How to run a H/M following the course

Maybe cycling through the course - but again, you could get lost unless you look at the direction while cycling.

i ran into this situation a few years ago three times during tri's - once running (on a half mile "trail" section that had a split in the trail), and twice riding (one of which included prize $ that was attainable and would have at least covered my trip).

Things I decided on...

1. If you are going to travel significantly for a race, make it a large race. Courses in larger races are usually better marked with volunteers and more road closures making it easier to stay on course. Also, chances of being in the lead are much slimmer in big races (at least for me). Chances are also good that you will have sevral people within sight in front of you which helps you stay on course, as well as maybe pulling you to a slightly faster time.

2. If you are racing more locally (within 1.5 hours), try to do a few longer runs on the same course. It is easier to remember landmarks when you run by them than when you go by in a car.

Hope this helps.

Put a map in your fanny pack.

I appreciate you sharing your experience and advices.

Yeah, I have no problem in bigger races - the ones that offer price money. But, I still would like to hear from others that run in local races (Heck, the last one has more than 1500 runners just for the half). How do you handle this situation? Or, how would you know when to make a turn - just memorize it or by luck?

If it's going to be a sparse distribution of runners along the course, I highly recommend driving the entire course. I ran well over half of the Birmingham Freeze Your Half Off without anyone runner in sight, and course marshals were few. I think I was in 7th place about. Luckily I had driven the course the night before, otherwise I would've had no idea whether or not I was still on the course...that would've driven me nuts.

Another time I was in a 10K where I knew the course, and the leader (maybe 20 yards ahead) missed a turn. Everyone in front of me followed him. I made the turn, and everyone behind me followed me.

So knowing the course can come in handy.

Geez, where the heck are you running? Nearly every course I've run, and certainly for races I've worked there are chalk arrows on the roads and volunteers at every turn.

I'd recommend calling the RD and asking "is the course marked, and if so how will I see it" and if the answers aren't satisfactory run a different race.

Keith Stone wrote:

Geez, where the heck are you running? Nearly every course I've run, and certainly for races I've worked there are chalk arrows on the roads and volunteers at every turn.

I'd recommend calling the RD and asking "is the course marked, and if so how will I see it" and if the answers aren't satisfactory run a different race.

The last run with the Big-D Half, which has over 3000 runners registered for the half and about 2000 finished with a chip time. The RD claimed that there will be volunteers at every turn, but there are a few there is none and it was not marked. I got the first 3 or 4 correct because I was within 30m of the leader (and the cop car). But, I got a side stitch and dropped a little bit further and as soon as I recovered from that, there are several turns and I made a mistake on one of them (that there is nothing indicate the turn) and I went straight ahead and know I ran off course after about 2 miles without seeing the next mile mark (and if I was on course I would have closed the gap on the leader, which finished in 1:21 and I had a PR of 1:18:22 last Dec. and was train well).

I will hold a course street print out with me next time just in case - You just can't trust those RD, they are not reliable.