Changes

Racing the marathon distance requires dedication and courage but sometimes the strengths can lead to runners ignoring injuries that should prevent them from competing. Carefully weigh the risks and consequences of racing with an injury.

==Race Mistake 9 - Lack of fortitude==

Racing the marathon distance always involves suffering. A well raced marathon will mean the last 10K is a living hell, barely holding on to the race pace. (If the living hell is accompanied by dramatic slowdown in pace, then it is not a well raced marathon but an example of hitting the wall.) It is important to mentally prepare for the marathon distance by both building fortitude and learning techniques for dealing with the suffering.

==Race Mistake 10 - Missing caffeine==

It is well known that caffeine improves athletic performance, so taking caffeine before and during the race is worthwhile. The flipside is when a runner routinely takes caffeine except for race day. I once met a runner who would routinely drink 3 or 4 cups of coffee every morning before running, but took none on the race day. This means that not only were they lacking the performance benefits of caffeine, they were actually going through caffeine withdrawal during the race. This will not only hinder performance, but cause headaches, muscle pain, lethargy and depression; none of these make for a good race. Ideally you should cut down your caffeine intake during the taper to maximize the benefits of the caffeine on race day, but at the very least you need to maintain your normal intake. (Caffeine is not a generally a diuretic.)