farfromfearless
Last Minute Question: Where Should I Start In The Pack?
This has only just occurred to me, and Googling it has opened my eyes a bit. I figured I would just start in the middle of the pack tomorrow and see how it went from there - a balance between starting too near the front and then being passed all morning, or too far at the back and getting lost in the masses.
However, reading about this I’ve found that in bigger races, starting midpack can mean as much as 1-3 minutes will have passed before you even reach the start line! I mean, I can’t have that - that’ll completely butcher my exepectations in a race of this length.
I’ve been looking at the results for the past two years and if I can run sub 24-minutes I will finish in the top 100 overall. If I can run sub 23 I have half a chance of reaching the podium in my age group (35-39). I mean, that’d be great, but I’m a realist about all this. However, if 3000 people show up (as expected) and I place in the top 100, I need to be running right at the front. That’s the top three per cent!
It sounds a bit mad, but you have to consider the people that make up a race of this kind. It’s a bit of a novelty race as it is (albeit one taken seriously by many) and any large race has X amount of first-timers, children, old folk, etc. Quite a few people take an hour or more to finish a race of this length.
So, I’m thinking: it’s better to be passed for 20 minutes by all and sundry instead of getting lost in the throng and ending up running 27+, right? I need to start right at the front and take my chances.
Or am I being crazy?
9 people have left comments
Andrew is getting fit said:
Get as close to the front as you can. Trust me. Huge crowds are a pain in the proverbial.
Spartan7 said:
Get next to the dudes from Kenya and stay right by them!
OK, I’m a realist also. If it is not a chip timed race (which many 5K’s are still not) then I’d say to get as close to the front as possible.
Never underestimate the old people. I had a 72 year old man draft me through 2.5 miles of a 4 mile race in 2001. Even though I won my age group and he won his, that bugger passed me and by mile 3 I knew I could not catch him that day.
Shéamus said:
It is chip timed - I think the race is quite a big deal, to be honest. But how does that help? Does the chip only start when you pass the start line? (As opposed to when the gun actually goes off.)
I’d still rather be in the thick of it, as opposed to waiting until after the race to see whether I beat a guy who actually finished 2-3 minutes before me. 
I think the front it is!
Spartan7 said:
If the race is set up right, and it sounds like it will be, then yes. The chip will record when you cross over the start pad and when you return/cross the finish pad.
Then you can start in a group at your or slightly above your pace, if there are signs up for placing people like that.
If all else fails, get next to the dudes from Kenya and stay right by them!
eric said:
Hey man, I was just curious how you show your garmin training page in your blog? neat feature. thanks
Rahn said:
Hey, wait until you start doing races with 30,000+ people. It could easily take over a 1/2 hour to get to the starting line.
And yes, the your chip time is from crossing the starting mat to the finishing mat.
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