8 mile race - to chip time or not to chip time?

[MeridaAndAngus]

The background:

I'm gearing up for an 8 mile race in a couple of weeks. This will be my first step up from the 10k distance. I'm doing the Princess 10k in February, and training for my first local half in the late spring. I've decided I want to do the DDD in DL in the summer, and then the C2C with the W&D half in November.

I'm also planning to do a couple of other local races in the spring and early summer. I'd like to use one of my local race times to help keep me out of the last corral for DDD.

Right now I'm still a beginner working on my fitness level, and my run-walk pace averages about 14 min/mile on longer training sessions (slightly faster on shorter 2-3 mile sessions). Not the greatest time, but a huge improvement over barely being able to do 2 miles at 17 min/mile a few months ago.

My questions:

1. The 8 mile run is basically a training run for me to get used to the longer distance in a race setting. The race charges an extra $5 for a chip time. I'm inclined to just pay the extra $5 in case, by some chance, the stars aline and my pace is remarkably fast. The only thing that's concerning me about this is that all the timed runners will start in one corral in the front, and then the un-timed runners and walkers will be in a giant corral in the back. I'd need to seed myself towards the back of the timed corral so I don't feel like I'm slowing down any of the faster or more experienced runners. Should I go ahead and get the chip time, or should I just start in one of the "fun run" corrals, time myself, and use it as practice?

2. If my pace ends up being in the 13 min/mile range, can I use a time from an 8-mile race to submit for DDD? Or does it have to be a minimum 10 mile run?

3. I've heard that rD will assume your pace will be slower for DDD because it's a multi-day event, so would submitting a 13 min/mile race time actually guarantee that I get stuck in the last corral for both races?

 

[FFigawi]

1. The 8 mile run is basically a training run for me to get used to the longer distance in a race setting. The race charges an extra $5 for a chip time. I'm inclined to just pay the extra $5 in case, by some chance, the stars aline and my pace is remarkably fast. The only thing that's concerning me about this is that all the timed runners will start in one corral in the front, and then the un-timed runners and walkers will be in a giant corral in the back. I'd need to seed myself towards the back of the timed corral so I don't feel like I'm slowing down any of the faster or more experienced runners. Should I go ahead and get the chip time, or should I just start in one of the "fun run" corrals, time myself, and use it as practice? 2. If my pace ends up being in the 13 min/mile range, can I use a time from an 8-mile race to submit for DDD? Or does it have to be a minimum 10 mile run? 3. I've heard that rD will assume your pace will be slower for DDD because it's a multi-day event, so would submitting a 13 min/mile race time actually guarantee that I get stuck in the last corral for both races?

1. Get the chip time. If your pace is good, now you've got a proof of time. If not, you're only out five bucks.
2. Yes. rD should use anything over 10k for proof of time for a half.
3. No. Not turning in a time at all will put you in the last corral. A 13 pace time should get you at least one or two in front of that.