Wow where to start- What a great day. I’ve been so stressed. A summer full of training paid off big time this morning. Ran a PR of 2:36.12 more than a 22 min PR. I won the Silver Shoe award (Southern Utah’s fastest man at this race) this includes a new Nordic Track treadmill, bread for a year from Great Harvest and a few other little things. 17th overall, 5th in age 25-29. Thanks to everyone along the way, I’m humbled and feel so blessed about todays events. Started the race of kind of in a daze- just running along not really focusing on anything in particular. In doing so I lost track of Dave Holt who I had planned on running with. Now I’m on my own. Passed Chad and his friend and just pushed into Veyo drafting off of unknowns along the way. Then at the hill everyone kind of slowed way down and I couldn’t take it so I lead a group of 5 up the hill. When on top finally bright enough to put on sun glasses. Then worked on the climb out of Dammeron Valley. Pushed it a little hard on the climb just trying to get it over with. Hit the half in 1:20.20 (give or take). Soon after the half Dave Holt and Logan Fielding came up from behind and picked me up. I had slowed down not paying attention and my quads where starting to get stiff- I thought this was going to be trouble later in the race. The three of us clipped along down Snow Canyon and into Winchester Hills and we started coming up on Jose Martinez another St. George resident. Going up the hill by the overpass in Winchester I started to worry about the situation. All four of us running right there were from St. George and eligible to win the Silver Shoe. I had to try and separate myself from these guys and put as much distance as possible between us as I could before the final miles. So I pushed on passing Jose and really trying to focus on proper form, running as efficient as I could, making every stride count. When I came down the hill I passed two others and pushed down Diagonal St. At the corner I looked back to see what kind of breathing room I might have created ( a little). With one mile to go I was at 2:29.30 and knew I could break 2:40 and possibly win the shoe. But at this point I was running alone- no one in front or behind me for 30 seconds or so. So I just tried to hang on and finish. No strong surge at the end, just crossed the line and happy to be there. I could go on for a while with this but better stop here. Good job to the entire St. George Running club, yes you too Dave your one of us now. So you better start coming. Especially good job to Dustin for putting together a really good PR for himself. I forgot to mention a big thanks to Sasha for the blog. I owe 10 min of my PR to the help I've gotten from fastrunningblog.com Three cheers for Sasha! | 