My first ever race! (Advice / Tips welcome)

4 watchers

Hills of Death (HOD) Apr 2013 1:25pm, 25 Apr 2013 28,662 posts	0 Hills of Death (HOD) I do believe someone use to go round the marathon playing when the saints go marching in !!!
Endorphins Junky Apr 2013 1:59pm, 25 Apr 2013 919 posts	0 Endorphins Junky Wow, so many replies, so quickly - thanks everyone. Some good tips and advice, will be sure to utilise them. And I was planning to write up my first race experience as a blog as well. Have to say I'm not very musical so I think I'll give the oboe a miss ..............
icelandic trigirl Apr 2013 11:20pm, 25 Apr 2013 119 posts	0 icelandic trigirl I'm looking forward to seeing your report on Sunday! Good luck! Oboes are a bit large to drag around the track (better than a cello though); try the piccolo.
RichHL Apr 2013 11:30pm, 25 Apr 2013 6,445 posts	0 RichHL Rock up. Tie your laces. Run like fuck. Have fun. You'll probably do the same race for years to come but you'll never do it again for the first time so relax and enjoy it.
RedBen Apr 2013 9:17am, 26 Apr 2013 903 posts	0 RedBen On no account try a bassoon either! The neck strap will chaffe horribly. I'd second the getting there early thing as it will certainly take time to orientate yourself and the atmosphere is usually good too. I always, even for 10ks, used vaseline on all the "usual areas" even when running without a bassoon! And enjoy it, really enjoy it as there's nothing like your first one.
The Scribbler Apr 2013 9:29am, 26 Apr 2013 2,468 posts	0 The Scribbler Enjoy it EJ! If the course is the same as when I ran it a couple of years ago it's not the easiest 10k, plenty of twists and turns and a couple of sharp inclines, but it's well supported and great fun. Drink in the atmosphere and enjoy the experience. You never get a second shot at a first race.
Wriggling Snake Apr 2013 9:33am, 26 Apr 2013 4,021 posts	0 Wriggling Snake Run too fast/slow at the start, run too fast/slow in the middle, run too fast/slow at the end, generally faff before the start, more or less make a complete hash of it, oodles of post race analysis, bore your OH to tears, and then write a blog and bore us too tears. That's what we all do.
Nick Cook Apr 2013 9:54am, 26 Apr 2013 12,715 posts	0 Nick Cook Take a saxophone rather than an oboe!
DeeGee Apr 2013 9:57am, 26 Apr 2013 14,141 posts	0 DeeGee I am unbelievably preoccupied with purging my system before a run. Scope out opportunities on the way to the race venue which will have proper toilets. It's the only reason I ever use McDonalds, for instance. You will, however, arouse suspicion if you go in there with your oboe.
jennywren Apr 2013 10:00am, 26 Apr 2013 10,325 posts	0 jennywren Penny whistle if you must Reiterate, number on your front. Always tell a newbie by the number pinned to their back.