Generally uneventful...happily. Plan was to go out at 8:15 the first mile then build to 8:09 or better by mile 3--with an ultimate target of 3:33--but I felt very comfortable and smooth and in a nice aerobic zone at 7:55-8:00 by my Garmin. Having run several long runs well under 8:00 over the last 6 weeks, I decided to stay there as long as I was showing no strain. Mostly, though, my strategy was just to stay within line of sight of the Clif Bar Pace Group for 3:30...and make a decision later on in the day whether to try to catch them. Interestingly, I did gradually drift back from them even though my Garmin was showing me running generally at about a 3:28-3:29 pace...either the Garmin was crediting too much distance or I was taking even longer tangents than usual (I always take turns wide, because my left arch and ankle just don't handle sharp turns).

There was a guy shadowing me for much of the first six miles. Eventually he started asking me what time I had when we passed various mile markers and we started talking a little bit. He was running the half marathon (which starts simultaneously with the mary) and was a bit taken aback to discover I was running the full at the pace I was holding. It was his first half--his fiancee was trying for her first sub-2:00 finish and "made him run it"--he was also wanting to go under 2:00 and I have to say he was really crushing it. Said so long to him at the full/half split (around mile 11) and also bid adieu to the nearly 10,000 runners in the half that were crowding the course for the 3,600 of us doing the full. ;)

(Which reminds me of advice I got at the start from a guy who was doing the half, but had done the full twice before: This is a race where you really have to remind yourself that the vast majority of people around you--esp. if you are a faster marathoner--are doing the half, not the full.)

I was sticking to hydration and nutrition I'd used in training: One GU gel every 30 minutes, sticking mostly to water at aid stations, but taking a couple ounces of Powerade when offered, then washing down with water.

Calf injury wasn't bothering me and neither was the calf wrap I had on. I always divide marathons into three parts: The comfortable "base distance" part, the middle section where you are fatigued and starting to accumulate various specific issues, and then the stretch where you are just gutting it out. The longer you stay in each of the first two, the better the race. This time, the comfortable section lasted until into mile 14...left (i.e., uninjured) calf started to really tighten up there. Fortunately, I was able to ease it out by mile 17...although then my chronic issues in my left foot (arthritis and PTT) were in evidence.

Just kept churning out mile splits between 7:55 and 8:00 or so. At LA in March, I'd hit the wall--hard--in mile 18. This time, I was hurting (both calves, left foot) by then, but I threw in a sub-7:45 mile at 19 just to show myself I was going to get it done. When I got mile 20 done in 7:55, I was homefree...as long as nothing blew up that would make me walk.

Around 19, I got a little tightness in the left hammie behind the knee, so I started to moderate things a bit. I knew I had a decent hill around 22-23, so I was preparing myself mentally for that. I was also doing the math every mile now: Looked like I was solid for 3:31:30-3:32:30. Now it was just a matter of engaging my core and keeping my knees alive. Last 10K was all 8:02-8:14 splits...but I reminded myself that at LA, miles 23 and 24 were both around 10:10.

This race starts the walkers ahead of the runners. I caught the main pack of walkers (and the runners who'd gone out fast and blown up, I'm sure) along Ocean Ave, miles 22-26. Had to move all the way to the left in the opposite traffic lane to have clear room to run. I think only one guy passed me here and I was passing most of the other people who were running.

Finally, I rounded the last turn and saw the finish line about 4/10 of a mile ahead. Have to admit I started to tear up for the first time in a race: I was going to Boston after a year that started with me on the shelf completely with two injuries that had me wondering if I'd ever get back to form. Accelerated a bit down the stretch and heard Liz yell out for me from the crowd. Gun time on the finish line display showed under 3:33...I was punching my Boston ticket with three minutes to spare.

Nothing. I went out faster than planned, but the reality was that I was prepared for that pace. Doing regular long runs at approximate race pace showed me precisely where my fitness was. Won't ever not do that, no matter how many BT know-it-alls try to suggest otherwise.

Garmin had my 26.2 mile actual split at 3:29:12 (total actual distance covered at finish was 26.65 miles), so I probably could have taken a shot at an official sub-3:30, but--honestly--I was on fumes for miles 25 and 26, so I don't think I would have gotten there.

Liz found me right away and we walked around for a bit. At LA this year, I passed out about 90 minutes after the race and ended up on an IV, so she was watching my color closely. I felt a lot better than after LA, but wasn't taking any chances on forcing down calories like I did there--concentrated on sipping water, then sports drink. Used the portapotty and felt stronger after that: Liz even commented that I looked better after that. :)

Probably the best I've felt after a marathon, inspite of putting up a new PR by more than ten minutes (10:06, actually).


Nothing. Only potential limiter going in was the pulled calf muscle and it was a non-factor...probably 85% healed by the start and actually felt better after the race.


This is an excellent course for a BQ attempt. Only a handful of short hills, none of them significant. Aid stations are at unusual intervals, not every mile. Limited free food (but free beer) at the finish, but several "gourmet" food trucks there. Nice winding course that shows you most of the "sights" of the LBC...excellent spectator and musical support on the Cal State Long Beach campus around miles 17-19.