Race Report - Part 2: The Race

Going into the race, obviously my goal was to qualify for Boston, and obviously, it didn't happen. I wasn't as disappointed as I thought I would have been. I was pleased that I actually raced the distance. I've bonked in nearly every other marathon I had done prior to this one. This time, even though I cramped up at 90th St. going into Central Park, I was still able to run, albeit with shorter strides, and even pick up my pace the last two miles. In the end, I set a new personal best by about 10 minutes, which to me is huge. As I noted in previous posts, I felt I was going to set a PR. I just wasn't sure if it was going to be a Boston qualifying PR. Below is just a summary of what I thought went wrong and right and notes along the course.

Full GPS Race Details

Mile

Split

Distance

Avg Time

Heart Rate

1	00:08:17	1.00 mi	08:17	164 bpm	Up Verrazano bridge. Last year I remember doing this at 9:15. Didn't want to repeat that.
2	00:07:09	1.00 mi	07:09	164 bpm
3	00:07:31	1.00 mi	07:31	170 bpm	Brooklyn rocks!
4	00:07:28	1.00 mi	07:28	170 bpm
5	00:07:27	1.00 mi	07:27	168 bpm
6	00:07:35	1.00 mi	07:35	167 bpm
7	00:07:27	1.00 mi	07:27	167 bpm
8	00:07:36	1.00 mi	07:36	168 bpm	Lafayette Ave, my favorite mile. Brooklyn rocks!
9	00:07:34	1.00 mi	07:34	165 bpm
10	00:07:23	1.00 mi	07:23	166 bpm	Felt hip flexor stiffening up, but knew from long runs this shouldn't be an issue.
11	00:07:37	1.00 mi	07:37	165 bpm
12	00:07:22	1.00 mi	07:22	162 bpm	Cont. mild pace for early bonking fear.
13	00:07:31	1.00 mi	07:31	164 bpm
14	00:07:29	1.00 mi	07:29	165 bpm
15	00:07:28	1.00 mi	07:28	170 bpm
16	00:08:06	1.00 mi	08:06	169 bpm	Conservative up Queensboro.
17	00:07:04	1.00 mi	07:04	165 bpm	Started to pick up pace here, aiming for negative split.
18	00:07:10	1.00 mi	07:10	170 bpm	Blisters under right foot started to feel like glass shards.
19	00:07:14	1.00 mi	07:14	170 bpm
20	00:07:35	1.00 mi	07:35	171 bpm	Slowed down a up 1st Ave. grade.
21	00:07:29	1.00 mi	07:29	169 bpm
22	00:07:37	1.00 mi	07:37	167 bpm	Cramps!
23	00:07:49	1.00 mi	07:49	161 bpm	Slowed down next couple of miles, going up to Central Park entry.
24	00:08:30	1.00 mi	08:30	160 bpm	Stopped for a few seconds to stretch. Ugh.
25	00:07:38	1.00 mi	07:38	163 bpm	Changed stride to shorter, quicker steps for strong as I could finishing push.
26	00:07:28	1.00 mi	07:28	163 bpm	More rapid strides to finish.
27	00:03:29	0.42 mi	08:17	166 bpm	Enjoyed the finishing crowd with high fives and forgot to turn off my watch at the finish.

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Right	Wrong
even pacing in the 1st half drink/sip at every water station salt packets at mile 10 & 20	too conservative over the 1st half probably should have drank more should have taken extra salt packet at mile 15

I learned quite a bit from this race. Given my sweat rate, I know I can never have enough fluids at the water stops. More salt is good as well. Most importantly though, that I can push for 26.2 miles and even have a kick over the last four miles. It's a tremendous confidence boost that I can carry into training next year. I was able to set new PR's for the half and for the full marathon this year and I think I should be able to bring the times even lower next year.