We are officially 10 days out from the marathon, and I can feel myself going into my pre-marathon obsessive fest. What does this mean exactly? Well, I've read all the emails being sent to me daily by the Rock and Roll people. I talk about the marathon a gazillion times per day. I think about the marathon a gajillion times per day. Every time I think about the marathon, I think about eating. I then think about how much I want a Garmin watch before I run next Sunday (hint hint hint HUSBAND...early birthday/Christmas present). Then I start to worry about how many Gu's I should eat, if I should drink the Cytomax or not drink the Cytomax.
CYTOMAX: Just so everyone knows beforehand (and this is good info...at least I think it is), they don't serve Gatorade during the RNR San Antonio. That sports drink is NOT Gatorade. They have water and Cytomax. Cytomax to me is VERY sugary, and makes me dry in the mouth and makes my stomach unhappy. I have heard many that feel this way as well. BUT I've also heard people that love it. Either way. Just so everyone knows (if you haven't run this race before), the sports drink on the course next week will NOT be Gatorade....
Mostly right now, I'm just having the same train of thoughts over and over and over. And I wonder if that is ever going to change. Even when I'm like 50 and have run 30+marathons, will I still obsess? Probably, because I'm neurotic like that. Anywho, just like before the Ultra, mostly, all I can think about is food. But it's too early to start carbo-loading (I think...). Next week, is food week!
So let me get to my main point of this post, runner faux pas. I want to bestow upon my blog readers some knowledge that I learned even before I ever ran my first race. Knowledge that was given to me by my husband, and I'm sure the knowledge was given to him. Go ahead and google the 3 words in the title of this blog, and see what comes up. YUP! Several articles about the same thing. The BIGGEST runner faux pas of them all....
WEARING THE GEAR BEFORE THE RACE
Countless bloggers have covered this subject. It's been in Runner's World TWICE in the past year. It is single handedly the easiest way to pick out a race rookie. Wearing your finisher's t-shirt, to the race, before you've finished. Next Saturday, all Rock and Rollers will show up to the Alamo Dome and be given a BIG clear plastic bag full of goodies and coupons and race stuff. A SCHWAG BAG if you will. Also, you will receive a nifty, spiffy, technical finisher's shirt in the size of your choice. Do us all a favor, put that shirt in your schwag bag and don't take it out until after the race. It may look cool. It may look super neat. It may be cooler and neater than what you had picked out to wear the next day. BUT JUST DON'T DO IT. When a poll was taken in Runner's World a few months ago (I forget what month). Surprisingly, this faux pas was listed as the BIGGEST by a whopping 87% of responders.
Think of it this way. We all know that we aren't going to win the Rock and Roll Marathon or Half Marathon next week. The winners will be the Elite Runners that finish in crazy ridiculous Olympic fast times. So in essence, for all of us, winning, means finishing. And for finishing we get that shirt and a medal. At any other sporting event, you wouldn't get your trophy before you compete. Nobody ever gets their medal before they win the race. No runner should ever wear their finisher's shirt to a race they haven't finished yet. And this doesn't come from me, I sure didn't make it up! Evidently, it comes from the running community as a whole. Who knew that so many would get hot and bothered over such a thing? But, alas, save yourself some dirty looks and giggles, and wear it post finish.
Now, wearing a shirt that you received at another race you finished, that is perfectly fine, encouraged even. Wearing the 2008 Rock and Roll finisher's shirt to the 2011 Rock and Roll Marathon makes you look experienced, professional even. It shows "this isn't your first rodeo." So resist the urge to put on your shirt before the race, and instead, save it as your outfit for the next race to show you've got chops!
The second most common faux pas I hear is this: Calling something other than a Marathon, a Marathon. And to many, this may seem trivial, or silly. But if you have ever trained 5-6 days per week, running over 30 miles a week on the regular, calling anything but the full 26.2 miles a marathon can be disheartening. If I had a nickel every time I heard someone say this, "My __________ is training for a 5k Marathon", I'd be rich. Never would I ever think that anyone ever intends to make this mistake, there's usually just a lack of knowledge. Still, I've read several articles about this subject as well. Anyone that has put in the hours and the work to train for the full marathon could empathize. So I guess that one comes in at number 2.
And really, with all the reading I've done on the subject, that's about all I could find besides some nit-picky stuff. Either way, I hope those 2 tidbits proved helpful! If anyone has any other good "faux pas" that I've missed, please feel free to post them as a comment! I'd love to hear em'! I tried to do my best research on this one, but I know there are a lot that are more experienced than I.
In closing, I would like to share with everyone, the reason why I had trouble driving today. I wanted to share with the world, the reason why my hair did not look good. The reason why I grimaced while brushing my teeth this morning. The reason why it was difficult to get dressed today....
The BURN MACHINE.
Renea made me use this devil contraption yesterday. And I know, I know, I know...she said it was the ENTIRE upper body workout that has made me so sore. However, this little diddy is an easy scapegoat, because it's new, and I am terrible at it. Maybe someone can video me trying to use it, because my facial expressions are not pleasant. I offered a reward to the first person that would steal it, and bring it to me. I stand by that statement. So Renea (and George), you may want to take that thing home before ya go and give me keys to your studio. :)...just saying.
Happy running to everyone as you head into the final weekend before the BIG weekend! Taper, relax, and get ready to roll!
Thanks for cheering me on!
Lacy
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