Relentless

St. George Marathon 2:29:53

AM - got up to the start after riding next to the best looking seat mate I've ever had (Allyson was running here first marathons). Noticed the flags had a pretty good breeze on them from the northeast - so that would be a tailwind with a bit of a friendly crosswind. Gave Al a kiss and wished her luck and then entered the not really so elite coral. I just sat around and chatted with people and didn't warm up a step... It was nice! Temps were felt a little chilly when I took off my stuff, but only for a second - it wasn't as cool as it should have been and I didn't were gloves or a hat (but much better than the last two years). Then we stepped up to the line and got the gun.

1-5:52, plan was to run conservatively and just try to position myself to get a 2:32. But I didn't imagine the blast that the leaders would do from the gun. Clyde and I were really in about high 20th place. I was running with just a Ironman watch and it was kind of nice to be Garmin-less. 2-5:57, felt fine about the easy first miles. Didn't really feel that great. I felt pretty tight all over and I was pretty worried about the calf holding up. 3-5:37, used the drops into Brookside to let the body get moving a little bit. 4-5:35, started to realize that the calf wasn't bugging me too bad, but i still felt tight and cumbersome. the leaders were well gone and a second pack was working together (that included most of the guys that ended up in the 4th-8th range. 5-5:37, Clyde and i had a good chuckle here as a guy that was with us asked our pace and when we told him he said that he was going for 6:00's. We told him he had better hold back a little then and he said that he felt really good. most people do feel pretty good during miles 1-5! 6-5:29, our buddy came zooming by as we dropped into Veyo. He said, "Hills are my friend." I hope they were still his friend by the end. Forgot to mention that I had grabbed some water a 5 and took a little sip and poured some on me. It was getting a bit warmer quick. 7-5:27, We had been joined by Ben V. in the last mile or two. He had been just in front of us until he hit the john and was now working back up. Shades of 2011 for us running together. Grabbed my water here. I had put 1/2 a gel in each of my waters (at 7 and 15) and a full one in my Pepsis (at 11 and 19). 8-6:17, told Ben to go ahead and leave me since I was going to really relax on the hills because I had really struggled on them lately and decided it wasn't worth it to push hard up them. But Ben actually stayed with me through here. 9-5:57, topping out Veyo and working through Dammeron were just more of the same - relax and work through them. Here Ben and the eventual 8th place guy go and put a few hundred yards on me. 10-5:58, here another guy passes me, the eventual 7th guy. We had passed each other twice and this would be the last. 11-6:10, Finally finishing up the Dammerons. I felt a bit tired and was happy to bid the farewell. got my Pepsi here and it seemed to sit fine. 12-5:47, Legs were happy here, so I told myself to relax there was a lot of running left, but I was closing on 2-3 more guys. 13-5:36, Logan joined me and told me what was going on up front. I told him I felt pretty good. Went through the half in 1:15:high40's. I felt okay with that. 14-5:36, We just started working on the fading runners. It was kind of fun to catch people instead of getting passed. we got all 2-3 of the guys on these miles. 15-5:25, dropped off the volcano. I actually thought this mile would have been a little quicker, not that I was trying, but it felt like I was moving pretty good. 16-5:21, in here Logan had to try and hide from the race officials. It was kind of funny, they were checking numbers so he washed his face with his singlet and when they asked his number he mumbled something out! Later they drove by and stared out the window at him. 17-5:30, my goal was to make it through the Snow Canyon miles feeling good - no matter the times. I was actually going pretty well and the miles were going along speedily. 18-5:22, Another good mile as I prepped for Winchester. 19-5:56, I told Logan to just keep the hill relaxed and no big deal. I felt okay going up, but was happy for it to come to an end. 20-5:47, got through the hill and the top section that always gives me some trouble. I had been closing on Ben and I could tell his leg was bugging him. Just before catching him, he shot into the bathroom again. Too bad, I know he was ready for a very good run. Interestingly enough, since I really didn't pass him on the road, I ended up running 15-26.2 without passing anyone or getting passed by anyone. 21-5:13, now I knew I was in 11th and up in front of me the guy in white looked to be struggling a little. So I really tried to push. This was a pretty good section and I was gaining ground, but my stomach wasn't happy. 22-5:48(?), I lost that ground, though, on the hill out of the twist. I wonder why I am struggling on hills so much? Just before here, a surprise visitor came to join me - Tyson showed up to run with me. Good to see him and talk for a minute about how he is doing up at SUU. I missed the mile here because it was my team's station and I kind of spaced it until a few seconds after. I was starting to cramp a bit and was having water chucked on me and just hoping to get to town. For some reason I thought I might be able to ale a move there (I don't know why, I have never finished a marathon well). And now another possibility to catch (turned out it was Riley C.). 23-5:37(?), took my water here, but barely drank any. It seemed anything I would put down would find its way back up. So I used most of it on my legs to try and delay the coming cramping. 24-5:38, tried to push into town and I closed the gap a little, but it seemed that Riley was actually more catchable than the other guy. But they both just kept responding just enough to not let me have any real hope. 25-5:54, Logan switched the strategy here from top 10 to good finish. I was a bit bummed because one goal I had was to get back in the top 10 and I really was working as best I could to get there, but I just couldn't close anything. I tried one more short-lived push down to the Blvd. But not much was there. I started to ask myself, "Do you ally want that sub 2:30? It is there, you have worked hard to put yourself into position. But now you have to finish. It is gut time. If you REALLY want it then go and get it." I did the math coming through 25 and realized it was going to be close at the pace I was going. I needed to push something. 26.2-7:15, I started to slow as I moved down Tabernacle and really slowed on the roundabout. So I internally went through my questions again and tried to use Logan's encouragement to get me from one block to the next. Made the turn and realized I needed to really push. I was really trying, but there wasn't a whole lot left. Logan must have realized how close it was and was telling me to go. I was about having a heart attack. I watched as the clock turned to :40 and I kept digging. My legs were dropping and my 6'1" frame shrunk and shrunk some more. I was trying anything to get the legs to move and the clock kept ticking. There weren't a whole lot of people there, but they were yelling and screaming and could tell what I was going for. And my legs shrunk more and I felt about 4 feet tall. Then I could tell I had it and had a big grin on my face. Maybe the first time I have ever finished with a smile - then a little fist pump. GOT IT! 2:29:53. First sub 2:30 in 5 years and on a day when I didn't feel great throughout and wondered if my calf would even hold up. I was breathing so hard I just fell over and laid there with my head spinning; it was great. I was a little bummed about missing top 10, but that was easily outweighed by the time. It was just a very deep field this year and I can't control what others do, just do the best I can. (Mana 210.25)

So, I am pleased with things today. Not my best feeling marathon overall, but my best I many years. And my smartest marathon ever. Pretty sure it was the first time I have ever negative splitted - 1:15:45(ish/1:14:10. Cool to see such a great turnout for other bloggers and buddies. Obviously a big thanks to Logan and Tyson, too. And Ally had a good run for her first marathon. She came in just over 4:20 and had a good enough experience that I think she'll do it again. I may be a bit sore and jacked on this one. My calf is already throwing up a big protest and I feel pretty jacked. Left it out there on this one.