Run Run Run

3:03:35 - PR'D by 6 minutes - really pumped! Report when I get off my duff :)

What a great day!  My family and I drove to Maine from Mass on Saturday afternoon.  It was a long drive and by the time we entered Kingfield ME, we only had about an hour to spare to get to the Sugarloaf Resort for bib pick up.  After a few pictures, we headed back to Kingfield and ate dinner at Longfellow’s restaurant…. Thanks Tom K, the food was excellent.  We were losing light by the time dinner ended and decided to check out our accommodations.  After a short drive we were at the Baker Hill Bunker.  This lodge looked decent in the pictures on the AirB&B site, but once we walked through the front door, I knew there would be issues.  The place was filthy and my wife is a clean freak.  I walked up to the loft with a flashlight hoping that the beds were at least clean….. far from it.  Luckily, we brought some fleece blankets for the car ride and draped them over the beds.  We also had full winter pajamas with us since we were in the backwoods of Maine.  If we had gloves and winter hats, you better believe Amy would have us wearing them as well.  After about 3 hours of sleep it was time to get some coffee and food in me while getting prepared.  After a pack of oatmeal, banana and clif bar, it was time to head out.  Luckily, since we had our car, I was able to drive to the start of the race at The Cathedral of the Pines campground in Eustis ME.  My family wished me luck and told me they would see me at the resort access road.  It was about 45 degrees…. Perfect.  With a 12 gauge blast, the race was off!  I met up with Jim my co-worker and we ran for a mile together.  We separated after the mile as we had different plans of attack.  The first 10 miles I wanted to stay around a 7 minute pace with the exception on the two mile climb from 8-10.  I remembered what everyone said about holding back on the first steep descent, and I did just that.  For the rest of the miles with the exception of a 7:07 for mile 21, I was under 7 min pace.  I really stayed on top of my electrolyte levels with lemon lime salt chewable tabs and Nuun hydration drink which my wife handed off at the halfway point.  I nursed this drink from 13 to about 23.  I never even got the slightest hint of a hamstring cramp!  I was definitely tiring in the last 10k, but never hit the wall!  It was an amazing day!  All the the love and thanks to my family for the undying support…. I couldn’t do it without you!  Splits as follows:

                                    ******Sub 3 goal for Boston 2018*****