What is race pace...if you haven't ran a race before?

The Skootr

Skooter MacOverlord

posted: 7/30/2009 at 12:36 PM
modified: 7/30/2009 at 12:39 PM

I would use the McMillan over the predictor on this site...I rocked a 10k recently, which is awesome, but it calculates me with a predicted full marathon time of 3:20 um...yeah...NO.

2011 Goals: Don't set too many goals, stay healthy, race lots, 2 sub 4 marathons (Derby Fest 3:54:43 and Monkey fail- 4:16:21)
"If you run in a tutu, you'd better be ready to win in a tutu" -The Skootr

gregw

posted: 7/30/2009 at 1:25 PM

I'd shoot for your training pace and let the spirit take you a little bit, but not too much.

My first race was a 10 miler, so kinda similar (although I think halfs are considerably harder to recover from for some reason). My longest training run was 6 miles and I generally ran about 10 min/mi. It's hard to say though since I ran with an analog dress watch! My goal was 10 10-minute miles. I broke out a digital watch for the race (no chrono, just time of day) and forgot to look at the time when I cross the started, so it wasn't until I saw the results that I realized I ran 8:29 pace. Race day magic.

You didn't say anything about your training. What's your longest run before the half marathon? How you do with that will tell you a lot.

running log

pRED

Rule #15

posted: 7/30/2009 at 5:10 PM

Quote from FrancesRe on 7/13/2009 at 11:31 PM:

I was just assuming my Race Pace would be basically about the same as my training pace. .

Is that just how it works for first-timers? You just run the race at training pace ?

No! Don't be such a wuss.

If you do not run at least 30 seconds faster than race pace on race day, you are a wuss.

Ricky

—our ability to perform up to our physiological potential in a race is determined by whether or not we truly psychologically believe that what we are attempting is realistic. Anton Krupicka

mamaofthree

Best Present Ever

posted: 8/1/2009 at 4:07 PM

My "race pace" when I first started running was just as fast as I thought I could run. (It pretty much still is.) It was in the way olden days when I didn't have a garmin, so my training pace was just an estimate anyway. I remember my training partner and I for our first half marathon having fits of giggles after reading an article that suggested that we break the race into a 5-Mile race, followed by a 5-mile race, and then "apply our 5K race strategy." Our strategy for all races of any length was to "run." I can still make her laugh by suggesting she use her "5 K race strategy" and she makes fun of me for actually having one, such as it is.

willamona

Hawt and sexy

posted: 8/1/2009 at 7:58 PM

Frances, knowing that you are part of the LHR crew here, I would recommend that you peruse the HADD link in our FAQ section there. He does have a chart or two to relate race pace to HR if you know your max HR. Just looking through that article should help ease the stress you are feeling right now.

I'm touching your pants.

FrancesRe

Beginner all over again

posted: 8/2/2009 at 1:41 AM
modified: 8/4/2009 at 11:29 PM

Quote from willamona on 8/1/2009 at 7:58 PM:

I would recommend that you peruse the HADD link........a chart or two to relate race pace to HR .............

Good idea.

I re-printed it out. Based on my HR per Garmin on my last 5K, I qualify for the highest HRmax.

Thanks for the reminder. Very helpful.

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What is race pace...if you haven't ran a race before? (Read 1234 times)