Myth 1: Hydration is everything

“I don’t care how much more Gatorade you swallow in the summer,” says Amby Burfoot, a running coach who won the Boston Marathon in 1968. “It’s not going to change your performance.”

Burfoot says a lot of runners have the misconception that if you’re not feeling up to par during a run, you must be dehydrated. “Maybe you’re too hot,” he offers. “Maybe you’re having a bad day.” Maybe you haven’t eaten enough carbohydrates or gotten enough sleep. Hydration is definitely important, says Burfoot – but it isn’t everything. “Hydration is not going to let you go out and do a great three-hour run in July.”