Helpful Hints For Middle-of-the-Pack Half-Marathoners
by Marty Mazur
[The article below is a review I wrote of the 2001 Half that had some helpful race day hints for middle-of-the-pack runners. ]
The 18th Annual Nittany Valley Half-Marathon is now history.
Sunday's event was a record: 301 registrants and 279 finishers! The
weather was ideal. The race was well-run by organizers Dave Eggler and
Morgan Wasikonis, who recruited a small army of volunteers. In short,
every thing was just about perfect. The results are now on-line and
should also appear in the coming newsletter.
As someone who
ran a PR by nearly 5 minutes, I think I'm in a position to give a few
"Helpful Hints" for those middling runners who might be thinking of
training for next year's race.
(1) Take the
time to talk to people at the beginning of the race. I'm not just
talking about before the race, either. Being too keyed up and going out
too fast are the bane of any distance runner. And at the half-marathon
distance, you pay a steep penalty for mistakes made at the beginning of
the race. If you spend the first mile or two making some idle chatter
with other runners, you'll relax and you won't go out too fast.
(2) Run with
people who are running your speed. Sounds almost redundant, doesn't it?
Well, after a couple of miles, you'll find yourself with a certain
cohort of people that you'll likely still be with toward the end of the
race. Enjoy the give-and-take with these people. Try to stick with them
when you feel like giving up, encourage them if they start falling
behind you.
(3) Get
religion. People keep reminding me of my capsule review of "The Half"
that is on the NVHM page: "The last mile is designed to make you see
God." In all seriousness, a good Catholic, for example, has just about
enough time to say the Rosary during the last three miles, about when
he needs it most. Others might seek to steel themselves with
meditation. But whether you seek heavenly intercession or self-willed
resolve, you could certainly spend the time in worse ways, like cursing
the demons that have moved into your quadriceps.
(4) Duct tape.
My involvement with the Boy Scouts has taught me that duct tape is
great for covering blisters. I don't have that problem when I run.
However, ask any runner who wears cotton on a cool day about the pain
of "booby burn". Actually, you don't have to ask him (Him? Do women get
this?). You'll see the stigmata, the two crimson blotches on his chest.
After this "sandpaper treatment", the post-race shower is no longer
enjoyable, but excruciating. Try the "silver solution". It works!
Created 10/22/04
Updated 10/22/04
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