How can runners best prepare for a race?

Q: As a director for multiple races, what are some specific tips you can provide runners to best prepare for a race? 

A: With the Broad Street Run and ODDyssey Half Marathon coming up soon, these are a few tips that, from the perspective of the race director, will help prepare you for race day. Some may sound like common sense, but all of them are stressed because of multiple experiences with runners who did not follow these tips and regretted it.

1.  Take care of business before you hit the road.

Remember when mom used to ask, "does anyone have to go?" before a long drive to the beach. Same idea applies here. Hit the head before you leave the house.  No race will ever feel like it has enough toilets. So, get it out before you go out. Port-a-potties will be located at the start/finish and along the course.  But, the more port-a-potties that a race has, the longer runners will wait to go. So, you are guaranteed a long line.

2.  Arrive early.

Be sure to give yourself ample time to get to the starting line. Unexpected traffic, parking concerns, road closures could potentially delay you on race day. Plan ahead and arrive early! Lay out your clothes the night before to save some time.

3.  Know where you are going.

I know this sounds obvious, but more than once I have received messages from runners asking where the start line is in the moments before the race took off. Everyone gets so many emails these days that I understand people skim them. But, when there are several hundred or several thousand runners at the start and you are not one of them, there is nothing we can do.

4.  Form a race day plan at least a week out.

Most big races have a website with all of the pertinent information and will send you emails with details about race day. Consult these options to nail down your own logistics. If you wait until the day before the race, you are unlikely to be able to reach race leadership in a timely manner if an issue arises. When an entire event needs to be set up, executed and torn down in less than 48 hours, you can bet that race leadership is working very long days and busy most of those hours. If you have a question not answered by the website and or emails, it is best to ask it a week in advance.

5.  Carry on.

If you are travelling to an out of town race, make sure the essentials are in your carry on bag. This should include race day outfit, running shoes, and hotel reservations. Be prepared to race even if the airline loses your luggage.

6.  Do not arrive within the first 30 minutes of the expo.

Plan to come to the expo/packet pickup early… but, wait until the first rush is over. Most big expos start out as tense as the Cabbage Patch Riots of 1983. You will have a much better experience if you save the racing bit for race day and stroll through the expo at your leisure.

Hopefully these tips will help make your next big race a more enjoyable experience.

Carl Ewald is the Race Director and chief innovator for the ODDyssey Half Marathon and Great American Brewery Runs.  A Philadelphia resident, his runs are popular because they are designed by runners for runners and elevate the racing experience from just a race to a full event experience.

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