I run therefore, I am!

I had a full house last night with friends staying over to run this.  Monica Bujold who took second overall in this race a few years ago stayed. and Matt Rowley.  We had a fun time hanging out together.  Monica has a very cool story that she has struggled through the past few years not with injuries or crazy ailments but being put on protective list so no harm would befall her from a bad situation with a spouse. She couldnt run a race at all or she would be able to be found. Now the situation has adjusted itself so she is back at it! She actually registered as herself in this race which made her feel normal again.  I think she has a cool comback story because she missed the Olympic marathon trials by seconds! seriously a fast girl!  Although her training just started last month she blasted a 3:15 today.  I feel she hasnt lost much and will comeback with avengeance. I made it up to the starting line and it was a bit nippy. I hung out at the fire pit and warmed up and got to the start. I was running as a team with Steve Hooper, Adam Wende, and Logan Fielding. The race started and I was imediately with Bryant, the kenyan and Seth Wold. I honestly felt like I was sandbagging it and keeping myself back but my first mile was 5:30. I forced myself to fall back off of Seth who was about 200' behind Bryant and the Kenyan. I was alone and trying to make myself slow down but its drop kept me at a 5;35, 5:40, 5:45, and then finally a 5:50. I was able to stay at the 5:50 pace and noticed Logan was gaining on me on every mile.  He caught me at mile 8 and charged up the hill. I really didnt want to push the hill but I tried to keep him close to me to see if I could stay with him when it went to downhill.  Just as I projected the down helped me catch him so we ran together from mile 11 to mile 15.  I needed a porta potti in the worst way at 15 I was prairie doggin it so bad.  I saw a camp off the highway near the aid station so I ran off the course, down the hill and used it.  Very smart move on my part because I felt 100% better. I actually started to reel in Logan again as he was slowing on the hill a bit at mile 17 I think it was.  Its amazing how your body goes through so many emotions becase at mile 18 I went from Ive got this to Ok keep focused and keep your shoulders up and talking myself up.   I made it to the bottom at mile 21 and saw Misty with PowerBar drink mix that I stole from Christie. lol Ok so I bought it for her for her last Ironman and wasnt able to get it to her so I opened it up.  It worked pretty good.  I got out of the canyon and tried to take it one mile at a time.  I was really cramping up and trying to sing to myself out loud but there were a ton of Half marathoners looking at me weird.  I am weird so suck it! lol I had a hard time from the last 3 miles trying to keep myself going. I faded hard, but my best moment was when my Bailey, 11 year old that took region in cross country offered to push me in the last half mile I accepted. She kept telling me I was doing great and as soon as we hit the shoots we would sprint.  There  were a group of 20 plus half marathoners in the way and I got around them and got the pic with her pushing me in! A great day, 1st Masters 8th overall and our team took 1st with all of us in the top 8! woot woot! Go Flying Squirrels! lol  My first half  was 1:17:00, my 20 mile time was 1:58:40, and I kind of blew up from there. All I need was a 40 minute 10K to finish and I wouldve broke Jeff Shadleys course record. Better luck next year!  

Got the American Flyers Race Pacers all set up with gear and last minute details. There were a lot more runners there this year from last! I hear the competition would be fierce this year and knew Scott Keate and Matt Poulsen who are amazing runners would be there. I got lined up at the start and did a last minute game plan with Steve. I feared my legs wouldnt hold out from a marathon last Saturday so my plan was to go for broke! Take it as hard as I could as far as I could.  My goal was actually to make it to mile 8 in all under 5 minute pace.  I saw Danielle Johnson who looked nervous when she saw me talking to Lindsey Dunkley.  She had that look I probably felt when I see fast runners line up.  I honestly didnt let it get in my head.  I got ready and Steve Anderson said he was going to get back more, little did I know it was because he had a plot to pants me again.  I was holding my shorts all morning around him.  He couldve totally got them down when he tried because I was trying to focus.  I think Lindsey only got a peep as he was nice not to go past the plumbers crack.  Good old Steve! The gun went off and I pushed my way to get right behind Scott and the other guy with him.  I stayed right behind them for the first mile--4:43! Suck! I didnt let it get to me though. Most races that would have had me fall way off from them but I stuck to them as best I could.  Mile 2--4:56. Still behind them but they have pulled a bit away from me.  Mile 3--5:14.  A bit more flat on this mile. I knew the steep was still coming so mile 4--5:04. Then for the steed miles mile 5 was 4:49. Mile 6 was 4:49 as well.  Mile 7 was an aid station and I used this to find out who was behind me. I counted the seconds off till the next runner came through by listening to them clapping and cheering them on. Mile 7 time was 5:01. Mile 8 was the first out of the canyon. Started to go flat and have little rollers in it.  5:09. Mile 9 I saw skip and he ran with me for a bit and cheered me on. I did a 5:33. Started to feel my legs a bit but told myself to push it hard!  I saw Scott was getting closer to me so it gave me a bit of motivation to go. mile 10 was 5:35. Ugh this was my race to this point.  My legs from then on were in complete survival mode.  Just trying not to fad too much. Mile 11 I got passed on a hill part and tried staying with him.  He was going for broke! Mile 12 I got passed again by Matt Poulsen and managed to hit a 5:35.  Then on the last half mile to go Michael passed me and I didnt have any more turn over in my legs. They  were running flat footed and I just hung on to him to keep from getting passed by anyone else.  Lindsey came in behind me with a 1:11! She is so freaking fast!  Then it was good to see Steve come in with a 1:12 after all his playing around throughout the world he finally decided to grow some and push it! It was good to see him get that time after doing Utah Valley last week.  Im really happy with my time and I broke the course record even though 3 others did as well. I still can say I own it for Masters.  I came in defending this race by winning it 2 years in a row so it was awesome to give it all I had to try a 3 peat!  Fun Day!