I have to say, for someone who spends most of his time on the treadmill and elliptical, I am thrilled. I will say, compared to last year, I did make an effort to get outside for one longer run a week and I think that helped my legs quite a bit. Prerace, I was fairly confident I could hit 2:55, and the race predictor had me just under 2:53. I thought I would just run by feel and see how things went, of course having some idea of where I hoped to be along the way, but no specific spits or pace chart. I have to say, it was a good omen that even the portopotties freed up right before the race so I could have a last minute second visit. I love seeing so many friends before.
| 1 |
| 6:20 | | Very comfortable, a good sign as I was 45 seconds faster than last year.
| | 2 |
| 6:35 | 12:55 | Again, trying to run within myself and it was dark so I waited until the mile marker to know my split.
| | 3 |
| 6:23 | 19:18 | I tried to not get too excited here, it is easy to get caught up with other runners.
| | 4 |
| 6:17 | 25:35 | Miles are going by fast.
| | 5 |
| 6:25 | 32:01 | Feeling good. Breathing is good.
| | 6 |
| 6:05 | 38:06 | Maybe I should have dropped to 5:xx just so I could have had one. :)
| | 7 |
| 6:05 | 44:11 | Look, matching splits.
| | 8 |
| 7:14 | 51:26 | I didn't want to push too hard up Veyo, as i still consider myself better on the downhills. My uphill treadmill running, however, has helped.
| | 9 |
| 7:02 | 58:28 | Hard for me to be too aggressive on these uphills. | | 10 |
| 6:43 | 1:05:12 | Some headwinds, but not too bad. I still have not settled into a group with anyone, just sort of running my own race.
| | 11 |
| 7:14 | 1:12:27 | Perhaps a bit slow, but I know I am ahead of goal pace.
| | 12 |
| 6:45 | 1:19:12 | Still feeling good on the rollers.
| | 13 |
| 6:22 | 1:25:35 | Getting steeper
Half in 1:26:30 !
| | 14 |
| 6:31 | 1:32:06 | Didn't want to really gun it, still a long way to go.
| | 15 |
| 6:05 | 1:38:11 | Nice fast downhill, maybe too fast.
| | 16 |
| 6:10 | 1:44:22 | Still feeling good, though can feel the last two steep downhills.
| | 17 |
| 6:31
| 1:50:53 | Too early to celebrate, but no crash and burn.
| | 18 |
| 6:27 | 1:57:20 | Same old.
| | 19 |
| 6:55 | 2:04:16 | Last of the bigger uphills. (Probably too slow, since it is a different pounding on the legs.)
| | 20 |
| 6:32 | 2:10:48 | Don't quite have the legs to just open it up and still 10k to go. Looking back, probably should have dug a little deeper without opening up and tried to go 5- 10 seconds faster pace for the next few . . . oh well.
| | 21 |
| 6:12 | 2:17:01 | Wondering if 2:50 is within reach.
| | 22 |
| 6:33 | 2:23:34 | Doubting sub 2:50 since this was not closer to 6:00. Again, my math was off.
| | 23 |
| 6:12 | 2:29:49 | Why do my math skills go away this late in a marathon? I was loser than I thought.
| | 24 |
| 6:37 | 2:36:24 | Just couldn't hold 6:00 with 3 to go.
| | 25 |
| 6:30 | 3:04:43 | Felt like I was going much slower than I was.
| | 26 |
| 7:18 | 2:50:13 | I admit, sort of rested with 2:50 slipping away.
| 26.2
|
| 1:20 (6:04 pace)
| 2:51:33
| I did manage to come down the stretch strong (not blazing) and passed my loving family with a real smile and one guy to move up a spot.
|
Overall, very pleased, 9:27 minute PR and feeling great. 69th overall. 62nd male.
Post race thoughts: I probably did not open up enough on the second half since I was so far ahead of 2:55 pace. If I had more confidence in how I felt I could have flirted with sub 2:50, by going a little faster a little earlier. Still, very satisfied.
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