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!