Nico de Corato finishing the Dubai Marathon in 2015.
Dubai - Running the marathon this Friday? Read this.
Published: Thu 19 Jan 2017, 5:26 PM
Last updated: Sat 21 Jan 2017, 11:45 PM
The Dubai Marathon is one of the largest running events of its kind. It is an annual sports event famous not only because it's billed as the premiere running event of Dubai, but also because of the many newcomers who want to test their mettle in it. It also ensures a jovial atmosphere in the grandstand. Supporters will await the finishers, cheering them on as they finish the grueling race.
Completing the marathon is no joke. That is why we spoke to Italian expat Nico de Corato who is the founder of dubayblog.com. He has run the Dubai Marathon thrice. Here's his advice to athletes who are running the marathon this Friday.
Think of yourself as an athlete
The legendary University of Oregon track-and-field coach and Nike co-founder, Bill Bowerman said, "If you have a body, you are an athlete."
To begin training for your first marathon, you must get yourself into the mindset that you are no longer simply a runner, but rather a "marathoner". Keep in mind that you are now a part of an elite set of people that could and did complete 42 kilometers.
After running three Dubai Marathons, he completed a 42K desert marathon, a 100K run and a 47K ultra in the Dolomites in his homeland Italy. He said: "When you become a marathon runner, even though you are not a top runner or a professional athlete, you cannot consider yourself a "rookie" anymore."
Do not train too much
Overtraining is one of the most common mistakes when approaching a marathon for the first time. The thought of running 42K leads a lot of athletes to over-prepare for the distance by running more miles or doing more workouts than ever before.
The philosophy is not to reach the race distance during the preparation. Nico advises to train the maximum distance (usually 80% of the race distance) a month before the race day
The day before the race
Do not consume too many carbs the day before the race. It's very important to rest and stay hydrated. Go to bed early, drink lots of water and do not forget your proteins.
Prepare everything before going to bed. Put your bib number on your shirt. During the race day, you may be over-excited and might forget something important.
The race day!
Get to the start early, in order to avoid traffic, parking problems and so on. Arriving late for the race will stress you out and affect your ability to focus.
Do not overdo your warm up especially if you are not competing to win. You don't need to start running fast from the beginning. With 42K in front of you, you have time to warm your body up.
During the race.
Stay hydrated. Drink small quantities of water often. Nico suggests taking a couple of sips every 15 minutes. It will also help in keeping your mind focused.
Do not push yourself at the beginning. Do not follow others. Run at your own pace. In a marathon, you are competing with yourself, not with others. Even if you run the first 21K at a slow pace, you have another 21K left to close the gap. It's a long distance run. Your top priority must be to reach the end without injuries.
Nico with professional runner Tonya Nero during the 2016 marathon
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