5. Start slow and ease into your goal pace.
A race can’t be won in the first minute—but it can be lost. In the case of a marathon, it’s always best to run the first 1 to 2 miles conservatively and ease into your goal pace. Running hard from the very start can put you over the pace you should be running, increasing your heart rate past the aerobic zone and into anaerobic territory. Don’t burn all that sugar when your body will need it in the final miles of the marathon! In other words, “don’t write checks your body can’t cash.” Before your next marathon, take a half hour the day before to organize your gear and plan the morning of the race. You’ll wake up with less stress and more focus that can be channeled into your race. Now go get that personal best!