as an ex-sprinter I have no idea how to pick a pace.
Do I say "I have 51% confidence I can cover the distance at this pace? 60%? 40%?"
The Brit distance guy Farah says he'll run at WR Pace if that's what the other guys do.
Does he really think he can run a WR?
not a pace picker wrote: as an ex-sprinter I have no idea...
everyone has their own cross to bear. you picked the wrong event. live with it.
Does he really think he can run a WR?
professional athletics is at least 23% pulling one over on your opposition. just because he said in an intervew that he is prepared to go out at world record pace, does not mean that he is prepared to go out at world record pace. it just means that he wants his opponents to think he is prepared to go out at world record pace.
in other words, his words are not meant to be taken literally, and are not even meant for you, they are just for messing with the other guy's head.
and the certainty that I am right increases the closer to race day we are before he says it.
cheers.
the only real way to figure out what pace you should be running at is to run more. It might sound a little odd but the only way to know what you should be doing is to go off of feel. Find what works for YOU, not someone else.
Mo's words should be taken figuratively.