36 hours earlier I was 99% sure I would not run Ogden. Call it stupidity, bull-headed, blind-faith, whatever, I just had to go against common sense. I prayed about the decision and felt right about it. So I had only one goal for this race, FINISH upright! I had one purpose, find someone(s) that might need help. * The report will have to be finished tomorrow. I tried "save draft" several times and didn't work. Teena taped my knee good on Fri. All the way up to the Expo, hubby kept asking: "Are you for sure for sure for sure for sure for sure for sure for sure for sure. Or are you just for sure?" At the Expo saw Sweetiepie and her son James. Guess I can't hide from the Flyers now. I saw Pron8r and his group at the hotel restaurant where I also saw Charlie Ross. He introduced me to his friend Susan B. from Michigan. She and I agreed on meeting at the lobby and ride up together. She shared with me the story of her husband's unexpected passing in July. It was good for me to share with her my believes of eternal life and forever family. At the pop line, saw Darin, Teena's bishop who's Lowell's nephew. Then Rachel discovered me. Well, so much for trying to stay under the radar. Susan and I joined Rachel and Lowell's group by the clothing U-haul with 15 min before gun time. I felt sheephish showing up to run this. Lowell gave me some hand warmers which made me less guilty. We started walking to the start line and the group got separated. I wanted to get to the 10mm flag but only made it to the 9mm when the race started. So rather than walking against traffic, I just stood there until I saw Rob & Mindy Wait, Dale, AlisaK and Sweetiepie. Rob and I decided to run together. I had a great time running the middle miles at SGM'08 with him. He is one of the most upbeat person. We were soon joined by Lucy Gull, a 60 yr old running her first marathon. I met her last year at the Art City 5K and Spanish Fork Half. She has overcome diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, very inspiring. We were joined by Lisa Bangerter whom I ran into on the road in Highland on my last solo 22 miler. She remembered me and my missionary son. We both have sons playing viola and cello. We chatted for about couple miles and she dropped back. There were people around us listening in on our conversations and pretty soon we formed a little pace group shooting for 10 mm pace and hoping to finish around 4:30. They designated me as the pacer since I was wearing a bright yellow Boston shirt. Among the group was two young people, Becky (wearing a LIFE GUARD shirt), running her first and her friend Ryan running his second, a tall sweet lady, Cynthia. Becky and Ryan trained the Galloway method and would walk every mile. We always bid each other fondly when they walked and within a minute or so they would catch up. As we discussed the Galloway way, a 60 yr old gentleman chimed in, so now Lucy found a friend.
What a beautiful morning, my feet was numb for the first mile. By mile 3 I tossed my gloves. The first 6 miles split were: 10:04, 9:57, 9:58, 9:52, 9:53, 9:58. My knee was doing fine. I was concerned about cramping. Ogden is where I had serious crippling charlie horse attack both years after I crossed the finish. I tried something new, using the Enlyten electrolyte stripes. I reload with 3 stripes an hr before running and would reload every hour wth 2 stripes. I gu about every 5 miles. I found my tummy getting bloated up and soon I looked like I was 5 months pregnant. Though I was running effortlessly, this bloatness concerned me; so I stopped at mile 10 to use the pop. That stop signaled in my first leg cramp. Our group went on ahead and I told them I would catch up. I soon caught up to everyone by mile 11. Lucy was struggling. She had a jacket around her waist. I encouraged her to ditch it; but it was her favorite. I knew she wouldn't be able to keep up. So I dropped her, hoping the 60 Gallowalker would catch her and run with her. I caught up to Becky and Ryan while they were walking. They were glad to see me. It took me to about mile 11.5 when I caught up with Rob. He seemed to be slowing down. I said we need to save our legs for the hills. Mile 7-12 splits: 10:19, 10:14, 10:12, 10:38 (pop), 10:03, 10:05. I tried to tell a few jokes as we were getting ready for the uphill. Rob started to slow and never caught up. My Gamin read 2:07 at the half-mary point, right on pace. Ryan, Becky and Cynthia were still with me. Cynthia only spoke once the whole time. At the top of the hill, a young lady was huffing so I encouraged her. This was her first marathon and her husband, a tri-athlete is to cycle up the canyon to run in with her. I think her name was Kelly. I also re-passed a gal in my AG. She said she would pass me in the canyon, but she never did. By the time we reached mile 17, Ryan and Becky had also dropped back. I picked up a young girl, named Carrie from New Hampshire doing her Utah for the 50 State Club. She was to fly to Denver the next day to do Colorado. We exchanged ideas about recovery. Mile 13-18 splits: 9:55, 10:30 (uphill), 10:10, 10:34 (too much talking with Carrie), 10:07, 10:08. The canyon wall is tall with pines. The rushing river was soothing. All the runners I passed here were quiet. I tried to give a few encourgement while I was worried about cramping as this was the stretch were the cramps hit me in years past. I sang in my mind a few familiar hymns and just enjoyed the run keeping the ITB worry out of my mind. This year seemed much cooler than the last two. I was in search for gu at this point. None of the volunteers knew when the next gu station was. First sign of cramp came at mile 23. The parkway became a winding torture tunnel for me as I fought to keep charlie horse at bay. I barely uttered "good job" to those whom I passed and to those passing me. I had to stomp hard a few times to get the cramp out of my left leg. I walked through the last two aid stations drinking powerade and dousing with water. My breathing was fine, but the cramps kept coming each time I had to use different muscles to navigate this parkway. I though if I could keep my pace under 11, I could still finish under 4:30.
Once we spilled onto the road, my calves and shins were getting very angry. There was a guy hunched over with pain. I stopped to help him and myself stretch. When he started to run, I could not follow. My legs would revolt. Even my left foot started to cramp up. The only thing I could do was walk for which I was grateful. So I walked the entire way on Grant Street to the finish. Teena called me at 23rd St. Just before the finish line, I mustered to pick up my knees to pretend I was running for the Zasoosh guy. I was happy that I could finish upright. Mile 19 - Finish splits: 10:08, 9:58, 10:20, 10:13, 9:55, 10:21, 11:06 13:44, last 0.45 mile took 8 minutes at 17:50. At the finisher circle, I found my only charge, Cynthia who finished in 4:31:xx. She felt bad when she saw me walking. I told her I was grateful to be walking! I found Kelli frantically looking for Scott. She did awesome; but I could tell she was not too happy for her sweetheart. I learned alot today about the human spirit along this 26.2. That's why I am addicted to marathoning. Sorry this is so long. I told hubby this would be the last year I would run Ogden. I love the course; but not the cramping issues.
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