Pre-Race Thoughts – This may be the STG swan song, make it a good one. Pin on a number, do your best that day. (17th STG and 37th marathon)
Post Race Thoughts – Forget the swan song, train smarter next year, work harder, looking forward. Goals: I had joked about finishing before dark, some truth in the joke considering the situation. My real goals were: do my best, beat last year’s time and have fun. (Post knee surgery PR and beat last year by 53 minutes)
Bus ride in the dark – normally, much anxiety about the race, none this year, just see what the race brings. Sylvie really helped keeping the mind in line, saying you can break 5 hours, you can do it, etc. so nice to have a supportive running partner.
Bond fire – nice time chatting with a couple of runners from Texas, first timers, really nervous. Ran into Kim and Tom taking clothing bags, talked to old running buddy Bruce and his wife running her first marathon (she told me 5 years ago how much see hated running) go figure.
The Start – wow, we were not 30 seconds lined up and the start was off, thousands of strong running soles headed off to a distant finish line. It took all of 15 seconds for Sylvie to fade into the darkness ahead of me, wished her well on her quest.
Splits - Now, mile splits have no meaning, my thinking was in terms of how to manage this race, less impact on the knee, maximize strengths, chi when possible, keep replenished and stay focused. Well, did notice 2:15 split at half, the clock. The next split was the clock at 20 and 25, realized at mile 20 that breaking 5 hours may be possible.
Runner Encounters of the Third Kind – Colleen (fastest shuffler stride ever, passed me at mile three) ran a 3:59 at age 61, Sheldon (soon to be Chi instructor, running his 10th STG) and Hal the crazy Buffalo runner. It was nice to run a couple minutes with each of them.
Race Management – 8 (gu, cliff shot and Excel Gel) total, two bananas, Gatorade every stop) good energy. The knee; ran about 5 miles of the race off the left side of the road in the dirt, really helped on portions of the downhill. Almost 5 hours may seem like a long time to be running, funny thing, the miles flew by, don’t know why, just enjoyed the race. Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe this is the last one, really gives you a sense of satisfaction to “just do it”.
Post Race – chatted with Brett and his daughter, superfly and s few other runners. I could hardly walk, too exhausted, left for food and rest.
10-Year Club Banquet – Hear my name, Queen Josse calling to one of her loyal subjects, big smile, she ran a great race and a PR. The banquet was fun, talked to Cheryl, STG PR, she earned it with all those hard workouts.
Sylvie ran a 4:12, was not her day, still gave it her best.
Lastly, enjoy these marathons, they are truly precious challenges.
Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out
(BS Rools can not resist having a little fun) when the 4:30 pacing group caught me at 18 miles, ran with them for a couple of minutes and led them in a running chant:
I don't know, but, I just heard
Here comes the 4:30 running herd
Sound off: several counter off, 1, 2, 3
What are we running for: I don't know and I don't give a darn
The next stop is St.George finsish barn
The pacing group leader laughed.
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