Originally, the plan for this one was simple.  As part of the Buffalo News Runner of The Year series, I'd try to get my AG points and go home.  (Well, actually I'd go to work afterwards.)

Mother nature had other ideas, serving up an ideal day -- cloudy and 50 with showers ending just before the start.  On a severely flat course, why not take a run at a NYCQ now?  The upcoming Buffalo Marathon half will likely be warmer and more crowded.

For the early miles, I fell in behind a pack and stayed just under the 6:00 miles I wanted.  (That lead guy won in 1:13, with 2nd at 1:14:44.)  A few of the pack turned out to be doing the simul-start 10K and split off at their turnaround, and I focused on my own goal from there, letting the remaining guys go.  One got reeled back in around 5.5 miles, and another way out at 10+, but other than that it was lone racing.

A simple out and back course, at our turnaround I felt confident.  Then, two miles of headwind coming off the open Niagara River directly to the right made things really tough.  I think I gave away about 35 seconds in that stretch, and 8-12 were not enjoyable at all as I tried to make up lost time while progressively fatiguing a little more each split.  The guy I passed there said only "it's pretty quiet out here."  "Yeah."  It was, almost eerily so.  No traffic, no nature sounds, the small knots of spectators in the rearview. It was quiet and lonely.

At the 12 marker, things were looking grim, but I tried to drop a desperately prolonged surge, hoping beyond hope.  Not a chance -- I came in at 1:19:30, missing NY by 31 seconds.

It was a PR, it was a AG win, it was even overall points towards ROTY, 6th of the top 10 spots good for scoring.  It felt incredibly hollow, coming up short by less than 3 seconds per mile.  I wasn't puking, or cramping up, or lying in a pool on the ground, so those 3 seconds/mile should have been doable.

I'm looking forward to my next chance already.

That's actually not bad at all for an impromptu shot at such a tough qualifying time. I feel your pain though being so close to the stupid thing, but coming off of your marathon those 31 seconds are an eternity.

Had this been a goal event for you (and treated with everything that goes with that therein), you likely would have nailed it so that bodes well for your next crack at it provided the sun is not out baking cookies that morning.

Nice race, Jay.  Sorry about those 31 seconds.

You may want to reexamine your taper prior to another NYCQ attempt. An ultra and Boston in the preceding weeks isn't the normal recommendation.   I'm amazed at how quickly you've bounced back to be able to run 1:19 so soon.

Great race (as usual), Jay!

Congrats on the PR and AG win.

Great job, Jay! I have no doubt that you'll get the qualifying time real soon. Congrats on your AG win and scoring points toward the series. Keep up the strong running.

Eric

Damn Jay, you're a machine. You'd have that qualifier no doubt if it weren't for all the racing miles lately. That's still blazing fast. Barring a leg falling off, the qualifier will be there for sure. I love reading about your running exploits. Keep them coming!