Originally Posted by Scalded Dog
Sounds like you've got the proper training behind you... they say that the long runs are 90% mental, and there's some truth to that. But, that works to your advantage in an organized event because you're driven on by desire to succeed in front of all of those other people!
As far as iPodding it, I don't see why not. I see people competing, and iPodding, all the time. I don't, only because I have yet to figure out a way to prevent the wires and buds and head unit from causing me more trouble than it's worth. That, and most of the areas where I run alone are rural mountains, where mountain lions, occassional cars, and, as everywhere, humans with ill intent are ALL things to be on the alert for. So, I just keep my ears open. Anyway, during a race/ competition/ event, plenty of people do run with iPods... I say go for it.
And as far as age, sure, younger is better, but at a marathon I ran a couple of years ago, I was amazed to see how many were over 40... older than me (maybe a half to a third were over 40?). And... I got whupped by a lot of them ,too... and got passed up and permanently left in the dust by some in their 50s, 60, and 70s! I had feared that I'd look like like "the old geezer" put that at age 40, but I blended right in... because there are LOTS of geezers out there!
Again... good luck!
|