Bryce Canyon Half Marathon. Slept about 3 hours last night in our wonderful motel, but when I got up I felt better than I'd felt all week. Ab's didn't hurt and I just got ready to head up to the start. Got to the start and saw Mike Vicke and knew Hobie was comming so thought things could be fun. Got a good warm-up in and then used the porta potty one too many times as the last time I went it stunk so bad I was dry heaving and didn't puke because I had nothing in my stomach to push up. Wonderful pre-race fun. At the start we had a fase start and everyone kept running but Dave and I. We stopped and then when everyone kept going we started again. Maybe a 5-10 second waste of time. I ran a pretty good race considering on Tuesday I wasn't even going to run at all- that's how bad my ab's hurt. At mile 5 the pain showed up and just held me back. From there in I struggled to stay in the race. So it went like this. 1. 5:36- Dave and I catch up to Logan after the false start. Some slight downhill and some up. 2. 5:30- The three of us trying to get into race mode. .6 uphill .4 downhill 3. 4:52- The step downhill. Way to fast for me. Too step too. 4. 4:58- Same as mile 3 5. 5:11- Starting to cramp- ab's and legs. 6. 5:10- The guys start pulling away. 7. 5:30- Gets flat through here 8. 5:48- A climb up before you get to the town of Tropic- Now I want to just pull out early, but my pride makes me finish. I'm having a hard time keeping this pace. 9. 5:46- More of the same. 10. 5:36- Gradual downhill helps me pass the time. But the race is over. I do some quick math and make a new goal of running under 1:12. 11. 5:37- Actually start to feel good right here and start wanting to chase down Dave and the other guy from Durango, Co. 12. 5:47- As quick as I felt good I felt bad again with a side ache that sends me into "hold on for dear life" mode. 13. 5:40- Flat road and I can see the end. .2 5:25 pace... No big finish, just happy to be done. Overall not a good race. Goal was sub 1:10. But even on a bad race took a PR on this course and a new PR for the half marathon. Last year I ran a 1:15 here and my PR was at Hobble with a 1:12. So if I'm healthy and start getting some better speed workouts I think a 1:08 can happen in a month at Hobble Creek. Hobie showed why he's one of the best in the state pushing out a 1:04 flat! Mike V. ran a 1:07. Dave and Logan both ran great kicking my butt, but I'll let them tell about it. For some reason I'm just glad this race is over? | 