20 Oddly Satisfying Rituals Runners Do on Race Day

Call it obsessive habits, call it quirky rituals—but for runners, it’s a routine. And on race day, routine is everything.

Because the only thing more unpredictable than the weather or the porta-potty line is what your brain might do when the nerves kick in. That’s why we build race-day rituals—tiny acts of control in a sport where anything can happen between the start and the finish line.

And if you’re nodding along to any of these—you’re not alone.

Photo by Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times

1. Attach the bib number

It’s practically sacred: pinning the bib onto your race shirt with surgical precision the night before. It’s not just pinning on paper—it’s a ceremony. You smooth it out, re-pin at least twice, and triple-check that everything is perfectly symmetrical. You definitely sleep better knowing it’s done.

2. Lay out the flat lay

Shoes. Socks. Watch. T-shirt. Nutrition. Hat. Anti-chafe stick. Looks like a gear ad, feels like therapy. Because if it’s not laid out in a perfect grid, something will be forgotten.

3. Eat the exact same pre-race breakfast

Same brand of oats. Same banana. Same coffee mug. You’ve had it before every race since 2015 and nothing—not even a hotel buffet—can break the streak.

4. Execute the long bathroom strategy

It starts three hours out and involves caffeine timing and multiple pre-race bathroom visits. Bonus points if you scout porta-potties on the course map the night before.

5. Double knot the laces

Because the worst thing mid-race isn’t hitting the wall—it’s tripping over your own shoelaces at mile three. Double knots = double peace of mind.

6. Don’t wear the race shirt

Some say it’s bad luck. Others just believe you have to earn it. Either way, that brand-new race tee stays in the bag until you cross the finish line—tags on, pride pending.

7. Put on the lucky socks (or underwear)

No one can see them, but you know. They’ve been through every long run, every PR, and possibly one emotional breakdown. They carry history, so racing in them is mandatory.

8. Tape the nipples

Uncomfortable topic. Necessary solution. A few seconds of prep, hours of gratitude later.

9. Rub pungent balm on your legs

Whether it’s tiger balm, Icy Hot, or something so strong it clears your sinuses, rubbing it on your quads makes you feel like you’ve activated beast mode. Or at least smell like it.

10. Apply body glide in strategic areas

We don’t need to name them. You know where. A quiet, intimate moment between you and your anti-chafe stick before battle.

11. Listen to the playlist

It’s always the same one. Same order. Same pump-up song on repeat during your warm-up. Don’t judge—it works.

12. Say a mantra

Whether it’s “strong and fast,” “you’ve got this,” or “one mile at a time,” the words may change, but the effect is the same: settle the nerves, sharpen the mind.

13. Take a photo before the start

Smile. Point at the bib. Try to look fresh. This is the “before” photo you’ll later use to compare just how wrecked you looked at the finish.

14. Count down the seconds out loud

10, 9, 8… you know the drill. You could just let the gun go off, but shouting with strangers is part of the shared race-day magic.

15. Count runners as you overtake them

It’s not about competition, it’s about motivation. Okay, it’s a little about competition. It’s even more satisfying if you whisper “gotcha” to yourself.

16. Sprint to the finish and strike a pose

Final stretch? Time to burn whatever’s left. Throw your hands up, jump mid-air, or smile like you didn’t just suffer for 26.2 miles. That finish-line photo lasts forever.

17. Take a sweaty medal selfie

Hair wild, face red, shirt clinging to your ribs—doesn’t matter. You earned it. That selfie is going on Strava, Instagram, the group chat, and your fridge.

18. Lie on the ground with legs up

Preferably against a tree, fence, or random wall. Because the best post-race stretch is zero effort, full circulation recovery.

19. Wear the medal all the way home

Yes, even at the airport. Yes, even through TSA. Someone might ask what you ran, and you will tell them.

20. Sign up for the same race again

Finish line euphoria hits, and suddenly that course wasn’t so bad. You’ll be back next year. You always are.

Related: 10 Tips for Running a Half Marathon Without Stopping

Rituals might not make you faster—but they make you feel ready. They anchor your nerves, sharpen your focus, and give you something solid to hold onto in the swirl of race-day chaos. They’re part superstition, part strategy, and all heart.

So, if someone asks why you are taping your nipples or sniffing tiger balm at 6:45 a.m., just smile. They wouldn’t get it. But other runners? They understand completely.