MHM stats (partial report)

Still not time to go through the event in as much detail as I'd like, but I do have stats for the Mohawk Hudson Marathon from my GPS. My plan was to divide the run into quarters, three of 7 miles, and the last one of 5.2 (GPS measured it as 5.3). Target pace was 52:30 for each quarter, which would make 3:30; given how poorly training had been going the month prior, I wanted a safe pace. Plus, as the last quarter was only 5.2 miles instead of 7, I figured that even with massive fade I'd do it quicker, and thus get well under 3:30 in the end. That was the plan.

On the day, I felt good in the first few miles, and figured I could run three quarters at a decent pace, and then deal with the last quarter as it came. I still held back a bit, feeling that my original target pace of 7:20 ish was as fast as I dare go even if only for 21 miles. Here's how it turned out (mile splits):

1- 7:15
2- 7:20
3- 7:02
4- 7:05
5- 6:53
6- 7:51
7- 7:04
first quarter = 50:30

This first section had quite a few mild downhills, but notice the heavy throttling back after mile 5.

8- 7:25
9- 7:22
10- 7:24
11- 7:16
12- 7:24
13- 7:16 official (chip) first half time = 1:35:49
14- 7:36
second quarter = 51:43

Even with me being cautious in this second quarter, the first half was quite fast for me--7:18s, my goal pace for the next marathon. . . I couldn't keep it up this time, natch; most people in the race had positive half way splits, it turns out. Had one GU at about mile 14, first refuel apart from my gatorade bottle.

15- 7:18
16- 7:17
17- 7:09
18- 7:02
19- 7:33
20- 7:58
21- 7:49
third quarter = 52:06

Getting to 20 from 19 was a struggle, and I kept struggling to hit 21, then I let myself relax and feel tired--I'd done what i came to do, with fairly minimal fade up to 21 miles. Pace over 21 miles = 7:21s, perfectly in my mpace target range. . .
That said, the last quarter was not pretty. Still, once I got to within a mile or so I realised I had quite a bit left (or was it the 2X caffeine GU I'd had at 21 miles?)

22- 8:19
23- 8:32
24- 8:47
25- 8:31
26- 8:28
(+0.3- 2:14) >> GPS measured the finish at 26.3, hence the odd extra bit.
fourth quarter = 44:51

Solidly slower, but managed a fast finish (7:26 pace over the last 0.3) and felt fine shortly after the race. So, m a y b e this method is worth another shot, only I should hope to stay under 8:00 in the last quarter next time. . .