Anyone apart from me and Owain doing this on Jan 10th? I mapped the route and I'm wondering what race tactics to use. There is a big elevation at the beginning and nice downhill at the end. Is this the kind of course to facillitate a PB, or is there simply too much elevation to get a good time? With these kind of things, is it best to go out very hard on the up section, or take that bit easy? It will be my first race so I don't want to go in with the wrong strategy. Anyway, the elevation info is here. Don't know how to just paste in the elevation figure. Just click elevation info. There is a 348ft ascent and 344ft decent.

MapMyRun.com | View 11/27/2008 Route in Edinburgh, Australia

Edinburgh, Australia ?

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Traaacctoooor!

Yeah, don't know why it says that. I've never used mapmyrun before It is indeed Edinburgh, Scotland!

Tough one to call! Definately easier said than done but I'd aim for an evenish pace throughout.

the uphill is going to hurt regardless, unless of course you let yourself slow down massively, which is the last thing you want to do. Hopefully the last mile which I'd guess is normally agony in a 5k is going to be eased a bit by the downhill. Start comfortably strong... maintain the strong pace up the hill, dig deep once it's levelled off and give it every last ounce in the last downhill mile.

...as I say, easier said than done

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www.richardsimkiss.co.uk

There's a lot of pushing hard and being strong in your strategy. Not much "relax a bit" The only time I've run this circuit before was on a half marathon training run (4 laps), and my fastest 5k split was 22 minutes. The final downhill is really fast, so I would expect to make up a lot of time there. I think as long as I can do the mile with the really steep bit in sub 7, I should be able to balance it out with a sub 5:45 on the final mile. That's my plan anyway

I think this 5k is going to hurt to be honest. I want to get in a couple of practice attempts at the course before the date. The biggest problem I have is it takes me 15 - 20mins to get to the bottom of Arthurs seat from my work, ideally I would like to get there fresh legged and really go for it.

My strategy is to get to know the course well enough so I know where the top of the climb is, I find this helps me mentally so I know how much further I have to push hard for. The down hill section is going to be a scream Watch that average pace rocket up!

O.

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JB: On the route you have mapped out you have marked as going up the sleep side first and going down the gradual decent. Is this the official route? For some reason I thought we were going up the gradual long incline and then down the steep short side.


edit: ignore this, Ive just noticed we will be heading up Queens drive and then up the really steep section......oh I can feel the sickness already!!!

O.

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Yeah, we run around Queen's Drive anti-clockwise, so there is a bit that's really steep. I've ran the circuit both ways and it doesn't make that much of a difference.

Owain. If you are free one sunday before the race, we could meet up there and jog a couple of laps! If I remember correctly, the steep hill section is a killer, but thankfully it only lasts about 0.25 miles.

Not the easiest course for your first ever race !

Still - it should make following races seem relatively flat

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I know It's scary. Which is why I'm not going to be too disappointed if I don't break my 5k training PB, but I'll be gutted if I don't get a sub 20.

IMO a steep climb with a steady descent is much better for you finish time than a steady climb and a short sharp descent.

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www.richardsimkiss.co.uk

I did it a couple of years ago (thoroughly enjoyed it btw) but an additional consideration is that on that particular day as we turned into the ascent we also face a pretty ferocious wind straight into our faces. Not a PB course by any stretch of the imagination.

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Don

Yeah, the weather is going to be a crucial factor. I'm praying for no wind and dry weather. Or strong tailwind on the steep hill section would be nice

Put though my entry on-line today for the Great Winter Run on 10/01/2009. I'm a new member to this forum, have just turned 40 and this will be the first proper organised running event (albeit short) I have done for just over 20 years. However, I suppose I have to start somewhere. I've not progressed beyond a gentle jog so far and all on the treadmills at David Lloyd - have so far only managed a steady 45 minutes at 10kph. Nowhere near World Class pace, but an achievement for me to keep going for that long (thank god for the iPod). Even allowing for the climbs from the start of the route, I'm still hoping to break 27 minutes - breaking 25 would be great!