We use this method for debriefing at work ....

Please tell us newbies, one thing you will do for this marathon and one thing you will change from your last marathon....

1. I will _____________
2. I will not __________

I know I'm not the only newbie who is absorbing information like a sponge ....

I WILL listen to tunes this year. While it's fun hearing the entertainment, spectators and other runners, a different source of diversion will be helpful toward the end.

I WILL NOT assume it's all downhill once I crest the St Johns Bridge. There's still a lot of hard running to the finish!

Nice idea. Thanks for sharing.

I will complete the marathon in my aerobic heart rate range.

I will not go over my anaerobic heart rate range until I see the 26 mile marker.

Eric

If I am unfamiliar with the course I will drive it prior to the run to get a sense of what to expect.
I like to do a check list of everything I think I need for the race and have it set up the night before (race number pinned to shirt or on race belt, water/hydration fluid ready, hammer gel/gummies (yes I am a Gu guzzler!), socks, shoes, shirt, shorts everything I can think of).

I will not overlook attention to my hydration, nutrition and sleep practices two weeks prior to the race!

I WILL plan my last bathroom stop more than 15 minutes before the start time. Last year I thought 15 minutes would give me enough time to stand in line and do my business. Not even close. Plan to go 45 minutes in advance.

I WILL NOT do some of my stretching routine when I get into the starting shute. Too many people there so there's no room. Finish your stretches before getting to the starting line.

I would let go of any specific expectations for my performance. What you have the day of the marathon is what you have. It may be better than you expect or worse. Finishing a marathon is a great accomplishment in its own right. Life's too short to stress out over missing a goal by 5 minutes and feeling like you had a "bad" day.

I wouldn't stress out on what I'll drink during the race, what I'll eat during the race, etc., because I know that if I've done the 21 miler, I'm ready for it.

One more thing -- have fun, you've earned it!

I will tape up my feet with micropore tape, a la suggestions in the third edition of "Fixing Your Feet," if you haven't taped up your toesies before--just remember not to wrap too much tape. Over taping will make your feets too warm, you'll sweat, and then you'll really get blisters...........

I will not sweat anything. Trust me on this one: Just about everything bad that can happen on a marathon, not involving serious physical injury, has happened to me. I'm hard pressed to think of a burning humiliation that I have not suffered, and it all just makes for a good story.

So don't start out running too fast, don't take the race or yourself too seriously, and remember this is your hobby--not your job. Running big city marathons is a blast, so don't forget to enjoy yourself.


AND for you first time marathon runners--or friends, romans, and countrymen of first timers--plan on going out to dinner the night of your marathon, WEARING your medal during dinner. Really, you should do it.....You deserve it, you're special, so enjoy it.

Former AC Karen HATES HATES HATES it whenever I tell this story, so I repeat it as often as I can. When we ran the Las Vegas marathon, the weather was HIDEOUS. We ran into a steady 30 mph wind the entire race. Portapotties had blown over, it was so windy. A complete disaster, and race times reflected that. My friend Marlene and I were so miserable, that if a sag wagon had offered to pick us up, we'd have thrown in the towel. Luckily, none did. But AC Karen, way back in the back of the pack, she had sag wagons offering her rides on no less than SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS! She always declined, telling the last person who offered her a ride "NOT FOR LOVE OR MONEY!" I love that story, because I think it shows true grit and determination. Karen is mortified, because she thinks she was "rude" to a volunteer.....any way, that night Karen is wearing her medal around the casino. If you don't know karen, she's so nice it drives everybody crazy. She is chatting with half the world about the marathon, her medal, and no--the fact she is wearing a medal does not mean she "won" the marathon.............

The medal for San Francisco is made of copper--who knows why, but it looks nice. My friend marlene is wearing her medal as we check our luggage at the airport. The ticket lady asks her about the medal, and marlene explains that we both ran the SF marathon. the ticket lady squints at the medal, notice the medal is kind of a brownish color, and asks "So, you came in third place?"

I will bring an extra pair of socks: my one previous marathon was the 2000 Portland, when it rained for the first 30 minutes and I got blisters from having wet socks.

I will not skip my post-race stretches -- however limited my motion may be -- because I'm too tired and sore.

Heather

You would think that after 13 marathons, I would have this figured out, but noooo

I WILL remember that "carboload" does not mean eating twice the amount of food I usually do. It means eating close to the same amount, just a higher percentage of carbs.

In a related vein, I WILL remember to not eat large meals the day before the marathon (other than my lucky pancake/ham/egg breakfast, of course ) Eat the breakfast, then have small meals until my spaghetti late in the afternoon.

I WILL NOT sightsee the day before the race (I'm doing the Twin Cities Marathon this year). In fact, the Minnesota Twins are doing me a favor by having a Saturday afternoon baseball game scheduled. I get to sit for a few hours!! Even though beer and Cracker Jacks are loaded with carbs, I will abstain from consuming them until after the race (I know, it's tough).

Since this is an unfamilar course, I WILL print a copy of the course map, and note the location of all water stops so I can plan when to take my GUs with water. I'll also take a look at the elevation map, so I know where the hills are.

Have fun!!!

Laura D

From Newport, last spring:

1. I will continue to have a good time and remain in good spirits, even after hitting the wall and getting passed by a lot of people who tell me "good job! keep it up!"

2. I will not allow all my friends to leave the finish area before I figure out how I'm getting back to the hotel. A two mile walk after a marathon might be a good cool-down, but getting lost on a two-mile walk because you're too tired to pay attention to where you going is not!

-Jim

I WILL sleep a lot the week before, as I have learned I probably will not sleep the night before.

I WILL NOT eat the gummy bears at mile 9. Escpecially the green ones.