Mill Race Marathon - 7:30am start starting downtown Columbus, IN (my hometown). I have struggled with this race every year, so, this year (about 1 month ago), I ran the course with most of it at goal race pace (intended to do about 18 @MP). Turned out to be a good morning that morning and I easily ran it in decent time for me - 2:52 for full 26.2.
Today, the weather again felt like a decent temperature, but, a deceptive humidity, and ever present 15 mph gust seemed to plague me at every turn. Another bad day for this race for me. A couple of the QuaffON guys were even pacing and breaking wind for the first 10k. 6:20's were easy enough while they broke the wind in front of me. As soon as they split off, and the course made a turn shortly after 10k, a head wind smacked me in the face. About a half mile of that, and my effort level was noticeably out of MP range. Dumbly/stubbornly, I pressed on trying to maintain target pace. I quickly paid the price for my mistake as I tried to take in the first gel- Stomach issues from mile 11 on. I hovered around 7 min. for a while. started really dropping in to some 7:30's-8:00 in last 10k. Scared some poor little girl at mile 22-23 aid station. Tried to drink water and barked/puked in my mouth. 3:04:19 for a GPS 26.6 miles. My final excuse - the course was long, too. Tough day. Strange that I have never done well on actual race day for this race.
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