Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Got My Boston Qualifier at the Napa Valley Marathon

Got my BQ March 1 at the Napa Valley Marathon, 3:33:29 chip time (needed 3:50, male age 60 – 64 to qualify for Boston). I came fourth in my age group. This is a dream come true for me.


OUCH! The Finish Line

I was going to run with the 3:40 group, but the pace leader stood there looking around with his thumb up his rump when the race started! Major fail.
  

So I eased into my rhythm. At 2 miles I noted the 3:35 pace group about 100m ahead, and kept my eye on them. Around the 6 mile mark, a group of 6-7 runners formed and we discussed: What the heck happened to the 3:40 pace leader?! I made a plan with three other runners to gradually catch up to the 3:35 group.


After the race, thrashed but happy!

Feeling good after a water station, I floated away from the chase pack and caught the 3:35 pace group at 13 miles. The groove, the cohesion of this new pack was fantastic with 10-12 runners locked in. I had good stretches and not-so-good-stretches, but kept a positive attitude. I think "this is a dream come true. DON'T LET UP!"
Taking Gatorade at aid stations, and an energy gel every five miles stoked my engine.


I strode in front of our 3:35 group after a drink station with 3 miles to go, feeling good, and threw it down. With two miles to go, I dueled with a women who had also broken away from the pack. She wouldn't let me draw even with her, then I felt an uncanny lift in my stride -- this is the return on all those tempo runs, all those long runs, a sudden burst of effortless pace that took me away from a tough competitor!

Haha, the last mile was dicey as heck but I kicked myself in the butt to keep it rolling. See you at the Boston Marathon in April 2021!

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