We have all heard it before, runners are never fat, drink “x” amount of water at all times. There are many pieces of advice that is better left unsaid. Let’s take a look at some of the most common running myths and why they could cause us more harm than good. Have any we missed? I’m sure you do, let us know of some more myths in the comments section below.

You will never see a fat runner: Many of us hear this and many of us believe it as well. The truth is that some people do have high metabolisms and can eat whatever they like. For us normal people running helps increase our metabolic rate and allows a little bit of wiggle room in our diets. Where the trouble begins is in the thinking “I just ran 2 miles so I will have doughnuts for breakfast, French fries at lunch, and fried chicken for dinner.” Moderation is the key, if you are trying to lose weight you have to lower your caloric intake.

Runners don’t lift weights: Strength training is very important, it helps condition your body for better runs. It improves muscle elasticity and will make you stronger. Building muscle is not easy for endurance athletes, so don’t worry about becoming laden with ripping muscle!

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: We have been told numerous times to constantly drink and hydrate our bodies. While good hydration is important, it is also important not to over hydrate. Hyponatremia  can occur when drinking too much water and is generally a result of low sodium levels. A good rule to follow is to drink when thirsty and make sure to drink a sports drink which contains sodium.  You do not have to always drink sports drinks but during high intensity runs you should make sure to get proper electrolytes and sodium.

Carbs before a race: Loading your body with carbohydrates before a race can actually hurt your performance. Even many marathon runners will not load up on carbs before a race. You body becomes accustom to the levels of carbs it gets on a daily basis, the amount you eat today should not differ much from pre-race. Eating too many carbs can actually slow you down.