Ahhh, the race of a lifetime! I thought I had it last year, but I got a nice surprise this year. I've kind of gotten my cake and eaten it too. I got to do a ton of marathons and distance races and haven't really put in a ton of speed work, but got a 5+ minute PR out of myself! Only problem is...now it has me itching for a sub 3:10. If I feel so good on a race at this speed, pushing myself and more focused training could get me there, right?
Onto the report.
My friend Steph was running this as her first marathon and Marci and Lisa and I were hoping to all kind of stick together for a while, at least. I got on the bus alone. Sure is different without Smooth around to gather the troops. No one can really take her place! I quickly made friends and chatted my way up to the start (surprised? me, talking? :) ). As I got off the bus and walked past the one behind me off popped Marci! Then the next bus was Steph and her sister Heather and Lisa was on the next one! Magic. We all went together (in the FREEZING COLD!) to get our space blankets and hot choclate to hold to keep the hands warm. During that crowd I lost everyone but Steph :/ crap. Then we made our way back to the fires and she and her sister went to the bathroom and I lost them too. Seriously?!? Alone?!? with 8,000 runners around? Ugh. So, I just bundled up, huddled into my warm layers and sat upwind from the fire so I didn't inhale the smoke. A very different start from years past. Hit the pop one last time.
Went to the front to drop clothes and bags (did I mention how horribly COLD it was) and wasn't sure how much to leave and what to take. I ended up with ear warmers over my visor that I could chuck, a l/s shirt over my tank and arm warmers and just left my legs naked with just my running skirt. I got to the main chute and looked down and my watch wasn't on! CRAP! I turned it on and walked SLOWLY down the chute (on the side so I didn't get trampled or tick people off) and waited for my sattelites to connect. Hit the start line, plugged in the ipod and just started running. That was the last time I looked at my watch the entire race.
As I wove through the crowd the first mile I saw a few people I knew, but I was a little sad about being alone and ready to just run and get it over with, so I didn't say anything. Afterward I found out that one of my "cut throughs" I elbowed Marci pretty good. Oops! I should've at least muttered sorry...maybe I did. I usually do. She and Adrian yelled at me, but I was focused and didn't hear. Which is strange not to hear Adrian!
As I passed mile 1 I saw the race clock at 10:5X so I was hoping I was 3 minutes (at least) behind the clock and that is kind of how I judged the time clocks from there on out.
Mile 3 I dropped my ear warmers. Still cold, but I was sweating enough I was ready to leave them.
The downhill towards Veyo I was running behind Peggy and it was almost unreal to me that I would be anywhere NEAR her in a race. My running has certainly improved since I started with the BBK's so many years ago. Then just before the town, I heard someone yell "DAD!" I thought, how rude. Someone's dad has their ears buds in and didn't even see their...oh, wait...maybe they said "RAD!" Yup. It was Britta and her friend. I really CAN hear with my ear buds in, it just depends on how much attention I'm paying to what I want to hear, I guess. Just before the aid station I took off my l/s shirt. Finally ready for the tank and skirt, but it was still pretty cool I just knew the sun was coming...and uphill.
The aid station in Veyo ticked me off. There was a sign in the middle of the street and this was my first GU mile. I figured the sign said they had aid stations on both sides, which I could see. Problem. When I asked for water on my side they told me it was on the other side (see? I can hear!) I ran the best tangent I could to the other side, but when I got there I was at the END of the water. Craptastic. I said a cuss word and stopped and did a 180 to grab a water after a quick discussion with myself as to wether or not I really needed it.
After getting that through my system I remembered what Veyo meant to me. This could be a LONG back-story, so I will try to make it short. Kaelin and his family are very special people to me. He passed away last Novemember after a LONG battle with HLH including 2 bone marrow transplants in Cincinatti. The 2nd was successful and when he passed away he was technically cured. But, a weakened immune system and vascular system from chemo and lots of steroids took his life just after Thanksgiving when he had 3 vessels in his brain rupture. It was a VERY hard thing to watch a 13 year old go through and then to be with his family and loved ones here after he'd left when life was so hopeful just weeks before. Long story longer, he is buried in Veyo City Cemetary. His family is from Dameron Valley. I wanted to have "In Memory of Kaelin" or "our warrior earned his wings" on my shirt this year, but life just didn't happen that way. So, I took a moment right then. To put my hand over my heart. Think of this sweet boy and his family left here and how blessed I am to have the opportunity to be here. Running, healthy, happy and feeling good. As I did this I heard "Shine bright like a diamond" on my ipod which Kaelin would always make fun of and laugh at. It was my special moment to know that he knew I was thinking of him and his family and supporting them and that he was in a better place, although missed like crazy. A few tears ran down my cheeks and I just enjoyed the moment as I started up Veyo hill. The tail wind up the hill was noticeable and I just thought of Kaelin "Our Angel Warrior" (as his mom refers to him) giving me the push I needed to conquer my fears and stay strong through the hard parts, just like he did. Love that kid! I will cherish that moment for a long time.
Dameron Valley always seems to slow me down. I get over Veyo okay (I noticed 1:02 on the the clock at mile 8 - seriously, I'm running faster than 8 MPH?!? awesome sauce! remember my 3 min late start). Then the long slog up Dameron Valley just kicks my trash! I need to learn how to run hills. Sounds dumb, but I really do. I suck at it! I can keep up and pace out with everyone and even keep a slowly passing tempo until I run uphill and people just pass me like crazy. SO frustrating, but I wasn't going to look at my watch. I was just going to sit back and do my best without feeling like I was going to die.
My half split was at 1:43, so I figured I was around a 1:40. With a good second half I was still within reach of a sub 3:20...or a 3:15 if it went even better. I rejoiced as I turned and took the downhill as you can see Snow Canyon. Beautiful and down...ahh!! What more could you ask for?!? I just cruised on along until mile 17 when I took my next GU.
Everything was great. I had the last uphill to go at mile 19ish then it was all downhill from there. Still feeling good and the miles just rolling by. Other than my snotty nose (I still had my arm warmers on, because I need tissue!! - gross, but true) everything felt great and I was just enjoying it and the miles seemed to roll by nearly effortlessly.
I hit the uphill well and the split at 30K was 2:23 on the clock and I realized I'd picked up my pace and since I still felt great my 3:15 was in reach. Just keep going.
"WAIT" my body said. As I crossed mile 19 mile marker my stupid R knee locked up. Just like it has every other marathon I've BQ'd or tried. I don't get it. I really don't. But, as luck would have it I'd seen my hubby's bottle of IB on the counter that morning and figured that just in case I'd throw a couple in my pocket. Not the drop bag (I would've never remembered them!), but my pocket. I NEVER carry meds. Especailly IB because it messes with my system, but I know at Boston it was the only thing that allowed me to continue. Thanks to Paul's mental nudging I got my IB in my pocket and had it to take when I needed it. Despite a dry throat, I shoved them as far back as I could and swallowed. The next aid station I had the volunteers put icy hot on my knee. Didn't wait around for them to rub it in, just slather and go! I also took my last GU and threw down some water. Between all these things the IB didn't bother my gut, and by mile 21 I was back to a normal stride. 2 miles of locked knee running, but I was finally back and ready to finish!
Those last few miles sailing into the city were just fabulous. As I came to the crowds I was all smiles feeling on top of the world. Grateful for a physically strong body that had carried me through the race, despite itself, and a good attitude and continued endurance to take the last couple miles. High fived everyone I could and then I saw Christie and she ran with me for a little bit! It was SO nice to have a little company and to see a familiar face after so much time alone. Shortly after she left me I saw Rachelle running back for her friend. YAY! I was lovin' this!
Decided against going through the sprayers as I turned on Diagonal street and just enjoyed some of the floating mist from the wind :) I couldn't figure out the time clocks, but I knew I'd be somewhere between 3:16-3:19 (I'm really bad at math when I'm running, plus I didn't know really how far behind the clock I was). I just kept on keeping on. Passed Julie E and before I knew it was her gave some encouraging words, but when I saw it was her I about fell down! What was she doing back here and how was I passing her?!? She obviously was having a rough day. I'm glad she was still able to finish and I got to chat a bit at the finish line.
The last aid station about a mile or less out from the finish I FINALLY dumped my snot rags...or arm warmers :) They were also handing out wash cloths, so I figured I could clean up a little to look good for the finish chute. I turned the corner to the finish line. Saw it and just got really happy with how well I felt and had performed! The RunGr8 crowd gave me a cheer then through my music I heard my family! I got to blow them kisses and then it was the final chute. Oh man! It was great. I had a nice little finish kick and crossed elated! I looked at my time on my watch and it said 3:18:44! I'd done it. A 5+ min PR that I wasn't sure I deserved, but was more than happy to take.
I got a nice line of congrats and hugs from other runners Lisa had run a 3:18:47! We seriously should've run together. CRAZY! I got to chat and talk to lots of folks and I even got to see Steph after she finished in 3:53!! YIPEE! I hung around chatting for a while and just enjoying the afterglow with friends. Then I when I left to grab my bag I decided to check on Athena awards. I ran 5+ min faster. Maybe I was top 3 instead of 4th like last year. Nope! I was 5th! Ugh!! First time I was a little mad at myself. Especially when I saw that the people in front of me were only 3ish minutes faster. Next year...always next year, right? :)
I grabbed my award since they only podium top 4 and started on my walk home. Texting lots of people :) Found out Marci was at the McDonalds by my hotel and that she'd also run a PR by about 4 minutes. Such a great day in St George. When I got there we chatted a bit and then I finally went back to my hotel. What a day....what a day, and it had only begun.
AP: 7:34 splits: 7:09, 7:27, 7:18, 7:10, 7:19, 7:06, 7:06, 8:36 (includes my turn around for water and Veyo), 8:08, 8:02, 8:27, 8:00 (Dang that Dameron Valley!), 7:28, 7:30, 7:05, 7:07, 7:18, 7:26, 8:02, 8:01 (knee...thank you), 7:44, 7:55, 7:25, 7:25, 7:25, 7:27, 6:51 (finishing .25)
With Lisa and her friend at the finish line
In the background sitting down photo bombing Steph and her sister's pic
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