I went out with the 4 hour pace group and was within about 50 feet of them (sometimes just ahead ahead, sometimes just behind) until about mile 19 or 20. I took off my long sleeve shirt around mile 3, and tossed it into a garbage can about 20 feet away (right in!). I felt great for the first half of the race, definitely enjoying myself. I started feeling not as good, but still OK around 15-16 miles; it was somewhere in there that the pacer took a bathroom break and handed it off to someone else for a bit; this guy was definitely going faster than 9:10mm! Oh well.

I lost the 4 hour pacer a few miles after that. My quads and IT bands were getting really sore at this point. Mile 20 and the last out and back from 22 to 25 felt like forever! I got a pretty bad cramp in my calf somewhere in this area and took a walk break or two (no longer than a tenth of a mile) to loosen that up. I wish I was able to push it across the finish line, but I didn't didn't have much in me.

I don't know. I'm temped to think that I should have started out slower, but I have a feeling that the same thing may have happened and I would have just been a little slower. I really need to experiment with pace.

I should also perhaps experiment with nutrition. I ate half of the Odwalla bar right before the race and the other half within the first 5 miles. Then I had some sports beans starting around mile 8 or 9, and really nursed them for a while. Then at the mile of death (20)I tried to get in a gel but I just couldn't. Maybe more food early.

I think my fluid intake was pretty good.

Next time, I think I will train with speed in mind. I am definitely happy with how I did, but I really want to get in in less than 4 hours.

Walking and stretching. We waited around for a while to see if Britney won an award. She did! Second in her age group, 3:28 minutes or there about. She was also 7th overall for the woman. Unbelievable for her first race (other than the mud run!). She's a machine.


Great job!