If you're smart...

you know it is way too early in your BSIM training to think about race strategy. However, if you are like me, then read on.

I have completed three BSIMs (since we know Griz is smart, and he is no longer reading this, I don't need to think about him smirking just now). I decided to look at my splits for each race as a percentage of my overall pace, mile by mile. So, for example, you can see that each year I went out pretty fast for the first mile, then was pretty close to my overall pace in the second mile.

Some other observations:

- Miles 3 and 4 are messed up. Everyone complains that mile 3 is short and 4 is long. You can see that I agree.

- Mile 9, the little climb before Hurricane Point is tough. In '08 the wind was nasty here and I really worked hard.

- Hurricane Point (miles 11 & 12). The first mile is about a 6% grade and deserves your respect, but the second mile of the climb is not nearly as steep and you can pick it up a lot.

- Miles 13-21. I have tended to be aggressive here, maybe too aggressive in '08 since I slowed a lot over the last 5.2 miles that year. My goal for '10 is to run this section closer to my target pace.

- Mile 26. Damn Ribera Road.

I would be very surprised if Mile 3 & 4 are messed up distance wise.  This is a certified course and I am pretty sure they wheel it every few years, if not every year.  Keep in mind Mile 3 has a fair amount of downhill, which would account for the lower split time.  Mile 4 is flat with I think a slight incline towards the end,,, he says with little confidence which would account for a slower split time.

Hello,

Due to life complications I'm not running big sur this year (trust me I will be back) but I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms so I will kibbitz a little bit and live vicariously through you guys until next year.

But I'm agreeing with Grizz here.  (I usually do except when it comes to post race beverages. . . He likes beer and I prefer scotch)

I'd add a couple additional explanations.  Especially if you start from the back the course is somewhat crowded in the first two miles so fast mile 3's are likely the reasons I think this happens:

fast mile three

1) course opens up as the field spreads out.

2) Downhill

3) Lots of crowd support in the village

'slow mile 4

1) uphill at times

2) no crowd support and the dawning realization that you are going to be running for quite some time.

3) aid stop

good luck everybody

Bob,

AKA foggydoggy of "Shuffling Through Paradise.  I may blog abit the next couple months too.

Shit.  Foggy's out.  Now what?  Who's gonna lead the charge "Whiskey for my horses!  Beer for my men!"?

Bob: Put yourself first and you'll somehow finish with the rest of us.  Hang tough; hurry back.

Quote:

Hello,

Due to life complications I'm not running big sur this year (trust me I will be back) but I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms so I will kibbitz a little bit and live vicariously through you guys until next year.

But I'm agreeing with Grizz here.  (I usually do except when it comes to post race beverages. . . He likes beer and I prefer scotch)

 Wow that is a major disappointment, but life happens...  Actually I did do a post race Scotch drill, got buzzed up so quick, and fell asleep, I missed most of the party Plus one of the Grizzled Vets has an in with Hoppy Brewery in Sacramento, and that is a really great adult beverage.  Two Hoppys and I become quite the social butterfly

I was worried about pacing issues rather than post celebration beverage selection strategy.

My mile splits from '08,

OK I went out fast, but I felt I nailed my pace after that...

So I'm not convinced -- No way I ran a 5:54

1 6:08

2 6:37

3 5:54

4 7:10

5 6:41

6 6:36

7 6:40

8 6:44

What are you using to measure your time?

Well it is has this round flat part with marks on it and this triangle that sticks up out of the face - and if i stand real still, at just the right, spot I can get the sun to cast a shadow...

Sorry.

I'm not meaning to raise an issue with the race. I know it is a certified course and I know that means the length of the course is verified. I don't know if that means the mile splits are correctly placed. I have run the race three times and noticed the same trend with my splits three times.

So I think they goofed on the location of the location of that mile marker.

I run with a garmin and I press the lap button for each split. some may be a little long or short based on the error of the device or, having to run around other people (extra distance), or me forgetting to press the button on time.

Here are my splits with what my watch thought the distance was for each lap (this is one year, other I have are the same). Note the one or two percent error on most laps and the almost order of magnitude difference in error for those laps.

Also note how different my pace is than the splits I listed...

I can pretty much guarantee the mile markers are placed correctly.  The mile markers are painted on the road and have been there for years.  And they were there the week before, in the right place, as I had stopped at it and my odometer was right on.

I remember many years ago, they rewheeled the course and had to make some minor adjustments on a couple of the mile markers.  But I don't think three was one of them, I believe they were up in the teens.  I also think each mile is verified by the USATF as part of the certification.

Mile 3 is still downhill, and Mile 4 has some rolling and up in it, so it doesn't surprise me to see Mile 3 faster, and Mile 4 slower.  Many moons ago I tracked every mile, I will see if I can find it, and I will bet my Mile 3 is faster and Mile 4 is slower.

I stumbled across this post - http://www.runningandrambling.com/2009/04/big-sur-marathon-race-report.html  Shows the 3 mile marker just a few feet past the actual white line that is painted on the road.