For the longest time I have thought I would never be able to PR in the marathon again. I honestly don't feel like I am better shape than I have been in the past 3 years, but I think today things just fell into place.
I slept well the entire week minus the night before the marathon, which I had planned on. I didn't overeat Friday, and I didn't have any injuries throbbing at me. I ate at the BYU creamery on Friday and my mom is claiming that is why I PR'd. (I kind of despise BYU)
Went and picked up Smooth in the early hours of the morning and met RAD and Marci at the Park 'n Ride. I laughed from the time I picked Smooth up and on. I was getting nervous that I was spending all of my energy on laughing, but it really relaxed me. It was nice to be around runners that weren't racing, there wasn't a stint of stress.
After waiting for Lowell at the buses (he was at McDonald's eating his pre-race meal), we got on the bus. I got to sit next RAD, and it was so nice to sit by her and get all of her positive energy coming my way. She even gave me a shoe charm that I will wear on my running shoes from here on out. It says "Running Buddy". When she gave it to me, I cried.
Got to the start and stood in lines for the Portas. Went to the bathroom and got back in line. Went again and it was time to line up. Everyone went to line up and I went to the bathroom for the third time. Made my way up to the start and wedged my way into the crowd. No prayer and no National Anthem, kinda bugged me... We were just off.
Key was to stay on pace. I had a lovely pace band that Rachelle sent me via e-mail that I had printed out, cut, taped and prepared a few days earlier. I tried to stay on pace but I felt really good and I was ahead of pace by about 2 min by mile 4. I continued to hold myself back but the downhill felt so good.
Coming out of Wallsburg, I was ready for the hills. Nice and easy was the idea, not bringing the heart rate up. I did just that. There were two girls that looked like they were in high school. Whenever I would get up to them, they would surge ahead, it was driving me nuts! I could see how hard they were working and I just kept my cool. By mile 9, they were history.
As I ran up and down the hills I started thinking of all of the training I had done for these few hills. This is where my Aspen training came into play. I ran three miles straight up at 9,000 ft, these hills had nothin' on me! I also thought of the neighborhood I lived at in San Antonio. Hills were all I ran there.
Mile 9.5 I looked up and I saw Julie C from the blog on her bike!! She was working wayyyyy harder than I was. She rode up the freakin' canyon! I was so excited to see her and I called out to her, she made me laugh and smile. She was this little lady on her bike just cruisin' up and up!
Next few miles were ok, things were starting to heat up (my body) and I started to feel like I was running and not just floating around. Hit the half with plenty of time for my sub 3:20. I realized this was the first time I had seen portas on the course and there were a million of them. The smoke from the fires they had put out made me cough and nauseated.
I didn't realize that after mile 15 there was a pretty big hill. I felt that one. The downhill after that caught me by surprised and I picked up the pace a lot, I felt really good at this point. Got to mile 19 and took my 3rd GU, it was just as nasty as the last two.
Ran down to the mouth of the canyon and dedicated the last 6 miles to David. I remember seeing him at mile 20 when he ran UVM back in 2011. He didn't look very happy and I know those last six miles were hard for him. I wanted to kick those last 6 in the behind! I knew my folks were at Will's Pit Stop, so I gave it a push so I could see them.
Saw my parents and gave my mom a big sweaty hug. Her reaction was funny, she gave a disgusted look and started to run with me. That lasted about 5 seconds when she realized how fast it really was. I might have looked slow, but it was quick.
Mile with the hill (24?) was not a pleasantry and I started cursing Provo at that moment. I was praising the RD for moving this horrid 6 mile stretch out of the sun and into the shade. Then I could see the finish, I had my PR in the bag a long time ago. :)
Ran down the finale and smiled, screamed, and cried a little. I was soooooooooooo happy. I think that when I get to heaven I will have the same feeling of excitement I had those last 30 seconds of the race. I wish that happy feeling of finishing with a PR would have lasted a little longer. I think I honestly run JUST so I can have that awesome feeling when I cross the finish line. Just not fair that we train that much for only those few seconds of bliss.
Soaked in the bullfrog ice bath when I finished. Also spotted Julie C right off the bat eating snacks and I got to chat with her a long time. I was high on a happy happy happy moment. I was making all kinds of jokes while I sat in the ice bath and froze. I was with a bunch of men that didn't get their goal times. I don't really know, but they were all acting grumpy.
Went and got my official time and picked up my BQ shirt. Found Rachelle and talked about her awesome race. She is a running idol of mine. :)
Waited around for RAD, Smooth, and Luz too. RAD and Smooth FLIPPED out when I told them my time, tears were flowing from me and I was happy all over again. I honestly don't know how I did what I did!!!!
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