The coldest race I ever ran was back in college at the Cross Country Nationals in Waterloo, Iowa. I remember it was about nine degrees out there as I was warming up, and I made sure every square inch of my body was shielded from the cold. The only part of me that was exposed was my face, and even then I recall it being frozen, wind-burned, and practically numb. When race time came around and I had to strip down to my uniform, it was a little shocking how cold the air felt against my skin. Back then we used to try some pretty creative tactics for staying warm in conditions like that. Like covering our bodies in petroleum jelly to help keep the warmth in, and then realizing that olive oil actually helps your skin breathe better, so we covered our bodies in that.
Yep, there I was on the starting line at the Cross Country Nationals, lathered head to toe in olive oil. I know runners are supposed to be hungry for victory but that was taking it to whole new level. Needless to say, I’m glad apparel technology has advanced to the point where we don’t have to rely on cooking ingredients to stay warm. The Nike Pro apparel I wear during warm-ups now really keeps my muscles warm, responsive and ready to go. It’s an important part of my pre-race routine because it prepares my body to perform at its highest level. That’s the physical advantage it gives me, and just knowing that my body is ready to compete gives me a mental edge as well. What I’ve learned is that if you prepare your body for a race the right way, using the right apparel for different conditions, you can go into it being 100% focused on the race. That gives you confidence, and you can save the olive oil for dinner.