Skip the first paragraph if you already read it. Details start in the second. Good run!! despite starting with sore quads, not a good sign but just meant I would have to focus more on keeping my mind in check so as to not give in to my body. Will write more later...lots of fun, funny and not-so-funny details to come!!! A PR for me, and at Ogden....that is something I am proud of. I even won some money. It pays to be 40, apparently I am a master in something. And the competition is slowing? Not!!! 3rd overall was 41 and came in at 3:05:15!!! (incidentally last year when she was 40 she ran a 3:30, I guess anything is possible). I am also glad I am not terribly sore today...but I am taking the week off just to be safe. Life without running....blahhh but I work three night shifts this week so healing time is a must.
Fun details: Divsion winner (even though the real first place for my age was third overall. So not exactly first. But hey, I got $75 for being third master overall. WOW!!!! Paid to be insane.
Okay funny details: WE MISSED THE BUSES TO THE START. We being Melanie (incidentally she was fifth overall) and I. Melanie is my hero. Five kids and a speedy runner. She is going to kick butt at St. George. Sasha was forcing her to drink gatorade the last few miles as he ran next to her screaming at her to keep going. She had her iPod blaring so she said it could have been loader. It makes me laugh and I can see Sasha doing this. I just wish he had enough energy to come back for me. Miles 24 to 26.2 were not pretty. I was hot and lonely. The water was gross but not so when I threw it on myself. Oops got off the subject. So we missed the buses cause we were staying at mile 13 at Wolf Creek Inn and we didn't take the "only one bus loading" literal. We arrived down the canyon at 540am and a girl on a walkie talkie looked at us and said sorry no more buses and you will never make it to such and such a place by 6am. Oh yes we will I told Melanie. She was panicking. I was calm as could be. You just watch. We'll talk our way up the mountain. And we did. Amazingly all the officers were kind and let us through. We parked just above the start at the pub. That got our adrenaline going!! Wouldn't recommend this kind of stress to anyone race morning though. Up and down the canyon, enough already. Fun and not so funny details:
1: 7:30 Better slow down, no overzealousness.
2: 7:49 Hey my quads, or rather inner thighs feel sore. Geez. Better go with more brain power.
3: 7:32
4: 7:41
5: 6:33 No way, that had to be short. Anyone?
6: 7:18
7: 7:24
8: 7:31
9: 7:36
10: 7:34 Tried to get some girl running my pace to crack a smile. She was too focused (no iPod) she couldn't even muster a "hi". She looked young and I figured it had to be her first marathon. First timers are usually way serious. I used to hate it when fast runners would pass me while talking. Like who can talk and run fast? I must have been bugging her. We stayed together until mile 18 when she pulled away, far away but then I slowly gained on her but she was ahead at the end by 30 seconds. I made her smile when I went up to her at the finish line. She actually gave me a high five. Yup it was her first marathon and she was in her 20s. That was all the conversation for the most part.
11: 7:34
12: 7:32
13: 7:42 Here I read a sign saying "Run like a Kenyan", where I yelled back "First I must look like a Kenyan".
13.1: 1:38:14 Double that and that's 3:16:28. Somehow I could not trust myself to hold on to that. Demon miles ahead (24 and 25). I would at least try.
14: 7:38 Hill coming up. Going intentionally slow down.
15: 8:24 Thank you. I know myself too well.
16: 7:39
17: 6:46 How did that happen? Another off mile most likely even though the next mile is not slow for me.
18: 7:27. Downhill and I can't seem to allow myself to fly. I am scared of the last miles.
19: 7:32
20: 7:40
21: 7:23
22: 7:33
23: 7:16 The last of adrenaline used up. Here comes the crash.
24: 8:00. Spectator perfume takes my breathing up a notch. I can't catch my breath well, plus it is hot plus we are on a winding parkway plus I have a weak mind at this point. Old demons from 3 years ago here when I did the half and hit a big wall. I feel I am somehow back there in 2006. Replaying the whole nightmare to my body. It gives into the nightmare. 25: 8:32. Whatever. Let's just go for the under 3:20 goal okay body? I still need to hear that the finish line is right up there, it is looking MIRAGE-LIKE. Fuzzy and surreal. Let's get there already. But I am like running in place or something...no umph at all. Tank empty. 26.2: 10:26 (1.2 miles at 8:41). I managed to find my husbands hand and slap it before "sprinting" 20 feet to the finish line. Yippee, a PR and another rip roaring good time!!! Really. Feeling good overall about this run because at the start I knew my mind would have to get me there. I was physically tired this week but knew I could get my goal (3:22). In a few weeks I will run the a 5K in Springville, then two 10Ks in July and two halfs in August then its SGM again!!! Where I intend to really put it in gear (3:10 do I dare say?) . I am excited for a Summer filled with more running and family fun!!! I think I might even try to get some better abs. They are a little floppy. Cross training maybe helpful too. Swimming sounds nice. Good times!!
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