How to Keep Winning (After You've Crossed the Finish Line)
Congrats! You’ve just rolled over the finish line of your event, and it’s time to celebrate. Here are six things you should do *after* your finish to help set you up for success in your next session of training or racing:
Cool down: riding easily for 5 - 10 minutes can help prevent cramping and kick-start your body’s recovery process, and help you decompress after riding hard.
Refuel: get some food and hydration in you within 30-minutes after you finish. Plan ahead and pack a recovery shake or small post-race meal. The event may have an after-party with food and drink, but you don’t want to rely on that.
Get out of your riding kit: ditch the dirty, sweaty kit you raced in before you start hanging out with teammates and friends. If the event doesn’t have shower facilities, bring some bathing wipes to clean up as you put on fresh clothes.
Check results: it’s a good practice to check official race results as soon they’re posted, and before you leave the event. Most events have a small window of time to contest or fix mistakes in the results. Just remember - the race staff has been working hard to pull-off a great event, so be nice if there’s a mix-up in the results!
Give your equipment a quick wash before you head home. Bring a wash bucket and cleaning kit (scope out the video below), and give your bike and drivetrain a little attention before you pack it up.
Take some post-event notes: What went well today, and what didn’t? Reflect on the event while it’s still fresh in your mind, and and jot down a few things you can refine or avoid for next time.
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