My friend Julie, of Hot Legs Runner sent me an email with the following question:
Hi Janice!
I’m doing my first full marathon at the RnR Las vegas this December. They have a 5:30 cut-off (chip time). I’m not a fast runner. my half mary time is only 2:24.
I am trying to decide something today. I realized, I don’t want to beat myself up finishing before 5:30. Heck, I was even going for 5 hours. This is my first and like all my first race events at a new distance, I enjoy the course. I don’t want to worry about anything else. I just want to really truly feel the distance. There is really nothing like your first!
AGREED! There is definitely nothing like your first!
My advice is to do the race at your own pace 
All the cut off means is that there may be no finish line, and the race officials will move you over to the sidewalk – you can still do it! At the 5:30 cut-off you’ll probably only be 2-3 miles from the finish, go for it!
Good luck Julie, I can’t wait to hear/read about your first marathon experience!
Forward to a friend
Thanks so much for responding so quickly to my email, Janice. I am going to have fun on this marathon. That’s the plan. If I finish at 5:30 or before that, then that would be awesome =)
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