I know the forecasts are unreliable this far out, but if it does turn out to be 40ish, wet, and windy, what are you wearing? I don't have experience running a marathon in that kind of weather. I'm hoping to run sub-3 hours.
I'm thinking of wearing a long sleeve tech shirt, and disposable gloves and a disposable hat. Is long sleeve too much?
Does anyone have tips on preventing shoes from getting water-logged if it rains?
There is a 30% chance of showers so I'm hoping that if it does anything it will be a spot of passing drizzle and not really enough to soak us or our shoes. I'm also hoping to go sub 3 and i've had bad experiences with wet trainers in the past. I'm wearing flats this time though, so hopefully they won't soak up as much water if it rains.
As for clothes- I bought a cheap hooded sweathshirt and gloves...the sweatshirt is mainly for waiting in the corral and i'll ditch it at the gun. I'm wearing a singlet if it's going to be over 50...if its in the 40's I may wear a technical shirt underneath to give me a little more warmth since im gonna be out there for a while.
Are you running in one of the pace groups?
yes, I'm planning on running with the official 3 hour pace group. However, I may run the first mile or a two a little slower to get warmed up, and then very gradually catch up to the pace group.
I'm also considering buying a cheap long-sleeve t-shirt to wear and throw away after a mile or two, and wear a tech short sleeve underneath with my number on it. I may also wear a trash bag at the start of the race -- I'll do anything to stay warm.
I hope you're right about the rain. I ran the Runners Edge Trail Half on labor day, and it rained pretty good and my NB 833s were totally water logged after 5 miles. They're not flats, but they're pretty light. They felt about a pound heavier at that point.
i'm actually considering throw-away shoes to wear to the start - if it's raining, that's what i'll do. i'll keep my race shoes in a bag until just before the gun. i've got several old yard-work pairs around the house.
i've also seen guys walk around befofe the start with plastic bags tied around their shoes, but it can get really slippery.
wear the lightest socks you can, since they hold a lot of water.
hard to predict the conditions. but, if it's low 40's and windy and wet - i'll wear more than a singlet. if it's gonna be any warmer, i'll start with a throw-away shirt on top and discard it when i get warm
i'll definitely have disposable gloves. whether the hat is disposable or a tech-fiber running hat depends on the conditions Sunday morning.
FWIW we've got a couple of pace groups - 2:55 and 2:57ish starting in the competitive corral. meeting place and time can be found on threads on RT and RW if you're interested
thanks for the invitation to those pace groups, but I think I'm better off sticking with the official 3 hour group (unless they go out under pace). I think I'll need to run a negative split to get under 3 hours, so I'm going to stay with or behind that group and see how I feel at 20 miles.
I may try plastic bags over my shoes while in the corral if it's raining that morning.
Beware of pace groups. Sometimes pace leaders decide to 'bank some time' early in the race and go too hard. At Twin Cities the 3:10 pace group was out of control. I was running 3:06 pace and they blew by me at mile four and by 12 were not even in sight anymore. They had to be three or four minutes ahead of pace at that point. When I passed them back at 17, it was a much, much smaller group than it had been 10 miles earlier.
Ask the group pacer what his plan is before you start, then keep track of your own splits and make sure you are not getting ahead of pace by too much early on.
You yuppies make me laugh.
You are jogging if you run around 3 hours, and why are you worried what to wear. I wear a singlet and shorts unless it's 20 degrees out.
Come back and ask questions here when you are a real runner.
I hear ya, beep beep. I've yet to find a pace group that runs even splits. (although the 1:25 pace group at the Chicago Distance Classic did a pretty good job) So I'll be watching my watch pretty closely the first couple miles. If they get far ahead of me, so be it.
At the start of the Chicago Half, I heard the 1:25 pacer yelling at the 1:30 pacer to slow it down, as he was right on his ass after about a half mile. I think they both came through the first mile in low 6 minutes, not too far behind the 1:20 pacer.
well...
the last 2 years at Richmond, leading 3:00 (2004) and 3:10 last year, i told the guys in the my groups what the splits would be and what the times would be at half way and 20 miles and i was within 30 seconds all 4 times. so some pacers do run even splits.
putting "time in the bank" usually leads to physical bankruptcy late in the race. but a small - one minute or so - cushion by half way can be useful in the late miles
but you have to run your own race. and watch your own splits.
Typical Letsrun tough guy wrote:
You yuppies make me laugh.
You are jogging if you run around 3 hours, and why are you worried what to wear. I wear a singlet and shorts unless it's 20 degrees out.
Come back and ask questions here when you are a real runner.
Word. I'll be on the line Sunday in my HS singlet, shorts, and flats (Brooks Racers). That is all.
For you slow pokes, the body heat of all the other penguins will keep you warm in the corral.
Napper- Shoot me an email if you want company- it sounds like we have similar time/pace goals. I'm still deciding between going a bit harder with 24timers group or joining the NB 3hr group. I'm hoping to run 6:50 steady through at least halfway and then if I have enough left in the tank dropping down into the 6:40's for the last 10k.
I'll Second that wrote:
Word. I'll be on the line Sunday in my HS singlet, shorts, and flats (Brooks Racers). That is all.
For you slow pokes, the body heat of all the other penguins will keep you warm in the corral.
Going for the under-16 age-group win? That usually takes a 3:25 or so, so go for it, Skippy! Splits of 1:25/2:00 should be perfect.
If you are looking for a cheap shirt that you could ditch if you get warm checkout the technical long sleeve shirts at Target. They have a line that is similar to Dri-Fit that are actually pretty good, but not quite the same.
You can usually get them for $20, sometimes they even have them on clearance. It is something that if you did get too warm you could get rid of and not feel like you are throwing away a lot of money.
I actually wear them for a lot of runs and they feel about the same to me.
I'm sure the volunteers at Chicago are going enjoy cleaning up 40,000 thrown away sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, shoes, man-bras, etc.
Total Moron wrote:
I'm sure the volunteers at Chicago are going enjoy cleaning up 40,000 thrown away sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, shoes, man-bras, etc.
They do it every year and the charities that receive the thrown away garments happily pass them on to the homeless and poor.
Tube socks work great for gloves and long sleeves.
After you get going and warmed up, peel them off
and away you go!
Garbage bags are great at the beginning too.
As for waterproof shoes, try some scotchguard.
Good luck in Chicago everyone!
Napper wrote:
I know the forecasts are unreliable this far out, but if it does turn out to be 40ish, wet, and windy, what are you wearing? I don't have experience running a marathon in that kind of weather. I'm hoping to run sub-3 hours.
I'm thinking of wearing a long sleeve tech shirt, and disposable gloves and a disposable hat. Is long sleeve too much?
Does anyone have tips on preventing shoes from getting water-logged if it rains?
OH! I don't know! You call me on race morning and we'll wear something that matches!
Napper wrote:
I know the forecasts are unreliable this far out, but if it does turn out to be 40ish, wet, and windy, what are you wearing? I don't have experience running a marathon in that kind of weather. I'm hoping to run sub-3 hours.
I'm thinking of wearing a long sleeve tech shirt, and disposable gloves and a disposable hat. Is long sleeve too much?
Does anyone have tips on preventing shoes from getting water-logged if it rains?
I'm wearing what I always wear for marathons -- thong, no shirt, Ronand McDonald clown shoes.
What do you think? Chicken, Gorilla suit or foam-rubber Gumby outfit?
Some British Guy wrote:
What do you think? Chicken, Gorilla suit or foam-rubber Gumby outfit?
Whichever will bring the most shame to those you still beat.