7 mile tempo run @ 9:36, plus warm-up and "cool-down," aka I was NOT going to try to maintain the pace for the first or the last big hills.

We got the cool front too, but unfortunately only a few sprinkles with it. Not really even enough to settle the dust. Still, cooler is nicer to run in for sure.

Even if I could maintain that pace over 26.2 it wouldn't get me my BQ. I'm still six weeks out from race day though. And even considering the hills I skipped and the net 80 feet descent, Columbus is a lot flatter than where I run. So it could still happen. Theoretically.

I know I've been really conservative with my pace goals when I did the half last year and when I ran Cleveland ... maybe it's time to risk blowing up.