Bret

AM - early run before work in Alpharetta - ran a new route - generously calling it 6 miles - but my Garmin battery died near the beginning of the run.  Really felt terrible this morning - almost like a flu/virus is coming on.  

PM - got in an easy 8 miles after work basically covering part of the route I did this morning - and noticed in the daylight how much of an uphill effort this was - for some reason in the early morning darkness I just did not see the steepness; figuring I was just very tired and slow.  Anyway  the run was fairly uneventful - gradually got into a more normal training pace towards the end - then had to do some loops around a large parking lot to get in the planned distance.  Think I am a bit tired today - will perhaps get to bed early and skip a morning run tomorrow in favor of a later session - either at lunch or after work.  

PM - so I ended up with very little time yesterday due to work commitments.  Translation - I should have done the workout early in the morning.  Anyway, I did an abbreviated session of 2 x 2 miles at HM pace with an 800 rest.   2 mile warm up and almost no cool down.  Both reps were good - 6:23 pace on the first one and 6:18 on the second rep.  Had to skip the cool down to get to a work dinner.  

AM - nice and pleasant 8 miles before work.  Relatively comfortable temps and my body feels a good bit better than it did a for the last couple of days.  Noticed lots more songbirds out in the morning here than ever in Florida.  Kinda like that.

PM - quite late after a long workday - 6 miles on the treadmill.

AM - very solid workout this morning. 2 mile warm up with 10 miles at MP (6:45 avg pace) with about a 1 mile cool down.  Did this on the treadmill because it was raining and 42 degrees outside - and I did not have warm enough running clothes for it.  Wish that I had, because I suspect it may be the running conditions I see in London in a couple of weeks...Anyway, pleased with the effort - no injuries, illness or red flags.  Couple more "reminder" workouts and one more long run this week - should be good to go.

AM - 6 miles easy before work back in Florida.  Much warmer than Atlanta yesterday - pleasant run - very light pace.

PM - a little over 8 miles more at lunchtime.   

AM - early - met the group in downtown Clearwater to run the bridges.  Ken and Tim met me at 5:30 and we did a short 3 miles and circled back to meet the big group of about 25 runners to do the main loop.  Saw Vinny for the first time in a few years.  Ken has a cold and kept his run to only 12 while Tim did his planned 15.   I ended up running a number of miles with Vinny - good conversation.  Then completed my 20 by running solo for the last 5 miles north almost to Dunedin on Edgewater before I turned back to downtown.  Very relaxing - non-stressful effort.  Last 10 miles were around 7:40 pace.  Just really feeling good.  

PM - 10 miles easy around Palm Harbor and the Pinellas Trail. Just enough time to get it in before my flight late this afternoon.

AM - 9 miles easy this morning in Alpharetta before work.  Hilly route - unintentionally chosen. Flight later today to NYC - hoping to leave a bit earlier in order to get a second run in the evening.

PM - 5 more miles on the treadmill at my very toney NYC lodgings.

AM -  good workout in Central Park this morning.  6 x 1 mile at HM pace with a 400 rest.  First two were 6:35, second two were 6:25 and the last two were 6:23.  Little tired as I stayed up late to watch the end of the NCAA Basketball - and had to get out early enough to complete the run before my meetings today.  

AM - 5 miles easy before work in Atlanta. Really pleasant spring morning.

PM - 9 more at lunch - quite a bit warmer, lots of pollen.  The Masters Tournament should be really nice. 

PM - decent session - 1.5 mile warm up then 6 miles at MP (6:45) and a short cool down. Would have hoped to have felt really strong today - but this was a bit more of an effort than expected. Huge amount of pollen in the air in ATL and although I do not have allergies per se - it was an irritant nonetheless.

PM - 8 miles easy - on a very warm humid and windy day in St. Pete.  Tried to keep this as much without effort as possible - but even with the light pace, I felt a bit off really until the last mile or so.  Hoping the next few days of no-business travel with some easy runs get me to feeling rested and strong.

PM - easy 14 miles late in the day. Decided to sleep in this morning - feel like I may be catching a cold - felt rested and smooth on the run.

PM - 8 miles easy on a muggy warm afternoon.  

AM - just an easy 6 miles this morning before work.  First few miles were slow and a little fatigued - once I got warmed up though, I felt fine.

AM - good "reminder" session this morning.   2 x 2 miles at MP (6:45) with an 800 rest in between.  1.5 mile warm up and .5 cool down.  Everything felt fine -systems all checked-in functioning properly.  Now all we need is Sunday.

AM - easy 4 mile shake out run - could have done more of course, but decided to keep things to a minimum.  

AM - 5.5 miles easy through the neighborhoods in near my home.  Very warm morning- and humid.  Head out this evening for the UK.  

So - my flight overnight to London was diverted just as we were crossing the Atlantic and turned around for mechanical issues and we landed, in all places, Boston at 3:45 am.  Still in Boston now as they sort out the mechanical and crew issues.  (Emergency vehicles on the runway and thunderous touchdown aside, no apparent safety issues).  Appears I will now arrive in London at least 9 hours later than expected...

AM - got into the hotel last night around midnight - grabbed a bite to eat - slept 8 hours and headed out with the guys for an easy 3 miles through Hyde Park. Spectacular weather. Supposed to be the same tomorrow as well. Got the race packets - Sky News did a live interview with us to talk about Boston. Everything feels good - hoping for the same tomorrow.

So happy to report that my long stated goal of running a marathon under 3 hours is now a reality. We had a simply spectacular weather day in London with temperatures in the 40's at the start and probably not exceeding the mid 50's during the race with bright sunshine and tremendous crowds from start to finish.  

My race plan was to go out slightly slower than goal race pace for the first 4-6 miles and then settle in, and I had Richie at my side to act as a reminder to keep me in check - I really felt so relaxed, with the exception of the first mile at 7:06, every mile in the first 6 miles were right at or faster than MP.

We ran together steadily with some faster miles here and there until mile 18 where for some reason I hit a rough patch and at the same time I think Richie pushed the pace and did not realize I had dropped off a bit.   No worries, I just kept ticking off the miles right at 6:50's. I figured he was going to run very well, perhaps under 2:57, so good for him, I thought.

At some point around mile 16 we had passed the 2:59 pace team and my watch was showing an average pace of 6:45, so I felt that I had things under control.  

Around mile 19 or 20 I noticed that each time I tried to push the pace a bit, one of my calf muscles would begin to cramp.  It was fine if it kept things steady at MP or slower, but faster pacing seemed to trigger the beginnings of the cramp.

We emerged from a tunnel along the Thames between mile 24 and 25 and much to my surprise, the 2:59 pacer came by me.  I started to panic a bit, because even though I thought I was well under 3 hours, the pacer was running away from me, and I could not push the pace, because each time I did, my calf began to cramp.  So I rationalized that he must be trying to run 2:59 even and not just sub 3 hours - so perhaps if I kept him close, I still had a chance.

As we hit the final stretch along St. James Park, I saw the 800 meters left to go sign with the clock time of 2:56:40 - and I thought - Right, I think I have this in me.  Suddenly with 600 meters to go, Richie appeared in front of me.  He was struggling - but still running.  I caught up to him at the 385 yards to go sign, and grabbed his shoulder and implored him "We are doing this thing!!!" or something to that effect - I don't remember.  His eyes told me, that he was just hanging on - and completely spent.   As we rounded in front of Buckingham Palace, the announcer said - This is the last of the sub 3 hour runners - most of them have some time to spare on the chip time - but let's help them get a photo of the clock time still showing a 2 in front of it as they cross the finish.   My clock time was 2:59:59.

Success.  

Richie was 5 seconds behind me.  Chip time for me was 2:59:41 and his was 2:59:46.

He had a screen printed shirt with "Run for Boston" printed on the front and back.  News crews clamored to speak to him - I just smiled and waved.   

So very pleased that everything came together for this race.  

Time to celebrate. 

Planned day of rest - went to Paris with the guys for a couple of days.

Another rest day. Body really doesn't feel too bad - just a little soreness in the legs. Heading back to London for a work- related conference before heading home.

AM - was still a day of rest - but went out for an easy spin over the Millennium Walking Bridge and down the river and back to the hotel before my conference. Possibly catching a cold - body felt a little sore but generally fine.

No running today - busy with a conference in London then travel back to Paris for a dinner and night out with my friends before heading home tomorrow.

Early start and travel for about 14 hours today.  Good way to stay off my feet and rest.   Will resume some regular running tomorrow.  Nothing is sore or fatigued any longer.  This is the most I have rested after a marathon - actually usually feel compelled to get out and run within a day or so, but I took a different approach on the recovery this time.  Think I like it.  

Decided to take one more day to recover from travel etc.

AM - finally got out for an easy 6 miles this morning.  Felt nice to be out running on a pleasant morning.  

PM - after work in Alpharetta - easy miles - just less than 5.  Ran on the Greenway trail - parts of it underwater as a result of some rains over the weekend.  Required me to take my shoes off and walk because the water was too deep - actually enjoyed the cool water on my feet and legs and then resumed my run.

AM - 7 miles easy in the morning before work.  Pleasant morning - a bit humid with some light fog.