This was a perfect storm of a run.  I had trained well, rested well, and the weather was low 50's with light rain in the beginning with a nice shower the last few miles.

I had made an ambitious plan of a heart rate calculation pace for a 3:45 marathon and marked out on a map where I should be at heart rate and pace at various places along the route.  At every point I was either below my heart rate or having a faster pace.  With each success the next success became more encouraging until I realized not only was I on pace to make a 3:45 marathon, but I had a lot left in my tank....a lot.  I averaged a heart rate of 150beat/min when I should have been much closer to 160.  So the last few miles i just opened up and just kept pushing each mile extra trying to get closer to 160 b/m.

In the end, not only did I coming in at 3:44 but felt like I had another 5 miles at the current pace and was so ecstatic!

Great race.  I'm really hopeful for training with the next race.