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St. George Marathon 2009

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)
 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

 

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!!  :)  :)  :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015.  Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis.  The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS).  It is not curable.  After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS.  It is a miracle!!! 

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

 

Favorite Blogs:
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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles: 311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles: 313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles: 225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles: 44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles: 60.91
Sat, Oct 03, 2009
Race: St. George Marathon 2009 (26.2 Miles) 03:57:41, Place overall: 738, Place in age division: 38
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.0026.200.000.0026.20

I can't believe how a year has gone by so fast.  Driving down to SG brought back all the memories of past SGMs.  I wanted to run my best at this my 5th SGM.  I had trained hard with precision using the FIRST program.  But for some reason, mentally I just wasn't into this race.  May be it had something to do with my nature.  In all my previous races, I ran with/for someone or some meaningful purpose.  I hadn't discovered what it's like to run just for myself.  It sounds weird...but it seemed hollow to me... I can't explain it.

I was very excited to see many of my friends whom I have met through this blog and the ForumFlyers.   If nothing else, I was happy just to see them.  Did the Expo and went to Brick Oven's to have dinner with some of them.  We waited for over an hour.  By then I was very tired with a splitting headache, backache and NO appetite. 

MrsFIT, Huans32, Bemo, AlisaK, MarcE, Sweetiepie, Smooth and Teena

I was putting the chip on the shoe when my cell rang.  Wendy told me that Beth (my next door neighbor) got to the expo for no more than 10 min when her mother called and told her that her father has passed away unexpectedly in Idaho.  What a devastating news and an agonizing decision for Beth to turn around and drive home to be with her mother. 

I did not sleep a single wink thinking about Beth and her family.  At 3am I ate a yogurt and bagel, drank 24 oz gatorade and save the banana and water for the bus ride.  Finally at 4 I had hubby drive me to the bus.  Got to the Park at 4:15, stood & looked around, for FRBs or Flyers; saw none, so got on the bus and sat next to a college girl from Michigan.  It was fun chatting with her.  Gosh, she's young!

Got off the bus and headed to the PoP, plenty to choose from.  That PoP had only ONE roll of TP (NOT good...for the late comers!).  Hang out at the furthest firepits with the Flyer friends & family 'till about 45 min before start time.  The PoP lines were now very LONG!  I looked for Lowell who was supposed to be wearing Christmas light.  I really wanted to run with him.  It was so crowded I could not find him.  What a bummer!

Felt hungry so I ate one of the 3 gels (something I've never done in previous races) and ate 1/4 banana from the aid table; then made my way to the bag drop off truck still looking for Lowell.  I never found him; instead to my delight, I saw Kathie and Kimmy.  Thanks to Kathie's highness she spotted the 3:50 balloons where we lined up.  It was fun and cozy to share their big blankets before gun time.  Temp was perfectly cold, sky clear with full moon, a slight tailbreeze. 

First 1 -6 ~ Kathie was on task.  She had loaded Kimmy's Ipod and they put on one ear-bud, what a team, such great sisters.  She kept us informed of the pace we were supposed to run and check our splits.  We had to do a bit of maneuvering to get around other slower runners and still managed to stay together.  I heard someone hollered "Smooth".  It was Scott.  We exchanged hellos and I wished him well as he sped away.  My feet finally thawed out after two miles and I ditched my airline blanket.  Drank Gatorade at mile 3.  Somewhere after mile 4, Kelli passed by and we "visited" for a few seconds.  I gu'ed at mile 5, walked while drinking and got separated from Kathie and Kimmy.  Splits:  8:46, 8:32, 8:25, 8:18, 8:20, 8:33.  Time: 50:56 (Cougar's: 52:24,)

Mile 7 - 12 ~ Funny how you could be lonely even in a crowd when you "lost" your running partners.  Heading up Veyo...to my delight Shimelle found me and said:  "This is where we need friends."  We chatted, chanted and I mostly goofed off!  She really helped pull me up this hill.  We passed two older men and I wasn't sure if they could hear me say:  "We don't want to be geeserized!  You gentlemen looked awesome."  Then came the sun and I soon bid Michelle a good run as she took off into the horizon.  THANKS Michelle for helping me chug-a-choo-choo up the Veyo hill.  Gue'd at mile 9.  There was a "runnaway bride" dressed in white tank, skirt and a veil.  She was getting married next Fri.  Congrats.  I pretend she was my running partner.  I tried to stay focus and not fall off the pace for the next two rolling hills.  I kept runaway bride within strides.  Felt a hot spot in the ball of my left foot.  What to do?  At around mile 10.5 I felt an arm wrapping my shoulder.  To my joy and delight,  it was Teena.  I had not seen her all morning and was so surprised that she had crossed the start much later.  She looked fantastic.  Again I bid her good luck and watched her run away.  All these "goodbyes" are not good for my psyche.  Splits:  8:02, 9:56 (Veyo), 9:27, 9:29, 9:45, 9:25.  Time: 1:47:03 (Cougar's: 1:47:45)

Mile 13 - 18 ~  I stopped at mile 13 aid station to gu.  Took off my left shoe and sock and examined the hot spot.  It's about the size of a silver dollar and getting red hot.  I couldn't find any bandaid.  I slathered some Vasoline on; put the sock and shoe back on and retied the other shoe lace.  I tried to focus on good running form during the next 6 miles and not think about the pain with each left foot push off.   My Garmin beeped right at each mile marker, doing a pretty good tangent.  Gu'd again at mile 17.  First sign of cramps showed up at the hill after the overpass.  I thought all this diligent fueling /hydrating and watching my pace would fend off charlie...apparently not!  Splits:  10:02 (fixing the blister), 8:57, 8:17, 8:23, 8:55.  Time: 2:40:25 (Cougars: 2:39:01)

Mile 19 - 23 ~  Things started to fall apart during this stretch...the lonely winding stretch with no spectators after Snow Canyon.  I had a mental lapse here as the pain became bad.  I took a Gu when I saw a silver balloon thinking I was approaching mile 21 but was only at mile 20, no water to chase it down.  I was also annoyed by the aid station on the right side of the road when we were running on the left side doing the tangent.   Later, I saw a mist set up on the right side of the road, again wrong place for the tangent and I had no willpower to run over there.  In hindsight, it might have calmed the cramps.  On the last uphill around mile 22, I saw Kimmy.  I tried to get her to run with me.  I couldn't utter anything as I was fighting off cramps and the painful blister.  I felt bad that she was running sans Kathie.  I missed the Gatorade at mile 23, very crowded and the water cups were less than 1/2 full.  I dared not stop to get more for fear of a full blown charlie horse.  Splits:  9:32, 9:16, 8:31, 9:10, 9:08.  Time: 3:26:04 (Cougars: 3:21:59, there goes my hope of a 3:50!)

Mile 24 - finish ~ These miles were run with charlie horse chasing me.  I tried to high five some kids and when I missed I realized I was in bad shape.  Also hubby was not there on Bluff street where he normally was the last 4 SGMs.  Funny how that played on my psyche.  When the calf cramps came on bilaterally, I would walk or alter my strides to fend off the cramps.  Even my left toes started to cramp up.  I began to panic and mercifully they were passing out wash cloth.  I drizzled cool water on my head, my chest and neck.  I felt its calming coolness and for the first time realized I had not poured water on myself and that it was getting hot.  That last mile was sheer agony.  I dug deep and gave all that I had, stomping out the cramps and prayed that I would not collapse.  Hoping badly to see the finish balloons after the last turn, anything to push me through.  I did not look at my watch not wanting to see how slow I was.  I listened for my name from the spectators, heard it twice.  I desperately needed to hear my hubby's voice.  Finally I heard him just as I looked up to see the clock turned 4:01:00.  Thank God I did not collapse.  KellieS was there cheerfully greeting/watching me in the corral while I walked in circle around the mister over and over.  Every muscle in my legs were spasming.  I finally lined up to get my medal, kept walking until the cramps subsided.  I found a shady corner to stretch.   For a brief moment I seriously entertained the thought of never running another marathon again.  Splits:  8:40, 9:44, 10:46, last 0.26 in 2:26 (9:44)  Time: 3:57:41. 

Wow!  This is getting TOO LONG!  I'm going to bed!

Thoughts:

1)  This is my second best marathon time.  I should be happy with this. 

2)   I still don't know what causes cramps.  I have tried everything except using drugs. 

3)   Why can't I find satisfaction in running for myself?  It seems so selfish to want to PR.  Am I weird? 

Mizuno Inspire 4 Jade Miles: 26.20
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Becca on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 05:13:03 from 94.7.29.189

You sure had some physical and mental battles during this marathon, but YOU DID IT!!! A friend of mine posted on facebook the other day, "remember, runners, there may be days when you don't know if you can run a marathon, but a lifetime of knowing that you have" I liked that.

From Andy on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 07:01:20 from 198.60.114.178

You showed a lot of toughness battling through everything you did. Congratulations on a great race.

From JulieC on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 09:30:43 from 63.225.237.244

Oh Smooth, I feel your pain physically and mentally. So sad for Beth and I too would have been up all night thinking about her. Sadness weighs on our body and you did good mourning for those that mourn. It is another lesson learned and yours is always a monument of service exemplified. You looked out for others and when you were alone you were LONELY. I too felt that same way. I asked God to help me feel better and He told me to take off my iPod. I only half listened and took it off at the water stations, then it gave out in one ear and was very staticky, irritating the heck out of me, like my blister and I did NOT listen. I do better when I can talk to others at the SGM. For three miles I ran with a woman who was going to quit at mile 17 (she had a bad head cold and was going to just make this a good long run). Those were the best of my miles with my iPod down around my neck chatting with her. Even though I still felt the pain the conversation with another soul was much more uplifting. So glad you DID see friends along the way. Stay tough. Enjoy the rest. Find someone to hug :DDDDD.

From leslie peterson on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 10:00:14 from 76.23.61.78

Smooth, you are such a dedicated runner, so strong mentally to push thru the pain and keep your pace so fast!! Sounds like you had a fun St. George weekend, way to go on another wonderful marathon!!!!! I love St. George, it is a magical place to run!!!! I was sorry to hear about your friend's dad.

From DonGardinero on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 10:50:06 from 75.162.162.176

Smoothie!!! You did so well at this race. All that hard training is paying off. Now if we could just figure out how to get rid of the charlie horse problem. I kept looking for you along the course, but you must have been WAY ahead of me.

From MarcE on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 11:56:15 from 172.191.222.199

Hey Smooth..as always, it was great to see you and Larry again. You ran a great race and pushed through so much! You're an inspiration to everyone!

I'm so sorry to hear about your neighbor's father passing. You are such a great friend and neighbor to be there for her this week. (I know we talked about doing lunch today, but I'll definitely understand if you have more important matters to attend to.)

You ARE AMAZING, SUSANNA!!!

From Kathie on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 12:43:49 from 63.248.105.188

Nice run Smooth!!!! It was so fun to run with you at the first! I wish we had not lost you I am sure you would have helped when Kimmy and I had our melt down!

From Kelli on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 12:57:02 from 71.219.96.151

I am so sad for your friend to have lost her father, what a horrible thing to deal with when you are hours away. Very sad.

WOW, this race was a tough one for you! When I talked to you on the phone, you were so chipper I thought it was all roses. BUT, you powered through all of the mental and physical issues like a champ and a the true runner that you are!

I just want you to know how happy I was to see in that bright yellow shirt. I did not see anyone before the race and i was lonely, so thanks for letting me pummel you and say hi for a second!! Sorry to mess with your psyche, but you always lift my spirits!!!

I hope you are feeling well today (Monday). I think we need to get together for lunch and share our marathon stories in person!!!

LOVE YOU AS ALWAYS! You are AMAZING!

From Jon A on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 13:31:14 from 67.214.249.195

S, YOU are amazing! Congratulations on the mental victory! I'm sorry to hear about your friend! Was that John's wife? Sad! You ran a good race despite all the trials. Great job!

From Bec on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 13:31:41 from 67.177.35.60

I have waited and waited for your race report, and finally it is here. It sounds like you really pushed yourself to break that four hour mark, I am proud of you Smooth. Isn't this race a PR for you? It sounds like you are relieved and happy that SGM is over and done with. When is the next marathon? Oct 31? I think I have made a final decision, and I am running the Mesquite Marathon. Look into it, the course looks awesome!

From Kimmy on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 15:16:44 from 65.48.64.14

Smooth....I wish you would have told me you were struggling with cramps. It might have given me the motivation to stick with you. I had given up mentally and all I was doing was walking and running. I didn't care about my time, or anything....I just wanted the finish line. It is so amazing what you mind can do to you. Because as soon as I realized I was not going to BQ I didn't have the desire to even push. I walked even if I knew I didn't need to. Wish I was there to help.

From josse on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 15:27:55 from 70.192.71.190

I think we all entertain that idea once in a while. You ran great considering the cramps.

From RivertonPaul on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 17:04:23 from 67.42.27.114

You are so incredible. (I missed seeing you at the fire since you were apparently in line.)

From Shimelle on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 17:24:10 from 75.162.113.123

I was sooo happy to see you on Veyo! It would have been really tough not to have a friend to chat with. You made me laugh so hard when we passed those men. Too funny! Anyway, you are amazing and congrats on a super time! It was great to see you as always.

From Scott Wesemann on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 19:04:28 from 66.239.250.209

I really enjoyed your report. Way to push through the pain.

From LuzyLew on Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 19:35:47 from 208.187.197.42

Smooth-- this is not at all what I expected to read and I am just so sad. You have no idea how much that 22 mile run a few weeks ago helped me through this race. I kept saying to myself "I am made of titanium and diamonds!" I remememberd all the things you told me about your growing up and how you turned those hard things into something hard and beautiful. I owe this St. George marathon to the many women who have taught me something in the past 12 months--one of whom, and most recently -- you! I am devistated this was not your best and most favorite race. I'm devistated you struggled so much after you were so stellar to drag me and Catherine through our long runs. I would have met you there! I looked everywhere for you at the start and at end in the park. I was looking forward to telling you how much your positive influence helped me have a wonderful SG this year. You need some rest, perhaps you 'gave away' too much before the race-- I know I certainly received a good dose of your energy and gobbled it up. I'm so glad that in spite of all the pain and annoyance of this run, that least you BQ'd because now I have someone to walk me through Chinatown in Boston and show me what's yummy to eat. I love you so much!

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