We've gathered some of the funniest, most outlandish, and yes, slightly ridiculous runner pre-race rituals for your enjoyment. So, the next time you're standing in the start corral of a big race, look around and know that you are probably not the only one with garlic breath and green underwear.
1. "I put my right sock on first and then my right shoe before I put on the left. If everything is on properly on the right side, then I know I am going to have a good day." Ethan Z.
2. "I must make one positive association with at least one number in my bib number no matter how challenging." Anonymous
3. "If I have anything bothering me, such as a sore foot, etc., whatever side of the body it's on, I then put a temporary tattoo on that side of my body. Left sock, right sock, left shoe, right shoe, tie left, tie right." Anonymous
4. "My biggest running superstition is a Batman cape, believe it or not. I run every race with a Batman cape on. At this point, I'm afraid to run without it, even though I think I could do better without that added distraction." Matthew J.
5. "Always double-knot shoes for a race (because duh), but NEVER double-knot them for training runs. That way when you do double-knot, the shoes know it's a race." M.J.
6. "There's this chunk of path I don't run on because I saw some bees eating an apple there once. Very unlikely the apple is still there, but still..." Owen
7. "I never eat the last bite of my pre-race Clif Bar. I've no idea where, why or how this got started..." Ivana T.
8. "I've got a pair of bright green socks and a pair of bright orange ones. During warmups I'll wear an orange on my left foot and a green one on my right foot. Before races I'll take them off and put the unworn ones on, but this time green goes on left and orange goes on right." D.G.
9. "I purposely stop shaving about 1 to 1.5 months out from a race and then shave the night before. I believe it makes me go WAY faster." Anonymous
10. "Fancy mixed nuts in a can, and my coffee machine from home. Any time I travel for a race that requires a stay in a hotel, I have to have fancy mixed nuts in a can as a snack before bed, and MY coffee out of MY coffee maker in the morning." BigManRunning
11. "I sprinkle glitter in my hair and I cry as I pass the starting line. Every time. At first I was embarrassed but now it's just one of those things I gotta do." C.G.