What are some marathon mistakes you have made and how did you correct them? From leaving your race shoes at home in Minnesota to eating the wrong food prior to the race, what did you do wrong?

In my first, and only, marathon I went out too fast, about 30 seconds to 45 seconds per mile faster pace than I should have been going. I ran a personal best 18 miler, but the last 6 miles were nothing but a shuffle with strides of about five inches, if that. Years later while reading some marathon tips, I found out that an early tempo of just 15 seconds per mile too fast can add an hour plus to your finish time. My mantra for the first few miles of the marathon, “slow down, slow down….”

See you in January,

Flatlandcycle

Hydrate throughout the week before the race - DON'T get crazy drinking bottled water the entire 3 hours before the race, or you will be looking for a place to "de-hydrate" before you even cross the starting line!

Going out too fast is a HUGE mistake. I made it on my first marathon. I didn't realize it was a mistake until about mile 18 when I was dead sore. I had to stagger to the finish line :(

Other mistakes. Not setting 2 alarm clocks the night before. One of my alarm clocks failed me before one race, and I was scrambling to get everything together because I was rushed.


Good stuff to do: Lay out EVERYTHING the night before so that you know where everything is and won't forget anything. That includes nutrition and the morning breakfast. Set 2 or more alarms :) If you're in a hotel, use your cell phone, your clock alarm and the wake up call. KNOW where you're going. If you haven't been to the area before, try to drive to where you'll need to park and preview the course. That way, you'll know where to go race morning. If you're taking a shuttle (like they do at WDW), then there'll be less to worry about.

Going out too fast is my thing. I get caught up in trying to run with everyone else.

I agree with Tim about laying everything out including putting your chip on the night before. I get all my drinks and food ready the night before. All I want to do is get up, eat, and get dressed. I NEVER want to have to scramble looking for something. This will waste too much energy and add stress. I have done that before.

The hardest thing for me to do before the marathon was to take it easy at WDW. Don't spend too much time in the sun. Don't tire yourself out with a lot of walking. Don't eat to much junkie food. That's why I didn't go down that far ahead of the race. I had fun time after though!

Having never run a marathon and with the WDW Marathon approaching, I'M TAKING NOTES!!!! :)

Thanks to all (and for those who may post later) for the advice/tips.

Bobcat

At one time or another, I think I have made all of the marathon mistakes possible:
1) going out too fast
2) nearly new shoes (and a new style, to compound matters)
3) thinking I could train through an injury
4) skipping early water stations
5) goofy diets in the training phase
6) forgetting sunscreen
& the big one, starting a marathon with an injury - amazingly,it did not heal during the course of the race