Hindsight is certainly 20/20. Especially when it comes after 26.2 miles of pavement-hitting strides. We asked Logan Sherman, 2015 Dallas Marathon winner, and Katie Chaumont, RunOn Race Coach, what they have learned from experience with their races.
Don’t throw any kinks in your routine. Also, relax!
Chaumont says it’s imperative to make sure you don’t try out a brand new meal right before your race, or wear shorts if you’ve always trained in long pants. Any unpracticed variable can throw off your entire race. She says it’s also important to relax on the way to the starting line.
“A lot of the big races require an early wakeup call, then traveling on foot to get to the starting queues,” Chaumont says. “When you finally get there, sit down. Rest your legs, have your pre-race snack and take in all of the impressive calf tattoos around you.”
She says it’s also helpful to prepare a packing list ahead of time and check it twice, so you’re not flustered the day of the race.
Anticipate distractions.
While racing in Fort Worth’s Cowtown 50K in 2013, Sherman requested that his father and girlfriend (now wife) meet him at mile 21 with packets of Gu Energy. He didn’t realize that his girlfriend and dad already opened up the Gu packages, as they were trying to make it easier on him to consume. That slight misscouminication resulted in lovely Gu gel dripping down his leg.
“I was thrown of rhythm, and I struggled for several miles as I asked the lead bicyclist if it appeared that I went to the bathroom on myself.” Sherman says. “We laughed and he assured me that I was okay.”
So it’s best to acknowledge something may inevitably go wrong. You might be led off course, there might be spectators that cross in front of you or a water stop might not be finished.
“We need to be able to roll with the punches and re-focus ourselves,” Sherman says. “Don’t let the small things cause you to fall off course; always stay calm and collected.”
Don’t jump the gun.
With adrenaline shooting out every which way when you cross the starting line, it’s easy to pick up your pace. But you must remember you have a huge stretch of miles in front of you.
“It’s easy to fall into a faster crowd than for which you trained,” Chaumont says. “A few miles from the end, you’ll realize that it wasn’t the best idea. If you have done a great job training, have confidence in yourself, and your pace. Settle in and catch up with the fast crowd at the finish line.”
Respect your own personal space.
If you’ve never run a race before, you may not realize how dense the crowd gets. Imagine thousands of people gathered in one spot, running in the same direction all at once. And that’s just at the starting line. That’s not even mentioning the logistical struggles you will encounter finding your corral.
“Figure out your crowd comfort level,” Chaumont says. “If you have stranger danger or your personal space extends more than two feet around you, it’s a good idea to ease into the big races. I have had several runners with a first race experience that started with shoulder-to-shoulder panic as they felt trapped for the first couple of miles.”
Take advantage of the freebies.
Chaumont also stresses the supreme importance of utilizing the race day offerings. If you’re running in the heat, never pass up ice or a wet sponge on the course. Conversely, if you’re running in cool temperatures, take advantage of the heat sheet you are provided at the conclusion of the race.
