4. Pre-race ritual, warm-up, food, etc.?
NOAH BELL: Eat breakfast, ride the course a few times, eat lunch after race.
STEVE FIFE: I always like to arrive at a cross course before the first races of the day to pre-ride and scope out all of the obstacles and barriers. Then, I relax, eat a Clif Bar, and stay hydrated. Warm up includes 20-30 minutes on the trainer, with a few 30 second sprints to get the legs turning over. 2 GUs before the start, and then line up and go.
JAY MORALI: Peanut Butter sandwich…ride the course!!!
JULIE KULIECZA: 1 hour before 3 laps on open course, get on trainer 25 min easy, 5 min t, 3 min rest, 3 min LT, 3 min rest, 1 min VO2 max, and 2-3 sprints, Try not to ride the course right before your race!! You could get a flat and have to scramble for wheels/ pit bike right before you go off. I saw it happen on Sunday.
Pre race food/ritual: trying not to barf up the gels I eat before the race… they are so effing gross…
LINDSAY BAYER: I do a half-assed warm up around the race venue, eat a Hammer Gel, and perform a ritual animal sacrifice in my car. Works every time.
JAKE THOMPSON: I generally don’t shower the day before the race, I don’t know why, I just don’t. I also don’t wear deodorant the day of the race. For food I eat large amounts of food, preferably pasta, the night before and don’t eat much the day of the race.
GUNNAR SHOGREN: Eat breakfast about 2-2.5 hours before hand. Whatever; fried egg sandwich, oatmeal, Nutty Nuggets Raisins & Yogurt, or a donut. Try and get a lap around the course in street clothes. Get all suited up and spend at least 15 minutes on the trainer half- hour before the race, have half a banana 15 minutes before start time, waddle to the line somewhat on time.
KENNETH MORRIS: One lap warm-up at half speed. A good early breakfast.
CJ CONGROVE: Eat a bagel, poop, do a warm up lap.