Not the most valiant effort today. Ran the first 7 or so good then got hung out to dry and just didn't go. PR'd on the course but also on hitting the #2 potty FIVE times before the race and over 15 for the day. I had some serious stomach issues going on. Why? Just some thoughtless food intake the day before. Bean dip? Fat Boy ice cream sandwich, Country time s(traight suger drink), cherry pie, cookies.... and on and on. I just left my brain in STG and ate whatever all the way up here. Then laid in bed all night with stomach cramps. Who knows sometimes. Things could have been better, but it was o.k. Missed my 1:08 for 2007 so I guess I have to keep running next year. Maybe not this race though. It is fast and downhill the first 7 or so but there is a lot of work to do from the golf course or mile 8 in. Three warm-ups / then standing cool downs due to bus issues. This was maybe a good thing for me because it gave me more time to go potty. However I wouldn't suggest trying it. 1. 5:03 2. 5:05 - Really fast pace for me but feels o.k. 3. 5:16 4. 5:16 5. 5:16- Getting into a nice groove 6. 5:17 7. 5:37- Finish the downhill and start climbing out by the golf course. Here my legs have a hard time making the transition and I never really get it going again. 8. 5:29 9. 5:42- rolling hills on twisty trail 10 .5:41 11. 5:43- I just blew it through here. The rolling hills were hard to dial in and I could tell I wasn't going to catch the 2nd place guy, and that unless something bad happend I'd be o.k. from the pack so I just stayed here. Realisticly I couldn't push harder but wasn't tierd. I just couldn't go fast anymore. 12. 5:41 13. 5:47- Finished up just in time for some hard time in the Porta Jail! I just sigh trying to explain this race. It's like I know I can run better but come race day I just choke. That is three half marathon's in a row that I've been unsatisfied with the results. In fact the only good race I've had all year was at Boston. Hopefully I can run STGM and just be happy with how I was able to run regardless of time or place. The last two weeks I've felt fantastic and have had some killer training runs, then I just blow it up on a race. Some of it was diet, but not all. Hopefully my theory of myself is true and that is that I'm a better marathon runner than short races. On a lighter note it was fun to talk to Mike V. and the 2nd place guy (Harmon I think). Mike said he felt like he ran %100 today and way better than in Bryce. I asked him what he felt like the course was compared to Bryce on equal effort and he said maybe one min. The 2nd place guy who ran a 1:08 something said he plans on running a 2:22 at STGM... I guess we will see. I've just got to get some good weeks in and find a way to be under 2:30. You better believe that my diet is going to get cleaned up... starting tomorrow! J/K. | 