Ironman Arizona Race Week - Friday November 19 - A Day To Chill

Two days before the race, I typically do absolutely no training and stay off my feet as much as possible.  This is the day when the primary goal is to hydrate and allow the body to top up glycogen stores:  eat well, eat often, keep the liquids going.  The extra task we had this year was to arrange for our return-home COVID test.

The 24 to 48 hour period before a big event it the optimum time to help your body build up its glycogen stores for your event.  There are two things you can do in order to maximize your body’s ability to do this: 

1.  Eat the right foods. Get in a good, healthy mix of carbohydrates and proteins that your body is used to and you know your body can digest easily.  This is not the time to try something new.  If you don’t normally eat sushi, this is not the time to try it.  If want to use rice as one of your carbohydrate sources, try it as a side dish to a simple chicken breast rather than eat it with nori, wasabi and raw fish.  I once tried sushi 4 days before a race and spent the whole 3rd day with stabbing stomach cramps.  By race day, my stomach was still unsettled and my ability to eat and drink what I really needed race day was a little off.  

2.  Rest your body.  Two days out from the race, I don’t to any training. Walking is OK but I try to stay off my legs as much as possible.  If you are a knitter, this is a good day to make some good progress on your project.  Movies, reading, games on your phone are good too.  

And for those of you who have followed my 1-minute daily plank, you do not get a pass on your plank today, tomorrow or even race day.  I hit day #800 this week and I even plan to do my plank before the race on Sunday.  No excuses on that one.