Since getting into this running thing, I've figured out things no one actually tells you. I don't know what happened to running being about you and a pair of shoes, but somehow, it's a little more complicated than that. So here are the 10 lessons I've learned so far.
1. Those dorky fanny packs are actually called "hydration belts," and yes, I gave in and bought one. REI carries less dorky ones.
2. Chamois butter is my new best friend. I put it everywhere, including between my toes before they go into socks and everywhere else imaginable.
3. After polling my fellow runners, I no longer wear underwear beneath my running pants.
4. Too many GUs can upset your stomach. Try out the various gels, blocks and jelly beans (my favorite, it's like candy!) to see what combination works best for you.
5. Showering after a run is vital. Shower before you eat! A funny rash may result.
6. If something hurts, it usually means another body part needs to be stretched. Weird, I know, but everything is connected. So my sore foot didn't go away until I regularly stretched my calf. True story.
7. Running shoes are really ugly.
8. Cotton is evil. Even if the shirt is made for running, check the fiber content and make sure there is no cotton. This goes for socks too; non-cotton socks may not save your life, but they will save your feet.
9. Bugs are attracted to your headlamp during night runs. And yes, I have eaten some.
10. Beans are not the best thing to eat the night before a morning run or during the day before an evening run.
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