Rookie Marathon Mistakes
Every marathon I run I learn a new lesson. I’m sure for those of you who have run a marathon learned valuable lessons along the way as well. Feel free to add to my list here by leaving a comment below.
I must warn you one of the photos is kinda graphic. A fair warning to you. However, it is the true picture of what happens to men if they don’t wear nipple guards.
So, I’ve learned many lessons along the way and will share a few of them here. Many subscribers and readers to this blog are running their first marathon this year and I thought I’d help them out by sharing what not to do! Here goes….
1) Ladies: your sports bra is not the place to store GU
I’m sure this is probably something only I would think of doing. I was running the 2001 Maui Marathon and needed a place to store my extra GU because I didn’t want to hold it. SO, looking around I decided to store ‘em in my sports bra.
+ 
DISASTER!
Those sharp foil edges of the GU did some serious slicing on my skin and I was quickly aware when I jumped into the ocean post race.
2) Pouring Water all over so it soaks me shoes!
Wet Shoes = Wet Feet = BLISTERS! If it is warm you can certainly dump water on your head to stay cool, just be careful to not get your shirt and shoes too wet!
3) Wearing Cotton
When running, wear a dri-fit or wicking shirt and you will avoid the chaffing. Cotton and running do not blend well. do the same for socks.
Cotton = Chaffing! Yeeee Ouch!
4) Going out way to fast!
This was a problem of mine for my first 3 marathons!!!! It is a very common mistake. Adrenaline is high and I’m ready to get going when the starting gun goes off! Well, keep in mind you have 26.2 miles ahead and just because you feel great at mile 3 doesn’t mean you will feel great at mile 15, 18, and so on.
The best way I’ve learned to slow down is two ways: 1) start out in the middle of the pack, 2) wear a pace band.
If you have a race finish goal then I encourage wearing a race band to be sure you start out at your goal pace and not faster. Pace bands can be printed from the runners world website.
5) Not drinking water at every aid station
I waited until I felt thirsty and by then it was way to late! Be sure to have water at every station of the race. Even if just a sip or gulp of water and you will do yourself a huge favor. There really is not such thing as “catching” up with water while running a race.
6) NO back up plan
You never know what might happen on race day. The weather can be bad, you get sick, your tummy is upset, you roll an ankle….whatever, it can happen so its important to have a plan B goal. For instance, my personal goal in marathon #2 was to qualify for Boston. I had the time I needed to get in my head and on race day…..well, because I went out way to fast, by mile 18 I bonked and out the window went my goal.
Instead of letting it get to me, I just decided my “Plan B” goal was to finish this race and take a HUGE lesson learned. Be prepared for anything unexpectedly to happen on race day.
Well, those are just a few of my mistakes along the way. I can’t say I enjoyed any of them, but I probably would not have gone back to run the next race had I not wanted to do better and fix my mistakes.
Ok, now its your turn. What are some of the mistakes you’ve made? Leave a comment below
Posted by admin | in Marathon, Run Training, Uncategorized | 6 Comments
Great tips. Here’s another. Vary your training. One season I didn’t do any track, tempo or hill work. Just “put in the miles”. I figured getting the long runs in would do the trick. Wrong. Next season I swapped mindless miles for quality ones and shaved tons of time off the next marathon. No more time or sessions required, just the quality of my work outs.
Here’s one: be careful with crimped/form fitting jacket sleeves and running watches. In my first marathon, I removed a throw-away jacket with tight sleeves while running, about five miles into the race. I didn’t notice it at the time, but in the process removing the jacket, the sleeve stopped the chrono function on my watch. When I finally figured out what had happened, my exact elapsed time became a bit of an unknown. I eventually got a pretty good bead on where my chip-time stood compared to the mile marker timers on the course based on my estimation of the gap between the official beginning of the race and my beginning when I crossed the starting mats. The incident injected an unplanned period of anxiety into my race and I wasn’t sure of my actual finishing time until results were posted.
thanks Kevin. It took me a many years to get over “putting in the miles” and putting in quality workouts. My times have improved dramatically now.
@Kent: wow! that would cause me lots of anxiety. thanks for sharing.
Don’t let the Zombies after 18 grab a hold of you. I someone who was struggling, glassy eyed, reach out and grab the girl running next to me and he would not let her go. Very unsettling.
How about this: if you stop for a bathroom break, don’t try to catch up with your friends too quickly. I did that in my first marathon; after the break I had so much energy that I caught them in 3 miles. Oops.
Also: don’t try new things on the marathon. I tied my shoes differently… to tightly. By the time I realized that, it was too late, and the shoelaces were biting into my feet.
I probably did my first marathon too fast. I did the Indianapolis Marathon last year and came in under four hours. Since then, I have had chills, fatigue and asthma. I am narrowing it down to adrenal burnout. I have my first appointment with an endocrineologist on next tuesday, but my entire running year is shot, including Amica Newport.