I see what you mean about balance, but I think 'tart slow, finish fast' is a bit misleading. It's not about being slow, it's about being smart. You need to pace yourself to conserve energy for the second half of the race. I aim to run the first half 10-15 seconds slower than my goal pace, then pick it up in the second half. It's all about discipline and trust in your training.
I'm a mix of old and new school. I use a GPS watch, but I also like to study the route beforehand using a mapping website. It helps me get a sense of the layout and any potential trouble spots. Plus, if my watch fails, I've got a rough idea of where I'm going. Don't rely too heavily on tech, folks!
Interesting study, but not surprised by the findings. As a female runner, I've always felt like my performance is judged against men's standards. Would love to see more research on how to tailor training to women's unique physiological needs.
Yeah, it's amazing what the human body can do. But let's not forget the hard work and dedication behind those 'little runs'.