All of my other times (5K, 10K, training pace) pointed to about a 2:15 finish. After reviewing the course, I knew my knees couldn't take fast downhills - the roads are not great. I lined up with the 11:00 minute mile sign. The race was huge - it took us about 3 minutes to make the start line.

The combo of the hills and the surface conditions ( the roads felt like sidewalks ) madle my legs hurt a lot around mile 7. I had to walka bit - probably 1/2 mile between miles 7 and 11.5. I was feeling great up till then. I paced myself pretty well - I saw people walking after just a mile or so - we started with a hill, luckily I live at the bottom of a hill and always start my runs on an incline.

Not fall on that banana peel at the aid station. Carry some Accelade, since Gatorade & GU don't work for me.

Walked around, had some ice & fruit.


The course, and hammie & butt cramps that came with it. My limiter was my muscles, not cardio - I stayed in a 3/2 pattern the whole time, and wasn't breathing noticeably hard most of the time.


The energy on this race was really good - there were people cheering all along the route, even in the not so super neighborhoods. The water stops were really well manned and supplied. They did need a few more volunteers in the finish area to hand out medals - I saw people who couldn't find their marathon medals. Maybe having a separate marathon and half chute would be a good idea. The main limiter is the road conditions - the roads are hard and messy, and for about one mile they were torn up (milled). I would never do the full here for that reason - my body couldn't take it. The Baltimore PD and the volunteers did a great job.