5 tips for your next long race

1. You will do better. Finishing 21 km isn’t exactly high on the achievement list of recreational runners so when you run in this league, the participants are faster and stronger. You will eat their dust—at least at first. With more regular training, your speed and endurance will improve, and pretty soon you’ll be able to keep up.
2. Cotton socks are baaaaaad. The blister on my toe is proof of that. My feet were soaking after 2 1/2 hours of running. The smell was fresh enough to elicit a flurry of disapproving barks from our neighbor’s dog.
3. Music matters. In fact, music is essential for long races imho, or you’re stuck listening to the occasional breeze, the soft gurgle of running canal water near the road, car horns, muffler-challenged public transportation, and the heavy wheezing of people running close to you. These sounds will drive you slowly insane.
4. Float like a butterfly. I watched Jake sprint yesterday during practice, and I swear, it almost looked like he was barely touching the ground. Run light, and let your momentum carry you forward.
5. And finally, don’t feel bad. Even if your officemate beats you by a humiliating… 15… minutes… sniff… sniff… huhuhuhuarrrgh!