I run therefore, I am!

Met up with Danielle early this morning for a run around Daybreak and my neighborhood.  She just got back from her coast trip which we took a month ago. Similar to what we did. Fun stuff! 

Ran during my lunch break at Liberty Park. I did 4 loops on the wood chips and then made up the extra to make 6.5.  I ran into Dane Raushenberg and chatted with him a bit. He is the guy that ran 52 marathon in 52 weeks.  

I ran from my house up to Danielles and immediately ran into deer on my street! One was a buck. I couldnt believe it. They didnt move for me either. Just sat there and watched me run by them. I went up around the Daybreak Lake and back down to my house to make 6.5. 

Went to Liberty park and ran 5 loops on my lunch break in the smoldering heat. I was supposed to run this morning but got a text from my running friend telling me to go back to sleep. lol So i did!  I did 1 mile of tempo in 5:30 and thats all I could muster up with as hot as it was. I was tired.

RAn

Ok I made it home finally. I went up to the race start with my wife Misty and Daughter Sarah and inlaws. Bill, Charity, Sandee, Debbie, Beckie and a neighbor.  We did our waiting around and then I did a mile warmup. It was unusually warm up there. I forgot my warmup  clothes and watch so I lucked out on freezing like last year. I found Paul and lined up with him and chatted a bit. So since my watch was left, I had a plan to just try and run this race by feel. When I say that I mean, I will push myself and give myself a bit of leftover for the start. I did this and I went through the first mile 5 or so seconds behind Paul. I knew I was in the high 4's but didnt ask as I was just behind the main pack that had started to spread already at this mile. Mile two I think I was near 25 or so seconds behind Paul. I knew he wanted to do a 1:05 so in my mind I thought if I could stay with in losing 20 seconds or so a mile I would be right near the 1:10 mark.  I felt really good but felt really thirsty so every water station I really drank as much as I could grab. I was in 5th overall behind a runner from Orem area to mile 3. I passed him at this point and could tell he was trying to stay with me so I did a 25 second push and I couldnt hear him after that. I knew he would be there close so I started concentrating on my form and pushing as hard as I could on any downhill stretch. These are my strong points on this course. I got out of the canyon and had a glance to see behind me and saw that I had made up about 300 yards on him so I knew he was still within striking. I dread this section for some reason every year Im not sure why but I just cant keep my leg turn over going. I got to mile 11 which I was saving everything I had left to go up it. When I looked on a turn my gap was shortening. I thought Id take it a bit easy because I really am not in uphill running shape.  I got to the last up and he was only a block behind me. I turned and hit the last straight and used the downhill to help me go as hard as I could. This helped me increase the gap and I eased into the finish. 1st for Masters with a course record.  4th overall.  I talked with Steve after and chatted with him and a few other runners.  Oh I cant forget I ran back to help my wife in.  I got in 6 more miles plus my mile warmup to make 20. Great race, I love this one and never miss it every year.