Running 1st HM in 10 days....
Replies
-
What is everyone's opinion on headphones during a race? (Assuming that they are allowed by the race, of course). I have been switching back and forth during my longer runs with listening to music or not listening at all, but I am not sure what the norm is for a longer race. Do a lot of people use headphones? Put one ear piece in, music on quieter to be able to hear those around you? No music, so you're able to hear crowds, etc.?
Thank you all again for the advice!
I have run 2 half marathons, one with music, and one without. I do all of my training by myself, with music, so when I read that it was etiquette not to wear earbuds/headphones in my 2nd HM, I was devastated. Didn't want to breach etiquette, but didn't know if I could go the distance without music to motivate me. Decided to go without music, and did find that I was more aware of what was going on around me, and did chat a little bit to other runners. I did have one song in my head on repeat for most of the race, however. I'm thinking about making that one song into a 2 hour play list for my next HM.
(Standing in the Ocean by Calling all Cars, if you want to check it out.)
And I definitely second taking your own loo paper, because the porta-loo will be out for sure.0 -
What is everyone's opinion on headphones during a race? (Assuming that they are allowed by the race, of course). I have been switching back and forth during my longer runs with listening to music or not listening at all, but I am not sure what the norm is for a longer race. Do a lot of people use headphones? Put one ear piece in, music on quieter to be able to hear those around you? No music, so you're able to hear crowds, etc.?
Thank you all again for the advice!
In all my local races, earphones are banned. The opinions of the race directors trump the opinions of the racers.
This.0 -
You've got a lot of great advice (I'm running my next half-marathon on 9/20).
In addition to not going out too fast, adjust your pace according to weather conditions. I set a new my PR just a couple of weeks ago in really humid, muggy conditions. It was the first race of the "fall season" so I had not run a half since June. I trained all summer in the heat (I am training for another marathon in November so these halfs are just training/tune-up races for me), but I slowed my pace from the start for the heat and humidity. But where people were fading at the end, I was still going strong and maintaining a good pace (faster than the start). Most fun of all, was the number of people I overtook in the last 3 miles and particularly in the last 1.1 miles.
Coming down the home stretch I chased two people down and a third person caught up with me with about 200 yards to go. But he didn't have anything left and when I accelerated just a bit more, he had no chance of keeping up with me. Sometimes you can make a game of it, particularly when you are running on your own.
I was thoroughly soaked from the sweat (and then it rained after I finished).
On headphones and music, it first depends upon whether the race allows them. I generally do not run with music/headphones and they are just one more thing to deal with. When I do use them, they are bluetooth cordless headphones because I've found that I tend to catch the cord when I'm running.
Personally, I like to get to the race start area about an hour before the race starts. First order of business is the potty line. Might get in line twice just to be certain.
Start your slow warm-up about 30 minutes before the start. I usually do about a 5-10 minute walk to start. Then on to a slow jog with a gradual increase and decrease in speed at about 10 minutes to go. Then after that, its a matter of getting back into position in the start area with a little jogging in place. If you have pacers, get into that pace group or the ones behind them. For example, if your realistic pace is 2:30, I would go out with them, the 2:45 group, or even the 3:00 group to start.
On my most recent race, I went out with the 2:30 group, caught up pretty quickly and passed the 2:15 group in the first mile or so and then ended up tucked in between the 2:00 and 2:15 groups the rest of the way. I could get a sense of where I was relative to those pacing groups because that course had "out and back" legs to it and I could see when those pace groups went by me going in the other direction. I finished in 2:05.
Good luck AND HAVE FUN!0 -
All great advise...especially starting slow (make the first couple songs on your playlist slow and soothing--NOT "The Eye of the Tiger"!!...try some classical music that you like or some Barry White).
I highly recommend...f at all possible, go out to the location with the map of the race course a day or two before the race and drive around it so you can become familiar with the layout--parking areas, pottie area, start & finish line. Also drive the 1/2 marathon course (as closely as possible) so you can become familiar with various landmarks and hills and valleys along the run so as not to be surprised by them. It will really help calm your pre-race nerves if you know the lay of the land and can go over strategies in your mind for taking hills and going through more difficult areas or the course. If it's not possible, check out Google Maps to "see" what it all looks like from above and also Google for race reports from others who've completed the race in previous years.
During my first 1/2 marathon I got some bad cramps in my calf muscles at mile #10...I was able to finish the race OK, but I now wear compression calf sleeves on any mileage over 10. During my last 1/2 marathon (my 3rd one) I read that people carry a small packet of salt or mustard to take to relieve muscle cramps. Although I didn't experience cramping in my calves during my 2nd marathon, the night before my 3rd 1/2 I decided to carry a packet of mustard "just in case." It was a HOT day and I was slogging though the race and feeling the fatigue set in.. At mile #10, even though I didn't have calf cramps, I decided to take the package of mustard just before the water station (that I knew was coming up because I "staked out" the course & map ahead of time). I bit it open and squeezed it in my mouth and as I rounded the corner to the water stations I noticed they were out of cups!! They were pouring the water from jugs held high and pouring it into people's mouths as they passed...I was able to get little splash in my mouth and carried on...for the next 3 miles with an awful case of heartburn!! MORAL OF THE STORY: Heed the "nothing new" rule and be careful what kind of "advise" you take at this late stage of the game dealing with any new clothing or nutrition used before or during the race.
Have fun!0 -
Thank you SO much for this thread. On a whim, after a particularly great 8 mile run I decided to bite the bullet and just sign up for the half that had been taunting me for weeks. I'm running my first 10K on 9/27 and then my first half on 10/19. These replies have been incredibly helpful, and I cannot thank you enough for your advice and commentary.
On a side note - my first try at a point to point run - a straight line 7 mile run - ended at 6.48 and a call to my husband to come get me when I just couldn't hold it anymore. Had I staked out the run a little better I would have known there was a porta potty at 6.5 miles just down over the hill.
I found it when I walked down over the hill to the boat launch and into the ocean to clean myself up. Let's just say this -- try to poop first. Then try to poop again. ANd, even if you ahve pooped.... seriously, try again. It was devastating to me, and I did not attempt another run over 6 miles for weeks because I was convinced I would have the same issue. It was the 8 miler referenced above that changed my frame of mind. It was a fluke, and I was not destined to poop on ever run over 6 miles. I was concerned I was going to be destined for 10Ks forever...
0 -
Had my half marathon today - and it was a blast! Didn't do as great as I wanted to for time (2:38:21), but not as bad as I thought considering it was really cold and raining most of the race.
Took a lot of the advice here and attended the question and answer session that was put on by the marathon committee the night before. It was a lot of fun, and I must say - it has me itching to sign up for another one. Who knows, maybe a full marathon someday!
Thanks again everyone!0 -
You automatically PR'd, and a 2:38 is nothing to sneeze at. I ran a 2:35 with someone in May, and it's a good chunk of time on your feet no matter how you cut it. Better yet, you had an experience that was memorable enough to make you want to do it again. You have a baseline to work with now - stick with it and reap the rewards (but for now, bask in your post-race glory!)0
-
Congrats on your 1st HM! So what tips do you have to pass along to 1st timers based on your experience?0
-
Congrats!!! :drinker:
I'm training for my 3rd half-marathon (in November). Been great to read this thread and get a few tips. Has me more excited for my next one.
Interesting input on the headphones. All the races I've run so far allowed them, but I figure I'll hit a race that doesn't at some point. I train how someone else mentioned...one ear only, leave my second ear free, keep music (and interval feedback) volume low. I have a bluetooth pair so I don't have a cord getting in my way.0
