Ahh and it's all over just like that. This week has gone by so slowly and now today I think did I really run a marathon yesterday? I am happy though! I PR'd by 14 minutes. Yahoo!
I got to st george around 5 and picked up my packet. We just hung out at my sister's and made posters. I went to bed around 11 and slept great until 2:30 when I had to go to the bathroom. Couldn't go back to sleep so I got ready and made it on the 4 am bus. I didn't win any prizes though. :( I got to the start and laid down by a fire and relaxed. I looked for anyone I knew, but couldn't find anyone until finally at the start Rachelle found me. I was so happy to see a familiar face. I was wishing I was in the elite corral when I saw all the people trying to crowd to the front. I could see the 3:05 pacer, but b/c of the people I could not get to him before the race gun even went off. The start of the race was awful! It wasn't until almost 2 miles that I could finally run without dodging in and out of people. So frustrating that the slower people try to start up so close to the front. I finally caught the 3:05 pace group and ran with them for a while, but I kept checking my watching thinking they were going too slow to make it at 3:05, so I passed them. Later I found out he came in at 3:08. I think they passed me during my only bathroom break at 17 I think. The race is a bit of a blur now. All of the miles seemed to have blended into one, but I'll do my best to remember it. ;)
Mile 1 - 7.22 2 - 6.59 3 - 6.36 - first 3 miles I didn't feel that great. I felt slow & sluggish.
4 - 6.35 - around 4 or 5 I found my groove.
5 - 6.52 - took a gu
6 - 6.31 7 - 6.34 8 - 7.51 Veyo - tried to take it nice & slow. It wasn't that bad b/c I knew it was coming.
9 -7.28 - after veyo I couldn't quite get my legs to turn over fast again.
10 -7.22 11 -7.34 - took a gu
12 -7.22
13 -6.59 - was excited to reach the 1/2 way point!
14 -7.23 15 -6.51 - saw Josse around here I think. It was so fun to see her! She gave me a bost of energy. I saw here again with a half mile left and I wasn't looking so speedy then, but still happy to see a familiar face.
16 -6.42 - got worried after this mile b/c of the hanson brooks training sue & I did. our long runs were 16 miles so I was hoping I could pull 10 more miles out of somewhere.
17 -6.55 - took a gu and potty break. This is where the 3:05 pacers passed me I think.
18 -7.23 - hit the wall here. it was an unfortunate event. ;) I started the old this sucks, why am I doing this and just like that I thought it's mile 18 I'm bonking. So I just had to keep telling myself everyone goes though this and to just keep going.
19 -7.41 20 -7.31 21 -7.16 - I thought I might see my family here. So I tried to speed up just to see them and get some energy from them, but they weren't there. I figured they might not be just because of wanting to see the finish line more and not making it there in time.
22 -7.51 - both this mile & 24 I had to find innocent spectators and beg for water. I was THIRSTY and couldn't make it to the next mile. So my water begging slowed me a little.
23 -7.51 - really wanted to give up for the last 5k and just walk. But I told myself no matter how slow I go just don't walk.
24 -7.36 - ate a popsicle that a cute little family was handing out.
25 -8.03 - ate a bag of ice from the aid station
26 - 8.06 - just seemed like the longest mile ever.
.2 - 1.40 - FINALLY saw my family and a huge burst of energy. They were so cute and I hate the picture of me and my "spirit fingers" I was just actually waving really really big. ;) My husband said I looked to happy to have run a marathon and thought I should have been running faster. ha if only he knew how lucky I was to be going that pace.
I stayed under the sprayers for a long time and got all drenched. I was hoping my garmin & ipod would not be broken because of this. All seems to be well there. I then got ice rubbed all over my legs. I drank a couple diet cokes and ate some chocolate ice cream and found my family to enjoy some in & out burgers.
So as far as Hanson Brooks vs Hal Higdon training I think a combo of both is good. Hanson brooks definitely helped with my speed, but I felt like I almost needed the confidence that a few 20 milers can bring to you. All in all a good race and a fun weekend. Super sore today though. I'm not a fan of stairs and toilets.
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