There are a lot of areas of the body that rub together during runs – that friction can become painful over time. Apply Vaseline or BodyGlide to keep from getting blisters.
Men need to pay special attention to the nipple area. They can use Band-Aids to protect their nipples during long runs. It's hard to image how badly nipple chafing can hurt until it happens to you.
Don't wear anything new on a race day of for a long run. Try out new clothes and shoes during short runs. Also for long runs choose shoes that are a half size bigger than your normal size.
Listen to your body, and apply ice to any areas that develop minor pains to prevent them from getting worse.
When icing down a sore spot, don't leave the ice on for more than twenty minutes at a time.
Don't have an ice pack? A bag of frozen peas or corn will work just as well. They form to your body, and you can use a thin towel to take away some of the sting from the icy cold.
Using the hot tub after a long run or race is a bad idea. You will experience increased inflammation and your injury will take longer to heal.