Notes
I was very nervous coming into the race, still without a lot of confidence after Boston and some mediocre racing throughout the summer and fall. The great news is that we had a good USATF team showing up, with Kieran, Todd, Eric, and others running. Sean, Jake, and a couple of others came to watch and cheer us on. The 'A' goal for the race was to break 2:35, with the 'B' being to PR. Some running calculators extrapolate my ability in the 2:32's but I didn't want to blow up like in boston and I didn't have a good fall predicting race to support going out too fast. Even 2:35 made me a bit fearful. Temps had me nervous going in with a forecast to hit the 70's. Luckily it stayed right around 50 at 8 AM and probably didn't break 60 until the second half the race, where it stayed mid 60's until we were done. Perhaps a few degrees warmer than ideal but it was a non-factor.
The gun went off and I was shocked how many people went out fast. I knew a few of the fast guys out there but there were a lot charging from the start. I settled into some early 5:50's, which was a bit quicker than I anticipated. I found a pack within mile 1 with a few Greater Boston guys and some other randoms. A few of us had similar goals so it seemed like a good group. Within 3 miles Felix Moser and Brendan Boyle joined the pack and we were left with a solid group of 6 (me, Felix, Boyle, Shaun Dever, Scott Burger, and I think someone else). We just rolled for a while feeling pretty comfortable. A great group, whenever we fell off pace just a little, someone grabbed the front and got us back on track pretty quickly. We were all about even pacing and three of us were sharing the front spot to break the negligible wind that was there.
The first loop seemed to pass by pretty quickly and I never got that dead feeling like I had back in Boston around mile 8. I knew I at least extended my breaking point by 5 miles. We passed Liz and the boys just as we crossed the bridge and it was a nice energy boost over that mile passing the crowds before hitting the lonely stretches. That said, even the quiet spots weren't detrimental as it actually helped keep us in a rhythm and even. With too many crowds, somethings we surge unnecessarily or lose focus. I was pretty happy hitting the half at 1:17:08 and part of me recognized that perhaps sub 2:34 could be possible. I knew if I could keep strong I could pick up those 8 seconds on the back half if I kept the pace. From that point on I paid a little more attention to the splits to ensure we weren't giving back too much at any one time. A 6:00 minute mile at this point could easily start to make the sub 2:34 unattainable.
On the second loop we could tell some runners were fading. We slowly began to reel some runners in from ahead and some from our pack began to drop. By the time we hit the far bridge, our pack was now only 3 or 4 and we were beginning to string out. My goal for most of the race had been to hit the 30K mark on pace and then try to gut it out from there. We hit the 30K mark and then Boyle shot off like a cannon. Before long I realized I had started moving into 5:3X pace and quickly backed off before I risked blowing up too soon. I wanted to push hard the second half, but didn't want to go too hard too early. I settled into a 5:45 then tried to get back towards 5:50 or so. I began to pick off more runners, which is always a good confidence boost. I hit the 21 mile mark passing a CRC runner, who I tried to get to tag along with me in hopes that we could work together on the later miles but he was starting to fatigue.
By 23 I was starting to tire and went into survival mode. I wasn't losing pace but I needed to focus to stay on target. there's a couple of rollers during this stretch which although are welcoming for a change in scenery/ground, I could have just used some flat miles to avoid working new muscles.
My mind started to stop becoming a math processor and I struggled to extrapolate where I would finish. I continued to grind and pass the slower half runners/walkers trying to avoid getting caught/tripped up as my form deteriorated. By the 25 mile marker, my slipping math skills suggested that I was going to be mid 2:34, a bit disappointing as I thought I was trying to hold the splits to go under. As we crossed the last bridge I passed another BAA runner, my last marathoner that I would advance beyond. Up ahead another BAA guy (Jason Reilly) was in sight but a bit further than I could reach with less than a mile to go. This last mile seemed to drag on forever and I couldn't wait to just hit the final turn. I passed Culla (walking around after he had already finished his half) and gave a little desperate shout out to him, knowing at least him seeing me would require me to push a little hard.
As I rounded the final turn, I worked down towards the finish line which although seemed close, was still a decent stretch away. I could barely make out on the clock 2:33:XX and knew that perhaps maybe I could sneak under. I found a bit of a surge and kicked in for the last 40 meters. I stared at the clock as I passed the mat and was convinced I had just missed out as it was 2:33:59 as I was starting to hit the mat. Luckily I must have been leaning forward enough to have it give me credit for 2:33:59.9. I wouldn't find out the official time until several minutes later where the timing company had a nice setup to check your times.
I was shocked how fresh I felt after the race walking down the chute. Normally I am limping along but I was able to walk without issue and even talk with a few guys without being dead. Perhaps there was a bit left in me to kick earlier, but who knows. I was pumped to get a new PR, break 2:35, and break 2:34. Several minutes later I found Kieran and Todd who both had huge PRs, going 2:43 and 2:44, respectively. PR's all around, a fun day indeed.
I was really happy with the race, pulling off the negative split, staying consistent with my pacing, and pulling out the 5:40 in mile 26. I need to figure out a goal for Boston now, but until then it's time to recovery and stay healthy.
Lastly, this race got me "iron runner" status by completing the full USATF grand prix this year, the first time I've done the full series.
I switched back to traditional gels (clif brand) for this race from the shot blocks, which just become to difficult for me to chew when i'm tired. I went with two total, going for mile 5 and 15 along with 3 shot blocks 15 minutes before the start. It worked well. if it were warmer, perhaps I would have had a 3rd mid-race. Also with the more reasonable temperatures, I stuck with water the entire race, no Gatorade. Contrast to Boston which I did 1 water and 1 Gatorade at EVERY aid station.
Place Div/Tot Div Name City St Ag S No. 10k 8.5mile Halfway 16.3mil 30k 23mile Net Time Pace Gun Time Qualifier
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1 1/202 MM3039 BRANDON NEWBOULD Nottingham NH 36 M 1511 34:27 47:05 1:12:14 1:30:02 1:42:31 2:06:20 2:23:51.4 5:30 2:23:51.4 BQ
2 2/202 MM3039 RUBEN SANCA Chelmsford MA 30 M 1510 32:47 44:53 1:09:08 1:26:55 1:39:47 2:04:57 2:24:15.0 5:31 2:24:15.5 BQ
3 1/151 MM1629 JONATHAN JOYCE Hull MA 27 M 1504 35:29 48:35 1:14:22 1:32:26 1:45:10 2:09:50 2:28:32.0 5:41 2:28:33.2 BQ
4 3/202 MM3039 DENNIS ROCHE Springfield MA 31 M 1442 35:09 47:59 1:13:35 1:31:47 1:44:36 2:09:50 2:29:03.1 5:42 2:29:04.1 BQ
5 2/151 MM1629 JACOB MAGIERA West Warwick RI 23 M 1218 35:29 48:35 1:14:22 1:33:04 1:46:14 2:11:52 2:30:44.7 5:46 2:30:45.7 BQ
6 3/151 MM1629 BRENDAN BOYLE Plainville MA 26 M 932 36:31 50:08 1:17:07 1:36:15 1:49:36 2:14:47 2:33:18.9 5:52 2:33:20.0 BQ
7 4/202 MM3039 JASON REILLY East Greenwich RI 34 M 1585 36:08 49:35 1:16:31 1:35:34 1:48:58 2:14:46 2:33:45.1 5:53 2:33:46.6 BQ
8 5/202 MM3039 CHRISTOPHER KLUCZNIK Needham MA 35 M 1384 36:32 50:08 1:17:08 1:36:15 1:49:44 2:15:21 2:33:59.9 5:53 2:33:59.9 BQ
9 6/202 MM3039 COLIN CARROLL Andover MA 32 M 1419 35:32 48:36 1:14:29 1:33:32 1:47:23 2:35:05.1 5:56 2:35:06.2 BQ
10 7/202 MM3039 BRAD MISH Dorchester MA 30 M 1586 35:28 48:34 1:14:21 1:32:48 1:46:13 2:13:03 2:35:06.9 5:56 2:35:09.2 BQ
11 4/151 MM1629 BILLY WARREN Brighton MA 25 M 1374 35:54 1:49:20 1:16:34 2:15:39 2:35:21.5 5:56 2:35:22.2 BQ
12 5/151 MM1629 CHRISTOPHER BATTOO Boston MA 29 M 1443 36:18 49:37 1:16:31 1:35:57 1:49:33 2:35:42.3 5:57 2:35:42.9 BQ
13 8/202 MM3039 JOHN MESSER Quincy MA 31 M 1387 36:59 50:35 1:17:13 1:36:14 1:49:38 2:15:51 2:35:46.1 5:57 2:35:47.7 BQ
14 9/202 MM3039 SCOTT LESLIE Rutland MA 36 M 1514 36:59 50:36 1:17:47 1:37:07 1:50:47 2:17:25 2:36:31.5 5:59 2:36:32.6 BQ
15 10/202 MM3039 SHAUN DEVER Brighton MA 30 M 1413 36:30 50:07 1:17:05 1:36:13 1:49:45 2:16:39 2:37:58.2 6:02 2:37:59.9 BQ
16 1/215 MM4049 ALAN BERNIER Braintree MA 43 M 1417 37:27 51:11 1:18:44 1:38:34 1:52:29 2:19:07 2:38:46.7 6:04 2:38:48.4 BQ
17 2/215 MM4049 ROBERT ASHBY Brunswick ME 49 M 1441 38:13 52:22 1:20:34 1:40:37 1:54:51 2:42:42.1 6:13 2:42:43.1 BQ
18 11/202 MM3039 ANDREAS HEILMANN Brookline MA 33 M 1587 38:39 52:45 1:21:10 1:41:09 1:55:07 2:22:21 2:43:20.5 6:15 2:43:23.9 BQ
19 3/215 MM4049 KIERAN CONDON Milton MA 40 M 1335 38:54 52:53 1:21:06 1:41:06 1:55:04 2:22:25 2:43:21.8 6:15 2:43:27.6 BQ
20 12/202 MM3039 TIM MORRIS Londonderry NH 36 M 5 36:56 50:54 1:18:58 1:41:54 1:56:36 2:23:33 2:44:36.6 6:17 2:44:36.6 BQ
21 13/202 MM3039 TODD PROKOP Somerville MA 32 M 1593 39:12 53:50 1:22:56 1:43:14 1:57:33 2:24:58 2:44:45.6 6:18 2:44:50.8 BQ
22 1/127 MM5059 DAVID PRINCIPE SR Johnston RI 50 M 1414 38:40 52:45 1:21:11 1:41:41 1:56:11 2:23:42 2:44:48.4 6:18 2:44:50.4 BQ
23 14/202 MM3039 NATE BROOKS Raleigh NC 31 M 1236 1:42:06 53:14 1:21:46 1:56:31 2:24:14 2:44:59.8 6:18 2:45:02.8 BQ
24 15/202 MM3039 KEVIN ALLIETTE Methuen MA 36 M 1512 38:38 52:43 1:20:52 1:41:47 1:56:11 2:24:14 2:45:27.2 6:19 2:45:32.6 BQ
25 6/151 MM1629 ALEX ELD Somerville MA 28 M 1356 39:53 54:40 1:24:20 1:44:45 1:58:56 2:25:47 2:45:31.7 6:20 2:45:37.0 BQ
6. Somerville Road Runners
2:34:00 2:43:28 2:44:51 (3:14:37) (5:02:39) = 8:02:19
CHRISTOPHER KLUCZNIK 35 M, KIERAN CONDON 40 M, TODD PROKOP 32 M, TIM
BLANCHARD 42 M, DANIEL MCCARTHY 69 M