Good morning everyone...

I'd like to pose a question or two to the more learned folks on here...

#1 - at the 1/2 marathon, I was wondering - Will my "official" time begin when the race starts? Or - will it begin when I cross the line? I figure I'll be amongst the last to start, if I've figured this out right. I'm what you would call - S L O W! So, I'm just wondering if - when I cross the start line, will I already be X min. down? How does that work when they do the sweeps?

#2 - running shorts. Up until recently, I have been running in yoga pants, capris - and jogging pants. I have broken out my tight running/bike? shorts - not attractive! I was at Dick's Sporting Goods the other day and went wild and bought some running shorts and tanks. The shorts I am finding to be very uncomfortable - very much so. They seem - well, very short. And when I walk, much less jog, the inseams rub against my legs/thighs (sorry - to much info?!?!?!) and it's just not a good situation!? Otherwise, they fit okay. Have I got the right size? Do I need longer shorts? What's this thing I read about with people putting vasaline on their legs prior to running? Is that what I need? Is that what they are talking about with runners lube? I have short, thick legs - is that my problem?

Thanks for the help.

I like these shorts from RaceReady (http://www.raceready.com/wldshorts/woriginal.html) . They have backpockets which come in handy for long distances for your gu, chapstick, salt, etc.

As far as the rubbing, I have some shorts that are fine for a half hour or even an hour workout, but at four hours (which some of my long distance runs were), they really started to bug. The Raceready shorts were great. I never used body glide, but that may help on your legs.

Good morning everyone...

I'd like to pose a question or two to the more learned folks on here...

#1 - at the 1/2 marathon, I was wondering - Will my "official" time begin when the race starts? Or - will it begin when I cross the line? I figure I'll be amongst the last to start, if I've figured this out right. I'm what you would call - S L O W! So, I'm just wondering if - when I cross the start line, will I already be X min. down? How does that work when they do the sweeps?

#2 - running shorts. Up until recently, I have been running in yoga pants, capris - and jogging pants. I have broken out my tight running/bike? shorts - not attractive! I was at Dick's Sporting Goods the other day and went wild and bought some running shorts and tanks. The shorts I am finding to be very uncomfortable - very much so. They seem - well, very short. And when I walk, much less jog, the inseams rub against my legs/thighs (sorry - to much info?!?!?!) and it's just not a good situation!? Otherwise, they fit okay. Have I got the right size? Do I need longer shorts? What's this thing I read about with people putting vasaline on their legs prior to running? Is that what I need? Is that what they are talking about with runners lube? I have short, thick legs - is that my problem?

Thanks for the help.

You will have 2 times. The "official time" (or "gun time") is used for awards and the like. That time starts for everyone when the gun goes off. Then there will be the "chip time" that most of us slowpokes go by. That starts when your chip crosses the timing mat at the start line. Sweeps SHOULD go by the time the last person crosses the start line, but that may not be the case. I'd plan to jog at a good clip faster than they recommend to stay ahead of the sweep crew, just in case.

For shorts, I prefer longer shorts myself, but those didn't help with the rubbing problem. Use Vaseline, Bodyglide or Aquaphor to alleviate the pain. They give away samples at race expos (of Aquaphor at least), but you should be able to get small bodyglide bar or a portable vaseline tube pretty cheaply. You may need to stop every hour to reapply, depending on how much rubbing there actually is.

Good luck!

Ericles -- I've long since given up on wearing running shorts. You might try something like these Fitness Shorts (http://tinyurl.com/c7xje) or these (http://tinyurl.com/97hsn). They're like bicycle shorts but without the butt padding.

Thanks Tim & Lani....as for the biker shorts (sans the padding - lord knows I've got enough of that! ) I've got a pair I have been wearing, and they seem to do the trick. However, I hit Dicks this weekend and got two pairs of running shorts (once my home equity loan was approved :eek: ) and tried them with vaseline yesterday morning with fine results. I think I am going to do a combo of the two.

Tim- thanks for the info. I did a 5K last month in our small town - and that is the extent of my "racing" experience. I am slow, so much so that a fast walker passed me while I was jogging...

go ahead, laugh. I did!

I am working with professional right now, who is also going to do the 1/2 with me in January. However I worry everyday about being "swept"...I don't care if I'm last, I don't even care if I get a medal or not. But I really want to finish, even if I am dragging myself which is how I feel it'll end up some mornings! But I press on. I really don't care for jogging that much - I keep waiting for that "something" or that "great feeling of being out there, running" but I've not felt it yet.

Lani - The Marathon articles are great, I hungrily read each one as I am starved for info on how the 1/2 marathon will go and I am trying to get as much as I can about it digested! Look forward to the next installment.

Thanks guys. Look for me...I'll be that last person to cross the finish line Tim mentioned :D

Thanks guys. Look for me...I'll be that last person to cross the finish line Tim mentioned :D

It's better than NOT crossing the finish line :) Good luck! Maybe I'll be out there if I get motivated enough to go.