Time flies. We’re officially less than a week to the Oakland Running Festival.
And somehow, my blister is healed and my flu is now just a little cough (oh KJ, ye of little faith). I’m terrified that I’m not ready because I basically missed the past two weeks of training (eff you, blister and flu) but at least I know I can finish the race. I know what to expect, I know there are lots of turns and long straight aways, I just have to make it through!
My favorite part of this race is that it finishes around Lake Merritt. If you follow me on Strava, then you know that Lake Merritt is included in…what, 90% of my runs? And that when I’m adding volume, I front-stack that volume so I’m wrapping up my run around the lake. My last long run was nine miles – I figure that if I can make it through that (yes, KJ, you can do that), then all I have left is my regular old Lake Merritt route, and I can do that in my sleep.
I’m also planning on running with the pace group. Originally, my goal was to run with the 2:20 group and hope to hold on in the last mile. After the month I’ve had, I realized I needed to adjust that goal to the 2:30 group at the least. That should land me comfortably around 11:30 min/mile, which I should definitely be able to keep up with. I’ve never run with a pace group before, though, so I’m a little unsure of what to expect! Any suggestions?
Are you racing this Sunday? Either in Oakland or elsewhere? If so, good luck!
I’ve attempted running with a pace group twice….finding them was the issue. Get there early in order to find the 1 or 2 people with your pace stick (hopefully being held high). The pace group last June was way too far up in the corrals for the finish time so I never got to them 🙁 I finished the race with a different pace group (slower) and I don’t think I would have been able to complete the marathon without them. They were a happy energy group 🙂 Have a great race!
Shoot! Good to know to find them early. I’m always impressed that people can run holding a sign! Fortunately I’ve only got a half marathon (only? who am I kidding, that’s a ton) but at least it isn’t a marathon!