This was not a perfect day and I had talked myself into a mediocre race. It was too hot, I was afraid of cramping like last weekends race. I have gained about 5 pounds since I decided not to run Cleveland marathon. My Achilles has been bothering me, my stomach hurt, and I needed to pee at the start. The thing that had me most concerned was that my more recent runs have seemed harder and have been slower. Still I hoped I could run in the 8:20 range but honestly wasn't expecting it. In the further back corrals it was very crowded. I wish people would be realistic about what pace they can run. So many slower people to work around. I love that they are out there just not in front of me. Going around people walking 3 wide is annoying. High fived Mayor Nutter at the start and then off. Started out just trying to see what pace felt comfortable. 8:10's for the first 4 was pretty easy then it seemed like everything loosened up and it got even easier. 8-8:05 for the next 3. Then I started to calculate my finish time. Realized that I was running well under anything I have run in the last ten years. I was tired but not spent. I think I got more worried about protecting that time than just putting it all out there and seeing what I could do. I slowed down to 8:30's knowing that would get me in comfortably under my goal. Had some but not a lot left in the tank at the end. Pretty happy with this one. |