9am - Today was the Dogtown Half Marathon. It was pretty fun. I got up at 7 and tried to eat something but couldn't eat much. Me and Alex then headed down to Staheli Farm and got on the shuttle bus. We got up to the start in Coral Canyon and found our Pine View boys. We ran down to the park a half mile and went to the bathroom then half a mile back. I didn't have many goals for this race except for to try my best and it was kinda in the back of my mind that I would like to do it under 6 minute pace.
The race started at 9 and I got with Paul and Colton, we were a good little pack. Also Trevor and Rodney were with us. First 5 miles were pretty easy, mostly downhill through hell hole and by the river by shanobkibe. Trevor's bathroom problems started there and I never saw him again. Colton fell off and Rodney pulled ahead. Me and Paul chilled together for a bit then when the Dam Road started to slightly go downhill, I made a move and pulled away from Paul for good. I ran alone for a while and then I was soon accompanied by an intense burning pain going up MAJESTIC HILL! That was a killer hill and Paul almost caught me, but I pulled away again going back down. The hill was right at 10 miles. I got a kinda second wind here, know it was all flat the rest of the way and there was only 3 miles left. I saw Rodney and some other guy ahead; I was gaining. I got closer and closer until the sharp u-turn at the 12 mile mark where I passed them both. I picked it up a bit here with only a mile to go. Coach Holt's brother James was like 200m ahead and slowing. Coach was on the side of the road and encouraged me to go get James. My legs were really burning by now and I tried to speed up more but I just didn't have enough to go get him. 400 meters to go, Matt came along side me and helped me for a bit. He inspired me deep in my soul to give and surge and I cruised gracefully and loquaciously into the finish in a time of 1:18.19.354. My first half marathon and I was pretty happy with the result. I ended up only 16 seconds behind James and gapped Rodney by a minute in the last mile.
Waited around a while after to cheer my dad and bro and mom and team mates and eat food and chocolate milk and chips and stuff and get my award. Tried to run a bit but could only manage like .25 mile. This was a fun day with my dad, mom, and bro doing the half and my sisters doing an aid station.
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