• Train Properly

• Carbohydrate-Loading

• Before the Race

• Start Slow and Taper Off

• Twenty Miles

• When to Quit

• The Finish Line

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1. Be aware that a Messier Marathon is a major observational effort, and will much more likely be a success if it is well prepared. So take enough time for preparation.
2. Select a good site with free horizon especially to the west and to the southeast. 
3. If ever possible, get as much experience as you can in advance in locating in particular the most critical objects: M74 and M77 in the evening and M30 as well as M55, M75, M72, and M73 in the morning. 
4. The night will be long, and unless you are in a very preferred location, it will be cold. 
5. Get prepared with a red light, some good charts, a check list, and some observing aids - I'd recommend Astro Cards set 1 plus Machholz' Messier Marathon Observers Guide, and/or one of the other observing aids listed in the Messier Goodie List. 
6. Get your equipment up and checked timely enough so that you are ready for observing when the brightest stars just get visible. Be sure that you have plenty of time to get everything prepared - you really won't like it to miss some objects in the evening just because of bad timing, 
7. The most critical objects in the evening are M74 and M77

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1. Running experience matters a lot.
2. Pacing is huge.
3. Extra weight also matters a lot.
4. Be relaxed and have fun.
5. Test out your gear beforehand, on a long run. .
6. Keep your upper body relaxed.
7. Plan your day before well.
8. Having people to talk to is great.
9. Have a reason to keep going at the end.
10. The long run is your marathon training — speed work doesn’t matter (much).

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