Notes
Got up at 6:40 and made myself a small vanilla milkshake right away. I'm starting to like this as pre-race nutrition. Start time temp was forecast at 50F, which would have been fine for short sleeves, but I decided it would be appropriate to wear my NYC shirt, since that race was going on at the same time, and the 2014 Halfsy qualified me for 2015 NYC. Left around 7:30 so that I could get good parking at Seacrest.
Took an easy jog and a non-urgent porta-potty session, then headed for the start. Big mob scene. Pretty thrilled that Crazy Eddie and Abby would again be my pacers. Before the start, Eddie introduced himself and Abby, and told us to trust them, and they would get us there in 1:40. We started, and the pace was comfortable for me; at times, I couldn't have gone faster if I had wanted to, due to congestion. Most of the inclines were in the first 5 miles, and Eddie exhorted us to take it easy on these, and pack together on the declines. That worked for me. I was hanging with Eddie for the first 2/3 of the course. Unexpectedly good support on 70th and the new Fox Hollow loop. The first water station was at the 5K point, and I tried to get a cup but failed to get around the other runners before the station was passed. Oh well, next one.
East High pep band and several other groups already encountered. I waved at the drone on 70th.
Got first water at mile 5, coming out of Holmes park. Eddie was cracking his bad jokes and cavorting and arousing the spectators all along. He saw my NYC shirt and let me know I was in the wrong race. Some of his joking concerned how much drinking he had done last night. I still was more comfortable hanging at the back of the group with him rather than pushing myself to catch up with Abby.
40th & South was mile 7, and it is nice that the course extension puts us beyond half by this point. Dottie L's string group was playing here, but I didn't realize it was her. She saw me, though.
Pretty long trek along Normal, but I was in the zone and didn't really feel like it was too long. Came to Randolph and the switch to the trail between miles 8 and 9. From here on, I found myself pacing off of Abby, not Eddie, and I began to notice that our group was getting pretty strung out. I occasionally heard Eddie, but he seemed pretty far back. My distance from Abby undulated, but I didn't get too far back.
Miles 10-11 took us around Devaney. Pretty long, but better than the old out-and-back. Along New Hampshire in the North Bottoms, I saw a couple of dogs, one of which could have been a sibling of Ash. No wait, it was Ash, and Sage, and DD. The dogs were brawling and DD was trying to break it up as I passed. Evidently Sage got excited when she saw me. Anyway, I yelled her name and I think she responded.
From there on past Haymarket park I was really having to fight to keep up my pace. Ann and LRC were cheering for us there. She said only 5 more minutes, but they were long minutes. The climb up the pedestrian bridge was brutal; several were walking it. I was right with Abby at the top, however, and I took off with all I could muster for the last 0.1, passing her and finishing in what I hoped was under 1:40. High-fived and hugged and thanked her. She really did an excellent job, in spite of coming in at 1:40:12. I didn't see any other members of our (originally large, maybe 50) pace group finishing near the two of us. Evidently Eddie really was feeling the indulgences of the night before, because he finished at 1:40:26.
Some more stats, I think indicating good pacing:
Split Time Time Split Time TOD O Pos C Pos G Pos Dist Pace
First 3.1 00:24:05.2 00:24:05.2 00:24:05.2 08:55:48.9 413 3 293 3.1 7:46
Next 6.9 01:15:59.8 01:15:59.8 00:51:54.6 09:47:43.6 261 3 186 6.9 7:31
Last 3.1 01:40:01.3 01:40:01.3 00:24:01.4 10:11:45.1 207 3 155 3.1 7:44
Splits from my watch:
1 8:08
2 7:47
3 7:42
4 7:28
5-6 14:32
7-8 14:43
9 8:11
10 7:31
11 7:57
12 7:23
13 7:56
13.1 0:44