I’m sitting in Afghanistan right now (on an Army base) and they are having an Army 10-miler tomorrow morning. I ain’t got shit else to do so I signed up a couple of days ago. I run approx 4mi 3-4 times a week with no issues so I don’t NOT run but I haven’t prepared specifically to run 10 miles, particularly at this altitude (5000ft-ish). In fact the furthest I’ve ever run in one shot is 8 miles and that was stateside.
I am not running for a fast time, let me make that clear, I just want to finish and not be last (an AF guy coming in last on an Army base wouldn’t go well…). I’ve only been here a few weeks and am not totally acclimated. I normally run 8.5 min/mi or so .
Should I try to run like 10min/miles to ensure that I finish or should I try to run my usual pace and risk burning out? There will be water stands every 2mi. Should I stop and drink or do I risk cramping up if I stop? Should I eat pasta tonight or will that not matter at 0530 when the race starts?
Ultimately looking for tips on how to finish this 10 miler without specific, lead-up training.
Start out slower than your normal pace and try to pick up as you go along. Stopping to drink is a personal thing, but definitely spend the time to drink. At least walk along while drinking.
I’ve run one full and one half marathon. I trained properly for the full, not at all for the half. After the full, I felt whipped but great; after the half, I felt like hell.
You should be fine if you slow down your pace. You can always pick it up near the end if you’re feeling strong. And there is no shame in walking a bit.
I finished! 1:39:20. Not too bad. I didn’t walk at all. There were about 700 people in the beginning, about 500 finished and there were at least 150-200 people behind me.
Here are the conditions (if you can believe them):
Rocket attack last night around 2am.
Woke up for the race to start at 0500.
38 degrees
4 miles of the race was right along the wire.
Blackhawks buzzing the mountain side to keep people from firing on us.
Many dirt roads.
And in the final mile I ran right through the propwash of a C-130 doing a spin up and ate a mouthfull of dust.
I’m glad I did it though. How many chances are you gonna get to run the Army 10 miler in a warzone?
Congratulations on your finish and respectable time. I did it in Balad, Iraq in 2007. Also with very little prep as it took place only a week or two after I arrived. I recommend doing as many races as you can there, you won’t regret it. I went on to run almost every race they had in Balad the year I was there, including a shadow Indianapolis Half Marathon. It was great fun. These were the only races I’ve run where everything was absolutely free, including medals and t-shirts and water and food.
Then I came home and got fat and stopped running, even though it is one of my favorite pastimes. I tell myself I’m busy but every hour I spend on the Dope is like 7 or 8 miles I could have run. Maybe this week is the week I’ll start back up again.
I tell myself I’m busy but every hour I spend on the Dope is like 7 or 8 miles I could have run. Maybe this week is the week I’ll start back up again. 