I was up around 2:30 am to get ready for this pacing opportunity. It ended up being a very good simulation for the no sleep Ragnar and TOZ in upcoming weeks. The race started promptly at 6 am. I spent the 30 minutes in the Silver Fork Lodge lobby, rather than the portapotty line. It worked out very well. I ate oatmeal and a pbh for breakfast, and drank most of a 32 oz powerade before the start. We stuck with the suggested pace very well, and carried 10-12 different people for parts of the race. Some would fall off, others would go on to finish a little faster than the 1:35. One guy stayed with us for almost the whole race. We had a woman named Marcie that stuck with us for the last half. With 2 miles to go, I told her she could run in the 1:32 or 1:33s if she was willing to get very uncomfortable. Josh, my pacing buddy ran ahead with her, and I stuck to the plan. With around a mile to go, I stopped in the road and waved my sign to rally some people who were a little ways back. We reformed a pack, and got most of them in under the goal time. Pacing was a lot of fun. Around mile 9 I was feeling really good, and wishing I was racing. I soon realized I wouldn't be feeling this good if I had been racing for the first 9 miles. Afterward I got some bonus miles retracing the course to find my friend Dave. I missed him in the finish area, so those miles were wasted. The canyon was beautiful, the temperatures were amazing, and I met a lot of cool people. Runners are the best. Hopefully I can secure a pacing gig every month or so. It was good to get a workout in, and to have some folks to run with. In the evening, I ran with my son for 4 miles. I hoped it would help my legs feel a little better. The downhill is pretty severe, and my shins are sore, plus some sacral area. I'll live, though. | 