You all know I'll be back with more to say but here is the short version. 3:12:36, 7:20 pace.
Negative Split!
Great day for me!
Very happy with my time!
Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for all of the support!
Whoa Nelly where to start. First I must say I LOVE this course. Love it!! It is where I got my BQ last year and I was so excited to run it again.
Met up with my friend Julia at the buses. We got to the top around 5:35am. Perfect! Quick potty stop and then time to line up. I did not have time to warmup but that was fine I had 26.2 miles to get a warmup in. I lined up next to the 3:15 pacer. Toni was pacing. I know him and know he has a tendency to go out too fast. I talked to him about his plan and he said he would even split. I decided I would plan to stick with him and see how it goes.
Mile 1: 7:40 I was very confused because there was no mat to cross and I didn't even realize the race had started. oops! Started the Garmin about 15 seconds late and then started jogging. Meh whatever it's a long race and I'll catch up that time later. No big deal!
Mile 2: 6:52, this was dumb but I was working to catch up to my "pacer"! Saw this mile click and realized I would be pacing my own race.
Mile 3: 7:03 a little faster than my plan but it feels stupid easy. Also the 3:30 and 3:25 pacer were way in front of me. What the heck? I know it's just mental but it was bugging me.
Mile 4: 7:12 just grooving along barely breathing. Met up with the owner of Fleet Feet and we ran together until mile 7. Nice guy!
Mile 5: 7:18 passed the 3:25 pacer here.
Mile 6: 7:20
Mile 7: 7:14 still grooving along enjoying the scenary and the moment and mentally preparing for the hills.
Mile 8: 7:39 I was definitely feeling the headwind here and very worried about the next 11 miles down the canyon. Oh well I wasn't going to let it get me down. Effort felt good on the first hill.
Mile 9: 7:45 Hill #2. Felt incredibly strong going up all of the hills. I think running up Nebo every weekend really paid huge dividends today.
Mile 10: 7:22 this mile is downhill but it is also where I really noticed the wind. I met a girl Allison! She was sweet and had just run Provo marathon in 3:17. She was going for 3:10 or something so I figured I was safe to hang with her for awhile.
Mile 11: 7:27 Saw the 3:15 pacer about 100 meters ahead and told Allison we should try to catch up to him (he is tall) and draft for awhile.
Mile 12: 7:58 Not really sure why this mile is so slow? I was just trying to hang with Allison and Christy that I ran into. Christy almost always beats me in my AG at races so I knew she was a strong runner. I did not want to pass her and have her pass me back (this has happened too many times!) We were also chatting up a storm which was a nice distraction from the headwind. Me and my big mouth!
Mile 13: 7:23 finally realized I was going to have to let Christi and Allison go. I felt good and they were slowing. I saw Kelli about .25 mi ahead puking on the side of the road. Oh no, oh no!! I was so sad for her. Passed her at the aid station and tried to encourage her
Half time: 1:37? This is a guess as results have not been posted yet but based on the fact I hit mile 13 at 1:36:12 I think it's a pretty good guess.
Mile 14: 7:16 Running by myself now and trying to draft off of taller guys whenever I can. I really suck at drafting! I'm too dang impatient! My Garmin lost Satellite here which was awesome because I hardly looked at it again the entire race.
Mile 15: 7:16 still just cruising down the canyon. Trying to draft but sucking at it because everyone is slowing and I cannot find anyone that is my pace.
Mile 16: 7:39 Hill + headwind. Tough mile but I knew once I conquered it it was all smooth sailing. Goal was to be at 2 hours and I hit 16 at 1:58:22.
Mile 17: 7:37 Not sure why this mile is so slow. Headwind? Again I wasn't obsessing about pace and the effort felt right.
Mile 18: 7:15
Mile 19: 7:06 Cam was planning to meet me at mile 20 and I was in shock that I was already that far. I started to get excited.
Mile 20: 7:22 Yay there is Cam! We talked and caught up for a minute. He was an AWESOME pacer! I cannot thank him enough. He told me to only talk if I wanted to and that he would talk if I wanted him to. He had Gu and a salt tab ready for me. Awesome!
Mile 21: 6:59 I see my parents and my sister cheering!! Adrenaline is pumping. Yay, yay, yay! My sister joins me and Cam on the bike with my hydration pack and plenty of Gatorade. Random side story: My sister is pregnant and my hydration pack wouldn't fit around her waist so she was wearing it above her belly and right below her boobs. Holy hilarious! I was dying laughing.
Mile 22: 7:04 me and my personal team are cruising along. Cam on my right, Sister on the bike on my left. Just enjoying the moment.
Mile 23: 7:12 :) It hurts but whatever I'm almost done. This is freaking fun! My sister passed me Gatorade whenever I want it and Cam grabbed me water at all of the aid stations to drink and dump on my head. I think this is where I saw Smooth and that was a huge mental boost!
Mile 24: 7:23 Last hill is finished!! I felt strong running up the hill and was passing marathoners, half marathoners, who even knows. I was passing a lot of people and that felt good! There was a guy I was eyeing in front of me and a girl about .25 mi ahead of him I could tell was a marathon.
Mile 25: 7:05 caught the guy and just kept on cruising. Big ole smile on my face. Cam and my sister Amber cheering for me the entire time.
Mile 26: 6:58 Tried to stop to get water and Cam threw the smack down (thanks so much Cam!) "Water is not going to do you any good at this point you only have 1 mile to go" Push it, push it, push it! Passed the girl we had been chasing down and then Amber and Cam both left me on my own to finish.
Kick: 6:27 I see Josse and she is cheering and runs with me for a second. She tells me to calm my breathing. Thanks Josse! I honestly think I was just so excited I could not control anything! I look up at the clock and see 3:15? That is weird I know I am faster. oh well just run hard. Stop my garmin and see 3:12!!!! WHAT? So so very happy!
After Math: I still have things I need to work on and room for improvement. I am incapable of drinking from a paper cup while running and that slows me down when I have to stop to drink and then get going again. I also need to learn to draft, and learn to not let it get in my head when slower pacers are in front of me. I am smart, I do not need a pacer, I can run my own race! That said I am beyond thrilled with the way I ran today. This is my first time ever negative splitting a marathon and it feels so good. I felt strong the entire time and am excited to see what my future holds. Even now as I sit here icing my sore calfs I can't help but smile. :) Today's race was a great reminder of why I train hard and why I love running!
I placed 1st in my age group so my parents were kind enough to wait around with me until the awards ceremony. Major congratulations to everyone that raced today. Awesome performances, despite less than ideal conditions by so many FBR'ers!
Quick Nutrition Note: I took in 100 grams carbs/roughly400 calories before the race. 1 salt tab before the start and 2 during the race at 90 minutes and then again at mile 21. I drank an almost full cup of gatorade at every aid station except the first, and took 3 gels at miles 9, 15, and 21. I feel like nutritionally I was right on point today. | 