Let me recant my description of this year’s race route as strictly straight.
Thirteen turns in 13 miles seems pretty bland on paper but if you look closely five of the redirections happen within six-tenths of mile.
The right on Johnson, left on Hackler, right on Howard, left on Reed, left on Farrow loop through Market Commons drew a concern as I reviewed the race map last night.
Today I felt the need to go run that section of the race, mostly because of my inability to dissect directions, but also to get a taste of the newest twist to the course.
With 25 mph winds out of the north and gusts exceeding 40 mph, Tommy and I looked like Team Ripke as we crafted a strategy to draft off one another throughout the handful of turns around the Grand Strand’s newest retail district.
We agreed that it would be best to stick close through the first six miles Saturday and use each other to get through the tough stretch around the old Air Force Base. According to the National Weather Service, winds are expected to be around 12 to 15 mph on Saturday morning. Maybe we saw the extreme during today’s test drive but I’d rather be prepared than the alternative.
Word to the wise, wear some type of eyewear to help keep your eyes from tearing in the wind. The sun is said to rise at 7:02 a.m. with partly cloudy skies …sunglasses wouldn’t be a bad choice.
With temperatures lingering around 30 to 45F, if you plan on dressing warm for the cold start be sure to pin your bib to clothing you plan to hold on to through the finish line…like your shorts or an undershirt.
Just because Myrtle Beach has one of the flattest courses in the country – the majority of the race is ran below sea level – don’t expect the times to be as quick as they have been in years past. This personal forecast can be credited to the previously stated wind and the potential for a cluster around Market Commons. Although race officials want to expose the shopping centre that portion of the course has several tight turns.
These are all tips we plan to share with my brother Brandon, who will be battling the tough travel conditions as he makes his way down I-77 tomorrow from Northwest Ohio. Completing the family affair Brandon, two years my elder, will be running in his first race come Saturday.
Brandon, like many first timers I am finding out, has some of the same worries Tommy and I had in our inaugural race. As we discussed earlier today, he will definitely reap the benefits of running alongside his kin. Still, credit goes out to him for being able to get his body into shape so he can run at our pace.
Visit http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/current_route.cfm?rid=BAAB4628-9255-35C5-06378273B3E67A0F where I created the 2010 Dasani Half Marathon route. If you would like to know where the three Ripkes will be when, check out the time corresponding with the course mile markers. If all goes as plan we should be running around an eight-minute-mile pace. I encourage you to change the personal settings to fit you as a runner to gage where you will be when.
While calculating our pace I also plugged in my weight to the website and found out that I will be burning off 1,606 calories by the time I cross the finish line sometime between 8:10 and 8:15.
For all you non-runners that’s what it would take to burn off one double quarter pounder with cheese, a large fry, and large soft drink from McDonalds. Piece of cake right?
For all my runners reading this blog you can refuel with free snacks provided by Bi-Lo, Dasani and Michelob venders. They offer a much healthier selection including oranges (62 calories,) bananas (105 calories,) Vitamin Water (125 calories,) Peanut Butter Crackers (200 calories,) to go along with variety of 100 calorie bag of cookies and if you’re old enough a 12 oz. of Michelob Amber or Light beer (114 and 123 calories.)
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