Overall I am thrilled with how the race went. I had set a goal high to break 3:10 in order to qualify for Boston. I missed the goal by 9 seconds, but crushed my PR from earlier this year by over 14 minutes. I was also able to negative split the course and never really crashed. First half 1:35:59, second half 1:34:09
We were lucky enough to be able to stay with my cousin the night before. Slept pretty good considering. Laurel dropped me off at the start and headed up on the buses to the start. I could tell by the flags blowing it would be a great race for a lot of people. Tailwind for the first half or so. I tried to stay warm and met up with Mark Ellison and Mike at the start. I was shivering trying to stay warm probably more nerves than cold.
My plan was to at least get myself into a position to be able to reach my goal the first half. The gun went off and I was just getting into a groove, everything felt comfortable and smooth.
1. 7:28 getting warmed up 2. 7:24 feeling good 3. 7:10 now on track still feeling really comfortable and the next couple miles just clicked away, chatted with a few people who were after the same goal. 4-7. 7:00,6:58,6:55,6:56, coming up to Veyo just tried to stay relaxed through the hills and not burn my legs out, 7:49,7:32,7:25,7:41, whew still feeling ok just got to get my legs moving again, miles12-13,7:25,7:13.
Hit the half in 1:35:59, I was right about where I needed to be. Now was the time to push it in if my legs would allow, mile 14-18, 7:19, 6:54,7:02,7:07,7:12, I was still feeling really good through these miles. I did not even feel my shin/calves for pretty much the whole race. I used my compression socks and had them taped at the expo the night before.
The hill at 19 really took a hit on my time 7:46, mile 20,7:19. My quads really started to get tight in here. I kept trying to focus and keep pushing. I told myself to just take it one mile at a time, and not thing about how much further I needed to go. I just told myself you can keep this pace for one mile then go from there. Just keep fighting.
Mile 21, 7:00, mile 22 7:17 for some reason I think there was a little hill in here that just killed me, maybe not. Mile 23, 7:12 just taking it a mile at a time. Only a 5k left you can do this. Mile 24 7:03, I knew it would be close trying to push it as much as I can. Quads screeming at this point. Mile 25 7:12 the crowd were a huge boost and I was still pushing. I saw the time on the last mile and knew I had to run sub 7 to get my goal. I was pushing with all I had 7:09, last bit to the finish line 6:28. It was actually a sprint for me at this point. My legs just couldn't give any more.
Hit my watch 3:10:08, I was actually elated at this point. I trained hard for this one and now I have a carrot to chase after next year....
I couldn't find my wife after the finish for about an hour. She missed me finishing somehow. Other than my quads being tight my legs felt ok after the race. I am so grateful I did not injure something. The night after the race I thought I would recover pretty fast. Then I woke up the next morning. Ouch. They are a little better this morning, just need to get moving on them.
I know if I keep building up on my base miles I can break 3:10, or crush it next year. I am planning on signing up for Utah Valley next spring. Any advise on what I need to do to take it to the next level from here? | 