I beat 2 goals today. I ran a 2:31:40. More to follow. I'm cheering my friends in.
Ok my first goal was to get a 2:35. My second was to place better in the field which meant beating Sasha.
Mile 1--5:45
Mile 2--5:55 I felt like my legs were starting to warm up.
Mile 3--5:36 I had some hill to push me here.
Mile 4--5:37 It was still dark out and I couldnt read my watch so I had no idea.
Mile 5--5:43 The pack was out of my sight at this point and there were only 3 or 4 in front of me. I was by myself.
Mile 6--5:25 I started to see the Veyo hill at this point and was trying to gear up for it.
Mile 7--5:33 This was my first Elite aided water table station that I set Hammer Heed and a gu. It really helped me stay hydrated. I love this system.
Mile 8--6:35 I decided to not push the hill hard and stayed at a comfortable pace. The few that were ahead of me gained about 200 yards from pushing up the hill.
Mile 9--6:12 I started to get my momentum back a bit.
Mile 10--6:02 and 58:18 for a 10 split. I was right where I wanted to be. I felt like if I did the same for mile 20 I would be right on target.
Mile 11--6:24 Another little hill climb and again the competition was losing me.
Mile 12-- 6:04 Started to get my legs back a bit.
Mile 13--5:42 I finally started to feel good and my leg turnover was perfect for me.
Half Marathon point 13.1--1:17:40 I wanted to be at 1:18 for my first and 1:16 to get a 2:35 so I was right on my plan.
Mile 14--5:50 I saw Dave Holt and caught him around the end of this mile and he wasnt running like the Dave Holt I know. He slowed down to aid his brother. What a stud! I have thought about doing marathons like this as hard as I could push and then finish how I could just to see if I could hang.
Mile 15--5:30 I started seeing Sasha and the other runners slow a bit and I just kept on pushing.
Mile 16--5:20 The Crowd told us we were 12,13 and 14th overall at this point and I immediately passed the 13th and caught Sasha right at the 16 mile mark. When I passed him he told me I was on track for a 2:30 finish. I actually got a bit excited but knew there was plenty of running to do. I put myself at the start of the Ogden Striders 10 mile race that I ran this year. I just tried to focus on how I ran it and mocked it.
Mile 17--5:30 I felt great and didnt dare turn around to see what the competition was doing behind me. I was in a race of my life here.
Mile 18--5:33 I caught the 11th guy and passed him and he asked me what place I was in. I didnt want to tell him for fear of him pushing the pace so I told him I didnt know.
Mile 19--5:53 A bit of up hill to sting my legs but I knew what was coming! I did get on of my aided drinks and had place Hammer Heed in it again. I swear this stuff is so good to run with. No sugar taste and I could drink most of it. Which I needed. I also took a gu
Mile 20--5:41 Yeah! some more hill to help my legs move. 20 mile split was 1:55:44.
Mile 21--5:21 Im glad todays weather was to my liking and I properly hydrated during and before my race.
Mile 22--5:48 I was slowing down a bit but didnt get to nervous.
Mile 23--5:41 My last aided elite station. I placed Cytomax in this bottle but forgot a gu so I drank as much as I could of it. I started reeling in #10 guy and was getting excited!
Mile 24--5:40 Finally out of the canyon and into the home stretch. I saw some runners help pacing and pushing the #10 guy and they kept looking back at me and warning him! This really angered me and I found it very unfair. I was fading from him with nothing left in the tank.
Mile 25--5:55 I think I really let this get to my pshychy! I just lost 15 seconds to him. I wondered if I could push the last .75 to see if it was possible to grab him.
Mile 26--6:03 No chance, I was fading and was in a fight to finish. I saw nobody behind me and thats probably why I slowed.
Finish 2:31:43 I did a very good negative split on the last half and was very proud of my time! Estatic! I beat the course record by almost 3 minutes for my age group. However so did 2 others in my age group. Ian was 2:21 and a japanese guy that did a 2:26. So I didnt get to claim it. I learned a lot today. I really can negative split if I can get my pshychy in order. I learned this from Jon Allen who when he gets in a Zone, can accomplish a lot! Very cool! I was a bit disapointed for not hitting 10th. I really feel like this wouldve been a good opportunity with Clyde and Logan Pacing the 3 hour group and Dave's mishap. Now I know I just have to buck up and keep getting focused. I really feel I could break 2:30 now! My second Half was 1:14:03 which was faster than TOU half! I am so excited I did it! 
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