Sprint into the finish

I did for one this year just because another guy was close ahead of me. He picked it up so I did too. As I came along side he went full sprint, so I did too. We weren't even in the same age group. He beat me by 1/2 a step. It was a fun way to finish and we high fived after crossing the line and said "good job" etc.

At my most recent race there was no one else close. I picked up the pace for the finish, but nowhere near a sprint.

I did in my last sprint... although I don't know if it was an all out sprint. At the time in my head it was.

Good thing I did because evidently there was someone in my AG right behind me who ended up finishing 8 seconds after me. I could have lost 3rd place in my AG right there. I didn't even know she was there.

It certainly feels like a sprint

You inspired me to check out the Garmin data from my last tri. The recorded pace erratic, but the heart rate chart shows the increase in effort.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/173138144

As my high-school cross country coach preached, he didn't want to see anyone sprinting to the finish.  His point being that if the race was paced correctly, we would be on empty by the time we hit the line.

So that being drilled into me, I typically go harder than I should during the race and then struggle to maintain, sometimes resulting in epic blow-ups and sometimes hanging on.  I would definately say that I don't have a sprint finish so if someone is close to me as we get close to the line, they will pass.  That doesn't mean that I won't push the final 1/2 mile or final 1/4 mile with what I have left but my pace doesn't pick up by more than 1min per mile for the last 100 or so yards.

For me the thought of sprinting (or kick) to the finish is pretty irrelevant.  If its a 5/10K road race or a sprint/oly tri, I'm pretty much going all out anyway so there really is no "sprint".  In longer races I try to pace myself such that the last few miles are gradually ramp'ed up anyway so that by the last 1000K or so I'm already at my max output, so again no real "sprint" at the end.  

For me, If I'm running (arbitrary numbers) my last mile at 7:00 pace, and I'm able to "sprint" the last 100 meters are 6:30 pace then I didn't pace my race too well.

This is me.  I can't imagine anything close to a true sprint at the end of any race.  Pick it up and make sure you've left it all out there, sure, but that shouldn't really amount to much more than a moderate increase as you're coming down the chute.  I think if you can muster anything more than that, you maybe should have hit it harder earlier on.

I don't...  In general, I'm at my limit when I'm getting to the end and can't push any more.  I have been passed a couple times and just say, well, they either wanted it more, or had just a little extra in the tank.

I always ask my self that last 1/4 mile, "can I go faster?", and usually, the answer is no.

As for IM distances.  I'm even slower.  My last one, I stopped to a walk for the last 100 yards to soak it in!  Getting 12:20 instead of 12:21 to by blury-eyed straining to cross a finish line instead of savoring the cheers, the crowd, my name getting called?  60 seconds is a small price to pay for that.

ETA: BUT, the story my change if I was at 11:59.  I may sprint to break the 12 hr mark.

In a sprint or OLY sure I probably might pick it up a bit.  Get those few seconds if you can...  but longer races not so much.  In fact I just posted this in the IMCdA group... Sorta fits here...

I did CdA last year as my first IM and loved it.  I have been lurking in the forum this year and just wanted to stop in to wish you all the best of luck.

I also wanted to give a little advice.  When I turned down Sherman avenue it was one the the best feelings of the day.  It was just starting to get dark and the lights were like a landing strip leading you to the glowing finish at the end of the road (what is that about a 1/4 mile maybe?)  The crowds were cheering us all on.  I had a big gap between me and the racer in front and behind me so I was essentially racing alone.

That pumps you up BIG time.  So I started running faster.  And faster, and faster.  By the time I crossed the line I was almost at a full sprint.

Don't do this (unless of course you are trying to PR or go for a Kona slot)!  I got so caught up in the moment I almost missed my name being called and the "you are an Ironman" announcement.

I did not see my wife and family in the crowds until after I had crossed the line.  I did not get to make eye contact with the people cheering me on.  I did not SAVOR the moment.

Take time to enjoy it.  After 14 hours of suffering an extra 1 min would not have made any difference to my time.  But it would have made a HUGE difference to how I remember the event.

I loved my experience there and had a great day and was a highlight of my tri career to date.  But if I had to do it all over I would have taken more time to enjoy and soak in that last 1/4 mile. 

Good luck everyone.  Have a great race!