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Notes

Training Peroid:

Not much to include for training. After working all summer long nearly every weekend, my planned training went out the window. I had high hopes of making another PR attempt this year, but once September came along and I didn't even have a solid 2hr long run, I knew it was out of the question to ask my body of such a feat.

As I reflect only a day after I think everything has a purpose, and this past summer gave me a perspective of the sport that everyone should experience. You race and run in races, but as a employee of a company that hosts them, you see the meat and potatoes of the event. What it takes and how it comes to become reality. Truly well worth it all.

I managed to only get a solid 16 miler at 6:35 pace 3 weeks before. That was the training block. Perfect.

Pre-race:

We walked around the city the couple days leading up. Visiting museums, walking around grant park where the start/finish line is. Quite the sight with 8 foot fencing everywhere, herding hoards of people this way and that way. Would we even be allowed in race morning?

Got a couple of short runs in and I quickly came to the conclusion that city running sucks. Stopping every block waiting for traffic. Dodging pedestrians and even the uncommon pooch or two. Running the evening before the marathon was a nice way to relax and just shake things off.

Race morning:

A quick jaunt to Starbucks for coffee and a bagel, kept things normal. A 2 stop ride of the subway and two block walk to the start line. Not bad at all. The horrible part was waiting around. I had no idea what it would be like with 45,000 people so i got there early. Found a nice spot of the grass in the cool dew and should have laid down,but I continued to sip my coffee and chuckle at all the runners/yoggers doing there odd rituals. Drop my bag, stand in line waiting to take that last leak.

I can see the american development corral from mine (corral A).

My plan: stay with the 3hr pace group for at least 10 miles. The corral is packed like a can of sardines. Not the same energy that you feel at Boston, but lots of great folks nervous and chipper.

Race time:

First 3 miles are crowded...I can see the 3hr pace group 50 yards ahead of me. The crowds are loud.

I lose patience with the horrible pacing of the 3hr group and leap ahead at around 6 miles. I end up running with this guy in a onesie, with music blaring. Rap music at that. Everyone kept giving him glaring eyes, as he continued to sing at the top of his lungs. Effing moron...Needless to say after 10 miles I didn't see him again. I wonder if he even made it under 3:30....

Halfway was perfect..1:28:38. Sure slower than last April, but I felt under control, and lots of pep in my step still. My plan and so far I was sticking to it, was to run comfortably until 20 than hammer down the homestretch.

At 16 I still felt good and began to pass more people without really picking it up much. At this point the weather was still perfect in the mid 50's with a light breeze. I began talking to another runner who stayed with me for a few miles. As we chatted, we passed more people without thinking much of it. Felt good to just relax and let the minutes pass without thinking about them.

At 19. I said enough and started passing people with the conscious effort of picking it up. Legs still felt surprisingly great. With 4 miles to go, I started to count the people I passed. It was a game, but mostly to take my mind off my legs which started to feel a bit wobbly. It seemed to work because by the time I got to 2 to go I had passed over 100 people and my mile splits had gotten nearly 10 seconds faster.

With 800m to go we made a sharp turn right up the overpass which felt like the mdi finish line with the slight grade. A quick left with 200m to go, the stands were empty. Most of the VIP's gone, no one allowed within 400m of the finish line. Nothing like finishing at Boston with hoards of poeple screaming at you. I a tad disappointed. Crossed the finish line with a smile. For nearly no training I had just run a perfect marathon.

The downside of this marathon for sure was the walk to the baggage check and getting through the food area. for 3 blocks you walk straight, than another 400m to bag check, than another 600 m to get back to the finish line party area. Pretty spread out and torture when you just wanna sit down and relax with a beer.

I see why they do it because of so many people you don't want congestion, but come on, at least make a quick exit for those who don't want all the Gatorade crap.

Unofficial Results and Splits:

Splits

Split Time Of Day Time Diff min/mile miles/h

05K 07:51:47AM 00:21:01 21:01 06:46 8.87

10K 08:12:42AM 00:41:56 20:55 06:44 8.91

15K 08:33:22AM 01:02:36 20:40 06:39 9.02

20K 08:54:59AM 01:24:14 21:38 06:58 8.62

HALF 08:59:24AM 01:28:38 04:24 06:28 9.28

25K 09:15:31AM 01:44:45 16:07 06:39 9.03

30K 09:36:11AM 02:05:26 20:41 06:40 9.02

35K 09:56:46AM 02:26:00 20:34 06:38 9.06

40K 10:16:56AM 02:46:10 20:10 06:30 9.25

Finish 10:25:37AM 02:54:51 08:41 06:23 9.42