My ideal goal was to go 2:15 (6:45 pace). Started out with some 6:35-6:40 miles, and was exactly at a 6:45 pace at mile 10. Held 7's for the next 5 miles, then the wheels came off. I made the horrible decision to not carry my water bottle with carbo pro (which is what I have done on every long run this winter) because I thought the extra weight would be annoying. So I thought I would live off the course, which meant gatorade, which I've never had good luck with. Sure enough, as soon as I drank a little at the first aid station I started feeling a little queasy, which led me to drink less at the next few aid stations. I also was trying to push my pace so I did not really slow down to drink, which meant most of what I grabbed ended up on my face and shirt. At the mile 16 aid station I drank most of a cup since my energy was pretty well gone, which resulted in having a ridiculous side cramp for the next few miles which slowed me down more. Slogged through the last few miles to the finish.

So here's the moral of the story, kids: don't try to get through a 20 mile run with 4 little cups of gatorade - you will not like it.


I'm not sure, maybe drink something and take in some calories? Nah, that couldn't be it :).

Even though I didn't meet my goal, I'm happy with the run overall. I'm feeling like a Boston qualifying marathon time is definitely within my reach, and should be even more so by the time I run a marathon this fall.