Tips to keep you ahead of the pack on marathon day
Believe it or not, even marathons are generally a seasonal sport. For an activity that doesn’t rely on dry pitches (like cricket) or soft grounds (like rugby) it’s always struck me as a bit weird.
But 24 years after running my first marathon, I’ve finally got into the groove – there are autumn marathons and spring marathons.
This is especially the case globally where the Big City marathons are either side of winter, either autumn (New York) or spring (London).
And it’s generally the case in New Zealand, too (although there are exceptions, like the brilliant Christchurch Marathon which is in June, winter time).
Some big races are planned in the next few weeks, including Queenstown (November 17) and Feilding (November 3).
The biggest of those was Auckland last Sunday, where about 15,000 people made their way across the Harbour Bridge in a series of events (marathon, half marathon and 12km which some people call the quarter marathon, but I refuse – do the maths, people!).
For many, it will be their first event, so, what should you expect? And how can you make the most of your day?
Tip 1: Do not, under any circumstances, wear new shoes or gear you haven’t worn before.
This is a sure-fire way to get blisters, or chafing in places you don’t even know you can get chafed.
It’s also a rule that I know most of you will ignore. I get it, you’re running the race you have been looking forward to so much – you want to wear some new running bling, right?
Trust me, don’t. I’ve worn new shorts on race day before and, um, yeah, the pleasure of the finish line will not be worth it compared to the pain you’ll feel in the shower afterwards.
Tip 2: Do not, under any circumstances, eat anything out of the ordinary in the day or two before your race.
This especially applies to breakfast, and dinner the night before.
Again, I know this is a rule many of you will break if you’ve come from out of town for the race. I know how it goes: you’re out for dinner, the chef’s special looks so tempting, and this is a special occasion.