5 things not to do in a race

Running influencer Matt Choi made unfortunate waves in the marathon community this past weekend at the Austin Marathon after he had two cameramen follow him on bikes throughout the race. The cameramen reportedly cut Choi’s fellow racers off on multiple occasions, and when other runners asked them to be more careful, Choi and his team allegedly ignored their requests. Inspired by Choi’s ill-advised filming plan, we thought up five more things never to do in a race (unless you want the other runners in your corral to hate you by the end). 

Mid-race coaching 

Unless someone specifically asks you for your opinion in the middle of the race (which they almost certainly won’t do), don’t offer them any tips, no matter how much you think you’ll be able to help them. All your advice will do is annoy them and give them someone to talk about with their friends after the race. If someone’s shoelace is undone then sure, you can tell them, but other than that, leave them alone and focus on your own race.

Cutting people off 

You know what isn’t fun? When people pass you on the race course and immediately dart in front of you, just inches ahead. Cutting people off ranges from being annoying all the way up to dangerous, as it could lead to someone (or multiple people) falling and potentially getting hurt. If you’re going to make a pass, give the person behind you a few feet before you move in front of them.

The chatterbox 

Nobody wants to talk to you, a stranger, during the race, so don’t start a conversation. Quick, encouraging comments are fine from time to time, but don’t say anything that requires more than a one-word response. Save the pleasantries for after the race, when everyone is more open to sharing stories and making new friends.

The pace-less wonder 

We know that your pacing strategy is nobody’s business but your own, but it’s undeniably annoying when someone blows by you, fades hard, falls back and then uses their next wind to blow by you once again, only to repeat the cycle. Better, more consistent pacing will not only help you avoid being an annoyance on the race course, but it will also help you achieve a better result.  

Calling it quits 

Again, it’s no one’s business if you want to quit mid-race, but if you do, do it silently. There are some runners out there (not many, but a few) who quit as soon as they realize they’re not going to get the result they were hoping for, and in most cases, those same people are the ones after the race who have endless excuses for their failure. If things aren’t going your way, don’t quit, but instead just come up with new goals to chase in the middle of the race.