Short report: took 3rd place overall with 2:19:48. We'll see if they update my official time, but if it holds it is the EXACT same time I ran there 3 years ago, which is pretty crazy. Split it different this time though, as I went through the half in 1:08:40. Started falling off and hurting by mile 16, but hung on to average about 5:30/mile over those last 10 miles, and move up from 4th to 3rd at mile 23. Happy wit the sub-2:20 on a legit course, especially after not racing a marathon in almost 2 years. Still got it.
Full report:
We had a perfect morning to run: low-40s for temp, with almost no wind, probably just 5mph from the west. Can't ask for anything better. Just wore singlet, shorts, and light gloves.
We had a good field to run with today, along with about 4 Kenyans and Jesse Davis (runner-up from last year), we also had an official 2:18 pacesetter in Scott Wietecha. My primary goal was to win the race. The ultimate time goal was sub-2:18 of course, but in reality I knew I'd be pretty happy with sub-2:20. I didn't really have any evidence that sub-2:18 was feasible, based on workouts and recent races, but was confident enough in my ability to "hang on" last in a marathon to give it a try anyway. I wanted to go out right at 1:09 for the half.
The race started, and immediately I found Scott and tucked in behind. The half marathon starts at the same time, so it was hard to tell who was in the half and who was in the full, but I knew Scott was gonig to try to hit my pace. Unfortunately, Scott ran the first 4 miles a bit too fast, although it all felt fine to me. Our pace settled out after that. By several miles in, we had Scott, then me, Jesse Davis, and three Kenyans. First 6 miles were 5:12, 5:07, 5:04, 5:11, 5:23, and 5:13. 32:20 for 10K.
The half marathoners split off just after Mile 7, and it wasn't until then that I was totally sure that we were the lead pack. One of the Kenyans dropped sometime before the half, although I don't remember where. Other than the first 4 or 5 miles, Scott got in a real nice pacing groove for the rest of the race. I felt good and relaxed during the next several miles, up until just after the half. Breathing was nice and easy, and I chatted with Scott a here and there to pass the time. Amazing what sea level can do for the lungs. Miles 7-13 were 5:14, 5:19, 5:14, 5:16, 5:18, 5:15, 5:14. Half marathon split was 1:08:38. A bit fast, but I was still feeling strong and easy.
Still in our pack of 5 after the half, with Scott pacing the way. Miles 14-15 were 10:27, and then 5:17 for Mile 16. Unfortunately, things suddenly started getting very hard during Mile 16. Part of this was because the only real hill was during this mile. But the effect lasted for the rest of race. Breathing went from conversional to labored. My legs and feet were already feeling beat up by this point, but I'm amazed how fast my breathing went south.
Both Jesse Davis and I dropped during Mile 17, and the two Kenyans stuck easily with Scott. I was 5:25 for Mile 17, and then 5:35 for Mile 18. Part of the slowness for Mile 18 was due to taking my last Gu, and having to fumble around with the packet. 1:38:19 at 30K. Mile 19 was 5:19, due to a nice downhill during this mile.
Jesse Davis got away from me a bit during the next couple miles, which were 5:36 and 5:30. While it was discouraging to be fall off the pace after 16 miles, I was encouraged quite a bit by the fact I could still stick 5:30 miles despite feeling so slow and beat up. At Mile 20, I did some mental math, and figured out that if I could close with a 34:00 10K, I would break 2:20 and come really close to my course best (which I count as my non-aided PR). Uncannily close to my PR, actually. So I figured out even then that I would need a few sub-5:30's in order to avoid hitting the same time twice (nothing worse that that).
I was 5:31 and then 5:25 for Miles 22 and 23. My whole body is hurting now, including a sore groin muscle I had been nursing the last few weeks of training. But Jesse Davis was coming back to me now, and that was encouraging too. Also, I passed Scott in here somewhere, as he had finished his pacing duties at Mile 20 and was now jogging it in (he ended up jogging in for 5th and some prize money).
I passed Jesse right at the Mile 23 marker, and tried to keep pushing once I was past him to avoid and potential pass-backs. 5:28 for Mile 24. By now the marathon route had merged back with the half marathon, so there were lots of people on the course. Fortunately, the race does a great job in partitioning the road, with one side for half runners and the other side for full runners. The half marathoners helped, as we could all cheer for each other, and it motivated me to have folks around. Plus I knew if I could finish pretty strong, I still had an excellent shot at my flat-course PR.
Mile 25 was 5:31. Tried to put everything I had into the last mile, and I could feel my form just falling apart during the last half mile. Still managed a 5:30. As I turned the last corner, and came up on the finish line, I could see the clock and knew it would be very close. Was a little disappointed, but also a little amused, to see the clock click over to 2:19:48 as I ran across the line. What are the odds of running the same time twice?
I would have loved to run even just a few seconds faster, but still have to laugh about it. At age 34 and with 21 marathons under my belt now, I can't expect to be smashing PR's all the time, but I wasn't expecting syndicated re-runs either.
But all in all, I'm pretty happy with this race, as I did achieve my goal of going under 2:20, and it's only the 2nd time I've done it on an unaided course. I was also happy to be 3rd,. The 2 Kenyans ahead of me ran 2:16:41 and 2:18:27, so no shame in losing to that. The finish was worth $600, plus much more in "renewing" my marathon time for a couple years, which will be worth hundreds in entries, accommodations, and travel to future races.
...and...in reality I did end up with a 1-second PR!. All this time I thought I had ran 2:19:48 at the 2010 race, but when I just now looked at my official results from that year, they actually have me down for 2:19:49. So I'll take it: a PR is a PR. I'm glad that 3 years has led to an improvement of 0.038sec/mile. Makes the last 10,000 miles of training worth it. :-) No seriously, I'm just glad I'm not washed up. I was telling Jake and Andrea afterward that I could run 2:19:48 every race for the next 10 years, it would still be pretty fulfilling, and I'm grateful every time just for the health and ability to run a marathon period, and a fast marathon even moreso.
For my next marathon I think I will take it out quite a bit slower, probably 1:09:15 or so. I really need to break 2:19 before I break 2:18, and I think the faster first half hurt me a bit today, although you can never know for sure.
Edit (11/8): Official time is now listed as 2:19:47, so make that a two second PR!
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