know if you call it a ritual, but the most imporant pre-race "event" (which can consist of one or multiple visits) for me involves an ovate (or open front) porcelain seat....although sometimes it involves a plastic, ivory, wood or metal (if I am unfortunate enough to have spent my pre-race night in jail or prison) seat depending on what is available at the time.

 

[Sherpa John]

Night before.. pasta and beer<br><br>
Morning of: PLain bagel with TONS of butter. Couple of boost's, power gels.. and a lot of answering natures call.<br><br>
Post race: More Beer and PIZZA!

 

[RandMart]

Afternoon/night before: Church, spaghetti & clams, construct what-is-now-known-as-"Flat Man", 2 beers [max] to get to sleep early ... in the guestroom [pre-race nookie: yay or nay?]<br><br>
Morning: 2 alarms [which I wake long beforehand]; Apple, banana, Wawa coffee<br><br>
Post-race: Country Club Diner [Voorhees, NJ]

 

[dg1]

Night before: Meal that includes seafood and baked potato or pasta; 1 beer; purchase coffee and muffin for AM<br><br>
Morning of: warm up coffee in microwave, choke down muffin, body glide, tape feet, tie-dyed bandanna tied to right wrist, motivational hieroglyphics scrawled on left hand with sharpie, potty<br><br>
After: pound a couple of chocolate milks, beer, greasy Micky D's cheeseburgers for the ride home, beer

 

[quaker02]

While it is true that I have yet to run an ultra distance, I could never imagine pre race nookie no matter what distance I was running. Do you think Rocky had any alone time with Adrian before he fought Ivan Drago? He would have lost his edge!

 

[Complete Pete]

The night before I race I watch the Coyote/Roadrunner episode in which he chugs a bucket full of Acme Leg Vitamens.

 

[phredmur]

yay--part of the ritual--nuff said.

 

[Durt]

Mostly the same crap here. Try to get in a decent meal, hang out and relax a bit. Go back, obsess over clothing, supplies, etc.. If I'm in a hotel, I'll soak in the bathtub for a while, then prep my feet and have my testicles ritualistically shaven by a Zoroastrian named Vilma. The usual.

 

[Robo]

Pre-race meal: Pepperoni pizza with one or two beers.<br>
Always do the Flatman. Layout all my foot stuff and vaseline (don't want to forget the vaseline!).<br>
Morning of race: 1 Banana and some water<br>
Post Race: Steak and LOTS of beer or wine!

 

[cowanesque]

I re-read what I wrote yesterday and realized it sounded crude. What I meant to say:<br><br>
Y'all are (mostly) avoiding the real interesting question here. Nookie or not? I'm in the aye category. Or the Yay!!! category. When my girlfriend is with me and we have a room, it helps rock me to sleep.<br><br>
Cowanesque

 

[pithydoug]

As Yogi said, there is nothing wrong with getting laid before a game as long as you don't stay up night looking for it. I find a some pre-race nookie totally relaxing and really helps my sleep. Actually between the horizontal mombo and a brew I get some great deep sleep. I would avoid trying it for hours while standing up in a hammock. <img alt="roll_eyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/roll_eyes.gif"> I offer private consultation services for those that want pre-race ugly bumping guidance. <img alt="icon_salut.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_salut.gif">