OR - great race report. My (not as good as OR's) race report:
I'll second all the info about the course. Not super fast and a bit of a boring chunk with rollers from 11-15. I live in the area and it's always fun seeing the roads on foot vs. from a car.
Achilles was an issue leading up to the race but the pain went away by 11 or 12 (it's back now!). I stuck right on 6:50 pace through 17. Just really tried to make those miles as boring as I could. The Lee Bridge and hill afterwards felt like nothing and I held back to regroup a little once we made the turn onto Main Street at around 16.5.
Then my wife handed me a bottle of de-fizzed coke at 18 and off I went. Last 10k was 3 minutes faster than first 10k. I realized I was going to have an outside chance at sub 2:55 at about mile 23, then just played every trick I've learned over the years to deal with the pain. Last few miles were 6:37 ,6:24, 6:27, 6:25, 6:18, 6:16, 6:02. Last 0.2 was 1:07 which is 5:35 pace (not sure how accurate that conversion is though). Unlike OR, I was completely spent at the end.
The Pftiz book I used (again, for the first time ever following a structured plan for a marathon) made note to expend your last drop of energy as you cross the line. I certainly did than and almost fell over into Bart Yasso, who was chilling at the finish (thanks Bart for the 800s workout).
Another shout out to the ladies on the side of the road around 24/25 with a Shalane "F!ck Yes" poster. I was telling myself that on the walk to get my medal.
I still don't know where I pulled that race from. I was in better shape last year and ran a minute slower.
Planning on doing Boston in April. Will be my 20th marathon and 10th Boston (I'm at 8 Richmonds now). I don't know if I have the commitment to post so frequently but will for sure be following these training threads more closely. I even registered my name!