Once you’ve got the running bug, it can be hard to shake it. You’re always looking to improve and beat your time, but as everyone knows, running can be tough. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can affect your performance, including the weather, what you’re wearing and how you feel on the day. But while some things are out of your control, there are steps you can take to make your next race a smooth one. Take a look at these four tips  for a great race to help make your next race the best yet.

Four Tips for a Great Race

Stick to your training plan

Whether it’s your first race or your 100th, training is very important for making your race go as smoothly as possible. If you’re not at the right fitness, or you’ve not developed a great running style, it could seriously affect your performance on the day. Design a training plan and learn how to prevent injuries to help get you in the best position for your race.

Make sure you’re fully hydrated

Dehydration can cause serious issues on race day. Start hydrating your body the day before – you should aim to add to your intake the day before your race. You can find a lot of great advice about hydrating your body for running to make sure you don’t suffer as a result. Most races will have water stops along the route, but it doesn’t hurt to place some family members or friends along the route to top you up with water as you move along the course.

Choose the right attire

Your race day outfit can impact your performance more than you realize. Wearing compression gear can help you run better, while also protecting you from injury. Invest in compression socks from https://legioncompressionsocks.com/. Try not to wear something new for the first time, do some practice runs wearing your new running clothes to help make sure you feel comfortable and happy while running – especially over a long period of time.

Put a post-race plan in place

After completing a race, you’re sure to feel elated, as well as tired! The huge crowds and the slow-moving pace can make it difficult to move away from the finish line and find your family. Putting a post-race plan in place will help you to work out where to go, where you’re meeting people, and most importantly – where you’re going to get changed. If you haven’t got a plan, you could find yourself wandering for hours while you try to decide what happens next. 

Running a race can be thrilling, but there’s also a lot of pressure that comes with it, usually from yourself. There’s a lot that can go wrong, but by being as mentally and physically prepared as possible, you can hope to have your best race yet. Most importantly, try to enjoy it – it will make all of the hard work worth it when you cross the finish line.