Racing season is upon us and here are a few pointers to help you have a more successful experience.
1. Don’t try out new shoes on race day. Have a few runs in the new shoes prior to racing in them. The consequences can be blackened toes, blisters, both, or worse. I once wore track spikes on a 7 km cross-country race. The shoes forced me up on my toes and I suffered calve strains for the next week. A friend of mine flew to a marathon and put on a new pair of shoes right before the race. On the way home he had to be taken off the plane in a wheelchair because his legs were so sore.
2. Don’t experiment with new gels, fluid replacement drinks, or food during races. Severe cramping, bloating, or diarrhea may result. I had an athlete who told me he wanted to try a gel during his marathon. I told him to try it on a few training runs before hand. He didn’t and took the gel at mile 10. By mile 13 he had severe cramping and his quest for a PB ended.
3. Don’t overindulge in alcohol at pre-race events. In years past, my team for the Jasper Banff relay was sponsored by a beer company. Selfless promotion of the product by myself the night before resulted in me taking water during the race starting at mile 1. Rule of thumb: 1 glass of water for each alcoholic beverage. Let your pain tolerance and conscience be your guide as to how many drinks you have.