Andrew’s Marginal Running Information
This is a collection of running tidbits that I’ve learned over a few decades of running.
You mileage may vary (literally).
If you were to look at me, your first thought would not be “runner”, but our genes are what they are. So these are not the comments of someone tall and thin.
- The line unintentionally left blank.
- I started out training for my first half-marathon by running a quarter mile and then having to take a walk break and built up distances from there.
- When I’ve had a long layoff without running, the first couple of weeks of training are miserable, and I have to push through it. After that, the endorphins start doing their thing and I’ll get to where I become antsy if I go more than a day or two without running.
- For my first half-marathon, I fretted about not being able to keep a pace and stay ahead of the sweepers.
- The sweeper clock doesn’t start until the last runner starts
- A brisk walking pace will keep you ahead of the sweepers
- A friend of mine would walk the marathons and had enviable times. He would stride it out and stopped for nothing and would finish a half in under 2.5 hours.
- I’m a proponent of the Galloway method, but modified for my own use. I have gotten to where I run for a mile or so and then walk for a short stretch.
- As it turns out, for most races, there are helpful people handing out water every mile or 1.5 miles, so my walk breaks are to walk through the water station. This also allows me to drink that water without spilling most of it.
- The whole key to the walking part is to only do 50 or 75 steps and resume running before your body starts to drop out of run mode.
- Based on #5, I have never carried water with me for a race. I let people hand it to me.
- I will carry some energy goo for a marathon, and even then I was pleasantly surprised that it was being handed out during the Disney marathon. I do like the energy beans and will carry some of them with me.
- To keep some moisture in my mouth, I prefer hard candy or Mentos. I just tuck the candy into a cheek and let it melt and typically get 2 miles from each piece. Or some gum.
- If you start getting shin splints, stop running and take a 2 week break. It’ll drive you nuts to not run that long, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. During your break, go buy new running shoes. When I had shin splints is when I bought my first pair of $100+ pair of running shoes. It turned out to be so totally worth it that I bought a second pair. My running shoes are just for running and I take them off as soon as I get back home and put on my everyday shoes.
- I also try to avoid running on concrete; I’ll even run on the grass next to a sidewalk if I won’t turn an ankle. My preference is a local greenway with long boardwalks. Even asphalt is better than concrete.
- For a 5K or 10K, I don’t bother with any tunes; besides the races being over quickly, there is usually enough music and celebration going on to provide entertainment.
- Due to issues with chafing on my thighs, I wear short running tights as a physical barrier. Some people use anti-chafe sticks, but a physical barrier is what works for me.
- Ditto for chafing in the show. What works for me is liberal use of moleskin between toes, plus wraps of surgical tape. I also use Injinji socks to help isolate my toes. There will still be chafing over the course of a marathon, but delaying the onset of chafing as long as possible is the key.
- For a marathon, take a couple of tylenol when the pain kicks in. Motrin is a blood thinner, so use tylenol.
- Make sure that you can un-knot your shorts before you get to a port-a-potty. Nothing worse than losing time over a stuck drawstring.
- Unless you want to set a personal record at Disney, take the time for some photos with the characters. When I ran the marathon, I saw Disney characters that I had never seen before in many visits to the parks. Just pick your opportunities and don’t get caught in a long line.
- My tendency was to stay on one side of the road or the other during a race. What I learned is that the course is measured apex to apex of the curves, so straighten out the curves and it will save yourself some steps over the course of the race.
- I was around mile 20 of the marathon when my left arm went numb. My immediate thought was that I was having a heart-attack, but it was actually just from keeping my fist clenched for so long. The lesson learned is to periodically shake out my arms and hands, and to touch my thumb to my fingers and not make fists while running.
- Take some $20 bills with you for massages after the race. For me, one massage of the legs after the half, and two massages, one for the legs and one for the shoulders after the marathon. After the marathon, my shoulders hurt and they told me it was due to holding up my shoulders and arms for so long. Get the massages; it is worth every penny.
- When I ran the Goofy, I went into the parks after the half-marathon. The key was to get only in short lines and not spend very long standing.
- The most amazing thing is the day after the marathon in the parks or even a resort and being applauded by Disney cast members.
Other tidbits:
- Buy some cheap sweatshirts at Walmart for the beginning of the race when it’s cold. You’ll toss them aside after you warm up and they get collected for charity.
- Moisture-wicking shirt cause some nasty chafing on men in half and full marathons. As cool as it will be at Disney, a thin cotton shirt will prevent chafing. The performance shirt can wick away the moisture from the cotton shirt.
- There is nothing like the monorail whooshing by and a full moon overhead at the beginning of a race.
- There can be a huge traffic jam leading to the staging area. Better to be dropped at the main road and use the short walk as your warmup.
- You’ll do better than you think you will.
