2:18:03. I don't know how long this was ... I know where the 7 mile turn-around is. I just added on 9 mins from the 7 mile turn-around and called it a mile. 1:11:52/1:06:10 (approx 8:59/8:16 AP - but I really did not start picking it up until 4 miles to go -- the trail is marked at this point -- I would assume at that point I was running 7:45 pace or so). My aerobic stuff was good, my legs were a little sore and tired ... I think it was the couple weeks of very hilly workouts. In general, I can't complain at all. It was the coolest temperature I have run in since last April or so (around 55F) and I was happy to feel so good running the couple more miles ... Greg only has me doing two 22 mile long runs, so it makes me a little nervous, but it has been working for his elite group - so hopefully it will work for me as well. His philosophy (of late) is less-is-more, if you have consistent mileage (70 mpw for me, 110-120+ for his elites) all year round, then 9-10 weeks of "marathon" mileage is all you need. This is in stark contrast to my friend Merry, who has been doing 20 milers for 5 weeks already. I got a late start because I was watching the NYC marathon on TV!! It was amazing. Three -- yes THREE -- men all ran under the course record of 2:07:43!!! wow! Patrick Mutai, the winner, ran a 2:05:06. The men's race was a smart one, and the kind that generally wins records, an even-to-negative split. This was in stark contrast to the women's race, where the favorite, Mary Keitany, was on course (almost world) record pace until the last 8 miles where the chase pack tracked her down and two runners passed her in the last 1.5 miles. Surprise of the day was Molly Pritz with her 2:31:52 debut!! Kim Smith did awesome, ran a pretty even race netting a 2:25:46. Lauren Fleshman did well at the beginning running pretty even 5:44 pace, and then the wheels came off by 22 miles, when she went down to 6:11 pace and ran her last mile in 7:33. On Facebook she said something to the effect that if she did not hurt so bad right now she would think it was pretty funny how much she lost control over her body the last few miles. Meb showed us all, again, just how consistent a runner he is ... I really do think he will be in the top three in Houston. I can't wait to read Rossy's blog on his race. Happy Sunday everyone!
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