So, I asked Runner’s World this question, and they never answered:
What is the etiquette for taking water at a long race? Sometimes I take several cups of water, and could take plenty more. But I hate to hear when a race runs out of water. How many cups of water can I take?
A personal question that I have been pondering:
Sometimes when I run along the sidewalk, I’ll come across the remnants of a children’s hopscotch game. I always hop through the hopscotch board, then keep running. Do other people do this too?
And finally, a neo-koan:
Runner’s World keeps having headlines about how to “run your perfect race”. If you run your perfect race, wouldn’t you drop dead at the finish line because you perfectly apportioned every last ounce of your energy to get you there?
May 15, 2008 at 2:21 pm
#1: Take as much water as you would like. It’s the responsibility of the race directors to ensure that they have provided enough water for every participant. If they fail to do that, well, you got there first.
#2: Um…no…I would never…um…do that…
#3: If the magazine does contain the formula for the “perfect race,” why would you ever need to purchase another issue of Runner’s World? Especially if you’re dead?
May 15, 2008 at 7:01 pm
1. Agreed, take what you want. It’s not your fault there are slower people behind you.
2. I always do that. Additionally, I throw bean bags over parking lot signs and avoid stepping on cracks as much as possible.
3. Depends on your definition of perfection. Fastest to finish, feel the best the next day, able to run another race. Since you can’t pin down what a perfect race means, you can continue to have articles telling you how to have the perfect race.
The perfect joggling race is one in which you have no drops and no stops.
May 15, 2008 at 9:08 pm
1. Not qualified to hold an opinion.
2. I don’t run, but MUST . . . JUMP . . . HOPSCOTCH.
3. If you do die after a perfect race, won’t you still break the cycle of rebirth and achieve Nirvana?