Do you know the secret to finishing your Marine Corps Marathon?

This post is targeted at runners who are newer to marathoning. Veterans can feel free to skip this message.

A favorite running quote:
"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." -Winston Churchill to the Harrow School, 1941


Preparing for a Marathon

Preparing for a marathon involves a proper training plan, a good diet, sufficient rest, and diligence in doing the work. A marathoner in training has read countless internet pages about running, learned about running shoes, and has become educated on the latest hydration facts. A runner has done all of these things and is as prepared for the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon as they can be.

Since you are well-prepared and in good physical condition, nothing can keep you from finishing the race!
Well, there is one small little thing – not starting the race.


The Secret to Finishing

The last secret which will help you to finish your marathon is really not very secret at all. It is

Don’t Get Hurt!

This sounds so very simple that runners roll their eyes when they hear it. Yet every year many runners don’t even make it to the starting line because they were injured in the last few weeks before the marathon. The reason is, after training all summer, runners are in great physical shape and they typically feel pretty powerful even a little arrogant now that running 10 miles is ordinary. And it doesn’t take a natural disaster either – simple everyday accidents such as these are perfectly capable of ruining marathon dreams:

• Playing basketball (muscle / joint strain)
• Hurrying down the stairs (twisted ankle)
• Cleaning the house gutters (all sorts of damage is possible)
• Running on uneven ground (muscle / joint strain, twisted ankle, soft tissue damage)
• Dancing at a club (muscle / joint strain)
• Stepping off a curb (my personal favorite for stealth, simplicity, and impact: damage to foot, ankles, knees, and/or lower leg soft tissue)

Runners must remember that they invested a huge amount of time in building this physical fitness towards their marathon goal. How important is hurrying down the stairs compared to the investment and reaching that goal?

To keep from getting hurt: Be mindful of what you are doing with your feet and legs as you move through the day.

So tread carefully and let’s meet before the race.