April 24th Preview

It’s down to this – one last run together before Eugene. As always when the race is this close, it’s the same run for all, half-marathoners and marathoners – one hour.

Why run by time? Two reasons: It removes the emphasis from distance and pace, letting you relax on a day for doing just that. And it lets everyone finish close together, letting you feel more like a team than on any other run.

The route (from the Eugene Running Company at 8:00): Oakway and Coburg Roads to Ferry Street Bridge and don’t cross. Turn left onto bike path, then onto Pre’s Trail near restrooms. Follow the water on woodchip trail until your watch reads 30 minutes. Turn AROUND there and come back the same way. I know that many of your will still GPS your distance and pace, but I won’t record or report it.

Bring a drink for delivery at Autzen Stadium in both directions. Weather forecast: starting temperature in low 40s with rain likely.

WEEK 9 LESSON: YOUR STRATEGY

Question: What is the best way to pace myself during the half-marathon?

Answer: Even if you’ve done everything right in training, you can cancel all that good with as little as one wrong move on race day. The first and worst bad move is to bolt from the starting line far faster than your training pace. Crowd hysteria and your own raging nervous system conspire to send you into the race as if fired from a cannon. Try to work against the forces of the crowd and your natural desires. Pull back the mental reins at a time when the voices inside are shouting, “Faster!” Be cautious in your early pacing, erring on the side of too-slow rather than too-fast. Hold something in reserve for the late miles. This is where you reward yourself for your early caution, by passing instead of being passed. Being the passer rather than the passee is a lot more fun.