wang writes

There’s a good chance if you’re reading this that you, like me, will be one of 50,000 people at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon tomorrow.

First, CONGRATULATIONS! In my view the journey to the start line is harder than the race itself. The race takes anything between 3 to 6 hours for most of us, the journey might have taken three to six months and a bucket of sweat and tears. To just be at the start line speaks of the immense sacrifice you have made. I believe, speaking from experience, you’re all changed people from when you first decided to run the marathon.

Okay, so you’ve less than 24 hours to go. What do you do, other than sit with a stomach of butterflies and wait out the time? Well, I don’t exactly know if there’s a right answer to this, but this is what I’m doing today.

I’m just about to head out for a 15 minute slow slow slow jog, just to get the blood flowing. All I want to do is break a sweat. I know some people rather get off their legs as much as possible, but 15 min slow won’t kill, and I know from experience that after a day of full rest I always find it hard to find my gears for training the next day. So, to keep my chain oiled, I just do a little jog. Off to the supermarket and back, actually. I need to get bread and milk anyway, so why not run to the grocer?

I haven’t had breakfast, just a latte. After last night’s huge pasta dinner, I’m not feeling exactly hungry for anything right now. This is my usual pre-race routine anyway. Two nights before a race I carbo-load, the day before I have a heavy brunch and a very light, early dinner (say, by 6pm). I also make sure I stick to simple carbs, nothing high fibre. So whatever goes in, comes out quickly. You don’t want today’s whole wheat steak sandwich sitting in your tummy at the startline tomorrow.

I’ve laid out my race stuff. Running races are a lot less tedious than triathlons I must say. Running vest, crop top, shorts, race belt, number tag, shoes with timing chip, three gels. Tonight I’ll make a sports drink with extra sodium and fill up a disposable water bottle, that I will carry with me and sip continuously before the race starts tomorrow. Laying out all your gear now will ensure you don’t forget anything.

So after the supermarket, I intend to get a haircut. Just a trim. I realise my haircuts always coincide with races, by the way. Curious! After haircut it’s time for brunch and then work, which will take me to this evening. Because I’ll be sitting on my ass all day in front of the computer when I should (and you should) be putting your legs up so the blood doesn’t flow down, I’ll be wearing compression socks to aid blood flow. This evening, I will have to go for a church musical. My younger brother is performing.

All those activities will take me till about 9pm, just in time to get ready for bed. I’d been sleeping early this whole week so I don’t think it’ll be hard to fall asleep by 10pm. Wake up call at 3.45am tomorrow, I leave home at 4.15am. It sounds early for a race that begins at 5.30am, but you have to be at the start line by 5.15am, and you never know what might crop up in between. Taxi doesn’t show up, traffic jam, road diversions, a queue for the port-a-loo, a slow crawl to the starting pen… allow yourself ample time for mistakes. Shit happens, expect it. You also probably want to do a short warm-up, so your body doesn’t get a shock when you finally begin.

To sum up my “day before the big ‘un” tips, just do whatever you’re used to. Keep yourself occupied to take your mind off the race. Don’t use your legs too much. Don’t try anything new. Eat simple. Get your stuff ready. Hydrate with water and sports drink.

Tomorrow is just another training day. Good luck!