4:00 is 9:09 min/mile, so targeting in the 9:10-9:30 range is good for a few miles (the crowds will help keep you to a slow start). If you can start around there and then ease it down to 9:10 pace by mile 4 or 5, you should be in good shape (not more than a minute or so slow). Check in with the 4 hour pace leader (I think it's Catherine?) for her strategy, and don't be overly concerned if you're a little fast or a little slow early, as long as it's not 40+ seconds in a mile either way! Also take into account the hills - if the first few miles have some climb or descent, the pace will vary based on that.<br><br>
The key is to be somewhere near 9:10 and have it feel very comfortable. I'm guessing with the late hills in TC, the pacer will try to bank some time between say 8 and 18 or 10 and 20, something like that - not too much, but a few seconds per mile. By then you'll be warmed up, pretty close to target time and feeling fresh so banking 5-10 seconds per mile won't kill you...it'll will help you when the late hills hit and you'll invariably give back a little time to the course.
