Clif Bar Pace team

[Paul (tigger fan)]

Hi Folks,

My name is Paul and i am running my first marathon at Disney in Jan. (40th Birthday on Jan 7th)

I have seen mention of the Clif bar pace team on the pacing requirement section of the newsletter relating to the Marathon weekend.

I have run 6 miles most days for the last 3 months and my times for this are averaging around 55mins.

My question is have any of you used this option and would you recommend it for a first timer as an aid to achieving your goal off finishing or do you think it takes away from the achievement getting that extra help?

I am not bothered about my time, just getting over that line and hopefully sharing a great experience with other people will be reward enough for me, ha ha.

Thanks

Paul

 

[jmasgat]

Paul I haven't used the Pace team myself, but like you I am also doing my first marathon in January. IMHO, I don't think pace team qualifies as "extra help"---unless they carry you on their shoulders! After all, you're the one running the race.

You don't have to sign up to run near the pace teams, so if there is one near you and you want the motivation at that point in the race, I say use them. My plan for the race depends on how I feel. I do have some time goals (several!) and so I may use them depending on how the race is going. But I am trying really hard not to put pressure on myself. Isn't it enough that we're running a marathon, without the added pressure of "hitting a mark"?

Maura

 

[Paul (tigger fan)]

Hi Maura,

Thanks for the advice, think i will do as you say and just tag on to one of the pace teams if the option presents itself at certain points as it suits.

I agree with you, dont want to put to much pressure on to yourself setting targets but nice to have a mental note of where you would like to be at certain stages of race.(i love a challenge even if i dont always get to where i would like to be if i am giving it my all i am usually satisfied)

I would like to wish you all the best with your training, hope you enjoy the run and hope you smash your personal targets.


Paul

 

[cewait]

Pace teams can help but as mentioned you may hit a rough spot and feel extra presure to stick with the pacers when a 2-4 minute pull back from pace could get you to the line in great condition. I use them as a barometer for personal pace. that keeps me from looking at the Garmin so often.

Definitely should not be looking for time on your first mary. Also, with the corral system in place do not feel like you are time threatened when a group passes you. They may have started on the opposite start, of have started a few minutes ahead or behind you.

One other cautionary note about pace teams. If you do decide to sign on, try to talk with your group's pacer at the expo. You will find out their corral as well as their running philosophy. Some run staright out constant pace, others will walk aid stations and some run/walk at certain ratios. Remember you are in charge of your race and pace. I have seem pace groups burn out of the start like they were headed to a fire only to slow up and finish just on time. Not a fair way to run a group.

 

[Mooshu]

I ran with the Cliff Pace group for the Disneyland 1/2 and we used the run/walk. It was a comfortable pace for a 2:30 finish and she brought us in at 2:27.

I will be running with the Cliff Pace group for the full marathon and hopefully finish under 5 hours.

Wish me luck!

 

[Padstack]

I certainly would not consider a time goal for your first marathon, unless you have been training for one. It sounds like you are just doing it to do it, so keep your mind at ease and just run at whatever pace your legs want to go.

If it is anything like the DL Half pace groups, the Clif Bar booth will have pace bands ranging from the very fast to the not as fast finishing times. I had a basic goal in mind and used the band that was closest to that finish time. I didn't fret if I fell behind the times listed on the band. It just helped me know about where I was, time wise.

You can also print them out online at www.marathonguide.com.

 

[Spartan7]

Mickey was my first marathon (Jan 09) at 39 years old. I also secretly had a time goal, and I kept a certain Clif Bar dude within reach many times during the race. They are easy to spot as they have balloons on strings hanging off them!

I saw him as I lined up for the start of the race across from him in the coral. Then during the National Anthem, while myself and about 18,000 of my new friends were honoring our nation, he used the time to move up about 100 meters in the crowd. I should have got a full sense for the guys character, then.
Then at mile 19, the dude nearly ran me down as he cut over to get to the water station. We had never met, he didn't know I was scoping him, but ... Screw him! He is a lousey representative for the Clif Bar family.

I did lose my pace and was not able to stay with him, but he also lost a bunch off others that did start with him as he tried to bank a few minutes at the first 4.5 mile loop around EPCOT.

My advice to you is stick to your own pace and find friends here at WiSH or Running of the Ears that will stay with you and motivate you the right way.

: As for Clif Bar Pace Guy 3:20 from last year. I Salute You! ... it is the one that will get me fined by the NFL a quarter million dollars!

 

[Duanerice]

I haven't used them myself but some people love the camaraderie of the groups. Myself, I just follow Charles!

I do get the pace band at the Expo and find it helps.

As for time, most say do not set a time goal for your first. I did, but it was a generous time goal I actually came in under goal by 40 seconds! I find I need a goal, I don't think I could just go out and run a Marathon. I need that goal.

enjoy, the first is a lot of fun!

Duane

 

[cewait]

I haven't used them myself but some people love the camaraderie of the groups. Myself, I just follow Charles!

I do get the pace band at the Expo and find it helps.

As for time, most say do not set a time goal for your first. I did, but it was a generous time goal I actually came in under goal by 40 seconds! I find I need a goal, I don't think I could just go out and run a Marathon. I need that goal.

enjoy, the first is a lot of fun!

Duane

Hmmmm

I seem to have photographic proof that I was following a certain Duane.


This year I am sure that I will not keep up. Its been a bad year for training

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

While you may or may not use the pace group. Be mindful of your pace, more for the beginning if it is your first marathon. You do not want to go out too quickly because you may burn out for the last part of the event. Your adrenaline will have you going out pretty fast. If it feels good great, but keep in mind you have 26.2 miles to step. I prefer my Garmin to keep me on track. Plus, I'm so slow, I don't think there is a pace group for me!


Have fun. Hope we get to see you in January.

 

[Paul (tigger fan)]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the reply's and advice much appreciated.

I noticed after i posted this question had been posed a few other times.

Think i will just go at my own pace, did my first 13miles long run on wednesday morning, set out slow and felt i ran within myself and was fairly comfortable came back home in 2.05hrs.

My plan was to try five 15 miles runs at one run a week as part of my build up do you think this will be enough. Last question honest.

Enjoy your training guys

Thanks

Paul

 

[cewait]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the reply's and advice much appreciated.

I noticed after i posted this question had been posed a few other times.

Think i will just go at my own pace, did my first 13miles long run on wednesday morning, set out slow and felt i ran within myself and was fairly comfortable came back home in 2.05hrs.

My plan was to try five 15 miles runs at one run a week as part of my build up do you think this will be enough. Last question honest.

Enjoy your training guys

Thanks

Paul

Paul

Short answer - yes its enough

Better but longer answer - since this is your first marathon it is preferable to push the distances out a little more in training. The marathon has two halves the first half ends at mile 20 and the second half is the final 10k. Therefore I would like to see a first timer lay a schedule out to at least 20 miles, if possible.

I would rather see you run 15-16, 17-18,10-12, 17-18, 19-20, 10, 6, Disney.

Saying that, it really depends on your mental ability (toughness) to get through the final miles. Once you hit your max training mileage your mind and body will start to play games. Generally 2-4 miles past the longest training run distance you will have to find mental tools to keep pushing to the end. If you have trained to 20 miles it’s a relatively short duration you push through. From 15 it’s a longer fight.

Pushing the miles out is all predicated on your health and susceptibility to injury. If you are injured then I would stick with the plan you laid out or if an injury presents itself, pull back.
Note I have run all 4 Goofy’s and about half my marathons with 16 -17 miles as my max training distance and have performed well so your plan is doable. It just that you have to double down mentally earlier to get to the line.

 

[Paul (tigger fan)]

Paul

Short answer - yes its enough

Better but longer answer - since this is your first marathon it is preferable to push the distances out a little more in training. The marathon has two halves the first half ends at mile 20 and the second half is the final 10k. Therefore I would like to see a first timer lay a schedule out to at least 20 miles, if possible.

I would rather see you run 15-16, 17-18,10-12, 17-18, 19-20, 10, 6, Disney.

Saying that, it really depends on your mental ability (toughness) to get through the final miles. Once you hit your max training mileage your mind and body will start to play games. Generally 2-4 miles past the longest training run distance you will have to find mental tools to keep pushing to the end. If you have trained to 20 miles it’s a relatively short duration you push through. From 15 it’s a longer fight.

Pushing the miles out is all predicated on your health and susceptibility to injury. If you are injured then I would stick with the plan you laid out or if an injury presents itself, pull back.
Note I have run all 4 Goofy’s and about half my marathons with 16 -17 miles as my max training distance and have performed well so your plan is doable. It just that you have to double down mentally earlier to get to the line.

Hi Charles,

Thanks for that,

All advice accepted, i will do those suggested runs, that is my biggest fear that i mentally freeze, i think getting to these distances you suggest in training will relieve some of those fears and give me that knowledge that i have been there and faced it down in training.

I was going to carry on running my 5 or 6 miles 3 or 4 times a week around about the longer runs would you suggest that still to be advisable?

I know i said the last one would be my last question but it prompted this one (ha ha).

Enjoy your training.

Thanks

Paul

 

[cewait]

Not sure how old you are and not trying to discriminate but if under 40 3-4 runs mid week would be acceptable. Remember to put a rest day in before and after the long run. It would be nice to add a couple days of cross training and lose one of the midweek running days to save joints. It wouls also be great to have purpose for each of the runs intead of just a mileage target. You could make one day a speed interval day, one day a hill day and one a tempo run.

Just a few thoughts.


Oh if over 50 I would only have 2-3 runs midweek and 2 or less if over 60 (or when you just feel too fatigued). Still supplement the non running days with cross training to keep the heart and aerobic condition up.