Dress Rehearsal

Jacqueline Hansen
Special to the Mirror

   There are five weeks to go to the marathon, and it’s time to begin addressing race day preparation regarding several key points: Your race uniform, shoes, socks, blister prevention, pre- and post-race meals, fuel on the run, and race pace. It’s not too soon to start rehearsing for race day now — in your training runs and in intermediate races.
   Take your race uniform for example. Have you decided what you’re going to wear? In case of extreme weather -– hot, cold or wet -– be prepared with alternatives. Barring a repeat of the unseasonable cold, windy rain we experienced two years ago, LA weather tends to be pretty moderate at this time of year. Usually, a tank top and shorts is sufficient. Lightweight, breathable mesh materials are a good choice. If you’re cold to begin with, but feel confident you’ll warm up eventually, add disposable items for warmth, like an old sweatshirt, long socks covering your hands and arms, or even the ever-popular, fashionable plastic trash bag with neck and arm holes cut out of it. These items can be tossed aside as you warm up. Remember that a great amount of body heat is lost through your head, so wear a hat if you want added warmth. If you expect hot weather, however, wear a breathable mesh hat for sun protection. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
   Practice one of your long runs in your racing outfit as a dress rehearsal. If you find that there is chafing anywhere, you will know exactly where you need to apply lubricants, such as Vaseline or Body Glide. We’ll talk about choosing the best shoes and socks next week.
   Jacqueline Hansen is the director of coaching education at the Amateur Athletic Foundation. If you have questions about marathon training, email Jacqueline at coachjqhansen @aol.com, or write to her in care of the Mirror.