A little disappointed with my last 5-6 miles, but this actually was a pretty fun race today. Goal was to at least give myself a shot at the sub 3 hr mark, and I gave myself a shot, but just couldn't hold it. This is probably pretty close to PR effort for me since my fastest is just over 3:03 at STG, but I'll keep working on it. Splits: 6:24, 6:11, 6:16, 6:23, 7:09 (bathroom stop), 6:56, 7:31, 7:03, 6:23, 6:39, 6:21, 6:21, 6:18 (I believe Rob said we hit the halfway mark around 1:26:38), 6:39, 6:29, 13:39 (missed a marker), 7:20, 6:45, 7:29, 9:02 (ouch), 6:48, 8:28, 8:05, 8:25, 10:36 Started off easy and just trying to get into a rhythm. Hit 5 in 32:25 (goal was 33:22). This even included a bathroom break at the mile 5 marker. One of my main goals for the race was to not fall off pace on the climb up Little Mountain, so I pushed it a bit. Got up to the top and recovered a bit and then I was pretty much by myself coming down the mountain for a bit. Right around the 8 mile marker I could hear someone from behind and it was Rob Murphy. I knew he was planning on pacing a friend, so I was surprised to see him on his own. I introduced myself and we ended up running together up through around mile 14. Went through 10 in 1:06:59 (goal was about 1:06:45 but I wasn't worried). Rob and I started clipping off some pretty good miles around 6:20 and this was by far the best part of the race for me. The miles flew by and Rob really gave me some good confidence and helped me more than he knew (thanks again Rob). I felt good here. We went through the half around 1:26:38 (goal was between 1:27:00 and 1:28:00) and I knew that I had at least given myself a shot at sub 3. Right around 14 Rob pulled ahead and I was pretty much on my own. I continued to put down some good splits until the last part of Wasatch. The legs were feeling it pretty good. I passed one guy at the end of this stretch, but then I was really all alone. I hit mile 20 at 2:14:24 (goal was between 2:13:30 and 2:17:20) and I've really given myself a shot to hit the sub 3 now, but the doubts are setting it and I end up walking the uphill portion of foothill by Sunnyside (this 9:02 mile is hard to swallow). Got passed by 3 people here over the next few miles. I got one last good mile in coming down by Rice Eccles (6:48), but now my race is pretty much a run/walk. I go through 22 in 2:30:15 and all I have to do is run 4.2 miles in just under 30 min, but I just didn't have it in me. Struggled the last bit to finish, but ended up passing one guy around mile 25. Overall, not too bad, and I'll keep trying to put in the training to eventually go below the 3 hour mark. It'll come. I wonder if I should have tried to keep up with Rob once he broke away. It was great running with someone and it really helped in those middle miles. I think I just got a bit scared that I wouldn't be able to hold up much longer. I'm sure the legs will be sore, but more than anything I'm just tired. I guess the good thing is that I seem to learn more after each marathon, but I just need to tweak some things going forward.
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