Race Day Superstitions

[shellfish26]

Does anyone have any special race day superstitions that you do/don't do?   Especially weird/quirky ones!  


I make a race day playlist but refuse to listen to it before race day.
I wear only new clothes.  (Well, only new versions of clothes I know are OK)
I won't walk under the finish arch unless I am actually finishing the race.  

[Susie]

I paint my nails to match my tri kit.

[gt7301b]

Oct 25, 2017 9:56:31 GMT -5 shellfish26 said:

Does anyone have any special race day superstitions that you do/don't do?   Especially weird/quirky ones!  


I make a race day playlist but refuse to listen to it before race day.
I wear only new clothes.  (Well, only new versions of clothes I know are OK)
I won't walk under the finish arch unless I am actually finishing the race.  

OMG this makes me nervous just sitting at my desk. For longer races I only wear Hana 2:1 shorts that are ~ 3 versions old, so no new race shorts for me. And I don't trust the manufactures to not change something on me, even if it is existing version.

I go to the bathroom multiple times, does that count?

[cinco]

Oct 25, 2017 10:32:47 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

Oct 25, 2017 9:56:31 GMT -5 shellfish26 said:

Does anyone have any special race day superstitions that you do/don't do?   Especially weird/quirky ones!  


I make a race day playlist but refuse to listen to it before race day.
I wear only new clothes.  (Well, only new versions of clothes I know are OK)
I won't walk under the finish arch unless I am actually finishing the race.  

OMG this makes me nervous just sitting at my desk. For longer races I only wear Hana 2:1 shorts that are ~ 3 versions old, so no new race shorts for me. And I don't trust the manufactures to not change something on me, even if it is existing version.

I go to the bathroom multiple times, does that count?

You would be broke if you wore new clothes to every race

[labbie]

The only real supersition is that I won't wear the race shirt from packet pickup (or wear any shirt from a race I haven't done).

I don't make a rule of it, but I have often worn new clothes on raceday and it's happened more often than not lately. Luckily, no issues so far.

I also have a day/night before ritual of running around like a chicken with my head cutoff doing anything and everything other than packing for/getting organized for the race the next day. It used to stress me out, but I've accepted that's part of my winding-down ritual and just go with it.

[gt7301b]

Oct 25, 2017 10:40:02 GMT -5 cinco said:

Oct 25, 2017 10:32:47 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

OMG this makes me nervous just sitting at my desk. For longer races I only wear Hana 2:1 shorts that are ~ 3 versions old, so no new race shorts for me. And I don't trust the manufactures to not change something on me, even if it is existing version.

I go to the bathroom multiple times, does that count?

You would be broke if you wore new clothes to every race

Touche'

In my mind shellfish26 was asking about big,"A", races. A local 5k/10k doesn't count

[Deleted]

Not really, but if my socks are marked as R and L, I will make sure they are on the right and left feet. I'm certain that it actually makes no appreciable difference, but still.

[osulori]

Oct 25, 2017 9:57:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

I paint my nails to match my tri kit.

Thank god I'm not the only one!  I paint my nails to at least coordinate with what I'm wearing on race day.  For example for my recent half I had a lime green tank and black shorts so my nails (fingers and toes) are still dark gray.

I also don't wear race shirts to the actual race.

And I put on a touch of makeup.  Just concealer, eyebrow tint, and mascara.

[Wines Not Whines]

I think my only superstition is not wearing the race shirt until after I finish the race. I have a lot of pre-race habits/rituals, but they're more for practical reasons than superstition.

[irene adler]

I I used to eatl a fun sized snickers before every race.

I also make eye contact and try to thank at least 25 volunteers on longer races (although I don’t know if that’s a ritual or a game to pass the time)

[mrs.jacinthe]

I don't warm up. Ever.

The day before an A race, I have to have pot roast for dinner. HAVE to.

[emilyj]

I used to have a lot more when I was a gymnast/diver, but a lot of those have gone by the wayside. The one my students always laugh at is when the national anthem played, I used to have to count all 50 stars on the flag.

Now, I never see the flag at races, so I had to give that one up. It feels weird not to do it though.

I think the only one I really have now is that I put my hair in two french braids when I race.

[jordylee]

Oct 25, 2017 14:20:23 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

I think my only superstition is not wearing the race shirt until after I finish the race. I have a lot of pre-race habits/rituals, but they're more for practical reasons than superstition.

Same!

[brooke77]

Mine are similar to others. I don’t wear the race tee until after the race. I won’t walk over the finish line until I’m actually finishing. I don’t post on social media (pics/checkins/etc) until after I’ve finished.

ETA - and I always sleep in the race tee the night after the race.

[sadlebred]

I listen to the same 3-4 songs each race to get me pumped up.

[melmel48]

No new clothes on race day. I recently got on my friends case because he was wearing new socks to a half marathon. Lol. I will not wear the t-shirt because that is bad mojo. I am working on my obsession of wearing shoes that match my running outfit. I fell and sprained my ankle recently. I told my friend it was because my shoes didn't match.

Basically I am a weirdo.