Waking up at 3:30 each morning three days before flying across country was a good thing this time around. I flew in on Thusday and was able to enjoy a couple relaxing days before lining up at the 3:45 pace group for the marathon. I remembered being slowed down in 2008 and this tactic helped alot though the 4 hour pace group passed me at mile 5 and the 4:15 around mile 10. I went out fast on purpose and hit the 13 mile mark a few minutes ahead of what was practical considering the three mile hill we all marched up at the beginning of the race. This marathon is not an easy one and had 1800 feet elevation, about 1000 more then Portland so the time was good, about seven minutes slower then Portland, but considering it was a east coast marathon and I improved my time 23 minutes from 08, I was very pleased at my finish time!
What can you say about D.C., it's D.C., landmarks are at your beckon call and I ran with a camera for the first time on my 31st career finish. The crowd support continued to be the best I've been associated with. They announced at the beginning of the race to all starters that they had the number one medal in the country thanks to Marathon and Beyond. I couldn't help but snicker considering that article and medal Top 25 idea was mine.
I learned something while running, from Crystal City on, about mile 20 I don't really care for the course, so it was a bit hard to stay motivated and due to starting out fast I was a minute a mile slower then I wanted to be but finishing at another landmark was the objective of the race so I understand the course, but it's not really one well designed for me. But I doubt they change it for my behalf. I am not sure if I will run this again anytime soon. I loved it again, but I have New York on my radar again and entered the lottery already, so we'll see what next year brings.
