Utah Valley Marathon The race was an up and down experience. I went in thinking a 2:35 was a good base goal and if things were going well a 2:32 was within reach. My main goals were to finish a race and feel good about it, not get sucked in to quick, and finish stronger than I usually do. We, the whole SG crew, got up to the start and milled around for a bit and then tried to get near the start line - really my only complaint about the race was the start line, there were a few rows of people in front of us that needed to start back but just needed to be up front at the gun. Went to the bathroom, but should have gone again. (all Garmin splits, which was reading just a little quick each mile - I reset the lap at 10 and 20 to keep it close) 1-5:40 - felt fine, the lead group was off way quick and Clyde and I were never with them for even a step - which was fine - as we worked out way through those who should have started a few rows back. 2-5:42 - Walter and Steve A. kind of join us around here, but never really run with us. 3-5:38 - Chatting with the guys around us, getting to know there goals. 4-5:44 - This first 10K is pretty nice, mostly easy down with a couple easy rollers. 5-5:41 - Happy about how easy the 5:40 pace is. Somewhere in the last mile or two Clyde fell off a little (but I'll see him later). 6-5:44 - Felt good for just a little here in this first 10K and could have moved it down a little, but that would have been counterproductive. Feeling good didn't last that long though. 7-6:10 - Make the turn onto the highway and try to tell the two young guys I was with just to relax and not push the hills too hard. 8-6:35 - I had been fighting going pee since mile 2, but it the tightening muscles were starting to set my hip off, so I just decided to go. Unfortunately I really had to go and lost 30 seconds here. Obviously my two guys were gone, Steve A. went by and so did Walter, and I watched the 2 guys who had fallen off the lead pack push further ahead of me again. I was bummed, I have never had to go the bathroom in a race and it is frustrating to watch those gaps grow. 9-5:32 - Get back going and feeling pretty good; catch Walter pretty quick and start working on the others as we cross the dam. 10-5:41 (58:30) - Hit the watch at 10 to go off the race markers. 11-6:08 - Pass one of the stragglers, but can't move on the boys, a Kenyan, or Steve A. at all. I look at my watch and have some frustration. 12-5:53 - Feeling like I could be in trouble soon.
13-6:05 - Hit the half at 1:17:17 and am not too stoked about the future of the race. 14-6:02 - Although there are some hills in here I can't do anything. I run okay up the hills, but down the hills I can't do anything. My mind is getting very negative and I am complacent. The rain has me soaked and it is pretty cold in the canyon.
15-6:07 - Somewhere in here I hear quick feet coming up. I am sure it is Walter and am very happy to see that it is Clyde. I try to fall in with him. We pass one of the boys and the Kenyan and try to look at Steve A.
16-5:38 - We use the canyon a little better and pick it up, but Clyde mentioned DNF'ing when we got to MikL at 20; I really like the sound of that idea. 17-5:48 - Somewhere during this mile I just turn to Clyde and say, "I'm calling it." The only thing that had kept me going was the thought of being done in a few. He says he isn't going to make his decision until 20 - Freakin' Clyde! 18-6:00 - This is why I wanted to be done. There just wasn't anything. 19-6:04 - Coming out of the canyon and we have no more downhill help and still awhile to go. I'm not making it. 20-6:05 (1:58:36) - Hit the watch again at the 20 to reset it with the race markers. Clyde and I turn to each other and just decide not to be wimps and we need to finish it. I thought, "Let's begin the death march," as we went by MikL. 21-5:44 - Suddenly I felt solid again. Not great, but like I could do this. Passed Steve A. and tried to encourage him a little. Hoped Clyde was coming with me; after all he saved my bacon... twice - once by catching up to me, and secondly by not letting me quit (turns out he finished pretty good too).
22-5:50 - Just trying to use feeling decent one mile at a time. 23-5:54 - Go catch one more guy and now I'm in 7th. 24-5:48 - Although I really wasn't burning it up, this is the best I've felt at the end of a marathon. 25-6:03 - Getting tired, I think this had the overpass on it. 26-5:58 - Just trying to get this thing done. Feeling happy that Clyde made me keep going. In fact, that is the most positive thing out of the race. At least I am going to finish one up. .2-(5:51 pace) - 1:18:04 2nd half. Under a minute off a negative split; shows how bad my 1st half was (and my 2nd at that!). Nice race and nice finish area. Glad it was over. Grabbed a drink and watched others come in; Clyde a minute later, James in a good time, Steven also, and all the other SG guys doing well. Not a bad one: Hit the time I thought I would get, so not bad there; but I think if I could have felt decent I would have gone 3 minutes or so faster no big deal. I would like to race this being in good shape. I don't know what my weight was before the race, but later that night (after not really eating heavy the rest of the day) I was at 158, so I think my race weight was too heavy and that may have played a roll in things. Of course the biggest factor was that I am not really in great shape - good starting shape; but nothing near what I want to be. Well on to more training! (Ohana racers 280.25)
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