I feel a bit silly talking race day strategy when I've run fewer times in the past month than I have fingers on my right hand! But after feeling discouraged about this for so long, I think that strategy will be even more important for this race than others. I know I can get to the finish line, so maybe with the right strategy I can maximize whatever training I have left in me and have the best race possible given the circumstances.
I have never been one for big time race strategies, but I do usually like to have a time goal and like to have a few ideas in mind of what I can do to try and achieve it. And here they are...
Time Goal:I was hoping my goal for this race could be 2:15 or better. However, given my recent injury I just don't think that will be possible. On top of that, although they say they changed the course to be less hilly this year, to me it still looks kind of hilly
And instead of hill training like I had planned, I have been couch training, er, I mean resting. I have not been very strong on hills this year anyways so I know they are going to give me a run for my money.
I came across the
TazRunning website via the #RnRSEA Facebook page and they not only create pace bands to print and pace band tattoos, you can customize the pace band to reflect the exact course you're running. Given the hills I see at #RnRSEA, I think this is pretty cool.
I checked it out for a 2:15 time goal and setting it to reflect being slow on the uphill, it gave me mile splits mainly in the 9:00/mi - 11:00/mi range (5:39/km to 6:54/km). I just don't know if I can keep up at a 5:39/km on the flat/downhill with my newly healed right leg, especially if any of the hills really kill me and I need to make up time.
I checked it out for a 2:20 time goal and the splits seem much more reasonable given how I felt on this weekend's long run:
Mile splits of 9:31/mi to over 12:00/mi on the hills seems doable (approx 6:00/km to 7:30/km). I think I will do a multi-goal pace band with 2:20 and 2:15 and then if I'm feeling good on race day I can adjust to a faster goal time. Although it is quite shy of my PR, I would be very happy with a 2:20 finish. This race is by no means a PR attempt and all I really want to do is the best I can and enjoy myself doing it.
Anyone have experience with their Garmins and tunnels or losing signal for a portion of their run?
Yes, race day music is DEFINITELY part of my strategy. I find music to be incredibly motivating. I'm pretty sure this course will be motivating enough with all of the bands and spectators but I'll be spending some time updating my playlist to make sure I've got lots of wicked songs to keep my feet moving if the going gets tough!
So yeah, that's about it for my "Injured Runner's" Race Strategy! Nothing too tricky or complicated. My number one goal is to enjoy the experience of an RnR race and just keep my feet moving until I cross the finish line and get my hands on that beer!
I have never been one for big time race strategies, but I do usually like to have a time goal and like to have a few ideas in mind of what I can do to try and achieve it. And here they are...
Time Goal:
I was hoping my goal for this race could be 2:15 or better. However, given my recent injury I just don't think that will be possible. On top of that, although they say they changed the course to be less hilly this year, to me it still looks kind of hilly
And instead of hill training like I had planned, I have been couch training, er, I mean resting. I have not been very strong on hills this year anyways so I know they are going to give me a run for my money.
I came across the TazRunning website via the #RnRSEA Facebook page and they not only create pace bands to print and pace band tattoos, you can customize the pace band to reflect the exact course you're running. Given the hills I see at #RnRSEA, I think this is pretty cool.
I checked it out for a 2:15 time goal and setting it to reflect being slow on the uphill, it gave me mile splits mainly in the 9:00/mi - 11:00/mi range (5:39/km to 6:54/km). I just don't know if I can keep up at a 5:39/km on the flat/downhill with my newly healed right leg, especially if any of the hills really kill me and I need to make up time.
I checked it out for a 2:20 time goal and the splits seem much more reasonable given how I felt on this weekend's long run: