relentless forward progress

When I looked up the definition for wind, the second line says: A twist or turn in a course. Indeed lol.

When the weather forecast showed a wind advisory a couple days ago I laughed. There is no way a wind will be blowing up the canyon I and many others thought. I have ran that canyon so many times and have never felt a headwind. There is either no wind or a tailwind. Everyone was wrong today :). When the lead pack of Kenyans finish in 2:29 and change you know there is a problem.

Things were good at the start. The gun went off and we were going. The plan was to run the first 7 relaxed, be conservative and consistent through the hilly section until 17, and the cut it loose to the finish. The first 7 were all 6:20 - 6:26, perfect. As soon as we made the turn from Walsburg into the canyon the wind hit. 20-25 mph right in the face. This made the hilly section from 8-11 near unrunnable. I didn't know what to do. I was alone at this point and the nearest person was about 30 seconds ahead, the tiny lead female, which wasn't worth making a push to draft off of. So 8 and 9 were 7:04 and 7:01.

At this point I started to become concerned with the 2:48 goal. I though I would make it up a couple miles at a time but that I could put a big dent in it in the downhill miles. So the slight downhill stretch of 10 and 11 that I can usually run easily at 6:00 pace instead were 6:27 and 6:38. The wind was blowing so hard you couldn't hear anything and I had to pull my hat off so it wouldn't blow off my head. This is where mentally I started to fall apart.

Here comes doubt and all it's friends. The next section the wind was relentless. I started walking in places. I was giving up. I thought about DNFing a few times. Thought about just walking it to mile 20 where I knew my brother was and having him just drive me home.7:13, 7:22, 6:43, 6:39, and a 7:57 mile 16. I saw the aide station just before 17 and ran to it and climbed into a port o' potty.

The conversation with myself (you do it too, don't even play like you don't lol) went something like this: Ok, pull it together guy. Goal times missed are not the end of the world. This is what has been thrown at you today, and everybody else. What do you need to do to snap out of this funk? What is the new plan? Take some deep breaths and get back out and finish this. Ok.

Goal is now to break 3. I feel like shizz because I have been running too slow. I'm hot and windblown. So a few cups over the head and a couple down the hatch and I was off again. 18 and 19 were 6:31 and 6:39. My brother and his fam were waiting at mile 20 with a cold bottle of goodness. I had started a good rhythm but I walked a bit while taking down that electrolyte bottle. 7:46 mile 20.

Coming out of the canyon and turning onto university avenue the wind finally let up a little. 20mph became 4-6 and I just tried to get into the best groove I could. It had done it's damage though. I started to see the crowds and some friends and fed off of them as much as I could.

Just after the mile 23 marker here comes Curtis Eppley to get me. He decided he was going to come to the marathon and run friends and family to the finish line. He would run someone in, turn around and run back up and fish someone else and run them in too. This guy ran the Squaw Peak 50 miler last weekend in record heat and he is up here cutting wind for friends. He ran near;y a marathon of miles doing this for others today. You are an amazing guy Curtis. Thank you.

Curtis told me this: "I am running this white line all the way in. You will run on my right shoulder. I am small but I make a good wind block. Let's do this." He pulled me all the way to the chute offering encouragement, it was awesome.

I hit the chute and they said my name and I pushed it on in. Finished at last. 2:58:31.

Most everyone I talked to was off by 10-12 minutes. This made me feel better. I learned a few lessons today that will stick with me. One is that you can prepare all you want for a marathon and it will turn all of your prep on it's head just like that. That's the allure of it. So many things have to line up in order to have a great one. This is what I love about it. Sometimes we just need to go into problem solving mode, adjust the plan, dig down, and get it done.

I saw so many friends and DM'ers today. So good to connect and see everyone, especially on a day like this.

My mom finished her first half marathon today up there. Her goal was under 2:30. She ran 2:29 and change. I am so proud of her. She nailed it on a tough day. After talking to person after person after person, she is the only one I talked to that hit her goal. Awesome job Mom, you continue to inspire.

Thanks again for all of the support everyone. I really appreciate all of your kind words and thoughts. I wish you all the best in your training and racing coming up. I hope I can encourage you as much as you encourage and inspire me.

Boston '13!

relentless forward progress

Utah Valley Marathon