Finally, a breakthrough... Thanks to Sasha teaming with me and sharing pacesetting chores, we had a fantastic experience. He has taught me to have the confidence to run a well disciplined marathon. No wall really thanks to a good drastic week taper, good fluid intake and a large winter-spring quality base. Well they say three is a charm... Given my past history with Ogden this may have been it. First 10 in 56:14, half in 1:14:36. Felt smooth and in control most of the way, no real bad patches except for mi 24 maybe. I think that was because I dropped a 5:17 mi at mi 23 in order to put some distance between me and Neal Gassmann and also Joe Wilson who I did not even know was there until it was almost too late! He scared the bejeebies out of me coming from behind with that last minute sprint 40 meters or so to the tape. Sprinted my guts out and literally upchucked my gatorade at the end. Made it!!! Whew.. that was too close. Marathons should not finish like that! My hats off to all those who participated especially to Cody who had a huge PR and Paul the comeback kid with his excellent performance. Thanks again Sasha.
One more thing before I go, it was a cool experience to see horses at mi 9 gallop along side with us while we were running. It came to me right then that just like them we also were born to run. 30 days and counting, Devine Racing has not paid me.
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