A perfectly wonderful race! Yes, things could've and should've gone better, but I didn't put the work in to make them better so what can I expect?? I need to get faster base mileage up before I can expect to run like I did when I had faster base mileage. But, I felt like it was a good effort through the whole race.
I started at the back (8+ minutes behind the clock) and I like it that way! So much less crowded and I can work up through the crowd passing people and my brain doesn't go wonky when I go uphill and everyone leaves me in the dust. I actually can reign people in and pass them. Veyo seemed shorter and Dameron Valley seemed not so steep and long, I saw more flat and rollers than just an uphill climb! I would like to attribute this to my constant uphill training, but who knows. Maybe I'm just realizing the reality of the course instead of what my brain has made it up to be all these years. I wasn't fast up the hills, but I was steady and strong...look on the bright side, right??
I took a gu at mile 5, run gum at mile 7, another gu at mile 11, potty stop at mile 14, ibuprofen and one salt tab at mile 15, gu at mile 17, run gum at mile 20 and ibpurofen and salt tab again at 21. That is at least what I can remember. I know I didn't do my gu as often as I should've and I realized after the race that I should've done a LOT more electrolytes. The weather was overcast, but upper 50's. I didn't drink or fuel like I should've because the cool tricked me into thinking I wasn't sweating as much. Rookie mistake. I tossed my jacket and gloves at mile 15 and thought I'd get them back...I always do at SGM! But, I searched the discarded clothes a few different times (a total of HOURS) and never found it. Oh well, no biggie, it was a $10 UVM jacket I had bought at the expo. I think someone picked it up thinking it was theirs. I kind of hope they'll figure out it isn't theirs and return it, but who knows.
I neg split the course by around 45 seconds - this was with my walk breaks to actually get fuel/gum out, refill water, a potty stop and to kiss my beautiful family! So, I'm confident my actual running pace would've neg split the course by a few minutes if I hadn't have taken the breaks. Look like I need to work on hills...and my starting pace. What else is new?? sigh...
I listened to the book Marathon Woman by Kathrine Switzer the whole time. I love listening to books while I run. It is like having someone next to me just chatting and telling me their running story. I can zone in and out all I want, but I always have something to distract me. I felt pretty strong the last 10K and my splits seemed like they were low 8's (8:02-8:08), so I can't smirk at that. I've got the endurance, I just need the hill speed and mental confidence and faster base miles. I need to push myself when I run! Instead of just lally gagging around all the time. I want speed, but am I willing to work for it? THAT is the question!
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