Heading into my second Boston Marathon, I felt pain in my lower leg that I thought was a shin splint. has tried something new. It’s a pain-relieving cream that contains capsaicin, the ingredient that makes peppers spicy.
I applied it in a thick layer – more than the recommended amount – and the resulting burning sensation kept me awake all night when I desperately needed sleep. was still there and I felt nauseous and dizzy on my way to the start line.
It was later discovered that these “shin splints” were actually stress fractures of the tibia.
It was a terrible experience, but I learned a lot. Don’t put up with pain, don’t try anything new the night before the race, and read the directions on your medication.
This was the worst thing I’ve ever done just before a big race, and the learning experience has stuck with me through the ten marathons that have run over the last ten years. Of course, I’m not the only runner to endure such an unwelcome pre-race tutorial.
Here, 16 other athletes, from recreational runners to elite marathon champions, share last-minute mistakes, what they’ve lost, and how to plan ahead to avoid similar accidents.
1. Don’t pack your water intake.
“In 2009, I was about to run my first half marathon, a half marathon from Napa to Sonoma. People always tell me to stay hydrated, but I ignored that advice throughout training. But after 12 hours into the race time, it seemed to start paying attention.
At the pre-race team dinner, we decided to drink as much water as possible to stay hydrated. I drank eight bottles of water for him. One after another, like Flatboy at his first keg party.
When dinner was over, I thought. “I’m hydrated now!” Except how it actually works, instead I spent the whole night peeing, my bladder was full so maybe she couldn’t sleep for more than an hour straight. —Ari Ferrer, Host Ali on the Run Show (Hopkinton, New Hampshire)
Drink regularly and normally: Drink slowly and regularly in the weeks and days leading up to the race. Follow these guidelines to make sure you stay hydrated.
2. Don’t forget to set appropriate alarms.
“At the 2016 Chicago Marathon, I reset my recurring alarm to the correct wake-up time, but forgot to set it to go off on Sunday morning. It was set to every weekday instead of Sunday, which is the day of the day.
With only five minutes to leave the hotel, my teammate Tatiana McFadden was awakened by a knock on the door. My advice: make sure your alarm is set for the correct time and day of the week. Also, having a supporter to help you on time is a great gift. ”—Susanna Scaronia professional wheelchair racer who won the 2022 Chicago Marathon Championship and is competing in the 2022 New York City Marathon (Champaign, IL)
