Each Day Is a Gift

Ran with Karen and Carolyn.  AP: 9:21.  Fun to hear about their Spanish Fork 1/2 reports. :)

Ran with Karen, Carolyn and Wendy.  Fun chats.  Fall is in the air.  Cooler mornings.

Contractor removed the funky angle-cornered hall wall and entry to the master bedroom.  In its place a straight wall with double door entry.  Sheetrock to the whole master suite is completed.  Tomorrow will be tape/mud.  Construction dust will only get worse the next few days.  We finalized the purchase of tile, hardwood and carpet.  Cabinet is ordered and a slap of granite is reserved.  Next decision is wall texture and paint color. 

Continue a trend of mini taper for TOU!!!  Ran with Karen and Wendy!

Just registered for Boston 2012!  :) :) :)

There's lots of Spanish talking, pounding, mud pudding, stapling sound going on in the *west wing*. 

4 easy shake down miles with Carolyn.  Getting anxious for TOU!  Hope I can help Lowell get a better BQ so he can register for Boston Sat. afternoon!  :)  

What a crazy day!  The mud crew were here to sand and mud the walls of the *west wing*; and since there were repair holes in my downstairs bathroom wall (the holes were made to gain access to the circuit breaker); I had to wait until they were done before showering.  So, that put me behind in getting out the door. 

Barely had time to eat a bowl of pasta while google map direction to get to Marcie's house by 1:45.  Mindy was there at 2 to drive Marcie and I up to Logan.  We stopped at Wendy's in North Ogden for a baked potato and chicken snack wrap.  Mindy brings her own pre-race meals.  She was drinking all sorts of specialty drinks during the drive; thus we had to make several potty stops.

Made it to Marcie's sister, Christine's house in Logan before 5.  Was nice to meet Christine, her husband and daughter and three little dogs.  Got to the Expo just a little after 5.  The race shirt is long sleeve and the xs fits nicely.  Milled around the pacer booth for an hour as Marcie is the 3:50 pacer.  Then we drove to/thru McDonald so Christine's daughter can grab dinner; then to/thru Wendy's so we can grab another baked potato, then to/thru Starbucks so Mindy can grab soy tea.  Finally back to Christine's house at 7.  I was still hungry.   Thankfully Mindy shared her peanut butter and honey on white bread with me.

We each claimed our individual couch and set out our race clothes and drop bag gear.  Plan was to get up at 4:45 and get to our designated bus loading area at 5:10 to meet Lowell and the Flyers.  We turned out the light sometime after 9.  I took an advilPM and crawled inside my sleeping bag on a couch that is next to the kitchen door and off the family room where Mindy and Marcie slept on their couches. 

Just as I was dozing off, the little dogs came exploring.  One was ready to hop on the couch, I quietly said: "down!"  Marcie got up to take him away.  Then just as I was about to doz off, another dog came in.  I was concerned that he would take my running gear away or pee on my running shoes.  I moved my running shoes right next to me.  Each time I dozed, the sound of a computer receiving mail would wake me. 

I must've slept because I dreamed that Marcie and Mindy woke me up to go.  I could not find my running clothes or shoes.  Christine found me a huge bra and some cargo shorts.  Then she drove the girls to the start leaving me to get ready.  She came back and said I owe her $100 because she told the RD to hold the timing mat 'till I get there and they agree to do it for $100.  :D  I was sweating bullets frantically trying to put clothes and her husband's hunting boots on.  WHAT a nightmare.  Next thing I knew I woke up with night sweat and Mindy got up to announce time to get ready! :)

Morning frenzy:  Got out of my sleeping bag and looked at the cell phone reading 4:45am.  Quickly went upstairs searching for a bathroom in the dark.  All the doors of the upstairs rooms were closed.  Dang!  Hope I didn't wake the sleeping occupants! :)  Quickly put on my compression sleeves, socks, shoes, fleece and jacket; grabbed the drop bag and out the door by 5am!!! Christine dropped us off a block from by the Park. Walked to the designated meeting place and called Lowell who was 5 min. away.  He brought along a fella from his hotel.  Meanwhile TomSlick has arrived.  We saw no other Forumflyers.  The six of us got on the bus.  Ate my banana and a few chex mix nibbles and water.  Marcie shared her gatorade.  I was very sleepy and not coherent. 

The start:  Got off the bus at 6:15ish.  The pop lines were L-O-N-G!  Got separated from the gang.  Thankfully Lowell had his blue flash light and I my pink flash light.  We went to back of line for a second pop visit.  It started to rain.  Lowell and I found a damsel in distress, name Gretchen, I think.  I gave her my garbage bag, Lowell gave her his gloves.  Soon we heard announcement that the clothing truck leaving in 5 min.!  We quickly stripped down.  I kept my Boston jacket on,  Lowell gave Gretchen his spare jacket.  He was so kind to take our bags plus two other people's bags to the truck while we were stuck in the pop lines.  While still in line I heard the gun/riffle shot.  Oh NO, the race has started!  No worries, it was for the handcyclists start!  Made it down to the start and found Lowell standing by the clothing truck.  He had stepped into a huge puddle and both feet were wet.  There were people huddling under a tent.  Loved this wet madness! :)  Walked over to the starting arch and hollered: "GO allie!!!!"  Those toeing the line turned and I was able to get a glimpse of allie as she looked over my way!" :) :) :)

The riffle went off with a loud bang!  Then 20 seconds later another bang!...hope it didn't hit anybody.  We cheered on the speedsters and Marcie's 3:50 group then jumped in between the 4:00 and 4:15 balloons.  The sun was up hiding behind heavy clouds but light enough we could see the wet road and puddles.  :)

Goal of the day was to run a 4:10:00 (a 5 min BQ cushion) so Lowell could register for Boston that very afternoon.  I have total confidence that he could do it as he ran 4:15 at Pocatello two weeks ago.  I secretly wanted a 4:05 goal for him so needed to keep an average 9:10 pace.  I was wearing a jacket covering my belt that holds my inhaler, my bib# with the course-tool-pace-band attached.  Needless to say I never looked at the pace band once. 

The game plan:  Lowell was allowed  to be in charge of the first 14 canyon miles and I the next 12.  Lowell has a tendency to tell stories to those we pass.  He spreads joy and aid to anyone in need especially damsels in distress.  Thus it's risky to let him be in charge of the last 12 miles.  I ran my first TOU with my niece and her husband in 2008 (their very first marathon).  I ran friends in from the mouth of the canyon to the finish in 2009 and 2010, so I'm familiar with *the work* of the Logan miles.  The rule was to utter NO more than 3 words to those we pass during MY 12 miles! :) We'd let the gods be in charge of the weather, the last 0.2 or however long it takes to get to the finish. 

The run:  We walked at every aid station.  Also my Garmin measured long so didn't match up with the mile markers.  Here are my Garmin splits follow by the course-tool-pace in parenthesis.  We were NOWHERE near the course-tool-pace!  Haha! :) :) :)

1.  9:29 (9:07) The usual good-morning-how-are-you-chit-chat slow warm-up mile.

2.  8:57 (9:21) Lowell got carried away by the group of girls in black/red outfits!

3.  8:42 (9:15) Rain. Laughing and singing.

4.  9:34 (9:18) Lowell tried talking to a geezer w/ a straw hat who was hard of hearing.

5.  8:40 (9:15) More rain.  Singing, telling jokes, general goofing off.  :)

6.  9:05 (9:13) Lowell dropped off his long sleeve shirt.  I removed my headband.

7.  8:50 (9:50) Still raining.  Singing.  Harassing other runners.  :)

8.  9:04 (8:55) Gu'ed at mile 7 aid station.  Where's the beautiful Fall foliage?!

9.  8:44 (9:23) More stories telling.  Saw a few Grand Slammers.

10. 9:49 (9:18) Took a picture of Lowell running by the reflection pond.  :)

11. 8:58 (9:33) Raining buckets.  Thundering!  :?

12. 9:05 (9:19) More rain.  Thundering!  Hailing!!!  Kowabunga!!! :)

13. 8:36 (9:15)  The timing clock showed 2:00:xx.  I figured we crossed the start a min. later so probably ran the first half in 1:59 ish.  Gu'ed at mile 13 station.

14. 8:52 (9:12) Saw hubby♥ huddling under an umbrella.  Gave him my jacket which was loaded with a cell phone, firefly glow thingie, gloves, headband, Powerbar chews, energy bar.  Whew!  So much lighter!  Loved the cheering crowds! :) :) :) :)

15. 8:39 (9:18)  Ran with Darla, a USU student, running her first marathon. :)

16. 9:08 (9:07)  Saw Nic, Teena's brother running his first marathon, looking strong! :)

17. 8:48 (9:08)  Feeling good.  Lowell broke the *3 words limit rule*! :/  I kept looking back to make sure he's staying close. :)

18. 9:09 (9:08)  Kept a steady pace to not dip below 9:10.  High fived tons of kids! :)

19. 9:09 (9:49)  How's that for steady pace?!  :)

20. 10:25 (9:38)  Gu'ed at mile 19 aid station.  Darla was groaning.  Told her we'd run to the next aid station then we could walk. Saw Andrea, Nic's wife. :)  THANKS for the cheers, Annie! :) :) :)

21. 8:43 (9:02)  Must be a downhill here!

22. 9:22 (9:25)  Kept Darla going.  Could not see Lowell from behind anymore. :(

23. 9:54 (9:35)  Shins twitched a little on the uphill.  Darla hurting.  Gu'ed.

24. 9:35 (9:42)  Darla's friend jumped in to run with her.  Saw the 4:00 balloons ahead. 

25. 9:09 (9:23)  Feeling good!  Passed lots of runners!  Darla staying with me!

26. 9:06 (9:23)  Feeling strong!  No charlie horse!

0.39 @ 8:49 (0.2 in 1:53)  Couple of turns.  Saw hubby♥ on the right!  Awesome cheering crowds!  Looked up and was surprised to see the clock just turned 4:00:00! Crossed the finish 67 seconds later.  WaHOOO!!!  Marathon #31 in the bag,  7th marathon this year since April's Boston!!! :) 

The Finish: Marcie was there to walk me to the finisher corral.  Turned back to cheer Lowell in.  He finished in 4:09:00. YES!!!  HE DID IT!!!  SUCCESS!!!  He registered for Boston 2012 that afternoon! :)

HUGE CONGRATZ to allie who claimed her champion title and PR'd.  Paul won with a huge margin.  JeffL got his sub-3 goal!  :) :) :) :)  KUDOS to Haley, Darla and so many who ran their first marathons in soggy shoes!  Double WaHOOs to Nic who ran his first marathon with a big ole bruise in his right leg!  Marcie successfully bringing 20 runners in at 3:50 for her very first pacer duty!  A GREAT TOU day indeed!!! :)

So grateful for wonderful wonderful friends!!!  So thankful for the ability to run!!! :)