05/26/2025
Part 3 and 4:
Rounding the halfway point, I was feeling pretty good—focused, dialed in, everything moving fine. Around 25km, I wasn’t gasping for water like usual, but I did feel some tightness in my groin that concerned me. I popped a couple extra capsules and hoped for the best.
My biggest problem now: I was alone. No more "chomp chomp" behind me, and the group ahead was long gone. Long running alone is one thing. Racing alone is another. It becomes such a mental grind. So difficult for me.
At 27km, I got smacked in the face by a swarm of tiny bugs. One—clearly the Luke Skywalker of gnats—managed to dive under my sunglasses and explode in my eye. Great. Eye’s out. Keep moving.
At the next turn, I couldn’t even open the eye. Had to stop for 30 seconds to flush it out after grabbing water from the pit crew. Brutal. Bug gone. Let’s go.
I was also hitting a wall and asked if I was still on pace for sub-3. Who knew? Was I even alive? No idea.
Final stretch—windy, relentless, and annoying. At 32 and 33km, I kept repeating: “I feel great,” “10 to go,” “You do 10 every day,” “Pull it together.” 8 to go. 7 to go.
Breathing heavy, I caught up to the lead female and her bikers. Did I use her as a wind block? Maybe. Am I proud of it? That’s racing. I'd slowed down real bad now, and the goal was slipping real fast. At 40km a big cramp hit, and I saw I had 8 minutes left for sub-3. I was running 4:30/km—doable—but why was I doing math?! RUN IDIOT, RUN!!
1km to go. The crowd thickened, cheers rising. 500m-ish left, I saw my watch flip from a 2 to a 3. Absolutely gutted. Ug just finish. You've failed. Why are you even out here? WAIT—BQ is still possible. Shut up brain. I’ve got Boston to run!!
Crossed with a 3:01 PB!!
Was I pi**ed? Yes. But when the feeling returned to my face and arms, I was proud. It's an incredible privilege to chase a sub-3, and I don’t take that lightly. I WILL get my sub 3. Trust the process.
Huge thanks to everyone who yelled, cheered, and pushed me on. And to my pit-crew of one—my wife—for chucking water at me and biking 40km to find me and yell!!
So?? What’s next???? Stay tuned