(I just found this photo from Chicago marathon in '02, back when I had a need for speed as opposed to a need for just-finishing-the-race. I love it because check out my wave, I am managing to have a little jaunty twist to my hand, ha!)
On October 31, I’ll be toeing the line at the Marine Corps marathon in D.C. It will be my fifteenth, but don’t let my experience fool you into thinking I know what I’m doing. Learn from my missteps if you have 26.2 penned into your race calendar this month:
DO your long runs. True story: While riding on the shuttle bus to the start line of the Austin marathon in 2005, I realized something startling: I hadn’t run more than, oh, 10 miles in years. I had done my speedwork and hills, but between illness and travel, my long runs got swept aside. “Well, this should be interesting!” I laughed as the bus kept rolling for what seemed like forever. During the race, I managed to hold on for 13 miles before my pace slowed from 7:30-minute-miles to well over 11-minute-miles toward the finish line.
Lesson learned: muscle memory only gets you so far. Do the long runs.
DON'T let lack of shoes fluster you. When unpacking for the 2001 Gorge half-marathon in Hood River (it’s only a half, but go with it), I noticed something conspicuously missing: shoes. Not to be rattled, I waltzed into the nearest superstore, plunked down fifteen dollars, and—as my friends made bets on whether the shoes would last the distance—I ran my best time in a half-marathon yet. Or at least I think it’s my best time, I always forget to keep track.
Lesson learned: never let them see you sweat.
DO test your gear before the race. At my last marathon (Grandma’s marathon two years ago), I was excited to try the new Nike Plus system. Once the marathon started, I pushed a button and set off on my merry way. And pushed a button again. Wait, was I supposed to push it for three seconds now or just one second, and which button again? And if it's flashing, is that a good thing? I spent the first mile trying to figure it out. Lesson learned: read the fine print before your run.
DON'T be afraid to hug the trees. During the Avenue of the Giants marathon in '07, my Unlucky 13th, I was hurting big-time by mile 15. Just when I was starting to feel sorry for myself, I turned my attention to my surroundings. That’s when the Redwood trees lining the race course became my silent supporters. They served as a sturdy calf-stretching post, they shaded my route, and their branches waved me on (cut me some slack, I was feeling delirious by then). I usually prefer crowd-lined routes—and cowbell, lots of cowbell—but there was something peaceful about those trees watching me limp along.
Lesson learned: take comfort wherever you can get it.
DO remember to dance through aid stations, high-five the supporters, joke with your fellow runners, thank the volunteers.
Lesson learned: Having fun during a marathon is a sign of success.
