First Marathon Tips (Page 2)

do whatever it takes to get your morning poop out of the way before the race starts.

don't drink too much before the race, lest you end up needing to urinate at about mile 3. drink plenty during the race, though.

ugh, yuck. Diabetics use them to combat hypoglycemia...they've got 4 grams of carbs in them (each), so they're a great boost. Just a word of advice: Avoid the fruit punch and grape varieties. Watermelon and orange are your safest bets, trust me.

Everyone had so many good ideas and anecdotes about their races that I felt compelled to send another entry.....

1.) No matter how many marathons you do, I always had trouble sleeping the night before
and I always had butterflies the morning of......
2.) It sucks to have put all that training in for the last six months for one moment of
weakness during the race when you see the "would be" marathoners dropping like
flies. It is real easy to send in your $ 80.00 and register. Anyone can do it. When the
race gets its hardest and your legs are cramping up like no other....it will be you
who perseveres.......slow down....but do not stop!!!!!
3.) Like someone said earlier....have someone come with you that can drive you home.
I ran San Diego a couple of years ago and its a 1 1/2 hr drive home. I was in the
front passenger seat with my girlfriend driving. My legs were cramping up so bad we
stopped about every 30 minutes so I could get out and walk / stretch.....
4.) No matter how you try to manage your water intake, you are gonna have to pee. It
is ok to pull over to a port-o-let and pee. Try to wait awhile though....the more miles
you go the less you have to wait at one.......

HAVE FUN AGAIN!!!!

Bring tp if that doesn't work, or even if it does...

So I just I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions and tips for my first marathon. I honestly used a lot of them and they really helped in the end. When I started struggling a bit at mile 19, I remember someone posting about how there will be low points and you just need to push through them. That helped a lot and I got my second wind at mile 21.

My race report is up if anyone is interested.

Thanks again

Mark

Well done, big congrats, nice work!

Frank