Made it to NYC everyone, the BIG apple is alive and kicking with energy, lots of great buzz for the marathon on Sunday. I start at 9:10 am ET on Nov 7th over on Staten Island, just behind BEKELE and KANDIE (current 1/2 marathon World Record Holder) at Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Thanks for sharing these New York City marathon vlogs with your running friends, helps us grow and build DGR to new heights in 2021 and beyond. And here is the NYC Marathon playlist in case you want to take a deep dive into ALL topics NYC Marathon: th-cam.com/play/PLfYfIYL7lfsJL7U9zwHUO2l5YWndNHm8t.html Onward and upward, keep turning that !!!
I know you don't set off with the elite women - but that would be my plan - find them and run with them - they're on your pace - plus you'll get some TV 😉
QD: After getting in shape for the first time in my life after losing 130lbs, my first two marathons were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Decided to plan my own race around my home town, trained for sub 4hrs. Got my fuelling spot on, with my wife meeting me at pre agreed 'aid stations'. Kept consistent splits and had enough in the tank at the end to hit 3:57. 6 gels and a banana! Good luck 🤞🤞
: Back in September, I was racing a 5K in my small town of Skiatook, Oklahoma. I set out for a 22:30 but felt good after a conservative 7:17 first mile, so I increased my pace and went 6:48 and 6:56 the next two miles to finish in 21:43 for second place. My entire strategy hinged on that first mile, so I'd say it worked out pretty well. It was an improvement of over a minute from the 22:51 I ran in May.
QOD: Last race for me was Cambridge HM (UK) 3 weeks back. Like yourself my A plan was to PB (1:41:44) was my current number, My B plan was sub 1:38 and my C was sub 1:35. My common failure as a relatively new runner is to go out too fast. So I set myself a target of 4:40/km for the first 4km to settle myself down, Even as everyone was rushing away around me I tried to stay level headed and calm, I ticked off the first 4km bang on schedule. by half way I got over a minor stomach cramp and upped the tempo a little, finished strong in the last 5km as intended with a finishing time of 1:37:40. So new PB, hit my B goal! Was my last race in MV40 age group, now to improve into my MV50 age group! Thank you for you inspiring videos and good luck with your race.
QD: I recently ran a half-marathon where I went out conservatively and managed to run a huge negative split. In the end it was my second fastest half ever. I was really happy with my race strategy but maybe it was just the fast, flat course that helped me...
QD: Enjoy the race Seth! I enjoyed following you on TH-cam while I got ready for Boston 2021. I always count it a miracle if I get to the start line at all (and especially feeling fit and fresh!). My plan was not to force the issue and to embrace the joy and mystery of running a marathon. In fact, I wrote "joy" on my left hand and "mystery" on my right - an idea I appreciated getting from you. I didn't PR, but I did have my best finish time out of the 4 Boston races I've done. I'll be among those following and cheering you on Sunday. Enjoy!
QD: I paced my last (second) half marathon pretty good. First 5k at 5:35 (watch set to 5:25-5:45 per kilometer) then 10k at 5:30 pace as a segment, then the rest also at 5:30/k pace. This kept me really relaxed at the first half of the race, so at the end I had enough energy left to speed up a little. That was not easy because the final stretch was narrow so overtaking was not easy. A very enjoyable race and a PR: 1:55:01. Keep these nice video's coming Seth! The drone shots are great!
QD: Definitely the Peachtree 10K in July. I ran a 3 min PR at 34:34 that day with a fast last mile and passed almost 40 competitors over the last 5K. Some keys for me that I think can help others race well too are as follows- 1. I went out at a controlled pace through 5K (17:10ish) which opened the door to my fast finish 2. I listened to my coach’s advice on course strategy. It was my 1st in-person Peachtree and the key insight to stay steady, not push on Cardiac Hill gave me real time confidence on race day. 3. Focusing on my mantra the last 2 miles helped me push past a lot of competitors Thanks! Love the vlog and good luck on Sunday!
my last race where my strategy worked was the Linz Marathon in Austria on Oct 24. After two 100K ultra trail races in May and September and a few shorter trail races in between and a 27K tune-up race two weeks earlier I knew that the most realistic goal would be a sub 3:15 marathon (PB by 11 minutes). I stayed patient, knew that I did not have enough time to train for faster paces and set a realistic goal. I also stayed patient at the race despite some friends with faster goals. Sub 3:15 it was, nailed it at 3:14:52. I have been resting since two weeks and will add one more, just to enjoy live without running for the first time in almost 10 years. GREETINGS FROM SALZBURG/AUSTRIA!!!
Welcome to NY Seth!!! Meeting you this morning in our DGR GR was epic and I will use that incredible energy on my race on Sunday!! Wishing you an amazing marathon! I will be right behind you working hard and seeking beauty to always loving each other!! Happy birthday to True Love :)
I did my first half marathon road race in February 2021 as a virtual race. I followed a training plan from Sage and Sandi at Higher Running and it was great. The specific tempo paces given in the plan helped me to have the confidence that I could improve my initial estimate of 2:30 down to 2:15, so I set that as my goal. My race strategy was not very sophisticated, just to run at the required pace to meet the time for the entire race without going out too fast or slowing down later on. Hydration and fueling was only Nuun electrolyte in a flask left by the street that I passed every 2 km and an Endurance Tap (maple syrup with salt) gel that I took at around 16k in. Unfortunately it was so cold that my drink froze solid after about the 15k mark so I didn't have anything after that. Other than that, my result was about 1 minute and 15 seconds faster than my goal, at 2:13:46. This in spite of 20-30 km/h winds and starting temperature around -11°C with -21°C wind chill and a total elevation gain of 220 meters! So I was very happy with the result.
QD : Thanks to all the good content out there and espacially DGR I've been on a winning streak for the last 6 months. Been practicing for two years. - April 2021 37 min for the 10k. - Sept 2021 First half (Paris) 1:19:11 - Sept 2021 35 min for the 10k - Oct 2021 First marathon (Paris) : 2:43:59 ! Everything went according to plan.. Pacing First : I was aiming for 4min/km and managed to let people overtake me Result : first half 1:23 and second 1:21 Nutrition : a gel every 30 min to aim for 60g/hour. One in my cap, 3 in my backshort pocket and one attached with a pin to be the most lightweight. Result : didn't hit the wall at all 😀 Still had so much fun like when I overtook Hassan Chahdi who ran the Olympics. What a Day ! (Not so much for Hassan though 😅)
QD: I didn't go into my last race with a strategy other than making sure I was in the right pace group in the corral. I've been super busy with a new job and moving apartments and didn't have the time to train for the 10k race. My goal was just to match my PR. I ended up smashing my 10k PR by four minutes and ran one of the most strong and focused races ever. It was definitely because of running with other people. There is nothing like working together to pace each other.
I ran my 9th marathon in April, had a race plan set for me and for once in my life I believed in myself! I’m a big doubter usually but I trained so hard. The plan was executed perfectly- slowest mile 8:42, fastest mile 8:25! Finish time 3:45:30 giving me a 9.5 min cushion for Boston 🎉🎉🎉🎉 My dream has come true. Can’t wait to register for Boston next week!!! Good luck for Sunday Seth! Absolutely love your positivity, you’re an inspiration 😊😊
QD: London Marathon this year, ran 2:54 on debut by running 5 minutes faster in the SECOND half (1:24ish) than the first half (1:29ish). My strategy was so focused on not going out too fast that I ended up going marginally too slow, but this paid off so well in the last 10k, have never had a better feeling than flying past absolutely everyone!
Got my first marathon in Memphis Dec 4th and this was super helpful! I’ve never thought through an actual race strategy so will definitely be trying this out
QD: Fortunately, this one is quite easy for me to answer to. My most recent race where my strategy played out perfectly was at the Bucharest Marathon I ran on October 31st, last Sunday. I had a plan to run by heart rate and stay between 150 and 160 at least for the first half (169 being my LTHR). Thanks to good preparation I had in the last 18 weeks, I managed to take my PR down from 5:15 to 3:22, granted it was coming for a while, as the last road marathon I finished dated all the way back to 2015. Although I know you are not a HR training fan, I credit a large part of my success to your daily vlog, especially for prehab work & training tips and tricks, which got me to the finish line healthy & ready to go.
Oooo Seth. Looks like you opened this video with your game face, take no prisoners! My last race was the Long Beach Half Marathon on the 10th of October. My time was 2:11:07 or 10min/mi pace which was my goal for the race. My strategy was simple---don't go out too fast and stay at a steady pace following the pacer flag. Though I did not know the course, I got the advice of a fellow friend/runner that knew the course. I had gas left in the tank but I am still learning my capabilities.
QOD: Personal best race strategy was for the BOA Chicago marathon 2019. Was the first time I was aiming for a sub3-goal. I started in corral B and knew there were 2:59-pacers in corral A AND corral B. So from the start, I immediatly started to chase the corral A pacer, of which I knew he had started his race a couple of minutes before me (corral B). Took me about 5 miles to get him. From that moment on, the only thing I had to do was following him, knowing I had a couple of minutes bonus on my goal. So it wouldn't even be bad if I lost a minute or 2 in the last miles. I finished in a time of 2:56:40, so all I can say is: the strategy worked perfectly (that day😉)
QD: 2021 has been the first year that I’ve taken running seriously, so I’ve never really had a race strategy. My peak race is in December so I had a nice tune up half a couple weeks ago. It was my first time to not only put a specific race strategy to work, but also to really test (and trust) in all the training I’d put it. PR of 1:23 for 13.1 feeling great with gas still in the tank at the end. I’ve got my sights set on a BQ in December. Thanks for educating and inspiring this community!
QOD: Door County Half Marathon. As far up front in corral as reasonable for my pace. Run first four miles faster than overall average pace of race. Short fast chopping steps going uphill for the majority of mile five to the interior of the park. Cruise control from mile five through mile seven on the rollers. Smash the gas pedal through mile eight to finish line. Expectation was better than 1:35, result was 1:30:48 on a very hilly course; 19 seconds behind PR set earlier this year on a flat course. 10k pace average was 7:05 and dropped down to 6:49 pace on back half. I don't think I could of ran that race any better on that day, not a thing I would of changed from preparation, strategy, fueling, and mindset. A very close friend of mine pretty much ran the same strategy there and she dominated her PR, if she hasn't commented on here, she should... just saying.
QOD: I had a 10k race where I was aiming to PB and finish well back in August. I knew in the past few races that I had gone out too quickly and struggled. In this race I held back and let everyone else go out fast, the first km went by and I was right on pace with my goal pace and I knew that I was ready to go. I spent the rest of the race catching people and finished up really well. 37:23 for the 10k beating my PB by a minute.
QD: My first ever marathon was CIM 2011. Based on my training my A goal was sub 3:30. At age 45, my BQ was 3:25 so that was my B goal, but I resisted the temptation to join that pace group. I started with the 3:30s and a little after 10 miles I I picked up the pace hunting down the 3:25s. I didn't make it and the last couple of miles were torture, but I managed a chip time of 3:27:19. IIRC I ended up with a very slightly negative split.
My last race was a half marathon last weekend. I went into it super casual, no pressure on myself, just wanted to have fun and enjoy. I didn't overthink eating or drinking, carried very little with me, just wanted to let my body do its thing and enjoy the fall scenery. I ended up setting a new PR by just over 3 minutes! (even on a super hilly course) It felt amazing and will definitely affect how I prepare for future races 🙌🏼
Eyes up 🙄 Pump arms 💪 Quick feet 👣🔥 The 3 races (London marathon, great South run and Kingston ½marathon) and 5 parkruns that I ran in the month of October 2021 I said this multiple times to myself both out loud and in my head whilst running these when I was struggling or working hard and took strength from all of the DGR family, so thank you Seth for the daily inspiration. Good luck on Sunday.... Lets go lets go let's go!!! 🍎🗽🏃♂️👟
QD: in January, I made my own half marathon race for myself. Just me, a bike pacer, and a running pacer. My training was fantastic, I focused much more on endurance building. My downfall in previous races was going out way too fast. I credit my PR of 1:33.04 to my Garmin watch and pacers telling me to stay disciplined. I fueled perfectly and PR'd in the 10k, and 10 mile on the last stretch.
Great to shake out legs with the DGR community this morning! I’ll be cheering from the 25.5 mile mark and handing out towels and amenities to my fellow non-elites - looking forward to seeing a PR, Seth!
QD, for me it was last Sunday in a local half marathon,I ran the route a few weeks before hand to get an idea of what we faced,the 1st mile was nice and flat and then u climb for 6 miles turn a cone and head back the 6 miles, I planned to run up the climb around 5.45s and then sub 5.40s on the way back, thankfully I ran 5.40s going up the hill and 5.29s coming back down, I know without the knowledge from the training run I would have went out to hard. The highlight was I ran 72.29, a 2min 30 pb and also won the race, best day ever. Best of luck Sunday, start smart and finish strong
QD: my last race was Taupo Marathon which has never been a quick one, and this year I had given blood 5 days before and passed out so my strategy was to just run slower and pace myself... It was the first time in all my 24 marathon that I didn't go out way too fast and, on top of some massive training thanks to covid lockdowns, I managed a PR of 3:40:53... 4 mins faster than my previous fastest and I didn't throw up afterwards :D I now look forward to running again knowing now that pacing myself actually works
My best race day strategy execution was in my last race, 3 weeks ago. It was a 10 mile race that I used as a "warmup" race for a 1/2 marathon I'll be running on Thanksgiving. I studied the elevation profile of the course and noticed that the last 2 miles were flat to downhill. My training has been going well so I knew my strength endurance was decent. The plan was to stick to a strong, but not crazy, pace and then clock my fastest 2 miles at the end. At mile 8 I was starting to hurt but was able to pick up the pace and finish strong, beating my goal and setting me up for what I hope will be a great race on Thanksgiving!
QD: My last race day was last month and my strategy paid off so well! I had just started training again after having to take off a few months, and after a few more weeks of training I had some injury concerns that needed to be resolved by the PT and I had to take off two weeks, leaving me only a week of running before my race. My race was a 5k and I had ran a light workout after coming back and on my mile rep I ran 5:45 and it felt pretty difficult. I decided that I wanted to start the race conservative around 5:50 pace and then hit the last mile hard and shoot for sub 18. I felt great on race day and went through the first mile feeling great at around a 5:40 mile, and then I held that same pace and close in a 5:25, hitting 17:12 and coming just a few seconds short of a PR. Even though it was only meant to be a race to see what my fitness level was like, I stuck to my strategy even though pacing was faster than expected, and it turned out amazing!
QD: all great tips Seth. Finally hitting my long awaited BQ goal with this past Columbus Marathon was largely due to similar race day strategies: being confident enough to be near the front of the right coral, fuel fuel fuel… even when you don’t think you need to… sip at every water station (never the full glass), and keeping an eye on my HR so that it never got above a certain point until mile 19+… then it was game time!
This fall I did a half Ironman distance triathlon I had done a full a month prior and totally whiffed on my nutrition, full body cramps for most of the marathon. This time I stuck to my nutrition plan and my race strategy and even though I crashed my bike and had to have a restroom stop I still was WAY ahead of all my goal times when I finished. Definetly a great rebound for me.
Boston Marathon this year. Goal was to go sub three. Strategy was start out easy, hit halfway at 1:31 and finish strong. Hit the half in 1:30:40, finished in 2:58:41. Also really worked hard on carbo loading correctly in the three days leading up to the race. Everything came together and I had a really good day.
QD: Boston 2021. This was my fourth consecutive Boston and the best one yet (3:01:24). I didn't want to go out too hard, especially with the initial downhill. I made sure to take water and Gatorade at every aid station, even if it was just for a sip. I took my gels consistently. But more than anything, my goal was to enjoy every minute and run with a smile (as much as possible) and interact with the crowds. Goal met!
Good luck on your race, Seth!! Thanks for sharing your game day strategy with us. Tap into that super endurance tank, like you said, and go out there and place among US runners. You can do it!!
QD: My race last weekend. I had a strategy going in an decided to pivot and attempt a MUCH faster pace than I anticipated. I planned to go lay it all out and see how long I could hold the pace. Turns out I held it for 13.1 and finished about 6 min faster than I expect and 1st in my age division and 6th overall. Good luck Seth and crush it on Sunday!
QOD: Stumpjump 50k this october. Broke it up into 3 10-mile sections. 1. stay relaxed and baby the legs. 2. start really running, but don't slam the legs. 3. Go for broke, slam the downhills, and run! Mile 10 aid station I was 34th place and I finished 12th. Racing smart works!
I have my state cross country meet Tomorrow. I haven’t been able to train well due to a hip injury. Super excited. My race strategy is just to feel it out and run as hard as I can.
Good luck Seth, thanks for sharing your awesome talent with us, QOD I ran a marathon few weeks ago, trained really hard for it, few weeks to go it was changed to a virtual marathon, no worries, was happy to put the training into practice, new Pb by 6min & came 2nd overall won a nice glass trophy 😀🍀🏃🏼♂️🌲👍🏼✅
Great video advice Seth. in 2019 i didn´t study the course very well and due a little faster pace after mile 18 i paid the price from mile 23 till the end, it was so painfull. I did my Pr in 2:50, but i felt i could do better if i would save energy before entering 1st avenue.
QD: The best strategy I have used is just staying on pace. I run a half marathon in my hometown every year and set a splits plan that follows the elevation of the course, planning for faster splits on the flats and slower splits on the hills. I print it off and tape it to the bill of my hat. Knowing what splits you need to hit each mile as well as knowing what the total running time should be after each mile really helps me to stay on track, and keeps me from coming out of the gate too fast with all that adrenaline pumping! Best of luck in NYC.
I should've done A-B-C goals before my first marathon in October!! So here I am making them, retroactive !!! A goal = qualify for Chicago (check) B goal = under 3 hours (nope) C goal = top 10 (ha!) Thanks Seth!
Hey Seth you amaze me... How can you handle to do so many tasks..... do you have a production team? Congratulations and have a deserved time!!! from Mexico City...
QD: My last marathon I was focused on going out really slow and controlled and picking it up from there. I didn’t get carried away and just kept finding people I felt like were going at the pace I wanted to be going and running with them for short amount of time. I eventually found a man going my ideal race pace and ran with him for about 10 miles until the last 10k. I felt great, so I whipped around him and felt so fast over the course of those last few miles. It would be a 35 minute PR for me! Hoping to recreate a similar strategy this weekend at the Monumental in Indy and PR by going out just a tad bit faster and hoping I’m feeling just as good for the last 10k again! Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!
QD: Stone mill 50 miler in Maryland, 2020. Knew the course well, conserved effort where I needed to in order to have energy left for the places I could make good time.
QD: my last race worked out very well! It was a half marathon road race with quite some vertical gain (about 700 ft). It was a stormy day, so the wind and hills made it tricky to pace. I knew the second half would have head wind and the biggest climbs. I also knew that setting a PR would be tough: I am recovering from an accident in summer and lost almost all my fitness there. Preparation for this half marathon was 9 weeks. Very short, but it went very well and I felt confident enough to shoot for that PR. Because I set my PR in the same race two years ago, I had a schedule to compare to. I practiced some long runs on the course to get a feel for it again. On race day, I set out a bit faster than my PR schedule, because I knew the conditions would make the second half tougher. The first half was strong, the second a battle. But knowing that I was faster than my PR schedule and all I had to do was 'hang on' gave me the mental strength to keep pushing. I ran one second faster than my PR! So I got my B-goal (PR) and my A-goal: bringing a strong mental game start to finish. I firmly believe that the mental aspect makes all the difference and having a race strategy that helps staying strong mentally is a very powerful thing! Good luck on Sunday Seth, run strong and crush those goals! Conceive, believe, achieve 💪
I know this has nothing to do with anything you discussed here but I just have to say that I love the music selection at the beginning of this video!! Who is this??? I need to look them up!
QoD: My last race was my first event ever over 10k and was a Metric Marathon (26.2k / 16 miles). My strategy was to go steady for first half and then assess at midpoint. It was difficult to slow myself as people raced by me in first few miles. My goals were sub 2.45, sub 2.40, and sub 2.30. My pacing meant I felt good in second half and overtook many of those who raced past at the start and finished in 2.19.58, finishing it top 25% 🙂
QD: Naples 2021 (I was in your vid 😆) had plans to find someone 5-10 seconds slower than my predicted for the first 7 miles, take a gel, and then start pushing. We'll, the first 7 miles went great and I started increasing the pace by 5 seconds each miles for the remainder of the half and ended up running a PR of 1.34.xx. perfect weather, perfect plan, and I felt that I left that race with more to give. I don't like leaving races where I feel trashed at the end. I like to feel like I gave it 95% and not 105%. Gotta chase kids afterwards if you know what I mean 😆.
QD: half marathon in Paris in 2014. I knew that the first half is going to be fairly easy. So I ran with hand break on and saved energy for the second half. My 10k split was still around my 10k PB at the time but I was fit and conditions were perfect. I just went according to the plan and it paid off.
;QD; my last race I stayed on pace from the beginning rather than go out fast. I didn't chase any other runners who passed early. I ended up passing some on the last miles to finish strong..
Is the ankle flick trick the same movement as pretending to flick dirt back behind you? All the best for your race Seth. You've put in all the hard work. You deserve the reward.
QD: the last time my strategy played was my last race… it’s been too long… almost two years ago… anyways I did a nice warmup and stretched well… the pre-race was huge… I Had my best race and finished 8th overall… during the race I just kept picking people off as I could and just kept chasing them down till the end… it was poring rain and it was awesome! It was overall strategy of following along to this and a few other vlogs that made a huge difference in my approach to the race…
QD: London Marathon this year. My original goal was sub 3. A couple of months prior to the race I got injured playing football, recovered in time for a bit mountain run, Carnethy Munros in a Day, injured my ankle on that, and only had 5 weeks to recover for London. Going into the race I was greatful to be on the start line and had changed my goal to be a GFA Boston/London qualifying time. I felt good prior to the start so decided to head out at sub 3 pace and see what happened. Though I didn't manage sub 3, I did get a 3.05 which was way within GFA and I finished strong enough to suggest I could have ran faster for those last 10 miles. Was sooooo very happy and had an inner pride due to the fact I was in a bad place mentally only 9 months ago.
Made it to NYC everyone, the BIG apple is alive and kicking with energy, lots of great buzz for the marathon on Sunday. I start at 9:10 am ET on Nov 7th over on Staten Island, just behind BEKELE and KANDIE (current 1/2 marathon World Record Holder) at Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Thanks for sharing these New York City marathon vlogs with your running friends, helps us grow and build DGR to new heights in 2021 and beyond. And here is the NYC Marathon playlist in case you want to take a deep dive into ALL topics NYC Marathon: th-cam.com/play/PLfYfIYL7lfsJL7U9zwHUO2l5YWndNHm8t.html
Onward and upward, keep turning that !!!
Double check the am/pm button and the radio alarm volume, watch out for the separate knob!
Hey Seth, when is the group run in Central Park?
Woohoo!!!
I know you don't set off with the elite women - but that would be my plan - find them and run with them - they're on your pace - plus you'll get some TV 😉
You got this in the bag!
QD: After getting in shape for the first time in my life after losing 130lbs, my first two marathons were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Decided to plan my own race around my home town, trained for sub 4hrs. Got my fuelling spot on, with my wife meeting me at pre agreed 'aid stations'. Kept consistent splits and had enough in the tank at the end to hit 3:57. 6 gels and a banana! Good luck 🤞🤞
Good luck Seth! you've got this. you're looking and sounding like a confident elite. Go get the job done :)
: Back in September, I was racing a 5K in my small town of Skiatook, Oklahoma. I set out for a 22:30 but felt good after a conservative 7:17 first mile, so I increased my pace and went 6:48 and 6:56 the next two miles to finish in 21:43 for second place. My entire strategy hinged on that first mile, so I'd say it worked out pretty well. It was an improvement of over a minute from the 22:51 I ran in May.
QOD: Last race for me was Cambridge HM (UK) 3 weeks back. Like yourself my A plan was to PB (1:41:44) was my current number, My B plan was sub 1:38 and my C was sub 1:35. My common failure as a relatively new runner is to go out too fast. So I set myself a target of 4:40/km for the first 4km to settle myself down, Even as everyone was rushing away around me I tried to stay level headed and calm, I ticked off the first 4km bang on schedule. by half way I got over a minor stomach cramp and upped the tempo a little, finished strong in the last 5km as intended with a finishing time of 1:37:40. So new PB, hit my B goal! Was my last race in MV40 age group, now to improve into my MV50 age group! Thank you for you inspiring videos and good luck with your race.
QD: I recently ran a half-marathon where I went out conservatively and managed to run a huge negative split. In the end it was my second fastest half ever. I was really happy with my race strategy but maybe it was just the fast, flat course that helped me...
QD: Enjoy the race Seth! I enjoyed following you on TH-cam while I got ready for Boston 2021. I always count it a miracle if I get to the start line at all (and especially feeling fit and fresh!). My plan was not to force the issue and to embrace the joy and mystery of running a marathon. In fact, I wrote "joy" on my left hand and "mystery" on my right - an idea I appreciated getting from you. I didn't PR, but I did have my best finish time out of the 4 Boston races I've done. I'll be among those following and cheering you on Sunday. Enjoy!
You may have arrived to NYC alone but you have thousands of us (virtually) right there with you on Sunday!! Run well, friend! You got this!!
QD: I paced my last (second) half marathon pretty good. First 5k at 5:35 (watch set to 5:25-5:45 per kilometer) then 10k at 5:30 pace as a segment, then the rest also at 5:30/k pace. This kept me really relaxed at the first half of the race, so at the end I had enough energy left to speed up a little. That was not easy because the final stretch was narrow so overtaking was not easy. A very enjoyable race and a PR: 1:55:01. Keep these nice video's coming Seth! The drone shots are great!
QD: Definitely the Peachtree 10K in July. I ran a 3 min PR at 34:34 that day with a fast last mile and passed almost 40 competitors over the last 5K. Some keys for me that I think can help others race well too are as follows-
1. I went out at a controlled pace through 5K (17:10ish) which opened the door to my fast finish
2. I listened to my coach’s advice on course strategy. It was my 1st in-person Peachtree and the key insight to stay steady, not push on Cardiac Hill gave me real time confidence on race day.
3. Focusing on my mantra the last 2 miles helped me push past a lot of competitors
Thanks! Love the vlog and good luck on Sunday!
my last race where my strategy worked was the Linz Marathon in Austria on Oct 24. After two 100K ultra trail races in May and September and a few shorter trail races in between and a 27K tune-up race two weeks earlier I knew that the most realistic goal would be a sub 3:15 marathon (PB by 11 minutes). I stayed patient, knew that I did not have enough time to train for faster paces and set a realistic goal. I also stayed patient at the race despite some friends with faster goals. Sub 3:15 it was, nailed it at 3:14:52. I have been resting since two weeks and will add one more, just to enjoy live without running for the first time in almost 10 years. GREETINGS FROM SALZBURG/AUSTRIA!!!
Welcome to NY Seth!!! Meeting you this morning in our DGR GR was epic and I will use that incredible energy on my race on Sunday!! Wishing you an amazing marathon! I will be right behind you working hard and seeking beauty to always loving each other!! Happy birthday to True Love :)
I did my first half marathon road race in February 2021 as a virtual race. I followed a training plan from Sage and Sandi at Higher Running and it was great. The specific tempo paces given in the plan helped me to have the confidence that I could improve my initial estimate of 2:30 down to 2:15, so I set that as my goal. My race strategy was not very sophisticated, just to run at the required pace to meet the time for the entire race without going out too fast or slowing down later on. Hydration and fueling was only Nuun electrolyte in a flask left by the street that I passed every 2 km and an Endurance Tap (maple syrup with salt) gel that I took at around 16k in. Unfortunately it was so cold that my drink froze solid after about the 15k mark so I didn't have anything after that. Other than that, my result was about 1 minute and 15 seconds faster than my goal, at 2:13:46. This in spite of 20-30 km/h winds and starting temperature around -11°C with -21°C wind chill and a total elevation gain of 220 meters! So I was very happy with the result.
Anyone’s is running Barcelona Marathon this sunday? Hope to see someone there! Looking for my PB🤟
Not this year, no time to train. Good luck, it's a great flat course and I set my PB there.
Good luck! I can’t wait to participate in my first ever marathon in Madrid RnR next year
QD : Thanks to all the good content out there and espacially DGR I've been on a winning streak for the last 6 months. Been practicing for two years.
- April 2021 37 min for the 10k.
- Sept 2021 First half (Paris) 1:19:11
- Sept 2021 35 min for the 10k
- Oct 2021 First marathon (Paris) : 2:43:59 !
Everything went according to plan..
Pacing First : I was aiming for 4min/km and managed to let people overtake me
Result : first half 1:23 and second 1:21
Nutrition : a gel every 30 min to aim for 60g/hour. One in my cap, 3 in my backshort pocket and one attached with a pin to be the most lightweight.
Result : didn't hit the wall at all 😀
Still had so much fun like when I overtook Hassan Chahdi who ran the Olympics. What a Day ! (Not so much for Hassan though 😅)
QD: I didn't go into my last race with a strategy other than making sure I was in the right pace group in the corral. I've been super busy with a new job and moving apartments and didn't have the time to train for the 10k race. My goal was just to match my PR. I ended up smashing my 10k PR by four minutes and ran one of the most strong and focused races ever. It was definitely because of running with other people. There is nothing like working together to pace each other.
It was nice to meet you today at the group run. I'll be wearing my Mets hat at the 25 mile fluid station, so look out!
Welcome to New York. We will support you on the marathon day. Good luck!
Let’s go Seth and every one racing this coming weekend!
I ran my 9th marathon in April, had a race plan set for me and for once in my life I believed in myself! I’m a big doubter usually but I trained so hard. The plan was executed perfectly- slowest mile 8:42, fastest mile 8:25! Finish time 3:45:30 giving me a 9.5 min cushion for Boston 🎉🎉🎉🎉 My dream has come true. Can’t wait to register for Boston next week!!! Good luck for Sunday Seth! Absolutely love your positivity, you’re an inspiration 😊😊
QD: London Marathon this year, ran 2:54 on debut by running 5 minutes faster in the SECOND half (1:24ish) than the first half (1:29ish). My strategy was so focused on not going out too fast that I ended up going marginally too slow, but this paid off so well in the last 10k, have never had a better feeling than flying past absolutely everyone!
Negative splits are the way to go!
You're going to kill it!
Got my first marathon in Memphis Dec 4th and this was super helpful! I’ve never thought through an actual race strategy so will definitely be trying this out
QD: Fortunately, this one is quite easy for me to answer to. My most recent race where my strategy played out perfectly was at the Bucharest Marathon I ran on October 31st, last Sunday. I had a plan to run by heart rate and stay between 150 and 160 at least for the first half (169 being my LTHR). Thanks to good preparation I had in the last 18 weeks, I managed to take my PR down from 5:15 to 3:22, granted it was coming for a while, as the last road marathon I finished dated all the way back to 2015.
Although I know you are not a HR training fan, I credit a large part of my success to your daily vlog, especially for prehab work & training tips and tricks, which got me to the finish line healthy & ready to go.
Those drone shots of Denver before you left were amazing!
Oooo Seth. Looks like you opened this video with your game face, take no prisoners! My last race was the Long Beach Half Marathon on the 10th of October. My time was 2:11:07 or 10min/mi pace which was my goal for the race. My strategy was simple---don't go out too fast and stay at a steady pace following the pacer flag. Though I did not know the course, I got the advice of a fellow friend/runner that knew the course. I had gas left in the tank but I am still learning my capabilities.
QOD: Personal best race strategy was for the BOA Chicago marathon 2019. Was the first time I was aiming for a sub3-goal. I started in corral B and knew there were 2:59-pacers in corral A AND corral B. So from the start, I immediatly started to chase the corral A pacer, of which I knew he had started his race a couple of minutes before me (corral B). Took me about 5 miles to get him. From that moment on, the only thing I had to do was following him, knowing I had a couple of minutes bonus on my goal. So it wouldn't even be bad if I lost a minute or 2 in the last miles. I finished in a time of 2:56:40, so all I can say is: the strategy worked perfectly (that day😉)
QD: 2021 has been the first year that I’ve taken running seriously, so I’ve never really had a race strategy. My peak race is in December so I had a nice tune up half a couple weeks ago. It was my first time to not only put a specific race strategy to work, but also to really test (and trust) in all the training I’d put it. PR of 1:23 for 13.1 feeling great with gas still in the tank at the end. I’ve got my sights set on a BQ in December. Thanks for educating and inspiring this community!
Exciting stuff. Looking forward to watching you race!
QOD: Door County Half Marathon. As far up front in corral as reasonable for my pace. Run first four miles faster than overall average pace of race. Short fast chopping steps going uphill for the majority of mile five to the interior of the park. Cruise control from mile five through mile seven on the rollers. Smash the gas pedal through mile eight to finish line. Expectation was better than 1:35, result was 1:30:48 on a very hilly course; 19 seconds behind PR set earlier this year on a flat course. 10k pace average was 7:05 and dropped down to 6:49 pace on back half. I don't think I could of ran that race any better on that day, not a thing I would of changed from preparation, strategy, fueling, and mindset.
A very close friend of mine pretty much ran the same strategy there and she dominated her PR, if she hasn't commented on here, she should... just saying.
QOD: I had a 10k race where I was aiming to PB and finish well back in August. I knew in the past few races that I had gone out too quickly and struggled. In this race I held back and let everyone else go out fast, the first km went by and I was right on pace with my goal pace and I knew that I was ready to go. I spent the rest of the race catching people and finished up really well. 37:23 for the 10k beating my PB by a minute.
Welcome back to NYC, the energy feels right for a PR :) I’ll be waiting for you in Queens! Best of luck this weekend!!
You got it Seth!!!! Was about to go to sleep then saw that you posted this vlog, had to watch it first!!
QD: My first ever marathon was CIM 2011. Based on my training my A goal was sub 3:30. At age 45, my BQ was 3:25 so that was my B goal, but I resisted the temptation to join that pace group. I started with the 3:30s and a little after 10 miles I I picked up the pace hunting down the 3:25s. I didn't make it and the last couple of miles were torture, but I managed a chip time of 3:27:19.
IIRC I ended up with a very slightly negative split.
Don't forget to smile when you start getting tired. Kipchoge style. Good luck Seth, go get that goal.
Excited for you! A B or C on Sunday are all amazing 🤩
All the best Seth, and thank you for sharing your race strategy.
So excited for you this year! Go get it!
Good luck mate, hope you get some TV time tomorrow , will be watching and looking out for you.👊💪👍
Thank you for putting out these entertaining videos.
My last race was a half marathon last weekend. I went into it super casual, no pressure on myself, just wanted to have fun and enjoy. I didn't overthink eating or drinking, carried very little with me, just wanted to let my body do its thing and enjoy the fall scenery. I ended up setting a new PR by just over 3 minutes! (even on a super hilly course) It felt amazing and will definitely affect how I prepare for future races 🙌🏼
You'll have the group this year, of guys at your pace, good luck!
Eyes up 🙄
Pump arms 💪
Quick feet 👣🔥
The 3 races (London marathon, great South run and Kingston ½marathon) and 5 parkruns that I ran in the month of October 2021 I said this multiple times to myself both out loud and in my head whilst running these when I was struggling or working hard and took strength from all of the DGR family, so thank you Seth for the daily inspiration.
Good luck on Sunday....
Lets go lets go let's go!!! 🍎🗽🏃♂️👟
QD: in January, I made my own half marathon race for myself. Just me, a bike pacer, and a running pacer. My training was fantastic, I focused much more on endurance building. My downfall in previous races was going out way too fast. I credit my PR of 1:33.04 to my Garmin watch and pacers telling me to stay disciplined. I fueled perfectly and PR'd in the 10k, and 10 mile on the last stretch.
Great to shake out legs with the DGR community this morning! I’ll be cheering from the 25.5 mile mark and handing out towels and amenities to my fellow non-elites - looking forward to seeing a PR, Seth!
QD, for me it was last Sunday in a local half marathon,I ran the route a few weeks before hand to get an idea of what we faced,the 1st mile was nice and flat and then u climb for 6 miles turn a cone and head back the 6 miles, I planned to run up the climb around 5.45s and then sub 5.40s on the way back, thankfully I ran 5.40s going up the hill and 5.29s coming back down, I know without the knowledge from the training run I would have went out to hard. The highlight was I ran 72.29, a 2min 30 pb and also won the race, best day ever. Best of luck Sunday, start smart and finish strong
QD: my last race was Taupo Marathon which has never been a quick one, and this year I had given blood 5 days before and passed out so my strategy was to just run slower and pace myself... It was the first time in all my 24 marathon that I didn't go out way too fast and, on top of some massive training thanks to covid lockdowns, I managed a PR of 3:40:53... 4 mins faster than my previous fastest and I didn't throw up afterwards :D
I now look forward to running again knowing now that pacing myself actually works
Legend good luck Seth, the 7th is my trail race 🏁
My best race day strategy execution was in my last race, 3 weeks ago. It was a 10 mile race that I used as a "warmup" race for a 1/2 marathon I'll be running on Thanksgiving. I studied the elevation profile of the course and noticed that the last 2 miles were flat to downhill. My training has been going well so I knew my strength endurance was decent. The plan was to stick to a strong, but not crazy, pace and then clock my fastest 2 miles at the end. At mile 8 I was starting to hurt but was able to pick up the pace and finish strong, beating my goal and setting me up for what I hope will be a great race on Thanksgiving!
QD: ATL Marathon 2020. 2 min negative split. 1:28/1:26. Ran by myself last six miles, the race isn't very crowded. Good luck Seth.
QD: My last race day was last month and my strategy paid off so well! I had just started training again after having to take off a few months, and after a few more weeks of training I had some injury concerns that needed to be resolved by the PT and I had to take off two weeks, leaving me only a week of running before my race.
My race was a 5k and I had ran a light workout after coming back and on my mile rep I ran 5:45 and it felt pretty difficult. I decided that I wanted to start the race conservative around 5:50 pace and then hit the last mile hard and shoot for sub 18. I felt great on race day and went through the first mile feeling great at around a 5:40 mile, and then I held that same pace and close in a 5:25, hitting 17:12 and coming just a few seconds short of a PR.
Even though it was only meant to be a race to see what my fitness level was like, I stuck to my strategy even though pacing was faster than expected, and it turned out amazing!
Super Pumped! I feel like we are all going with you! 🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽
Great goals, and good luck with them! Have fun at the shakeout today. You really will be "seeing us to-morrow" at that!!
Good luck Seth!
Saw this at 7:40 knowing I need to clock in at 8! Perfect timing!!
Got et ‘em Seth! I’d love to see you negative split- 72/70 would be awesome. Just don’t get too excited in the first 10K.
QD: all great tips Seth. Finally hitting my long awaited BQ goal with this past Columbus Marathon was largely due to similar race day strategies: being confident enough to be near the front of the right coral, fuel fuel fuel… even when you don’t think you need to… sip at every water station (never the full glass), and keeping an eye on my HR so that it never got above a certain point until mile 19+… then it was game time!
This fall I did a half Ironman distance triathlon I had done a full a month prior and totally whiffed on my nutrition, full body cramps for most of the marathon. This time I stuck to my nutrition plan and my race strategy and even though I crashed my bike and had to have a restroom stop I still was WAY ahead of all my goal times when I finished. Definetly a great rebound for me.
Boston Marathon this year. Goal was to go sub three. Strategy was start out easy, hit halfway at 1:31 and finish strong. Hit the half in 1:30:40, finished in 2:58:41. Also really worked hard on carbo loading correctly in the three days leading up to the race. Everything came together and I had a really good day.
All the best Seth! 🙌
Good luck! Have a good race! Go hunt Belle! Unfortunately no good chance to follow the race from Germany.
QD: Boston 2021. This was my fourth consecutive Boston and the best one yet (3:01:24). I didn't want to go out too hard, especially with the initial downhill. I made sure to take water and Gatorade at every aid station, even if it was just for a sip. I took my gels consistently. But more than anything, my goal was to enjoy every minute and run with a smile (as much as possible) and interact with the crowds. Goal met!
Great video as always!Big Fan!!Which brand is the massage gun?just planning to buy one and I know I can trust You!Good Luck at NYCM
Good luck on your race, Seth!! Thanks for sharing your game day strategy with us. Tap into that super endurance tank, like you said, and go out there and place among US runners. You can do it!!
THANK YOU! We got this
No doubt! 👍
That NYC time lapse at 12:10, 👌. The air must be cool, crisp, and clear.
I'm running NYC virtually. It will be my longest run since my 50 miler in May. My strategy is to film it all for a vlog and try not to cry.
Enjoy Seth all the best in your NY Marathon 2021
Good luck, Seth! ✌
QD: My race last weekend. I had a strategy going in an decided to pivot and attempt a MUCH faster pace than I anticipated. I planned to go lay it all out and see how long I could hold the pace. Turns out I held it for 13.1 and finished about 6 min faster than I expect and 1st in my age division and 6th overall. Good luck Seth and crush it on Sunday!
QOD: Stumpjump 50k this october. Broke it up into 3 10-mile sections. 1. stay relaxed and baby the legs. 2. start really running, but don't slam the legs. 3. Go for broke, slam the downhills, and run! Mile 10 aid station I was 34th place and I finished 12th. Racing smart works!
I have my state cross country meet Tomorrow. I haven’t been able to train well due to a hip injury. Super excited. My race strategy is just to feel it out and run as hard as I can.
Good luck Seth, thanks for sharing your awesome talent with us, QOD I ran a marathon few weeks ago, trained really hard for it, few weeks to go it was changed to a virtual marathon, no worries, was happy to put the training into practice, new Pb by 6min & came 2nd overall won a nice glass trophy 😀🍀🏃🏼♂️🌲👍🏼✅
Great video advice Seth. in 2019 i didn´t study the course very well and due a little faster pace after mile 18 i paid the price from mile 23 till the end, it was so painfull. I did my Pr in 2:50, but i felt i could do better if i would save energy before entering 1st avenue.
QD: The best strategy I have used is just staying on pace. I run a half marathon in my hometown every year and set a splits plan that follows the elevation of the course, planning for faster splits on the flats and slower splits on the hills. I print it off and tape it to the bill of my hat. Knowing what splits you need to hit each mile as well as knowing what the total running time should be after each mile really helps me to stay on track, and keeps me from coming out of the gate too fast with all that adrenaline pumping! Best of luck in NYC.
I should've done A-B-C goals before my first marathon in October!! So here I am making them, retroactive !!!
A goal = qualify for Chicago (check)
B goal = under 3 hours (nope)
C goal = top 10 (ha!)
Thanks Seth!
You are a good person, I hope you can get your PR
Seth if you have cheese cake at Junior’s you can forget the gels 😂 good luck Sunday
Hey Seth you amaze me... How can you handle to do so many tasks..... do you have a production team? Congratulations and have a deserved time!!! from Mexico City...
Third! Unlike Seth who is number one in our books! Go SJD!
It's always a pleasure to watch your Vlogs, I know you will achieve success in the NYC Marathon on Sunday. I am sticking with 2:36:36.
QD: My last marathon I was focused on going out really slow and controlled and picking it up from there. I didn’t get carried away and just kept finding people I felt like were going at the pace I wanted to be going and running with them for short amount of time. I eventually found a man going my ideal race pace and ran with him for about 10 miles until the last 10k. I felt great, so I whipped around him and felt so fast over the course of those last few miles. It would be a 35 minute PR for me! Hoping to recreate a similar strategy this weekend at the Monumental in Indy and PR by going out just a tad bit faster and hoping I’m feeling just as good for the last 10k again! Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!
Good luck!!!Seth
QD: Stone mill 50 miler in Maryland, 2020. Knew the course well, conserved effort where I needed to in order to have energy left for the places I could make good time.
QD: my last race worked out very well! It was a half marathon road race with quite some vertical gain (about 700 ft). It was a stormy day, so the wind and hills made it tricky to pace. I knew the second half would have head wind and the biggest climbs. I also knew that setting a PR would be tough: I am recovering from an accident in summer and lost almost all my fitness there. Preparation for this half marathon was 9 weeks. Very short, but it went very well and I felt confident enough to shoot for that PR.
Because I set my PR in the same race two years ago, I had a schedule to compare to. I practiced some long runs on the course to get a feel for it again. On race day, I set out a bit faster than my PR schedule, because I knew the conditions would make the second half tougher. The first half was strong, the second a battle. But knowing that I was faster than my PR schedule and all I had to do was 'hang on' gave me the mental strength to keep pushing. I ran one second faster than my PR!
So I got my B-goal (PR) and my A-goal: bringing a strong mental game start to finish. I firmly believe that the mental aspect makes all the difference and having a race strategy that helps staying strong mentally is a very powerful thing! Good luck on Sunday Seth, run strong and crush those goals! Conceive, believe, achieve 💪
i learnt to love dried fruit i.e. dried mango and pineapple. very sweet almost like a candy
I know this has nothing to do with anything you discussed here but I just have to say that I love the music selection at the beginning of this video!! Who is this??? I need to look them up!
Let's go Seth.
Good Luck Seth
soon now!
Have a great race!
Please Seth, tell me what is it with you and head torches. Every video I watch you've a head torch on when it's daylight.😂
Good luck Seth! You will crush it.I predict 2.19.35 for you.All the best.👍
Lol. I think that's what I predicted! He's going to do well for sure!
Hope you smash it Seth🏃♂️👍🙏
QoD: My last race was my first event ever over 10k and was a Metric Marathon (26.2k / 16 miles). My strategy was to go steady for first half and then assess at midpoint. It was difficult to slow myself as people raced by me in first few miles. My goals were sub 2.45, sub 2.40, and sub 2.30. My pacing meant I felt good in second half and overtook many of those who raced past at the start and finished in 2.19.58, finishing it top 25% 🙂
QD: Naples 2021 (I was in your vid 😆) had plans to find someone 5-10 seconds slower than my predicted for the first 7 miles, take a gel, and then start pushing. We'll, the first 7 miles went great and I started increasing the pace by 5 seconds each miles for the remainder of the half and ended up running a PR of 1.34.xx. perfect weather, perfect plan, and I felt that I left that race with more to give. I don't like leaving races where I feel trashed at the end. I like to feel like I gave it 95% and not 105%. Gotta chase kids afterwards if you know what I mean 😆.
QD: half marathon in Paris in 2014. I knew that the first half is going to be fairly easy. So I ran with hand break on and saved energy for the second half. My 10k split was still around my 10k PB at the time but I was fit and conditions were perfect. I just went according to the plan and it paid off.
;QD; my last race I stayed on pace from the beginning rather than go out fast. I didn't chase any other runners who passed early. I ended up passing some on the last miles to finish strong..
Colfax 1/2 but made the mistake of being late to my coral so did the bobbing and weaving for the 1st mile. No worries though still had a great time.
Is the ankle flick trick the same movement as pretending to flick dirt back behind you? All the best for your race Seth. You've put in all the hard work. You deserve the reward.
Best of luck Seth.
QD: the last time my strategy played was my last race… it’s been too long… almost two years ago… anyways I did a nice warmup and stretched well… the pre-race was huge… I Had my best race and finished 8th overall… during the race I just kept picking people off as I could and just kept chasing them down till the end… it was poring rain and it was awesome! It was overall strategy of following along to this and a few other vlogs that made a huge difference in my approach to the race…
QD: London Marathon this year. My original goal was sub 3. A couple of months prior to the race I got injured playing football, recovered in time for a bit mountain run, Carnethy Munros in a Day, injured my ankle on that, and only had 5 weeks to recover for London. Going into the race I was greatful to be on the start line and had changed my goal to be a GFA Boston/London qualifying time. I felt good prior to the start so decided to head out at sub 3 pace and see what happened. Though I didn't manage sub 3, I did get a 3.05 which was way within GFA and I finished strong enough to suggest I could have ran faster for those last 10 miles. Was sooooo very happy and had an inner pride due to the fact I was in a bad place mentally only 9 months ago.