my makeup may be flaking

Georgia Marathon in Atlanta

My prerace prediction was 2:56 so I guess I can also stamp this race with MEETS EXPECTATIONS, just like the hot chocolate 15K. However, in a marathon, meeting expectations is good. 

No weird heart issues today, also.

Half marathon and marathon start out together for the first 7 miles so it was a little too easy for me to get caught up with the half marathoners. At 10K I was behind about 30 half-marathoners and also quite a bit ahead of pace.

Just after 10K, Michael Davis caught me and I tried to stay with him for a few miles. He dropped me in mile 8 when I was taking a GU, then I ran pretty hard to catch up to him. He easily dropped me again in mile 11 but I could still see him until about mile 15. Hit halfway, pretty much where I wanted to be: ahead of my predicted pace but not outrunning my fitness. It gets harder to stay motivated when there's no one up ahead to pick off.

Everyone ahead of me is running strongly and apparently someone behind is gaining on me. In the next section of the race I can definitely hear the cheers getting closer, but I don't want to increase my effort until I get to the crazy hills. Mile 16 is 6:14 due to a very steep downhill, but then it very quickly becomes difficult to maintain 7 minute pace. Mile 18 is the first one over 7 and mile 20 is also over 7. But the terrain is getting quite difficult, lots of short uphills followed by short downhills. If I'm feeling good, I can manage around 6:30 pace on this stuff in training, but my legs are pretty shot. Glancing back it looks like there are 3 people chasing me, but it was probably just the one. Mile 21 and 22 and keep it going with a 6:52 and 6:47. These miles are easier, so it's really not all that great, but I'll take it. There's another mat at mile 22! Before the race, I had mentally told myself that a sub 2:25 at mile 22 would give me confidence in the sub 3 (which was my non-negotiable pre-race goal). I actually passed it at 2:25:47, so err... uh oh... I guess. Meanwhile, the guys ahead of me are killing it.

After this mat there's a turnaround in piedmont park that adds an extra hill. It creates a Des News style out and back that allow me to see everyone about 2minutes on either side. I can't see anyone ahead of me as they are all busy negative splitting. I do see Grant, however, who is now less than 1 minute down with 4.2 miles left. Mile 23 is the last really tough mile, and it also happens to be the toughest on the course. Starting at the lowest point on the course and ending at the highest, with an evil turnaround thrown in. I manage a 7:28 which is pretty lousy, but it's not really ruining my race based on the splits from the previos few miles. Grant makes up a ton of ground here though and it now sounds like he's about 25 seconds back, based off the volunteers who keep assuring him he can catch me. Next mile is downhill so I manage another sub 7 (6:57!). Mile 25 is fun, I pass by Allie's old workplace and then my office! Oh but it's up hill and painful and 7:10. Right at mile 25 we have a pretty hard turn and I can see Grant is right there. I find an extra gear in the last mile to hold of Grant (6:55 pace for an uphill mile).

The last mile made me think that maybe I was being kind of a wuss for miles 18-25, and this is kind of confirmed by looking at the final split. I think I would have closed much faster if any of those guys had actually caught up to me.