5 Mistakes First Time Marathoners Make by Meb Keflezighi
- Refusing to taper before the race: A race of 18-20 miles takes about four weeks to recover from. Many marathoners try to squeeze in one last long run as the race approaches, and this leaves them unable to properly recover in time for the race and thus unable to perform at their best.
- Forgetting to refuel during the race: It’s easy to get distracted on race day and forget to refuel, but by the time you feel the impact it’s too late. Consume a PowerGel around the sixth mile to keep your energy up and replenish electrolytes for hydration and fuel for the rest of the race.
- Starting too strong: Many racers think it’s smart to surge faster than their usual pace at the beginning to make up for their slower speed toward the finish. This ends up being a downfall because it causes runners to burn through too much energy early on.
Trying something new the day of the race: There are so many great energy supplements runners can use to fuel up before, during, and after a race, but it’s important to make sure your body is used to running with these supplements. If you plan on using gels and energy drinks, make sure that you use them while you train so that they become a part of your routine.
- Indulging after the race: It’s tempting to celebrate your finish by going out for a big meal with your family and friends and indulging in comfort foods. This will likely delay your post-race recovery. Immediately after the race, it’s best to refuel with a high-quality protein such as the new Power Bar Clean Whey Bar. These bars have 20g of protein and only 2g of sugar. My favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor.
