This was the best marathon I have ever run! OK, it was the only. My goal time was 4:15, so I was pretty close. Strategy was to start out slow and pass everyone at the end. Reality was that I had too much fun at the start and at the end everyone was passing me. Average pace for the first half was 8:40. Average pace for the next 7 was 9:40. Average pace for the last 6.2 was 11:51. I "hit the wall" at mile 19 and really struggled after that.
Nevertheless, it was an exhilerating and emotional experience to cross the finish line at last.
Fortunately, my knee didn't bother me much. It was my thighs the give out and I need to learn how to walk down stairs again.
The course was all down hill, losing 1000 feet in elevation for the first 17 miles and then averaging flat after that, with lots of ups and downs.
My 23 year old son, Brian also ran his first marathon today and did remarkably well, with a time of 3:29:26. That was 20 minutes better than his goal. Unlike me, he had a lot left in him at the end, passing many without letting any pass him for the last seven miles.
It feels good to finally achieve marathon status!
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