MEC 7, Marathon 42.2 kms, Oct 2017. La Gran Banana !!

I have always been curious how would it feel to race a marathon without specific training. Not that I don’t run everyday, but I wasn’t training for this race specifically. After my May 2017 Marathon, where I clocked 2:59:45 I have been wondering what would it feel to break 3 hours once again. It wasn't the case this past Saturday, but it was a good mental run. I had a free entry from last year's race when I came 3rd, and I didn't want to waste it.. after all, free entry is free entry.
With Maria and the kids keen on going on the road as a support crew, I decided it would be a good idea to race again. I had the usual for breakfast, oatmeal and a waffle with peanut butter and bananas, an extra large coffee and water. I was at the start at around 8:00am, but the race wasn't until 9:00am, so sat on the car to stay warm since the temperature was -9c burrrr @#$%
Just 10 minutes before 9:00, I headed out to the start and lined up for the start.
I started and for the first 3 to 4 kms was behind a guy that was running my planned pace (4:15 min/km), I was making sure to keep him on sight, although without knowing him I wasn't sure about his plan.
After km 4 I passed him and slowly ran away from him. It was around the zoo and straight west on the path that I have been running for the past 11 years, so I pretty much know every corner, every root, every underpass, every hill.... All the way up to Shouldice where the real deal starts !! yes, Home Road hill !!! you pretty much have to walk it, or at least jog it.. At the top of the hill it gets flatter, and Maria was waiting with the kids in the turn around point (21.1km) to refill my two water bottles. She did it as planned and off I went.
Downhill to Shouldice didn't necessarily feel super easy, after all I find running downhill as hard as running in the flat.
There is something about the turnaround point that always increase my motivation, and that is that once you turn around half way on every race, every step is a step less or a step closer to the finish line and mentally that has always been my mantra!.

Going through  Edworthy park I saw Maria and the kids again, she gave me half of a banana and off I went. With approx 14kms to go I was already starting to feel the heavy legs.. although I was feeling like I was running supper hard, it wasn't true. My pace slowed down at least 15 seconds, then 20 seconds, then 30 seconds.... I knew every mark that was coming, Crowchild, 14st, 10st, Peace bridge, Center, zoo, etc etc etc.. as I said I have been running those paths for 11 years.
At around the 37km mark my body really started to fall apart, all I could think was about the finish line, the grass where I was ready to lay down, the water and food I was going to eat, and the rest I was more that ready to take !
With 5kms to go I was just focusing on one km at the time, trying to pick up the pace, but it never happened. The 40k and 41k mark were really slow, and there was nothing that could make me go faster. I usually have something left for the last 2 or 3kms, but not this time.
I crossed the finish line in 1st place overall (1/92) with a time of 3:06:45, which isn't bad, but it certainly wasn't what I wanted.
During the race I drank 4 belt bottles with Vitargo, I had a jelly beans pack, half a banana at 21k and half a banana at 28k. I had a gel in the last 9kms which I think was a good idea, with 45min to go at that point I gel probably held my wheels in place ::--)
I ran by myself pretty much from beginning to end, it never bothers me, but I find that I could always go a bit harder if I have some good company around, specially someone faster than me.