The Deseret News Classic was stacked in all fields today. I knew that would be the case coming in. There was no way I was going to be challenging the podium today. I also knew with this sort of competition, the pace would be pushed and that's what I needed. Woke up at 3:05am and found my Garmin dead on the charger. Oh the Garmin issues! Strapped on a cheap chrono watch and made my way to Eccles Stadium by 3:50. The start was colder than I anticipated for the 90+ minute wait, so I found a bare spot to tuck my entire body into my shirt and waited it out. I ran a quick mile to warm up. I wanted to make sure I got my breathing a bit challenged before the race since it was going to be fast for the first two miles. The gun went off and we all took off like bandits! For the first two miles I was planning around 5:50, according to the course tool. I was glad to have some sort of a watch to keep track. Too bad the mile markers weren't all marked and too bad my watch also died! Curse words. This is definitely the first distance race I have raced without consistent mile markers and a watch combined. I ran completely by feel and it was somewhat unnerving, if I'm being honest. The good news is that although I felt challenged from the get go, I felt comfortably challenged. I was in 5th place from the start, it lasted for most of the race but didn't last to the end. Kassi, Emily, and Tee were way ahead. I worked with a couple BYU girls, but eventually passed them until later. Around mile 6 a girl passed me and Angie caught up somewhere in here. I felt like I was slipping on pace so I turned it up and got back into place. It started to get warm and I found myself really wanting more than 1/2 cup of water. I felt so dumb as I reached for one as another guy was. The cup tipped over and he went without a drink. He was not happy about it and had some words for me. I profusely apologized and gave him the rest of my water. That meant gu gut was a guarantee since I had just taken my first GU with a small sip of water to last for the next 3-4 miles. It came and went as soon as I approached mile 9ish. I kept my focus elsewhere and it seemed to help. The long stretches of hills were bigger than I thought they would be, but I covered them well, I thought. I found a sprinkler and drenched myself. It was getting pretty warm and my mouth was so dry. Despite the regular discomforts, I was feeling pretty good up until mile 10. This was partly because I thought we were on mile 11. I had mentally prepared myself to push for ~13 more mins. Adding another 6+ seemed to directly hit me. The last mile to the finish was just brutal.The two BYU girls passed me and then Angie in the last 1/4 mile. That was bound to happen since my VO2max was on borrowed time at that point. My form and breathing were embarrassing around this time. Then my vision became blurred out of no where. It was just so strange. I ran into a kid, but I think he was in the way. Kids reached out for high fives but I missed them all. I could hear them all moan, "awe." After the finish, my vision became worse. It felt like my eyes were rolling around in my head. When I tried to focus, everything went in and out of view. It was like I was in some sort of dream or had taken some sort of hallucinogen. So I slid into some shade near the medical tent and crouched down on the grass and get my head on the ground. I guess I looked like a piece of work. I began vomiting and was placed on a stretcher in the medical tent. Next thing I knew I had an IV in my arm. I thought that was a bit much but it actually was very helpful. Anyway, an hour of drama in the tent, I was out. Apparently I was the only wuss today. The tent was empty. I am so glad I felt crappy after the race and not during, because I really felt well for the majority of the race and feel like I did the very best I could. I'm not sure why I felt so sick afterwards, but I am so grateful to the kind volunteers who took time out of their holiday to pop my blisters:) and give aid. Such an exhausting and exciting day today. I loved seeing so many friends and fellow FRB'ers. I am so thrilled for today's winners and those who placed, and even PR'd. Such great examples and inspirations! 
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