Thanks very much, guys. Honestly, I am beating myself up some...but am tapering on that some (pun intended)...
Thanks for the Pittsburgh suggestion, and the thought of running it has crossed my mind. I looked at hotel choices (perhaps the most important thing to a runner such as myself), and came up with ZERO options near the start. If I cannot be near the start, I will not run it.
I am working on a “lessons learned” list right now, and the only two bad races I have had in my running “career” are New York and Boston. I think you see the connection here. Although, I did finish NYC, and the pain did not hit until around mile 19 or 20, which is to be expected on some days and on some courses. So, unless someone can put me up near the start of Pittsburgh, I cannot run it. Logistics seem to weigh heavily upon my little body. Not to beat a dead horse, but I simply could not (and cannot) believe the quad tighness and pain beginning in mile one at Boston. Incredible. And my quads are still pretty trashed, yet I ran only 13.1 miles. Have to go down stairs slowly. Going up stairs is not so bad.
In any case, I am analyzing EVERYTHING, including my shoe and clothing choices, though I know the main downfall was probably the chest cold, which might even still be with me. Still not feeling quite “right,” though I felt decent enough I suppose on Saturday and Sunday.
I had good coaching, and am thankful for it. Thank you Stone. I am re-evaluating things. This is what I have in regard to lessons learned and from my immediate reflections/ideas. Much of this is based upon what produced my best results (Richmond 2017...finished flying, with no pain, and feeling good...Shamrock 2018...almost identical to Richmond 2017...and Richmond 2018...had quad/ham pain in last 4-5 miles, but battled a wind (mostly a headwind) and ran solo for nearly the entire second half)...
-no expo
-no running (or anything) the day before the race
-choose a race that will mail my packet (for example, Richmond or Shamrock)
-avoid lengthy travel
-find some better clothing—a singlet or thin shirt that does not fit like a dress, and better fitting shorts
-Did the NB Beacons bring about my “jelly legs” toward the end of the National Capital 20-miler and help bring on pain toward the end of Rich. 2018? The 20-miler was still a fine effort (2:44:xx equivalent).
-must mix in late afternoon runs—they were great
The last point may seem odd and purely anecdotal, but I not only perform noticeably better in the late afternoon, but I am certain that those runs are easier on my body than morning runs. I can actually run faster in the late afternoon, and feel less impact than in the typical (and slower) early morning run.
All the best, my friends...