Calgary Marathon 2015

[Inglewood Jack]

so last year was the 50th anniversary and I still have memories of the perfect weather, the fast flat half marathon course and the monster crowds of casual runners/walkers that I spent the first 20 minutes weaving through before finally settling into the race. I have a hankering for more punishment, so I'm doing the same thing again a week from now.

CP's still got an avid running community I hope? who's in? who's trained mega hardcore since January and are now prepared to blast 10 minutes off their PB? who promised themselves they'd do exactly that, but instead spent the whole spring sitting in front of TVs watching hockey and filling up with athlete fuel in the form of wings and nachos (like me)?

[flamesgirl18]

I'm just doing the 10k as a prep for my first half marathon later this summer (SeaWheeze in August). I've been training a bit since March but this race will be the kickoff to training harder and ramping up the mileage!

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by flamesgirl18

I'm just doing the 10k as a prep for my first half marathon later this summer (SeaWheeze in August). I've been training a bit since March but this race will be the kickoff to training harder and ramping up the mileage!

ah, a sea-level race, I'm told that's a great choice for us high-altitude folk because of the oxygen boost. if I ever get masochistic enough to try a full marathon, I'm going to make sure it's right beside the ocean as well.

speaking of Wheeze, the pollen this past week has just been out of control. after spending any amount of time training outside I pay for it with 24+ hours of uncontrollable sinus problems. my nose has been doing more running than I have lately. I want to load up on Claritins beforehand, but am worried that those kinds of drugs will have negative performance effects.

[GGG]

Im pretty sure allergy meds are performance enhancing. Isnt that what that Canadian rower got caught taking accidentally. Not sure about use while training but race day it should improve performance

[username]

I'm running the half but I've barely trained.....I think my longest run to date has been a 15K run and that was 2 weeks. This is going to be ugly haha. I'm hoping to keep it under 1:50 since my training program has been so bad this year.

It's always a great event that's well run with a lot of volunteer support. I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully we get some good weather.

[Shazam]

This time, position yourself near other runners that run the same pace as you. That way you don't have to run through slower people. That is poor running etiquette.

[MillerTime GFG]

I will not be running, but I'll be there supporting my parents doing the full.

I promised my kids that I'd take them to support. We also have our nephews over for the weekend, and I didn't realize my wife was out for the day.

So if you see some poor sucker with 7 kids on the side of the road, that's probably me. But it could be worse, I could be running a marathon! I'll stick to chasing a soccer ball around...

[Arsenal14]

Originally Posted by Shazam

This time, position yourself near other runners that run the same pace as you. That way you don't have to run through slower people. That is poor running etiquette.

That's a nice idea, but the starting corrals last year were a complete mess - I couldn't even get into the corral so I ended up starting well back of where I should have been.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

That's a nice idea, but the starting corrals last year were a complete mess - I couldn't even get into the corral so I ended up starting well back of where I should have been.

this is exactly what happened to me, I got assigned to corral B which was for everyone expecting to finish 1:45 or slower...but that's like 85% of all participants. and even then both corrals were so full that I didn't even get inside anyways, so I ended up not crossing the start line until 5 minutes after the gun.

I guess this year my only hope is to just bully my way into corral A even if it means being surrounded by much faster runners. they might have to run around me, but at least I don't have to dodge huge walls of strollers or families walking arm in arm.

[Property Manager DB]

My wife is running her first marathon in this race. Any advice for her about the actual track/course?

[Codes]

I'm not sure if the full marathon course is the same this year as last, but I was really enjoying it until I hit the out and back along Memorial Drive. That's when things started to get brutal for me.

I'm not doing the Calgary race this year. I'm doing one in Kelowna in September. I've been doing run club since it started in January, but I'm just going to maintain and run my race in September.

[speed_69]

I'm only running the 10k but that's already too long for me. I just did my first training run couple days ago after 3.5 weeks of vacation and not doing anything. Definitely am not going to be ready but o'well, I'll do my best.

[pgsieve]

I'll come out and say it... I'm going to win the whole thing.

Just kidding... good luck to all the racers. I'll have a trojans hat and some grossly short shorts.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I guess this year my only hope is to just bully my way into corral A even if it means being surrounded by much faster runners. they might have to run around me, but at least I don't have to dodge huge walls of strollers or families walking arm in arm.

Yes unfortunately that is what you have to do, I find 99% of runs are managed by well-meaning but rather unorganized volunteers.

Just put yourself in the front of back third of the fast pack. If you think you truly are a slowpoke then put yourself at the back.

[Slacker]

I'm doing the 10k run for the first time. I'm replacing a friend who can't make it.

I've been able to run that distance twice with no issues since I started training for it not long ago.

What is the definition of a fast runner vs a slow runner in a 10k? I'm looking to put myself on an okay starting spot if my current times are decent.

[Shazam]

8 min/km pace.

Oops, meant 8 min/mile pace. Which works out to about 4.8 min/km pace.

[Harju]

Can someone whose raced for a long time provide me with some insight in race times over the years for recreational runners. 20 years ago I used to run 10K's all the time and generally would look to break 45 min with about 41:30 being my best time. This always seemed to place about mid-pack in my age group (30-39). However when I look at the 2014 10K results, a 45 min 10K would be top twenty.

Have overall race times gotten slower or has dementia set in and I have glorified memories of the past? I'm not talking about times for the best runners, just us recreational guys.

[GGG]

More people run casually so times are slower. Sub 42ish is about top 10%, 55 is about the 50% point, 60 about 75%

[Inglewood Jack]

The Oatmeal's enthusiasm for running is pretty well known so you may have seen this before, but now that we're down to the final few days, it's a good review for your race checklist:



http://theoatmeal.com/comics/marathon_do

I've never gone full marathon distance, but I've still experienced most of these things, particularly the self-waterboarding at drink stations and interaction with better/worse runners.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by GGG

More people run casually so times are slower. Sub 42ish is about top 10%, 55 is about the 50% point, 60 about 75%

I think this bang on. Also, be mindful if you don't run a paced race. I usually come out of the box fast and run the first 5k in 22-24 minutes and the back half around 26-28. I've corralled with the 50 minute people and end up getting boxed in so I would go in the corral based on your start pace since the track will open up as the race goes on.

Also sorry but eff etiquette. Don't run people over but screw it, run your own race.