As the women’s professionals took their place along the start line, Savannah Berry strode back to Corral 1, full of Wave 1 runners, to high-five a couple of people she seemed to recognize through the row of more than a dozen volunteers meant to separate them.
The elite men go through the first mile in 4 minutes 37 seconds, which is fast — world-record marathon fast. No one is going to break a world record on this hilly course, but the quick tempo is something to watch. It might not take long for the field to come apart.