Runners are a superstitious bunch. You’d think this was a rational sport ,shoes, training, hydration, go. But no. Race day arrives and suddenly the car park is full of people performing odd little rituals like they’re trying to summon a PB through dark magic and oat based snacks.
From muttering to bananas to violently flapping their arms beside bins, these strange pre race behaviours have no scientific backing… but we do them anyway.
Here are the most baffling race day rituals we’ve all either witnessed or secretly done.
1. Lucky Socks That Definitely Don’t Have Magic Powers but Also Must Never Be Washed
They’re threadbare. They smell like deep regret. They may or may not still have bloodstains from that one marathon in 2019. But you can’t not wear them.
Because the one time you wore different socks, you DNF’d. Or got a cramp. Or had to use a portaloo with no toilet roll. Coincidence? Possibly. But are you willing to take that risk?
Didn’t think so.
2. Weird Stretching That’s More Interpretive Dance Than Warm Up
It starts off normal: a bit of hamstring action, a few ankle rolls. Then someone goes full freestyle.
Leg swings become roundhouse kicks. Arms start doing things that look like a pigeon trying to take off in slow motion. Someone’s doing high knees beside the DJ booth like they’re auditioning for Riverdance.
You look around. You join in. You have no idea what muscle group you’re targeting but you suddenly feel ready.
3. Eating Exactly the Same Thing at Exactly the Same Time Like It’s a Religious Obligation
It could be porridge. A bagel. A banana and half a cereal bar eaten while crouched on the toilet seat at 6:44am. Doesn’t matter. It must be the exact same food, at the exact same time, before every race.
Slight variation? Disaster. You once tried swapping peanut butter for jam and ended up in a hedge at kilometre seven. Never again.
Bonus points if you insist on a specific brand of snack. God help the race where the local Centra doesn’t stock it.
4. Talking to Your Food Like It’s a Motivational Speaker
You’ve seen it. You’ve done it.
You hold the banana like it’s a microphone. You mutter things like “Don’t let me down today.” You squeeze a gel and whisper “you’re the good one, not like the others.”
You are fully aware this is mental. But it’s race day. Normal rules are suspended. This banana is your friend now.
5. Pacing Around Like a Nervous Horse and Refusing to Acknowledge Anyone You Know
You’ve queued for the loo twice. You’ve done your warm up. You still have 12 minutes until the start. So you pace.
Not walk. Not stretch. Pace.
Back and forth. Up and down. Looking at your watch. Staring blankly at the crowd. Making brief eye contact with people from your club and pretending not to see them because you’re in the zone.
What zone? No idea. But it feels important.
6. The Ritual Portaloo Visit (Regardless of Whether You Need It or Not)
You’ve already gone. Twice. You don’t need to go. And yet… you queue again.
Just in case. Just to be sure. Because what if you get halfway through the race and realise you weren’t as empty as you thought?
You know the portaloo is grim. You’ve mentally prepared yourself. This is just part of it now.
Final Word
Pre race rituals make absolutely no sense and yet, they absolutely do. Because race day is part physical challenge, part psychological performance art. And if eating a banana while doing weird leg swings in a pair of crusty socks helps you believe you’ll survive 10 miles of misery… then so be it.
Let them judge. You’ve got your ritual, your route, and your trusty cereal bar from 2017. You’re ready.