It's the day before race day. You've finished tapering, packed your race kit, and prepped your evening meal. Your running shoes are waiting at the door, all ready for the big day. No doubt you're jittery, and as your sneakers stare you in the face, one thought probably crosses your mind; "should I head out for one last run?"
It's a question plenty of us ask. So-called "shakeout" runs are popular among experienced marathoners and competitive runners, but for the average Joe, you likely have fears around injury, overtraining or over-exerting yourself. We all know how important rest and recovery are, especially in those final days running up to a race, so fitting in a few more miles on that final day of training instinctively feels counterproductive.
