This weekend is my first big spring race, so I think Courtney, Mar and Cynthia will forgive me if I depart from today’s Friday Five topic and share my race strategies for the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler.
Even if I can’t count on another perfect race, I can make a plan for a good race.
1. Pace myself. I’m not sure if I can match last year’s finish time, but I’m going to try. I think one key to my PR was my even pacing, so I’m going to focus on that again and make sure I don’t start out too fast.
2. Watch for potholes. My commute takes me over part of the Cherry Blossom route, and while the biggest craters have been patched, there are still uneven places that could trip up a runner. I will try to leave enough space in front of me so I can see the road and dodge any potholes.
3. Soak up the crowd support. One of my favorite things about this race is the crowd support along Independence Avenue, both for mile 1 and mile 5. I plan to soak it up and draw on the energy to get me through Hains Point.
4. Embrace the suck of Hains Point. What’s not to love about three tree-lined miles along the water? I can’t explain it, but I’m not the only one who struggles with Hains Point. If the National Park Service is right and the trees are in bloom, maybe it won’t be so bad this year.
5. Work the countdown. The last mile of the Cherry Blossom course is marked off at 400 meter intervals (1200 to go, 800 to go, 400 to go). I am going to use those signs to try to hold onto my pace and then push on to the finish line.
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For more tips on how to make this year’s Cherry Blossom Ten Miler your best race, check out this post on the Cherry Blossom blog.
Are you racing this weekend?
Hains Point: Love it or hate it?
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Great racing strategies! I am happy the trees will give us a distraction this year. I plan on running Hains Point Saturday morning for 3 easy miles, looking forward to a preview.
I wanted to do that last weekend, but chickened out with the wind!
Love these race strategies! See you in DC!
I think it is universally accepted that we all HATE Hains Point! But yes, the blossoms should help this year. It looks like the weather is going to spectacular! And I have never noticed the final 800, 400, etc. markers–how cool is that?
Good luck!
Those signs really help me through the last mile. I hope to see you at the Expo!
Hains Point seems to get me in every race I run there. Maybe doing some extra training there this cycle will help me. Good luck in the race!
I hope you have a great race! Looking out for potholes is a good one. The roads are a mess and could definitely cause problems for runners. Always good to be aware of your surroundings.
Karen @karenlovestorun
Goodluck in your race this wkend. Sounds like it will be a beautiful course. I will be racing an April Fool’s race in Atlantic City. Hope the weather will be nice.
Should be good weather for you too!
Hains Point – the bane of my MCM experience years ago. I’ve only run Cherry Blossom once, in 2007 I think – I would love to do it again sometime soon!
good luck! I am racing this weekend ! I have a doubleheader this weekend! A 5K thru Legoland at 7 am and then one at Lakeland for the jazz festival at 6:30 pm. Fun, fun!
Oh, wow, that sounds like a busy day! Fun times!
oh yeah potholes are so bad right now! Have a great race looking forward to reading about it. CB is always one of my favorites!
All the best with CB10! Sounds like the weather is going to cooperate for you. I well remember Hans Point from MCM.
oh i didn’t even think about potholes – good tip! hope to see you out there 🙂
Yeah! Cherry Blossom!! Sound like you have a great plan!! I need to work on keeping pace, I always start out too fast-trying to figure out my comfortable race pace. A work in progress for sure.
Good luck!
Good luck. I read your report from last year and you had an incredible race! We went to DC last Spring before the cherry trees bloomed. I would love to see them. Have fun and ENJOY!
Yeah, last year was pretty darn perfect, but this year the blossoms are out!
Have a great race!!
I really wish you were here! 😉
Hope I’m not too late in wishing you luck! I know what you mean about tough to top a perfect previous race. Hope this year’s is just as wonderful!
Hains Point is no fun, but at least you know what to expect. Have a great race tomorrow!
Best of luck!!! Sounds like it should be an awesome race for you. 🙂