I got to sit by BeMo(Julie Ann) on the bus
...loved it...the shortest bus ride ever. The only problem was too busy visiting and ate only a yogurt for breakfast! 
Ya know it's gonna be a sizzling hot one when you don't need gloves at the start and had to douse w/ water at the first aid station.
Maynard, Kathie and I lined up together in between the 3:50 and 4:00 balloons while I hastily chomped down 3 cliff bloks. Kathie, Da Ms Organizer, printed Cougar's 3:55 pace wrist bands for us. 
I warned her that I would jump up and down or hug and kiss her if I PR
(I only need to run 3:57:08 to PR:). My training was going well and was
able to avoid any cramping until the last mile in the last 2 marathons
this summer. However with the unprecedented heat a PR was doubtful.
Nevertheless we were hopeful for sub-4. For the first 10K we were 30-60
seconds ahead of pace. Then we walked a little on Veyo and were back on
pace. I carried only one Gu which I took at mile 5 (hoping to use 3
from the aid stations as promised on the runner's guide, they lied 
). I loved running w/ Maynard & Kathie and watching the motor-gliders, helicopters overhead. I had fun harassing Lowell when I passed him. Mile 1-7: 9:03, 8:56, 8:52, 8:22, 8:34, 8:45, 8:19.Somewhere around mile 10, Kathie started to see spots.
We didn't know whether it was the heat or what. Her breathing was not
labored, form was good. She doused w/ water at the station...it didn't
help...the vision was closing in on her :(. She urged us to leave her when
the 4hr balloons were passing us at the half. 
We hated to leave her but hoped that she would soon catch up if we stayed at the 4hr pace. Mile 8-13: 10:13 (Veyo), 9:18, 9:27, 9:23, 10:06, 8:46. We ran the first half in 1:59:xx.I lost Maynard soon after mile 15. In the past he always found me if he had to take a pit stop. I kept looking back and couldn't see him. Darn this old lady eyesight!
I spent way too much time at each aid station looking for Gu, filling cups w/ gatorade and water...quite a juggling act !!!
I had to be smart to stay hydrated. For the entire race I had one cliff
bar, one piece of banana which I took w/ a Hammer electrolytes cap, and
orange slices. The 4hr balloons would get further and further away
after each aid station. I would then gradually reel them in. Mentally I
fooled myself into thinking I'm running in mid 50 temp w/ a cooling
canyon breeze. I thought of many wonderful blessings in my life. I
tried to run w/ a smile. 
I told myself to "run like a horse" as Ed Eyestone inspired us at the
Clinic yesterday. I concentrated on good downhill form, running
relaxed. Mile 14-19: 10:10, 8:30, 8:48, 8:31, 9:59, 9:23.It was so awesome to have so many spectators cheering, I side-fived the kids and thanked the "cheerleaders".
I passed Staci Carroll on Bluff St and felt bad that she was having tummy issue.
I passed many runners and encouraged walkers to run with me. I passed
the 4hr balloons with a little less than a mile to go.
Phil Struthers, my Ragnar team captain, passed me just before mile 26.
As I turned the last corner I saw and passed him. Within a min. he
passed me back and wasn't going to let me finish ahead of
him...stinker! 
That last 4 blocks were painful as my left calf and foot began to cramp up. I stomped hard w/ each stride to keep charlie horse from ceasing me. I saw and heard Teena which helped a tiny bit. Then I saw my sweet hubby and almost lost it!!! I didn't dare return his cheer, just focused w/ all my might to keep charlie horse at bay. 
Why did they keep moving the finish arch away from me?!!! 
I crossed the finish and was elated to see my Garmin reading 3:58:51. My chip time: 3:58:49
(1 min 40 sec short of a PR). But I was and am very HAPPY with my
effort. I "ran like a horse". I did my best, no regrets!!!! Mile 20-finish: 9:26, 8:30, 9:40, 9:08, 8:16, 8:39, 8:41, 9:13. The elation was short-lived as I stopped at a shady spot next to the p-o-ps within min. of finishing. I collapsed in a heap of pain and cried like a big baby as the vice-grip-like angry cramps ceased my entire lower legs including the feet. Two kind souls, Larry and Ian, helped me passively stretch them out, got me ice bags and even bought me a bottle of gatorade. I laid on the grass for what seemed like eternity as my legs went into involuntary convulsions. :( I was soooo HAPPY and relieved when Maynard and RAD found me and helped me get up on my feet and walked gingerly out of the finisher corral. I found my hubby and had to wait 'till after the award ceremony at 1pm to receive my Grand Slam division award along with Canyon (Marcie) and Teena. I was bummed that we did not have time to go to Cougar's to say hello to everyone there!
A million THANK YOUs to you my dear dear friends for your love and friendship. HUGE CONGRATZ to all of you who finished this sizzling hot SGM 2010!!!! See you on the road/trail soon!