By Robert Weiss, DPM

Every race is a learning experience and there are many tricks to proper
racing style.

If it is a warm day at the race, it normally takes 4-5 days for the body to acclimate itself to warm temperatures. On the morning of this race, if the sun beating down on our heads at the starting line, and a late start, it becomes challenging. Knowing from experience, I walked to the starting line with a bottle of cold water which travels into the body's circulatory system to keep tissues cool.

The mental aspects of racing are most important. Runners need to develop
mental toughness in order to succeed in competition. Each and every runner
who has ever stepped onto the starting line feels the anxiety and experiences the emotions of competition. So with the heat bearing down on us, it's good to know the points of the course in order to plan your strategy, like the location of water stations, hills and flats.

Another important factor of racing is to learn how to keep an even pace over the distance. An effective way to run the race is to break it up into thirds. The first third is when to keep that even pace and get your second wind. The middle third, you should know the course so that you can pick up your pace. Finally, during the last third, it should should be easy to convince yourself that you are ready for the task at hand by keeping a good mental attitude.

Now is the time for a good racing style while getting up on your toes and leaning forward in a relaxed position from the ankle to the head. Then push off with the last bit of weight on the big toe as you pick up the pace to the finish line for a personal record (PR). As for me, I was always happy to finish in a respectable time with no injuries.

Dr. Robert F. Weiss is a podiatrist specializing in foot and ankle surgery with a practice in Darien, affiliated with Stamford Hospital and member of Stamford Health Medical Group-Foot & Ankle Institute. A member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Marathon Trials, he is a veteran of 35 marathons.