Did what could be my last training run today at lunch, 6.5 km at race pace of 5:40 per km. It went well.
I ran with my Garmin and set the training partner for distance and pace - it then gives you a reading as to how many metres in front or behind your goal pace you are. I've decided that I'm going to use this method for tracking my pace during the marathon and not my heart rate monitor/stop watch combo. I'm also going to print out a little pace chart so I can check my splits every 5km to make sure my Garmin hasn't gone haywire.
After doing a little reading, I've decided against the heart monitor because it's likely my heart rate will be artifically elevated, especially early in the race, due to adrenlaine. If I use it to guide my pace, I'm likely to end out going out too slow or too fast because the reading won't be the same as training. The Garmin isn't perfect, but I think it's the best choice.
It was only about 4 degrees today - the same temperature as they are projecting for race day - so it gave me a chance to try out my gear set up. I wore a long sleeve MEC biking jersey (I like the cut, the pockets and the zippered neck) with my Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon Technical T from Adidas over top. MEC tights and shorts. MEC headband with ear covers and Running Room gloves. The final verdict: too hot.
The tricky thing is that it will likely be cool at the start and then heat up by mid-morning and I will be heating up too. I think I will wear my zippered MPG t-shirt (it has a small pocket too) with my bike arm warmers. That way I can peel them off if I get hot. It's the combo I used on two of my long runs. I'll wear tights with shorts over top, just so the running masses don't have see me in all my tighted glory...
I also picked up some cheap stretchy gloves and a $1 ear warmer headband that I'll stretch over my hat for the only going, then discard it when I get hot. Ditto with the gloves. I also picked up a new pair of Sony headphones because my old ones have been cutting in and out on my last few runs. Reliable tunes are second only to shoes (and probably shorts) in terms of importance.
My last Spec column runs in the Sports section tomorrow and it outlines my goals for the race. I'll link to it tomorrow.
I might run once more Thursday, it depends how I feel. I'm tempted to just rest up for the last four days and save it all for race day...
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