March 24, 2015

It’s Race Week! 5 Critical Steps to Prepare You for an Epic Mud Run

Post by Alex Brown
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It’s race week.

Are you ready?

You’ve been running, lifting, and training. You’ve (hopefully) skipped the sugary desserts and the beer. You’ve put together your team.

And now it’s time.

In the final days leading up to your mud run, there are just a few more things to check off the list.

The Air Force Reserve wants to make sure you’re at your best on race day, so read on for five steps that they believe are critical to remember as you prepare for an epic mud run.

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Step 1 – Taper Your Training & Get Quality Rest

It’s good that you’ve been training hard leading up to your obstacle course race, but now it’s time to taper off so that you’re fresh on race day. Slow down, lighten up, and give your body an opportunity to recover. You’ve pushed yourself hard and now you need to rest.

Over the course of weeks and months of training, your muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, etc. work incredibly hard. It will take a few days of complete rest or just very light activity for your body to have the time it needs rebuild, repair, and be totally recovered.

Enjoy restful sleep. Shut off the TV, the computer, and your cell phone, get in bed early, sleep in a very dark room, and try to avoid setting an alarm. Your body recovers best when you’re asleep, so make this a priority. You want fresh legs (and everything else) on race day.

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Step 2 – Eat Clean & Hydrate

Don’t make any major dietary changes in the last few days leading up to your mud run, but do try to keep your food clean and healthy. Reach for quality meats, fresh veggies and fruits, and healthy fats (like olive oil and avocado). Skip anything processed. You don’t want an upset digestive system on race day!

Hydrate well during this time, too. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times. Don’t overdo it, but consciously drink plenty of water and listen to your body’s thirst signals. Hydration will help you perform best on race day, especially if you’re competing in a very hot environment.

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Step 3 – Pack Your Bags & Plan Your Schedule

The last thing you want to do is be scrambling around the morning of your mud run trying to figure out what to wear and what to bring. Plan these things out in advance, and pack your bags ahead of time.

Some things you may want to include are: clothes that won’t get too heavy in the mud, shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty, a towel and a change of clothes for after the race, hat/sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks and water. You may also want to bring a camera or a GoPro (be sure to include your contact information inside the case). Grab a little bit of cash and put all your stuff in a bag that zips up securely so you can drop your bag off during your race.

On race morning, it will be important to stay as calm and relaxed as possible. You don’t want to be stressed because you’re running late! Plan out your schedule and driving route in advance. Fill up your car the day before you leave. If you’re staying overnight, make sure your hotel reservations are made. Call up your teammates and figure out the carpool plan. Leave 15-30 minutes earlier than you think you need to. All of this preparation will eliminate stress on race morning.

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Step 4 – Rally Your Support System

Having a support system either racing with you or cheering you on from the sidelines will make your mud run that much more fun. Invite a few friends or a couple family members out to the event, making sure you get them spectator passes in advance. (At Savage Race, the entire course is open and available to spectators, so they’ll be able to see you a few times throughout the race – and they’ll be able to take some amazing photos of your mud run experience!)

There’s nothing like racing alongside your spouse, parents, siblings, kids, or best friends. Encourage each other leading up to the event. Some lighthearted, friendly competition never hurt anyone, either, so throw out a challenge to your teammates and enjoy the competitive spirit of obstacle course racing.

If you happen to be racing alone, just remember that there’s an entire community of obstacle course racers that you can consider family. When you’re on the course, take a few minutes to help others conquer an obstacle. You’ll find that your fellow competitors will do the same for you.

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Step 5 – Get Mentally Prepared

Obstacle course racing is no joke. It takes some serious guts. So you’ll want to be mentally prepared before ever stepping foot into the starting corral. Remember that you’re out to challenge yourself, physically and mentally, and have a great time in the process. Face your fears. Realize that you’ll probably be stretched beyond your comfort zone, and that’s ok.

Don’t psyche yourself out before you even start. Believe in yourself, your training, and the support of those around you. Plenty of other people who are running beside you are facing their own fears. Throw out some words of encouragement, and stay positive. How you feel about your mud run experience will be directly reflected by your thoughts and attitude going in to race day. You’ve got this!

If you’ve tapered your training and gotten quality rest, eaten clean and hydrated, packed your bags and planned your schedule, rallied your support system, and gotten mentally prepared, we’re sure you’ll have an epic time at your upcoming mud run. 

Now, it’s time to show up and get Savage!

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