Went out this morning looking to break 28:00 minutes for 4 miles a 7:00 pace. Conditions were good, maybe a little warm with the sun shining. Central Park is in prime spring condition, with cherry blossoms out (I think that’s what they are) and over 8,000 runners out today. I started way up front so I would not have to weave through the masses

Mile 1 – a little crowded at the start, so the 1st quarter mile was a little slow, but ended finding my groove, hit the 1st mile marker at 6:59, so far so good.

Mile 2 – starting to pick up the pace and feeling good, think I may be going a little fast but this should be OK, hit the 2nd mile marker at 13:35, a 6:36 pace, way too fast I could be in trouble

Mile 3 – the hills are coming and I am losing some gas, this is not good. Breathing is heavy and some people are actually passing me. I am worried I went too big too early. Closing to the 3rd mile marker at 21:01. Still have a chance

Mile 4 – lots of downhills but I do not have the strength to turn my feet over fast enough and pick up the pace. Coming around to the 72nd traverse and I can see the finish line, time to empty the tank and go for it. somehow found a little more and sprinted to the end with a closing time of 28:01

Missed it by two seconds!!! After 4 miles and 28 minutes it came down to TWO SECONDS and I could not close it.
I do feel encouraged that I was so close and will break that 7:00 pace for a 4 miler soon enough.

UPDATED INFO –
Official race time 28:04
Official Finish – 383 out of 6,575