This past weekend, I made myself a promise: I would stick it out at Daytona International Speedway for the entire duration of IMSA’s Rolex 24. I would let myself nap as needed, but by god, I was going to make sure I did all 24 hours of the season-opening endurance event. And so I did. And I lived. And if you’re looking to attending your first-ever endurance race this year, then I’ve got plenty of tips to help you not merely survive the race, but to thrive.
My biggest mistake at this year’s Rolex 24 actually began in the weeks leading up to the event: I did not prepare myself.
If you’re doing the Rolex right, you’re going to be running around like a chicken with your head cut off for far more than 24 straight hours. In one weekend, you’re going to walk tens of thousands of steps, ruin your sleep schedule, and enact hateful crimes against your own body. To mitigate that, you’re going to want to prepare.
There are lots of definitions of “prepare” in this context, but I highly recommend one thing: Walking around with a full backpack.
It sounds trivial, but if you’re emerging from a restful winter hibernation and immediately hitting the race track, your body is not going to be ready. I max out at, like, 1,000 steps a day during a normal week; at the Rolex, I walked 40,000 steps in the course of two days. My feet, hips, and legs are currently dead; add onto that the fact that I was carrying around a heavy backpack, and my core, back, and shoulders also ache. If you can prevent that kind of shock to your body, you’re going to have a much better time at the race because you’ll be able to do more without feeling exhausted.
Whether it’s your first endurance race or your hundredth, make sure you’re heading into the race weekend with a game plan. Check out a track map to see where you’ll be able to find things like bathrooms, grandstands, campsites, or shops. Study the schedule of events so you don’t miss anything or find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you’re at the track before race day, do a lap of the track and see how long it takes you to get somewhere. Make sure you know when shops or activations close, so you don’t wait to nab your free Chevrolet t-shirt until the Chevy activation is closed.
Then, make a list of your big goals for the race. Even during a 24-hour event, I’d recommend only picking out a handful of things you really want to do, then develop a plan around those things. For example, if you want to watch the Rolex 24 fireworks show from the ferris wheel, you’ll probably want to buy your ferris wheel tickets well in advance, then make sure you’ve factored in enough time to wait in line before the show starts. If you want to watch the sunset from a specific place on the track, give yourself plenty of time to get to that place; there’s a good chance other people have the same idea. I promise you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to have fun, but a really basic game plan will help you organize your priorities so you don’t feel like you’ve missed anything.
Do not walk 15,000 steps before the green flag. Do not drink 12 beers before dinner time. Do not eat all of your snacks in the first six hours of the race. Do not spend all your money on day one. Endurance races are great because you’ve got so much time to do things — try to avoid doing everything all at once and tiring yourself out sooner than necessary.
The one thing you don’t really need to pace yourself on is hydration. At endurance events, you really can’t be too hydrated; make sure you’re equipped with plenty of water if you’re camping, and also scope out the nearest fountain at the track. You’ll feel so much better about all of life if you’re adequately hydrated during an endurance race.
I also recommend stocking up on electrolyte powder packets. I don’t go anywhere without a stash of Liquid IV, Pedialyte, or Gatorade pouches, and if I’m at a race track, I’ll try to pop one in every bottle of water I drink.
This is especially true if you plan on drinking a lot of alcohol! You’ll feel so much better about your trackside bender if you’ve had plenty of water, too.
If you’re heading to a very long endurance race for the first time, there’s a tendency to want to “prove” yourself by staying awake for the event’s duration — but I want you all to know that sleeping is fine. Seriously. You’re not any less of a fan for having a nap.
This year, I made it a goal to stay awake for the first 12 hours of the Rolex. Then, I curled up in an armchair in the Acura suite and grabbed about four hours of shut-eye. If I hadn’t had that nap, I really don’t think I would have made it to the end of the race — and I most certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed myself. Even if you manage to get a full eight-hour rest, you’re still going to be awake for more racing than you’d ever see at any other race track.
This probably sounds counterintuitive, but if you’re going to grab a nap at the track, you’ll be better served napping during a green-flag period.
Here’s why: Under caution, the cars on track will bunch up together. As a result, you’ll have periodic and very loud bursts of noise as the bunched-up cars drive close to you while under yellow-flag conditions. It’s way easier to sleep under green-flag conditions, where cars are spread out around the track and you’re just hearing constant noise that can be more easily tuned out.
If you, like me, are one of those humans who shows up to a 24-hour endurance race with nothing but a backpack and a dream, make sure that backpack includes a change of clothes. You’re going to feel so much better if you have the opportunity to change your shirt at some point during an endurance event.
If you can change nothing else, at least change your socks. The sock swap is highly underrated and can make you feel like a million bucks. If you can brush your teeth and/or wash your face, you’ll feel even better.
This might sound strange, but hear me out: One of the greatest joys of motorsport is sharing your local culture with other people. Stock up on some hard-to-find local goods, and you’ll have bargaining chips and instant friends no matter where you go.
For example, I’ve got a friend named Jay who lives in Wisconsin. When Jay comes to the race track, he brings a case of Spotted Cow beer, even though he doesn’t drink it. This makes him an instant celebrity wherever he goes.
Or, at Petit Le Mans, a kind human wandered the track offering free race-car themed stickers to people. They were small and probably pretty cheap, but nabbing some was a highlight of my trip, and they’re still on my laptop to this day.
You’re going to want the following items at an endurance race:
This is underrated advice, I promise. You’re going to do a fair amount of standing and walking at an endurance race. Just sit down whenever you’ve got a chance; your body will thank you.
I don’t ever go to a race track without a portable phone charger, but it’s especially critical during a long race. I have a massive power brick that claims to be able to recharge your phone from empty to full at least five times — and even when I’ve camped at the track for days on end, I’ve never used all of that juice.
Trust me, you don’t want to be conserving battery power. These days, your phone is also your camera, map, itinerary, and stopwatch. Assume you’re going to use a ton of battery power, and come prepared.
If you’re a person who partakes in caffeine, consider it one of several tools that will get you through an endurance race, not the primary one. Too much caffeine is dangerous for your body, but it’s also very likely going to result in a big crash, a headache, or general misery. Caffeine should be a last resort enhancement, not the number-one way you plan on getting through a race.
This is where planning ahead comes into play. Make sure you get enough sleep in the days leading up to the race. Don’t overdo it at the track. Hydrate well and munch on a well-rounded snack. Grab a little nap. If all else fails, then reach for the coffee or the energy drink. And make sure your caffeine intake remains at appropriate levels. If you’re having more than four coffees or Red Bulls, you’re overdoing it.
I absolutely guarantee that you will not want to dive right back into life after an endurance race. Take time to sleep, rehydrate, refuel, and relax before you do something crazy like road trip home or dive right back into work.