I got inspired to write this article because the 2019 edition of the Oak Bay Half marathon is coming up quick! However, there is definitely still time to register.
If you are not quite ready to run the half, you can sign up for the 10k or the half marathon relay. The relay allows you to sign up as a team with 3 of your friends, family members or coworkers.
A brief overview of the Oak Bay Half Marathon
The Oak Bay Half marathon will start at 8:00am on Sunday, May 26 at Windsor Park.
Here is a map of the Oak Bay Half Marathon
After winding its way through the charming downtown core and historic residential setting of Oak Bay, the course loops out and back along the scenic seaside route of Beach Drive and finishes back at Windsor Park.
The Oak Bay Half Marathon welcomes beginner runners and walkers with open arms. Walkers and runners who plan to take over 2hrs 30min now have an option to start at 7am.
I believe this will be my 3rd time running the Oak Bay Half Marathon in the past 6 years or so.
If you are running this event for the first time this year or are doing your first ever half marathon, then you are in for a treat.
You will enjoy some fun raceday festivities, a scenic route and a positive environment that will get you inspired to sign up for even more races.
What is the Oak Bay Half Marathon Course like?
As we can see from the elevation profile below, the Oak Bay Half Marathon is mostly a flat course.
However, you will encounter a small incline around Newport to Oak Bay Ave.
After that, you will get a nice long gentle downhill of Hampshire, Victoria and Beach.
Then, there will be another small climb near the golf course, which you will have to do on the way out and again on the way back.
Once you get past the golf course the first time, you will get a very nice, long and relatively flat stretch of the road that will allow you to pick up the pace bit.
Don’t forget that since you had to do the incline near the golf course on the way out, you will also have to do it on the way back.
Once you get past the final incline, you will get a nice downhill heading into the finishing area (thank goodness!!)
Oak Bay Half Marathon elevation profile
Overall, I’ve had some good results in this race in the past. When I did it before, I ran it in 1:32:xx both times, which I consider to be a good time for me.
When ran strategically, this is not a very difficult course.
Tips for Running the Oak Bay Half Marathon
While I do my best to create the best race day strategy, I cannot promise that everything will go 100% as planned.
However, it is what I believe will work based on racing this event and many other half marathons a number of times.
1.Avoid starting too fast.
After all, you are running 21.1km and therefore you should not burn yourself out in the first 5k. Personally, I would be about 10-15 seconds per km slower in the first 5k because I want to run strong after I get past the incline near the golf course.
The way this course is laid out, based on the elevation profile, it’s almost impossible to start too fast (this is a good thing, especially for me because I still bust out of the gate sometimes).
2.Once you are past the incline near the golf course, pick up the pace a bit.
As you pick up the pace a bit, you will start to make up some time that you lost in the beginning as a result of starting conservatively.
However, up until you get past the turnaround point, you should keep a relatively conservative pace.
3.If you feel relatively comfortable at the turnaround point, then be assured that you’ve paced it right.
Once you are past the turnaround point, you can test yourself to see how much you have left.
Knowing that the turnaround is well past the halfway point, should give you the confidence to continue at a faster pace than you did when you started.
This will be another opportunity for you to make up for that slower start.
4. Focus on proper breathing and form as you go up the last incline (which is near the golf course on the way back).
If you aren’t tired when you get to that last incline, then that means you have a lot left in you.
As you approach the final small climb, try to visualize yourself successfully making it to the finish.
If you are feeling exhausted by the time you reach that final incline, then I have two things to say to you:
One is that you are human and if you aren’t tired as you approach the last mile of a 13.1 mile race, then you must believe that you can, in fact, go faster.
Two, if you feel like you are extremely exhausted and that last mile feels like 10, then you should know that you gave it your best that day and it’s a normal feeling (I’ve experienced it myself many, many times before). At that point all you need to do is say to yourself: “I am strong and I will run on.”
As you run up the last incline near the golf course, breathe steadily and deeply while maintaining proper posture. Avoid bending your neck too far back or forward as you ascend. Maintain a slight forward lean using your entire body as you ascend.
5. After making the final climb, you won’t have that far left to go.
This is the part where if you have some energy left, you can really pick up the pace. The gentle downhill to the finish as well as a few final attempts to catch a few runners ahead of you will make it easier for you to speed up and finish strong.
As you approach the finish line, there will be people cheering for you and their encouragement will help carry you to the finish line.
At the end of the day, racing is a social experience as much as it is a physical challenge.
6. Last, but not least, never underestimate the importance of proper nutrition and hydration.
I’ve heard that it will be very warm on race day. In fact, the forecast is for temperatures that are much warmer than what we have experienced recently and definitely warmer than what we have been training in for the past few months.
Therefore, especially if you are planning to take longer than 2 hours to complete the race, it is important to carry some of your own water, or sports drink that you usually drink as well as nutrition (in addition to what will be provided on course).
Hydration stations will be located at: Hampshire and Granite, Beach and Oliver, Beach and Cranmore, as well as Beach and Ripon (turnaround).
GU Gels, Tailwind and water will be available on course.
Keeping your electrolytes balanced is very important, especially on hot days because as we sweat, we lose electrolytes during long runs.
If this is your first half marathon ever, I urge you to embrace this moment. There is nothing like the final 100m of something that you’ve been working towards accomplishing for the first time.
If you are running a half marathon for the first time, you may also be interested in my 13 Tips for Running your First Half Marathon.
See you at the finish line!!