As you read this, I'm already deep into my final preparations for Sunday's Maine Marathon.
The training is done. The long runs are behind me. The fitness I'll take to the starting line has already been earned. At this point, I'm not trying to get fitter. My focus has shifted toward arriving at the race healthy, rested, confident, and fully fueled.
Race week always feels a little strange. After months of following a training plan, suddenly the objective is no longer to train harder. It's to recover, prepare, and trust the work that's already been done.
For me, that preparation happens on three levels: the body, the mind, and the spirit.
Preparing the Body
My three-day carb-load began on Thursday.
Carb-Loading (literally)
When most runners hear the phrase "carb-loading," they picture a giant bowl of pasta the night before the race. While there's certainly nothing wrong with pasta, a successful carb-load is about much more than one meal. The goal is to gradually maximize glycogen stores over several days so your muscles have the fuel they need on race day.
I've always viewed carb-loading as the final workout of marathon training. The miles build the fitness, but the carb-load helps ensure that fitness has the energy it needs when it matters most.
For this race, I used the Activastic Fueling Calculator to determine both my carb-loading targets and my race-day fueling strategy. Instead of guessing how many carbohydrates or electrolytes I should consume, I was able to build a personalized approach that gives me confidence heading into race weekend.
One thing I've learned over the years is that having a plan removes uncertainty. During race week, that's valuable. The fewer decisions I need to make on race day, the better.
That mindset extends beyond fueling.
I've also learned that not every race needs a specific time goal. For Sunday's Maine Marathon, my goal is simple: Finish the marathon.
That's it.
Now, if we're talking about a half marathon, that's a different conversation. The half marathon is my favorite distance. It's where I tend to feel strongest, and it's where I often have performance goals. Breaking 1:50 is always somewhere in the back of my mind when I toe the line for a half.
But the marathon feels different.
For me, a marathon isn't about chasing a certain number on the clock. It's about respecting the distance, executing the plan, solving problems when they arise, and crossing the finish line. If I do that on Sunday, I'll consider the day a success.
Preparing the Mind
No matter how many races I run, race week always brings a mix of emotions.
There's excitement. There's confidence. There's anticipation.
And there's usually a healthy amount of nervous energy.
The funny thing is that these feelings remind me of my years as a performer.
The final week before opening night always felt remarkably similar. Months of preparation were complete. The rehearsals were done. The choreography was set. Yet there was still that familiar combination of excitement and nerves before stepping onto the stage.
The Maine Marathon feels a lot like opening week.
At some point, you have to stop rehearsing and trust what you've built.
You trust the training. You trust the preparation. You trust yourself.
I've come to realize that pre-race nerves aren't necessarily a sign that something is wrong. More often than not, they're simply proof that something matters.
That's how I feel right now. Excited. Confident, and a little nervous. And completely aware that by the time I stand on the starting line Sunday morning, there won't be anything left to do except run.
Preparing the Spirit
Every runner has race-week rituals.
Some runners repeatedly reorganize their gear bags. Others check the weather forecast every few hours. Some convince themselves that looking at the race website for the fifteenth time today is absolutely necessary.
And then there's me.
Part of my race-week preparation includes watching Rocky and Creed movies. Is there scientific evidence that watching Rocky Balboa improves marathon performance? Absolutely not.
Will it increase my VO₂ max? Also no.
But if you happen to see me running up a flight of stairs while humming Gonna Fly Now, just know the process is working exactly as intended.
I actually have a Rocky poster hanging in my gym, and somehow it becomes significantly more motivational during race week than at any other time of the year.
Maybe it's the nerves. Maybe it's the carb-loading. Maybe it's Rocky.
Honestly, it's probably Rocky.
The truth is that these little rituals help me channel nervous energy into excitement. They remind me why I enjoy this sport and why I keep signing up for races that require months of preparation and occasionally questionable decision-making.
Music is another important part of that process.
For every major race, I create a dedicated playlist. Not just a random collection of songs I enjoy, but a soundtrack specifically designed for that event.
Some songs motivate me.
Others serve as cues.
Certain tracks remind me to relax my shoulders. Others remind me to settle into my pace. Some remind me to stay patient when adrenaline starts encouraging poor decisions in the early miles.
As a former dancer and performer, I've always believed that music is more than entertainment. Music influences mood, confidence, focus, and energy. Sometimes the right song arriving at the right moment can completely change the feel of a run.
Just as fueling supports the body, music can support the mind.
If you're looking for some additional inspiration, Activastic offers several free motivational playlists that you can use for training runs, long runs, or race day.
Trusting the Process
As this article goes live, my carb-load is underway.
My fueling plan is set. My hydration strategy is in place. My race playlist is nearly finished. The Rocky movies are queued up. And somewhere between the confidence and the nerves, I'm reminding myself of something simple:
The work is done. The miles are in the bank.
Now it's time to trust the process.
Come Sunday morning, I won't be chasing a specific finish time. I'll be chasing an experience. I'll be putting months of preparation to the test, one mile at a time, and hopefully crossing the finish line with a smile.
The body gets the carb-load. The mind gets the confidence. The spirit gets Rocky Balboa and a carefully curated playlist.
See you at the Maine Marathon finish line.
Run strong, fuel smart, and trust the process.
Didier
