Figured I would start it up. Ran 2:45:23 today in NYC. Was happy with it. A solid debut and I went for sub 2:40 and didn't blow up quite as bad as I could have. I recognized it was a gamble (as you guys know, I had as my goal 2:45 up until a few weeks ago) and it sort of paid off. I don't think I would have run that much faster had I gone out in 1:21 or 2 (went out in 1:19:20).
Anyway, here is the race summary:
Mile 1- Uphill- 6:27. About a 1/2 mile in I felt like there was a rock under my shoe. Stopped to check and there wasn't. Figured my sock was bunched under the ball of my foot, but that wasn't it either. Figured I would have to deal with it (it got very painful throughout).
Mile 2- Downhill- 5:37. Latched onto a bunch of guys who were shooting for 2:40 and started to work together
MIke 3- 6:04- Perfect
Mile 4 and 5- 11:53... too fast, and found myself out in front of the group I was going to stay with. Ended up running alone from there until 1st avenue. It was really windy, and in my face the whole time. Think this made a BIG difference in my final time.
Mile 6- 5:52... All I remember is I need to reel it in. I was already 45 seconds up on a goal pace I knew was aggressive...
Mile 7-8- 12:08. Was proud of myself for slowing it back down. Was feeling good.
Mile 9- 6:03- perfect
Mile 10- 5:59 Don't remember
Mile 11- 6:15... made another effort to slow down and if I remember correctly, it was uphill
Mile 12- 5:57. downhill and started to get tired.
Mille 13- 6:13. Tried to relax and freshen the legs up
Half Marathon- 1:19:20. Was right where I wanted, but knew here that I was not going to be able to run sub 2:40.
Mile 14- 6:!4- Was thinking, get to 59th street bridge and into Manhattan.
Mile 15- 6:28- Left hammy started to get really tight and this was uphill, if I remember going up onto the 59th street bridge.
MIle 16- 6:21- Buddy from another team who was shooting for 2:40 (he ran 2:40:20 I think) caught right at the end of this mile and I decide to try and stay with him as long as I could. I knew I was in trouble, and couldn't imagine running 10 more miles. but tried to relax. I knew my hamstrings were going on me as they were getting tight fast.
Mile 17 & 18- 12:09. Onto first ave. Didn't look at my watch but knew I picked it up. I could think about at 18 was "don't prove my everyone right" with regards to going out too fast. Haha..
Mile 19- 6:22. My bud pulled away. Thinking get to 23... its OK if you die with 3 miles to go.. but you don't want to be the guy who dies in the last 10k.
Mile 20- 6:37. Hammy's officially cramped. Both.
Mile 21- 7:00, Had to stretch if I wanted to get to the finish. Lost 20 seconds doing that, but probably saved me over a minute.
Mile 22- 6:44. From here on out the thought was the same, "can I run 8:00 miles and still break 2:50?" and then would do the math.
Mile 23- 6:43. Had small bouts of "I can rally and close well" with large bouts of "someone shoot me... 3 miles, 24 minutes" leaves me with...
Mile 24- 7:00. Uphill on 5th ave. Thought I was done.
Mile 25- 6:58. Struggling to maintain, but rallied when I saw my wife, my dad, brother, inlaws and my kids and burst out in a big smile and gave high 5s (did the same thing at 17 when I saw them)
Mile 26- 6:41. Was now thinking 2:45... just get in under 2:46 so you can end up with your original goal of 2:45
.2- 1:25. Loved that last 400 yard countdown.
2:45:23 and my first thought was "I can run 5:55's on a flat course in a year's time".
I wouldn't change much in my buildup or race. I think I hit what I needed to after 2 years off and all I need is just another year of good work under my belt.
Thanks for all the encouragement guys. It was huge. Can't wait to hear other recaps.