From the article: Common Race Day Mistakes
Running in new shoes or not drinking enough during a long-distance event are two of the biggest mistakes well-intentioned athletes make on race days. But even minor mistakes, such as not tying your shoes tightly, can have disastrous results during competition.
What was your biggest race day mistake? Share your advice and help others avoid the same mistakes during competition. Share Your Advice
Overconfidence/underhydrated=wall
- I went out on my 2nd half marathon on a hot day (29*c) feeling really good, after 2 miles I picked up the pace to way over my training pace, but was still feeling really good. This continued to a long but gentle hill for miles 8-9, which I decided to attack hard. At this point I was working hard, but still shaving time off my training pace, though getting towards anaerobic. At the top of the hill I took my first drink of the race, heavily panting, I threw down 2 cups of warm sports drink and set out fast again. Big mistake! Of course my body, tired but still full of determination, immediately rejected this fluid, and up it came, all of it, over the course of the next mile! This mile was made at basically a crawl, stopping every 50 metres or so to dry heave. Not a pleasant experience in itself, made worse as for the remaining 3 miles I just couldn't seem to get going again. The run walk to the end was awful, I finished only 3min faster than my previous race (which had 3000ft of climb!
- —Guest Mart says drink throughout!!!
race day - criterium
- put on new chain night before - didn't install new freewheel
- —Guest mike
Going out too fast
- The commonest mistake is to be influenced by the start line euphoria and when the gun goes to be sucked out at breakneck speed by the crowd. Two kilometers down the road, those that went out too fast will be spitting and spluttering. Go out at a moderate pace, pick it up during the middle section and use your remaining energy for the final leg.
- —Guest Grant
Mardi Gras Start
- Each year the "Northwest's Toughest Half Marathon", Race to Robie Creek in Boise, Idaho has a themed start. One year it was a Mardi Gras theme, and I sampled some cajun sausage right before the start. I made it to the top of the mountain before the spicy greasebombs stopped me in my tracks. No food, especially fatty or spicy food, ever again before a run.
- —Guest Victor
running with friends
- It was only a 5k, but trying to stay with much faster friends during this "fun run" turned into a nightmare. I was sore for days and don't like running with those friends anymore. I think I need to find people slower than me to boost my bruised ego and calves. lol
- —Guest social runner
Trying to Showoff
- My girlfriend was watching my first season bike race and I was trying to impress her. Yeah, macho ego, but I totally lost focus, went out too hard, tried to stay away from the pack to do a solo breakaway and totally blew up at the end. I ended up looking kinda stupid rather than cool. I should have just chilled in the pack and finished near the front. Live and learn....
- —Guest Dillon
new socks = bad idea
- I should have used socks I was used to running in. I thought, "socks are socks... so what." But I paid for it in blisters. Best to wear clothing that you are familiar with so you don't have surprises on race day.
- —Guest Waneka
