Many people mistakenly think the fruit will help them. He also suggests runners take advantage of the water and sports drinks that are available at the 17 aid stations along the way. It's also important to think about shoes. Many hip, foot and knee injuries can be traced to improper footwear. The general rule of thumb is to buy running shoes one size bigger than dress shoes.
Many people buy their shoes too small.
If your shoes are too small, then your toes are rubbing against the top of your shoe during the entire race. The result is black toenails that fall off and, sometimes, bleed. It's not unusual to see runner's shoes getting all red near the toe at about mile 20. The average runner in Sunday's race competes in two races a year and trains about 40 miles a week. Many have race rituals that help them stave off injuries.