I'll have to fill in my official information later since I wasn't able to see my official chip time, and it's not yet available online. I had a great, great day. Picked up Cath last night (the day and the race really belonged to her). She'd been training really hard and wanted to re-qualify for Boston. I bought someone else's place in the race just so I could run the half M to keep myself occupied and get in my Sat training run while I waited to run Cath into the finish. I love the Ogden Marathon course. I love that valley and canyon. We did the Expo late, ran into Kelly & her beau, then went to a pasta place and received marginal food and terrible service (Ogden, sheesh). Got back to my Aunt's house and promptly never slept a wink until 3:50 a.m. My darling Auntie dropped us off at the start, Cath went off with the big boys and girls to her busses and I waited for Josse, Ericka, and Rad so we could ride the Half M busses. I was sleeeeeeepy. But it was fun to listen to the pregnancy talk between RAD and Josse. I could never run pregnant like they did. They both were amazing. It was fun to hang around at the start, run a warm up with cute Ericka and start the race with all 3 girls. As we ran past Eden I said a little prayer for Eathan Stacy in my mind as I pondered how he'd buried and found there on the hillside just a few miles from where we were running. So sad. It was just too much to be there so close to where he had been and not remember him. We we ran easily and quietly together as we passed the still water Pineview Reservoir in the early dawn. The sky was clear, the mountains still white with snow. I saw a hawk flying gracefully over the runners going up those little getting to the top of the reservoir and made me think my Dad as it always does. I so enjoy this course. I was able to stay with Ericka & Josse up the hills, to the top of the reservoir but lost them when I was unable to drink and run simultaneously and I knew there was no way I'd ever catch Josse on the downhill, 5 months pregnant or not-- EVER. (8:50/8:51/8:10/8:14). I missed about 3 miles of splits since my Garmin just decided to turn off/lose signal (?) and I never noticed until mile somewhere during mile 7. I hate that thing sometimes (I even locked the bezel like Josse showed me :( So much of the downhill I just cleared my mind, listened to the river--but I had to stop (twice in 6 miles) to use the johns (8:31/8:19/8:28/7:56/8:46). I didn't do as much (ahem) prep work for this race and so paid the consequences. None the less, the running was alright in spite of the pit stops. I ended those last two miles with this guy pacing a woman (his wife?) and an older gentleman his late 60's. The pacer was yelling, prodding and encouraging them, so I just pretended the pacer was for me finished with them 8:57/8:47 The whole thing was not as bad, as I thought it might be, post Boston (I still feel like I'm recovering). I crossed the finish line by the clock 1:55. I PR'd for the girl who'd given me her number (she said the fastest time she'd ever done was 2:04) so I hope she's pleased. Josse & Ericka cheered me and RAD in, and we went back to watch the first men Marathoners come in. Standing on the road, the sun felt marvelous on my skin. It was awesome to see the first men come in. But the first guy was white, exhausted (even his lips were grey) but he had a huge lead. After the first woman made it, I took off to run 2 miles up to meet Catherine. I saw my friend Marisa finishing really strong behind MacKenzie and Amber (?). I saw Crockett, and kept my eyes peeled for Cath. When she came around the corner at mile 24, I could see she was not feeling the love and so I quietly took my place and paced her at an 8:50 finishing pace for the past 2 miles. I talked to her quietly as we ran, telling her to dig deep and that she could do it. She actually grabbed my arm twice when she stopped last to drink. I thought she was going down--but she was determined to cross the finish line to BQ. I was pacing her as fast as I thought she could handle. She just kept looking at her Garmin (which kept freaking me out). As we approached the finish, she pulled ahead to hit a really good stride to cross the line. We got her across the finish line to BQ (just under at about 3:38). RAD was there cheering us to the finish. Cath was in such great shape for the race, and had thought she might 3:20. She did really great early on keeping a few sub 7:00's early --maybe burned out a little too fast. But also said she hadn't done a good job eating, hydrating, or resting prior. Also that she'd cramped and had stomach issues. But she BQ’d just the same! Only trouble is, she almost collapsed at the finish and we had to spend about 40 minutes with the medics getting her salts & hydration back to normal. She colored back up a bit, and by then we had to go because my Aunt was picking us up and I had to get home to cook a ton of Indian Food for a dinner party. Fun, busy, wonderful day! I've had more than my fair share lately. | 