8AM Race Start:
PRE-RACE: Got up early around 6am. Got dressed in my HSV50 shirt, matching shorts and red Bikilas. Grabbed a cup of coffee and two mini-muffins while I headed out the door around 7:20 or so. What I love about being only 2 miles from the Rec Center is that it is the only marathon (maybe besides the HSV50) that you can roll out of bed 40 mins before the race and still make it to the starting line with time to spare. Got there and saw Jen and got a hug, then checked in and changed. There were about 12 Marathon Maniacs there for today's race. I was hoping for a big day, but didn't know how I was going to do, with only two days of runs since Jan 1st that totaled more than 10 miles. Set up in the far corner of the track and went to the pre-race briefing.
RACE: (204 laps of a newly renovated 208m track) I started off in the back of the pack and just tried to run easy miles. I broke the race down into 26 mini-races of 7.5 laps each. One of the things that I like about this race is that you always have people to run with and you get to watch the front runners duke it out. Was fun to watch Jake and Laura Gilette leading their respective races and to see some of the folks from last year! Most of my first 17 miles were sub 9. I knew the last 9 would hurt, because I hadn't done any long runs since December. But I don't think I faded too badly, maybe a couple in the 9:30 range. When I hit 10 laps to go, I charged home. Everyone was great and cheering me on. Finishing time was 4:07:10. POST-RACE: Cheered in a couple of friends, then went back to the hotel to shower and relax. Headed out to get "refueled" with Garlic hummus, Triscuits, and more GUs for tomorrow. Got into bed but there were young wannabe marathoners everywhere, sprinting down the hall, and up above the rooms. Another racer was next to me in the room over and thankfully he had the guts to yell out into the hallway at about 9:30. Finally things started to work out and I fell asleep around 10pm, just in time for my 5am wake up call the next morning.
Old Marathon PERSONAL RECORD: 4:26:50, set in 10/12 at BayState Marathon. NEW** PERSONAL RECORD** : 4:07:10, set 2/2/13 @ Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon. Total Time: 4:07:10 Total Distance: 26.316 Average Pace: 9:22.5/mile | 
