Each Day Is a Gift

Drove up to Logan with Wendy at 6:30 am.  Got to mile 14 at the bottom of the canyon with a pretty nice canyon wind.  It was a little chilly (when you're not running).   There were long line of cars and spectators.  We parked the car about 0.5 mile from the turn and walked down to the corner at 8:20ish.  The rising sun made it difficult to spot the runners.   But I could tell that these were front of the packers by their numbers.   Man, they're FAST.  Then I saw 2001 and hollered "Allie"!  She flashed us a smile.  She ran with such grace, beauty and fluidity.  That just made my day! 

Saw MaryAnn, Don (owner of Fleet's Feet), Bec in her pretty running dress, Bruce, Phil, RAD, Lowell, Maynard.  I ran about a hundred yards with them then back to my perch where Wendy stood watching for our friend Mary.  It seems like eternity before we spotted her, so glad she wore red.  I quickly dropped the blanket, peeled off my jacket and ran to embrace her, waved goodbye to Wendy and off we went.

Just before mile 15, I saw a girl having a VPB in the ditch, not pretty.   Mary's right shoe was a little too tight.  So I untied it, loosened it and tied it back up.  I could tell she's doing well as she recounted all the people she met in the canyon and the beauty of the Fall colors.  I quizzed her on when she'd gued and when's her next gu.  She was in good spirit.   Mile 15-18:  9:37, 9:13, 9:34, 9:53. 

She took gu at mile 18, good thing I have water in my fuel belt.  Then she started to feel pain in her calves.  I told her they have anthestic stuff at the aid stations.  At aid station 19, I got a bottle of spray and applied it on her right leg.  She said that helps.  We will do that for the left leg at the next aid station.  She said she just wanted to make it to mile 20.  We sang, I cheered on the spectators and runners alike.   Side fived to wake up a few of them.   She said:  I'm hitting the darkest mile, I am so tired!  I encouraged her on.

The last 10K was no man's land for Mary as her longest run was 20 miles in Provo Canyon 3 weeks ago.  We dedicated each of the last 6 miles to her family, starting with the first one for Bill, her husband.  I asked her how, when, where they met, married, honey moon and vacations, etc. etc.  Then just like on cue, her husband and two girls appeared just before we reach the mile 21 aid station. 

As we turned the corner dedicating this mile to James... we talked about him...then there he was...sitting on the grass with his two brothers.  How cool is that?  She bonked big time around mile 22.  She refused to take any gu.  I insited that it would help her.  I gave her one.  When we reached aid station 23, I rolled anesthetic oinment on her shoulders and sprayed the stuff on her entire legs.  She was revived at mile 24, starting to run better.  That last mile was a real tease.  I told her that hill is nothing like the one we ran everyday back home.  Pretend I was pulling with a rope her upward.  Don't look at the hill, just match my strides.  What goes up must come down and we will be home free.  On the last downhill her calves started to cramp.  We stopped and stretched it out and she kept going.  I can totally sympathize wither her.   Mile 19-26 splits:  11:29, 11:13, 11:32, 12:11, 13:00 (apllied anesthetic, doused water), 11:01, 11:13, 11:44.

As we made the last turn, we saw her whole family there.  I pointed her to the finish and said:  "run to the balloon finish, you did it, you own this, you are a champion, the best running mama, so proud of you,  I love you!"  She finished in 4:26:xx.

Saw jun and his lovely wife at the last "home sprint".  Amazingly found RAD at the same time Mary came out of the runner's recovery corral.  We chatted for a bit.  She ran an AWESOME race.  Saw Huans32 and MrsFIT.  Never found Lowell.  Wendy and I had a great lunch at Blue Bird before heading home.  So so so proud of everyone's performance today.

***Saw tons of spectators with BYU T-shirts on.  I would holler a "Go Cougs!  We're gonna cream Florida State this afternoon!"  That really roused up the fans.   It's now half-time...my beloved Cougars aren't doing so well.  Game not over yet!***