Each Day Is a Gift

Hubby drove us to the finish of the SLC Half/Full Marathon.  We drove around the blocks between 300W - South Temple - Main - 500 South twice trying to get to North Temple to park at the Event Parking.  It was very frustrating with the road closures, detours and congested traffic.  While idling on South Temple, saw the male leaders of the Half Marathon coming in.  Hubby finally took my advice to go back to the Freeway and take the 600N Exit to access the parking lot from the northwest.  We had wasted 30 min precious time driving around downtown.  Note to the new SLC race organizers:  put in plain words where to park and the directions to get to the Event Parking.  I think a few runners thought the finish was at the Gateway.  I had studied the maps carefully and read where the road closures were...but they were clear as mud.

After parking, I quickly called Lowell who was enroute from Pocatello and was actually parked at the Gateway...he thought that was the finish.  Anyhow, made a mad dash to the pop and bee-lined to the barricade 100 yards from the finish.  It was so crowded, I thought I saw RAD cruised to the finish!  Then I saw Becky, actually she spotted me first, looking so speedy and smooth gliding to the finish.  The crowd was so quiet.  I can't believe the huge difference between SLC and Boston.  I started to cheer loudly, clapped and worked the spectators.  Lowell called and said he found RAD and were trying to locate me.  In the process of meeting up with them, we barely missed Toby coming in.  Both RAD and Toby ran impressive PRs this morning!  SO SO SO HAPPY and PROUD of them.

We stayed on to cheer the Marathon Champion, Fritz, blazing effortlessly to a 2:25.  The buzz among the spectator and volunteers was that bib#3 guy ran Boston on Monday.  I got so excited when I saw that he was a fellow FRBer.  I SO SO SO wanted to watch allie but only could stay for the top 3 finisher before having to drive to 3300 South 500 East to meet Lowell's friend, Allyson H, who was running her first marathon as part of her training for an Ironman in June.  I had agreed to along with Lowell pace her the last 10K.  Her expected time was 4:15. 

We got to mile 19.6ish when the 4:00 hr pace group passed.  Allyson's husband rode up to us on his bike.  He did the bike tour earlier and rode from the hotel to find us.  We were pretty certain that we hadn't missed Allyson.  Got a little worried when the 4:15 pace group passed and no sign of Allyson.  We ran further south to the aid station and waited.  Finally Lowell spotted her and we joined in to run with her. 

She was slowing and could not take any more GU.  The sun was beating down and she was taking walk breaks.  She's a tall triathlete from Jackson Hole and I can tell it's getting too warm for her.  I carried her extra GUs.  Lowell ran ahead to the closest convenient store to purchase a huge cup of ice.  We doused her with water and gave her ice.  It's payback time from Boston.  I kept her going, talking to her.  Lowell's big lies were hillarious.  I put ice in her back and short pockets.  Her husband met us at the corner of 1300South and gave her a bottle of flat coke.  Lowell got a fresh cup of ice from 7-11 and we put the coke in the remainder cup of ice that I carried all the way to the finish.  Lowell took pictures of us.  We did jump shots for the cameramen at Liberty Park.  Once we got on State St. I told Allyson we will chick as many guys as possible and chicking Lowell does not count.  We chicked one guy in red when he was walking; then two young guys who were cramping up badly.  I shared with them the coke which Allyson had had enough of.  Allyson was such good sport she responded when we encouraged her to "stick it to the hill" to the top of State St.  It was a triumphant moment running under the Seegull Gate.  Running west on South Temple was exhilliarating, a nice gentle decline finish.  Very proud of her accomplishment.  She threw up into the storm drain after crossing the finish and kept apologizing.  What a trooper! 

We took some finisher photos, found Larry; then walked Allyson back to her hotel.  Lowell treated us to a nice brunch at the hotel.  It was a GREAT non-race race day! :)  One day I will run the SLC Marathon/Half Marathon.  My legs felt like they could've run the Half easily today...still not ready to race though!