Still Consistent...One Run to Go

Today's Run: Temperature: 64 degrees. Road: 3.36 miles; splits: 8:56; 8:55; 9:03; 3:07; 30:01; 8:56/mile pace.

I was scheduled to run for 30 minutes, so I overachieved and ran for 30 minutes and one second. It was another perfect day to run, with a 64 degree temperature and a slight breeze. The run was also perfect. Everything felt great. I'm so ready for NY. Speaking of NY, here's the forecast, according to WCBS Newsradio88, NY: Sunday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. OK, so just to be sure, I have another opinion. Accuweather.com says: Sunday, Nov 1
High: 63 °F RealFeel®: 62 °F
Nice with plenty of sunshine
I couldn't ask for a better day. As it gets closer, my excitement grows. There's a record number of runners: 42,000. Crazy, huh?! Thank goodness we're going to be in chutes (like cattle?!) and released at different intervals to reduce crowding. Having read everyone's comments so far, I'm starting to think I may go for a PR. I don't want to run-walk-run anywhere near as slow as I did in Hartford. As I've mentioned previously, Hartford was a test marathon for NY. The test went well. I know run-walk-run works for a 4:45 pace. It also will work for a 4:22 or better pace if I push myself. Do I want to push myself? Yes and No. Yes, because I'd love to end my marathon career with a PR. No because I don't want to go too fast too soon, and hit the wall, or feel like crap when I'm finished. So here's the deal I've worked out with myself. Stick to the run-walk-run training plan that I've been using the past six months. When I run for my four minutes, I will run faster than I do now on my training runs (that's ok), and I will walk a little faster than I have been on my training. I will start this from mile one, not mile seven like I did at Hartford. That is the way the plan works: save energy early on, and if I have enough energy anytime during the last ten miles, I can modify the running to a longer distance with less walking, or best case scenario, no walking at all. Logical thinking left brain will like this, since it involves walking "rewards" every four minutes. Another change of plans for me involves not staying over in NY the night before. I'm seriously thinking about having someone driving me down the morning of the marathon and dropping me off. My pick up point is at the Meadowlands in NJ, and there's buses running nonstop from 5-6:30 a.m. to the starting line dropoff area. I'd have plenty of time since my starting time isn't until 10:20 a.m. It's not any longer of a bus ride than if I was going from NY City to the starting line area. Problem is, to make a very long story short, I may not be able to get a ride down to NJ the morning of the marathon. I still have 6 days to problem solve. To be continued...