37 Mistakes Runners Can't Stop Making

Written by
Runner's World
In a perfect world, we'd train hard, race smart, recover well, and live a balanced, healthy life. In reality, we fall prey to the same errors over and over. Among them:
1. Going out too fast.
1 of 38
We're flying! We're flying! We're ... crashing and burning.
Find:
Your Next Race
2. Forgetting the BodyGlide.
1 of 38
Innocent bystanders hear the screams when hot shower water hits raw, chafed skin.
Find:
Your Next Race
3. Overdressing for a long run.
1 of 38
We obsess about the "real-feel" temperature for hours and still end up with three jackets around the waist halfway through a run.
Find:
Your Next Race
4. Not warming up.
1 of 38
Going straight from commute or desk chair to mile repeats seemed like a good idea. Our legs had different thoughts.
Find:
Your Next Race
5. Skipping the stretching and foam-rolling afterward.
1 of 38
Then: "I don't have time before Walking Dead." The next day: Moves like a zombie from Walking Dead.
Find:
Your Next Race
6. That new burrito joint the night before an important workout.
1 of 38
I thought there was a porta-potty around this next corner? Or was it back there?
Find:
Your Next Race
7. Forgetting sunscreen in the first race of spring.
1 of 38
Burn, baby, burn.
Find:
Your Next Race
8. Going out too fast...again.
1 of 38
Hitting the wall once just wasn't enough.
Find:
Your Next Race
9. Using negative self-talk.
1 of 38
Who needs a mean coach when you can call yourself slow, fat, and stupid?
Find:
Your Next Race
10. Running too hard on easy days.
1 of 38
If it's not hurting, you're not doing it right. Right?
Find:
Your Next Race
11. Cramming for a race.
1 of 38
Oh, it's July? (Looks at calendar.) Marathon's in September? Sure, that 16-week training plan can squeeze into 8 weeks.
Find:
Your Next Race
12. Not charging our phone or GPS watch.
1 of 38
Nothing conveys energy like a blank screen.
Find:
Your Next Race
13. Pushing through an injury.
1 of 38
I'll just get this one more run in and then I'll take some extra days off.
Find:
Your Next Race
14. Overtraining.
1 of 38
If it's not hurting, you're not doing it right. Right? Right?
Find:
Your Next Race
15. Ignoring the core.
1 of 38
Planks. Who needs 'em?
Find:
Your Next Race
16. Skipping strength training altogether.
1 of 38
I'm a runner. I run. I don't want to look like Arnold.
Find:
Your Next Race
17. Forgetting a post-run snack.
1 of 38
The runger is real.
Find:
Your Next Race
18. Followed by...bingeing later in the day.
1 of 38
Why am I gaining weight during marathon training?
Find:
Your Next Race
19. Going out too fast in an interval workout.
1 of 38
Don't mind us, we're still working on our pacing...
Find:
Your Next Race
20. Running too much, too soon.
1 of 38
If it's not hurting, you're not doing it right. Right? Right? Right?
Find:
Your Next Race
21. Making up missed miles on the weekend.
1 of 38
Sure, if I do 10 on Saturday and 12 on Sunday, I can still get to 25 for the week in my training log.
Find:
Your Next Race
22. Trying those new shoes/shorts/hat/socks on race day.
1 of 38
Forgot to do laundry, so here, do me a favor and rip the tags off of these for me quick...
Find:
Your Next Race
23. Spending hours at the race expo.
1 of 38
Energy gel samples. Beer samples. Coffee samples. What could possibly go wrong?
Find:
Your Next Race
24. Skipping rest days.
1 of 38
Rest is for wimps.
Find:
Your Next Race
25. Wearing our shoes into the ground.
1 of 38
Really, they're fine. They still look good!
Find:
Your Next Race
26. Doubting ourselves.
1 of 38
I suddenly have absolutely no memory of the training I did to get here. And therefore, I'm slow, fat, and stupid.
Find:
Your Next Race
27. Not taking water on the trail.
1 of 38
You mean "stay thirsty" was not meant to be taken literally?
Find:
Your Next Race
28. Not practicing our fueling strategy.
1 of 38
Eh, guess I'll take a gel or two somewhere between miles 5 and 20, no biggie.
Find:
Your Next Race
29. Doing group workouts on recovery days.
1 of 38
Do stair climbing and burpee competitions qualify as a break from the stress of running?
Find:
Your Next Race
30. Always heading out along the same route.
1 of 38
Last week I was at 22:38 at this light post and today I'm only at 22:47. Better pick it up.
Find:
Your Next Race
31. Comparing ourselves to other runners.
1 of 38
My only competition is myself. Oh, and the 5,000 people I follow on Strava.
Find:
Your Next Race
32. Buying too-small shoes.
1 of 38
Toenails are optional, right?
Find:
Your Next Race
33. Poorly timing our prerace bathroom breaks.
1 of 38
"Runners, you have three minutes. Please make your way over to the corrals."
Find:
Your Next Race
34. Being a slave to our training plan.
1 of 38
Just because I was up with a vomiting kid all night doesn't mean I can't do my miles. Right?
Find:
Your Next Race
35. Not sleeping enough.
1 of 38
Five hours is only two hours less than seven, which isn't too bad.
Find:
Your Next Race
36. Going out too fast in a long run.
1 of 38
Why limit the pain of bonking to race day?
Find:
Your Next Race
37. Going out too fast in a race.
1 of 38
After all, it's what we practiced!
Find:
Your Next Race
1 of 38
Find:
Your Next Race

About the Author

More articles by Runner's WorldRunner's World
Runner's World is the world's leading running magazine. Covering topics such as shoes and gear, race training, nutrition and health, Runner's World appeases to the novice runner and veteran alike.