Another Season Has Come And Gone.....Or Has It?

Another season has come and gone. There were some high points and some low points, but mostly high. I wasn't able to train for about 10 weeks, but at the end of the day it had very little effect on me. I managed to complete the Long Beach Half Marathon, Solvang Prelude, San Gabriel Turkey Trot, and the Inaugural Malibu Half Marathon. I still have a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, however that's going to be Emily's first run and therefore her day, not mine. There is a lot that I have taken from this past summer/fall season, and at times I wish there was an appropriate time to dispense advice on the courses. So, I'm going to do so now:

1. Your hipster fashion Pumas are not appropriate trainers. Just because a shoe is made by Puma, Nike, etc does not mean it's going to be alright for running. In fact, you could injure yourself by not wearing the proper shoe. Just don't do it. If you have literally invested the time and hours into training, then go in and get properly fitted for a good running shoe and invest in the life and health of your feet!

2. You truly do not need to carry a 100 ounce Camelback with you. A few gels, maybe a fuel belt with one 10 ounce bottle of some sort of electrolyte drink....but a HUGE fuel pack that adds an additional 6 pounds is totally unnecessary. There are generally an adequate amount of fuel stations, and you can find out ahead of time what kind of gels they will be giving out, what kind of fuel drink they will provide, of course there is water, at some point you get orange slices and maybe a banana. That is plenty! Remember, less is more!

3. Oh, for the girl that is wearing the pants that are just low enough to show your ass crack, you need new pants. Enough said.

4. For the guy who's shorts are so short I can see your butt cheeks, get together with the girl from point #3 and get some new shorts.

5. For the people that are so injured that at mile 8 they are dragging one foot, is it really going to be worth a injury that might take 6 months to heal to finish? Trust me, I've been there. However, I'm the first person that will stop the moment something is so wrong that if I keep going I'm going to be out for a long time. So not worth it. Why? Because they have these races every week, month and year. Next year you go back for redemption and rock it! This year you race smart and have no shame in walking away healthy.

6. You know those people that race so seriously they go through every aide station and never say "thank you" to the volunteers AND throw out their remaining water and it lands on a volunteer because they can't be bothered to notice anyone but themselves? DO NOT BECOME THAT PERSON! At every aide station say "Thank you volunteers!" and smile. First of all, it makes them feel better about the asshole that just soaked them with backwash water. Second, you will really get a little more energy back when they smile at you and say "thanks! good job!". A smile and appreciation go a long way.

7. At every single photo opportunity make sure you are running and smiling. I know that mile 11 of a half or mile 20 of a full marathon BLOW! However, when you get the email a week later telling you that your Brighthouse race photos are ready, there is nothing better than seeing how happy you looked at the hardest part of a race. Also, sometimes that's when you are about to hit a wall and now you have just shifted your mind's focus to something completely different, and then you say "Wall? What wall?" Totally works!

8. When running, if you need to walk, stay to the right. Seriously, take 2 seconds to look over your shoulder and MOVE OVER. Do you know how many accidents I have seen because someone suddenly stops running and starts walking, rather slowly, and the person behind them runs into them, and the person behind that person runs into them, and now we have a pile up like it's the 405 South at the 10 freeway. It's ugly and that's the easiest way for people to get hurt, and totally avoidable.

9. When crossing the finish line.....get the heck out of the way. Unless you are the absolute last runner, it's not polite to stand in the middle of the finish corral and expect everyone else to run around you because you are tired. Hey, guess what? They are probably tired too, so do the right thing and just move.

10. Just have fun! Seriously, all that anxiety and pre-race nerves, let them go. Think of the race as a run with 10,000 of your closest friends. And remember, this is your run, nobody else's. Do not let someone dictate how your race should be. As long as your race smart and are considerate to the people around you, then you do what you need to do to cross the finish line HEALTHY!