On the Runs: It’s the Day Before Your Race – Here’s How To Prepare

It’s hard to fall asleep the night before a big race. Excitement and nerves set in – what if you forget something important and flush your chances down the toilet? Take comfort in preparedness on the eve of a marathon by eating right, organising your morning and taking stock after weeks of training.

There’s the logistics side of things, of course – things like laying all your gear out, making sure your sports bag’s got everything you need, planning out how you’ll get to the race (and how you’re getting home). But one often overlooked aspect of preparing is making sure you don’t have any discomfort or feel bloated during the race. Or worse yet – get need to use the loo in the middle of your run.

Want to avoid that possibility? Read on for how you should prepare before your race, the day before.

Start hydrating early

Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to the race and with your last meal to ensure your body has enough fluids to carry you through to the finish line. Chugging a bottle right before the race is going to weigh you down, so hydrate regularly and save the caffeine and celebratory drinks for once you’ve crossed the finish line. They can be dehydrating, and you’ll want your body working at its best to avoid any illnesses.

Plan your ride there and home

You probably won’t find a car park and your wobbly legs aren’t fit to drive after all that exercise. Plan your ride ahead of the event, whether that’s pre-booking an Uber or calling in a favour. If you can only cash in one ride with a mate, make it the ride home. Your friends will want to see you cross the finish line and you won’t want to wait around for a surcharged rideshare.

Eat a proper dinner (and breakfast)

You’ll want to load up on carbs ahead of the big day. While serious runners might recommend rice for each meal leading up to the big day, you don’t need to be so stringent; overdoing it can cause just as much trouble. Instead, don’t throw your body any dietary curve balls and opt for something nutritious yet easy to digest. The night before, go for carbohydrates (such as pasta, quinoa or sweet potatoes), lean proteins (fish, chicken, tofu) and fibre (oats, apples and seeds). Give your body enough time to digest before you go to sleep, too – this’ll help the fibre work its magic so the only runs you have to deal with is the race itself.

Prepare your gear

Treat tomorrow like you would an early flight: lay out all your running gear and dodge the panic of a missing item like keys or a water bottle. If there’s a chance you’ll have post-race celebrations at the pub, bring a change of clothes like a fresh top and pack a bag with wet wipes, deodorant and a towel.

Do your Bref business beforehand

You’ve got one important race today – you don’t want to be racing to the toilet after the finish line, too. Constant hydration and pre-race nerves will inevitably mean plenty of bathroom trips; ditto for number 2 if you’ve kept your pre-marathon meals regular. It’ll make the run a whole lot more comfortable if you do your business before the race starts.

There are facilities on-site at City2Surf, but you’re better off getting it all out at home with a clean toilet, and no other runners queued up outside the loo. The cleanliness and comfort of your own bathroom – especially one cleaned with toilet care brand Bref – is second to none.

Bref’s Brilliant Gel is an innovative gel rim block with power foam, grime-protection, fresh perfume and bright shine, meaning you won’t need to worry about cleanliness and comfort in addition to all the other things racing through your mind pre-race.

You’ll be taken care of after City2Surf too, with Bref Lifts taking you straight to the baggage tent and a cheeky Poo-dium (think a race podium – but with toilets) for post-race photo opps.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Bref. Get pre-race ready with Bref, a proud event partner of City2Surf. The annual Sydney race that takes runners from the CBD to Bondi Beach takes place on Sunday, August 11.