Overall this was a great race. I was impressed with how well it was organized, especially for being a first year race (although I think the race director was involved in the old SLC and Las Vegas marathons). I was originally planning on running the SOJO marathon next week, but was able to get into this race for $10, and I couldn't pass that up. Going into this race I wanted to set a new PR, but knew that it would be difficult considering the course profile, but I was going to shoot for it anyways.
Friday night my Dad (ran the half), sister (did the 5k), and myself stayed in a hotel about 6 blocks from the start line. It was great not having to wake up at 4:30 to catch a bus, but slept until 6:00 and took my sweet time getting ready. We headed to the start line about 6:35, dropped off our bags, and warmed up a little. I told my Dad good luck, gave him a hug, and then I headed up towards the front of the starting line (not that I really belong up front, but I feel I am a little faster than average). When I got to the front I saw my friend who was doing the half, he told me to come to the very front line with him and the other fast people. I informed him I am not one of the fast ones (he took third in the half, he is one of the fast ones). It didn't take long after the gun went off to feel like I was in a good groove. I was watching my pace and trying not to start out too fast. About 4 miles in there was only about 3 other marathoners I could see. I chatted with one who is also from Rexburg for about 2 miles, then turned my music back on and tried to focus on running. I enjoyed running through SLC, but noticed that a lot of the city smells like a port-a-potty, but it was still fun to run through some nice parts of the city. By mile 7 I was still feeling good, and we were just starting to hit some of the hills. There was a pretty good steady uphill climb for about 3 miles, and I felt great running them the whole time. I was still hitting my paces, and felt great. The next 13 miles were rolling hills mixed in with the occasional monster hill that was trying to break my spirits, but I was trying my best not to let it happen. By mile 11 the other kid from rexburg was about 200 yards ahead of me, and another runner was about 50 yards in front of me. I kept telling myself to run my own pace and to not let them make me run faster than I wanted to. The guy about 50 yards in front of me slowly came back to me for a few seconds, then pulled ahead of me again for about a mile. At the aid station at mile 12 he missed the GU table and stopped to pick up a GU. I passed him and wouldn't see him again until about mile 20ish (I never did see the other kid from Rexburg, he killed the hills and finished in 2:58). By mile 16 the hills started to wear me down, and I was fighting the urge to walk for a while. The hill at mile 17 (4 for the half) was a beast and did a good job of reminding me that I hadn't done hill training in a while. Around mile 20 the guy who stopped for a GU caught back up to me and gave some encouragement, I wish I could say it helped, but I could feel that the next 6 miles were going to be a battle between myself and myself. And hat a battle it was. But I am proud to say that I feel like I kicked the crap out of myself and won the battle. I was passed by another guy at mile 22 (red sox). When he passed me, I looked back ad couldn't see anybody coming, and I could also up on a hill that we had just ran down that turned back towards the city, so I was able to see the competition for about 1.5 miles back and no one was there. At this point I knew I wasn't going to catch the guys who passed me, they looked strong, and I not only felt weak, but I felt defeated, but I also knew nobody was going to catch me. So I just kept my legs going. Every now and again I would get a little cramp for a few seconds but nothing bad that seemed to slow me down, so I just kept chugging along. I had already started to pass some of the half walkers and was now seeing more and more of them, so I knew I was getting close. At the final turn I saw my wife, I tried to smile but I don't know if I did. I was finished and tired, and very satisfied with my result. 3:15:08 felt like an accomplishment for me. I saw the clock at 3:04:?? and thought "I can beat 3:15, but my legs didn't go any faster, and I don't really care that they didn't. I was done and satisfied. I ended up with 1st in my age and 8th overall. For my efforts I got 2 medals exactly the same but with different colored ribbons (the prizes are the only thing that I was disappointed with about this race). Looking back I wish I would have done 1 thing differently in training, lots of hill running. During the race I wish I would have taken some of the GU Brew (I had never had it before and didn't want to be hitting every port-a-potty). My splits were 6:55, 7:09, 6:56, 7:03, 7:00, 6:59, 6:58, 7:19, 7:10, 7:14, 6:36, 7:01, 6:53, 6:54, 6:59, 7:45, 6:53, 8:19, 7:57, 8:19, 8:05, 7:48, 8:14, 8:02, 8:22, 8:18, 2:00 for .2 (.3 according to my garmin)
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