The Pre-Run Expo Experience

Before every race I've ever done they've organized a pre-race expo where all sorts of vendors, service providers, and race organizers show off their stuff. Often some local youth group also offers a pasta dinner as a fund raiser.

Imagine any product a runner would want and it's at the expo: clothes, shoes, misc accessories (headbands, cold weather gear, gels, drinks, lubricants..), vitamins, massage therapists, chiropractors, and loads of other race representatives giving away free entries and keychains or magnets promoting their upcoming event. (It works, by the way--I've run in more than one race I'd not heard of until some expo somewhere...) I've even seen car manufacterers showing off and giving away a new model.

It's neat to see all experience levels come together, get some free stuff, and get jazzed for the race. It's also where I begin to get nervous a bit and begin visualizing a successful race.

Here we go...