Notes
My plan was to run the first 7 around my 8:05 marathon pace and then focus on running faster to the end.
There were s couple tough miles with the uphills on 5 & 7. Once I got past those I opened it up and started passing people.
I really had to stay focused, which I haven't recently. That way I kept up a good pace and not letting the body ease into a slower pace. Felt warmer the last couple and I lost some momentum on mile 12 but focused harder the last 1.1 and finished with a strong sprint.
Got a personal escort the last 3/4 miles by one of the race bicyclists who I knew growing up in town.
Happy to get 3rd age group and 20th overall. At one point I heard someone tell the runner in front of me that she was 28th to reach that point, so I did well the second half to move up to 20th from 29th.
7:57 pace the last 6.1, so my first negative split in a long time.