Marathon #4 in 2 years. I'm happy about that, even if this was my slowest marathon time. I feel like I ran this race about as well as I trained for it. This was also the most difficult course I have run in a marathon. The temps couldn't have been more perfect for a marathon. I had that on my side for sure.
I had a great time traveling up to Salmon, ID with JD, Lysa, Scott, Erin and Cam. What a super fun group to hang with for a weekend! We met up with Thayne and Wendy when we got up there. We all stayed at the Stagecoach Inn on the Salmon river and it was beautiful! Now to focus on the race. I tried to go to sleep around 9:30 and my alarm went off at 5am. I wrestled around a lot in between that time. We met for breakfast in the lounge at 5:30am. I tried to eat a bagel and some peanut butter. As I looked around the lobby of the hotel I could see a lot of fit runners. I didn't know much about this race I was about to run. Jeff had asked me before I left if I knew I would be running on a dirt road and he also said "You know you'll probably be running alone a lot of the time." I didn't really listen to him. I guess I was in some sort of denial about running the marathon. (Lots of stress at home while training for this one). SO we were on one of the last buses and all we did was drive back out of town for 30 minutes. This was a first. I was thinking during the drive "All my other marathons have been running down a big ol canyon for the first many miles..." I started to get nervous... We finally got off the bus and I was able to see all the runners. They were ALL very fit and I could see that we girls would be at the back of the finishing pack for this small marathon. Whatever. I was excited to get it over with. It was cold but I had my long sleeve shirt and polka dot fleece pants that I've worn at the top of every marathon. I dropped my sweats in my bag but ended up keeping that shirt on for the first 6 miles. The race started and I stayed with Lysa and Erin for the first 5 miles. They were boring and had their music on. I didn't get mine out till later. Lysa had it down low cause she responded when I talked to her. Wendy was singing away to her music and I knew she'd be good company for some during this tough race. During the first few miles I realized that this dirt road was going to bother me but what choice did I have. There were many, many cows out and mooing like crazy loud and in harmony. I noticed a group of cows that seemed to be following us. Then they started running with us. I kept looking over and there they'd be. Running and mooing. They ran with us as far as they could and then turned as the fence appeared. That was cool. Maybe cows aren't so stupid. During this race I saw cows, horses, a deer, goats and a little, teeny pony. Also, my left foot had been sore at the ball of my foot and into my toes. I could feel this from the start and it just got worse.
I was on my own starting at about mile 5. For the rest of the marathon, I was pretty much alone. I survived by picking people off. Counting the kills. Mile 6 started a hill followed by a longer, steeper hill at mile 7. I passed 4 girls during this time. There were some fun rolling hills after the big uphill. Later I passed 2 guys that were run/walking. They were ahead of me till about mile 12. When we came to the out and back which was mile 15 I believe, I was happy to see the aid station and PEOPLE. I had been alone for a while. So many people cause they were coming out of the switch back area. I saw Thayne at this point and gave him a high-five. It was a gradual uphill and it was tough. At the turn around for the half marathoners there were two guys throwing a football. I motioned for them to throw it to me as I ran up to them. They hesitated but threw it. I totally caught it and they looked surprised and then I threw almost a perfect spiral back to them. They looked impressed:) I finally got to the turn around point and it felt SO good to come back down. There was a cool breeze and downhill! On my way back down I saw Lysa and Erin!!!! They looked great and I told them they were almost there ;) and that it was so much better after the turn around. I saw Wendy after them. She walked/ran most of the marathon. She immediately asked how I was doing. She said I looked like I was limping and did I need Ibu? I told I had it. That was so nice of her to be concerned about me. My next runner to pick off had been way ahead for quite some time. I was sure if I would get her. It took the next 6 miles before she got slower and I finally passed her around mile 21/22. That was a tough section of the race. My shoes were filled with rocks and dirt but I didn't want to stop. My left foot would scream out in pain every time I stepped on a rock which was like every 5 seconds. I never stopped to pee once. I did walk through every aid station and drank the water and GU drink. This entire marathon I took at 10/10 and a 10k. When I got to the 10 k I just ran as fast as my legs would carry me. I feel like I was consistent throughout this race, just slow. I passed a few more marathoners and I think some half marathoners during the last 10k. We finally had pavement from I think mile 22 to the end. Maybe 23. At the last aid station there was a sign that said "Friends don't let friends run marathons." I thought of Lysa. It was my own decision to run this "with" her but it was her fault for deciding to run another marathon. So I blamed her for me being in that situation at that time and in PAIN! Love you Lys;) I was so excited to be almost be done and as we came into town and finally saw people cheering us on and ringing cow bells, that really helped me. I've decided I'm not good in small races. I'd much rather run a big race with tons of people running with me and supporting me. I guess i'm a wimp. So, I was supposed to turn on to the main street and for some reason I went straight instead. They started whistling and yelling at me to come back. I heard them and did. UGH! More steps then I needed to take. I ran up the main street and turned down to the finish line. SO glad to be done. Cam, Scott, JD and Thayne were there to take pics and cheer me on. Instead of doing a handstand which JD had teased me about doing at the finish, I did a cartwheel. He said it looked really good ;) So another marathon finished. And now I'm taking a break!
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