The Run Around

Safest race-day strategy? Never do anything you’ve never done before

By Matt Carpenter

As runners, we always are looking for ways to improve our race-day performances. It’s odd, but my list of things to do on race day looks more like a list of things NOT to do.

I learned this early in my running career. I’ll never forget the cross-country state meet when I wanted to dress as lightly as possible. I decided not to wear underwear, thinking I would be lighter and would not restrict blood flow to my legs.

Hey, don’t laugh — I had not graduated from high school, so I wasn’t nearly as smart as I would be 30 minutes later. To make a long story — or at least race — short, suffice it to say that afterward, everyone asked me if I had run the race with a cramp.

I just sheepishly shrugged my shoulders and did not explain that my hand was holding my shorts down so I would not expose myself. Lesson learned — or so I thought.

Some years later, I ran a race without socks, thinking I could save some weight. But in this particular shoe, the insoles became very slippery when wet! With each step, I could feel my foot sliding back and forth, and I got some great blisters to show for my new found lightness.

At another big race — a marathon — I was worried about heat and humidity causing me to sweat a lot. I bought one of those high-tech shirts that wick the sweat away and keep you cool and dry. It worked perfectly! Problem was, I had just spent the last 10 or so years running and racing in simple cotton shirts. When I sweated and my shirt got wet, it was my clue to drink more water. With my new shirt, there was no sweat, no wet, and so I drank little water. Crash! Dr. Dehydration paid a nasty visit!

Turns out I’m not the only runner to make race-day mistakes. I know a runner who decided to race without his orthotics. Perhaps a good move for a short race. But in this marathon, the time on his feet took its toll. Because his heels were now significantly lower, he was putting more strain on his calves.

By 20 miles into the race, they were cramping. Another person decided to try a sports drink in her race and found out it made her sick to her stomach. I could tell stories for pages. . .

While these mistakes sound obvious now, they were well thought-out masterpieces. On your list of things to do on race day, make sure that No. 1 is “don’t do anything you have not done before!” Make your mistakes before race day or you might throw months of training away.

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