I probably knew better than to run this marathon, but I kind of put it in my mind a couple of months back that I might try it again, and my training over the last 3-4 months has actually been pretty good (especially the last month to month and a half). However, I've done no downhill training and I think that helped lead to a rough second half of the race. I thought I could legitimately run about a 2:50:00-2:55:00.
First half 1:26:15 Second half 1:38:30 (hahaha) I took splits on my watch, but ultimately just turned my watch off around mile 22 cause I was sick of it.
The plan was to try and be somewhat conservative for the drop down Big Mtn and the climb up Little Mtn. Compared to a lot of other people, I actually did start pretty slow. However, the drop is so severe and the climb is pretty brutal and it hammers my legs. Started off with a 6:30 and then clipped off some 6:15's and low 6:20's. I was doing pretty good once I hit the top of Little Mtn and was able to get into a good rythem coming down Little Mtn and Emigration. At the out and back I was heading in just as runners 4-5 were heading out. Started clipping off some good miles coming down Emigration around the 6:15-6:30 range. Passed about 5-6 guys and then there was nobody in sight for the rest of the race until I got passed around mile 20-21.
Ultimately got out of the canyon and started on Wasatch and I was good about half way down this stretch and then my legs got heavy. The speed bumps didn't help. I was able to keep going until I hit the aid station on the curve on Foothill. I had just gotten passed at this point in time, my legs hurt and I just didn't feel good. The pace had been slipping to the low 7's and I was ready to be done. This was all about mile 20-21. This is where the race got long and slow. Started walking/running. Got passed on 1300 East. I actually passed this person back several miles later, but that's just cause he was in the hurt locker more than I was. This is basically how the race finished for me. The last 7-8 miles were not fun. It got hot the last 5-6 miles, but the weather was never really to bad to me.
I want no part of this marathon ever again. I just don't do well with it. Hopefully my legs recover quickly, but I'm sure the quads will be destroyed for a good 5-6 days. Looking forward to getting back into training and trying to run St. George faster than last year and in the low 2:40's. I need to get back to consistently running with Mike, Matt, Scott, Reed, etc cause it really makes a big difference for me. Overall, not a real fun race today, but looking forward to ramping back into things after a short break.
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