10 reasons to run a test race
13. January 2025

Have you considered participating in a test race before the Copenhagen Marathon 2025? It’s a perfect opportunity to test your form and strategies before the real thing. Here are 10 great benefits.

1. Prepare for a real competition
Simulating a running situation gives you a feel for what it’s like to run at your competition pace, which helps you manage pressure, nerves and mental focus. It can also help you to mentally prepare for a longer distance or faster pace.

2. Evaluate your form
A test run is a great opportunity to test where you are in relation to your training plan and your running form. This will give you a clear idea of how much you have improved and where you might need to make adjustments.

3. Test your strategy and pace
You can use the test run to test your pacing strategy and experiment with different speeds. This gives you an opportunity to see how fast you can start without burning out early – and how well you can manage your energy over the distance.

4. Adjusting your equipment
Don’t try anything new on race day. Instead, use your test run to try out the equipment you plan to use on race day – such as shoes, clothes and gadgets.

5. Test your energy plan
Use the race to test your energy plan – especially if you’re running longer distances where hydration and energy intake are important factors. If you’re a little rusty at eating and drinking while running, a test run on a course with refreshment zones is a great place to practice this.

6. Mental focus and confidence
A good test run can boost your confidence before the actual race. And if there’s anything that needs fixing, it’s good to find out before the big day.

7. Identifying weaknesses
During a test run you will often discover any weaknesses, such as muscle fatigue or unforeseen challenges. This gives you time to correct these aspects of your training before you enter your primary competition.

8. Test your breakfast
It’s important to eat the right breakfast on race day to avoid digestive issues and other surprises during the run. Use the test race as an opportunity to also test your marathon breakfast, so you know how your stomach reacts.

9. Motivation
With a test run in your training plan, you have a solid milestone to aim for. This is great for your motivation to keep pushing and running.

10. Running in groups
Do you have a big race on the calendar where you have to run in a specific pace group? Then it might be a good idea to practice running with others in a larger group. It requires a different level of attention and focus than running on your own.

In other words:
A test run gives you valuable insights into both your physical and mental readiness so you can optimize your performance and increase your confidence before the actual race day.

Have a great test run!