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Running Routines and Lucky Charms
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Besides St. Patrick's Day, most of us don't have the "Luck of the Irish" on our side. So what do runners do to give themselves that extra edge? We polled Active employees, who shared their lucky charms and race-day rituals.
Run With The Wind
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"Before every race, I take my bib number and crumple it up into a little ball and then flatten it back out again. I do this so it's more form fitting when I pin it on me, and it doesn't catch the wind like a stiff sail." -Toby Guillette
Dirty Running Socks
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"I have a lucky technical shirt that I wore when I ran my marathon PR in Chicago. I tend to run well when I wear it. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the shirt and everything to do with my mental state."
"My husband used to reserve special racing socks and underwear that he only wore on race day (never in training)".
-Sabrina GrotewoldPumped-Up Playlist
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"Before a race or any big event I always listen to the songs 'Jumpin' Jumpin' by Destiny's Child and 'Run This Town' by Jay-Z and Rihanna to get me fired up and focused. I also always make sure to put 'Gonna Fly Now' from the Rocky Soundtrack on my running playlist." -Maile Proctor
Breakfast of Champions
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"Before every run:
1. Coffee (2 cups)2. Banana
3. The Stick (the massager) must be used." -Cailin Lynam
Eye of The Tiger
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"I wear the same running shorts for every half marathon: my gray lululemon shorts. I always wear some sort of pink?easy to spot me! I always have a piece of toast and 4 oz. of coffee race-day morning. I listen to "Eye of the Tiger" 30 minutes before my race to get me ready." -Fara Rosenzweig
Four-Legged Running Buddy
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"I like to have my dog pace me for all or part of the race. I run trail ultramarathons. She has run an entire 50K trail race with me, and paced me on the last loop of one of my 100-mile trail races. She really reminds me to enjoy the moment, and we've done a lot of bonding out there. We love running together so much that I will often only register for races where she can join me. Best pacer ever!" -Vanessa Rodriguez
New Shoes, No Music
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"I always wear a brand new pair of shoes on race day. I know, most people say that's crazy, but I always wear a brand/style/size I know works, and this way I'm getting the most cushioning the shoe has. Plus, there's just something sweet about a brand new pair of running shoes!"
"I always wear black socks, Since probably the mid '90s. They always 'look' clean, even if they're not."
"I never, ever wear an iPod. I listen to my body, not music."
-Mike RousePut The Right Foot Forward
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"I always wear timing chips on my right foot."
"I usually try to start out a race with a Black Keys song (something calm bluesy and familiar?keep the adrenaline down a bit)."
"My newest tradition is getting up before a race with enough time to wash my face and put on some waterproof mascara. A high school coach always said, 'Look sharp, play sharp'"
-Elicia StrazzeriBring On The Bacon
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"I wake up and make eggs and bacon?must have bacon, and I have to have my iPod." -Valerie Prestidge