Okay, a few lessons learned before TOU A: I need to MASTER those ITBands and tape them and take aleve before a marthon - or just cut them out of my body :)
B: I need longer faster/tempo runs in my repotoire, most long runs are at an easy pace. I need to start pushing the speed there if I ever want to BQ C: it is SO much nicer to stay NEAR the race and not have to wake up at 3 in the morning! AND to stay with amazing, wonderful, supportive, kind, generous and nice people :) The worst news is that this was to be my confidence booster that after 3 months of doing ITB exercises that I could finish the distance with no issues...no so. They went out just before mile 20, but thanks to a wonderful support staff (Smooth and Bec you seriously have NO idea how much your love, patience, kindness and support meant to me during those next couple miles!) I was able to pull through and do what I could to finish. I got to be the annoying runner that would run fast then walk, run fast then walk. I just wanted to finish as quickly as possible, but when the ITB would sieze up I had to walk it out for a bit..then I could run again. I did my best to explain it to people as we leap-frogged so I didn't make people too mad :) One lady did ask me in passing "you haven't been doing this the whole race have you?" I laughed, NOPE! short explanation and some sympathetic words and we were good. Finished strong thanks to the motrin kicking in and letting me finally run .25-.5 at a time. So, I did the bad news first, but I now get to end on the good stuff. I had an amazing race and the miles felt so short! I seriously didn't feel like I'd run a full! Thanks to Smooth's amazing-ness and always on the lookout for the papratizi (Larry) and hoping to see Becca again (speedy feet!) I just had an amazing day, the miles were good and I felt strong on the hills, even ran up the last hill which is 'honorable' to walk up! I was just feeling those good vibes! I wasn't worried about time, just ran a good pace to be able to talk and still pass people. Even "our friend" Joel FINALLY couldn't keep up :) The dirt roads were hard and I think made me need more stability than I was used to giving which could've contributed to the ITB - as well as a seemingly constant crown on the road when we were on one. We also took a little 'detour' - there were no signs and the people around us told us the wrong way to go! However, Smooth still ended up short on her Garmin (mine wasn't ready to go at the start so I knew mine would show short). I LOVED seeing Leslie and Maurine, it is SO fun to run with friends...they make it all worth it. Every step, all the pain and all the exhaustion! It was a beautiful course and my ITB is still a little tender tonight, but I'm hoping to be back at the runs on Tuesday ready to ramp up for and finish strong at TOU next month! A big huge THANK YOU goes to Pres and Mrs Smooth!!!! You two are amazing and thank you SO much for all you did for me this weekend I had the most amazing time ever at a race...next year we need to convince some 1/2 slackers to come party with us! Also, Becca, I had a wonderful time this weekend and am so glad I found you on this blog :) You are one speedy woman and thanks for all your support today...it really meant the world to me! I will post what splits my Garmin got (it ended short and at 4:18???) when I'm more motivated to get my patootie out of the chair and go get it :) I was pleased to see that despite my even slower time than Ogden I would've finished 9th in my AG (Dale finished 16th in his) and we finished 205/473 overall men and women. Not too shabby Dale...nice work :)
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