Run for the Red Marathon

Marathon #15 was not my slowest marathon ever, but I think it was my hardest.  They said the temperature was 79 F when I finished, but it might as well have been in the 90s.  I was sweating bullets at mile 2 and doubting my 3:49 goal by mile 5.  But, I reminded myself of all the swings I've experienced in previous marathons - feeling lousy and daunted at one moment, but then fast, high-energy, and relaxed just a few minutes later.  I thought of one of the reasons I chose this marathon in particular - the >1,300 ft elevation loss over this Pocono Summit-to-Stroudsburg course - and adopted a calming mantra:  "It's hot, but I can do it."  I maintained this mantra through about mile 9.  But by the halfway point, I knew there was no way, and just decided to relax and enjoy a nice fun run through the Poconos.  And I did do my best to be positive, but well, the 2nd half of the race was pretty much just a hot, miserable blur (see my splits below).  The misery was alleviated by seeing Kate and my mom at mile 16 and near the end (so sweet of them to come cheer me on and drive me home!), and chatting with a novice marathoner from Frederick also helped a little (although he was pretty negative).  Anyway, here are my mile splits:

Mile 1 - 8:41
Mile 2 - 8:24
Mile 3 - 8:50
Mile 4 - 8:37
Mile 5 - 8:58
Mile 6 - 9:26
Mile 7 - 8:05
Mile 8 - 8:03
Mile 9 - 8:38
Mile 10 - 9:47
Mile 11 - 9:16
Mile 12 - 9:45
Mile 13 - 9:14
Mile 14 - 10:15
Mile 15 - 10:12
Mile 16 - 10:52
Mile 17 - 11:27
Mile 18 - 11:02
Mile 19 - 13:00
Mile 20 - 13:26
Mile 21 - 13:02
Mile 22 - 12:39
Mile 23 - 15:07
Mile 24 - 14:16
Mile 25 - 13:36
Mile 26 - 12:42
Last 0.2 - 2:01
Finish time - 4:39:33

Here's me after the finish.  Smiling because I'm SO GLAD to be done running.

My mom or Kate took this picture.  Did I mention how wonderful it was of them to come cheer me on?  I think if I was by myself I might have seriously considered dropping out.  I definitely entertained the thought, at least briefly.  Many runners DNF'ed by way of a stretcher and ambulance, and I thought why push it?  But the hassle of DNFing on a point-to-point course with loved ones waiting for me at the end helped dissuade me.  And I guess it turns out, I had a finish in me - 4:39:33 is pretty darn slow, but it's not my slowest. 

Still not sure what's next.  My goal of 3:49:59 eludes me, and it's frustrating.  5 of my 15 marathons have been under 4 hours, and I don't think this goal or my training plans are unreasonable.  But waiting for the stars to align and provide ideal conditions on race day is trying my patience.  I'll decide what's next later.  For now, I plan to take some time off from running, especially now that NC summer's heat will be in full swing soon.