Real happy with this run! I tried to decide if I should run this after getting over the flu Wednesday but I really needed to get back into the running. My brother, a sports therapist, said that I could probably run a good 10k or a half, but in his opinion I wouldn't have the leg strength or recovery to go longer. He was dead on.
We flew into Phoenix and within 10 minutes the kids were playing in the pool with the cousins and the whole trip was already worth it. Of course the kids all stayed up playing until midnight so there was only a chance for three hours of sleep, but who gets any more race night anyway? The next morning, I decided to get in a Tempo workout out of the race along the lines of my brother's recommendation; hit it until mile 15 as fast my goal marathon pace and walk the rest. At the first, the lead group seemed to be holding back, probably waiting for all the hills that this course has, so I ended up in the lead for the first 6 miles. It was averaging 5:45 pace. Mile 10 was 58:23 so we must have slowed a bit. A runner passed me here doing about 5:30 and then we caught him again near 14. Mile 15 was 1:28:32 and I was ecstatic to be done for tha day! I grabbed some water at the aid station and began a slow jog up the hills. It felt doable so I basically jogged the rest of the marathon instead of the walk. The first Master passed me about 2 miles from the finish and the lead woman just blazed by for a new course record.
Odd way to run a race, but otherwise I wouldn't have done it. I just was way too out of sorts. It felt so good to be back into some races! Even if I was slow...This just gets in your system. It also feels good to get into training now for Boston in seven weeks.
Now I'm going to kick my feet up by the pool for a few days | 