22 miles 3:33:00 - AP: 9:42 9:21, 9:32, 9:36, 9:46, 9:03, 9:12, 9:12, 9:34, 10:17, 9:46, 9:54, 9:36, 9:58, 9:27, 9:54, 10:16, 9:05, 10:15, 10:23, 10:10, 9:43, 9:22
First AND foremost, I'm so grateful for this blog! I've met so many wonderful people and consider everyone friends. Way to represent today! I signed up to the the Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon last year and was unable to run it. I was able to defer it to this year. I needed to do 22 miles, so I just enjoyed the scenery and didn't worry about racing! My main goal was to feel good and not worry about time (obviously, I did...those are some slow splits :) ).
I met RAD, Catherine, Smooth, Karen and Lowell around 6:00am to get a few miles before the race. I was freezing ALL morning long, so I was a bit overdressed (the weather was really perfect...a bit on the cool side!!!!!). We were able to get 4 miles in. I took off one of my layers and headed to the POP before heading over to the start. This was a very organized and fun race! Good music and energy at the start! I hung back at the start...I was a bit nervous about starting off too fast. RAD and Catherine took off like a flash. I knew I wouldn't see them until the end :) Way to run speedy times ladies!!!!!
I caught up to Karen and Smooth and we had the MOST glorious run. I was so grateful for their conversation and company. We talked about everything from chicken coops to how this was a fun run, but would have been horrible to *race*. Lots of crazy twists and turns, ups and downs, tunnels, dirt, bricks and everything in between. The aid stations were frequent and well stocked. Hooray! Around mile 4, I saw an old running friend (Sarah) and her boyfriend. We ran with them for several miles! It was so wonderful to catch up and laugh about old runs together! It made the time go by SO fast and I didn't notice the hills as much!! I took GU's at mile 8, 14 and 18. No GI issues today! About a half mile from the finish, Sarah took off to finish strong. I finished the race around 2:06. So slow, but I felt SO wonderful. I've never felt so great on a long run before! I kept thinking I was going to blow up. I quickly changed my shirt, grabbed some water and went off to find everyone to finish the final 5. RAD, Karen, Smooth (for part of the way) and I rehashed the race. I still couldn't believe how wonderful my legs were feeling. I could have easily run more miles. I was afraid to verbalize my good fortune for the day...fearing it would quickly disappear! Finally, we finished and headed over to the awards. It was fun to catch up with all the FRB bloggers (RAD, Smooth, Andrea, Jake, Lily, Melody, Jun and his buddy, etc). So many of them placed...HOORAY! I couldn't stay long to mingle. I was able to make it home in time for the last half of the soccer game and 1 (out of 2) gymnastics meets. Thanks hubby for supporting me today! I feel so much more confident going into Ogden. My two 20 milers for SGM were so horrific and the Ogden 20's were complete opposite. I'm not sure that I will run a faster time, but my goal is to feel better during the race (which will hopefully lead to a better time). Thanks friends for a wonderful morning!
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