Pre-Race Check List

Now:
1. Register for the race. Don't put it off any longer!
2. Make your travel plans if you’re not from the Bay Area.
3. Plan your driving route and departure time if you are from the Bay Area—leave EARLY! Arriving late will stress you out and possibly upset your race. If the race starts at 8, I plan to be at the starting line at 7. That’s right. An hour early. I’ll walk, stretch, eat a banana…and relax because I’m there.
4. Figure out parking now. Read the race website to learn about shuttles, and ask Alex if you need to carpool.
5. MUSIC: Get that i-pod loaded!

Friday Before the Race:
1. Eat a big meal of pasta and/or potatoes.
2. Go to bed early.
3. Make sure all of your friends know what you’re doing.

Saturday, the Day Before the Race:
1. Pick out your race outfit and put it on. That’s right—put it on to make sure you don’t forget something like, oh, the sports bra. Or the left shoe. Put the whole thing on and jog around the block. Don’t try anything new for the race.

2. Drink a lot of water all day.

3. Eat another carb meal, but go a little lighter this time. You don’t want to be over-full. Hopefully we can have that meal together!

4. Don’t worry about going to bed early. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but honestly, it’s very hard to sleep the night before the race. I often get more stressed trying to sleep than just staying up and talking to PETA Pack people visiting from out of town!

5. Pack your favorite energy gels, bars or blocks. The race will have water and Gatorade stops, but no gels.

6. Make the time to drive to the course, so you know exactly where the parking, shuttles and starting line are.

7. Purchase and prepare your breakfast for early the next morning.

8. Have the following items ready to go:
*Your race outfit.
*Gels and gus and bars.
*Old sweats to wear in the beginning.
*Hat (if you wear one), sunscreen, hair band, dark glasses.
*Music (if you use it).
*Fully charged phone.
*Official race bib pinned to your race shirt.
*Timing chip attached to your shoe.
*Camera! Please, everyone…bring your camera so we can post photos after the event!
*Small bag with a bottle of water, dry shirt, ID and credit cards for after the race.

This race has a gear check. That means we’ll show up with our stuff, and a layer of our favorite old sweats over our race outfits to stay warm in the cold morning air. About 20 minutes before the race we’ll take off our sweats, pack everything into our bag, and the race people will safely check our stuff. They’ll transport all the bags to the finish line for us.


Post-race list:
1. Wipe tears off face. Seriously. I guarantee that at least half of us will cry when we cross the finish line.
2. Get race t-shirt and return timing chip.
3. WALK…don’t sit down after the race. Your legs will need to walk so the muscles loosen up.
4. Drink water (they’ll provide it at the race).
5. Eat a little, but chances are your stomach won’t be ready. Save your appetite for the party!
6. Pick up your gear.
7. Take photos of other PETA Packers crossing the finish line.
8. Share large hugs with everyone you see.
9. Take the free race shuttles back to your car and drive to the PETA Pack party.
10. Eat. Drink. Relax. Collect your free trip to Hawaii, Las Vegas or Mexico if you’ve been fundraising.
11. Look in the mirror and marvel at how amazing you are.

I will be handing out PETA Pack t-shirts on either 1/10 or 1/ 17. If you’re traveling here for the race, I’ll be around the day before to meet you and give you your shirt. If you’re not traveling here…we’ll miss you! And I’ll mail you your shirt.

Goody bags will be at the party.

Alex