Do not let yourself be carried away by euphoria at the start of a marathon; instead, adopt a cautious pace to perform better over the long run.

noli's read

This advice is based on the principle of pacing, a fundamental pillar of sports physiology. Research, notably observational studies on marathon runners (e.g., Hanley, 2015), confirms that an 'even pace' or slightly negative split strategy (starting slower to finish faster) is correlated with better overall performance and a reduced risk of hitting 'the wall.' A fast start induces early lactate accumulation and more rapid depletion of muscle glycogen, which limits the ability to maintain the effort over 42 km. Pre-race euphoria is a recognized psychological factor that often leads runners to ignore physiological signals, resulting in a breakdown of form. While the advice is scientifically grounded in the management of energy reserves, the notion of systematically 'picking off' other runners is a classic field observation, albeit dependent on each individual's level of preparation. It is a pragmatic and sound recommendation for optimizing endurance.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.