By Michelle Krueger and Pat Crandall
It’s one thing to train for a Marathon – it’s a whole ‘nother thing to run one. You canNOT be too prepared – mentally, physically, even spiritually (prepare to see God at about 21 miles!). You’ve done all the hard, long miles to prepare for this, so do yourself a favor and do the little things right before the race. The 26.2 With Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer will be held on Sunday, February 17.
* Eat right, hydrate well and sleep as well as you can the night before. This is not the time to try sushi or Mexican food.
* REST the day before. Stay off your feet as much as possible. This is the time to make your loved ones wait on you!
* Make sure you bring EVERYTHING you need with you to the race. People have forgotten their running shoes and shorts! Bring weather-appropriate clothes. Layering is best, and if it’s cold, be prepared to peel off layers and tie them around your waist. Do a run in the shoes and apparel you plan to wear. NO new shoes on race day.
* Bring a water bottle and an energy bar for last minute sustenance.
* Get there early – rushing around because you couldn’t find a parking place is not cool.
* I’m going to try and be delicate here, but bring a container that you can pee into just before the start, because you WILL get nervous and have to go, but the porta-potties will have long lines.
* Do a little warm-up jog 20 minutes before the race. Do not start it cold.
* Have a positive attitude. If you expect doom and gloom, you’ll get it.
* Start out slower than you think you should. You’ll be glad later.
* If you are going to have to walk, start walking before you HAVE to. There’s no shame in walking parts, especially after 20 miles, which the body was never designed to run beyond!
* Enjoy the experience! It’s the journey, not the destination. Finishing is good too, but the act of running the Marathon is what you’ll cherish in the future. Smell the roses as you go. Talk to others around you; talk to spectators.
* After you finish, drink a sports drink and eat a sports bar right away. Also stretch as much as your body allows. You’ll be sore the next day, no matter what, but this can make you much less sore.
* Thank all the people who helped you do this thing and gloat in the satisfaction of having done something few people actually do.
Article Published in the 2-14-08 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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