27.714miles with 471ft climb in 3:54:07 Uploaded with
IpBike Hartford Marathon. The focus of my year is finally over. All in all very pleased with how it went as when I set out training in February, I was not convinced I could run under 4 hours and I couldn't have back then. I was a little late getting to the start line so I was further back than I wanted to be and even behind the 4 hours 20 pacer. A short push for half a mile and I was right behind the 3 hours 40 guy running between 8:00 minute to 8:30 miles until mile 19 and pretty comfortably and the 3:40 guy was still right in front of me at that point. That is where the wheels started to come off which surprised me as I was feeling very comfortable with the pace up to that point. Not sure if I dehydrated or I ran out of glycogen but I started feeling fairly average even though I was drinking every 2.5 miles and eating a gel every 5. What ever it was, it showed in my pace which degenerated from 8:30s to 8:50s for the next 4 miles at which point I felt no choice but to walk for 30 or so yards at a time then run half a mile or so. This bought my pace to high 9s for about 2 miles and finally a 10 for mile 26. Wall comfortably hit. That said, I'm very pleased with the time considering I set out to break 4 hours. Training went very well and I managed to stay injury free and healthy for most of the year. This morning I felt as good as I could have with no sniffles etc or achy muscles. Weather too was perfect. Overcast and cool which helped no end. I almost felt cold for the first 10 miles. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the satisfaction of achieving a long term goal.
