Ideal conditions, aggressive running and the excitement of a potential course record made for a captivating two-plus hours during the Honolulu Marathon yesterday morning.

Kenya's Patrick Ivuti retained his title, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 14 seconds after running a blistering half-marathon pace that he couldn't maintain for the second half. Fellow Kenyans Nicholas Chelimo came in second in 2:13:10 and William Chebon third in 2:14:59.

"I think we saw there are many different ways to run a marathon, and in terms of winning the race I thought it was a good way," said Dr. Jim Barahal, Honolulu Marathon president. "That fast pace broke everybody off, but I think it probably prevented the course record. With the weather today, the conditions were right for a record."

Ivuti won $40,000 for the win, plus $6,000 for time incentives. Runners receive an additional $15,000 if they set a race record.

In weather conditions that featured little to no wind and temperatures in the upper 60s, Ivuti and the all-Kenyan elite pack of six, along with two pacesetters, started out fast, averaging sub-5-minute miles, including a 4:37 between the fifth- and sixth-mile markers.

"The pace was so aggressive, that was really the key. But in order to win the race, maybe that was the way to go," said expert commentator Toni Reavis. "They say they are going to go at a certain pace, but you could see Ivuti early on when he was motioning to his pacers, he was saying, 'I want you to go faster.'

"One of the things that makes Kenyans great runners is they don't overintellectualize the process. They run like today is the best day of my life. Until proven otherwise ... they are willing to risk for the reward."

Early on, with the runners taking off so fast, the focus quickly turned to whether the course record of 2:11:12 set by Jimmy Muindi would be broken. But Ivuti said that was not his goal coming in to the race.

"As I said earlier, I was not coming to set a new course record," Ivuti said. "I said if it can come, well that would be good. But I was trying to run my best."

Much of the group remained together during the blistering pace, but Ivuti, Chelimo and Muindi, along with pacesetter Gilbert Chepkwony, broke away after the 10-mile mark as the group made the turn on to Kalaniana'ole Highway.

"It was very fast, I was thinking I would never finish," Chelimo said.

There, they maintained a near 5-minute-mile pace, and passed the half marathon mark at 1:04:21, one of the fastest half-marathon times in Honolulu Marathon history.

"The best way to run a marathon is either even splits or what they call a negative split, where the second half is faster," Reavis said. "If you front load this ... the distance will get you. The first competitor you have is the distance, not the other competitors. If you take it too lightly or try to be too aggressive with it, it will get you."

Ivuti and Chelimo pulled away from the rest down Kalaniana'ole. Then, at the left turn on to Hawai'i Kai Drive, Ivuti made his move.

"We were trying to move together but at 15 miles I realized the pace was down so I tried to push," Ivuti said. "I was trying to see if the body could open up."

Chelimo said: "When Ivuti told me we go, I told him go, just to go. I will come."

After 17 miles — right around the time when Ivuti was on his return trip down Kalaniana'ole and passing the elite women running in the opposite direction — Ivuti's left leg started to bother him.

"Around 28K, that's when I started to feel my left leg was pulling a bit so I just tried to balance the speed, and the mind was distraught," Ivuti said. "That's why you saw me slow a bit. I couldn't push."

He ran the remainder of the race alone.

"There's a synergy when you're running in a pack with people," Reavis said. "You share energy. And when that's gone, you really do feel alone and vulnerable and very small. And your pace has a tendency to erode slowly; you're not even aware of it. And it's hard to keep your concentration."Alone and hindered by his leg, Ivuti's pace slowed to an average of about 5:30 a mile. Only as he approached the finish line and its large clock did he summon the energy for one final push.

"I was thinking I could run around a sub 13 (under 2 hours, 13 minutes) so when I saw when I was almost running a sub 13, I tried to push a bit to see if I could run a sub 12 but it was not easy for me," Ivuti said. "It was too late for me to push. I cannot say I was a bit happy, but I was happy."