10 Things to Remember on Marathon Day

We trust the most obvious necessities to your memory, but the following is a brief checklist of some of the more subtle - although quite important - things for the middle-of-the-pack runner to remember (or forget) on Marathon Day.

Remember To:

1. Eat breakfast. You'll probably be in a rush (at 5 a.m.?!) and a little bit nervous, which usually isn't the most opportune time to eat, but do it anyway. There's basically a 100 percent chance that you'll be famished later on, so you might as well take some preventative measures.
   
   
2. Carefully clip your toenails. The difference between finishing the race or not could very well hinge on if a too-long nail is allowed to dig into a neighboring toe. Remember, your stride will be repeated thousands of times before you reach the finish line. Something as seemingly minor as an unclipped toenail can effectively sabotage months of hard work.
   
   
3. Keep drinking water. Your hydration efforts should have begun days before, but Marathon Day is certainly no time to stop consuming liquids. In fact, the only one with a "drinking problem" on this day is someone who's not (drinking, that is). Avoid caffeinated drinks as they are actually dehydrating.
   
   
4. Bring discardable clothing to the staging area. The only thing that's worse than waiting around for hours for a marathon to begin is waiting around for hours for a marathon to begin and freezing. Of course, if you're running in the Honolulu Marathon, bringing extra sweats with you may not be necessary - but it certainly can't hurt in New York (some races, including New York, collect the thrown-away clothing afterward and donate it to charity).
   
   
5. Wear your bib number. This should go without saying, but as your race number is the single most important item you'll need on this day . . . well, try not to forget it!
   
   
6. Bring petroleum jelly and/or Band-Aids with you (if you're so inclined). Prior to the start of a marathon, some runners have been seen applying petroleum jelly to themselves everywhere - and we do mean everywhere - you can possibly imagine. The reason, if you're wondering, is to ease the friction caused by various parts of one's body rubbing against clothing or shoes about 25,000 times over the course of the 26.2 miles.
   
   
7. High-five kids spectating along the route. Even if you hadn't incorporated this move into your training, unless you're shooting for a personal record, you should try it. High-fiving will greatly enhance your marathon experience.
   
   
8. Sing/hum "Gonna Fly Now" to yourself if you begin to feel tired. Although few people are aware of it, this surefire method of self-motivation is employed by many of today's top marathoners!
   
   
9. Wrap yourself in a Mylar blanket at the finish (if they're available). Just do it. Hypothermia isn't fun.
   
   
10. Bring some cash with you. Having some money on you on Marathon Day can prove to be a Godsend. If you become really hungry during the race, you'll be able to buy something to eat. And if you feel like jumping into a cab immediately after finishing (well, maybe "jumping" isn't the right word) you'll be able to pay for that, too. Note that you may want to keep your money in a plastic bag so it won't get wet - we speak from experience!

Forget About:

1. Wearing, eating, or drinking anything new or different. This is no time to experiment. New running shoes will lead to certain blisters. Trying an energy bar or sports drink that you've never had before can cause stomach problems and possibly force you to drop out of the race.
   
   
2. Trying to actually run at the start (if you're at a major marathon). At mega-marathons like New York or London, be prepared to walk for the first 10 minutes or so, especially if you're far back in the pack.
   
   
3. Setting a personal record in warm conditions. Unless you enjoy hospital stays, take your time in warm weather.
   
   
4. Trying to find your family/friends watching along the route. Unless you're running in a small marathon or have a very specific meeting place arranged, you'll soon grow weary of trying to pick out your friends among the endless throngs of spectators at a major race.
   
   
5. The fact that some people are walking faster than you're running. Who cares? Anyway, you can always blame your slowdown on stopping to high-five little kids.
   
   
6. Hitting the proverbial "wall." The only thing to fear is fear itself. For many marathoners there's no such thing as a wall. Really.
   
   
7. Wearing headphones while you run. Aside from preventing you from hearing the wonderful sounds that accompany a marathon race, you wouldn't be able to hear yourself sing "Gonna Fly Now."
   
   
8. Continuing to run if it seems like you're about to cause yourself great bodily harm. If you've sung countless verses of "Gonna Fly Now" and it still hasn't helped . . . well, you can always try again next year (or sooner).
   
   
9. Your exhausted appearance at the finish line, and smile for the camera anyway! Should you decide to purchase the personalized finish-line photos that you're sure to be offered, you might as well look good.
   
   
10. Walking normally for several days afterward. Don't be alarmed, the post-marathon shuffle is a normal phenomenon. Wear your limp like a badge of honor. And best of luck getting up and down the stairs!