OK, full report now must be written, I have been dragging my feet. I made the race distance 26.4 because it seems that is around what most people ran---or more (I polled here and on FB). I wanted it to reflect my actual pace and, dang it, I ran 26.4 miles.
The week leading in to the race was awful, so many things went wrong and I was sick all week. SO, I decided that meant the race would be good. Won't say much about all of the before stuff aside from the not so great dinner with GREAT company (Tyler, Kellie, and the two Heidi's, as well as my husband) and the very good ice cream that I actually had to force down. Food just was not sitting right, but any time I do not have ice cream I race poorly! It had to be done. Morning of the race was good. I only slept about an hour, very sick to my stomach. Could not eat at all, although I held on to a bagel for over an hour. Met a bunch of people in the Marriott lobby and walked over with them and then hopped on the buses. Was happy to chat with Smooth and Rachel and Toby and Andrea and Heidi (poor girl had to listen to my non-stop talk the entire way up because she was right across from me). Scott slept next to me, wish I had his ability to sleep anytime, anywhere. Camped out at the bus unloading zone waiting for my iPod to arrive. I accidentally left it at home so I had a neighbor break in to my house to get it for me. I called everyone I could think of and found one person who had not left yet---Emily (friend from the rec center). I was not sure how I was going to find her amongst 2,000 people, but I had faith. She was on one of the last buses, I was starting to panic. I did like the fact that I got to see almost everyone I knew while I waited, but I was cold!! Thanks Rachel for helping me find her and being cold with me. ;o) After my iPod arrived, I got right over to the potty line. And dang, they were long. We only had about 15 minutes to race time, and I knew I was either not going to make it or just barely. Poor Teena and Andrea and everyone around me had to listen to me whine about the fact that I was going to pee my pants if the line did not get moving. Anyway, got in and out and made it to the start in time to hear the 10 second count down. There was no pushing my way up at all, I was in the back. AGAIN. I really do not mind, BUT I know it makes me work harder to get through people. I think I run faster than I should and all over the road just trying to get to the right pace group. Oh well, it seems I will never learn on this point. What can I say, I ALWAYS have to pee. I have had 5 kids!!!! The only goal I had made for the race was to try to get to the half at 1:32 and then go from there. I was hoping for around a 3:10---a little better if things went right and hopefully no slower than a 3:15.
To the RACE: Mile 1-7:02 Should have been a bit faster, but weaving as always. I was actually surprised with that big of a race how easily I was getting through people. I had to run in the dirt a lot and was constantly asking to get through people, but it all worked out. Mile 2-6:36 I was actually still working on getting through the crowds, but people were more spread out so I would sprint through people and then slow, and then sprint and slow. Definitely working too hard for mile 2. One exciting thing, I went off into the ditch to pass a group and I slipped in deer guts! Luckily I did not fall, but man that would have been disgusting if I had. Mile3-6:32 Too fast. Again, I will never learn. Mile 4-6:38 Still thinking I am going too fast, but going anyway. ;o)
Mile 5-6:49 At this point I felt like I was actually easing in to the correct pace. Before this, I felt like I was working too hard. But, I always get carried away at the beginning. I finally ditched my long sleeve shirt here.
Mile 6-6:49 I think this is where I saw Fly on the Wall and his great Hawaiian
shirt. I figured we would be having a St George repeat where we traded
off every few miles. Maybe this is even the mile I saw Paul?? Not sure.
Mile 7-6:54 Nothing eventful, enjoying the scenery.
Mile 8-6:58 I believe this is where Kam said HI and smiled, just like I asked. And then he caught up to me and ran with me for a bit. It was good to have company and his wise words after listening to me say, "I think I might have be going too fast." It was also nice to talk to someone who knew the course and could give me some quick tips. THANKS Kam. Mile 9-7:06 Mile 10-6:59 During this mile my tummy started to gurgle and make me very nervous. I saw Britta ahead of me and she is like my running idol. She is a phenomenal ultra runner, she won the Pony Express 50. I had not seen any women runners in a while so it made me smile. I slowly caught up to and passed her at about 10.5. But then my stomach got very upset with me. I am actually surprised with this split because I had to physically slow myself down to avoid a very embarrassing mishap. Mile 11-8:18 YEP, I had to stop at the very start of this mile. And YEP, it was not fast and efficient. I was very annoyed, but it is just part of the game. Sometimes your tunny rebels. DANG. I think I ran TOO hard after this potty stop and had to remind myself to slow down, I was not even half way there. But I was trying so hard to catch back up.
Mile 12-6:51 By the end of this mile, I had caught everyone and was back in the same place as before the potty stop. I was frustrated and thinking about how many other people I could have passed and where I could have been had I not had to stop. I got very negative at this point. So, I did what I had promised to do and I RAN FOR AMY!!! All I had to do was think about her, which I did a lot for the remainder of the race, and I was just thankful to be there and be running. THANKS AMY! Mile 13-7:08 I think I was paying for the last 2 miles of trying to "catch up." I got a little tired and slowed some. Oh well, I guess it all evens out. Took my first gel and drink of water.
HALF WAY: 1:32:02 Nearly perfect. My avg pace said 6:59. ;o) Very pleased at this point but I did have to knock out the "what if" thoughts that crept in. I tell you, while you sit in a porta potty and see your watch lose 8 seconds on your average pace, it messes with your head. Mile 14-7:09 Not bad with the start of the hill, right? I think this is where it was. Mile 15-7:17 Or maybe more of it was in this mile? I can not remember. Mile 16-7:06 Mile 17-7:08 Another gel and drink of water. I dumped a cup on my head at this point, it was getting hotter. Brrr, it kind of took my breath away for a second. One of Kellie's friends, Heidi, was waiting at this point to run with their other friend Heidi and she ran with me for a second. She was sweet and encouraging, I think all I really said was, "I am getting tired! I am not mentally tough, if you knew what my head was saying right now, you would believe me!!!"
Mile 18-6:52 Dreaded downhill. Ouch. Mile 19-7:04 Mile 20-7:12 Gel and gatorade, had trouble getting the gel opened and asked one of the water girls to help me. All in all, it is just a few seconds, but it annoys me when I am so stupid. Mile 21-7:03 Mile 22-6:59 Mile 23-6:52 Starting to get really tired and annoyed with everyone yelling that I was almost there. I am NOT almost there!!! I did love all the people cheering for me like they had not seen a girl in a long time! I got a lot of that from the walkers in the 1/2 and the spectators. It made me smile. Mile 24-7:16 Gel and water again. I completely stopped to suck down the gel, I tried to do it while running and it was making me gag. I had to really choke it down. Again, it cost me just a few seconds, but nonetheless annoying. Mile 25-7:07 I GOT PASSED BY A GIRL!!! I tried to tell myself it was no big deal, but it bothered me. I hung on to her for the rest of the mile, but she was inching away ever so slowly. Right as she passed me, this guy on a bike cheered her on and gave her a thumbs up. I wanted to knock him out!
Mile 26-7:20 Had a bit of a mental breakdown at the start of the mile. I noticed my garmin was off at the mile marker by .2 and knew I would have to run for an extra minute or so. Amazing how much that annoyed me. That darn female really took off at this point and I wondered where she was getting her energy. I just wanted to quit. Really? Quit in the last mile?? YEP. .4-2:34 (6:33 pace) When my garmin hit 26, I pulled out of my cry-baby mode and RAN. Wish I had had it in me to do a little more of that in mile 26. Finish time-3:05:47 It was a PR by about a minute and faster than I had thought I could run. And i was not too much slower on the second half. So, it was a GOOD day. I chatted with a few people and drank a bazillion little diet cokes while I waited for Scott. He came in at 3:30 according to plan. His hamstring held up ok so hopefully he can race UVM. Waited around to watch the awards. Chatted with quite a few people. The woman who passed me at the end was actually about 2 minutes behind me chip time. ;o) Got sick of waiting for age group awards and wanted to make it home in time for soccer games (missed one, saw 3). Rachel picked mine up for me. Technically I was 2nd in my age group since the 3rd place woman is 36.
My achilles is swollen to about twice its size and has a big bump at the bottom BUT it never once bothered me while running. My quads and calves are killing me, that downhill takes a toll. I actually liked the course a lot more than I did when I ran it in 2009. It is beautiful, I made sure to actually pay attention this time around! NOW, we must prepare for Utah Valley. I plan to take it a little easier. ;o) This was the race, that will be a run. QUESTION for those who know the course: on your race results you can see your pace throughout the race (I think it is at all of the relay exchange points). I looked at the top 10 women and every single one of us had our slowest paces from 18-23. WHY??? This is the most downhill section. I KNOW I am awful at downhill so I would expect it on mine, but it was the case with everyone. Just curious what others think about that.
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