Well, I didn't do it. I was taken off the course by the race director at the halfway point. I did secretly want it. At 13.1 miles, I crossed the checkpoint at 3 hours and 20 minutes. I saw the event people looking at me and I asked "Am I late?" and they said "Yes."
That's when the guy came up to me and started shaking my hand. He said "Today is not your day" and promised me that next year I would get to try again for free. The cutoff time for halfway is 3:15.
So, what happened? I don't know. I know that when I trained it was much much easier. My last long run, 18 miles I did in 3:45. That's a pace of 4.8 mph. That's pretty reasonable given my running ability.
Yesterday, I got up at 4am. I believed I had to be at the parking lot by 6:30am to pick up my bib and chip. I left maybe 4:45am. I nuked a tamale to eat on the road. I was there around 6:15am and was able to get my bib and chip. I went to the hotel where all the runners were and asked folks if I was in the right place.
Oh and the moment I woke up that morning I immediately drank a big cup of water. Sometime on the road, I had to pee and I pulled over and took a break over at the West Long Branch Dunkin Donuts. Perhaps I hadn't had enough sugar that morning. I could have had a donut.
So, starting time wouldn't be until 7:30am. At around 7am, I asked race officials if they had any ibuprofen. It's my tradition that before running that I take some ibuprofen to take the edge out of joint pain.