Right then, it’s the day before the big one (ok well not today, but it will be on Saturday), the Fingal 10K and suddenly everything feels a bit too real. One minute you’re casually lacing up your runners for a little jog, next minute you’re staring at your race kit like it’s a bomb you’ve got to defuse.
But don’t worry, I’m here to help you through this with a guide that’s equal parts practical advice and barely disguised panic management, all in glorious British spelling and Jimmy Carr-level sass.
Let’s get into it: what to eat, what to pack, and how to stop your brain from launching into a full-blown anxiety conga.
🥗 Pre-Race Meals: Eat Like a Champion, Not Like a Gremlin
You’ve heard the phrase “carb-loading,” right? It’s that rare and magical time where athletes get to shovel pasta into their mouths and say it’s part of the plan. Finally, some justice in the world.
But, and this is key, there’s a difference between carb-loading and eating like you’ve been raised by wolves at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
🍝 Do:
- Stick to familiar, boring food. This is not the time to discover Thai fusion curry.
- Focus on low-fibre, low-fat carbs like rice, pasta, and potatoes.
- Eat your main meal early in the evening to give your body time to digest (rather than turning your intestines into a rave at 3am).
💩 Don’t:
- Try anything new. If it’s labelled "experimental", "artisan", or "trendy", it belongs nowhere near your bowels right now.
- Eat so much you feel like you need a nap in a medieval tavern.
💡 Pro tip: You want to arrive at the start line feeling fuelled and ready, not waddling like you’ve just eaten a rugby ball.
🎽 Race Kit Checklist: Pack Like a Pro, Not a Panic-Stricken Ferret
You’d be surprised how many people train for weeks and then forget to bring their actual running shoes. Yes, it happens. No, you don’t want it to be you.
So tonight, before you get too emotional looking at the weather app for the 14th time, lay your kit out like you’re assembling a flatpack runner.
✅ Race Kit Essentials:
- Running shoes (the tried-and-tested ones, not the shiny new devils you bought yesterday)
- Race bib and safety pins (yes, all four pins – don’t go flappy)
- Socks (the ones you trust with your life, your toes, and your dignity)
- Comfortable, weather-appropriate running gear
- Watch or tracker (charged — unless you’re just running for vibes, in which case: bold move)
- Energy gels or snacks (if you’re into that sort of thing – personally I like mine with less chance of explosive diarrhoea)
🧴 Optional But Smart:
- Vaseline or anti-chafe balm (because nipple burn is not a badge of honour)
- Hat or sunglasses (for sun, or to hide your despair at kilometre 8)
- A bin bag or throwaway top (for staying warm at the start, not to commit a crime)
💡 Pro tip: Take a photo of your flat lay kit. If nothing else, it’ll look nice on Instagram and scream, “Look how put-together I am!”, even if you’re internally screaming
🧠 Mental Preparation: Don’t Let the Nerves Win
It’s normal to feel a bit twitchy the night before a race. Your brain will come up with some truly unhelpful thoughts, like:
- “What if I forget how to run?”
- “What if I trip over a child/dog/unicorn?”
- “What if I come last and everyone points and laughs and someone from the BBC is there filming it and it goes viral and I’m known forever as The Sad Runner?”
Deep breaths.
🧘♀️ Mental Prep 101:
- Visualise the race. Not like a weird fantasy sequence, but see yourself running strong, breathing steady, and not screaming internally.
- Set a realistic goal. You’re not here to beat the Kenyans. You’re here to beat yesterday you. Unless yesterday you was hungover, in which case: easy win.
- Remind yourself of your training. You didn’t drag yourself through wind, rain, and 6am long runs just to crumble at the start line like a stale Jaffa Cake.
💡 Pro tip: Write a few motivational mantras on your hand if you need to. Something like:
- “You’ve got this.”
- “Just one foot in front of the other.”
- “Remember, this was your idea, you lunatic.”
Final Thought: You've Done the Hard Work — Now Don’t Cock It Up
If you: ✅ Eat like a sensible human,
✅ Lay your kit out like a tactical operation,
✅ Calm the inner chaos gremlin,
…then you’re more than ready for the Fingal 10K.
Or you could skip all that, eat a kebab, stay up till 2am rewatching Peep Show, and turn up wearing odd socks and a regret-filled expression. Your choice.
See you at the start line and remember: start slow, finish strong, and try not to wee yourself.
Next week: How to Run Your Best Fingal 10K – or as I like to call it, “How to Survive 10K Without Crying, Collapsing, or Publicly Humiliating Yourself."