I linued up at the start next to all the St. George running center team and we took off. 1: 5.43 Exactly where Jeffs pace band told us we should be. The Pack was 9 deep and they really werent going too fast at the start. It looked like Logan and Clyde were at the front. I was behind the pack with Jeff, Ken Pliska, Ben another guy who was running together with Ben. 2: 5.49 Ken and Jeff started talking together and sort of pulled ahead of us so I was 3 wide with Ben and friend. 3: 5:31 Our first taste of downhill and we pushed the pace a bit. I was a bit worried that I may have took off to hard so I backed off of Ben and his friend. 4: 5:32 Another fast mile but felt comfortable. Jeff and Ken started to increase the gap on us a bit. 5: 5:44 This is the pace I wanted to be at so I felt good here.
6: 5:35 Another fast mile with a bit of downhill. 7: 5:32 I wasnt paying attention to my watch here but I was just behind Ben as we got our first aided bottles that they set out for us. I took a gu and drank my Cytomax. I ran with the bottle all the way to mile 8.
8: 6:32 VEYO! enough said right! Ben and his friend seemed to push it hard and I had no intention of doing that. This is how I had a great finish last year and was trying to mock my running.
9: 6:18 still going up hill and rolling. I was about 20 feet behind Ben. I was in 16th place at that point.
10: 6:02 I learned from last year not to let the 6's discourage me. I was saving my strength.
11: 6:23 Last of the hill and SUN! lots of sun and it got warm quick. I think Ben and I started to see Jeff at this point and could see that Ken had taken off from him. This was another Table Aid station that I put Cytomax at again.
12: 6:05 Flat and rolling a bit. Im starting to get my speed back I could tell. 13: 5:51 A bit of down and caught up with Ben and his buddy here.
13.1: 1:17:15 This was a bit fast than last year by only a few seconds. 14: 5:52 This is where the hill started to give us some umph and I could see Jeff Blast down it. 15: 5:26 I think it was here that I was ready to go and started my push to catch Jeff. I got another gu with my water bottle aid station here with Cytomax. I swear this stuff is liquid dope for runners! 16: 5:32 Last year I passed Sasha here with a 5:15 split. I was about 16 seconds slower but tried not to think about it. I was about 50 feet ahead of Ben at this point and starting to close on Jeff who was about 100 feet at this point. 17: 5:36 I love the downhill parts in this race but it was looking short lived as I could see the dreaded mile 18 ahead. I was feeling my toe pretty bad here and tried to concentrate on it rather then ayny other pain my body gave. 18: 5:36 I was amazed at Jeffs strength going up this stretch and still had a bit to catch him. I think he was aobut 50 feet at this point. 19: 6:08 The hill took a bit out of my sails and I tried to think about the downhill from here on out. I got another bottle of Cytomax and gu again here and was glad for it. I needed it.
20: 5:55 I had caught Jeff now and was planning on staying with him but couldnt get in sink with his pace so I let my body go on the hill. I had no idea where I was in the race and someone told me I was number 8. I saw Clyde on this mile also and new he was in trouble. He was walking and so I had wondered if I was really 7th then or not. It kind of kept my spirits up and I kept telling myself 10k to go 10k to go! 21: 5:29 I couldnt hear Jeff at all anymore and wondered where or how far back him and Ben where behind me. 22: 6:01 The last little hoopla of rollers before the final drop! Yeah! 4 to go 23: 6:11 I got my aided bottle here and had passed the water when I took the gu. I washed it down with Cytomax which my body didnt want at this point. I was mad that I didnt get a water but knew I needed it so I stopped and walked and drank as much as I could and Jeff caught me. I was gagging that damn gu down still and the cytomax now so I desperately needed water. There was an ambulance so I went over to it to see of they had water. Nope! a bystander gave me his water bottle graciously so I ran and gulped it down. It was good. I needed it but it gave Jeff about a 100' lead back on me. I pushed down the last part of the hill and when It went flat I was not able to get my legs moving. So at this point I thought I was either 8th or 9th. I made it to mile 24 and was passed by a kid in a blue shirt. Shoot! I cannot let anybody pass me now because I was either 9th or 10 now. I made it to mile 25.2 and Ben passed me. My spirits were low now and I hoped that I was only 10th. On the last turn I looked back and there was a guy coming on me fast! Shoot! I had to pour it on now. I gave it all I had but my leg turnover was crap! I was extremely dizzy and couldnt focus! Come on .25 to go! I could hear the crowd yelling louder as he got closer to me. Can I try and sprint? No my legs are at max. I got into the shoot and prayed I could get the strength to hold him off. I crossed the finish and was caught by a couple of handsome guards that helped me get my finishers medal. They gave me a pass that said 10th overall! Sweet! I did it! Finally got it, it wasnt a great finish like last year but a better placement! by 1. I got 2 -150 dollar gift certificates for Hotel and Lodging for next year, 100 dollar for travel,100 bucks to St. George Running Center,some chocolates, 2 bags, a garbage can with the logo, and a rock clock. Plus the free comp into next years race. It was a hot day which my body is not fond of at all. I am a downhill 60 degree runner! Its funny because I told my wife I wasnt running this next year so we could go do Marine Corps Marathon a few weeks later. Now Ill run both. lol
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