So - this was a race about what almost happened... I had decided to approach this race a little differently than my last few marathons, where I have basically tried to run an even pace from start to finish - to hopefully go under 3 hours. This time I decided to use a strategy where I would put some time in the bank in order to have some cushion in the event of a late fade, which has happened in the last few races.
In the first mile, it took a minute to get past the start line, and then because of the crowds (47,000 runners this year) another good 600 meters to begin running at a normal pace, which of course is uphill on the Verrazono bridge. So the first mile was slow at 7:52. Having met the acquaintance of a woman trying to go sub 3 just before the race, and having never run NY before, she asked if she could try to pace off of me. Ingrid, from South Africa, was a bit panicked at that first mile, but I told her we'd make it up on the downside of the bridge and the next couple of miles. Indeed we ran 6:16 the next mile and gradually with some really nice miles in the low 6:30's, found ourselves at around 1:29 at the half or just slightly faster. Although at times, I felt like the pace was really pushing the envelope for me, I had determined that this would be worth the effort if I could hold out for the full 26.
The 16th mile is a climb over the 59th street bridge and I lost some time there, and Ingrid bade me farewell. Although my split was slow, I knew I still was ok, and that the ensuing miles would get me back to where I needed to be. Indeed miles 17 and 18 were 6:44 and 6:48 and at the time, I thought to myself, "I feel good, I should be able to do 6:45's from here on in..no problem."
Of course I spoke to soon, because the next mile was 7:05 and mile 20 was 7:10 and although mile 21 was 6:58, as I would later find out when I downloaded my Garmin data, my average HR was above my aerobic threshold beginning at mile 18 and I had a couple of miles where my max heart rate was exceeded. It is probably the reason things got away from me. I think I actually got dehydrated (I did not use the bathroom for 5 hours after the race is how I have come to that conclusion) which probably pushed up my HR. Mile 22 was 7:20 and although I tried to get it back together by running smoothly and in control, my split at mile 23 of 7:17 pretty much sealed the deal that I was not going sub 3 on this day. So, I decided to just try to ease my way back in, hoping to see my wife Tracy, slightly past mile 25 - which happened, and since this was only the second marathon of my 21 races that she's seen, it was really great.
So, I ended up with a high 3:05 - and though one would think I'd be disappointed, I really was pleased with my effort of trying to execute on that strategy. In the last 12 months I have run between 3:01 and 3:06 in 4 different races. For that I am pleased as well.
PS - Ingrid waited for me at the finish and ran 2:59.45.
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