This one was . . . → Read More: Greg Picklesimer wins Boston’s Run to Remember Half-Marathon!]]> After finishing 2nd overall and 1st master in a few spring races, Pickle finally broke the tape over Memorial Day weekend and did so in grand fashion, placing 1st overall out of 4,967 finishers at the Run to Remember!   Greg’s race report is below and full results are here.

This one was a huge surprise. I almost didn’t run it, signing up

at the last minute. It was a hot and humid morning when we arrived at

the World Trade Center in South Boston about 25 minutes before the

start, which is early by my standards. While Carla parked the car, I

ran inside to get my race packet and then made my way towards the

front of the corral. Looking around, the only fast guy I recognized

was Mike McGrane. Mike said he didn’t see any top guns there either.

As we toed the line and I sized up the competition around me, I had a

fleeting thought that I might have a shot at winning this thing. That

idea grew stronger as I found myself in the lead after only about 1/2

mile. Now this is very uncharacteristic for me, as my usual M.O. is to

go out easy and pick off the leaders later in the race. But as we

passed the first mile mark at 5:36 (according to the clock; I wasn’t

wearing a watch) I felt like I was running relaxed and saw no need to

ease up. At that point a couple guys tried to pick up their pace and

hang onto me, but they backed off when we came to a hill leading up to

the turn onto Cambridge Street. My lead grew as we crossed the

Longfellow Bridge at around mile 2.5 and, unaccustomed as I was to

this situation, I realized I needed to decide on a game plan: Either

(a) I was going to run all-out and put so much distance between me and

the rest of the field early that the idea of reeling me in would be

futile; or (b) I would slow down, conserve my energy, and hope I’d

have enough left in the tank to pull away from the pack towards the

finish. I went with plan (a) and put the pedal down.

I had a 45 sec lead by the time we got to the turnaround a little

past mile 6. I was running a 5:40 pace as I passed the clock at mile

7. The heat and humidity were starting to take their toll and I looked

forward to the mile 8 water stop (critical, since I skipped the

previous one at mile 6 and there wouldn’t be another one until mile

11). But when I got there it was chaos. Note to race directors: NEVER

put two water stops directly across from eachother on an out-and-back

course. The problem is that runners on the outbound side go to BOTH

stops, jamming up the road and blocking the tables from the leaders

coming back through. So even though the police cruisers escorting me

(very cool!) were able to clear a path, I was unable to get any

much-needed refreshment. The wheels started coming off soon afterwards

and my pace deteriorated in the unrelenting sun and humidity. With 4

miles to go and a sizable yet shrinking lead, all I could think about

was not getting caught. I’d never live it down.

Fortunatley I held on to break the tape (also very cool!) at

1:16:18, my slowest half marathon in 6 years but my first win at that

distance. And to think I almost skipped it!

I love out-and-back courses. It’s so great to see friends in the

race and the shout-outs are tremendously motivating. Thanks and

congratulations to everyone who was out there that day, running or

spectating. Means alot.