I just got home so this is my race report. I couldn't fall asleep well before the race, so I took Benadryl, not sure if it would make me groggy in the morning. It turned out I was just fine. Plan for marathon: run 7 min pace for miles 1-8, 7:20 for rollers through 15, then try to drop the pace for the remaining two miles of rollers, and try to do some serious negative splits in the canyon and hang on to the end. I wanted 1:35 for the first half and dreamed of a 1:30 second half, but the hot weather seemed to not be a good indicator for such a strong negative split. I jogged and stretched before the race, then lined up with Josse, MacK, and Cal. We were behind some people who really didn't look like they'd be racing the marathon, we were behind hundreds of people and I convinced them to move up and cut the people in front of us by half, but when the gun went off, there was such slowness I couldn't handle it and started doing some major swerving to get ahead of the masses. It became apparent that Josse, MacK and Cal didn't follow as I waited and watched for them to pull up on me and they never did, so after a mile or two I knew I was on my own. So much for running in a pack. Sorry guys, I really didn't mean to ditch you! Miles 1-6 were majorly holding back, but it got to feeling more like marathon pace as I went on. Here's my splits: 1 - 6:57 2 - 6:57 3 - 6:55 4 - 6:51 5 - 6:55 6 - 6:54 7 - 6:56, took my first gu 8 - 7:04, took my first potty break, but must have sped up to make up for lost time, so apparently I lost only about 10 seconds 9 - 7:11, start of rollers, flat overall but plenty of rolling to keep things interesting, I started throwing water on my body at every water station after mile 9 10 - 7:12 11 - 7:13, going faster than I planned in rollers but still feeling like I am holding back some 12 - 7:08 13 - 7:12, 13.1 in 1:32:15 or so 14 - 7:23, took another potty break right after 1/2 -thank heaven for their port a potties, though this one also slowed me another 10 seconds, I take a second gu
15 - 7:23, the worst hill is in this mile, I was headed for a 7:40 at the top but was able to bring the overall mile time down after cresting, at the top of the hill, I said out loud "So that's it" because to me the top of that hill is a major turning point for the race, at the top of the hill I know now its time to slowly reel in the girl who was next ahead of me. I have no idea what place I was in. 16 - 7:02, I am speeding up, but so is the lady in front of me, I gain no ground 17 - 7:07, starting to gain a little on lady ahead, around this time I am thinking, I do like marathoning, this is my type of sport (no quick decisionmaking needed!)
18 - 6:35, I finally find out I am in 6th place, then pass the lady I had been reeling in, the downhill is beginning 19 - 6:36 20 - 6:41 21 - 6:43 - I pass three more girls in the canyon by mile 22 22 - 6:20 - I man on a bike follows me for a mile, tells me the number one girl was ahead of me by 38 seconds, I speed up (I am a drop of water being pulled down! I seriously used this metaphor by Paul to help me here). In .5 mile I am still 38 seconds behind 23 - 6:29 - I get within 15 seconds or so, then #1 girl sees me and starts pushing me. I pass Andy and he is struggling and I say, "Come with me, help me" and he very graciously does run with me and push me for about .75 24 - 6:52 - fatigue setting in, #1 getting away and I am just trying to keep under 7 minutes. I am also realizing I am needing potty break #3 25 - 7:30 - I hit the bushes at 24.2 miles, turn off my watch accidentally and didn't realize it so my split on this mile is approximate and includes the untimely bathroom break 26 and .2 - approx 6:56 pace (this is .94 on my watch at 6:56 pace). I was so happy when I crossed and it was confirmed that I was the second lady! And my time was in the 3:02 range, better than my hopeful best case of 3:05. I am now quite sore but not as bad as St. George. I think I will be able to run but will keep it easy next week. I am so pleased to get my second marathon under my belt and that it went better than I expected. My strategy of a negative split worked. I slowed at the end but not nearly as much as St. George and it actually wasn't slowing compared to the roller miles. I was much more postive mentally. I was able to work through some minor stomach issues, bathroom breaks, and a cramp without panicing. I also was able to keep cool by putting on the water often and early. I don't think the heat affected me by more than 2 minutes. It was a PR effort for me an a great way to start the summer of training. Thanks to all who helped me, especially Andy. Ave pace for the race 6:58. Paul, my husband, said I couldn't eat french fries today just because I ran a marathon. I asked if I could have some after St. George and he said no. Don't get me wrong, I steal fries from my kids sometimes, but I haven't ordered any for myself since October. Oh well. I think I like marathoning better.
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