Chances are you’ve made the same mistake of going out too fast in a race like the marathon and ended up paying the price later. Maybe the hype of the crowd gets you moving or pre-race butterflies push you to pass runners sooner than expected. Whatever the cause, it’s very easy to get caught up in a pace that’s too quick. But it makes for a much harder effort down the line.
To learn how to hone a smarter race strategy in the early kilometres, Runner’s World spoke to two coaches who guide athletes in events ranging from cross-country races all the way up to the marathon. Here’s the advice they share with their athletes.
Use the Beginning as an IcebreakerRaul Arcos, an elite marathoner and coach who founded Running Lobos, encourages his athletes to think of the first five kilometres of a marathon as an “icebreaker,” meaning use the early section of the race to gauge the competition and how you’re feeling. “Know who …