| Previous topic :: Next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 9:29 am Subject: First Inline Marathon |
 |
|
So, it's on to my first ever inline marathon in May. I don't think my fitness 'n' stuff is gonna improve to any major extent before May, but I'm sure I'm missing a lot of the race etiquette.
Can any you guys 'n' gals throw a few tips my way such as 'do this' or 'don't do' that. Start slow/fast, expect to come last and so on.
Being a 'one-man-skate-team'  .. is it OK to join the pace line (slip stream?) of others?
Any advice taken with much appreciation
Thanks people. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Rick
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 5914
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:04 am Subject: |
|
|
PM sent. It's a lot so absorb for one race so you won't make the right decisions first time or in good time but it should help to you recognise the situation and take the right course of action.
First race is all about finishing. Then you have a benchmark for your next one. Try to enjoy it or you may not come back for more. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 12:06 pm Subject: |
|
|
| Rick wrote: |
PM sent. It's a lot so absorb for one race so you won't make the right decisions first time or in good time but it should help to you recognise the situation and take the right course of action.
First race is all about finishing. Then you have a benchmark for your next one. Try to enjoy it or you may not come back for more. |
Excellent, just about covers everything I was concerned about.
Cheers Rick.
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 227
Location: London
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:36 am Subject: |
|
|
| Is it LIM you are talking about? If so, there are still 7 weeks to go which is plenty of time to increase your weekly milelage and improve your fitness. As Rick says, first marathon just make sure you enjoy the experience, though I find key to this is ensuring that you are in decent enough shape to skate the distance without killing yourself. I find streetskates are NOT good preparation for skating a marathon, as you never skate for more than a few minutes at a time before stopping where you can catch you breath back, whereas you are not afforded this luxury in a marathon. Best just to skate continuously up and down serp rd (or whereever) to improve your conditioning. Pacelining helps immensely with energy conservation, and if you can manage to get in one for some of your first marathon I'd say you were well ahead of most other marathon virgins, but don't beat yourself up if you don't, because as said your primary aim is to enjoy yourself and finish. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merten
Joined: 05 Oct 2004
Posts: 1376
Location: Hamburg, N. Germany
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:29 pm Subject: |
|
|
This is quite a good read about outdoor racing: http://www.inlineplanet.com/2006-03/16-guideintro.html
The categories bit is for US skaters, but the points about race dynamics and pacelining (!) are very helpful to start. Having some of this in mind will also help make it an enjoyable first marathon, and keep you and the others safe out there.
Enjoy! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:46 pm Subject: |
|
|
| Van wrote: |
| Is it LIM you are talking about? If so, there are still 7 weeks to go which is plenty of time to increase your weekly milelage and improve your fitness. As Rick says, first marathon just make sure you enjoy the experience, though I find key to this is ensuring that you are in decent enough shape to skate the distance without killing yourself. I find streetskates are NOT good preparation for skating a marathon, as you never skate for more than a few minutes at a time before stopping where you can catch you breath back, whereas you are not afforded this luxury in a marathon. Best just to skate continuously up and down serp rd (or whereever) to improve your conditioning. Pacelining helps immensely with energy conservation, and if you can manage to get in one for some of your first marathon I'd say you were well ahead of most other marathon virgins, but don't beat yourself up if you don't, because as said your primary aim is to enjoy yourself and finish. |
Cheers Van.
Yes I am taking part in the London Inline Marathon on May 23. I'm hoping to, just as you say, enjoy the experience and possibly pick up a few tips from you guys for next time
I'm trying to fit in a few longish skates although mainly on cycle paths which, in this area, are not ideal for skating. I'm also hoping to get a workout on the Preston UCL cycle track this month.
The paceline stuff will have to be a 'do I feel confident/fit enough' thing on the day. As a friend of mine said when I told him about my plans, 'that should be interesting'
Finishing will do me just fine.
Thanks again Van
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:52 pm Subject: |
|
|
| merten wrote: |
This is quite a good read about outdoor racing: http://www.inlineplanet.com/2006-03/16-guideintro.html
The categories bit is for US skaters, but the points about race dynamics and pacelining (!) are very helpful to start. Having some of this in mind will also help make it an enjoyable first marathon, and keep you and the others safe out there.
Enjoy! |
Great article, thanks merten.
Your last line is one area that was of concern. I would hate to mess up and take another skater with me so I'll be trying hard to keep my mistakes to myself
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
merten
Joined: 05 Oct 2004
Posts: 1376
Location: Hamburg, N. Germany
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:21 pm Subject: |
|
|
Don't worry - and do not feel put off by it. A chasing paceline is a group that works together to achieve a common goal, which is usually to reduce the time that is lost as much as possible. So speak to each other, help you along, and it will benefit everybody.
Note this does not count for any pacelines where podiums are given, or close to the finish, where all rules might very suddenly change, but not necessarily so. Often working together in a marathon can end up in exchanging details and further contact or even friendships. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 227
Location: London
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:07 am Subject: |
|
|
Great stuff. Like you this will be my first visit to LIM for a marathon, although I've done a few others before (don't have nearly as much experience as Rick or Merten I imagine). I scouted it at the weekend and did a few laps. The bad news is that it's a twisty, knackery, windswept circuit, and you'll have to do 28 laps that will make your head spin. The good news is that being such a short circuit, it should be easy to find a paceline to join onto as everyone will be in close proximity, albeit on differing laps. Just make sure you pace yourself- LIM has a reputation for being quite tough as far a marathons go (much harder than eg Berlin) and it's easy to set out too fast, blow up and not finish the distance.
Good luck, and hopefully we'll see you at the start (and finish) line! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Howard
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 335
Location: W2 now init.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:30 am Subject: |
|
|
| Van wrote: |
| it's easy to set out too fast, blow up and not finish the distance |
It's also easy to forget what lap you are on. Make sure you count them yourself |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:39 am Subject: |
|
|
| Van wrote: |
Great stuff. Like you this will be my first visit to LIM for a marathon, although I've done a few others before (don't have nearly as much experience as Rick or Merten I imagine). I scouted it at the weekend and did a few laps. The bad news is that it's a twisty, knackery, windswept circuit, and you'll have to do 28 laps that will make your head spin. The good news is that being such a short circuit, it should be easy to find a paceline to join onto as everyone will be in close proximity, albeit on differing laps. Just make sure you pace yourself- LIM has a reputation for being quite tough as far a marathons go (much harder than eg Berlin) and it's easy to set out too fast, blow up and not finish the distance.
Good luck, and hopefully we'll see you at the start (and finish) line! |
Thanks Van, I won't get to experience the circuit 'till the day before the marathon, when, I'm hoping, I may get to ride a couple of laps.
Sounds like it's going to be erm.. different (fun), look forward to seeing you guys there
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:41 am Subject: |
|
|
| merten wrote: |
| Often working together in a marathon can end up in exchanging details and further contact or even friendships. |
Sounds great, looking forward to it 
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ConeKicker
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Southport, NW UK
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:46 am Subject: |
|
|
| Howard wrote: |
It's also easy to forget what lap you are on. Make sure you count them yourself |
I've tried hitting my watch lap counter 'race fashion' here where I live. I've found I forget to 'hit the button' on many dummy laps
I'm bringing my partner along for support and told her she will have to hold up a big white card with my lap number (boxing match style) each time I pass. She was not impressed so I guess I'll be thinking again
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 5914
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 3:58 pm Subject: |
|
|
There are quite a few different methods for keeping track. If you can do mental arithmatic and you keep consistent lap times you can divide your lap time into the amount of time the race has been on to work out your lap number.
If you can identify the leaders and know when they go past your you can add the number of times you have been lapped + 1 to the laps remaining on the lap board to work out your total remaining. Then when the lap board reaches zero you need to start counting down. Lap board is flipped when the leader passes.
Often a good idea to to a "safety" where you skate one more lap than you think you need to.
Don't rely on asking others around you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Howard
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 335
Location: W2 now init.
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:29 pm Subject: |
|
|
| Rick wrote: |
Often a good idea to to a "safety" where you skate one more lap than you think you need to.
Don't rely on asking others around you. |
Yup. Do a warm down lap. Then do another  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search 
Memberlist 
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
