start too fast and fade

Have you every been in a race?

Just wondering, because if you were, you'd know.

rip van runner wrote:

Why do at least 95% of all runners regardless of their level go out too fast in a race? Is it because:

1. They have never been taught they will run faster times with negative splits?

2. They are unable to feel the correct pace they should be running?

3. They overestimate their fitness and shoot for a time they are not capable of running?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! This is the dunbest post of the day!

I race all of the time. That is why I asked the question. I ran an even paced 5k a couple weeks ago and passed 30 runners from the one mile to the finish.

rip van runner wrote:

Why do at least 95% of all runners regardless of their level go out too fast in a race?

It's very simple: because at this level they are all world class competitors, not weekend warriors. The operative word is "competitor."

It took a lot of guts and conviction for Drossin to lay off the race and pick em off at the end. When it works, it rewards you in a big way. When it doesn't, you leave yourself too full of run and not enough real estate and a lot of second-guessing.

It reminds me of a term from psychology called "optimistic bias". People have a tendency to feel invulnerable in risky situations. It influences a lot of our decision making processes. I have certainly fell victim to it when I have been out of shape. Fortunately now I am back to negative splits. :)

Jury wrote:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! This is the dunbest post of the day!

Just thought that I point out the irony here.

I had decided to let that pass.

Does that mean there is no second guessing when you crash early because you can say you "gave it your all"?

Americans are stupid. Coaches in America often say ridiculous things like

1. You have to get out

2. You can't lose contact

3. It's too hard to run from behind

These are all ridiculous statements that carry zero worth in any event over 1500.

Well, don't worry about Webb going out too fast.

He had a nice little jog the other day, didn't he?

I believe he said events over the 1500. I also believe that Webb ran the 1500 so that would be irrelevant.

Every once in a while people run races where they start out "too fast" and something strange happens...they hold on and reach a new performance level.

I know this is Letsrun and everyone is supposed to put everyone down, but can anyone give an answer without being a smart ass or putting someone down? I THINK this was a serious question.

I would say #3 another one would be the excitment of a race makes them run the first few miles too fast. I know it still happens to me and I am a very experienced racer. You go out in a race thinking you are on pace because it feels easy, get to a mile mark and you are fast. Happens to many.

"Every once in a while" is not the odds you want to work with. Especially when every world record in the marathon has been set running negative splits. Show me a runner that thinks he is going to have a magic day and goes out accordingly and I will show you a runner that is dragging ass in the later stages.

Its tough psychologically, at least for me, to watch the leaders get away from me and trust that I can catch them again later.

That makes you very beatable with team tactics.

Yes, it was a serious question and I am more concerned about all runners, not the elites. Most elite runners are far better at pace anyway.

1. You have to get out

2. You can't lose contact

3. It's too hard to run from behind

That is exactly how I was taught in high school and I have come to find out how wrong this is.

As for not being able to judge pace, I have heard runners who died dramatically the last mile say how great they felt running the first mile.

I have also heard runners say they were shooting for a time in a 5k that is one minute faster than they ran. How could you be off so much in estimating your fitness level?

Which one of these is the most prevalent reason that virtually all runners go out too fast?

4. How will you ever know how fast you can be if you never go out too fast?

5. You will be faster when you run behind someone slightly faster than you. To get there you have to go out fast.

6. A race is not a time trial. By starting fast you can beat runners who are faster in a time trial even if it costs you a few seconds in the end.

7. If it's a multi-lap race slow runners can make it difficult to run fast in the last part.

8. If you passed 30 runners maybe you went out too slow?

I realize this was a serious question, but why does it matter why most people go out too fast. If you want to try negative splitting, just do it, and if you fail then try to go out even slower the next time and do lots of repeats at your desired pace. Right?

But if you really need an answer, it's because you have lots of energy at the beginning, especially if you've tapered or taken an easy day or two.