4:15am in the Valley of the Sun and the outside air temperature was 28 degrees. One of the coldest days in years in the metro Phoenix area. The day before the race, my mom, my wife and I, all participating in the marathon, went to our local Goodwill Store. Low and begold, they were having a one day 50% off sale! We bought a collection of the most God awful warm up pant, sweatshirts, jackets (I got a sweet bright red satin number from FortMcDowell Casino!), all to be worn and discarded at the race. $20 buck clothed all three of us in wartmth, and boy did we need it!

We arrived at the parking area at Sun Devil Stadium on ASU's campus in Tempe and boarded buses to take us to the start in downtown Phoenix, about 30min away. the Marathon course is a point to point winding through Phoenix, Scottsdale, and ending in Tempe at the stadium. Once we arrived at the start, we walked a few blocks to a staging area we paid $20/person to go to run by the Scottsdale Running Co. They had heated tend, heated porta-potties, free Starbuck, food, gloves, it was awesome. For the hour and change we waited for the start, we sat in perfect comfort and enjoyed the ammenities. Not so much for the 30,000 others who had to wait out in the cold and the bathroom lines out there were 40 people deep!

So, about 20min before the start, wemade our way to the starting corrals. I was in corral 1, my wife and mom in 6. Once in the corral, I parted ways with my Godwill treasures (I so dug that jacket) and was in my thermal running gear including tights, 3 shirts, gloves, and a hat. I'm from Connecticut, I know how to dress for cold.

Strategy for this race was simple, run the first Half holding below my AT HR of 161, miles 13-20 allow fatigue to drift up my rate to the mid 160's, last 6.2 would be whatever was left...and that wasn't much! Gun went off and we were moving and warm. Had a great initial 10 miles. HR was right at 161 (probably a little too high, should have stayed around 158 or so), cadence was 90 plus, good form. Stomach felt a little unsettled. Had some Accelerade to get some calories and see if it would settle down. It never really did and so I didn't eat the 2 GU's I had with me for fear of being sidelined in a porta-pottie.

First Half- 1:28:22, 6:45 pace. Well ahead of last year and feeling very good. Some headwind when we turned east, but I tucked in behind this big dude and enjoyed a draft for a bit . By the time we reached Old Town Scottsdale, my legs felt tired, my hip flexors were a little tight, but I knew there wasn't much I could do about that and it would just get worse so I just got over it.

Mile 20- 2:15:41, 6:47 pace average between mile 13 and 20- Here is where I REALLY started to suffer last year. This year was a world of difference thanks to better training. Still felt the fatigue and also was becoming somewhat concerned that I wouldn't be able to hold up and get under 3 hours. I played the menatl game with myself and decided if that was the case, I would just have to get over myself and deal. I did allow my form to change a bit and tried to stride a bit more just to give my legs something new to complain about. That actually felt better, though I doubt it was any faster. How can 6.2 miles, a lousy 10K that can be banged out in 36 min when fresh, get so incredibley LONG!!!

Mile 25....I looked down at my watch and realized that I could make sub 3, if just barley. I ran my freakin a@# off. I tried to run so hard and the awful part was that I felt like I was hardly moving! I gave it everything I had left and crossed with 27 seconds to spare. I may have been one of the last 2-3 poeple to make it under 3. Looking at my 20-26.2 split, I actually averaged a 7:04 pace, but man it felt like 10.

Final Time- 2:59:33 @ 6:51 pace, 162 average HR. At around clock time 4:10, I found a spot along the finishing chute to watch out for my mom and Jamie. Mom rounded the corner alone and crossed in 4:23:56, second woman in her AG as usual . Now I looked for Jamie, running her first Marathon. Not more than 3min later, there she was, crossing the line in 4:26:54 wih tears in her eyes. It was the most special part of the day for me by a long shot.

Last year I ran this race in an awful 3:33 and change. Felt like crap from mile 20 on, had to walk a bunch of times. This year was a great improvement. But man, I did the SOMA Half Ironman in 4:26. This race was done in 3 hours and yet SOMA was ten times easier. Stand alone Marathons just hurt and I am glad it's over!
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