Notes
Wow! After OFTM and the workout last week I had started to get wild dreams of what I could run at NB, "if I can get to 10 miles in 56:30 and hang onto an 18' minute last 5k, that's 74:30!" Actually ended up hitting 10 miles at 55:30 and closing in 17:30, so this went MUCH better than expected (especially given how crappy I felt during the week). I guess I benefited from the extra rest I gave myself.
Woke up ~7:30, had a bagel w/ pb at 8 and another bagel at 9. Took a caffeine pill ~40' before the race. We got to the New Bedford off ramp at about 9:50, but I didn't get off the highway and parked until maybe 10:30... it led to a pretty frantic pre race routine where Shannon had to run and pick up our numbers up, then we had time only to ditch our clothes and do a 3/4 mile jog to the start. Carried a GU with me but never took it, stomach was feeling full and uncomfortable most of the way. Cold day (colder than last year), but less windy thank goodness. Wore a hat and gloves and was comfortable during the race, freezing afterwards though.
Starting line was super cramped, so I couldn't get anywhere near the front (did better than most though). Got out to a pretty fast first mile, packed it up in a big GBTC group for the first two miles to avoid the wind. By mile 3 thing started to spread out, I was feeling good so I was a little aggressive on the hills. Once we turned into the neighborhood section I knew it was time to LIR! Opened up my stride a bit and just cruised, was running faster than I planned but felt good and knew I needed to bank time so I just rolled with it. Was running mostly solo, could see Moyer and some other dudes a ways ahead, passed a few stragglers along the way. Came through 10k in 33:51!! At that point I was feeling great and felt like I had the race in the BAG, assuming I didn't run into any unexpected cramps or GI issues - but I knew that the last 4 miles were gonna be the toughest. Eric H came and passed me just before we got to the windy miles, I sat behind him for a few minutes once we took the turn, until I realized that despite the wind slowing things, I still felt GREAT! Put in a surge and caught Moyer, then just kept rolling. A mile later I was off the water and the wind wasn't so bad, I was calculating projected times based on the splits I was seeing and even after knowing I was running well I couldn't quite trust my math. The final hill felt longg, but wasn't dying at all - if anything felt like I had to get on myself to push more. Slowly reeled in Ian and we had a wild duel to the finish, barely outleaned him only to lose on chip time!
Awesome race, 64.9 VDOT, this may well be my GOAT performance inclusive of college. 5:34 pace for 13.1 !! I have to go for sub 2:40 now... that's over 30s / mile slower. Fingers crossed for nice weather on Patriots day...
Also, 36th overall, definitely my best ever GP finish.
1 JIM SPISAK 27 1:04:50 Providence
2 MATTHEW HERZIG 22 1:07:20 THE HEARTBREAKERS Brookline
3 JONNY WILSON 30 1:07:24 Falmouth
4 RUBEN SANCA 31 1:07:39 WHIRLAWAY RACING TEAM Chelmsford
5 DAN VASSALLO 31 1:07:42 CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS Peabody
6 ROBERT GOMEZ 34 1:08:25 DIRIGO RC Windham
7 SCOTT MINDEL 31 1:08:29 CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS Burlington
8 COLE SANSEVERINO 29 1:08:35 TRACKSMITH HARE AC Boston
9 MATT HILLARD 28 1:08:47 TRACKSMITH HARE AC Boston
10 MANUEL GONZALEZ 28 1:08:59 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Charlestown
11 ROBERT ESPINOSA 33 1:09:25 Western Mass Distance Project Framingham
12 PATRICK CARROLL 26 1:09:42 Schenectady
13 JASON AYR 30 1:09:44 TRACKSMITH HARE AC
14 PAUL GENNARO 23 1:09:45 MOHEGAN STRIDERS New London
15 JEFFREY SEELAUS 23 1:10:11 TRACKSMITH HARE AC Brighton
16 SCOTT LESLIE 35 1:10:23 CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS Rutland
17 CHRISTOPHER HARMON 30 1:10:34 DIRIGO RC Portland
18 RYAN SMITH 22 1:10:39 Farmington
19 ROBERT NORCROSS 36 1:10:41 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Mansfield
20 THOMAS PAGUETTE 26 1:10:57 Keene
21 DERRICK HAMEL 34 1:10:59 Newmarket
22 MATT BROOKER 27 1:11:17 Albany
23 WILL APPMAN 27 1:11:20 GARDEN STATE TRACK CLUB Hoboken
24 JACOB WORMALD 22 1:11:27 GATE CITY STRIDERS Pelham
25 PETER GILMORE 28 1:11:43 BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Brighton
26 ERIC MENDOZA 33 1:11:43 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Dorchester Center
27 BRANDON NEWBOULD 36 1:11:54 WHIRLAWAY RACING TEAM Nottingham
28 SHAUN DEVER 31 1:12:01 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Brighton
29 MICHAEL CREEDON 25 1:12:13 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Providence
30 MALCOLM THOMAS 37 1:12:26 AME FOR IT ELITE Boston
31 JOHN MESSER 32 1:12:27 Western Mass Distance Project Quincy
32 DAVID BEDOYA 41 1:12:30 BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Somerville
33 PATRICK CUNNINGHAM 23 1:12:46 TRACKSMITH HARE AC Pembroke
34 IAN NEILL 33 1:12:56 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Cambridge
35 JOSE ORTIZ 29 1:12:58 WHIRLAWAY RACING TEAM Methuen
36 ROBERT LAMARRE 24 1:13:01 GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB Medford
37 PATRICK CARON 20 1:13:03 NEEDHAM TRACK CLUB Needham
38 SAMUEL FAZIOLI 26 1:13:07 WHIRLAWAY RACING TEAM Salem
39 ROGER DONAGHY 39 1:13:12 BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Melrose
40 TURNER ZAMORE 33 1:13:12 Cambridge