Initially, I wasn’t sure if I would write a race report for my marathon. After all, I’m doing it now a month late. Mainly because I no longer post actively on my former club’s message board, and therefore, I wouldn’t have had any place to put a race report. But this race went very well for me and I did not want to not have a report to read back on next year. I find I write these race reports more for myself to review in my head what occurred. Therefore, as I write this I do not know where I will publish it or if anyone else will even read it. So, I figured I’d start a blog to store my race reports and thoughts about my training and maybe other things as well. Not sure where this will go or even if the blog will continue after this report, but for now, I’m just focused on getting this report written somewhere.
So for this race, I cut my goal back from my last attempt. Last time I was pretty much determined to get under 3:10 at any cost which may have had a factor in me blowing my race. This year I was going to play it safe and I chose 3:15 to focus on since it would be a PR for me and it would get me into Boston. It’s also a time I felt I could realistically achieve even on a bad day if I put the right training in.
This was my third marathon I was going to race. My first, being the 2006 Westchester Marathon, left me only content with my result. I did 3:18 and missed Boston, and although I was content, I was also left with a lingering feeling that I could have done much better.The second time around, in 2007, I was more experienced at racing and made a lot of improvement in shorter distances, including the half marathon. I wanted very much to go out there and prove how much better of a runner I became by getting a great marathon time. Instead, I got a result which left me feeling like my whole year of training was a waste and I began to question why I even did this. To make matters worse, in 2008 my training suffered even more due to plantar fasciitis and I had to defer the marathon that year.
Therefore, it became absolutely imperative that I achieve my goal this time around. Missing my target again at this point would have left me in an extremely bad state. So 3:15 was decided early on in 2009. I would take baby steps for now and gamble for a more aggressive marathon only after I achieved 3:15. So for now, 3:15 – no faster and no slower.
Therefore, it became absolutely imperative that I achieve my goal this time around. Missing my target again at this point would have left me in an extremely bad state. So 3:15 was decided early on in 2009. I would take baby steps for now and gamble for a more aggressive marathon only after I achieved 3:15. So for now, 3:15 – no faster and no slower.
By the time my training was winding down, I felt very confident I could do well this time. I did a few 20 mile runs completely at my target marathon pace. And I knew it was something I could easily repeat, albeit, I was very exhausted at the end. A bit of a taper and some rest, I’ll squeeze that last 6.2 miles out somehow.
During my taper, I did it right this time. I continued to run almost all my miles at target marathon pace – even the easy days since I cut back on the number of miles. I did my last 20 mile long run 3 weeks out. From there it was 15 miles the next weekend and then 10 miles the weekend before the race. Mileage during the week would be 75% of what I would usually do on any given day for the first week of the taper, and then 50% on the final taper week. This is very different from last time where I cut back on both effort and distance significantly.I’ve seen a lot of debates on how to taper and I struggled with figuring this out for a time. But now, it’s clear what works best for me, and therefore, I mention these details. Cutting back on distance but keeping quite a bit at marathon pace kept that pace feeling easy and familiar. It also played a part in keeping me mostly confident throughout the taper which is another challenge.
In 2007, the biggest mistake I made was that I went out too fast and could not get comfortable with my pace. I knew I was going too fast but could not slow it down. This caused me to slowly fall apart after mile 14 and blow up completely on mile 16. From there it was 10 miles of agony just to finish; leaving me with a finish time that was slower than my time at the Yonkers marathon that I ran a month prior as a tune up. I believe there are many reasons why this happened, but I already wrote about them in my 2007 race report. However, I’m convinced almost everyone gets sucked out early on at the NYC marathon and goes out too hard. Perhaps it’s the size of the field combined with the endless traveling, and waiting, and preparing that causes everyone’s anxiety to build up and become impatient at the start. From there everyone just seems to feed off each other when running the early miles. This time I kept telling myself it was going to be different.
The night before, I got very little sleep which is typical for me whenever I have a race the next day. I may have gotten an hour or so early on, but woke up in the middle of the night around 1am. I managed to squeeze at most 2 hours more right before it was time to wake up. This left me feeling even groggier. I showered to wake up, ate the same breakfast I always eat – yogurt, honey, wheat germ, and oatmeal. Ate a banana, grabbed my bag, and rushed to the buses at White Plains high school since I was somewhat late. The bus ride was pretty uneventful. After arriving, the line to get into the athlete’s village was huge and seemed like it took forever to get in.
Upon entering, I walked around somewhat, used the port-a-johns, tried to find a bagel to eat, something to hydrate with, and then looked for a place to sit and just relax. It was a wet muddy day and the curb between two UPS trucks was the only place. I tried not to think of the race and what I had ahead of me. I tried to relax and clear my head which was hard since I felt the need to keep checking my watch to make sure I had enough time to check my bad in and get to the start – if you read my 2007 race report you would understand why. Right before checking my bag in I sucked down a Gu. My plan was to take 4 in total. One before starting, again after mile 7, then 14, then 18.
Lining up actually seemed rushed. I think if I arrived in the corral any later I would have been left out of wave 1 like many people I saw begging to be let in. In addition to that, many people were fighting to get as much in the front as they possibly can. I couldn’t understand this since I felt section C is pretty far up in front and not likely to suffer from congestion during the start. In fact, its quite the opposite as I’ll explain.
Shortly after the cannon went off, which felt like forever, I remember climbing the Verrazano narrows bridge reminding myself everytime packs of people passed me that my pace and effort was right. I found it amazing people with 3:30 pace bibs on their backs were flying by. Nearby was another runner who seemed to be carrying the same pace as me, so I asked him what his target time was in which he replied sub 3:15 – same as mine. Nothing like a little confirmation, so we agreed to hold the pace together and both knew everyone was running uphill too hard too early on. He mentioned his name was Remy and he’s done a 3:03 in the Berlin marathon but is not as well trained this year so he wont be pushing too hard for this race. I made sure to keep this in mind in case things felt too fast.
Mile 1: 8:00
We hit the first mile marker in the middle of the bridge in 8 minutes. Much slower than an our overall target of 7:26 but it was to be expected and anything faster would have been too fast. Despite reminding myself mentally its better to err on the side of caution in the early miles, its still an uneasy feeling to know you’re already 24 seconds behind your goal at the start. Then as everyone is passing you, it makes it even harder to digest.
Mile 2: 6:45
The second mile was all downhill and we just seemed to let it go. It was definitely effortless but perhaps too fast. No problem. We recognized this and knew to slow it down when coming into Brooklyn.
Mile 3: 6:59
Mile 4: 7:08
Mile 5: 7:15
Still going too fast and we knew it, but everything felt easy and good. It was really hard to slow it down since we were still being passed by so many runners. Remy accurately described it like being swept away with the current of a river.
Mile 6: 7:13
Again, too fast and I’m beginning to worry about a repeat of 2007. It’s beginning to feel as if I’m getting dragged out by Remy and I let him know the last mile was another 7:15. At this point I had trouble understanding him and it sounded like his target pace was 7:15, not a finish of 3:15. I tell him I think I’m going too fast for 3:15 and Im going to make a conscious effort to slow it down for the next mile. A woman in her 40s was running neary by and chimed in how she overwhelmingly agreed this is too fast for 3:15 and would run with me for a while if I wanted. She never mentioned her target pace but I figured there was no harm in running with her so I agreed. Boy, was I wrong.
I don’t mind communicating, but jeez, keep the small talk to a minimum. I’m not on a training run here. The pointless questions and comments like what I did for a living; how fast her fastest member in her club was running; the fact this run is just for fun for her; how her husband is going to scold her for going out too fast but she doesn’t care; etc. Endless, mindless chatter with no point that was really preventing me from finding my groove. Furthermore, while she was running on my left I found myself slowly being pushed into the right side of street where I was practically on the curb running into the spectators.
Gradually being pushed off course.
I told her I was going to get on her left side and did so. Not long afterwards, I realize I’m now being pushed up against the median in the middle of 4th avenue with her close by my right side. How do I get rid of her? I contemplate excusing myself to go to the port-a-john.
Mile 7: 7:31
Right before we hit the 7 mile marker I began to wonder what pace we did for the last mile considering the effort given. I didn’t think we slowed it down at all. However, when we passed the 7 mile mark I realized we didn’t just slow it down a little; we slowed it down a lot. I ran that mile slower than target pace and it was the hardest mile so far. I knew I had get rid of her and fast. I quickly mentioned I’m going to the right side of the street for water. There was also water on our side of the street straight ahead, but I didn’t care. I just left and made sure not to look back. After chugging the water I sucked down my second Gu. A few minutes later, I saw Remy up ahead and wondered if I did the right thing.
Mile 8: 7:26
Mile 9: 7:18
Mile 10 : 7:11
These miles actually felt great. During mile 8 I found my pace. Mile 9 was fast like the others but I decided it was fine. It felt right and I knew I could now make a conscious effort to slow it down by myself if I decided. Between 8 and 9 I noticed Remy again towards the right as I passed him. I’m doing this by feel and I’m even throttling it back a bit. It feels easier than my 20mile training runs at marathon pace. I’m no longer worried. There’s some considerable uphill here, but I don’t feel it. It just feels good and I actually want to go faster but I don’t. Mile 10 was faster than expected, but looking at the elevation charts, its all downhill so it makes sense in retrospect. This would also be the last time I would see Remy and he went on to finish in 3:20.
Mile 9: 7:18
Mile 10 : 7:11
These miles actually felt great. During mile 8 I found my pace. Mile 9 was fast like the others but I decided it was fine. It felt right and I knew I could now make a conscious effort to slow it down by myself if I decided. Between 8 and 9 I noticed Remy again towards the right as I passed him. I’m doing this by feel and I’m even throttling it back a bit. It feels easier than my 20mile training runs at marathon pace. I’m no longer worried. There’s some considerable uphill here, but I don’t feel it. It just feels good and I actually want to go faster but I don’t. Mile 10 was faster than expected, but looking at the elevation charts, its all downhill so it makes sense in retrospect. This would also be the last time I would see Remy and he went on to finish in 3:20.
Mile 11 : 7:30
Mile 12 :7:16
On my way to mile 11, I heard someone talking about the blue line being the shortest path through the course. Coincidentally enough he also had a 3:15 target for Boston so we decide to hold it together. Despite everything I said about the previous 3 miles, I still had concerns that I might be running it too fast and will feel it later on towards the end. However, I didn’t stay with him very long. I got the hint he wanted me to go on ahead as he kept expressing concern about holding me back. He was from San Francisco and this was his first NY marathon. He also kept expressing concern about “the bridge”. I left him after mile 11, and I figured at mile 12 I’ll take my next GU a bit early and run it on my own again by feel.
Mile 12 :7:16
On my way to mile 11, I heard someone talking about the blue line being the shortest path through the course. Coincidentally enough he also had a 3:15 target for Boston so we decide to hold it together. Despite everything I said about the previous 3 miles, I still had concerns that I might be running it too fast and will feel it later on towards the end. However, I didn’t stay with him very long. I got the hint he wanted me to go on ahead as he kept expressing concern about holding me back. He was from San Francisco and this was his first NY marathon. He also kept expressing concern about “the bridge”. I left him after mile 11, and I figured at mile 12 I’ll take my next GU a bit early and run it on my own again by feel.
Mile 13 :7:21
Mile 14: 7:26
I’m intentionally keeping things very easy. I know the 59th street bridge is coming up and I’m not entirely sure what to expect. As of now, things are going quite well and I’m a minute ahead of my goal according to the gun time, so overall, actually about 2 minutes ahead. After mile 13 I climb the Pulaski bridge. Same as last time, the incline seems to be more significant than the elevation charts depict but this time it’s no problem getting over it. I notice lots of others slow significantly here and I pass quite a few. I ask myself again if I need to slow it down. Coming down into queens I felt strong and excited. It seemed somewhat remarkable to me how desolate and quiet the Pulaski bridge is; like being on an empty freeway, and how drastically everything changes as soon as you come down and make the left into the cluttered Queens neighborhood with the cheering crowds.
Mile 14: 7:26
I’m intentionally keeping things very easy. I know the 59th street bridge is coming up and I’m not entirely sure what to expect. As of now, things are going quite well and I’m a minute ahead of my goal according to the gun time, so overall, actually about 2 minutes ahead. After mile 13 I climb the Pulaski bridge. Same as last time, the incline seems to be more significant than the elevation charts depict but this time it’s no problem getting over it. I notice lots of others slow significantly here and I pass quite a few. I ask myself again if I need to slow it down. Coming down into queens I felt strong and excited. It seemed somewhat remarkable to me how desolate and quiet the Pulaski bridge is; like being on an empty freeway, and how drastically everything changes as soon as you come down and make the left into the cluttered Queens neighborhood with the cheering crowds.
Mile 15: 7:29
Mile 16: 7:17
As I enter the 59th street bridge, everything seems to get quiet. The long incline is somewhat intimidating but I know I can get over this no problem. Starting out I barely see the 15 mile marker at what looks like the top of the hill and I keep my eyes on that as I make my way up. I hold my pace and I’m passing lots of people. Gradually, I see more and more people are stopping and walking. I’m reminded of the North County Trailway where I did many long runs as an out back with a few miles of constant downhill followed by a return trip of a few miles of constant uphill. I feel this prepared me well for this point in the race. As I get closer to the 15 mile marker I realize it’s actually nowhere near the crest of the hill and not even halfway to the top. I focus on what I think is the top and I keep going. I feel the cold wind hit me the higher I go and it feels great. I’m getting up this hill with no problem and I feel strong and excited. I even ask myself if I need to throttle it back a bit to prevent running myself empty. This is a far cry from when I struggled to just keep running last year.
Mile 16: 7:17
As I enter the 59th street bridge, everything seems to get quiet. The long incline is somewhat intimidating but I know I can get over this no problem. Starting out I barely see the 15 mile marker at what looks like the top of the hill and I keep my eyes on that as I make my way up. I hold my pace and I’m passing lots of people. Gradually, I see more and more people are stopping and walking. I’m reminded of the North County Trailway where I did many long runs as an out back with a few miles of constant downhill followed by a return trip of a few miles of constant uphill. I feel this prepared me well for this point in the race. As I get closer to the 15 mile marker I realize it’s actually nowhere near the crest of the hill and not even halfway to the top. I focus on what I think is the top and I keep going. I feel the cold wind hit me the higher I go and it feels great. I’m getting up this hill with no problem and I feel strong and excited. I even ask myself if I need to throttle it back a bit to prevent running myself empty. This is a far cry from when I struggled to just keep running last year.
Through the left side of my vision I see the buildings of NYC and I begin to realize how high this damn bridge actually goes. As I hit the top I let out a loud YES! I did it! This hill is where I blew up and threw my race in 2007, and this time I got through it easily. It’s all downhill from here. I coast easily downhill and just let it go. Towards the very end of the bridge the downhill feels significantly steeper as I land, but I’m almost out of the bridge.
Mile 17: 7:02
Mile 18: 7:14
Mile 19: 7:15
First avenue looks wide, far, and mostly flat. All the runners seem to migrate towards the left half of the avenue. I decide to stick in the middle towards the right where there’s more room. I tell myself the course is easy from here. I passed the hardest part. Right after mile 18 I feel my stomach now significantly. I’ve actually felt some pains for a few days prior and even felt some sharp pains in bed the night before. I blame this now on the baby aspirin regimen I put myself on after reading some advice from a NYRR periodical to do so for 30 days prior to the race. It made sense to me at the time, and would even continue now if it wasn’t for the fact my gut can’t handle it long term. On top of that, I had an aspirin that morning as well. Considering my stomach, the thought of taking my scheduled Gu seemed less appetizing so I put it off and wound up never using it. I skip some water stops as well.
Mile 18: 7:14
Mile 19: 7:15
First avenue looks wide, far, and mostly flat. All the runners seem to migrate towards the left half of the avenue. I decide to stick in the middle towards the right where there’s more room. I tell myself the course is easy from here. I passed the hardest part. Right after mile 18 I feel my stomach now significantly. I’ve actually felt some pains for a few days prior and even felt some sharp pains in bed the night before. I blame this now on the baby aspirin regimen I put myself on after reading some advice from a NYRR periodical to do so for 30 days prior to the race. It made sense to me at the time, and would even continue now if it wasn’t for the fact my gut can’t handle it long term. On top of that, I had an aspirin that morning as well. Considering my stomach, the thought of taking my scheduled Gu seemed less appetizing so I put it off and wound up never using it. I skip some water stops as well.
Most of first avenue is a bit of a blur but it’s when things first started feeling like I had to put effort in. Its actually not as flat as I thought. It wasn’t the incline itself as much as the unexpected sudden change in pitch that sort of threw my groove off. My splits show I ran these miles a little fast though, and nonetheless, the Willis Avenue bridge came sooner than I expected.
Mile 20: 7:33
The bridge is a bit of a steep climb. Nothing like the 59th street bridge, but I’m tired and others are struggling as well. I pass quite a few again and stay far to my left trying to minimize weaving. The carpet on the bridge seems better than last time. Coming down into the Bronx I know the ending is coming soon and I’m excited. However, getting the water down is getting harder.
The bridge is a bit of a steep climb. Nothing like the 59th street bridge, but I’m tired and others are struggling as well. I pass quite a few again and stay far to my left trying to minimize weaving. The carpet on the bridge seems better than last time. Coming down into the Bronx I know the ending is coming soon and I’m excited. However, getting the water down is getting harder.
Mile 21: 7:27
Mile 22: 7:22
Most of the Bronx is a blur, and I don’t even remember seeing the Madison ave bridge. As I go around Marcus Garvey Park, just as I hit the mile 22 marker, my right leg cramps and starts to turn to jelly. I literally lose some control over it and I panic that this is going to be a repeat of the Westchester marathon in 2006 (where I suffered from leg cramps). It’s actually at about the point as when I got cramps before. I immediately think “this is it, my race is trashed.” I do everything I can to find a stride I can manage as my heart rate soars.
Mile 22: 7:22
Most of the Bronx is a blur, and I don’t even remember seeing the Madison ave bridge. As I go around Marcus Garvey Park, just as I hit the mile 22 marker, my right leg cramps and starts to turn to jelly. I literally lose some control over it and I panic that this is going to be a repeat of the Westchester marathon in 2006 (where I suffered from leg cramps). It’s actually at about the point as when I got cramps before. I immediately think “this is it, my race is trashed.” I do everything I can to find a stride I can manage as my heart rate soars.
I somehow get it under control and refuse to let it stop me. This isn’t something that’s always possible. When your legs cramp youre at the mercy of what they’re able to do. I think I’m very lucky I was able to keep it at bay. Part of the reason might be because I realize I get these often and when they happen they aren’t as much of a shock anymore.
I also decide I’m too close to the finish for anything I drink to be of use during the race given the time it takes for the body to absorb the fluids; so I stop taking water and Gatorade since my stomach is hurting big time.
I also decide I’m too close to the finish for anything I drink to be of use during the race given the time it takes for the body to absorb the fluids; so I stop taking water and Gatorade since my stomach is hurting big time.
Mile 23: 7:19
Somehow the leg cramps give me something to concentrate on rather than my pace or anything else which is hurting. I’m surprised I did this mile as fast as I did and I feel lucky. Being it’s late in the race, I’m fine with this pace if I can do it.
Somehow the leg cramps give me something to concentrate on rather than my pace or anything else which is hurting. I’m surprised I did this mile as fast as I did and I feel lucky. Being it’s late in the race, I’m fine with this pace if I can do it.
Mile 24: 8:02
My slowest mile! Between 23 and 24 on 5th avenue was a struggle. Another long steady incline. I felt I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to for fear the cramps would come back, so I found the fastest pace I thought I could maintain based on effort. I kept focusing on looking for the top of the hill. I kept thinking this incline wouldn’t last any further than the Harlem Hills. I had no idea this went all the way to 90th where we enter the park at mile 24. The whole time I have tunnel vision while looking straight ahead. I don’t notice any spectators but the endless noise is too much and it’s getting annoying.
My slowest mile! Between 23 and 24 on 5th avenue was a struggle. Another long steady incline. I felt I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to for fear the cramps would come back, so I found the fastest pace I thought I could maintain based on effort. I kept focusing on looking for the top of the hill. I kept thinking this incline wouldn’t last any further than the Harlem Hills. I had no idea this went all the way to 90th where we enter the park at mile 24. The whole time I have tunnel vision while looking straight ahead. I don’t notice any spectators but the endless noise is too much and it’s getting annoying.
Turning into the park at 90th.
Mile 25: 7:43
Lots of rolling hills in the park and my legs are shot at this point. The downhills are no easier than the uphills at this point. The whole time in the park everything hurts. My wheels are starting to come off. I have fleeting thoughts of stopping. The other runners that I see on the side stretching their legs or walking make it hard for me to keep going. I tell myself I did great so far. Marathon pace all the way to mile 25. You got cramps at mile 22! You squeezed out 3 more miles! Who could blame you for stopping a bit? Then I remind myself of the whole year I spent training for this. Specifically, both times I was on vacation in the Caribbean insisting on getting my daily runs in and not missing a long run. Going skiing and doing my long run at the resort on a shitty treadmill imported from some eastern European country that doesn’t even exist anymore. Plus, every weekend going out, even on the days I didn’t want to, in order to get my long run in. If I give up now then you can throw all that in the toilet since it’ll be worth nothing. At this point I have to do the full 26.2 miles at marathon pace for this effort to count and be worth anything. Its all or nothing! All these thoughts happened within a nano second. As I exit the park I see the banner that says 1 mile left. I look at my garmin and I forgot what it said but I remember I couldn’t do the math to figure out if I’m close or not. I was bonking bad! How did my condition go downhill so fast?
Lots of rolling hills in the park and my legs are shot at this point. The downhills are no easier than the uphills at this point. The whole time in the park everything hurts. My wheels are starting to come off. I have fleeting thoughts of stopping. The other runners that I see on the side stretching their legs or walking make it hard for me to keep going. I tell myself I did great so far. Marathon pace all the way to mile 25. You got cramps at mile 22! You squeezed out 3 more miles! Who could blame you for stopping a bit? Then I remind myself of the whole year I spent training for this. Specifically, both times I was on vacation in the Caribbean insisting on getting my daily runs in and not missing a long run. Going skiing and doing my long run at the resort on a shitty treadmill imported from some eastern European country that doesn’t even exist anymore. Plus, every weekend going out, even on the days I didn’t want to, in order to get my long run in. If I give up now then you can throw all that in the toilet since it’ll be worth nothing. At this point I have to do the full 26.2 miles at marathon pace for this effort to count and be worth anything. Its all or nothing! All these thoughts happened within a nano second. As I exit the park I see the banner that says 1 mile left. I look at my garmin and I forgot what it said but I remember I couldn’t do the math to figure out if I’m close or not. I was bonking bad! How did my condition go downhill so fast?
Mile 26 : ~7:30
Along Central Park South I know I’m close. It’s a straight shot. Everyone says its uphill but it seems flat enough. I notice all potholes. I don’t look at the spectators. I look straight ahead and have no idea what it is I’m looking at because my brain cannot make out the image. I’m picking up speed thinking I’m getting to the end. I just want this to stop. I turn the corner and enter the park through what feels like gates that are too narrow. I see the big banner up a steep hill which looks like the finish and I speed it up a bit more, pushing hard through the fatigue. As I get closer I see its only mile 26. NOT the finish! The actual finish is about a quarter of a mile away and up what seems like an even steeper hill. I have nothing left! I didn’t hit the garmin at mile 26. What was the point?
Along Central Park South I know I’m close. It’s a straight shot. Everyone says its uphill but it seems flat enough. I notice all potholes. I don’t look at the spectators. I look straight ahead and have no idea what it is I’m looking at because my brain cannot make out the image. I’m picking up speed thinking I’m getting to the end. I just want this to stop. I turn the corner and enter the park through what feels like gates that are too narrow. I see the big banner up a steep hill which looks like the finish and I speed it up a bit more, pushing hard through the fatigue. As I get closer I see its only mile 26. NOT the finish! The actual finish is about a quarter of a mile away and up what seems like an even steeper hill. I have nothing left! I didn’t hit the garmin at mile 26. What was the point?
Is that the finish up ahead?
Mile 26.2 : 1:36
I am struggling to get up the hill and done. I’m so glad its almost over. I try not to think at all the whole way from 26 to 26.2. I just get there gradually. As I get closer I’m so happy to see finish and when I’m close enough to read the gun time it’s ticking off at 3:15 and 40 something and counting. By the time I cross the finish its still under 3:15:59 so I knew immediately I made Boston on the gun time alone. My net time is 3:14:54. Sub 3:15 was my goal and I did it almost exactly to the second. Given the last 2 miles and how fast things fell apart I wonder if I would have been capable of anything more had I tried, but I’m just happy I did what I targeted.
I am struggling to get up the hill and done. I’m so glad its almost over. I try not to think at all the whole way from 26 to 26.2. I just get there gradually. As I get closer I’m so happy to see finish and when I’m close enough to read the gun time it’s ticking off at 3:15 and 40 something and counting. By the time I cross the finish its still under 3:15:59 so I knew immediately I made Boston on the gun time alone. My net time is 3:14:54. Sub 3:15 was my goal and I did it almost exactly to the second. Given the last 2 miles and how fast things fell apart I wonder if I would have been capable of anything more had I tried, but I’m just happy I did what I targeted.
I also wonder what I could have done on an easier course like Chicago or Philly. I registered for the lottery for NY in 2010 two days later, but given the odds I probably won’t get in. In the event I do, NY will not be a target race for me in 2010. I’ll either run it as a fun run, which would allow me to really enjoy the crowds and everything else, minus the nerves and worry, or I’ll defer it for a guaranteed entry for another year when I feel like pushing it a bit harder.
I’m thinking for 2010 I might want to target a PR course in the fall.
I’m thinking for 2010 I might want to target a PR course in the fall.
Not long after, I also registered for Boston in 2010. I haven’t decided how I want to run that either. I’m going to maintain my base for now, but I’ll decide in late December if I’ll do this as a fun run (3:30) or target something more ambitious (3:10). I see Boston in 2010 more as a celebration of my comeback in ny. I’ll race Boston one day, but not before I’m ready, and its too soon to tell if I’ll be ready this April.
