“Marathon Mile 9 to End” long run

Our long run today followed the AT&T Austin Marathon course. It was a LAB (as in laboratory) run so we were to try to run it as if we were really doing the marathon, and not as an easy long run. We were to start at mile 9 and run to the end (mile 26.2). We were to complete 18 miles including about a mile extension at the end to get back to the RunTex building. I was thinking of running with the 4:30 group, but started with the 4:15 group. Dan-O was the pace leader who I know. The first three miles were a warm up (in 38:08 – I started my timer too early before we really started running so this time is inaccurate). The next four sets of 3 miles were to be done at MGP with a 1-3 minute break between each. The final 3 miles were to be a cooldown. Well I started with the 4:15 group, but at the second water break (in 28:04 for miles 3-6) I just couldn’t stand around waiting, so I took off and chased the 4:00 group and caught them (in 27:56 for miles 6-9). The pace leaders were running too fast (8:30/M), but I tried to keep up with them for that first section (in 26:51 for miles 9-12). Remember these times include 1-3 minutes of resting at each water stop. We were really running. However, the next one I began to slow down (in 29:20 for mile 12-15). After these two faster sections with this crowd I finally decided to take it easy and really cool down for the last 3 miles back to RunTex (in 30:58 for miles 15-18). I was getting really stiff near the end. After it was all over I don’t remember much of the course unfortunately except that there were a few hills that will be tough come next February.