Believe to Achieve

Okay so Melanie and I  opted to run our 18 miler with a little twist.  We decided to drive up and do the Provo Half after a good warm up.  We ran down from the start to mile marker 2 (some white 2 on the ground, no obvious other signs so went by watch, ran nice and easy, 9:30 to 1000).  Then ran back up just in time for the start of the race that was supposed to start at 630am but started at 705am.  We were thinking we would be trampled but we made it back up in time.  We were supposed to take it easy.  Well I did and it paid off for me.  Melanie booked it in at 1:25:38.  If she were really racing she would have won because the top three girls were right in front of her.  I was going easy on the downhill, unsure of pace because no markers until mile 5.  At mile four some guy told me we had just passed it a few seconds ago and my watch said 29 minutes flat.  So I guess I was going at a 7:15 pace.  I thought I was going slow cause many a woman was passing me in the early miles.  Eventually I kept pace and counted off numerous women.  Eventually I had to count just men because the women were far spaced the last few miles.  My last mile was about a 6:40!!  I ran until I could see the timer but slowed a few hundred yards before that cause I didn't want to accidently cross the finish line and the ending is on the crowded Provo River path.  I saw the time at 1:33 something so I was good with that.  My friend I passed just at the last mile came in at 1:34 flat and I saw him booking it in as I turned around at a slow jog.  So sorry I was a "bandit", but they closed the race when Melanie and I got back from Bryce.  We wanted a good workout with our 18 so we took advantage of the course at our feet.  Ran a 9:30 cooldown mile.  Total mileage: 18.6.    We would have rather been official. And after seeing Sarah at the end of the race she told Melanie we could have told Sasha and we could have got in.  Oh well.  Great weather today too.  I am feeling better about my abilities as this race felt quite easy, my heartrate went into anaerobic zone only in the last 4 miles when I pushed the pace.