pre marathon do's and donts

gaffo7

first marathon on monday. I know there has been a lot of marathon advice which I have found very usefull, so apologies if this thread promotes a repeat of advice already given.

so what are the final week do's and donts. Aware of the obvious ones. Dont have a bottle of wine and indian curry night before, rest week before and usual stuff but some final bullet point advice would be great or just some words of warning/wisdom for last few days would be great.
thanks.

How Strange

I'd say:

Consistently sip water over the next few days.
Avoid alcohol, too much coffee and sugary foods.
Eat wholegrain carbs on Saturday and Sunday, avoid eating too much meat.
Go to bed early Fri and Sat night because you'll probably be nervous as hell on Sun and not sleep well for fear of sleeping it out or something.
Plan what you'll wear on the day and have it ready on Sun. Lay everything out - gels, race number, belt etc
Don't eat too much on Mon morning and don't eat anything you haven't eaten on your lsr days. Stick to tried and tested.
Wear an additional layer (hoodie etc), gloves and hat before the start of the race and take them off as you need. Buy them in Pennys and don't worry discarded clothes are collected for charity so you're not being too wasteful.
Smile and enjoy on the day!

And of course, good luck

w123

gaffo7 wrote: »

first marathon on monday. I know there has been a lot of marathon advice which I have found very usefull, so apologies if this thread promotes a repeat of advice already given.

so what are the final week do's and donts. Aware of the obvious ones. Dont have a bottle of wine and indian curry night before, rest week before and usual stuff but some final bullet point advice would be great or just some words of warning/wisdom for last few days would be great.
thanks.

I ran the DCM (4.01) a few years ago and trained by the book, felt great running it and thoroughly enjoyed both the marathon and the training. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to do another and the closest one in Ireland was the Connemarathon the following Easter Sunday, so I signed up and felt all ready, basking in my new found status as a 'runner'.

Well, to say that I lost all enthusiasm for running after my first cold, wet, dark run in late November would be a serious understatement, so I pretended to myself that I could make do with a few runs at the weekends until the weather improved to keep the fitness up - and then I started smoking again - and then it was late Feb, the race was in a matter of a few weeks and I had done bugger all training...

I went out a few times, but had terrible trouble with an Ilio Tibial band problem that would curtail all sessions - the longest run that I had done between the Dublin Marathon and this one coming up was about 10 miles, I doubt that I had gone out more than 20 times in the six months and had a niggling recurring injury.

But sure **** it I had signed up and I wanted to do it - so what if I took a little longer. Anyway getting to the point - went to Galway stayed with pals - they had organised a babysitter so out we went - big steak - few pints - few glasses on wine - few fags - bed around 3 - up around 5 - ran the race intending at all times to pull out if I felt like dying - after half way I said to myself - I've come this far I'm not giving up - at mile 20 was feeling seriously depleted and dehydrated as the 1/2 marathon runners were drinking all of the water - and I had forgotten my gels, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

I finished anyway 4.35, one foot after another is the best advice I've ever got.

On the day your training should stand you in good stead - if not become a beligerent bollix and keep on going - it probably won't kill you - It will just seem like it at the time.

Good luck to everybody - remember to pee before the race starts and then pee again - Running through the phoenix park is like being in a recreation of the Monty Python sketch the marathon for the incontinent.

eliwallach

• Do not shave on the morning of the marathon
• Don't wear anyting new (untried)
• Don't be a hero running up O' Connell St -save that for the UCD flyover.

robinph

Remember that the clocks change this weekend.

Oryx

This is my first too, but from the run up to the other big events Ive done, I got to remind you not to imagine youre coming down with a cold or swine flu if youre a bit iffy/achey/chilly in the last few days. Its nerves, youll most likely be fine on the day.

HardyEustace

If you're not planning on going straight home then have a complete change of clothes down to your undies for afterwards. Plenty of warm, snuggly stuff as it's very possible that you'll get chilly afterwards.

mrak

eliwallach wrote: »

• Do not shave on the morning of the marathon

Why's that?

Rusty Cogs 08

mrak wrote: »

Why's that?

Because they'll chafe the legs off ya

ct_roy

robinph wrote: »

Remember that the clocks change this weekend.

+1

i guarantee this will catch out a few people!

Aimman

Rusty Cogs 08 wrote: »

Because they'll chafe the legs off ya

LMAO!

pc11

My one tip before any important race is to make sure you get a really good night's sleep on the second last night. On the night before, nerves, travel, an early rise etc can easily disrupt your sleep and the last thing you need is 2 bad nights' sleep.

Enduro

gaffo7 wrote: »

Dont have a bottle of wine and indian curry night before,

I ran what was, until this year, my best marathon time (not fastest, but definitely best) of 2:52 in the Snowdonia marathon (about 1000m of climb and descent in that one), having had a substancial indian meal at about midnight the night before the race... its a long story as to how it happened. But anyway, why not an indian meal? I've done before a few other races since, all without any ill-effect.

vinylbomb

Enduro wrote: »

But anyway, why not an indian meal?

Actually, I agree with this, why not. Its highly calorific food, so stands you in good stead for the next days running. Just be sensible about portion size and it shouldnt be an issue.

gaffo7

some great advice there, hadnt thought of the shavin one actually, and w123 what a story, hope you can look back and laugh now!
on the indian meal issue just think that something like this is very hard on the stomach and can mean one to many trips to the loo the next morning, god knows there will be enough. suppose everyones digestive system different but an indian or anything spicy for that matter would be the worst thing for me.

The night before I will be eating something very bland, pancakes would be my usual 'night before the race snack'.
forgot about the clocks too robinph, thanks!

robinph

Maybe just steer clear of the vindaloo options, plenty of other dishes to pick that are not quite as OTT on the hot spice.

gaffo7

true robinph

potsy11

Cheap option. Instead of buying clothes from pennys and throwing them away. Bring a decent black sack with you. Stick your head through the bottom of it. It is a brill body warmer. Chuck it when the race starts

jeffontour

DO:

Get to bed early Saturday night, you may not get a great nights rest Sunday.

Check all your kit Saturday, no point finding you're missing an insole on Sunday evening!

DON'T:

Get worried about training missed, the few pints you had last weekend etc. You can't change that at this point.

Forget your timing chip on the day!

Be too hard on yourself if it goes badly. Everyone has a bad day at the office now and then, getting to the start line can be hard enough let alone executing a race plan.

smmoore79

I seen on one of those internet video clips that taking a sachet of salt before the run is a good idea. Can undertand this with the amount of sweating, salt depletion of running a marathon. Anyone tried this??

jeffontour

smmoore79 wrote: »

I seen on one of those internet video clips that taking a sachet of salt before the run is a good idea. Can undertand this with the amount of sweating, salt depletion of running a marathon. Anyone tried this??

Never tried it. Surefire way to make yourself sick I reckon. Unless you've tried something in training previously don't go doing it on the day.

w123

jeffontour wrote: »

Never tried it. Surefire way to make yourself sick I reckon. Unless you've tried something in training previously don't go doing it on the day.

+1

Whatever about my disastrous attempt at preparation for the Conemarathon, I did prepare fully and comprehensively for the DCM and I do know how it should be done.

One foot after another really is the only way to do your first.

Good luck

Brianderunner

Go to the expo tomorrow (Saturday) instead of Sunday if your based in Dublin. Instant advantage over those travelling up and collecting it on Sunday.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Quick question: Do they hand out bottles of water / energy drinks? Or is it worth while carrying your own bottle?

eliwallach

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote: »

Quick question: Do they hand out bottles of water / energy drinks? Or is it worth while carrying your own bottle?

Chimp, have you been hiding under a rock??? :rolleyes:

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Sort of, up a tree really, should have stated I'm not actually doing the marathon - info is for a friend

eliwallach

The answer Chimp, is yes.
10 water stations and 3 sports drinks stations, all in bottles with "sports" cap.
Hope your "friend's" mind will be at ease now :rolleyes:.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Don't know whats with the attitude man, just asked a simple question.
Thanks for the answer; reason I asked is I've only ever done 1 half marathon and a few 10 miler runs, which have only had cups of water with no bottles.
I have the map of all the water stations but I thought it would be better to know which are bottle stations and which are cups of water.
For the record - my runners are hung up in retirement for this year at least.

TFBubendorfer

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote: »

Don't know whats with the attitude man, just asked a simple question.

He gave you the answer, so why the complaint?
Once a question gets asked for the 10th time in a short while it does start to get a bit old.

buck65

It was a bit of a funny question but hey give the guy a break. We are all just edgy....I'm going mad at work today.

KentuckyPete

buck65 wrote: »

It was a bit of a funny question but hey give the guy a break. We are all just edgy....I'm going mad at work today.

Same here - am climbing the walls and obsessing about my blooming achilles pains. Monday can't come quick enough...

henryporter

Like his location says - 'A glass cage of emotion'....

I just found out I have to work tomorrow as well:(