First ever race - 10 miles - 1 week to go and nervous

MrDerp

Hi folks,

Wondering if I can get the benefit of your experience. I'm doing my first ever race next week, 10 miles. I've done 8 weeks of training, which has loosely been based on the Hal Higdon novice programme, but probably a little more aggressive.

Basically I'd never even run 5 miles before now, with little outdoor experience, and this is a couch to 10 miles in 9 weeks effort. Basically I'm afraid I'll fall apart about 6-7 miles in.

For good or for bad, I've simply been doing three runs a week: 1 'slow', 1 'pace', 1 'distance'. I missed the slow run a few weeks, but I've been pushing out the distance and reducing the times on all runs progressively.

So I'm at the point where I've run:
- 10 miles in 93 mins as best and longest 'long' run last week. Was pretty ruined after this, but stiff not sore
- 10 km in 50mins as best 'fast' run last week
- I do 9-11km on 'slow' runs, I've been running 9km on 'slow' and 'fast' runs for 4 weeks, and I've built the 'distance' run up to 10 miles gradually.

My inexperience means I don't trust that a plan will provide conditioning which can extend my best pace to the entire distance, hence running the distance already and testing myself against a 50min 10k last week to see what the pace felt like over distance.

I'd love to do a 80min 10m, but I'm terrified I'll run out of steam. Any thoughts for race day based on the above?

I had an initial target of 90mins when training was but a notion, and I'm sure I could do 85mins, but I've trained (possibly badly) for 80mins due to the excitement of progressing to better pace than I thought.

My initial thought is to set the pace on my watch to 5:15/km, and get to 4km in 21 mins, just while I get a feel for the race (not to mention the different environment of 3000 runners around me as opposed to the odd pensioner to navigate around), then try to do 5/km pace for 4km and see how strong I feel at half distance before deciding to push on or settle back and focus on finishing.

All thoughts, criticism, feedback and ridicule appreciated!

TFBubendorfer

Sorry man, you're doomed!

Just kidding, of course. Look it's perfectly normal, everyone is nervous before their first race. Right now you're completely overthinking it. On the day (Ballycotton, I presume?) make sure you do not start too fast (most people do) and the first 2-3 miles should definitely feel easy. That's all there is to it, really.

You won't fall apart after 6 miles. You've run 10 miles in training, and on race day the adrenaline alone would get you further than that.

Don't do much training in the last week, it's too late to cram in sessions. Just follow the plan.

Stop worrying an enjoy!

Condo131

Sound advice from Thomas.

On the day, it'll be *VERY* easy to be swept up in the early euphoria, and go out too fast. There may be people flying by you...even barging past. Forget them and stick to your plan.

I'm guessing that your race is Ballycotton. If so, the first 1.5 miles is largely downslope, so all the easier to try to 'bank' time. Don't do it....we all know what happened the banks! :rolleyes:.

Your first race is a learning experience. Next time, you can build on that.

Enjoy your race!

MrDerp

Cheers guys. Good advice

It's Ballycotton alright. Saw a guys GPS trace from last year and noticed the downhill start alright.

Next trick is to just sleep well the night before instead of reading about running. I've always been a bit obsessive, but I'm honestly shocked at how hooked on running I've become

ger664

MrDerp wrote: »

Next trick is to just sleep well the night before instead of reading about running. I've always been a bit obsessive, but I'm honestly shocked at how hooked on running I've become

I rarely get a good nights kip the night before a big race so I always try and get plenty of sleep during the week before hand.

yaboya1

ger664 wrote: »

I rarely get a good nights kip the night before a big race so I always try and get plenty of sleep during the week before hand.

Or go out two nights before and down a few glasses of 6.5% beer which will knock you out for 12 hours leaving you as fresh as a daisy for the race. Isn't that right ger??

MrDerp

Well it's done and dusted!

Ran in just under 84 mins. Very happy with this result for a first race, considering I was on the couch bar dog walking 9 weeks ago!

Took the advice here and went out easy. Did 4k in 21 mins, felt I was running well at that point and got to 5miles/8k in 42 mins. Still felt strong so upped myself to 5 minute kms, went well for a while but was getting burnt out after 8 miles, dropped back and the last mile was ropey but got there in 84mins.

Feel like if I had stayed with the pace from 8-12km then I could have finished at 83mins if I saved the fast kms for the end, but it's all learning!

Thanks for the advice, stuck rigidly to the pace going out and it paid off. I don't feel like I left anything in the tank so can't ask for more than that

Beef

So have you caught the bug? Well done btw.

MrDerp

Beef wrote: »

So have you caught the bug? Well done btw.

Bug is definitely caught I really enjoyed yesterday, it makes a big difference mentally being in a race over pounding the footpath on your own on a Sunday morning. 5.15/km felt like 5.30/km - 5.40/km to me, which I found amazing.

Also by going out easy (as per advice) I spent the middle 5 miles of the race passing far more people than passed me, which was very encouraging. That said, when it all started to get tough on the ninth mile, I was running with very few people around me, and that was a lot tougher - I was catching very few people and stronger runners were passing me. Hopefully I'll be in better shape and mentally tougher for that part of the race in future!

But definitely excited to do a chunk of half marathons and 10Ks for the year. Planning to do a half marathon Easter weekend in Kerry, with an eye on a 1 hr 45min if I can. A few tough weeks ahead of training for sure!