Today’s Tuesdays on the run topic is pre-race rituals and lucky charms. Other than pizza the night before a race, always, I have no exciting pre-race rituals. Lucky charms? Nada. Superstitions? I’ve got a few:
Like my old friend (in my dreams) Stevie Wonder always said:
“When you believe in things
That you don’t understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain’t the way”
Despite Stevie’s warning, I have to admit I have some running superstitions:
Orange is a good luck color for masters runners. I wasn’t aware of this until I unwittingly wore an orange top to my 2nd marathon–the one that turned out to be the magical first BQ performance.
Since then I always make sure I have something orange on when I race. It can be as little as a hair tie.
The song that comes up on my running tunes foreshadows the overall tone of the race. When I did the Soldier Field 10-miler back in 2006, Depeche Mode’s Precious came up at the starting line:
“Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we’d manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give”
I ended up badly spraining my ankle right at mile 5 (furthest point from the finish of course) and had to make the executive decision to either hop on the sag wagon or run/walk it in. Any guesses what I did?
Before a race I tie my shoes one time and one time only. Anything more than this and there’s trouble. Not sure where this one came from but there it is.
Do you have any running superstitions or good luck charms?
I’m Linking up with Erika, Patty and April for Tuesdays on the Run.
Reminder! Runfession Friday Linkup is this Friday! Usually the last Friday of the month but there are things I just NEED to get off my chest before spring break. I’ll leave the linkup open thru the end of the month so join us! I promise you’ll feel better!
No running superstitions yet, though I do obsessively check my alarm the night before to make sure it’s really truly set haha.
Ha. I used to run all the time to Stevie’s Superstition (and Boogie On Reggae Woman). I don’t really have any “special” thing. I stalk the weather but that certainly doesn’t help!
I wrote this last summer about my pre race and pre horse show rituals: http://suzlyfe.com/race-horse-show-rituals-friday-five/
It was actually a great trip down memory lane for me! I have really chilled out over the years with regards to my lucky charms, though I still have rituals for my set up–my warm ups and food and such. I used to have some great ones though–from May the Horse be With You to my Lucky pendant!
I had no idea about orange being lucky- guess I will be wearing it for my race this Sunday!
Yay for orange! It’s one of my alma mater’s colors, so I do enjoy wearing orange as a pick-me-up. I don’t have any running superstitions, but I do have a lot of Blackhawks hockey fan superstitions! Those are a whole other story. =D
PB on toast (or a waffle) exactly 3 hours before race day 🙂
I didn’t know about orange – I will have to plan it into my outfit for Saturday!!!
Well, there you go. I would NEVER willingly wear orange so I guess I will never be a good Master runner! Love your stories!
I never knew about the orange superstition. I don’t think I have any orange running gear! Time to stock up.
And I’m sure you purged that song from your playlist after that.
Yep, the orange has brought me some good luck too! Love my orange…
I have no superstitions. I’m usually too busy trying to not get too anxious about the race to worry about not having my lucky undies on.
I didn’t know about the orange being good luck! I need some kind of good luck ritual to cut back on the pre-race nerves!
I don’t really have any “lucky charms” either. Your pizza before a race sounds good!
Running Superstitions! What? Why don’t I have any yet? I have a few rituals…well 1 mainly…and it’s not so much a ritual as a necessity. I find the need to use the restroom maybe a good 100 times (give or take) before the start of each and every race! That’s so cool that you are a BQ’r! I’d live in orange if I were you!!
I know several people who swear by eating pizza the night before a big race. There’s a local 5k that I run every year and they serve pizza after the race (at 9am), and its the perfect post race treat!
I LOVE the orange 🙂 I guess i don’t have any rituals other than I now will usually always run with water. I found out the hard way to rely only on water stops. I needed water and there wasn’t water for another couple of miles (which can be 20+ minutes or so for me).. so now I always run with water if I’m running a Half or longer.
I love the orange superstition. I’d totally wear orange every time if it meant a BQ LOL.
I’m with you on the pizza the night before. And now you’ve got me thinking I better go out and buy something orange 😉
I just obsessively check my alarm clock like mentioned in a comment above- I am paranoid I’m going to oversleep!! I do usually do the same things before every race though, so I guess those are my rituals 🙂
I SWEAR I am not superstitious and go out of my way to walk under ladders, laugh at Friday 13th, etc. But when it comes to racing the rituals are so deeply ingrained I don’t think I can ever change. I have to get to a race an hour early. I always tie my shoes one last time on the start line. My bib MUST be pinned on straight. I have to have a Nutella sandwich 2 hrs before the race. I am a head case!
I really don’t think I have any pre race superstitions! Maybe I should start?
Who knew about orange!! I am super ritualistic when training for a race. When I did my first marathon in 2006 i ate the same Friday night dinner at the same place in the city before my long run!! I swore by it!!
I wear orange, too. It was the favourite colour of a fellow alumna of my alma mater that died while raising money for cancer research. I wear it in her honour. See the story here: http://thepointnews.com/2015/02/the-seahawks-remember-former-student-and-accomplished-athlete-jamie-roberts
I am a fan of orange- didn’t know it was lucky, I could use a little lucky! I love pizza the night before too with tons of veggies on it! I also only tie my shoes once, I give them that look, they are tied and my feet and I are moving on! Fun post!