Susan Donnelly

Heaven knows I’ve made plenty of mistakes in races and unless I become perfect overnight (not likely) I’ll continue to make more in the future.  By now, though, I’ve about stopped repeating the worst mistakes and can help you do the same.  I hate seeing others learn big lessons the hard way, so here’s my take (with Rob’s input) on the top five mistakes to avoid in your next race:

1. Starting out too fast.  This is easily the number one reason for a DNF or poor performance. It can affect anyone, no matter how fit or fast.   I’ve done this more than my fair share and see it repeated all the time.  Once the damage is done, it’s almost impossible to un-do.  The infamous death march to the finish has led to the retirement of many ultrarunners, especially new ones who aren’t eager to try the same miserable experience again.  Instead, start out pacing to finish and when you feel the finish is in the bag, then take it up a notch.  Neither Rob nor I have ever led an ultramarathon we’ve won until halfway or 3/4 of the way through the race.                                                                                                                                           
2. No backup plan for equipment failure.  I almost DNFed because my light failed and couldn’t see to finish (used a nearby glow stick instead).  Rob has DNFed because his light failed and he somehow got turned around backwards on the course.  I came close to another DNF at Umstead because I chose the wrong shoes, and thankfully had another pair in the car.  We all strive to go light, but there’s a fine line between packing light and taking unnecessary risks.  Whether it be carrying two lights or wearing shoes that aren’t worn out, you owe yourself an equipment check before starting and a backup plan in case of likely failures.  Carrying a light jacket in case of rain might be annoying but can be a race-saver if it rains.  Carrying an extra light in this day of small, bright lights is easy.  Checking batteries before the start is a must.  Write down when you change your batteries and shoes so you know how much life they have left.  After all that training, equipment can still make or break you.                                                                                                                      
3. Navigation errors.  Face it.  Sooner or later, you’ll get lost.  Some people have more trouble with this than others but it happens to all of us eventually.  It can be anywhere from a rewarding side trip on new trail to hours of searching for the course while the RD sends out the search and rescue team.  Whether the cause is your error or the RD’s error doesn’t matter – you’re still going to have to take corrective action.  So err on the side of caution.  If you haven’t seen a marking in a while, slow down and wait to hear if someone catches you.  Go backward on the trail to the last sure marker and re-check your route.  The best protection is knowing the course and while this isn’t always possible, try to at least have an idea of which direction you’re supposed to go.  Also, know your RD’s idea of course markings.  Some mark off even the trails not to take, others hardly mark at all.  If you’re at all unsure about the course and there’s a map, take a copy.  Know the trail blaze colors in case flagging is sparse.  Last but not least, pay attention to the markings and directions.  I’ve seen many lead runners take a wrong turn when there are flags, pie plates, and everything but a neon sign on the trail because they’re too busy concentrating on pace and the guy behind them to bother navigating.                                                                                                                                         
4. Cutoffs.  If it’s within your power, try to stay comfortably ahead of cutoff (but see Mistake #1!).  Trail courses are notorious for being longer than advertised and sections are sometimes harder than you anticipate, so banking on certain mileages and paces to maintain the cushion between you and cutoff doesn’t always work in your favor.  When you’re close to a cutoff, even the thought of missing it can psyche you into dropping out (been there).  Don’t drop until they pull you.  That way, you know you did your best.  If you do get pulled, whether from lack of training or not knowing the course, it’s usually something in your power that you can change next time.  If you learn from it, you’ll be a better runner next time out.                                                                                                          
5. Too much time in aid stations.  As I said before, get in and get out.  Before you arrive, focus on what you need to accomplish.  Maintain that focus while you’re there.  When you’ve been running the trail ahead of you for the past hour or two, it’s easy to get distracted by the sudden busyness of the aid station – all the runners, workers, crew members, food on the table, dropbags, etc.  The effect at night can be even worse, like the proverbial country bumpkin coming to the city for the first time and getting dazzled by it all.  You’d be surprised by how fast two minutes or more can fly by while you’re there.  Don’t be rude or ignore needed maintenance, but get back on the trail as soon as you can.

There you have it.  The things you can to some degree control.  Of course, there are sometimes outside forces that lead to a DNF.  Both Rob and I have had airlines lose our drop bags and sometimes you’re dealing with work or life stress and it’s hard to devote the necessary energy to the race.  You can’t control everything in your life all the time.  Still, avoiding the mistakes in this list should tremendously improve your chances of finishing, and finishing well, the next time you toe that starting line!

Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 9:41 pm | Tags: Blog | Respond | Trackback