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Although the marathon is a widely discussed race, there are lesser-known details that might surprise you.
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Aspects such as parking, race pace and energy gel management are often overlooked.
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In addition to physical challenges, marathon runners also face mental obstacles, such as the “psychological wall.”
You’ve talked with friends and running companions. You’ve read about it here, heard about it from actors, actresses, singers and writers. Even on the news and shortly on the intercom: about the marathon you know all about it. Or maybe not. Women’s Running has told some things that are not so well known about the queen race. And they are so true!
Don’t assume you will find parking
The more popular the marathon, the less likely it is that you’ll easily find parking. The best organizers plan solutions well in advance, but it’s still crucial to find out ahead of time where the designated parking areas are and how to get from there to the start.
You may find yourself trapped in a wave that is not your own
If you are an elite athlete this is not a problem for you: you will still start in the lead group and there won’t be very many of you. Your only challenge will be keeping pace with other elite runners, but as part of the lead group, you’re already moving fast.
The problem is with those who start behind you, which is us, which is normal people, running at different paces. Do you know what your pace is? Well, that’s already a promising start because that one decides which wave you should start with, so you’ll be among other participants going more or less at your speed. It doesn’t necessarily go smoothly, however, because-unlike those from before, yes, those in the lead group who start first-your wave will count hundreds or thousands of people all starting at the same time. In short: don’t hope to run right after the start because the first few hundred meters you’ll proceed at a walking pace. And maybe even less.
Your favorite gel might suddenly suck
In a race as long as a marathon you need to replenish not only your fluids but also your energy. That’s what gels are for, but you already know that because you’ve tried them and eaten them in training, right? The very long run after all is the dress rehearsal for the marathon, and by doing it you have simulated everything that could happen to you except injuries.
You then found the gel you like so much, the one with the Red Bull and mojito flavor (holy smokes). Good: you know that in the race you will have to eat more than one, and suddenly, just when you need it most, the one you loved so much might make you sick. Actually it’s still the same gel but you’re the one who’s changed (a marathon changes anyone): you’ve developed a transient hypersensitivity to sweet or salty or you’re taking it so badly that you feel nauseous. Or your nausea might be caused by yet another sweet gel. But how did you come up with bringing them all the same flavor? They are hideous now! Here, then do one thing: vary the supply and get both sweet and savory ones. You will thank us.
There is not a single wall
They told you there is the 30-kilometer wall, and that is true. But that it is not the only one you might encounter you were not told. There are in fact two potential walls: the physical and the psychological. The first is brought about by a slump in performance and general fatigue in your body, and the second is what you encounter when your mind-from being your very powerful ally-becomes a very powerful enemy telling you to quit, that you can’t take it anymore, that it’s not a tragedy to quit.
You can try to overcome the first wall with an energy boost—just be sure it’s a gel you can tolerate at that stage, while the second you can get around with cunning or experience, i.e., by telling yourself that it’s only the mind that’s tricking you and that you won’t fall for it. And we wish you success in that.
Don’t skip supplies
In all marathons there are refueling stops every few miles. You don’t necessarily need them all the time, nor do you necessarily feel like it. Precisely if you don’t want to drink you should do so instead, partly because the sensation of thirst may not accurately reflect your body’s hydration needs. Here’s the solution: prevent thirst! By the way, you lose a lot of fluids during a race, and replenishing them in the process saves you from cramping or dehydration. Just remember to drink.
You may not feel great afterwards
After a marathon, approximately one in seven runners may feel unwell, a condition sometimes referred to as ‘marathon flu.’ Symptoms can include cough, cold, or fever, often caused by lowered immune defenses due to the physical stress of the race. The cause is not mysterious: marathon is so stressful on the body that it results in lowered immune defenses, made even more insidious by the fact that it exposes the body to bacterial attacks, which are especially heavy under crowded conditions–like marathons! Depending on the symptoms you detect, it may pass in a few days, but if some of them persist and seem particularly worrisome-such as dark urine or vomiting-you should visit a doctor, as soon as possible.