Quote:
Originally Posted by Iconised Ghost
Should i wear my own stop watch so i can time my sprints, know how long i have been going for etc?
How do you run and drink at the same time??
Should i wear sunscreen? (it will be mid spring here) I tend to sweat cream out
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Your first big race, how fun!! The closest we have in the states is the 10K, I've never heard of a "quarter marathon".
Here's my 2 cents:
I've always worn my own watch and logged my splits at every mile, so I could track my pace. Some races have timers along the course to track your progress, so it depends on your race organization. If you care about your completion time, then a watch helps. If you are just looking to finish strong, then it doesn't matter so much. The most important thing is not to go out too fast !!! That is so easy to do, and then you may poop out mid-way. You want to stick pretty close to your training pace at the beginning, and then pick it up midway if you still have gas in your tank. 10K is a respectable distance, and it's important to pace yourself.
How do I run and drink at the same time -- I can't !! I choke and get water up my nose. It's not pretty.
I walk through the water stops to get a drink. Yes, the running "purists" may scoff at this, but at least I get hydrated and it also gives my legs a momentary break. I find it doesn't slow me down overall.
Sunscreen -- it depends on your conditions and race timing. Our races are typically very early in the morning, so the sun isn't too much of a factor and I usually don't bother with sunscreen. I often wear a hat to shade my eyes. If the race was going to be mid-day, then I probably would wear sunscreen.
Here are few other tips:
-- Don't do anything new on race day ... no new foods the night before and no new food/drink just before or during the race. Stick with what you know your body handles well. No new clothes or shoes either, or you might find yourself in chafe-city.
-- If your race is early in the morning, lay out everything the night before: clothes, race number, etc. That way you won't stress in the morning about finding everything.
-- Don't start out too fast!! Yes, I know I said that before, but it bears repeating. And everybody tends to do it anyway.
-- And most of all, have fun!!
Good luck ...