Ritual, superstition, pre race routines. What are tried and true practices that have helped you succeed, that you have tested and experimented with and determined it’s a winner and what are mental crutches that probably aren’t actually serving you?

Is that lucky pair of undies because they are the most comfortable, reduce chafe and fit the best or just because you have worn them in every single race you have ever done and for sure the grounds of lake Tarawera will open up and swallow you like a scene from a Bruce Willis movie if you don’t wear them?

Taper is the time for over thinking, over purchasing and if you are doing it right, over sleeping.

As I pack and repack my mandatory gear, google new shoes (despite the fact that I wear shoes until they have holes in them and then continue to wear them, RIP Timp 2), and order more and more race nutrition, I have to keep reminding myself that I’ve done the work, that I’m ready, that I’m more likely to fuck this up this week by messing with the plan than I am to improve it.

Did you ever hear that stat as a kid when you did multiple choice exams? You know, they say never change your answer because you are most likely to be correct the first time, well turns out that is absolute rubbish. The advice is now to review your answers before submitting and if your answer is wrong, then duh, change it.

Is taper time the time to be reviewing your exam? Definitely not. This sport is more about experimenting and working out what works best for you and your n of one body, mind and training. There is no right answer in ultra running. It’s one of those annoying exams where there are multiple correct answers! There are probably better, best and worst answers if we are being honest!

But reviewing your plan and your gear and justifying why you are doing it, based on the evidence, can help calm the nerves and give you comfort in your plan. It’s not because red undies make you run faster, it’s because you chafed between your bum cheeks in the blue ones and couldn’t walk properly for a week afterwards. It’s not because Spring Energy gels are trending on Threads, it’s because you tried the Gu ones in training and they made you want to spew. Justify your decisions, be rational, not emotional.

I promise you will feel more ready and less likely to overthink your shoe choices.

Your rituals have a place too but only if they are serving you. I like to get my nails done before a race (fingers, absolutely no one is going near my feet, not because they are gross but because I don’t get blisters and I’m not touching what ain’t broke) and get fancy Melbourne donuts on the way home.

I’m pretty sure this little ritual was what got me sick with some sort of virus last year so I’ve been wearing a mask ever since (if they look at you funny just say the dust gives you asthma).

Pre-race rituals, even the ones that seem less rational and more superstitious, can actually be really helpful in reducing anxiety and research has shown that they can actually improve performance.

So embrace your inner weirdo, jump on the spot three times, pack your race kit in your carry on, have a mantra or a prayer cycling through your head or written on your arm, have the course map saved as the background on your phone, have a pump up song or reminder of your why in your drop bag. Don’t let people tell you you’re crazy (that’s already established, you run trail ultramarathons!) or feel self conscious.

Your loved ones will say “you’ll be fine” but they don’t know that! Jump on the spot just in case. At least you can say you did everything you could.

Happy tapering friends.