A YOUNG RUNNER
1) Taper your training as the race draws near. Cut back to about 25 miles for the 7 days before the race. Your body will become very strong this way.
2) Run with your hands down by your hips, hold them loosely with palms facing behind you, and swing them far forward with each stride. Most people carry their hands up near their chest and swing them across their body. The hands down technique may feel a little bit awkward at first, but with a little practice will feel GREAT! You'll never go back, once you master this.
3) Listen to your jaw muscles. When a runner is tired, they will naturally "grimace" as their jaw tightens up. Ask yourself if your jaw is relaxed - bouncing as you run, and use it as an indicator of your tension level. Relax all your muscles as you run, but listen carefully to your jaw.
4) And finally, try to determine what your average pace for the race will be. Then:
Run the first 2/3 of every race according to the clock
Run the final 1/3 of each race according to how you feel.
If your goal is 8:00 per mile, and you finish the first mile at 7:30 feeling GREAT, don't listen to your body. SLOW DOWN!!! At about 9 miles (the start of the hills) you can start running as you feel best, not before that. I have given many friends this tip, and too often, they have ignored it. They run 30, 45, or even 60 seconds under their expected average pace, and end up walking the last 1/3 of the race. Please promise me you won't make that mistake.
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