An Avalanche of Advice

I've received an increasing amount of advice as my first half-marathon approaches. Here's a round-up:

• Mind the heat. The high on Sunday is predicted to be 86 F and although we'll be running early in the day (the horn sounds at 7 am; we are supposed to be in our corrals by 6:30 am), heat exhaustion could still be problematic. There will be misting stations and plenty of beverages (both water and Gatorade) throughout the course. I'm told there will even be "iced towels" at the finish. I've heard that keeping your neck cool is a good way to keep your core temperature down.
• Wear sunscreen and a hat. I've been doing this anyway because at this point in my life, a red, peeling face is the last thing I need (plus those "smile lines" are becoming more and more apparent).
• Eat something halfway for a burst of energy. I really struggle with this one. I've tried energy bars and goo and I just don't think I could stomach either during the midst of a race. For the moment, my plan remains eating before and after but not necessarily during. I will count on the Gatorade for energy and hope it will give me the get-up-and-go I need to finish on time.
• Drink enough but not too much. I usually think about hydration in terms of daily intake instead of what I drink during a workout. I plan to make sure I'm well hydrated going into the race and then drink only when I'm thirsty - not at every station - and even then only a few mouthfuls at a time to avoid stomach discomfort.
• Enjoy the finish. I definitely plan to do this!

Nike appears to be a big sponsor of the race (which is why I picked up race materials at Niketown yesterday) and results will be posted at their web site.