The first mile was pretty chaotic considering my starting position. I tried to run straight lines and stay out of the pack. I mostly ended up running just across the midline or on the shoulder. The second mile was still congested, but less chaotic. I had to use the garmin for pacing these first few miles – I seemed to be either at 7 even or well faster than target for some reason.

We got out of the canyon at mile 4 and the course started to flatten and we lost our tailwind. Despite having to concentrate a lot on pacing, I really felt good at this point and simply wanted to stay strong and in control. I was a bit concerned that the pacing would get increasingly difficult as the miles passed and the grade shallowed – it did.
The only real climb came in the 6th mile. It was a non-factor. My hr was 175 (bottom of z4) going into it and I stopped looking at the pace and just nailed a steady HR. I peaked and had a sip of Heed at the top. A good downhill after the crest and I let myself log my fasted mile split here (6:40 – which I probably shouldn’t have done).

I started feeling fatigued around mile 7 and really fatigued in miles 9 & 10, and my mile splits show it. My plan was to kick it up a notch for the final 5k and I just couldn’t. I was doing everything I could at this point to just hang onto the pace – I was spent. I tried to keep running strong and it felt good to be passing the 10kers, and a HMer every one in awhile.

I should say that I was only passed once the entire race, and this included the 10kers that joined up with us at mile 10. A guy I passed coming out of the canyon overtook me at mile 12, slowing down a bit as he passed to tell me that I was running really strong and that I was pushing him the entire race. I tailed him to the finish and never overtook him (but my chip time beat his chip time by nearly a minute).

Shortly after this we turned off the bike path and onto the final straight up to the finish. Seeing the finish really helped and I picked it up a notch to finish strong.

mile time hr ave/max
1 6:51 168/173
2 6:57 172/175
3 6:55 173/175
4 6:59 173/177
5 6:46 173/178
6 7:05 175/178 (hill)
7 6:40 173/177 (solid downhill)
8 6:51 177/179
9 7:03 176/179 (trying to keep the wheels on)
10 7:02 178/180
11 7:06 178/185 (hitting z5)
12 7:15 177/179 (wheels coming off)
13 8:04 180/185 (1.13mi)

start on time. better pacing in the second 5 miles, although I really don't know if this hurt me that much. ease into a kick earlier rather than waiting until I could see it

Got a water after the race. Ran into Bruce in the finish chute and chatted with him for awhile. Got more water, some bagels, cookies, and orange slices. My stomach was really not liking me at all, so I hobbled around a bit. Went down a block to see the first of the marathoners come in. Saw Dime finish and he was looking strong. Viewed the results, chatted with some friend from my running club, looked for Dime in the beer garden.

Had I ran my goal of 1hr 30min I would have podium’d! I can’t believe that.


I really don't know. I trained my a$$ off for this race. I had some crappy pacing workouts due to 30+ mph winds at times and got sick a few times leading up to this, but nothing that really got in my way.
Race day, I was ready. Fesh and tapered.


awesome course, esp. for Colorado! If I do mary or another half mary I'll look to this again.