- It is your plan. You should have a race plan, and your
finish goal needs to be broken down into 5-10km chunks.
- It is your mission. Your pace chart will spur you on and encourage you when you feeling down. Knowing that you are still on target and your goal is achievable will keep you going forward.
- It is your blankey. Yes, just like a kid needs a blanket, you need your comfort pace chart. Having one won't necessarily make you run faster. But it will give you some comfort.
Also, your pacing chart has 2 sides. Print on both sides - a "Plan A" and a "Plan B". No use having a plan on hand if it has failed. You'll need another blankey to comfort you.
Attached are a few pacing charts for the
Comrades down run. Personally, I like the one on the first tab -
it takes onto account the hills, is broken down into 5km
bite-sized chunks, and the colours nicely depict the ups, downs
and flats. It also allows for time to cross the start line,
without having to chase that time down in the first few kms. But
decide for yourself which one works best for you...
Use one of these, or devise your own, or even purchase a pace band at the expo. But be sure you have a blankey.
Stay healthy and be strong.
Cheers!
Andrew
Use one of these, or devise your own, or even purchase a pace band at the expo. But be sure you have a blankey.
Don't forget that the km
boards on the race show distance to go, and your pace chart
should reflect accordingly. You will get to a point of
suffering that we call "Marathon Maths". At this point, you
will not be able to compute distance, time, pace or season. It
is a great help if you can easily match your pace chart with
the distance marker on the route.
And don't worry about missing the distance boards. They are way bigger than the A4 pieces of paper that your local 10km race might use. Comrades distance markers are mounted on scaffolding and are visible to the blind.
Remember that the pace chart is only a guide. Guaranteed your day will not match any pace chart to the second. Check what suits your plan best and what you feel most comfortable with.
Remember also that too fast is worse than too slow. NEVER go ahead of your planned race pace. It will catch up with you later.
Lastly, remember that a pacing chart is not a guarantee that you will achieve your time. That guarantee comes from within.
Stick to the plan, and the medal will find you.
Here is the link to the pacing charts again.
And don't worry about missing the distance boards. They are way bigger than the A4 pieces of paper that your local 10km race might use. Comrades distance markers are mounted on scaffolding and are visible to the blind.
Remember that the pace chart is only a guide. Guaranteed your day will not match any pace chart to the second. Check what suits your plan best and what you feel most comfortable with.
Remember also that too fast is worse than too slow. NEVER go ahead of your planned race pace. It will catch up with you later.
Lastly, remember that a pacing chart is not a guarantee that you will achieve your time. That guarantee comes from within.
Stick to the plan, and the medal will find you.
Here is the link to the pacing charts again.
Stay healthy and be strong.
Cheers!
Andrew
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