Coming into this did not feel all that ready being only my second marathon,was not sure just how I would fair. Getting off the bus and wandering out into the pasture (literally) with all the other runners . With an hour forty five before race time on a cool morning just right for running :) the only problem was the ground was soggy with no where to sit or relax till the gun.So I stood around the fire with everyone else made a couple trips to the porta potty just trying to keep from having to stop during the race. Finally just decided to get a piece of firewood and sit and close my eyes and mentally map out how to survive the day. Once it started getting close to start time found a spot I felt would be a good pace somewhere between 3:45 and 4:00 pacer people and then we were off Within the first mile I fell into a good relaxed state mentally my body just went with,no idea what pace or place just really wrapped in the great morning and being out running :) Sticking with what I had wanted relaxed through the first 6 or 8 (had passed the 3:45 pacer earlier at one of the aid stations) feeling rather good not too fast or too slow. Through the middle miles still feeling strong yet staying within myself letting the miles pass and drinking in the scenery before i knew it mile marker 19 and start the stretch down toward Ogden legs not overly fatigued over all in a good place. Striding out very relaxed keeping a good pace so as not to run myself out before the finish yet still passing people along the way my mind wandering and a great rythm between feet and breathing, mile marker 24 two left keeping a good strong pace now I know I am going to be just fine down the winding ogden river parkway and onto the final stretch I can do this!! As my heart soars I am feeling almost euphoric (although that just might be over exertion haha)
Coming to the finish line looking at the clock showing 3:31 and change much better than I had though I would do by far all in all I feel the day to be a resounding success and look forward to many more of these marathon things I am really starting to like them Now for the stats they are not really official since I was running as Molly Bitton haha so looking through and putting the time where it places over all 204th chip time of 3:30:42 placing me 21st in age group (man there are some fast guys in my group) splits according to the timing look like this. 7 mile @56:22 8:03 ave 1/2 @ 1:47 8:13 ave 18 mile @2:32 8:27 ave 23 mile 3:03 8:07 ave all in all ran relatively solid fairly flat pace
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