Hi! I am Richard Francis. We are filming a video on how to run a marathon. We just covered nutrition, now we are going to cover what to do on race day.
You have made it to the start line, you've put in the proper training physically for the event. Now what? Well most people get to the start of the marathon, if it's their first one, with a little bit of anxiety. That's totally normal, don't worry about that.
The excitement that you will have when the gun goes off will consume you and you will forget about any anxieties you had. At race day, make sure you arrive early. The night before, make sure you layout a checklist of all the items you are going to need to bring including your race bib number and the chip you are probably given to for the race timing.
A lot of the marathons these days have electronic chip technology that allow you to monitor your times and your finish time just by running across a math. So you are going to need to attach that chip probably to your running shoe if it's not included in your bib number, most likely it will be on your running shoe.
So make sure all of that's taken care of the night before. The rest of it is all mental. As a matter of fact I would say probably 90% of getting to a finish line is mental. The biggest thing to remember on race day, don't try anything you haven't tried during training, especially nutrition-wise, don't put on a pair of brand new running shoes. Use the ones you've been using in training and make sure you've got the right amount of preparation going into this race in terms of what you will need.
Now, that includes creams like Vaseline, because you are going to have a lot of chafing during 26 miles, you are going to want to put it on areas that might rub. For example elbows might run against your side, between your thighs it may rub; use that cream to prevent chafing. You are going to need it on the course.
Actually a lot of marathons hand out Vaseline throughout the course if you get a rubbing like that. Other thing to remember, you have already put in the proper training, so you are good there. For sport drinks, make sure you have tried one of the sport drinks that their sponsoring organization is providing.
So make you you've tried it before. If not, try to bring your own. During the race, try to get there very early, start with a pace group that you are accustomed to that will really help you get to the marathon. If there is not a pace group, for example 8 minute, 9 minute or 10 minute mile group, if that's your pace group; if you can't find one around there, try to ask some people around where you are, what pace they plan on running in the marathon. If you can find some people that are about the same pace as you, stick with them. If you can't find a group, then that will help you get through the event as well engaging your pace with them, especially if this is your first one.
Having somebody help pace you is probably the best way to get to the finish line without getting too exhausted. Now, we are talking about 26.2 miles. Maybe you've done the 26 miles beforehand in training, maybe you haven't. Maybe you only trained up to 20 miles. That's okay. Those last 6 miles, they are going to be tough. There is no question about it. But the excitement around you, the fans, the amount of people, that will get you to the finish line alone.
It's really hard to describe the feeling of the event and crossing of the finish line in words, you've got to be there to experience it, it's unbelievable. The main thing to remember is just to have fun. Remember why you are there. Relax those shoulders, relax the arms, have a lot of fun getting to the finish line. It's a test, it's a challenge, mentally and physically, but it's probably one of the most enjoyable journeys to personal accomplishment that I have ever experienced. Seeing other people experience that is really amazing. I really think that if you try to do, you do your first one, you get to the finish line, you will probably end up doing a lot more.
That's the basis for our company LVS Health Innovations. We know that these events are enjoyable, they are family oriented. They are just a lot of fun. We know that people come back and do them again because they've had so much fun. So I hope you get to the finish line, enjoy it and come back for more. I hope the advice I have provided you here has helped you prepare for a marathon and helped you get to other ones down the road. Thank you.
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