Slept over at my sister's house in Ogden, so I was able to wake up at a reasonable time: 5:45. Got to the buses at 6:50, it was wierd how the race directors had all the buses fill up, then they all went up the course at the same time, so that cut into my warm up time. Had a scant half hour til start time. Ran up the road to get some privacy, saw Paul Petersen, good to see him here. See Sariah and Stephanie, good, have some competition. My plan was 6:15 for mile 1, 6:00 from miles 2-7, then 6:15ish to the end. Even if I faded I would hit the 1:21-1:22 McMillan thought I could do. I also didn't want to lead early. Mile 1-3 were 6:02, 6:04, 6:08, I was in a pack of three girls and three boys, hanging in back. I was surprised to have some head wind, but stayed tucked behind so as to not get the brunt of it. I felt good in the first couple of miles, with the exception of some leg pains (just worrisome, not affecting running), but started to feel uncomfortable and started slowing already by mile 4, fell back from the pack. Miles 4-6 were 6:19, 6:22, 6:30 and these still were downhill miles! I was already reeling mentally from this, but felt like I should try to keep in the 6:30's for the rest of the race, if I did, I might catch white shirt who was slowing but way ahead of me (at first I thought it might be Sariah) (let's see how that went, shall we?). The remainder of the miles were 6:42, 6:37, 7:01, 6:46, 6:57, 6:56, 6:47, and 40 seconds for .12 (5:38 pace). Rolling in at 1:25:5x. You know how you put your foot up on a stool so they can cut off your chip? Well, my foot was totally shaking, a sign of a race run hard, but the results were so unsatisfactory. A 7:01 for mile 9? So anyway. I grab my coat and want to cool down. Sariah's husband, who was so kind to cheer me all along the way, that was really kind of him to do, asked how it went, and I gave some unhappy response. Then another guy asks how it went, then he says he's from the blog and I just start bawling. I guess it was just because the blog has been my support through the good, bad and the ugly, so I knew I was facing someone who knew my goal and knew how far away from it I am (or was for the day anyway). Sorry for the scene, Mark. I ran off still visibly upset but was able to calm down within a quarter mile. Had a stoic remainder of a cool down. Had a good chat with Paul who said my series of goose eggs were good for me :D I sat with Sariah and Stephanie (both of which had good races and got the time range I should have been in) and talked with them. Doing a series of races with competitors builds a sense of comraderie. On the way home I listened to conference. There was a good talk about pain and how it makes you humble and turn to the Lord and in the end stronger. I hope that holds true. I am not sure if this is just a funk or if something is wrong in my body. It turns out I ran 77 miles this week, on top of 79 last week, and a Yasso workout on Thursday, so maybe I am just tired (I would think this wouldn't cause such a big swing, but maybe). Maybe I am in a psychological funk. Or maybe I really am internally bleeding (as my last blood test indicated). I think I am going to try to make my next gastro appt be earlier (it is set for April 18th). ***Note, don't freak out about these lab results, I've had a lot of weirdish lab/medical stuff that aren't critical that we are watching, that's my point. If I was internally bleeding in any significant way we'd know from my p**p; all I mean to say is that I should check on it again sooner rather than later, like some have said, just for peace of mind. We saw True Grit in the evening, a great movie. Then did core workout.
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