Eugene Half-Marathon Preview

It’s here at last, the Eugene Marathon and Half. Months after our group training began, the big morning that once seemed so far away is so near that it appears in the weather forecast. Those conditions: Early Sunday morning temperature from low 50s to about 60 (afternoon high of), mostly cloudy and dry.

Weekend plans and tips:

– Pick up packet at the Lane Events Center (aka, Fairgrounds) on Friday (1:00 to 6:00 P.M.) or Saturday (10:00 to 6:00 P.M.). In case you haven’t already heard too much from me, drop by my expo table on Friday (4:00 to 5:00) and Saturday (12:00 to 1:30). I’m also speaking at the pasta dinner, five o’clock Saturday at the downtown Hilton.

— On Sunday morning I’ll station myself in front of the Law School, 15^th and Agate, from six o’clock on. You can bring any small special items (other than drinks, since I’d need to lug them a long way; the race supplies lots of fluids) that you want to grab at nine miles – or just stop by for final good wishes. Due to security restrictions, I can take none of your excess clothing or other supplies to the finish area. I’ll put them in my car for your retrieval next week.

— I’ll stand with Russell Wingard at Agate and 15^th to watch most of you at about your nine-mile mark. I need to leave there by 8:30 to see our first half-marathoners finish, but Russell will stay until everyone goes past.

– Tonya McKay (and others?) will handle our other support station near 18 miles of the marathon, at Valley River Center. She won’t be there just to cheer but also to hand out items (including drinks) that you supply. Deliver those to the store by 5 P.M. on Saturday. We will not be able to take anything from the starting area to Valley River on Sunday morning.

– Michael Lebowitz will shoot photos before, during (at nine miles) and after your race. Save a smile for the finish line. Tears of joy, and relief, are okay too.

– Nothing will contribute more to your final result than starting at the right pace for you. What’s “right”? Close to the pace of your longest training run with the team. This means you need to feel like you’re holding back in the early miles. If designated pace leaders match your needs, start with them. Our Jeff McKay is leading the 2:00 half-marathoners.

– You’ll run the last 200 meters on the famous Hayward Field track. Remember to look up and left to see yourself on the big screen. I’ll be near the finish line. If you don’t want a hug from me, hide in a crowd or keep running out the gate after you finish!

– If you enlist pacers who aren’t entered, ask them to stop short of the Hayward gate. Only runners wearing visible numbers are allowed onto the track.

– Parking will be quite tight in the campus area. You’ll do better taking a shuttle from one of the remote spots: at the Valley River Inn, Autzen Stadium, Eugene Hilton, or Springfield Holiday Inn Express. Shuttles start running at 5:30 A.M.

— The best places to watch on the course: (1) near 18^th and Agate for the start and the ninth mile; (2) Hilyard and 33^rd, about three and six miles; (3) Valley River Center, about 18 miles and then 22 by walking across the footbridge. Drive to the west of the course to avoid road closures and delays. Don’t even think about riding on the bike path portions; it’s too crowded.

— Viewers at Hayward Field can enter only through the Bowerman Building gate at the north end, and can sit only in the west grandstand for the finish. You can reunite with them at the artificial-turf field, adjacent to the finish area, as you exit the track.

– If you have late problems, text or call me at 541-953-7179.

Worry is normal this week. Some of you even use the words “freaking out.” I’m available for psychological counseling all week. The most comforting statistic I can give you is this: 99.5 percent of our past runners who’ve reached the starting line have finished (illness on race day or pre-existing injury, not a race-caused problem, stopped the other 0.5). If you get to the start healthy, you’re almost certain to cross the finish line.

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.