Where everything clicked last year, nothing seemed to click right today. I had major stomach issues at the 9th mile on. I couldn't speed up or my stomach would kill. I even ended up going in my shorts on the run. I dropped my sun glasses at mile 7 wasting time. 2:43:3ish something. For my last marathon for a while or forever I don't think I did too bad. I had to have the determination to push forward when my stomach hurt so bad. It hurt so bad at one point I was crying while running, and that's tough on the ego. Jeff Shadley did awesome at 2:37:22 and should have broke my course record I thought. The weather was perfect to do so. Jeff's a wonderful man and friend. He cares how others are doing, and has such a big heart. Congratulations to the winner of the Pocatello Marathon 2009 "JEFF SHADLEY"! START: My stomach wasn't feeling the greatest from the start, and I've been fighting an ear infection which I still had. I've been on medication for the ear infection since last Thursday. I
wasn't about to tell anyone (other runners on the hill), because I
felt this information was between me and God and I would work through
it fine. I really just didn't feel the best, and my heart wasn't
really into it because of that reason and others. That probably didn't
help from the start, even though my training runs were good all week.
I've had so much to do at work with deadlines that I wasn't even
thinking about the race, and didn't have a real concrete strategy.
My thoughts were elsewhere and clearly not on running. This just
didn't seem the week to run. The night before I was worried, and just
wanted to get the race over with and done. I really didn't have a time
goal either (Jeff really looked focused and ready). My wife and I got up at 4am and we did our daily devotion and read some scriptures. Then I drank some coffee and had half a banana and granola bar, and some pieces of a bagel. Then my wife drove me to the Bus pickup at the Red Lion Hotel entrance.
I got up the Mountain at 5:30 at went to the bathroom (the race starts on Crestview Rd). Then I met Jeff, and his friend has they were stretching and getting ready. I put some Myo Med on and did a little warm up. I took another potty break at the top of the road in my secret place.
MILE SPLITS:
Mile 1; 5:34 (good start)
Mile 2; 5:54 (slowed a bit not to go too fast on the downhill with Jeff)
Mile 3: 5:46 (Good mile just giving what the downhill gave Jeff and I)
Mile 4; 5:55 (Still running, but my ear started bothering me a bit and I was starting to breathe harder).
Mile 5 5:40 (Still the breathing felt weird but didn't affect the mile).
Mile 6: 5:45 (Jeff was starting to pull away, and I told him to not let me hold him back or it could have been before this point. I don't remember).
Mile 7: 5:59 (Jeff was gone, and I dropped my sunglasses and had to go back and pick them up.) (Guy at aid station said Jeff's going after your record better caught up. I yelled back I don't care let it be broken. This really made me mad, because almost all the aids stations were saying this and even people driving. Sometimes it's not fun running in your hometown).
Mile 8: 6:01 (Stomach was starting something here but I was okay).
Mile 9: 6:04 (Stomach started to kill and really knock me like a punch) (took a gel).
Mile 10: 5:45 (Was trying to fight the pain of the belly, and this mile should have been faster).
Mile 11: 5:56 (Backed-off belly was killing me almost putting me in tears).
Mile 12; 5:48 (Went a little in my shorts for some relief).
Mile 13: 6:27 (Said hi to Barry on the blog he was running the half).
Mile 14: 6:09 (Belly was hurting so bad I started crying, but kept running. Very hard to admit put I want to know that I made it, and can always look back at this moment).
Mile 15: 6:23 (started singing "praise God, I love you Jesus). (took a gel)
Mile 16: 6:40 (hurting going up the hill, but legs were fine. The belly just won't help).
Mile 17: 6:46 (Ditto).
Mile 18; 6:36 (Ditto).
Mile 19: 6:31 (Hurting going downhill).
Mile 20: 6:37 (Ditto).
Mile 21: 6:40 (Just doing whatever).
Mile 22: 7:05 (Going up Century hill. Again legs were good). (Sports Beans).
Mile 23: 6:40 (Went in my shorts again... started feeling better).
Mile 24: 6:28 (Feeling better. Thinking maybe I should have just stopped and took a dump)
Mile 25: 6:19 (Feeling good, legs felt fresh)
Mile 26: 6:12 (Again feeling good). I left home pretty much soon after, because my belly was hurting after I stopped. All in All a good race for my heart not being in it and the Stomach problems. The weather was awesome. A very good day for the record of the course to be broken. Congratulations to my buddy Jeff Shadley for shining his talent today. A lot more talent than I have. I'm still not feeling the best today and the stomach still has issues. I think I've caught some type of illness. What a week to get sick before a marathon. Guys please give Jeff a lot of praise he deserves it. He's such a good intelligent person and a great friend.
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