Would anyone be willing to share some tactics they have used (or might use) to win a distance race on the roads (half marathon upwards). I am very new to running and wouldn't have a clue what to do if I was in the lead pack of a marathon. I read Dennis Kimetto said he waited to see pain in the faces of the other lead runners in Berlin before making a surge. Are there any other good times to increase the pace?
Douglas Wakiihuri said (paraphrased) "never go to the front until you are ready to win"
recentrunner wrote:
Would anyone be willing to share some tactics they have used (or might use) to win a distance race on the roads (half marathon upwards). I am very new to running and wouldn't have a clue what to do if I was in the lead pack of a marathon. I read Dennis Kimetto said he waited to see pain in the faces of the other lead runners in Berlin before making a surge. Are there any other good times to increase the pace?
If you are "very new to running", figuring out what to do if you're in the lead pack of a marathon ought to the last thing on your list of preoccupations. Odds are, you'll *never* find yourself in that situation in your entire running career.
paper shredder wrote:Douglas Wakiihuri said (paraphrased) "never go to the front until you are ready to win"
I like that. It's a simple reality check.
true post. I've run for 25 years and have yet to have that problem in a marathon. Don't sweat it. You'll never be in that position.
A local 5km is winnable IF the top local runners are doing a XC race somewhere else or something.
Who cares if you never win a marathon, it's still fun to think about. Everyone can experience this, though it may be fighting for that 10th place or 110th. It's the same battle.
I don't usually surge until I know I can really drop the hammer. The last thing I want is for somebody to sit behind me.
Run faster than everyone else.
paper shredder wrote:
Douglas Wakiihuri said (paraphrased) "never go to the front until you are ready to win"
Like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5el6-qlHYq0#t=7m13sBe in better shape then everyone else. How much are tactics going to affect a marathon race? 30 seconds? What are the odds that your local marathon race comes down to this?
reed wrote:
Who cares if you never win a marathon, it's still fun to think about. Everyone can experience this, though it may be fighting for that 10th place or 110th. It's the same battle.
I don't usually surge until I know I can really drop the hammer. The last thing I want is for somebody to sit behind me.
It is fun to think about. Plus you're right. I may be in a race with a small group further back in the field and need to know when to push.
reed wrote:
Who cares if you never win a marathon, it's still fun to think about. Everyone can experience this, though it may be fighting for that 10th place or 110th. It's the same battle.
I don't usually surge until I know I can really drop the hammer. The last thing I want is for somebody to sit behind me.
It is fun to think about. Plus you're right. I may be in a race with a small group further back in the field and need to know when to push.
My own modified version of the Wakihuri quote (which I've not seen til now) has always been to "go as early as you think you can get away with".
i.e. if you feel good with 5 miles to go and are confident you can get a gap and maintain it, get the hell out of there. If you're not sure wait until later. As you gain experience you'll learn what your own strengths are, to read how "good" your body feels and, to an extent, how your opponents are feeling.
enjoy that you are in the front and act like being chased by evil clown man.
Here's a fun thing to think about, get out the door and run more.
Run smart the first half, don't be a pu#ssy the second half.
The best tactic is to play mind games with your opponent. Say things like, "Just 10 miles to go!" when there are really only 8 miles left. Or, just the reserve of that, say, "Wow, just another quarter mile and we'll be done!" when, in fact, there are about 12 miles left.
Believe me, this sort of thing will totally mess with your opponent's mind.
Also, when you are feeling bad, like really terrible and you want to do anything other than continue running, just shout out, "I FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS! THIS IS SOOOOOO EASY!" Not only will that fool your worthy opponent, but you might just fool yourself as well and get a second wind.
If you aren't much one for talking during a race then there are more subtle ways of intimadation. My favorite non-verbal tactic is to swing my elbow really, really close to an opponent's throat. The arm swing will feel unnatural at first, but like anything else you can improve it by practicing the technique in your daily trainingn runs.
Anyway, you'll know this one is working if your opponent tries to spring away from you. Jokes on them though, because sprinting during a marathon is a good way to go into oxygen debt and have a poor outcome. Once they settle back down into normal pace slowly reel them back in and continue with the elbow swinging.
Now and then you will race against a really stoic, robotic type that will just not respond to your elbow swinging around their throat region at all. Don't say that I advised this, but if you "accidently" make solid contact to a man's trachea during a marathon, I promise you that it will not come down to a sprint finish. If you know what I mean. ;) ;)
Not Jordan wrote:
The best tactic is to play mind games with your opponent. Say things like, "Just 10 miles to go!" when there are really only 8 miles left. Or, just the reserve of that, say, "Wow, just another quarter mile and we'll be done!" when, in fact, there are about 12 miles left.
Believe me, this sort of thing will totally mess with your opponent's mind.
Also, when you are feeling bad, like really terrible and you want to do anything other than continue running, just shout out, "I FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS! THIS IS SOOOOOO EASY!" Not only will that fool your worthy opponent, but you might just fool yourself as well and get a second wind.
If you aren't much one for talking during a race then there are more subtle ways of intimadation. My favorite non-verbal tactic is to swing my elbow really, really close to an opponent's throat. The arm swing will feel unnatural at first, but like anything else you can improve it by practicing the technique in your daily trainingn runs.
Anyway, you'll know this one is working if your opponent tries to spring away from you. Jokes on them though, because sprinting during a marathon is a good way to go into oxygen debt and have a poor outcome. Once they settle back down into normal pace slowly reel them back in and continue with the elbow swinging.
Now and then you will race against a really stoic, robotic type that will just not respond to your elbow swinging around their throat region at all. Don't say that I advised this, but if you "accidently" make solid contact to a man's trachea during a marathon, I promise you that it will not come down to a sprint finish. If you know what I mean. ;) ;)
The gold of the Letsrun message board.
Lrcvet wrote:
Not Jordan wrote:The best tactic is to play mind games with your opponent. Say things like, "Just 10 miles to go!" when there are really only 8 miles left. Or, just the reserve of that, say, "Wow, just another quarter mile and we'll be done!" when, in fact, there are about 12 miles left.
Believe me, this sort of thing will totally mess with your opponent's mind.
Also, when you are feeling bad, like really terrible and you want to do anything other than continue running, just shout out, "I FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS! THIS IS SOOOOOO EASY!" Not only will that fool your worthy opponent, but you might just fool yourself as well and get a second wind.
If you aren't much one for talking during a race then there are more subtle ways of intimadation. My favorite non-verbal tactic is to swing my elbow really, really close to an opponent's throat. The arm swing will feel unnatural at first, but like anything else you can improve it by practicing the technique in your daily trainingn runs.
Anyway, you'll know this one is working if your opponent tries to spring away from you. Jokes on them though, because sprinting during a marathon is a good way to go into oxygen debt and have a poor outcome. Once they settle back down into normal pace slowly reel them back in and continue with the elbow swinging.
Now and then you will race against a really stoic, robotic type that will just not respond to your elbow swinging around their throat region at all. Don't say that I advised this, but if you "accidently" make solid contact to a man's trachea during a marathon, I promise you that it will not come down to a sprint finish. If you know what I mean. ;) ;)
The gold of the Letsrun message board.
YES!
I will admit that a small (very small) amount of urine escaped my body while I was laughing at this post. Small enough that I don't feel the need to change underwear but it did happen.
Thank you Not Jordan for the laugh.