In this week’s episode of The Runna Podcast, Ben and Anya break down their full race day approach including what to prepare, what to focus on, and what really matters when the big day arrives!
Watch or listen to the full episode to get race-day ready! Plus click here to download your free marathon race day checklist!
Setting The Tone Before
Your best race day doesn’t start on the day – it starts the night before. There’s a moment in this episode where Ben makes it clear: a lot of what you do here isn’t about gaining anything… it’s about not getting in your own way.
Simplifying the night before is what makes race morning feel calm. Download your checklist and get organised.
“Think about what you need to bring to the start – your gels, snacks, hydration. Think through layers… something you can wear and discard or put in the bag drop.”
This is the time where small things start to matter more than you’d think:
Knowing your start wave
Getting there early enough to avoid stress
Following your nutrition plan
Having a clear meeting point for after
There’s also the most important reminder: nothing new on race day.
Nerves Mean You Care
One of the most honest parts of the episode is the conversation around nerves – we all feel them. Instead of trying to get rid of them, Anya reframes them as something else entirely.
“If you’re feeling nervous it’s a good thing. You’ve just got to take that nervous energy and convert it into positive energy."
You wouldn’t feel nervous if it didn’t matter to you. And sometimes, the most helpful thing you can do is zoom out and remember:
Coach Ben says: “I think if you’re nervous it’s because you know deep down that you are capable of something. You know that something really cool is possible – so you’ve just got to enjoy that."
It’s a Mental Game (More Than You Think)
At a certain point in the race, it stops being about fitness and starts being about how you respond when things get hard. Ben talks about reframing what’s left – not as a huge distance, but as something small compared to what you’ve already done.
Anya breaks it down differently:
Legs
Head
Heart
Three phases. Three ways to think about the same race.
Different approaches – same goal: keep moving forward.
This Is Your Victory Lap
The episode finishes with a reminder that cuts through everything:
You’ve already done the hard part: The months of training. The early mornings. The long runs. Race day is a celebration of that! Go out and enjoy it.
Good luck, we're cheering you on every step of the way!
Watch or Listen to the Full Episode
Watch or listen to the full episode to hear the full walkthrough – and give yourself a calmer, clearer approach to race day.