I started the race in a long sleeve PJ shirt and shed it 100 yrds in. My heart rate was bouncing off the limiter due to the cold start conditions. It took a bit to settle in and work my HR down. About a mile or so in I found the 4:00 pace group. Having my goal set at 4:10, I decided to run with them.

The group was good and the pacers were cracking jokes to keep things groovy. We maintained on pace for the most part...a little faster around a 3:55 race but nothing too crazy. We crested the bridge and ran down to and thru the base and back again. The chanting soldiers gave some pretty good energy for the pace group. I was maintaining my own nutrition using my Accelerade and Chomps as fuel every couple miles.

We crested the bridge on the way back, I was running right next to the pace leaders. We hit up the boardwalk and things began to bottleneck. There were runners who had gone out way too fast and got dropped and were now gassing causing traffic for our large group. Runners were swaying left and right and legs were getting kicked and things were just getting plain stuffy. I found a good bead on the extreme left of the course. I was receiving hi-5's from the onlooking kids and encouraging shouts from their parents.More good energy!
We kicked it back to Atlantic Ave and the wind was right in our face a bit but we kept at it. I kicked it thru the half mark just under 2:00...woot! (My 1st sub 2 half!)

It was just about a mile after this when I felt myself starting to sag on the group. I gave more effort and stayed with the pace leaders. The race leaders began to shoot by coming the opposite way- damn they're fast and fast looking. The leader flew by and not a few secs later his chaser was on a mission to catch him. And not too far behind him, the lead woman blazed by! Trying not to be too discouraged by the soon to be finishing leaders. I continued on. This is also where I hit my 1st beer stop. There was a little spectator station with a sign "Beer" They were shouting and hooting..I was planning on running by them but one singled me out and since I had my Nog Run shirt on ...he was all "YOU are not leaving here without at least one beer with that shirt on!". So i took 2 and downed them which triggered a roar from his colleagues.

About mile 14 we split more inland towards the Fort Story entrance. It was here I began to feel my knees. The roads were on a slant and ever so slightly uphill the whole time. I knew it was going to be like this til about mile 18ish. All this combined, I began to sag more and more. Soon enough I was BOP and racing to keep up. I then just settled in the fact that 4:00 wasn't happening this race. and decided to cool the jets a bit so that I could finish.

I began taking water and Gatorade at the aid stations. I had a system down- snag a Gator from the front person and down a mouthful, snag a water from the middle person and down it and one more water from the trailing person which was thrice applied to the body, once on each arm cooler and then on the dome to allow it to drip down my back to brighten up the run a bit.


I was Gelling all along the route about this time too. Over all I had good energy but the knees and the feet began to feel the constant pounding.

We turned into Fort Story and the 4:00 group was not out of sight. But never fear, the wind came to keep me company. It was here that I felt the most struggle. I felt like I had the same stride and effort in my pace, yet I was going nowhere. This became mind numbing to me as my feet were hurting, and my knees were full on paining me.

I began to walk a bit. It felt like my walk was as fast as my trot anyways. I knew this was bad because trying to start up again in my run was just plain hard. I was mentally breaking now and the pain was at its greatest. I made many run/ walk sessions. There were also others all over that were at their limits and doing the sit down and stretch and/or walk things off to the side. I stopped one time completely and propped my feet up against the curb to stretch out both calves and toe touched a bit and gave a big sigh and HTFU'ed.



We exited Fort Story and began the return to the finish. I got my pace back and I think this is where I hit my highest point. Feet pain was gone...knee pain was gone...now it was just mental to keep going. A Marine came running by and was shouting at everyone with incredible deafening encouragement. That drilled into my head and I gave more. I began passing people left and right. I was having my pace spurts into the 9s again.I again saw my beer buddies...they ran out into the course to pass me 2 more beers shouting "it tastes SOO good once it hits your lips!"...*chug*, *chug*...wait for it....*ROAR*!!!

I felt great energy and was making decent time. I looked at my Garmin and I was less than a 5k away from the finish and the time just hit 4:00. I slowed my pace a bit and gathered my head, popped a GU and the last swig of Accelerade. Then it was on. I began my fast run. My pace dropped to high 8's. I know my body was hurt, my knees were probably screaming, but I felt nothing. I hit the last aid station, snagged 2 waters for a sip and splash and I soon made my way onto the boardwalk. I was in full sprint. A friend's remark echo'ed in my head... "don't start your kick too soon because the finish is farther than you think..." some lady yelled out "6 blocks..go scottie go!"...



Go I went. I had tiger blood in me on that boardwalk. Full on sprint and yet that damn finish was getting no where near me...I was cursing myself for not heeding Charles' 'too soon' advice and I began a heaving breath. But everyone was shouting and I couldn't stop now. I pushed through it passing runners like they were standing still. My heart rate went insane, my HR alarm was annoying the crap out of me. I kept at it...coming up on the chute and I hear "Scottie Esporas..." over the speakers.. 1 mat, 2 mat 3 mat...and my race was finished. I hit my Garmin on 4:22...



Shy of my goal, but proud of my accomplishment.



HTFU when the going's tough. I slowed 6 times greatly which screwed me from hitting my goal...all because I was being a wimp.

Walk to car and then beer.


knees.


Since there were 4k entrants on this race, we decided to pass on the tent facilities bc it was insanely crowded. Plus we could get beers and food anywhere.