Discussion: bad race

Still not that bad of a time, I wouldn't worry about it too much

Next time, I just hope you back off the first 200m. Back in the day, I would actually pace off the first 50m or 100m (a skill you can bring from orienteering) before the race and use my watch for that all important start. By the 1k mark you already knew your goal was blown...unless you were fit enough to run under 33 minutes.

Man, i know the exact feeling. it just sucks. Had a horrible half-marathon a few weeks back, where just everything went wrong the leading days, injury and sickness; for some reason sickness can really mess with your shape.

When running 15 seoncds faster than anticipated on the first km, you're gonna have a bad time. best advice i ever have gotten is jog through the start line, and if you have a garmin, that'll help a lot.

Next time, im sure you can hit 34, if everything goes to plan.

Ya, really need to remember to not get carried away at the start. Really hard to pace yourself though when your so full of adrenaline. I think for future road races that I really care about I'll pre-run the course. I think that would really help.

Mathias, do you have a garmin and wear it in all trainings? I was contemplating buying one but I don't really like knowing how fast or how far i've gone at all times. I think I would only really like one for orienteering. I think ideally i'd just want a logger, but one that i could strap onto my wrist as a watch.

I wear one pretty much on every training. 305. During long runs, i dont really look at my watch and think i should run faster or slower, but more to look at how my heart rate is doing etc. Its more for the "after-look." theres a lot you can learn just from that.

But if you really dont like knowing your pace while on a run, just stick a piece of tape on top of your watch, and problem solved. Garmins are also good at attracting viewers, if thats a big deal to you.

Robbie, I'm in the same boat about getting a GPS. I checked out that Amazon Garmin deal and unless you have a US address it doesn't look like it's worth it. The UK drugstore one would ship, but there's mega duty on it. I guess with the new models coming out the price should really drop on these.

if it would help at all you could ship it to me in france and i'll bring it home with me in december :)

I'd rather place an order for wine than a GPS.

Ya, i'd like a few bottles too Emily. That shouldn't be too much to carry eh? :P

har har. you can bail me out of jail when i get arrested for underage alcohol smuggling.

Border control is no mach for the innocent smile of La petite canadienne.