I'm having a hard time not being happy about NOT getting my BQ. Despite doping up on prednisone the ITB pain started at mile 14....it was pain, but runnable; whereas before I'd have to walk/run it. Maybe I'm just getting used to running with the pain :) I did have to stop and stretch probably a dozen times, but after bumming some Motrin off a fellow runner at mile 19, miles 20-26 actually felt descent - considering. This was a 20 minute PR for me...how can I NOT be happy? I also had a good mile 24, I had wonderful Smooth with me, in spirit! It was my positive affirmation mile "I run fast, I run strong, I can run all day long!" I kept muttering it loud enough for me to hear over and over with my footfalls, then when the 'hill' on Main St hit it was "I love hills, I love hills" - poor people around me...hope they had some good loud music on their ipods :) Honestly, I don't know if it was nutrition or not tapering properly or what, but by mile 4 I wanted to walk. My legs/quads were tired, at that point I knew it was going to be a long race. However, when I hit my 1/2 at 1:46:30 I got some energy...maybe I CAN do this BQ thing after all...then the ITB pain happened. Like I said it was runnable, but between stopping to stretch and some short walking breaks at water stops, I figured it was gone... Then just past mile 23 someone asked me what time it was WHAT? "No, the time you've been running." Oh, and despite auto stop screwing up overall time I was still at 3:19. Hmmm, I all of a sudden realized that I could pull out a sub 3:50 (My watch was probably down a good 3 minutes at this point). So, I went with a smile and 'no bend' knees :) I had some good memories and learned a lot this marathon. Felt good at the finish, when I turned the last corner and saw the finish I said "YES! heaven awaits". Despite heartburn after the first gatorade stop, getting to the start with NO time to prepare, lead legs at mile 4, ITB pain at 14 I felt great. Seriously...how can I complain? I knocked 20 minutes off my best marathon in 4 months. My family and I stayed with a friend and her parents in Logan, they were WONDERFUL! I am so glad for running friends that you can meet once, forge an internet relationship with and run an amazingly successful race with! Plus, Craig and the kids met me at a few different places on the route. I stopped and hugged my babies and kissed my honey each time, I'd take that over a BQ any day! I think those were the highlights for me, besides seeing so many AWESOME people and being encouraged by them all!! Lowell and Terry at the start, Smooth at 14, pulling with Chris through 24, hearing Bec cheer for me at the finish, and seeing MrsFit on the way out. Friends ROCK thank you all for your encouragement and help (even those I didn't get to SEE!) - I feel like the most blessed person on the earth! *Remember I forgot to turn off auto stop, so when stretching etc it got behind so some splits maybe faster than actual* total time - (on Garmin) 3:46:26 AP: 8:33 Actual total time 3:49:45 AP: 8:45 Garmin splits - 7:59, 7:51, 7:52, 8;09, 8:03, 8:21, 8:04, 7:59, 7:49, 8:23, 8:06, 8:18, 7:37, 8:01, 8:25, 9:07, 8:52, 9:24, 9;21, 9:16, 8:52, 9:26, 9:16, 9:05, 9:10, 9:28, 8:50 (last .45 on Garmin) you can really tell where I lost the pace, but it all turned out well! 25th in my AG and 113 Female overall - not too shabby!
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