ING New York City Marathon - RunMarathon

My goal was 2:59:59. I cleared this by almost 2 minutes, but I definitely could have failed. Basically, I paced myself terribly. Right off the first mile, I knew I was going too fast. I had intended to run 6:50 throughout the race to break 3 hours. The first uphill mile should have been slow--around 7:45, but I went 6:55. The second mile should have been 6:30 or so, but I went 6:04. Each successive mile in the first half was too fast by about 30 seconds. Part of the problem was that I was feeling good--as anyone would near the beginning--and I also had a group that I felt I could hang out (including one very beautiful woman, whom I wanted to keep up with).

Well, after coming in at the 13.1 mile mark in 1:24 (6:24/mile pace), the wheels fell off the bus. I realized that I could no longer keep up. I also realized that I was starting to feel some pretty serious pain in my muscles. This sense of heaviness worried me. By mile 17, I had hit a wall. My legs started seizing up. At one point, probably around mile 20, I literally had a cramp/spasm in both legs from my butt all the way down to my ankles. Entire leg seizure. PAIN.

At this point, recognizing the electrolyte imbalance, I scarfed down a whole Clif Bar and sucked in two PowerGels I had picked up at the station. I knew I needed the electrolytes to keep my muscles working. It worked.

I made it all the way to the home stretch on 5th and Central Park. I knew I could still break 3 hours as long as I didn't cramp up again. I paced conservatively and made sure to just hold it at about 7:10 pace--no slower--so that I could leave a comfortable cushion and still break 3 hours.

I DID IT!!!!!

I would not run like an idiot by running 6:24 pace for the first half. I would start slow and accelerate. I do feel, though, that this fly and die strategy might suit me well because it forced me to push myself to the extreme extreme. That is, if I started conservative and ramped up, I probably wouldn't have pushed myself as hard (I also would have felt a lot better at the finish line...).

Was taken to the medical tent after collapsing at the finish line. I was really okay; I just needed to collapse for a few seconds. Got out of the tent and walked to 86th St to pick up my stuff.


Poor pacing. I flied and died. Fastest mile was 6:04 (2nd mile), but I went as slow as 7:39!


A truly one of a kind race. Spectacular in every regard.