describe how you feel after each lap of a mile

1st lap--usually pretty quick (either b/c of pre-race nerves or to settle for position in the pack) but the 1st lap is where I feel the best.

2nd--where I focus on maintaining pace and running evenly. Usually not too bad either.

3rd-- this is the tough lap, because the pace tends to slow down, and you start doubting if you can win

4th-- if I'm going fast, my breathing rates get higher and it's difficult to start increasing my stride and kick home for the win. Probably the 2nd most difficult lap

1: a little bit of pain

2: a lot of pain

3: a tremendous amount of pain

4: a tremendous amount of pain tempered by the relief of knowing the race is over

morning coffee wrote:

1st lap--usually pretty quick (either b/c of pre-race nerves or to settle for position in the pack) but the 1st lap is where I feel the best.

2nd--where I focus on maintaining pace and running evenly. Usually not too bad either.

3rd-- this is the tough lap, because the pace tends to slow down, and you start doubting if you can win

4th-- if I'm going fast, my breathing rates get higher and it's difficult to start increasing my stride and kick home for the win. Probably the 2nd most difficult lap

You did well with this technique, Herb.

pewow

1st - Adrenaline is usually pumping so I feel good. I am focusing on not wasting energy running wide and making silly accelerations around people. Don't follow every change of pace made by the field. As the first lap or 2 usually vary wildly.

2nd - Starting to feel fatigued, If a slow race I try to position myself on the edge of lane 1 and 2 to not get boxed in and in a fast race I will be hugging the rail. Never be leading unless trying to go for a PR in a race with little competition. Especially on a windy day.

3rd - Starting to redline if the pace doesn't slack. If the pace does slack which it often does I am licking my chops though. If still in the hunt try to position yourself in what you determine to be a good position to kick from. Don't get boxed in. Don't take the wind. Try to make your comp run extra distance.

4th - This is when it counts. During the 1st 3 laps you should have made a judgement of yourself compared to the field. If you are still in the lead group here is what I recommend.

If you are the best runner in the field try to start picking it up with 500 to go. At 300 left you should be going all out. Things might start going numb, you might not remember this part of the race. If you really are the best miler on the track the other runners don't stand a chance and you never give them an opportunity.

If not the best runner I think the best tactic is to try and make a sharp acceleration with 200-400m left, get a gap on the field and try to hang on for dear life. It is going to hurt incredibly but if you pull it off it will be worth it. The idea behind this is that it will be surprising and a lot of runners will either give up when gapped or not have enough time to accelerate to catch you.

Trying to pull a Pre and go for broke from a long way out when not the best miler only allows others superior fitness to overwhelm you.

If not in the lead group or you are and don't have enough left to contend for the win. Try and ramp up the pace from 500 out and go all out the last 200 or 300. This should get you the best time possible and will hurt incredibly.

This was a very long post but the point is that it is not successful to run just by feel. The runners who finish best are the ones who are trying to minimize energy expenditure during the first half of the race. Think while you race.

lap 1: just trying to find the pace and position in the race, sizing people up

lap 2: forgettable

lap 3: huh? i lost 5 secs on this lap!?! why the heck do i always screw up my races on this lap?!?!

lap 4: i don't want to make first move but i don't want to react slowly

SMJO wrote:

You did well with this technique, Herb.

I dislike 99.76% of your posts but this was a great one.

crete wrote:

lap 3: huh? i lost 5 secs on this lap!?! why the heck do i always screw up my races on this lap?!?!

this

Quenton Cassidy said it best in OaR.

1. awesome, like i could conquer the world

2. questioning my resolve

3. sucking wind like there's no tomorrow

4. crying like a baby

1) These B****** don't know about how much I am going to hammer them in this mile. I feel like I've run for ten seconds and I'm through a lap. It's like I only need to race 1200.

2) Oh, there it is. Ok, I guess I may be able to beat everyone, but it wont be by an epic lead. Everyone slows down, I can take advantage then.

3) Shoot, I didn't think I slowed down and I have no advantage over the field. Good thing I have a killer kick.

4) Hmm... seems like I wasnt the only one with a kick.

Indoors I feel pretty good. :)

First lap feels fine and is about being in control and not getting too excited.

Second lap was the hardest. Have to work harder to keep the same pace but you are far from the finish. Can lose focus here.

Third lap is pushing to be competitive. You are reserving some strength but working harder to keep pace from the previous lap. But over the hump and readying for the run for home.

Last lap you're just running all out. Nothing to feel here but numb.

ydyjtyej wrote:

SMJO wrote:

You did well with this technique, Herb.

I dislike 99.76% of your posts but this was a great one.

can someone explain this joke?

lap 1: Contempt for competitors

lap 2: Self loathing

lap 3: manic depression

lap 4: Pure hate baby

Lap One: if it comes down to a pure guts race, I'm the only one that can win it.

Lap two: The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.

Lap three: Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things.

Lap four: My mother is a fish

On the starting line.

Think of the Eddie Murphy character in Bowfinger:

"Keep it together, keep it together, keep it together, keepittogether!"

One Lap: Darn I feel good. Don't go too fast!

Two Laps: What the heck am I doing here? This is insane. Don't slow down.

Three Laps: KICK YOU M&%HERFUC*#R!!!!

Four Laps: How 'bout that?! A six second PR!

OK, so that was only one race as a kid, where I took my PR from 4:44 to 3:38.

1 - Wow, that was fast!

2 - Wow, that was painful!

3 - Wow, that ... [I begin to black out]

4 - [No conscious thoughts, I wake to my coach telling me that I finished dead last and that I need to quit reading Letsrun and actually run.]

OMG, I meant "4:38"

Thank you for posting what I would have had to have typed down myself. Especially that last sentence.