I ran this half marathon last year in 1:41:33. I know that this year I'm not as fast, so I didn't expect that time again. I was hoping to run it in 1:45 and to keep the pace at marathon effort. I managed 1:46:55 and the pace never got terribly difficult but it still was probably harder than I could have maintained in a full marathon.
The first 4 miles were uphill. Last year I ran them in the low 9's or high 8's. This year the first mile was 9:52, last year it was 9 even. Pretty much every split was slower this year, I guess it would have to be for me to be over 5 minutes slower. On the bright side, I was 9 minutes slower at the Ogden marathon relay this year than last year, so the gap between the two years is closing. Maybe I shouldn't compare the two years, but I can't help it, so nobody give me any flak for that!!
Anyway, I pounded it out. When I turned the corner at the finishing street, who should I see but my trainer Steve Ashbaker. Apparently he came there to help run me and anyone else he knew in. Now for several miles of the race a woman had been consistently ahead of me by about 10 seconds or so. Steve told me to draft off of him, then he had me sprint it in right at the end, so I passed that woman who led the entire race. Was that nice to do? I have a philosophy that all's fair in love and running, so I don't feel guilty about it. My husband can't figure out why anyone would think it was wrong to pass right at the end, he thinks that's perfectly fine, so I've adopted his way of thinking. It was nice of Steve to meet me. In his blog he says I had my determined game face on. That's really my determined agonized face saying get this torture over with as soon as possible! I should probably think of smiling right at the end so nobody knows how much I'm suffering.
I then hurried off to watch my 9 year old play football. His Bingham team defeated Alta, so at least for the Gremlins, Bingham was victorious over Alta. Now if only the high school team could do as well!
I'm glad all my running friends had good long runs today (I've read all your blogs, all you who ran 20 miles and have already blogged. And yours too Kelli.) Good job all! I know each and every one of you will set a PR at St. George or Top of Utah or whatever marathon you're running. I don't think I will, so maybe Steve won't have to wear a skirt after all.
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