I just stayed right on my pacer's heels the whole time. One time a couple years ago I went with a pace group and was running 100ft ahead of the group for the 1st 1/2 and I ended up finishing about a minute later. So this time I figured I don't want to have to break any wind and just stayed in the second row behind the pacer and a couple other guys. It paid off! I felt really great for most of the race. His plan was to go out for the first 6 or 7 miles a little faster than pace, then 7-9 a little slower just because the course was slower, then the rest @ pace. It worried me, as I prefer to go out slower in the 1st 5 miles. But I figured it's better to go with the pace group even if it doesn't correlate exactly with my own strategy. A couple sub 7:20 miles didn't feel too fast at all, I was just worried if I'd feel it after mile 20. At 1/2 marathon point I was at 1:39:27 - perfect! I didn't feel like I just ran a 1/2 marathon either. I was using my 10-10-10 mental game (for the 1st 10 miles run a warm up), next 10 miles - a workout, last 10K - a race. It always works great for me! Even at 20 miles I still felt awesome. I was planning if I break away to run a sub 3:18 that's where I'd do it. Till the very moment I though I might do it, but as soon as I took a few steps of my 10K race, i.e. beginning of mile 21, I started feeling it for some reason. I didn't bonk, but just my legs started getting tired and for a little there I was even worried whether I'd be able to hang with the pace group. I did that just fine, but I couldn't break away that's for sure. In fact, they slowed down just a bit, because we had some "time in the bank", so I figured just run with them and make a sub 3:20. I ended up breaking away a little bit in the last mile, so I crossed the finish at 3:19:08, they finished about 1/2 a minute later. I am happy to do so great! - almost 7 minutes better than my last PR (3:25:52). I didn't qualify for NY - oh well, just leave something to look forward to for next time.

Part of me wishes I pulled ahead earlier in the race - mile 17 or so. This one girl who ran with our group did that and she came in at 3:17. I kind of pussed out on that, thought I would do it at mile 20, and didn't have the energy then, I only needed a little bit, just a touch over a minute. But who knows, what if I'd bonk then? I had a great race and felt great after, that's what matters!

I wanted to get a massage, but the line was too long (as always!). Food wasn't that great, so I grabbed a couple bites and drank a tons of water. Post race activities weren't all that great, but it didn't matter, Richard and I were just happy to both have run such great races. (He smoked 3 hours - 2:54!) So we took showers, checked out of our hotel, and went to have a big tasty lunch at a cute mexican grill.


Being conservative when I should have pulled ahead, and not being able to do it later in the race.


I would love to run this race again next year! It's just got a perfect vertical profile for me. I think on a purely flat race I would get more tired faster. Rolling hills work different mussles, and legs stay fresh longer.
I am happy with the training I did for this - 5-6 consistent long runs really helped as well as speedwork. Even though I didn't log too many miles (a few sub 40 miles weeks even) truely it's the quality workouts that matter!
Most importantly, I think I realized that I can do better! Sub 3:20 used to seem like something impossile, now I feel like 3:15 is somewhere close! Next time, if we pick a good course, especially with pacers, I might try for that. If I log a little more miles in training it's definitely possible!