2016

5 things NOT TO DO before running your first Marathon

5 things NOT TO DO before running your first Marathon
If you would have told me I'd be traveling half-way across the globe to do my first 1/2 marathon, I would tell you that's as likely as electing a billionaire, reality TV show host as the next President of the United States!

Hmmm... Well, guess what? I did it.

[caption id="attachment_24880" align="aligncenter" width="597"]first half marathon in jerusalem #vibeisrael #vibefitnessWhat am I doing?[/caption]

It wasn't like I woke up one morning and said today's the day I commit to my first marathon... or was it?


When #VibeIsrael reached out to tell me about a unique #VibeFitness tour they were planning, I was intrigued. Myself along with 4 other online fitness personalities were invited to visit the beautiful country of Israel to experience their vibrant health, fitness, and active lifestyle culture. This sounded so great I must have missed the part about running the Jerusalem Marathon. (This makes sense as I believe my wife has always said that selective hearing is one of my finer qualities she loves about me...)

I had about 5 months to prepare. And you know what I did instead? I did anything but run.  I'm not alone in this of course.

Every year around this time many people wake up on January 1st and say, "I'm going to run my first 1/2 marathon this year!". This commitment to self may have been induced or influenced by the libations of the evening before, but morning comes extra early on the 1st as you find yourself stoked from bed with a chirping cell phone. The alert reads:  “Start training for half marathon”

You chuckle at yourself, hit snooze and try to get back to sleep. You think to yourself, " Hey, how hard can running 21 kilometers be? " (The short answer, you resolve to refer to it as 13.1 miles moving forward as it doesn't sound as intimidating)

When did I start training for my first 1/2 marathon? Not soon enough!


The months, weeks, and days ticked by. I chose to continue doing what I do - CrossFit and functional fitness workouts with sporadic sprint training sessions. I was doing anything but logging mileage to prepare.

March eventually rolled around and I woke up the morning of the Jerusalem Marathon, immediately breaking into a cold sweat. 'What the heck am I doing?', was my mantra of the hour. 'Maybe, just maybe, I should have trained for this?'

Of course, it was too late for this type of thinking now. In a few hours, I'd be running my first 1/2 marathon through the streets of Jerusalem! I'm...

CRAZY!

While it was a great experience, which I lived to blog about, the aftermath on my body was not worth it. I deserved everything my body threw at me for the coming weeks. What was I thinking? (or not?) Between blistering, bleeding Achilles and heels, a missing toenail, hamstrings tighter than compression gear on a 215 lbs Moose, and a general overarching feeling of #iGotMyButtHandedToMe...

It was one heck of an experience and I'm glad I did it. Seriously. Here's how I was feeling as I walked the last 600m to the finish:

https://youtu.be/KqaEC6xquBA

Listen as a coach and someone with over 20 years of fitness industry experience, I knew better...

Even though I'm alive and kicking it now, I have to try to impart some of my practical wisdom on those who would follow in my foolish footsteps... listen up, here's...

5 Things You Should Never Do Before Running Your First Marathon


1) DON’T run with a brand new pair of shoes


The time for fancy gait analysis and specialty running shoe research has come and gone. Running a half marathon with a brand spanking new pair of kicks is not recommended. Shoes need time to bend and mold to your feet, they need to be worn in so that they are comfy and supportive. Rather run in your normal training shoes, as they have had time to break in than rushing to the store the day before. And here’s a hint, bring some band-aids along with you for when nasty cuts or blisters start to form.



By the half-way point my heels were bleeding, my nice new Skora minimalist shoes were anything but their original neon yellow. I wore sandals for the next 2 weeks and had to do 2 of my CrossFit Open workouts in lifters, which only slowed the healing process. So take it from me, break in your shoes before logging 20+ kms! (I knew this, but of course the excitement of the new shoes and bright colors overrode my logic...)

2) DON’T have a finish time


You have one goal for the marathon: finish.

Don’t let the hare's sprinting past fool you, young tortoise, keep it slow and steady and cast your ego aside for the day. Don’t compare yourself to other racers, run your own race. Believe me, it was tough being passed by everyone. In fact, the Kenyan's passed me twice - and they were running the full marathon while I was running the half. Figure that one out!

[caption id="attachment_24886" align="aligncenter" width="618"]Take a close look... can you tell which one of these people looks the most tired? Yup, that would me in the back.Take a close look... can you tell which one of these people looks the most tired? Yup, that would me in the back. (From L to R: Paula, Adva, Adam, Amanda and Rachele - and I'm in the back centre)[/caption]

Stop if you need to, step to the side and walk if you have to. Don’t beat yourself up for stopping by the refresher stations, your body will thank you. BTW - I stopped for a lot of selfies - made me look like I was taking it all in and documenting my experience, but truth be told, I needed the rests.

And always know that when you finish, there’s an ice-cold drink waiting for you.

3) DON’T neglect your muscles


There’s no doubt that at the end of the race you will be sore - all over. I know this from personal experience!

[caption id="attachment_24881" align="aligncenter" width="500"]No ice baths? No rollers? How about a dip in the Dead Sea -- salt bath is great!No ice baths? No rollers? How about a dip in the Dead Sea -- salt bath is great![/caption]

So before and after the race, do not neglect your muscles. Drink electrolytes, use a roller, go for a massage (or massage yourself ) and do your stretches and mobility drills before and after the race. Properly taking care of your muscles by loosening them up can actually boost tissue repair, increase mobility and decrease soreness.

4. DON’T try to change your eating plans, it’s too late for that!


[tweet_box design="box_9"]Here’s your motto for pre-race nutrition: Nothing new, only tried and true![/tweet_box]


You’ve heard all the carbo-load hype and now that you’re running a half marathon, you think it’s time to test out this theory. The thing is, it takes time to lead up to eating boxes of pasta. Don’t cook a full Italian meal the night before if your body is not used to it. Eat food and drink beverages that you are accustomed to before your run.

[gallery type="slideshow" size="large" link="none" ids="24882,24883,24884" orderby="rand"]

If you do have a few days to spare, rather eat lean protein like chicken or fish and add carbohydrates in small amounts like veggies, fruits, rice, pasta, breads, or legumes. And if you do want to “carbo-load” - because all the cool kids are doing it - eat your largest meal 2 nights before the race and not the night before.

Why? Well, your nerves the night before the race may halt the digestion process. This can leave you feeling pretty bloated and uncomfortable on the morning of the race. And don’t forget to carry some nutrition with you! But only those that you have used before.

One more nutrition tip: Do not chug gallons of water, as this will dilute your electrolytes causing muscle weakness or cramping.

[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]


Here's a link to an interview I did with the Dad Spotlight Podcast... talking about my first 1/2 marathon experience.


https://twitter.com/DadSpotlight/status/720931264736423936

[/box]



5. DON’T be late


Eat your pre-race breakfast 2 to 3 hours before the race start and keep sipping water up to 30 minutes before. This may mean waking up a little earlier, but you will thank yourself later. No one wants to spend 15 minutes sitting on the toilet during a race. Better to get it all out before, although - when we have to go, we have to go, right?

Keeping with the potty tips, don’t munch products with too much fiber leading up to the race, because fiber helps the digestive process. And while you’re up early, you might as well get to the race early to keep your mind occupied so that the nerves aren’t too frantic.

[caption id="attachment_24887" align="aligncenter" width="618"]I came, I saw, I ran and I got the medal to prove it #iRunJem #VibeIsrael #VibefitnessI came, I saw, I ran and I got the medal to prove it[/caption]

So what have I learned from this experience?


So while there are about a bazillion articles out there on how to train for your first half-marathon, I’m here to tell you what NOT to do before, during and after your first one.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjHCzPvtjH/

 

Listen up, if you are like me, then heed the advice and take it all in... I really wish I did! If there's one thing I most appreciate about this experience is the great friends I made along the way. If you are going to run your first marathon, believe me, Jerusalem is worth the trip. Amazing people, great food, and a beautiful countryside...

And one last thing...

Never forget, a community of supporters, like-minded people on a similar journey is all we need to take the experience from scary to fun! Now go and crush it!


[divider style="dashed" top="30" bottom="30"]
Share by: