My goal was 3:50. I started with the 3:40 pacer, but when my hr was high z3 at mile 3 I let him go. At mile 17 I got passed by the 3:50 pacer and did not have enough to hold on. At mile 24 I got passed by the 4:00 and was pissed. I kept him within a 1 block and then reeled him in in the last mile (it helped that he stopped for water at the last aid station). He started running as soon as I caught him and then we finished side by side.

The best part of the race was running with a neighbor. Having someone to run with helped the time go by so quickly. I don't even remember miles 13-16. She's an ultra marathoner and helped keep my pace going at the end.

I would train differently - just a little. The program I did, did not have me run enough long distance in my taper (i think). And I didn't run my long runs at high enough of an intensity. This would have lead to a little more nutrition as well. I had 5 gels and just drank 1 cup at each aid station. Felt a little lightheaded and weak around mile 23.