Marlin

I had a fun time at the start with my wife and talked to alot of our friends also. Got in line at the start and seen some of my friends ahead of me. The race got started and I was not going to do the hold back over the first few miles like I usually do and just went into my goal race pace from the start. Things were going good and I felt well running a 7:20 pace over the first 7 miles and was wanting to hit the half at 1:37 and hit the mat at 1:36:52 and was very happy with that but knew it was going to be a challenge over the next few miles as the hills was going to slow me some. I thing I ran the hills very well today as I just wanted to run them at an even effort and not to push it, hit the 18 mile mark a 2:18:07 (7:33) and as we crossed the dam and was on the down hill I had started to feel a slight cramp in the back of my left leg and did stop for a 30 to 45 seconds to stretch it out and it seamed to help alot as it never didn't come back again.  The down hill I just had fun with as I was not trying to hold back but not to push the pace.  23.1 was 2:52:12 (7:28).  I find that the park seams to be the most challenging with all the quick up hills and alot of turns and found the pace slowed but I expected that to happen here and got out of the park and hit mile 25.2 at 3:10:31 (7:34) and was very happy with just on mile to go and just needed to hang onto the 7:30 ish pace and I did and felt strong even over the last mile and finished 3:17:58.  This was my best pacing in a race that I have done out of the 28 marathons that I have done. I was looking to maybe hit a top 3 AG but was one off and finished 4 in my group of 101.  I had alot of fun today and learned alot from this race as no matter how many races you have run there is still something to learn from all of them.