Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon : Official Thread (Page 5)

I am wishing a HUGE turnout.  Detroit need this!







No thats a good joke.  I am hoping you admit you wait 51 to run the mary (which means you are planning to run mary next year!)

Ah. I get it. Now. I'm not sure about next year.  I think I'm doing the Cedar Point HIM, or maybe steelhead HIM. After that, maybe I could run the full mary. I hope so.

Yep

Pace Teams: For the benefit of marathon participants, pace teams are led by experienced pacers for a wide variety of times, including many of the Boston Marathon qualifying standards. The pace team promises to provide fun and excitement for both first-timers and experienced marathon runners looking to reach a particular running goal, whether it’s a personal best or just getting across the finish line. We hope you will find this support useful as you strive to achieve your goals. The new start waves line up runners by pace and the Pacer Teams will line up in their time appropriate waves at the Marathon start. The pace team is designed to provide you with a means of keeping track of your progress throughout the race. However, it is still your race, and you should run it according to how you feel — use the pace group as a guide. While the pace leaders will maintain per-mile average pace, the first one or two miles may be a bit slower until the field thins out. Don’t worry, these experienced marathon runners will do their job to keep you on pace. There is even a ?Last Chance Pacer? with the four-hour half marathon group and the 6:30 marathon group, right in front of the ?Weary Wagon? (straggler bus). Sign up for pace-team assistance for free at the Health and Fitness Expo. Look for the “Pacer Teams” booth. Our pacers will be on duty to answer all your questions."

The website http://www.freepmarathon.com
Has answers to a lot of common questions under the other-things-to-know/runners-final-instructions
section


Edited by spartn1 2009-10-09 1:31 PM

They've been quite good the last two years.  As I recall Bally's sponsors and supports them.  The nice part is, is that the 8:00, 8:15 & 8:30 MM pace packs have not been huge.  I tried to hang with the 8:15 pack at RNR Chicago this year and the group was too big at first so I ran ahead at about 8:00s (which proved to be too fast after about mile 9) until the pack came back to me.  I finished with the 8:15 pacer (dead on pace) with about only 10 other runners. 

As for flags, its up to the pacer.  Some do carry the pace & projected finish time on a stick, I've seen other with a balloon.  The Ballys crew had the pace and projected finish tome on a sign on their back. 

For Detroit, I am thinking I'd like to try again to maintain 8:00s for the 1/2 and am going to sek out this group.  I may go ahead a bit or let them come to me depending on how I am feeling. 

The one other issue with Detroit is they typically have not marshalled the starting corrals all that well so finding the pace group you desire might not be all that easy.  BUT, with wave starts this year I do suspect it will be better than the past.

I will be running with the 8:00 pace group...shooting for a 3:30 or better. Let me know if you are in that group of people I will keep an eye out for you. I usually don't sign up for them, just tag along so that at the half if I am feeling good I can do my own thing.

I'd love to be in the 8 something group but will realistically be somewhere between 9:15 and 10:15 pace per mile.  Everything after 19 will be a first for me.

So, the long range forecast says rainy and 53.  Do you folks dress any different when it's a rainy day?  I tend to dress for the temperature, not the weather, but I don't know what I'm doing either.

Lots of Vasoline on the toes & feet if there is rain and extra Body Glide everywhere else.  I've raced in the rain lots and the chaffing (to be frank) is the worse part. 

I am solely relying on the pace group.  I will be doing 10.15-10:45mm (4:30 - 4:45 group) depends on how I feel that day. 

If you are using Vaseline or body glide as Aero mentioned, I would say try to run with it BEFORE the marathon and see how it goes.  I remember someone told me the rule of thumb is not to try anything new at the race day.

Looks like the weather forecast has changed. Weather.com is saying 53F and Sunny. Probably will be a bit cooler in the morning, but as of right now they are saying 0% chance of rain!!

No, more like a coat check of sorts.  If you have gear that you'd like after the race, you can use your race packet bag to check it in near the start/finish line.  A tag on your bib allows you to pick it up after the race.  NEVER check valuables, just sweats, food, etc as there is a chance that mix ups may occur.  I do not check a bag.  You'll get a mylar blanket at the finish to stay warm if you are waiting or watching for others.

Got it. Thanks. How about staying warm before the race?  Someplace I read that the best way is to wear old clothes and throw them away at the start. or strip them off in layers as you go.

I did a slow 7 mile run yesterday afternoon with a ss tech shirt and shorts.  I was freezing for the first mile, then my legs warmed up.  My hands and arms were very cold.  After mile 4 my hands were fine and my arms were mostly numb/warm.  I still have no Idea what to wear.  It's going to be 32 degrees Saturday night so it'll be cold!

My plan is to wear shorts, a long sleeve tech shirt and :nerd: compression socks.  To keep warm beforehand I'll have on anold log sleeve shirt that I'll strip right before the gun (they gather, clean & donate what is left throughout the race).  I also cust off a sleeve of an old shirt as a make shift hat to insulate my baldness and pitch it when warm.  Finally, I'll have a trash bag in hand that can become a jacket, warming skirt or both in case the wind picks up before the start.  Having the choice to run colder or warmer, I'll take a bit colder anytime.

^^^ I like that plan... well... except for the hat.

SOLD OUT!!  I just got this facebook update.  The half marathon is now full and it looks like the full marathon will be closed at any moment now...

Based on how I feel right now, I am thinking I'll drop back to the 8:15 group and try and run negative splits the last 4 miles and try and come in under my PR of 1:49.  If I bounce up to the 8:00 crew, I am a short guy (5'6") and will be wearing compression socks and shorts (which is an obvious sign that I am over 40 and no longer care what I look like racing - what have I become?).  My BIB # is 11735. 

Ok.  Compression socks.  I assume black?   You shouldn't be hard to find.   Although I plan on starting with the 8 min group and slow drop time.  Well, that's the plan, anyway.

My friend and I are staying in Greektown Saturday, will probably head to the expo just after 3 (after the MSU game)  We'd be happy to meet folks at the expo or for dinner somewhere downtown.

I don't even know what the expo is? I was going to pickup my stuff and go. Time will be short.

Jamie and I are staying at the RenCen.  We probably won't get there until around 3:30 or 4.  Our plan was to go to the Expo for packet pickup, and then check out the pasta dinner at the RenCen.