TODD SMITH: Monday was our last day of training prior to Sunday's Abe's Amble, and we were told to stay focused on what we had learned to complete the 6.2-mile race.
Training leader Barry House asked me to tell everyone what I learned from Thursday's two-mile run prior to the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade.
My response: "Not to start out so fast because you can cause yourself a lot of pain as you begin to lose steam trying to complete the race."
"You will see runners head out fast, don't go out with them, but focus on what you have learned in your training," House said.
"Do the race at a comfortable pace for yourself and you will make it to the finish," training leader Joni Stahlman added.
This was a word of warning that I was going to follow.
The leaders also stressed the importance of running the race at the pace you have set for yourself.
"Don't feel guilty if you go ahead of those you have ran with," Stahlman said. "Run it at the pace you are capable of."
Keeping pace
Our final day of training was a 4.25-mile run. It was a finally a nice night. I started out slowly, taking what I learned from the parade run to heart. Then I was able to actually build up steam and mostly ran the third mile. I did slow down during the fourth mile but was able to finish as a run.
Stahlman explained that this was the way to go.
"You start out slow for the first one to two miles, build up some for the third and fourth miles and then you can have a strong finish for miles five to six," she said.
After the run, I felt a little tired but not exhausted. I thought to myself that I could do it if I just stay focused and ignore all the fast runners out there.
"Some of those same runners you might pass later, because they did not pace themselves." Stahlman said.
I thought this was sound advice I will have to keep in mind as I stand among more accomplished runners.
Where to go to comment and keep up on my training?
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My earlier columns:
Too fast, too furious not a good way to start
Abe's Army training -- Canadian style
Making it past the five-mile hump, sore leg and all
Still many miles to go before the race
The hills are alive with runners
The halfway point on the way to Abe's Amble
My training hits a rough patch
My debut in the Abe's Army training program
Preparing myself for the Abe's Army
