Over the years, I’ve learned (and sometimes re-learned) valuable running lessons by making mistakes and knowing to do things differently the next time. For instance, I know that I’ll never again eat Fig Newtons right before a race. Several stops in the porta-potty guaranteed that I wouldn’t be making that mistake again.
While most runners learn the below lessons through (sometimes painful) experience, I’m offering them up here so that you may avoid learning them the hard way.
Here are some rules to keep in mind to avoid the potentially painful or embarrassing consequences.
1. Don’t overtrain.
“I have fallen victim to overtraining many times by running too much and getting injured,” writes runner Catherine on our Facebook page. “I still have trouble with knowing when to take it down a notch before I injure myself again. The trouble is I just love running so much!”
It can be easy to get enthusiastic about running and your progress and make a dangerous, gigantic leap in mileage. You start feeling confident and think, “Well, I did 6 miles, why not try for 12?!”
As many runners have learned through trial and error, making big jumps in your weekly or your long run mileage can lead you straight to an overuse injury.
Play it safe and don’t increase your overall mileage by more than 10% each week. And give yourself a down week every few weeks where you actually take a step back in mileage, to give your body a break and help prevent injuries.
2. Don’t eat (fill in the blank) before running.
Like my experience with Fig Newtons, most runners have made at least one pre-race food choice that turned out to be a big mistake. It may be something you ate the night before a big race or a pre-race breakfast time that leads to some unexpected pit stops.
I’ve learned by now to make sure I abide by the “nothing new on race day” rule. I tend to stick with pretty bland foods – bananas and plain bagels – because I know my stomach can handle that.
3. Replace your running shoes regularly.
If you’ve ever suffered from foot or joint pain on both sides, there’s a chance that your worn-out shoes may be to blame. Some runners figure that out and then never again wait too long to replace their running shoes. Most runners need to replace their shoes every 300 to 400 miles.
4. Don’t come back from an injury too soon.
When you’re dealing with an injury, patience is key. Many runners get anxious to come back and start running again sooner than they should.
Listen to your doctor or physical therapist‘s advice and don’t get too aggressive. You could end up setting yourself back to where you were before you started your rehab efforts. Talk to your doctor or PT about returning to other cross training activities (such as biking or swimming) before you can start running again.
Doing some other activities may help you deal with the frustration of not being able to run and help you get back to your previous fitness level.
5. Don’t get running shoes in your street shoe size.
When I first started running marathons, I didn’t know that I needed a little extra room in the toebox of my running shoes, since our feet swell when running (especially in the summer). A couple of black toenails later, I went up a half-size in my running shoes and I haven’t had a problem since then.
Most runners need to go up at least a half-size for their running shoes. Go to a specialty running store to get your foot measured and gait analyzed so you can find the right shoes for you.
And don’t assume your feet are not getting any bigger! Weight gain, pregnancies, falling arches, and other issues can all lead to a larger shoe size.
6. Don’t forget sunscreen.
One year when I ran the Boston Marathon, it was an unusually hot day for mid-April. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and, back then, the race started at noon, so the sun was already high in the sky.
After a long, cold winter of training in running pants and long sleeves, I completely forgot about sunscreen. The result was one of the worst sunburns of my life. My face was spared because I had on a hat and sunglasses, but my shoulders, back of my neck, and backs of my calves were bright pink a couple hours after the race.
So, yes, you can get a sunburn in early Spring and even a little exposure can lead to a bad burn. When running outside, use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 on all exposed skin, no matter what time of year it is.
7. Don’t undertrain.
Yes, there is such a thing as being underprepared for a race. Veteran runners more often fall victim to this mistake, probably because we’ve done races before and don’t have the fear of not finishing as a motivation to train.
I find that if I don’t follow a specific training schedule, I’m more likely to get behind and suddenly realize I only have a few weeks to go before race day. Stick to your schedule and check off your workouts as you go along, rather than just trying to wing it.
Training with a group is also a good way to maintain your motivation and make sure you’re on track with your training.
More Running Advice:
- 4 Running Form Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- 14 Things Every Runner Should Know
- 5 Running Mistakes That Could Lead to Injury
Running coach, avid runner, and fitness writer Christine Luff is an RRCA-certified running coach and ACE-certified personal trainer. Founder of the website Run for Good and author of the book Run for Good: How to Create a Lifelong Running Habit, she coaches runners, from beginners to advanced, who are training for races, from 5Ks to marathons.
