THERE ARE MANY, many rules and tips for how to run, race, eat, and even rest in this issue, and countless others on our Web site and, as “Run and Retweet” (page 72) proves, on social media. It’s all solid advice, much of it scientifically proven. But what about the personal quirks and hard-won secrets we develop along the way that make our running lives more fun, more quintessentially ours? They aren’t tips, exactly, and they certainly aren’t backed by science. They’re more like habits, things we do naturally, maybe without even noticing. My colleague Mark Remy always leans his shoes against the wall in the locker room after lunch runs, heels up at a 45-degree angle. I recently asked him why. Does it help them dry faster? He laughed…
