Okay, I've got a bag of mixed feelings going on right now...so I'm going to blog them, but I reserve the right to form different opinions as the day-week goes on :) I came into the race simply hoping for a 50...a 48 would be nice, but I just didn't think my legs had that speed. Last year I ran a 46:15 (4th overall 1st in AG) and I knew I was NOT in that good of shape this year, especially coming off a 20 miler Saturday that topped off a 60 mile week! So, I just wanted to test the waters. Anyone that knows me knows I CAN NOT know the speed I am running. I never look at my Garmin and when I pass mile markers with people shouting times (if I'm alone) I ask them not to tell me. I push myself what I can when I can, because if I look at my watch and see me running a sub 7mm mile my brain thinks "what are you doing? you can't run that fast!" So, I get tired and psych myself out of running so fast. So...I just run. As we took off I could see female after female pass me by...then the mom and 11 year old went by *sigh* slow ol' me! But, I kept truckin' on. I tried not to listen as the first mile time was called out, but I heard a 22 and had a touch of hope it may have been a 7, but not much. I tried to hit the downhill, pick people up (thinking they were running a good pace) then I'd slowly take over them. Always a good feeling to chick a few guys :) Only 2 women passed me the whole race, and I passed 2 - I figured this evened things out. At the 3 mile mark I heard the guy say 22 even...wow, I really didn't think I was going that fast. Hey...I could make that 48 after all, keep moving legs, keep moving...the uphill is coming. As we hit the uphill portions I just thought "you know all those hills in Herriman are SO much harder than this, you do this every day - pick up the pace!" I tried and picked off a couple guys that had been lingering in front of me. They re-passed me on the biggest hill, but then I took it back :) Just before mile 5 I needed to spit, but couldn't breathe in long enough to get a good 'huucckk' out. So, I just wiped it off...my thoughts "wow, running is SO glamorous! Glad I took the time to do my hair and then SPIT all over myself!" Just after that I saw the last water stop. I sure could use just a splash of Gatorade to trick my body into thinking it was getting energy and keep going. Not to be! The train gates just after the water stop started to go down as I was approaching "Nuh uh!" I said out loud. I turned up the speed and was bound and determined that if a train was coming I was going to beat it and NOT get stopped! After we saw no train coming and the arms lifted just before I got to them, I let a sigh of relief...oh crap! I wanted a drink. The last mile I actually felt like I was pushing myself well. In retrospect I always think I was too comfortable and could've pushed harder. A guy that as I passed him said "nice job rabbit" passed me this mile, and I was determined to stay in his long shadow. I was literally running on his head the last mile :) Then, I caught a glimpse of the 11 yr old and her mom. I was NOT going to let a little kid beat me (oh, our pride!). This helped me focus more than rabbit man. On the last 1/2 mile uphill I could tell she was losing steam and I had to pass her before she saw the finish and used those darn fast twitch muscles to out sprint me! So, I did. Then we turned the corner and mom says "there's the finish, give it all you've got!" So, I did :) She finished 2 seconds BEHIND me. Aren't I proud, beating an 11 year old?!? blaahhh.... Crossing the finish it said 42:09, I quickly figured that was the 5K timer that had started 5 minutes after us. I'd run a great race, but the 5 mile guy said I was at 37:55, so I KNEW I hadn't finished in 42! I was VERY proud of myself for beating what I thought could be my best time, but then I remembered all those women in front of me.... This is the first time in the 4 years I've run this race I haven't placed top 3 in my AG. So, here goes my whine: I HATE my age group! There are SO many stinkin' fast women 30-34. If I still would've been in 25-29 I would've taken 1st by 2 minutes, but in my AG I come in 7th overall. So, my one consolation is that no one younger than me finished before me :) Good thing I beat that 11 year old, huh? lol!!! So, I'm very proud of my time and that I finished only 53 seconds slower than last year. With my extra 15 pounds I'm carrying, no taper and just having a baby (11 weeks tomorrow) I think my conditioning is probably where I was last year. I just need to shape up (after I'm done nursing), and keep up the quality miles. However, the draw back is I feel a little depressed leaving without an AG prize...stupid I know. I race myself, and I'm the only one I can ever beat - but I'm still just a bit blue about it. Good motivation to keep working hard and go GET one next year! So watch out all you 30-34 year olds, I'm coming back! (or, you can move up an AG and let me win again :) ) Long story longer....I had a wonderful time and Marion's hospitality was top notch as always! Maureen, Kelli, Ashley, Tyler, Michelle and Lily all ran AMAZING races and were SO fun to chat with afterward. The social part of running really is my favorite. Kellie was there at the finish and it was good to chat with the new expecting mommy as well. I ran back to Marion's in my crocs, and other than feeling a few rocks it wasn't bad; however, I only ran about 1/2 mile in them, so take it as you wish. Thanks for everyone's effort in helping make it a great day, I truly had a wonderful time. Plus, I won a raffle :) AP: 7:37 splits: 7:20, 7:33, 7:30, 7:33, 7:59, 7:53, 6:54 (last .2) *okay, I have to correct myself after seeing overall results. There were 3 other 30 year olds (Lily!) that finished before me, but I'm going to assume I'm the youngest of the four :) There was a 17 year old that also finished before me, so I can't claim the youngest fastest finisher anymore. Dang! All my titles are busted today :)*
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