New York City, Novemeber 1, 2009, Queens, 10:56am – All I can hear is my steady breathing and Pat Tarpy’s footsteps. Its quiet up here, almost eerie. *beep* I hit the split on my watch at the 15 mile mark; 5:11, slow, but not bad considering we’re heading up the Queensboro Bridge. I can feel a strong crosswind pushing us from right to left. I’m not looking forward to this inevitable headwind heading up 1st Ave. into the Bronx. Doubt starts to creep in. My legs start to feel sluggish. I need to regroup. I look up ahead I can see Pete Gilmore just cresting the top of the bridge. –New Goal– Catch Gilmore as soon as possible.11:06am – Now I can hardly hear myself think. People are everywhere. Gilmore and Tarpy are right with me. The crowds on each side of 1st Ave. are at least 3 people deep as far as I can see. Up ahead I can see little dots of red, orange, and blue. Those have to be the leaders. What place am I in right now? How many more am I going to be able to catch? *beep* 17 mile split, 5:00, going to have to pick it up if I want to get away from these guys. Maybe its too windy, I’ll just tuck in behind Tarpy and Gilmore for a minute, let them take a little bit of the wind.
11:16am – I’m all alone now, I can’t hear or feel anyone near me anymore it about time to start grinding it out to the finish. *beep* 5:06 for the 19th mile. I smile at myself. Just like in practice every time I take a fluid bottle I accelerate and pull away from Brian. Now I did the same thing, pulled away from those guys and passing Bolota at the same time. Bolota didn’t look too good. He started walking right at the fluid station. I’m glad I didn’t collide with him or anything. Time to get going.
11:36am – Pain. Excruciating pain. Why does this 23rd mile have so much uphill? Each block seems like forever. Focus on orange. Focus on Lehmkuhle’s Jersey. Bring him back to you. *beep* Mile 23, 5:04, still the toughest 3 miles to run. Just get into the park and you will be home free. I can hear Kevin. What is he saying? It sounds like German, I’ll try to decipher it later. It was something about 10 and 11. Is that what place I’m in? Or is that what the guys I can see about a minute ahead of me are? Almost to the top. Focus, Focus, Focus.
11:58am – Here it is! Finally, The Finish! I just passed Abdi, and I feel kinda bad snaking him with only a 1/4 mile to go. Was that Torres that just finished? I forgot that he was still up there. Doesn’t matter now, look at the clock! 2:13:40….41…42…43! Whoo! Finally I’m going to get out of the 2:16s! 2:13:46. And I’m done! Stumble a little ways past the finish line. A cloud has come over me and I am in a dream. Mary Wittenburg comes over to congratulate me. I see Jorge and Ryan with flag draped around them. I don’t get a flag….does that mean I’m 4th? Sam Grotewald says something to me and I throw my hands up! Whooo! What did he say? Something about a pr. That’s right. Now I hear that Meb won! All this information is just blowing my mind. I’m Ecstatic! We should do that again!
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