Auntie Em Goes Running

I'll tell you my experience for what it's worth. I ran a half in March and I started out the first couple of miles well below my goal pace and then I felt like I was struggling to make up time the rest of the race. I ran a marathon in May and I started out faster than I had in the half marathon, but still at a comfortable pace. I sped up a little after the first two miles, but I didn't need to speed up as much as I had in the half because I didn't have as much of a deficit. I guess what I'm saying is start slow, but not too slow. I really didn't like the feeling of being behind my goal time and having to make up ground. But that's just me. Everyone's different.

I really think you need to find the balance between having a pacing strategy and making yourself crazy by overthinking it. I say just figure out what your average pace needs to be and then try to run as close to that average pace as you can over the whole distance. That's not too complicated.

Other people will probably have other opinions.

Thanks. I like the idea of going out a tiny bit faster. My tendency is to go out WAY too fast, but I think I can keep it in check. On slow solo runs, I often run a bit faster the first few miles, before settling into my slow pace.

Good luck with your race, auntieem! I so wish I could give some advice, but I'm definitely not in the position to. You are faster than me already. I'm normally happiest at 10 minute miles, but can reasonably run 9:20's. My goal is to hit 8:45's for a marathon length race so I have a ways to go.

You sound like you definitely have a PLAN - - and I'm thinking that a plan will most certainly help. I know it is a long race, but I'm thinking that maybe if you jogged a nice slow mile beforehand you could hit your average goal pace right from the get go. I've been doing triathlon/duathlon for the last few years, and before the running on the du's, I almost always do a warm up run so I can truly race the first two miles. It's a little different because the duathlons are more like short running races interrupted by bike rides, but I do find the warm up running is very helpful if I want to hit a particular pace from the get go.

I can't wait to hear all about how it goes!!! Will be rooting for you :).

Oh, thanks, Anita! I totally forgot that I'd be doing a warm up. You see, this training really is new to me. My usual warm up would include a mile of jogging and a few 200m strides, plus some leg exercises. That probably will help me shave off a few seconds on the first few miles. I just need to be careful about going too fast, because my tendency is to bolt!

Maybe you could use your Garmin to rein yourself in. I'm not sure which settings you normally display, but if you use average pace, you'll see if you are going out to fast pretty readily I think. When I did my marathon, I wanted to run 10 minute miles (as my initial goal was simply to finish), and I didn't run how I felt AT ALL. I just watched that Garmin like crazy and made sure I was staying on pace. Not sure that was the very best idea because I never felt like I really raced, but hey, I did finish . . .lol. Whatever you do, I'm sure it will be a lot better than whatever I come up with - - I think you have more experience!!! I can't wait to hear how you do. I bet it will be great.