Collective Wisdom for Racing

I’m not a collector. 

In summers during college years I worked for Mayflower Movers, where I packed and loaded other people’s belongings.  You’ve never seen so much useless crap than when you go into someone’s home to pack every last item they own.  So as an impressionable young man I made a promise to myself to never accumulate a lot of “stuff.” 

Today, all my worldly possessions—mementos, pictures, sentimental items—fit nicely in a single Rubbermaid tote.  When I die, survivors will find it easy to locate and sift through my stuff.

However, I do accumulate running wisdom.  So I’ve spent the last few weeks combing through some articles I’ve saved, and notes I’ve jotted down to compile some advice and tips for runners. They are the stuff learned by trial and error and only after too many "well duh" and disastrous race moments. 

The significance of these lists of advice is that where it’s a mistake, I’ve fallen victim to it.  And where it’s good advice, the benefits are predictable and highly useful.  So from a runner who has learned the hard way, hopefully there are some nuggets worth sharing.   All the articles are in the Know How section of Runners' Lounge.

Tips the Week Before the Race

Race Preparation

Executing Your Marathon Plan

Common Race Day Mistakes

Post Marathon Tips

Tips for Being A Great Race Supporter

Of course, these lists aren't complete because there are always more lessons to be learned and shared about running.  But for now, they are the accumulation of my blunders and occasional wisdom packaged for easy storage and retrieval...

...plus they don't take up any space in my Rubbermaid tote.

Mayflower Movers on Flickr by Blackst073

Rubbermaid storage tote on Flickr by Voting Pebbles

 

Comments

[Nancy]

Really? A little tote? That is amazing. Interesting what those early experiences do to us.

Thanks for all the tips. If we can learn a few things from your experience, we will be so much further ahead. :D

[Bill Carter]

Hi Tom

This post should be an "absolute read and study" for anybody doing a marathon. It really doesn't matter how many you have done, it is nice to have something as cookbook as this is to refer to. I hope you don't mind but I actually printed this out to use as a reference.

BTW, I think I've made each of the mistakes at least a few times... I must be a slow learner or just really stubborn...