Dare to be great!

My first 50 mile race. Held on Antelope Island, we went up the night before and I slept in the back of the van with my middle boy and my wife and youngest slept in my backpack tent.  Slept pretty good considering.  While getting ready I noticed my GPS watch was dead.  I have always raced with a GPS as I like to track splits/paces/miles, but I was going to have to go by feel on this one.

I knew the first 20 miles on the East side of the island has the most hills.  Tried to run conservative for the first 20.  It was hard to tell how fast I was going but the effort felt good, but my left hip was tight.  It continued to be pretty tight and by mile 25ish I was thinking I might be in some trouble.  The stretch to the Ranch aid station at mile 33 was the worst and I was moving pretty slow and was thinking I was going to have to be walking/struggle the last 17 miles.  I asked my wife for some Ibuprofen and got my 10 yr. old, Trenton, to pace me the next six miles to the next aid station.  Just having him there running so smooth helped me get my head back where it needed to be.  Then the ibuprofen kicked in and I could open up my hip again.  With ten miles to go I found my wind again and wish I could see my splits from there.  I knew I could run the ten strong as I had done that distance so many times in training and on tired legs.  I was able to pass a ton of people the last couple miles and it was motivating to keep focusing on the next runner ahead and keep pressing on.  I learned a lot during the run about myself and my body.  Had my youngest TJ run in the last mile with me to the finish.