3.1 Miles

I ran in a 3.1 mile race today. Actually they said it was 3.11 miles. So instead of a 5,000 meter race I figure it was 5,016 meters. Seems like they could have made an adjustment there. Normally no big deal, but I was a little tired at the end. I would have appreciated 16 fewer meters. But it was fine. I didn't really work all that hard at it. I could have gone faster. Not a lot faster, but faster. However, your speed and how well you feel are inversely proportional, so I think I set the right pace. I plodded along at 10 minutes per mile. In my wonder years I could have done it in half the time. My faster self would be embarrassed by my now slower self, but that's the way it goes. However, not wanting to brag, but I was awarded a participant ribbon after finishing.

During the first mile I was exchanging places with a guy who would run fast for a while and then would walk. That isn't a good strategy. Young kids will do that. He should have known better. We exchanged places for a while, then I left him behind for good. I'll tell you where that strategy does work though. I played a video game once where you competed in the decathlon. One of the events was the 400 meter run. One lap around the track. You made your guy run by hitting the controller button as fast as you could. I found a good strategy. Run as hard as you can for the first half and then just stop and rest until second place catches up to you. Then run as hard as you can the rest of the way. I won every time. That was a design flaw in the game. I don't think that would work well for you in a real race.

Here is another place where the speed up/slow down strategy works. I heard about it someplace. You're driving and you're almost out of gas. It's late at night and you've got to make it to a gas station. Here's how to get the most distance out of what you have left. Speed up to 40 mph and then turn the car off and coast to a stop. Repeat that over and over. That gets you the farthest (or maybe furthest). Normally that is not a good driving technique. If you try that during the day with other cars around, it might tick them off. I could see a drive by shooting perhaps. So only do that if you are desperate to make it to a gas station. Better yet, check your gas gauge before you leave and don't get into that situation in the first place.