can’t see what you are up against. Slow rollinghills seems like nothing, as you simply take itone step at a time, without allowing yourself toget mentally defeated by the sight of the climbahead. I tried to take advantage of the ability torun solid early in the race and clocked 8:00 –8:30 minute/miles throughout. I was certainlyoff to a fast start, and it felt good.The next section includes a large downhill(around two hundred feet over the course of around a mile). This section flies on the wayout, but can stop you in your tracks on the wayback. I hung with a couple of other runners, allof which held a similar sub-20 hour goal. Atthis time of the day, the temperature was in thehigh 30’s, and the wind was a non-factor. Thiswould quickly change.Miles 8-17 are what I describe as some of thetoughest miles of the race (second only twomiles 83-92, which is the same section reversed).These miles are progressively downhill (on theway out), but have many very steep climbsalong the way. Think of the type of hills thatbring your running to a screeching halt, forcingyou to walk, and forcing your quads to burn.Then line up 4 or 5 of those in a row. Igenerally dread these miles, where my paceusually slows with equal bouts of walking andrunning. This year, however, was different.While my pace slowed, I still maintained 9:15 –10:30 minute miles. Each time my watchclicked off to tell me the preceding lap time, Iwould continue in disbelief and the pace I wasmaintaining. I could only hope that even if mypace crashed and burned later in the race, thatthese early faster miles would pay off with a netoverall faster pace.At mile 17 (Lapland Aid Station), I would seemy crew for the first time. Thank you to Daveand Dale who took great care of me throughout.At this early stage, I took only a brief refill of my water bottles, Tylenol, a couple slices of orange, and a handful of pretzels. I was quicklyoff, with less than two minutes at this first aidstation.I could feel the temperature starting to drop, andthe wind to pick up. While the sun was up, sowere the clouds. The next 8 miles before Iwould again seem my crew would be quite achallenge. Miles 17-21 include some strongrolling hills, most of which I usually walk to anaverage pace of around 12-13 min/miles. Thisyear, my quicker pace held on. I was able tomaintain a strong running pace, and even withsome shorter walking breaks on the steeper partsof the climb, I was still able to maintain around9:30 min/miles. My biggest surprise thus farwas the ease at which I seemed to be gettingover the hills. I continue with much disbelief asto my pace. Miles 21-25, while generally notvery hilly, head due north. Unfortunately, thewind was out of the NNE, and brutal. Movingforward at a strong pace seemed to be the onlyway to keep my temperature up, so on I went.Mile 25 (Teterville Aid Station) came quitequickly, too quickly actually. Just under 4:00after beginning, to be more precise, and I wasn’tsupposed to be there for at least 15 moreminutes. I was certainly on pace for a sub 20hour race, if I could hold it, but with thetemperatures so low I began to get very nervousabout going out too hard and losing the abilityto move quick enough later on to keep myself warm. 4 hours for nearly a marathon seemsgreat, but that is over 45 minutes faster than I’veever run the first 25 of this race. Was I goingway too fast? When would the wheels fall off?Miles 25-31 are generally non-descript. Thesemiles are a bit hilly but pretty, and it is earlyenough in the race that the body and mind areusually in good shape. Today was different, butonly in a good way. I felt amazing despite theconditions, despite the pace I had set out, anddespite the miles I had already put in. Icontinued to tick off some strong miles, despite
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