Cleveland Marathon - RunMarathon

first marathon, in corral hung out with 3:55 pace group, then when race started, lost them, miles 1-3 easy, felt good, 9:05, 8:34, 8:36, then around mile 4 saw the 3:45 pace group which was going to pass me, decided to hang with them, chatted with a few, miles 4-6 still felt easy 8:37, 8:38, 8:40 felt like I could go faster, hung with pace group miles 7-9 or so 8:19, 8:34, 8:34, then felt good so sped up slightly ahead of the pace group for 10-12, 8:16, 8:31, 8:11 still felt very comfortable and like I could run all day, used a porta potty at mile 13 or so, 13-16 still going good, ahead of the pace group 8:02, 8:19, 8:43, mile 16 or so in the sun long stretch legs started to feel a little sore, needed to slow down, 8:51, 8:46, 8:20, 3:45 pace group caught me then, stayed with them hurting a little more through next few miles coming back toward Cleveland in the hot sun, started walking all water stations 8:51, 8:16, 8:38 for mile 22, mile 23 - quads pretty sore, at water station, walked for 60 seconds, then walked again, 8:54, then 10:12 for mile 24, felt like my calf was going to cramp, but had enough to finish, albeit walking some then running the last couple of miles, 9:24, 9:22, then for last half (instead of .2, course long, 8:32 pace)

hydration was good, hot day, drank 2 cups of water at every water station, had 5-6 gels, had more water later on, I thought pacing was OK just the last 3 miles hurt, comfortable through 18-20,

walked, massage wait time was 1 hour,


heat, muscle soreness in the later miles, felt really good for first 15-16 miles, started to get a little uncomfortable about 16, hung in there, needed a self pep talk at mile 23 to get me to the end


fun race for first marathon, really enjoyed the first 16 miles while feeling good, hot day so the last 3-4 were really tough, but that makes it worthwhile