KIMbia Athletics

Feeling emotionally and physically ready to conquer New York, I set out to tackle the course. The first 8 miles were just about spot on. I was executing exactly how I wanted. I was patient and didn’t surge when the leaders would surge and just kept at a 5:00 pace. Like a yo-yo, the leaders would take off and then come back to me, while I just ran a steady pace.

However, I could tell very early on things weren’t right. My calves felt very tight by 10 miles…not a good sign. I got to halfway in 66:37. I wanted to be about 65:30 at halfway, but considering you give up 45 seconds in the first mile because of the uphill mile, I was only mildly concerned. I concentrated and really put my head down and got my next mile split. It was 5:20 something…now i was worried.

I took another split from 16 to 17, which should be fast coming off the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan with enormous crowd support. I looked at my watch…5:17. At that point I knew I had overdone it in training and I was going to end up running 2:18 or so, after doing some quick math. I wasn’t really getting much slower, but I just didnt have the pop to run 5:00 anymore.

2:18 is just as bad as a DNF, in my opinion. I would rather cut my losses and, as they say in the business world, “fail hard fast” and live to fight another day. I’ve never been a big proponent of dropping out of races, as mentally it’s a way out and easy to do again, but the marathon might be the exception.

Overall…it was a very disappointing race. However, we trained like men who can run 2:10, and hopefully the accumulated training will take hold in the future. The New York Road Runners once again impressed with rock star treatment. I am grateful to have been part of such a world-class event.