Should I run the course the day before my race?

WinesNotWhines

I'm running a 5k tomorrow morning. I wasn't originally planning to run today, but I have the opportunity to run the 5k course to check it out in advance. The course has already been marked, so it should be pretty easy to follow. But I've run for the past 4 days straight (Sun-Wed), Sunday was a 10k that I ran pretty hard, and I'm going to a yoga class tonight, so throwing in additional 3.1 miles today may totally kill my legs for tomorrow. On the other hand, it would be kind of cool to have a preview of what I'm running tomorrow. WWYD?

Joenali

Can you drive it?

taratru

Personally, I don't like to know the course too well ahead of time.

If you want to check it out, I would drive it.

gumiberg

i'd run it before the race as a warm up.  

gt7301b

Are you planning to be at the front of the pack?  This is the only reason I would need to preview a course as I know DH has made wrong turns at least 3 times when he was in the lead. 

gumiberg

gt7301b:

Are you planning to be at the front of the pack?  This is the only reason I would need to preview a course as I know DH has made wrong turns at least 3 times when he was in the lead. 

lol, that is the worst.

but there are benefits of knowing the course - lets say there is a big hill at Mile 3...knowing that may change the way you approach mile 2.

in general, i do not preview courses.  and in general, i always wish I did. 

jgleespen

I don't like to be all that familiar with courses (it's a surprise!), but I am never in the front, so it's easy to just follow people. 

WinesNotWhines

I won't be at the very front, so hopefully I won't have to worry about making a wrong turn. I think there are some hills, which is the main reason I'm curious about checking it out. I could probably try to drive part of it this afternoon, so that's a good idea. Part of the course is inaccessible to cars, but I could probably see part of it.

Sadlebred

It's very common in cycling to "preride" a mountain bike course the week or day before a race (You can't drive on mountain bike courses) or "drive" a road race or time trial course befoe the race. If you want to, I'd drive it.

gt7301b

gumiberg:

gt7301b:

Are you planning to be at the front of the pack?  This is the only reason I would need to preview a course as I know DH has made wrong turns at least 3 times when he was in the lead. 

lol, that is the worst.

but there are benefits of knowing the course - lets say there is a big hill at Mile 3...knowing that may change the way you approach mile 2.

in general, i do not preview courses.  and in general, i always wish I did. 

Strategy??? What is that?  My 5K strategy tends to be run fast for the first mile and hold on till the end.

shorty20

I'm also one that doesn't really like to know the course.  But I agree, if you want to see it, I would drive it instead.

KeweenawLove

I think it's a good idea to know the course. I college we always ran it the day before. Now if we have the time, DH and I try to preview courses beforehand.