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in Races, Runners' Roundup, Running, Running Tips · August 4, 2021

Racing Mistakes To Avoid As You Return to Running Races

As many of us are returning to racing for the first time in over a year, it may be hard to remember all the things we should and shouldn’t do during a race. Good thing I wrote this post back when I was racing more! If you’re getting back into racing, make sure you avoid these racing mistakes. They’re all pretty common but also avoidable! Here are the top 8 mistakes to avoid at your next race.

As many of us are returning to racing for the first time in over a year, it may be hard to remember all the things we should and shouldn't do during a race. Good thing I wrote this post back when I was racing more! If you're getting back into racing, make sure you avoid these racing mistakes. They're all pretty common but also avoidable! Here are the top 8 mistakes to avoid at your next race.

Top 7 Racing Mistakes to Avoid

  • Starting out too fast
  • Being a slave to your running watch
  • Overdressing for your race
  • Not taking enough fuel during your race
  • Getting into a negative mindset
  • Getting boxed in at the start of your race
  • Being distracted while racing
  • Dealing with racing mistakes

Starting out too fast

This racing mistake is a big one for many runners. We line up for a race, feeling well rested and energized by the crowds, and realize we have gone out way too fast. It’s better to start slow, and make sure you have enough energy for later in the race. I’ve made this mistake in both the 5k and the full marathon, and both are a struggle when you get to the end of the race and know you wasted energy in the beginning. 

Being a slave to your running watch

While a GPS watch can be helpful, it’s also important to learn to run based on effort. Race day conditions can influence your pace. If it’s a hot day out, your regular pace will feel significantly harder than it would on a cool day. By running based on effort, you can adjust your pace to the conditions of your race.

running watch

Overdressing for your race

Often times the weather will be much cooler at the start line than at the finish line. You will warm up quickly once you start racing.. Bring throwaway clothes to wear before you start so that you can stay warm at the start line but then feel comfortable during the actual race.

If you’re used to running in the dark, you may want to check out some tips for running in the sun!

Not taking enough fuel during your race

If you wait until you are hungry/thirsty to eat/drink, it will probably be too late. Have a fueling plan in place and stick to it. Take your first fuel before you need it. Also, make sure to carry some with you in case you are not familiar with what is being given out on the course. It’s really helpful to practice your fueling strategy on training runs!

gu

Getting into a negative mindset

A negative mindset can really get in the way of the good race. This has been a huge racing mistake for me in the past. Without practicing before the race it’s really hard to get yourself out of it. A few years ago I read How Bad Do You Want It? by Matt Fitzgerald which really helped me to work on my mental strength. You can also work on strategies to overcome negative thinking.

Getting boxed in at the start of your race

Depending on how the starting corrals are set up, it can be really easy to get boxed in at the start of a race. (These days, with staggered starts, this may not be as much of a problem.) Make sure you are around runners who will be starting at a similar pace. In bigger races, there will be pacers holding up signs. Even if you are not running with a pace group it can be helpful to start nearby an appropriate pacing group. You don’t want to start out too fast, but you also don’t want to get boxed in and start out way too slow. 

racing mistakes: don't get boxed in at the start

Being distracted while racing

There are times during a race when being distracted is helpful, but during most of the race you want to stay focused. Remember your race strategy, pay attention to your breathing and how you are feeling, and use positive self-talk. Being too distracted during a race can lead to getting way off pace if you’re not paying attention to where you are in the race and how you are feeling. If you run with music, use it strategically. Maybe just turn it on during the middle of the race when you’ve settled into a good rhythm.

5k race stay focused while racing

Dealing with racing mistakes

Most importantly, remember that racing should be fun. We will all make racing mistakes from time to time, but try not to let it ruin the experience. Use any racing mistakes as an experience to learn from. As with most things, racing takes practice. The more you race the more comfortable you will be with the logistics and process. 

Has it been awhile since you’ve ran at all? Check out these tips on how to get back into running.

You may also like:
5 Tips for Choosing a Spring Racing Goal
How To Prepare to Train for a Race
5 Lessons from Running a 5k
The Most Inspiring Part Of The Racing Season

What racing mistakes have you made in the past?
Do you get more comfortable with racing the more you do it?
Have you been back to racing this year? If not, when will your first race be?

Runners Roundup- How to recover from a race

Now it’s time for the Runners’ Roundup! Link up your running and fitness posts below! Join myself, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Runs with Pugs , and Laura Norris Running to post your favorite running tips, experiences, race and training recaps, workouts, gear, and coaching ideas.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. meredith (The Cookie ChRUNicles) says

    April 18, 2017 at 5:45 am

    my big thing is drinking enough in the warm weather races. one time I skipped the first water stop and it was all downhill from there! now I make sure to always grab the water even if I think I don’t want it.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:11 pm

      I try to take water at every stop now too. I hate when I skip a water stop and then have to wait for miles to get to another one!

  2. Susie @ Suzlyfe says

    April 18, 2017 at 6:54 am

    Not putting on body glide. Oooooo you will regret it!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:11 pm

      That’s the worst!

  3. Marcia says

    April 18, 2017 at 7:42 am

    Oh I’ve made pacing mistakes. And I’ve carried drinks that I thought had calories in them that did not. Having to weave around people who haven’t lined up properly sucks.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:12 pm

      Yea, the weaving can add on so much time. Very frustrating!

  4. Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says

    April 18, 2017 at 7:44 am

    Starting off too fast has always been my MO and it bites me in the butt every time I race!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:15 pm

      Ive made that mistake multiple times, and Im sure I will make it again!

      • Wendy says

        August 4, 2021 at 8:26 am

        I laughed when I saw that you posted this, because at my first race this year, I did all the mistakes, lol! I think I commented in my recap that I forgot how to race. Looks like I’ll have to learn all over again. I’ve been able to defer my 2 fall races to next year…

        • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

          August 4, 2021 at 7:36 pm

          Considering I still haven’t raced since fall of 2019, its going to be interesting to get back out there again! I’m sure I’ll make alot of these mistakes. Glad you could defer your races!

  5. Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says

    April 18, 2017 at 7:59 am

    I definitely have made the mistake of being too dependent on looking at my watch during races. When it’s a warm race I struggle but I have to remember to focus on effort! Great tips!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:16 pm

      Yep! Same here, and it just gets me frustrated to look at my watch all the time and not see the paces I want.

  6. Meranda@Fairytalesandfitness says

    April 18, 2017 at 8:20 am

    Ha, i’ve done all of them at one time or another!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:16 pm

      You’re definitely not the only one!

  7. Laura @ This Runner's Recipes says

    April 18, 2017 at 8:34 am

    I have made the mistake of not pacing well and not fuelibg or hydrating well. I definitely learned from and improved from those mistakes!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      I hope I have learned from my mistakes, but I am sure I will make some of them again…especially after so much time off from racing.

  8. Lesley says

    April 18, 2017 at 10:07 am

    I found out the hard way to not only hydrate, but hydrate with electrolytes. I did an 8-miler for my first half, and I had a horrible headache the rest of the day. I couldn’t understand since I was drinking enough water, but I didn’t have the electrolytes.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      Good point- electrolytes are really important!

  9. Suzy says

    April 18, 2017 at 11:41 am

    I’ve been running marathons for 20 years and I start out too fast every.single.time.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:24 pm

      Its so hard not to!

  10. Laura says

    April 18, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    I am pretty sure I have done every single one of these!! It’s always tempting to start too fast- I have the most trouble with that in the 5k, finding my pacing. But I’ve fallen apart in the half from the same mistake. We have often have to learn the hard way!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      The 5k is just so hard to pace in general. Ive messed up by starting too fast and too slow.

  11. Rachel says

    April 18, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    Being negative is the quickest way to ruin a race for me. Man does it suck… One way I find myself getting really negative is if I know I have friends on the course. I start the comparison game and it totally ruins it for me. That’s why, as much as I love racing with friends, I almost prefer to race solo. That way it truly is me against myself, and no room for comparing.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 18, 2017 at 7:37 pm

      It’s good that you know that about yourself and have figured out what works best for you! I really struggle with negativity during races too. I have worked alot on it but I think it takes practice, and now that I haven’t raced in awhile its gonna be tough when I get back out there.

  12. MCM Mama says

    April 18, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    Going out too fast always used to be a problem for me. I’ve (mostly) learned that I run much better if I run the first mile super slowly and make up the time later.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 19, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      That’s a good strategy and usually works out better than sprinting the first mile!

  13. Sarah @ BucketListTummy says

    April 19, 2017 at 7:51 am

    Great tips – I definitely learned from many of these. I truly feel that most of my success in my first marathon was fueling early on and enough. I always prefer to dress as light as possible – too many layers wears me down.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 19, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      Fueling too late can cause so many problems. Its tricky to figure out the perfect strategy!

  14. Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says

    April 19, 2017 at 8:45 am

    #1 and #5 seriously I can be my own worst enemy for sure!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 19, 2017 at 8:03 pm

      Same here- I think those are the biggest challenges for me during a race.

  15. Amy says

    April 19, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Nice post Lisa. I once set off in a local race and got boxed in. I tried my best to get out and I succeeded but it gave me a stitch. I was literally crippled for the rest of the run. Big mistake, huge mistake!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 19, 2017 at 8:03 pm

      Oh no, that sounds terrible! I hate when I have to weave around people and add on extra distance.

  16. GiGi says

    April 19, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    When my husband ran his marathon (without ANY training) he started out TOO fast. He regrets that. I know he wants to run another one because he wants to beat his time, but… He doesn’t want to train for it! LOL!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 19, 2017 at 8:04 pm

      Oh wow! I couldn’t imagine running a marathon without training for it!

  17. angela @ happy fit mama says

    April 20, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to hard times during a race. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve sabotaged my finishing time because I got super Negative Nelly and gave up on myself. The overdressing part kills me. I run hot so I’d rather wear less. When I see someone in full tights, long sleeve shirt and a jacket when it’s 60 degrees, I overheat just looking at them! Dude! It’s 60 degrees!!!!!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 21, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      I really don’t understand how people can overdress for a race! I like wearing throwaway clothes but I need to make sure Im cool enough for most of the race. And Ive gotten into really bad places mentally in some races too. It can be such a challenge.

  18. Coco says

    April 21, 2017 at 5:56 am

    I almost always start out too fast. I’ve been working on that this year. It will be hard Sunday since the first 3/4 mi is downhill ….

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      April 21, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      When races start downhill its almost impossible not to start out too fast! Good luck this weekend!

  19. Catrina says

    August 4, 2021 at 1:22 am

    Oh, I have done many of these! Great points, Lisa.
    Mostly, I start out too fast. To prevent that from happening, I try to place myself in a slower part of the starting line, so that my first few minutes hold me up.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      August 4, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      That’s a great idea! Going out too fast is so common!

  20. Darlene S. Cardillo says

    August 4, 2021 at 7:08 am

    I still make these over and over. Lol. Especially starting out too fast.

    I’ve also underdressed.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      August 4, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      Will we ever learn? Haha. Yes I can see underdressing being a big problem too!

  21. Kimberly Hatting says

    August 4, 2021 at 8:09 am

    Starting out too fast is SO easy when everyone else is doing it around you LOL The thing is, I don’t feel like I’m going “fast” until my Garmin beeps at the first mile mark and shows me what I’ve done. Then when I try to hold back, it feels like I’m crawling…and that’s often even more difficult and awkward.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      August 4, 2021 at 7:33 pm

      It can be so hard to find that appropriate pace during the first mile or so!

  22. Deborah Brooks says

    August 4, 2021 at 8:37 am

    Starting out too fast is one of my common mistakes. I just get caught up in the excitement. I also make the mistake of deviating from my plan and then things can go downhill fast. Can’t wait to do an actual race!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      August 4, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      I’ve had a few races totally fall apart because of going out too fast. It will be fun to finally race again!

  23. Jenny says

    August 4, 2021 at 10:52 am

    Ah, great post. It’s been so long since I’ve raced that I definitely need some reminders! I’m not signed up for anything yet but am starting to look ahead with cautious optimism- winter is our racing season down here!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      August 4, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      Thats exciting! I only have 1 race for this fall. At this point I’m just hoping its still held!

  24. Chocolaterunsjudy says

    August 4, 2021 at 1:21 pm

    Great tips, Lisa! The negative mindset can ruin a race fast — I’ve definitely fallen prey to that one.

    I have definitely gone out too fast in a race, too, but I am also that odd one that can start too slow! Such a balance.

    I have no idea when I’ll get back to racing. I thought maybe late Fall, but right now, things have to settle down a whole lot (in more ways than one) for that to happen.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      August 4, 2021 at 7:38 pm

      It really is a fine balance of not going out too fast or too slow. I hear you on things needing to settle down! That makes sense. I’m glad I’m only signed up for 1 race at this point.

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Just over here taking a mid-run break to wring out Just over here taking a mid-run break to wring out my shirt and hair 🥵 Seriously the amount of sweat on this run was unbelievable thanks to a dew point of 75. Have I just blocked out summers like this or is this one worse than usual? Honestly though I’d still take this over the cold!

Are you over the heat yet this year? I think it’s the humidity that’s really getting to me!

#run #runner #runnersofinstagram #summmerrunning
Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. (Until you’re dyi Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. (Until you’re dying 5 minutes into your run wondering when it will finally cool off again). But really, this time of year I feel like there’s no point in checking the weather. It’s either hot or really hot. #summerrunning
Another cloudy day at the beach. At least it isn’t raining and windy today. I felt the 95% humidity on this fartlek run (maybe last night’s wine and bad sleep too) so it was a tough one. But workouts are for building fitness, not proving fitness, right?! How do you move on past a hard workout?

#run #runner #runnersofinstagram #runchat #vacation
Just a few random thoughts (and videos) from Satur Just a few random thoughts (and videos) from Saturday’s race…even though this wasn’t a goal race there are always lessons learned!

First off, my daughter woke up  around 1 am the night before the race. She almost always sleeps through the night now, but out of the 2 races I did this spring she woke up before both of them. It’s like she knows I am going to leave somehow. At least this time she went back to sleep pretty quickly and so did I!

Parking was easy, but it was a long walk to and from my car! (In past years I had parked closer but there was a ton of traffic coming and going)

The start line was so crowded that I couldn’t line up in the appropriate pace area. Many runners had the same challenge so the first few miles were chaotic with some people around me walking and others trying to run faster and weaving. I was just trying not to crash into anyone.

I didn’t bring my own water and wish I did! I needed it due to the weather and the water stops really slowed me down.

My watch never lined up with the mile markers. For some miles it was far ahead and others it was far behind. But overall my watch read 10.09 so it wasn’t too far off overall. 

Hard iced tea is a nice post race option. They also had hard lemonade and Heineken. (A few sips was good enough for me though)

Spring races < Fall races!

What’s the best post run beverage you’ve gotten after a race?

#run #runner #runchat #runbaltimore #baltimore10miler
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