Posts Tagged Race strategy
Race Strategy: Surf City Half Marathon
Posted by Adam Ainbinder in Race Strategy, Running on February 6, 2010
Tomorrow is my first race since the MCM marathon at the end of October. I’m excited. This is a very low priority race for me, which means no taper, but it did fall within a rest week (meaning only 7.5 hours of training – wow, real restful), so I feel fresh relative to past weekends. I’m really looking forward to this. My running has been much faster since I switched to forefoot running, so this will be a good test to see if I can keep up some of this speed for 13 miles.
I haven’t done too many runs beyond 8 miles (two that I can count) in the past few months because of blisters from switching the landing spot on my foot, but given the endurance work I’ve done on the bike AND that I’ve put in 20-30 miles of running a week each week for the past few months, I think I’ll be ready. I’ve done a lot of speed work, tempo runs, and drills to improve my running, and I have seen a noticeable improvement in my pace. My 8 mile runs have been in the low 7 minute range, and when I push it, it’s been in the high 6s.
I feel like I could bring the 7 min/mile barrier tomorrow, but I’m not going to try to do it as a goal given the low priority status of the race. This year is all about endurance and triathlons, so that is my focus, but of course, it’s a race, and it’s not easy to, well, take it easy. I must be somewhat careful though since I have a century ride next weekend in Palm Springs.
I don’t have much experience in the half marathon category. My history in half marathons: one. I did the OC half last year, and I did a 1:39:52. One thing that is cool is that this will be my first race as a Brooks ID member. I’ll be sporting Brooks shirt, shorts, and shoes (the Ravenna’s, which are also known as AA – funny, my first/last initials – WOOO). I’ll try to post pics later! I love my brooks stuff. And although I like my launch shoes better, I still don’t feel comfortable doing a long race in a neutral shoes, and that’s why I like the Ravenna’s mild support (FYI – i’ve been in stability shoes forever, but now that I’m doing more forefoot running, I can handle neutral shoes without much pain).
So with that being said, here’s my strategy:
- 13.1 miles doesn’t seem difficult anymore. With 80 mile bike rides and 3 marathons under my belt, I’m not nervous about the distance. However, I still want to treat it with my usual race prep. I plan to leave at 6:30, so I’ll get up at 5, eat, walk the dog, move around a bit, and drink LOTS of water. I’ll have some bread with peanut butter on it. And hopefully have 2-3 bathroom visits before departure
- I plan to warm up by running from the drop off spot to the starting line. Mix it up with some strides but most of it will be an easy jog.
- I’m carrying a water bottle filled with cytomax. No GUs, no Clif Blocks. That should get me through all 13.1 miles so I don’t have to stop for water/food.
- I plan to start in wave 1 (<1:50), which I imagine may be crowded since a lot of people will be in this group.
- I’ll go out at about 145 heart rate or 7:10 pace. That is generally my heart rate at that pace. It may be higher from the crowd, so if it is, I’ll let pace dictate where I stand. If I do get in the first mile at around 7 min or a tad less, that’s ok, but I want to settle in at that heart rate and pace after mile 1
- I hope to keep up that pace until mile 9. At mile 9, there is a straight away for the next 4.1 miles with a slight elevation gain. If I’m feeling good and not too tired, I’m going to start pushing it. If I can, I’ll do it progressive style, increasing about 10 seconds per mile for the last 4 miles.
- If I can stick to the strategy, I should be somewhere between 92-95 minutes. That would be awesome
Of course, I’m not running on rested legs, especially after my rolling hills simulation on my trainer today, but I’ve achieved similar paces on tired legs, so I might as well give it a go. If I can’t keep up the pace or bonk in the last 2 miles, then hopefully I can beat my PR of 1:39:52.
Good luck to everyone running races this weekend, and if you’re in Surf City and see me running by, wave and say hello 
Marine Corps Marathon: Race Strategy
Posted by Adam Ainbinder in Marathon, Race Reports, Running on October 18, 2009
Marine Corps Marathon is one week from today, and I’m excited but also a bit indecisive how I want to approach the race. This will be my third marathon and my second this year. My last marathon was San Francisco at the end of July. On a jet lagged body, I ran a 3:36, which I was really happy with. Since then, I stepped up my training, took a VO2 test, focused entirely on heart rate training, and really stepped up my cross training since I did the SD triathlon last weekend.
My mindset is that my time should improve by 5 minutes because of a flatter course then SF. That puts me at about 3:30, and I believe I want to cut out 10 minutes because of my training. My goal is to beat 3:20, which is 7:38 pace. It’s a pretty big step up from the 8:16 pace of my last marathon, but here’s why I believe I can improve:
- My half marathon time in the OC marathon, a flat course, was 1:39:51, or 7:37 pace. In that race, I got horrible cramps around mile 8 and had to walk for a minute (you can see this elevated heart rate and spike in this graph). So I know I can do this pace
- Since the OC marathon,I’ve run 90 times for 659 miles. That excludes the number of times I rode and swam. My body can certainly handle distance
- The SF marathon was hard, but I had negative splits. I didn’t push it because of the jet lag, but I finished with a lot more tolerance than my previous training runs or races.
- I did a training run of 19 miles at 7:45 pace, but nearly passed out at that point. It was also in 90 degree heat. I also did a 23 mile run at 8:40 pace with ease
- The weather should be cool. I perform much better in cool weather
- My music playlist is AWESOME!
- I’ve become more comfortable with eating on a run, which should help with fueling through the race, improving my chances of overcoming the wall
Ok, so that gives me some confidence in breaking 3:20. Here are some of my concerns:
- I don’t know the course. I really think this has an impact in my mind of knowing what’s beyond the curve ahead and feeling out the distance. Yes there are mile markers. Yes it’s always 26.2. But there’s a different sense of confidence in knowing a course.
- I’ve never run on the east coast before in a race. Yes, this seems simple, but I remember when I used to travel for golf, it always took me a few days to get used to weather, the feeling of a new place, etc…
- Triathlon last weekend may have damaged my body a bit more than expected, but I’m hoping two weeks is enough time to heal. I am still a novice in racing, having completed only four races so far, so I think I’m still a year away from recovering quickly from long distance
- 3:20 is effen fast
So now that you can read my mind , here’s my strategy for race day.
- Race starts at 8AM. Will get up at 6AM, eat a peanut butter granola bar, a banana, and a bare naked bar. I’ll begin to stretch. I’m hoping for my usual stomach clearing before leaving the hotel. Prep with body glide and race wrist band for timing
- Warm up for 10 minutes to get my heart rate up to 140. Run around the hotel on the way to the race
- Get in an early wave to avoid crowds. Find the 3:20 pace person and introduce myself. Find Matt to start the race with.
- Go out at a 145 heart rate, hoping for about 7:50 pace. Don’t get caught up in the rush. Go out easy and stay to the inside track of the course.
- At 2 miles, speed up to 7:35 pace. Check heart rate. If heart rate is less than 150, maintain pace. If more than 150, switch to tempo style running where run 2 miles at heart rate of 150-155, then cut back to slower pace at 145. This can change up my pace
- At mile 13, check times to see how I’m doing. If legs feel good, mind is right, and I’m still pumped, take it to 155 heart rate consistently
- At mile 18-20, heart rate will begin to creep. This is where I’ll dig deep within, feeling my body, focusing on finishing, visualizing that 3:19:59 time.
I’ve had some tightness in my hamstrings, so that’s my biggest concern in failing to meet my time. If they tighten up around mile 22, I’ll have a tough time achieving negative splits and beating 3:20. Worse comes to worse, I have a rough “wall” stretch from pushing too hard and do a 3:50 marathon. But I’m hopeful for the best.
For hydration, I’m debating on whether I want to carry a water bottle and give it Adrienne when empty and pick up another from her since she’ll be following me on the course. I will definitely get water at every station, but I will run through the stations this time, pinching the cups and pouring it into the side of my mouth. I plan to GU at mile 8 and mile 16, and CLIF Blok every 3 miles or so in between and after. I have to figure out how to carry it.
I also want to mentally have fun in this race because I will be seeing DC on foot with blocked off streets – not many opportunities to do that. Given my science training, having fun is sometimes the hardest thing to achieve. Then again, achieving goals through study and perseverance is pretty satisfying.
Good luck to all those racing this weekend and next!
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