Run a Faster Marathon by Cutting Your Hair_3816

wawvmchiy

Here is a simple tip that could help you (marginally) in your next marathon: cut your hair.
Many people will sacrifice the safety of their feet to get shoes that weigh just a few ounces less in an effort to carry less weight during a race and to run faster. This could be a good idea as long as you get shoes that will support you throughout the entire race. However,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], getting lighter shoes just for the sake that they are lighter may or may not be a good move.
Cutting your hair, though, can easily shave between 8 ounces and 5 or even 10 pounds off of the weight that you carry during the race. You may not think that it is worth losing the great look that you have,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], in which case you of course want to keep your hair. If you are going to be running a cold weather marathon, then it may also be a good idea to keep your hair just to help keep your head warm.
For myself, though, I always get a flat top a week or so before my marathons. My hair is often in need of cutting around that point in the season anyway (as evidenced by my being able to see it without a mirror.) I personally like the look on me; my wife doesn't really care for it so much.
Cutting my hair off gives me for the most part a psychological edge. I feel faster, I feel more aerodynamic, and my head will sweat a whole lot less. Other than the sweating, my mind is just playing tricks on me but endurance races are mental ordeals and being able to give yourself any edge possible can only help.
You also lose up to a few pounds of hair. My guess is that I lose between 1 and 1.5 pounds worth of hair by the time I get it cut; maybe a little less.
In the long run,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], this may not make a difference in your time. If you find a style that you like,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], though, that has less hair than what you normally wear and will allow you to better enjoy yourself during the marathon then it can have a small effect on your race in terms of how much you have to carry throughout the race and in any head games that you decide that you want to engage in.