Question for Seasoned runners

My first half marathon is this Sat at 7am .  So excited and nervous since I have only run 3 5Ks in my life.  I am trying to decide which pace group to join and could use some help from any seasoned competitive runners.  My long training runs have been at a 10 min pace.  My short tempo runs (4-6 miles) are about 8:30-8:45 and if I pushed myself hard on a 5K I could probably hit 8:15.

I have no idea how I will perform in a race though or what is realistic.  The course is supposed to be pretty flat and fast and I have done quite a lot of hills in training so what should I aim for realistically?  I am wanting to join the 1:55 group but the 2:00 seems more realistic.  I do not want to start too hard and fizzle out nor do I want to underestimate a race pace and find I can go faster and end up leaving my group to run on my own.  Any suggestions?

Thanks Amy!  They are providing pacers for the race which is a nice perk and not just any pacers but Smart Pacers which means that the first 2 miles will be slower warm up miles with the middle miles being the faster pace.  Not only that but they also pace according to terrain.  Slower on the uphills and faster on the downhills.  So actually, I think it would be nice to run with a pace group, but I am pretty good at pacing myself on my own anyway.  I can always tell how fast I am running, BUT in order to get in under 2 hours I want to be sure that I am pacing properly.

Jenny - I can't offer advice on this - I've done a bunch of 5Ks and have no clue about how pacers work....

Sounds like you want to run an average 9:15 mile?  Hopefully Jan can chime on this since she just finished a marathon...  

Just posting to say YAY for you! I'll be sending you virtual cheers on Saturday and will look for your update!

You're about my pace (a bit faster, really) and I did just under 2 hrs in Dec.  I'd join the 1:55 group and be flexible.  Actually, I'd probably line up a bit faster than you think you can finish. 

Here's my HUGE gripe with races - most people don't line up anywhere near where they need to be.  I lined up in the correct corral for the marathon and ended up spending the first hour passing people and jockeying to get to a comfortable pace.  I finished w/in 3 minutes of my projected time and I was the first corral of that pace.  Ugh! 

Try Galloways formula - it's been pretty darn good for me. 
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/resources/predict_performance.html
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/resources/gallracepredict.html

My race performance varies on so many things, but generally, I find it easier to push myself faster than I think I can go during a race.  Aim high (reasonably) and readjust if necessary. 


Edited by Starfish03 - 20 Apr 2012 at 12:06am

Go, Jenny, go!  Cheering for you, mama!

Gl jenny!

Jan - very cool chart...

so what is 1:55 and 2:00? is that the number of hours?

I guess they start folks in waves for marathons? When I did my sprint tri last month we swam in a pool so only one at a time there -we had to seed ourselves based on our swim pace. The good and bad of that was that everyone was evenly spaced out for the rest of the race.... Nice because you didn't have to fight with people who were trying to figure out their pace and not so great because you are largely alone during most of the race (I like having some folks around me)....

Good luck Jenny - how do you feel today?

Trust your training. You are ready. :) Jen - yes, hours.

Not sure if you thought of this or need this... Will you be bringing some "gu" or "gels" for the run?  I found that I felt drained half way through the race. I tried a gatorade gel and it really helped me....  They have running belts with small pockets for carrying this stuff.....  alternatively I've heard some folks take these just before a race...

diaperpin-jen wrote: Not sure if you thought of this or need this... Will you be bringing some "gu" or "gels" for the run?  I found that I felt drained half way through the race. I tried a gatorade gel and it really helped me....  They have running belts with small pockets for carrying this stuff.....  alternatively I've heard some folks take these just before a race...

I've used the Gatorade ones and liked them.  They seemed more like just drinking Gatorade.  Then I tried a strawberry flavored Clif Shot yesterday and it was so weird!  It felt like I was eating warm strawberry jelly or something.  It wasn't gross, but those will definitely takes some adjusting to. 

FWIW, some longer races provide things like this, too.  It might be worth checking in to, if you're used to those kinds of things.

It's been said multiple times before, but you are an inspiration! I can only dream of running that long - that's amazing!! I look forward to hearing how it went!

What temps are you looking at for the duration of the race?

How did it go?