The idea of running 13.1 miles on purpose is not anything I ever thought I would willingly choose to do, let alone something I would set as a dream goal. So it’s weird that that’s exactly what I did this past January.
When I marked a half-marathon down as my 2014 New Year’s resolution, I decided that if I was going to do it, I was going to do it big. And if you want an experience, you obviously go with Disney. I made up my mind that the Disney Wine Dine Half Marathon, sponsored by New Balance, was the race for me. After all, a fun race at the most magical place on earth with delicious food and wine? Sold.
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One of the many things that sets runDisney’s race apart from other half-marathons is that it starts at 10 p.m. Sounds like a blast, but training runs long after dark aren’t part of my typical routine, and I’m sure that’s the case for a lot of other people, too.
So I turned to the runDisney experts to get some insight on how to prep for a night race:
Get the Right (and Safe!) Gear
Reflective and glow-in-the-dark gear will up your style factor—and it will keep you visible when you run at night, says Kristen Tenaglia, New Balance “Trackster†and winner of the 2013 Wine Dine Half Marathon. She’s a fan of the NB Glow Beacon Jacket ($174.99, newbalance.com) and Limited Edition NB Glow 1400 shoes ($104.99, newbalance.com). If you’re also doing a runDisney race, know that “costumes at all runDisney races are certainly encouraged and enjoyed,†says Tenaglia, “but make sure you can run comfortably in them for 13.1. Avoid any clothing that would cause you to overheat.†Basically, test runs are your friend.
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Practice Your Night Crawls
If you’re training for a race that takes place at night, you should aim to schedule at least two training runs at about the same time as you’ll hit the start line, says runDisney coach and former Olympian Jeff Galloway.  “Not only does this get the body used to running in the evening, you’ll also learn how to schedule eating, which foods to avoid, and how much fluid you need,†he says.
Take It Easy the Day-of
Stay off your feet as much as you can on the big day, says Tenaglia. “You don’t need to sit and nap all day, but try and conserve energy so that you can put it toward the race.â€
Eat After You Cross the Finish Line
You’ll of course fuel throughout the day leading up to the race since you won’t be hitting the start line until 10 p.m. (but, ahem: avoid fried and fatty foods so you don’t upset your stomach). That said, don’t forget to sit down at the table post-race, too, says Tara Gidus, R.D., the official nutritionist for runDisney. “You may be tempted to just go back to the hotel and shower and go to bed,†she says. But “have a snack or post-race meal of carbs and protein and, of course, fluid.â€Â Your body works overnight to repair itself. “If you go to bed dehydrated and depleted, you risk poor recovery, potentially leading to suppressed immune system and risk of injury,†says Gidus.
Check back here later this week for the Women’s Health fitness team’s favorite products for when you exercise at night!
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Lindsey Benoit is Women’s Health’s director of communications.