Provo River 1/2 Marathon. 1:13:04 I get some weird injuries (sticks through shoes into my foot, bugs denting the top of my mouth, stepping on a broken laundry basket and cutting my foot), but this may go down as the strangest. Yesterday I drove my mother in laws sporty little Volvo from Sandy to Heber for my uncle's funeral. The car was very uncomfortable and I kept complaining to my wife. She was sick of it and thought that I was just ripping on everything mother in law, but it was really setting off the tightness I already had in my legs. By the time I had driven both ways, I had somehow injured my right hammy (way up high, by the butt attachment). In fact she wanted to stop at the store and by some stuff for dinner (which would take an extra 2 minutes of driving) and I refused - I really was in serious pain. I hoped that it would be fine for the race, but it really came back to bite me. I got to Sasha's early in the morning and got the "elite" van ride up. It was good talking with him about a lot of stuff: school, running, etc... And I am very thankful for all he did to get me into the race on short notice (I would have been racing the Beaver 1/2 if my uncle hadn't passed away). Warmed up a little - maybe needed more (but not sure if that would have helped or hurt). The race started and it was just Sasha and I. This was the smallest version of this race I had ever seen, so everything was on time and smooth! (I'll come back and put splits in later). I felt very good going down the side-canyon. But just as we joined the trail at the park, my hammy started to really hurt. The next three miles were me trying to convince myself that i was fine - but I wasn't. Sometimes the pain was so bad it would shoot into my hip and I would let out a noise. Coming to Bridal Veil, I thought I might drop out. My parents were there so I could easily jump in the car. But then I thought that the uphill section MIT help loosen me up. It actually did. But it was hard and the wind was blowing and I was going very slow. I had no power in my push off and I was pretty down about it. After the turn around I felt a bit better and thought I vp could make it to the finish. But, by the time I hit the next park my leg was screaming in pain again. I was very worried that I might do some real damage. This was the most pain - not running tired pain or racing hurting, but rather injury pain that I had ever tried to push through. I had slowed considerably and lost chance for my PR. During mike 12 I stepped different somehow and the pain nearly dropped me. I just stopped right where I was at. I was resigned that I was going to need to walk in. So I walked for around a minute. I could feel where the pain was originating (like I said, way up high in the hamstring) and I just pushed on it to try and stop the pain. I finally decided it hurt just as much to walk as run and running would get me done sooner, so I started going again. I was waiting for Sasha to pass me, but I guess I had gapped a little more than I thought. I just kind of limped it in unceremoniously and crossed the line. Got my poster, shirt and watermelon and headed out. I wasn't sure what to do about a cool down, but I tried for a step and the pain was right there, so my parents drove me to Sasha's and I just drove back to Sandy. (Adios 89.25) So that's the story. Pretty bummed about not getting a PR. If I could have pushed out the end with how good the rest of me felt and how I felt at first even running ver controlled I think I really could have broken it - maybe flirted with breaking 1:09 today. Now I won't be able to run another 1/2 until probably st. George in Jan. hopefully the leg gets better very soon. Maybe it isn't too serious, just a short term pain. Hopefully. Shoes felt good though, and I ran great besides that. But I need a haircut. This is the longest Hair I've raced in in years and it was bad luck! Time to get rid of it. | 