My strategy was to stick with the 3:25 pace group as long as I could. Great pacer. Did not run even splits because it is not an even course. Needed to bank some time for climb from miles 20 -23. My other concern was to watch my heart rate like a hawk. For the first half of the race, it stayed about 149. By mile 15 it started to climb, but stilled stayed under 160. It didn't get over 160 until the hill at mile 20 and since there was only 6 miles left, I was ok with anything under 165. I was able to stay with the pacer at this heart rate through the climb and the slightly uphill Summit stretch. I believe at the 25 mile mark I pushed ahead of the pacer. After the Cathedral at mile 26, it's straight downhill and I sprinted. I also religiously took powerade and water at each water stop (and I ran through each one) and took hammer gels at 0:45, 1:30, 2:15 and 3:00 hours.

This was about a perfect run for me. I did leave a good amount in the tank, so with 20/20 hindsight, I would have taken off from the pacer sooner. I could have taken, say, a minute off if I did.

Got space blanket, ate a bag of potato chips and had some water. Picked up bag and changed and got finisher shirt. Then waited for my wife to finish.


Nothing. I think past two marathon problems were due to heat. I love, love, love cold races.


Just thrilled with this race. I never hit the wall and I never was tempted to walk.