Race Weekend Rest Plan

April 09, 2015

It' no secret that race weekend brings a wide array of emotions, ranging from super psyched to scared and nervous. But, whether the race is a marathon, triathlon or other endeavor, you can make the most of your training , and meet end goals , with a proper rest plan. Note: For this post, we'll refer to race day as Sunday, since running and athletic events usually fall on the last day of the weekend. Thursday night: Yes, this isn't technically race weekend yet, but your mind, body and nerves sure feel like it. On Thursday, it' important that you get eight to nine hours of uninterrupted, restful sleep. If you have a baby, ask your significant other or a friend to help you handle cries during the wee hours. Have a new puppy? Consider asking a friend to take care of your four-legged friend to avoid risking race weekend sleep disruptions. Friday night: Experts agree on the "two-night" rule, stating that two nights before your big event is the most important sleep of race weekend. Of course, like most things, you don't want to overdo it and wake up sleepy Saturday morning. But, make sure to shoot for no fewer than eight hours of sleep the Friday before your Sunday race. If you're traveling for your race, consider bringing your own pillow to avoid last-minute neck injuries. The REM-Fit cooling pillow collection will be of particular help here, as each pillow helps provide the ideal alignment, just check the pillow chart on each product page. Saturday night: With the excitement leading up to race day, there' little chance you'll actually get a good, restful night' sleep , but that' OK. Since you rested up Thursday and Friday (and hopefully earlier in the week), you have nothing to worry about. Aim for an early Saturday bedtime, and give yourself plenty of time to wake up, stretch and get food in your system before the big event. You may want to test out your pre-race routine in the weeks leading up to race weekend as well to make sure you're on track, and can avoid the "trying something new on race day" fitness faux pas. Sunday night: Congratulations! You completed your big race. Now it' time to celebrate with a delicious meal and , you guessed it , a good night' sleep! If you ran a marathon, or any similar event, you'll need at least one extra hour of sleep on race night. By mapping out your race weekend rest routine, you'll be well ahead of the game , and fully energized , come race day. To learn more about healthy sleep for fitness enthusiasts, visit www.remfit.com.

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