Looking for advice, folks.

[AnneDroid]

I'm dropping by for advice from you Proper Runners!

I can now run 10k but not very speedily.

I'm registered for the Balmoral 10k in April which I'm looking forward to because last year I did the Balmoral 5k the day after finishing C25k. So it will be a significant moment to go back a year on.

Anyway, there is an opportunity on Saturday to go and have a practice of the route, with a guide.

Is that quite a common thing with events? Does anyone have experience of such a thing?

I registered to go to the practice but now I'm having second thoughts. In the running world are those practices mostly frequented by more serious/elite runners who're checking out the route with a view to doing very fast times in the actual event? If so, I'd rather not go to the practice. I don't want to be the only person that takes the best part of an hour and a quarter to do the route and the guides have to keep waiting on me.

Glad to hear your thoughts.

[Tomas Marathon]

I haven't experienced such a pre-run before. It sounds like a great idea for those who, as you say, want to check out the route to ensure they get their pacing right on race day.

It will remove some of your nervousness abou the route and answer questions such as"is it going to be very hilly", "will it be easy to find the car park", "what is the trail like, will it be muddy" (if it's a trail event), etc. On the other hand, it will also take away the novelty of the route for race day, so that you don't run with this lovely feeling of never having been there before.

Sorry, I realise that I haven't really answered your question, but these are my thoughts.

[AnneDroid]

Thanks Tomas !

To make things more interesting, I've had an email to say they have had 8 inches of snow but not to worry - it's going ahead...

[C3PO Marathon]

I had a chance to do a guided run of the route of my early February race. This seems to be increasingly common here, and I think it's just a way of increasing people's awareness of the race.

I went Ali g to the guided run, as the route had been changed substantially since last year, and as it would be in the dark on cobblestones, I wanted to know what we would be facing.

About 10 of us turned up, of varying ability. Our guide made sure to take good care of all of us, and kept circling round to pick up the less experienced runners. None of us minded. I was thrilled to actually be in the middle of the pack.

So you should definitely go along. Increasing your knowledge of the route can only be a boost to your confidence on race day!

[misswobble Marathon]

Do it! What have you got to lose?

It's an open event and you have the chance to go along and check it out first. Take the opportunity, quit worrying and have a lovely time.

The elite runners, if they turn up, won't bother you so don't worry about them. You probably won't encounter them unless the race is more than one lap.

If they've invited folks then go along. There could be cake involved!

Anyway, you have to go cos we want to know what happens

[ju-ju- Marathon]

I havent experienced anything like this before but it always helps to have a recce... Did they do similar for the 5k? It could just be that they are super organised??

[AnneDroid in reply to ju-ju-]

I don't think they did this last year but I don't remember. It's a whole weekend of different lengths of runs, though, and some are new this year so they maybe just want to satisfy themselves about their own arrangements.

Also, there is the small matter of it being the Queen's holiday house. Maybe there are extra considerations of security or something.

runbalmoral.com/

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

Haven't heard of it - sort of have mixed feelings about whether I'd then feel well, I've done that now, but would love to hear how you get on.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

I haven't heard of it either, but I think it's a great idea. Yes go! Two races for the price of one! You won't be the only one at that pace, and if you slow the fast ones down? Well tough, you've paid your entry fee just like them!

[AnneDroid]

UPDATE!

DIDN'T GET THERE!

The snow gates on the A93 were closed this morning. I heard it on the radio before I'd gone too far so I just headed back to my local parkrun.

Thanks for all your thoughts though.