Official inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler thread. September 29, 2012

[ahoff]

Ran a 10K race this weekend, and managed to meet my time goal of "in the 58's" with 58:30, so that was great! I'm hoping this time will improve my corral for both the TOT and DL 1/2. Anyone have any idea what kinds of times will get you in what corrals? With the 10 mi distance, I'm not sure what the breaks will be.

That's a good time! I think a sub-hour 10K time would get you to in B corral. Maybe even A.

 

[TiggerAllie]

I wasn't sure if the corrals will be more "competitive" because there will be a higher percentage of men running, than say, the Princess. I know 1:04 (10K) was corral B for the Princess, but I was told that would probably be D or E for the DL 1/2, because there are so many more men who run it. I assume the TOT pool of runners would be more similar to the DL 1/2 than the PHM...?

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

We've been wondering about the corral placement as well as both my wife and I were hoping we'd be in the same starting area. She turned in a 58:40 for her 10K time and I had a 48:31 so we were thinking it might not happen for us.

You never know though!

 

[jeanigor]

I wasn't sure if the corrals will be more "competitive" because there will be a higher percentage of men running, than say, the Princess. I know 1:04 (10K) was corral B for the Princess, but I was told that would probably be D or E for the DL 1/2, because there are so many more men who run it. I assume the TOT pool of runners would be more similar to the DL 1/2 than the PHM...?

ToT I am certain will have a higher percentage of male participants. Not entirely sure of the size of the field, but C might be a better estimate.

We've been wondering about the corral placement as well as both my wife and I were hoping we'd be in the same starting area. She turned in a 58:40 for her 10K time and I had a 48:31 so we were thinking it might not happen for us.

You never know though!

You can always go back a corral to be with her.

 

[Cripey]

I wasn't sure if the corrals will be more "competitive" because there will be a higher percentage of men running, than say, the Princess. I know 1:04 (10K) was corral B for the Princess, but I was told that would probably be D or E for the DL 1/2, because there are so many more men who run it. I assume the TOT pool of runners would be more similar to the DL 1/2 than the PHM...?

I'm not sure that conversion to the DL half would be very accurate. Hopefully this makes sense...I turned in a 1:07 10k time for Princess. On the email I received back at the time, they used that time to estimate my finish time at like 2:15 or something close to that, which did not happen. I actually finished slower, at 2:34. I, in turn, used that time (2:34...which would have equated to a slower 10k time than 1:07) for placement at the DL half last year and was in C. I wouldn't think a 1:04 10k time would put you that far back at DL...at least that's my logic you never can know for sure though, I guess! And how that will translate to ToT...no clue

 

[MinnieDiva]

My park tickets arrived today in the mail!! I opened my envelope thinking I'd see a cute, sports-themed ticket....not so much. Goofy on one, Mickey on the other with a plain blue background. Sigh.

On a bright note I did a 6-mile run before the rain moved in followed by some P90x shoulders, chest and tris. Nothing like an awesome workout!

 

[PrincessV]

About corrals... if it makes anyone feel better, I'm likely going in with NO proof of time because, well, no one's putting on officially-timed races this time of year in my area - because it's too danged HOT! Knowing that I'll likely be in one of the last few corrals, of course, means I'm playing the mental game of telling myself "You HAVE to train well and get faster between now and Sept. because you'll have no time buffer!" Nothing like a little pressure added to miserable summer runs, right?!

Speaking of - due to an injury, my 10K training ended at 5.5 miles and then I had to start working my way back up again. So I've got 6 miles scheduled tomorrow morning... and non-stop storms forecast for the next 24 hours. Barring significant lightning, I'll be out there, anyway, since my 2 mile run on the treadmill last night made me puke. We do not get along, the treadmill and I. I'm on the road all day Sat. and at a detrimentally higher altitude after that, so tomorrow is it. Here's hoping for generous cloud cover, a light mist and no thunder or lightning.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

PrincessV,
I feel your pain about the no buffer thing. I have been able to faithfully stick to my training plan, even on my beach vacation over Memorial Day weekend. So far, my longest training run has been 8.6 miles (this past weekend). I've done numerous 5ks this year, and I feel like I'm doing everything I possibly can to be successful (my definition of success is finishing without getting swept). All that said, I still have a very bad feeling that I'm going to be chased by the sweepers, maybe even caught by the sweepers. I'm still about a minute too slow most days (I was consistently under, but then the heat happened, and no matter what I do, I can't get my pace back down). I'm joining a women's training group next month that's an 8 week program, complete with weekly in person coaching. If they can't help me improve my time, I may be in real trouble.

 

[Raya]

now you've got me nervous about being swept. Does anyone know if you get swept do you still get a medal? do you get into the after party?

 

[annmarieda]

now you've got me nervous about being swept. Does anyone know if you get swept do you still get a medal? do you get into the after party?

I am with you... very nervous now. I am anticipating being in the very last corral. My running partner wants to stop for characters. I really don't care about my time... but want to finish... and getting the medal is important to me as well as is the Villains Bash.

 

[Raya]

I am with you... very nervous now. I am anticipating being in the very last corral. My running partner wants to stop for characters. I really don't care about my time... but want to finish... and getting the medal is important to me as well as is the Villains Bash.

You just summed up my entire experience. I won't have a time, so will likely be in the last corral. My running partner will be walking most if not half of the time. I really want to stop for characters, and attending the party is a big deal for me.

 

[John VN]

PrincessV,
I feel your pain about the no buffer thing. I have been able to faithfully stick to my training plan, even on my beach vacation over Memorial Day weekend. So far, my longest training run has been 8.6 miles (this past weekend). I've done numerous 5ks this year, and I feel like I'm doing everything I possibly can to be successful (my definition of success is finishing without getting swept). All that said, I still have a very bad feeling that I'm going to be chased by the sweepers, maybe even caught by the sweepers. I'm still about a minute too slow most days (I was consistently under, but then the heat happened, and no matter what I do, I can't get my pace back down). I'm joining a women's training group next month that's an 8 week program, complete with weekly in person coaching. If they can't help me improve my time, I may be in real trouble.

Please realize that training when the weather is warmer/hotter and/or humid means SLOWER PACE!!! Your body WILL NOT/CAN NOT function as efficiently as is does in cooler less humid conditions.

 

[freepixie]

now you've got me nervous about being swept. Does anyone know if you get swept do you still get a medal? do you get into the after party?

At the Princess this past year I know they gave medals to the non-finishers, but from what I've heard, many of them refused to take one. I don't know if they give out the medals to non-finishers at all the races, but at least at the Princess they did.

IMHO, I would not take a medal that I had not earned, I would feel guilty about it or something.

Dont' get all worried right now about the sweepers, I know I had myself all keyed up worrying about the sweepers at the Princess and I never saw them once!! Around mile 8 I saw an official-looking gentleman on a bike and I asked him if he was a sweeper, and he laughed at me and told me that the sweepers were back at mile 2 at that point Its too early to get all worried about that!! Just keep training and working, I'm sure you will finish

 

[Lynn57]

You just summed up my entire experience. I won't have a time, so will likely be in the last corral. My running partner will be walking most if not half of the time. I really want to stop for characters, and attending the party is a big deal for me.

Yep, I'm kinda freaking out too. I would love to stop for characters but am so scared of getting swept. Finishing the race without being swept is so important to me! I guess I really need to step it up!

 

[lthiesfeld07]

Any chance of any Chicagoland ToT trainees?
I am in a training rut... I ran with a friend last night and did really well! She isn't available all of the time.
If anyone wants to meet and go for a run together, that would be great!

 

[annmarieda]

Please realize that training when the weather is warmer/hotter and/or humid means SLOWER PACE!!! Your body WILL NOT/CAN NOT function as efficiently as is does in cooler less humid conditions.

Today was my first real experience with this. It was my longest run (time wise not distance) and I was feeling like I was 100 pounds heavier and sooo sluggish. It was so humid.. I felt like I was barely moving.

Yep, I'm kinda freaking out too. I would love to stop for characters but am so scared of getting swept. Finishing the race without being swept is so important to me! I guess I really need to step it up!

My run partner doesn't think they will be super strict about the sweeping. I think the idea being if they have characters out they must anticipate people lingering. However.. you all are kinda making me think that if we are in the last corral and we stop for a character we very well may get swept.

 

[jeanigor]

Today was my first real experience with this. It was my longest run (time wise not distance) and I was feeling like I was 100 pounds heavier and sooo sluggish. It was so humid.. I felt like I was barely moving.

We went out for 6 miles last night. Same as our run last Thursday. My stars was it awful. Didn't slow down for the extra 10°. Nearly tossed my cookies at mile 4.5. It was gross. We discussed it and our solution is to run later in the day, once the sun has begun to set and be sure to hydrate.

My run partner doesn't think they will be super strict about the sweeping. I think the idea being if they have characters out they must anticipate people lingering. However.. you all are kinda making me think that if we are in the last corral and we stop for a character we very well may get swept.

Being an inaugural event, history would say probably not super strict with the sweepers. However, that doesn't mean that you should count on that and be lackadaisical.
As for last corral folks being swept, that depends upon your pace. If you are the last person across the starting line and your pace is 15:50, you shouldn't linger. For me, the more I think I want to stop, the more I push to keep a faster steady space in between stops. (And not just photo ops, I usually stop to tinkle twice during a ½)

 

[John VN]

We went out for 6 miles last night. Same as our run last Thursday. My stars was it awful. Didn't slow down for the extra 10°. Nearly tossed my cookies at mile 4.5. It was gross. We discussed it and our solution is to run later in the day, once the sun has begun to set and be sure to hydrate........QUOTE]

I use these wonderfully hot and humid days to increase my base rather than focusing on speed. My feeling is that unless you are an elite runner, there is NO reason to attempt a keeping pace exercise period, too much at risk for injury. Slow down, hydrate A LOT and add some extra distance. Those extra miles will be more beneficial than trying to keep pace, IMO.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

[/QUOTE]I use these wonderfully hot and humid days to increase my base rather than focusing on speed. My feeling is that unless you are an elite runner, there is NO reason to attempt a keeping pace exercise period, too much at risk for injury. Slow down, hydrate A LOT and add some extra distance. Those extra miles will be more beneficial than trying to keep pace, IMO.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I did my last long run before my half, today. It was ten miles. I'm feeling pretty good, not stiff yet. Overall, I'm feeling prepared for the race, when compared to previous half-marathons I've done.

 

[McCoy]

no one's putting on officially-timed races this time of year in my area - because it's too danged HOT!

Hi, I feel like I have seen before that you are in Pinellas. I believe there is only one 10K in the area before September - the July 4th midnight run in Dunedin. The start time isn't ideal (12:15 AM), but it's at least something to use for corral placement. It is chip-timed and they post official race results, so it should be ok to use.

Good luck!