57 replies to this topic

[AthleticLisa]

Hi Everyone,

Well how exciting.. its only 12 days to go and counting. I bet im not the only one dreading the freezing cold 6am start. This is my first race EVER and im doing the Half, but i have no idea of what to wear on race day. Should i wear shorts and singlet, or shorts and t-shirt, or are people wearing long running leggins. I have never been on the gold coast on a winters morning at 6am so i have no idea how cold it will be.. I also never train in the mornings so i cant go by what i wear in training...

[rohan]

so get up early and do some runs at that time to figure what clothing you find works.

It'll also help teach you what food you want in your stomach at that time of the day before running.

It'll also teach you what bowel evacuation rituals/procedures you want to implement.

Training doesn't just involve running. It involves replicating some of the race conditions.

[blair]

Once warmed up you won't need any more than  a singlet and shorts. But before the start it will be cold. I would suggest buying a cheap jumper from Vinnies and then discarding it at the start line

[henryjoseph]

I have no experience with Gold Coast at 6am, but I would imagine that singlet and shorts would be enough... But, choose your race day outfit now (as it seems you are doing) and then (as rohan suggests) get out there and do a number of practice runs in the exact clothes you'll be wearing. Work out now whether they are comfy, will chafe, will last 21kms, etc.

The tips about doing these runs at a similar time (6am), and with the same food/drink before/during/after the race, are good too.

"As they say, you don't want any suprises on race day"

Good luck!

[undercover brother]

your coolrunning gear!

[blair]

Wasn't it decided that CR gear is uncool?

[AthleticLisa]

Damm.. i was hoping i wouldnt have to get up early other than race day!!

But the advice is good and i know that i should be practicing and "replicating" the race as much as i can so there are "no surprises" come race day.
I have my pre race meal down pat. But Rohan's 3rd sentence has me a bit worried lol..

Blairs advice is good, although im not sure about the vinnies jumper lol. I might have to look at what jumpers i have at home which i dont mind throwing out.

a couple of months ago i went for an early morning run for approx 10kms. It was very cold and an icy wind. I wore shorts, singlet, and a nike dri fit zip up jacket. I really needed the jacket for the first 4k and after that the run was comfortable but it was only 10k, any longer and i would have been wanting to take it off.
I think that first few klms will be uncomfortable but then it should be fine.

Thanks everyone for replying. I hope everyone who is running has a great run!

[SirPlod]

henryjoseph, on 21 June 2011 - 12:28 PM, said:

I have no experience with Gold Coast at 6am, but I would imagine that singlet and shorts would be enough... But, choose your race day outfit now (as it seems you are doing) and then (as rohan suggests) get out there and do a number of practice runs in the exact clothes you'll be wearing. Work out now whether they are comfy, will chafe, will last 21kms, etc.

The tips about doing these runs at a similar time (6am), and with the same food/drink before/during/after the race, are good too.

"As they say, you don't want any suprises on race day"

Good luck!

Best advice ever!

For my first half, I knew I had to make sure I had tried and tested shorts/socks/shoes, so I made sure I trained in those, but I didn’t even think a shirt would pose a problem, so I had a nice new one for the half… stupid mistake.

A rough bit of stitching on the inside sleeve of my shirt which I didn’t even notice, ended up chafing the hell out of my left bicep, and by the end of the race, I looked like I’d been attacked with a belt–sander!

I sometimes run with bonds socks that have "bonds" sort of embossed along the sole of the foot. Not a problem during a 5km, or even a 7km. Once wore them on at 18km run and they mercilessly left me with blisters that... actually, I don't want to talk about it... it's too traumatic...  

It’s amazing that what does not affect you at shorter distances can really bite you the further you run. For example – any runs over 10km, I have to put band-aids over my nipples. I’ve not experienced childbirth, but having held my wife’s hand through it twice, I am certain that running-induced-bleeding-nipples is worse! (she might beg to differ)

Anywayyyyy, amongst all my waffle, I do have a my point: I think it’s more important to wear what works for you in training than it is to worry about the potential cold – you’ll only be cold until about 1km into the race...

[Unlikelyrunner]

Last 2 years it was cold at 6am on the coast. Last year was especially cold (baltic)

[slowmo]

blair, on 21 June 2011 - 12:53 PM, said:

Wasn't it decided that CR gear is uncool?

Pfftt... Cool is a relative term. Is CR gear more uncool than this ?



slowmo

[Lranger]

It has been quite cold and dark here in the mornings so getting out of a warm bed in the mornings for a long run is getting harder by the day!You should try and do at least a couple of mornings before the race just to get your body (and mind) ready for the shock of running on legs that have been in bed still for probably eight hours as This can have a huge impact on your mental game for those first few k's! I think a light weight running T or singlet and shorts will be fine and just get a jumper from a two dollar shop for the pre start and keeping in mind you will be huddled amongst lots of other runners so you should be ok.
Good luck!

[southy]

I quite often pack a selection of varying weights of gear in my sports bag so that if I get out to the start & the weather turns unexpected then I can dart behind a tree or bush and change.
I take a singlet, tshirt, ls old top, plus tights, shorts & 3/4 tights.
That way I can change if the weather turns really foul (or hot).
An old ls tshirt would be useful at the start, sometimes if its really cold I take a ls tshirt and tie it around my waist (or throw it off) on the course. Sometimes I leave it a the start and if I have a support person there they will collexct it for me after the race takes off.
Also huddle in close to others if its cold. It really helps.

[KnockoutMouse]

Very good advice above.

I would also add that having looked at the long range rain probability, the Gold Coast area on the 3rd of July will be in the middle of a 5 day "high probability" rainfall period.  

If it does rain, it won't affect my choice of gear, but others may think differently...

[AthleticLisa]

KnockoutMouse, on 21 June 2011 - 02:03 PM, said:

Very good advice above.

I would also add that having looked at the long range rain probability, the Gold Coast area on the 3rd of July will be in the middle of a 5 day "high probability" rainfall period.  

If it does rain, it won't affect my choice of gear, but others may think differently...

Dont tell me that!! Rain is probably the ONE thing that may make me pull out of the race....

If its a sprinkle.. not so bad but if its heavy.. forget it!

[Tongey]

Shorts and a singlet will be fine after you have done a warm up. Standing amongst a few thousand people at the start line will be warm enough and once you are running you won't even notice the temperature, except maybe your hands.

For the SMH 1/2 marathon in May (it was about 9 degrees) my wife bought me some cheap thin woollen gloves and on race day I wore them in the race until my hands warmed up, which was about 8km, then I threw them away. My wife told me later that they cost $2 and were girls gloves, not that I could tell!

Based on averages, the temperature on the Gold Coast looks like being about 10 degrees at that time of the morning - that's a pretty good temperature for running, unless you come from far north QLD, in which case it might be freezing.

[KnockoutMouse]

AthleticLisa, on 21 June 2011 - 02:55 PM, said:

Dont tell me that!! Rain is probably the ONE thing that may make me pull out of the race....

If its a sprinkle.. not so bad but if its heavy.. forget it!

Well, I take tomorrow's forecast with a grain of salt.  Double so for long-range ones

It pays to be prepared, though.

[Lranger]

Rain just makes it more interesting! I dont mind running in the rain(I actually quite enjoy it!)just wear a visor to keep it out of your eyes and keep some dry spare socks in a bag in you pocket.

[blair]

AthleticLisa, on 21 June 2011 - 01:11 PM, said:

Blairs advice is good, although im not sure about the vinnies jumper lol. I might have to look at what jumpers i have at home which i dont mind throwing out.

What's wrong with Vinnies? By buying from Vinnies you are helping out a charity and when you discard the jumper it will most likely end up back at Vinnies so you are helping them twice.

slowmo, on 21 June 2011 - 01:39 PM, said:

Pfftt... Cool is a relative term. Is CR gear more uncool than this ?

Slowmo, you have always redefined cool

[Bellthorpe]

AthleticLisa, on 21 June 2011 - 02:55 PM, said:

Dont tell me that!! Rain is probably the ONE thing that may make me pull out of the race....

If its a sprinkle.. not so bad but if its heavy.. forget it!

Why? It is, after all, a race. Races are hard. To compete in running races you need to be prepared to tough things out.

[SirPlod]

AthleticLisa, on 21 June 2011 - 02:55 PM, said:

Dont tell me that!! Rain is probably the ONE thing that may make me pull out of the race....

If its a sprinkle.. not so bad but if its heavy.. forget it!

Rain is almost better to run in that no rain!  

[mgi11a]

Just took a quick look through the thread and didnt see anyone mention it.

But get yourself a $2 pair of gloves from best & lest.

If it gets hot just peel them off and chuck them. In '09 I had mine on in the marathon till well after 8am.

Cheers

mgilla

[undercover brother]

i thought it was only alpine events that had a compulsory gear list
wear singlet and shorts.
visor/hat to keep out sun/rain/snow/ashclouds/whatever.
if you're cold hide in the shopping centre until it's time to warm up.
go for a trot.
line up.
go!
bro

[AthleticLisa]

[quote name='blair' timestamp='1308636121' post='665350']
What's wrong with Vinnies? By buying from Vinnies you are helping out a charity and when you discard the jumper it will most likely end up back at Vinnies so you are helping them twice.

Thats true... i will stop by my local salvo shop and have a look tomorrow. I cant seem to find any jumpers im willing to throw out anyway!

[AthleticLisa]

mgi11a, on 21 June 2011 - 04:46 PM, said:

Just took a quick look through the thread and didnt see anyone mention it.

But get yourself a $2 pair of gloves from best & lest.

If it gets hot just peel them off and chuck them. In '09 I had mine on in the marathon till well after 8am.

Cheers

mgilla

Im taking the advice about the gloves. Nothing worse than freezing cold hands!!

Bellthorpe, on 21 June 2011 - 04:08 PM, said:

Why? It is, after all, a race. Races are hard. To compete in running races you need to be prepared to tough things out.

You are right.. im only joking. I dont think i would pull out for anything after paying the entry fee and 2 nights accommodation. But i will be praying for a brilliant sunny morning

[cjr]

AthleticLisa, on 21 June 2011 - 09:52 PM, said:

Thats true... i will stop by my local salvo shop and have a look tomorrow. I cant seem to find any jumpers im willing to throw out anyway!

Don't do what I did a few years ago. Whilst standing in the cold in my $2 Salvos jumper I decided I really liked it and wanted to keep it so made a dash back to the car and ended up in the cold anyway. On the plus side I still wear it...

[Isthisnametaken]

Just about every event is cool at start time. Take something warm and then drop it into the clothing holding station before the start and make your way over to the line. All those bodies let off a bit of heat and the cool temp will keep you moving, getting ready for the starters gun.

As for the rain, I have never raced in the rain but if a training comes around and it rains, I still go because I have the thought "What if it rains on race day, I will have to run in that". I ran a couple of weeks ago in the pouring rain, people driving past must have thought I was mad but all the times I have run in the rain, it has not been bad.

One thing though - do others do this - when it was pouring down and I was soaked through to the bone, I still made an effort to miss the puddles. Is that strange?

[Bellthorpe]

I wouldn't call it strange, it seems to be a natural reaction.

But if you ever race cross country, it's a very bad habit to get into. It can cost you seconds.

[AthleticLisa]

cjr, on 21 June 2011 - 10:11 PM, said:

Don't do what I did a few years ago. Whilst standing in the cold in my $2 Salvos jumper I decided I really liked it and wanted to keep it so made a dash back to the car and ended up in the cold anyway. On the plus side I still wear it...

Omg that is so funny!!!  I will try not to get attached to the salvos jumper!!

[MikeLikeRun]

Isthisnametaken, on 22 June 2011 - 07:40 AM, said:

One thing though - do others do this - when it was pouring down and I was soaked through to the bone, I still made an effort to miss the puddles. Is that strange?

You might think you are as wet as you can get after running in heavy rain for half an hour.  But then you hit a big puddle and realise that you can get a lot wetter.  Or at least your shoes can.  Mostly I love running in the rain, but I hate catching a deeper puddle that floods my shoes with water.

edit:  although i do admit once when running in really heavy rain I deliberately splashed through a series of deep puddles because I happeened to be near a main road and wanted to show off.

Edited by MikeLikeRun, 22 June 2011 - 10:04 AM.

[AthleticLisa]

Isthisnametaken, on 22 June 2011 - 07:40 AM, said:

Just about every event is cool at start time. Take something warm and then drop it into the clothing holding station before the start and make your way over to the line. All those bodies let off a bit of heat and the cool temp will keep you moving, getting ready for the starters gun.

As for the rain, I have never raced in the rain but if a training comes around and it rains, I still go because I have the thought "What if it rains on race day, I will have to run in that". I ran a couple of weeks ago in the pouring rain, people driving past must have thought I was mad but all the times I have run in the rain, it has not been bad.

One thing though - do others do this - when it was pouring down and I was soaked through to the bone, I still made an effort to miss the puddles. Is that strange?

See i'm the opposite. If its raining outside on a training day, then i will run on the treadmill. Im a big chicken. But then again this is my first race and im doing it for fun and the fact that i can look back and be proud of the achievement. Im not a serial racer but then again, who knows.. i may love it so much that i become addicted to it and this could be the first of many to come. Who knows..

[BrizBlue]

KnockoutMouse, on 21 June 2011 - 03:01 PM, said:

Well, I take tomorrow's forecast with a grain of salt.  Double so for long-range ones

It pays to be prepared, though.

You were right to take it with a grain of salt... the long range forecast one day after your original post now has 3rd July as 'low' chance of rain. Tomorrow I reckon 'med', day after maybe back to 'low' then 'high' half an hour later. Then whatever the random probability generator says.

[russell2pi]

The most accurate weather forecast is "every day will be like yesterday".

[KiwiShazza]

Buy a packet of white cotton gloves from the cleaning section in Woollies - cheap and don't mind throwing them away.

I ran GC afew years ago and was raining, so bought a plastic poncho from the $2 shop the day before and wore it until just before the race. Need to make sure you don't throw it away where anyone can slipover on it though.

I too have often bought a jacket from Vinnies and then decided I liked it and wanted to keep it so have had to go back and buy another one to throw away early in the race.

[TFive]

slowmo, on 21 June 2011 - 01:39 PM, said:

Pfftt... Cool is a relative term. Is CR gear more uncool than this ?



slowmo

Too cool for skool

[Quinkin]

A old T-shirt or two is probably enough, that's what I wore before the Sydney Morning Herald HM. Toss them to the side with aut 10 minutes the start. The close proxomity of thousands of others runners does provide warmth.

[Supersam1979]

Tri shorts are my favourite - my Orcas will remain my choice until they fall apart. No loo stops required and they dry super quick.

Whatever you wear, make sure you have trained in a long run with all of it at least twice if not more.

[Malarkey]

I think last year there were bins for old jumpers and t shirts for charity? It was a pretty good idea. I know I arrived and was pretty cold so I found an abandoned jumper in the fork of a tree and put it on lol

[DoggieDoctor]

Malarkey, on 23 June 2011 - 09:34 AM, said:

I think last year there were bins for old jumpers and t shirts for charity? It was a pretty good idea. I know I arrived and was pretty cold so I found an abandoned jumper in the fork of a tree and put it on lol

So that's what happened to my jumper!

[miners]

did I skip over anyone else mentioning the bowel evacuation strategy after Rohan's initial, and very wise post?  

Seriously, if you're not a morning runner, you would want to start becoming at least a temporary one right now.  For some it's no different than running at other times of the day.  But I have many co-runners who struggle in the mornings - not from the cold, but more for the fact of the physiological idiosyncrasies of their unmentionables in the a.m.

On race day, scope the shortest port-a-loo lines and stick within jogging distance

[AthleticLisa]

Ok.. i went out and bought some white cotton cleaning gloves to wear. (they are actually quite comfortable) I have my outfit and my pre race meal set. I am going to force myself to get up early everyday from tomorrow onwards and just go for a short run on the treadmill to get my self ready for running at that time in the morning. This sunday i will do a practice run (oustide in the cold) at 6am with the exact clothes i will be racing in and i will see how i go...

Supersam1979, on 23 June 2011 - 09:22 AM, said:

Tri shorts are my favourite - my Orcas will remain my choice until they fall apart. No loo stops required and they dry super quick.

Whatever you wear, make sure you have trained in a long run with all of it at least twice if not more.

Cant help but wonder about your "no loo stops required" comment.. does this mean you pee in the shorts???

[suppliersyd]

I have my ADF Athletic club uniform, gloves, and nikepro tights... Should be a-ok!  

[rohan]

AthleticLisa, on 23 June 2011 - 05:52 PM, said:

Cant help but wonder about your "no loo stops required" comment.. does this mean you pee in the shorts???

... hey don't just worry about people peeing in their shorts..

pre-race prep and logistics is more important than some people give it credit for....
http://blogs.houston...ng_pictures.php

[BrizBlue]

Maybe he just spilt the hot chocolate they were serving at the drink stops

[Waverider12]

Supersam1979, on 23 June 2011 - 09:22 AM, said:

Tri shorts are my favourite - my Orcas will remain my choice until they fall apart. No loo stops required and they dry super quick.

Whatever you wear, make sure you have trained in a long run with all of it at least twice if not more.

I'm with you on tri shorts, I have a pair of 2XU's that fit great.  

Happy with rain, it's wind I worry about.

[Supersam1979]

AthleticLisa, on 23 June 2011 - 05:52 PM, said:

Cant help but wonder about your "no loo stops required" comment.. does this mean you pee in the shorts???

Yup - I have no shame in saying that the best way to handle this is to just go while running then use a cup of water to clean up at the next aide station. Dries quickly. Anyone who has completed ultras, Ironman events or multi dayers will know what I am talking about. Abit harder to do if only wearing normal running shorts, but it is achievable.

2 Imodiums before a long event eliminates number twos for me. Mind you my strategy won't work if you are self conscious or shy. That said any athlete I know is none of these as there is no hiding anything in the communal showers or drug testing queues. Mind you I have not been tested since giving up rugby a few years ago, but still have those memories.

[Bellthorpe]

In my first Sydney City to Surf in 1981, I wore an old khaki sweater that I had bought from an Army disposals store some years before for about £1. It was discarded just before the start, thrown over, like all the other old clothing, from runner to runner to the park.

My wife picked me up after the race. It was easy to do then, with fewer runners. 'Meet you at the Astra'. 'OK, see you there'. She did. We drove back through the city, and I thought I'd look to see if my sweater was there. It was, so I picked it up and took it home.

Ditto the next year. And the next year. Although after a while the pick-up was no longer an option, so it was a bus back to town. Some years I ran back. They had not yet invented trains in the eastern suburbs. And so on until my last City to Surf in 1991.

I still have that sweater, it's the one I use over work clothes for general stuff around the farm. Good value.

[Isthisnametaken]

No worries about running in the rain, it is the lining up at the start that would be zero fun...

[DoggieDoctor]

Weather looks great. Fine and 9-19 C.

[suppliersyd]

This is where I go for pretty accurate weather: http://www.weatherzo...coast/southport or 3 Hourly Forecast

[AthleticLisa]

suppliersyd, on 30 June 2011 - 08:22 PM, said:

This is where I go for pretty accurate weather: http://www.weatherzo...coast/southport or 3 Hourly Forecast

Not too bad. only 10% chance of rain. 9 degree min.. brrrr
At least its not as bad as Thursdays forecast with 5 degree min

Im at home packing all my stuff and we are setting off for the GC at 3pm today... nerves will set in soon i think.