# I'll be skating the Long Beach marathon. Advice and support appreciated.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-skating-the-long-beach-marathon-advice-and-support-appreciated/324765>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 4, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-skating-the-long-beach-marathon-advice-and-support-appreciated/324765 "2005-10-04T19:22:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-skating-the-long-beach-marathon-advice-and-support-appreciated/324765/1 "2005-10-04T19:22:51Z")

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The thread title pretty much says it all. On what will probably prove to be a fatally misguided whim\*, I signed up for the inline skating incarnation of the Long Beach marathon scheduled for 10/16. This will be the longest course I’ve rollerbladed in…ever, so any advice you folks can offer would be appreciated.

Specifically, I’m curious about carbo-loading, whether it really works, and if so, how to do it properly. Also, what should I eat or drink the morning of the race? (Which is at 6:45 AM. Ick.)

I’ll also need to get a helmet, which I haven’t worn since I was a kid, so recommendations here would be great as well.

Other than that, just wish me luck. I’m pretty sure I can finish the course, it’s just a matter of whether or not it’ll still be Sunday when I do. 😉

- Fear not, I’m being largely facetious. I’m in fairly good shape, so my health shouldn’t be in any immediate danger. My pride, OTOH…

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**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-skating-the-long-beach-marathon-advice-and-support-appreciated/324765/2 "2005-10-04T22:51:03Z")

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I don’t think you really need to “carbo load” per se. You probably get enough carbs as it is. And if you’ve been following a training plan and are tapering, you’re storing up carbs as it is.

Don’t eat anything TOO HEAVY the night before. You don’t want to have a heavy stomach race day.

I ran this marathon last year - it’s a great course. I personally ran like crap, but that was my own damn fault. Good luck!