Used this as motivation to train in the winter and early spring and decided to send it before we left on a family vacation when I knew running would take a back seat. I did not complete a true marathon training block before this, but felt decently fit going in.
My main goal was to beat my time from 2023 which I thought should be easily doable (and it was). I didn't think I would beat Sam and Laura's times but tried to pace it to give myself a shot at the all category FKT if I was feeling good. Even though I wasn't too far off, when I hit the climb back up Grandad I knew I didn't have the legs and my target switched to getting in under 5:30 - which I did with 11 seconds to spare!
I ran unsupported: used mostly gels for fueling and refilled my water only at the public tap in Riverside Park (pictured).