Sydney Marathon - 21-09-08

Decided not to run with the 3hr pacers but run according to how I felt. Made it to 21.1k at 90mins and then 30k at 2.10. I was expecting to hit the wall, so I tried to hold back but as I passed the turnaround on the City West link I felt better and better. I kept passing people and no one was passing me. That was unusual and also motivating. As I passed over the Glebe Island bridge for the second time I remembered last year that the 3.15 group passed me here, and I suffered terribly to the finish line. I also remebered that at the Gold Coast 2 months ago when I came to a complete halt at 39k with dizziness and fatigue. But today I was feeling good. I actually started to feel better than in the first half. But I new I had at least 7k to go so I was determined to hold back.
Then I was into Hickson Road, a long desolate straight. One runner was a long way front of me. I decided to increase speed just enough to catch him before the bend. I did! So I came up to the Wharf theatre and overtook a couple more runners. Then coming around Dawes Point I ran past the seawall that I had rebuilt and remebered how hard it had been working there. Only two k' to go so I let it rip, and somehow managed to run the last two k sub 4 mins. Time 3.04.?? Two minute PB and an 8 minute course PB.
I had so much extra energy that I ran back to Hickson Rd to find Mike and pace him home. He was suffering but hung on to run 3.50 which was 19 minutes better than last year.
What was the difference?
-1) I force fed myself carbs (pasta, bannanas, bread, honey, rice) for three days before hand.
-2) I filled myself with V8 juice and gatorade.
-3) I had easy days before the race
-4) During the race I had a GU before the start and at every 10k (even though I wasn't hungry)
-5) I sucked Glycogen pills the whole race
-6) My training while missing afew days due to flu and work has been consitent over the last 7 months.