Race Strategy help?

MNLittleFinn

7 day forecast has 9-20 mph SSE winds for race day. Race is in the morning, so it "should be calmer" But there's the potential for a not so fun headwind the last 10k of my HM. Temps will be in the mid 60sF to mid 70sF

Here's the general route for the HM: https://www.strava.com/routes/5060879

My Nominal goal is to try to run the HM in the 2:15:00-2:20:00 range, though my training runs out to 12 miles have been faster(10:06/mile avg.). My current idea is to take the first 3 miles pretty easy at like 10:30-10:40, and start to pick it up a little for mile 4, which is uphill, but I have trained this. Then the general plan is to run by feel, but "hopefully" end up running in the 10:05-10:10 range my training runs were at.

Does this sound reasonable? Also, given the conditions, should I be modifying things and slowing down some, with the headwind on the return leg? Any and all advice is great. I'm hoping the forecast changes in the next week, but want to be mentally prepared incase it's a nasty headwind on the back half of the race.

Thanks

Orphia

So excited for your first HM! I've followed your progress quite a while, as it's been in tandem with mine. (Did my first HM on Sunday, bystanders.)

I have to say, I'm very impressed with your strategy and attention to detail.

On my furthest distance runs, I take a very good distance-running friend's advice, and I tend to just run at a pace that feels like I can run forever.

I'm sure for future HM races, I might need to strategise more, but since your natural easy pace improves as your distance improves, and I aim to run longer distances, I think it probably should sort itself out.

But I'd love to hear more replies. I love learning more about running, and I really appreciate your fascinating questions and the replies they generate.

pondee629

FWIW having never run a Half Marathon and in training for one now, your plan sounds solid. I plan to go out slow in my first just because I always get "psyched" and start too fast and pay the price (even in training runs). Re: that headwind, while in Aruba I did my 4 mile runs, down and back, with the wind down and against it back, I have to say, although the wind offers resistance, running against it does provide a cooling breeze that you miss running with the wind.