I want to type out my race goals and strategy for the half marathon tomorrow, I guess more for myself than others, but perhaps some are interested:
My tapering went as follows:
Last Few Weeks:
Feb 5 - 11: 83km (last LSD runs in this week) Feb 12 - 18: 60km (tempo runs and repeats (400's & 800's) Feb 19 - 25: 48km (shorter tempos & 4 mile race)
Last Few Days:
Feb 26 - 10 x 100m swim, 80% intensity
Feb 28 - off
Mar 2 - off
* * * * * * * * * Mar 4 - Race
Best-case time goal: - sub-1:24 Realistic time goal: - sub-1:27
Estimated entrants: 500 Placement goal: within top 30 - 40 people overall.
The above estimates are based on a (hopefully) non windy day. The weather calls for average temps (no concern), but a 20km/h wind. That's not a lot - but it's enough to slow me down.
I will try to go out at precisely 6:30/mile, and stay that way for the first half of the race. If I feel good at that point, I will try to gradually increase to 6:25/mile over the rest of the race. I think I could run a *little* faster, but there is a fairly substantial hill at km #20, which I want to have energy left for to make a move. I think my substantial hillwork recently (more in prep for Around The Bay race) will pay off, provided I have energy left. Just under a month ago I ran 15km in 58:43 in training, so I think I can do this.
I will take in nothing other than water - for me, I find I don't bonk until well past the 1:30 mark regardless of miles covered, so I'll be done by then.
Any input? I'd appreciate any race-advice from anyone. Although I've done a full marathon, I have never raced a half. I'm psychologically trying to view it as one 10km hard tempo, followed by a 10km race, followed by lactic acid hell for 1.1km
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