Okay, it only took me more then a week to write this. You know, having a 2 & 4 year old keep me busy. And I just signed Evan up for Soccer so I’m really excited. And I’m training for a FULL marathon. This takes up a lot of time. 
 

Quick stats: PR’d with a time of 1:53:34. That is an average pace of 8:40/mile.  
 
Rain. It hasn’t rained all winter, but since we have a race of course it’s going to rain. BUT, it wasn’t cold or windy and didn’t rain that hard while I was running- so it was great weather actually. My neighbor Michelle was running the 5k, her first race since having her baby almost 3 months ago. So we carpooled while her husband watched all 6 kids. THANKS Todd! 
 

The race started at the Dixie center. I think we got there around 8:am. The 5k starts at 8:50 and the half starts at 9:am. It was raining when we got there so we went inside the Dixie center and got in line for the bathrooms and stretched a tiny bit. We went outside and ran under the bridge and I saw another bathroom. So I went again. It was nice not using port-o-potties, but there were some if you wanted to wait for one in the rain. Michelle went to line up and I waited under the bridge staying dry. I ran a tiny bit back and forth. I’m pretty sure I did not warm up enough.
After the 5k’ers took off I went to line up. I met some guys from Vegas. They even took a picture with me. I helped one guy with his watch since it was same Garmin 405 as mine. I saw Tricia Baird up in the front, said hi and then scooted back a little. They had a countdown and we were off.  
 
I started running, a little too fast, slowed a bit. I saw Aimee pass me and I just tried to keep my pace and not go too fast the first mile. I saw the 5kers along the path heading back to the finish and I was looking for Michelle and just as I was about to give up looking I heard her calling me. Then I saw the 5k turn and thought maybe I should just turn and finish, but then I was running way to slow for a 5k, so I kept going straight. lol 
 
We went to River Road and and a patriotic guy was about to pass me, but on the uphill I passed him back. I found out he was 74 years old and finished just 3 minutes after me. I hope when I’m that age I can still run like that.  
 

I kept running up the hills and down and couldn’t wait to see mile 7 because I knew that was the last hill. And when we turned right on that last hill I thought oh it’s so long! So I told myself not to look up, I just looked at the ground so it wouldn’t be so far. It didn’t look like it was going to rain hard, so I took off my jacket. I was tempted to throw it to the water station but kept it just incase of a downpour.
I was doing really good about eating every 30 minutes, which has helped me tremendously. And I took 3 anti-fatigue pills before we started and took one an hour in. I only drink water. Not sure if I need to change that a bit, especially for the full marathon coming up. I used to eat at mile 6 or 7. No wonder I was dying at every race. I need to like GU though, eating the Shot Blocks takes so long! 
 
At mile 8 we started on a trail for the rest of the race. It was nice. I didn’t really talk that much to people. It was hard enough running at that pace. I listened to my iPod and kept thinking I haven’t walked yet! At the last water station it was a 180 degree turn and I walked for about 10 seconds around the turn and drank some water. Then I saw mile 12 and thought I should run faster- only 1 mile left! I was running about an 8 min mile and thought maybe that’s too fast too soon, but there was a girl in front of me (with a bigger butt) and I really wanted to pass her, she was running with a guy. Then this girl that was cheering said, “go girl in pink, get that girl!” So after following her forever- I saw the end coming and picked it up, I finally passed her, then I heard Tricia cheering for me- since she finished way before me, so I went faster, then Aimee was yelling for me and started running ahead of me and told me to go faster and finish with the clock still saying 1:53. And I did! That last little bit I past a ton of people sprinting to the end. Though with chip timing who knows where people really finish overall, but it’s fun to sprint at the end and pass someone. But right after I was so done!  
 
They handed me my medal- But I had to take a double look because it weighed nothing- oh because it wasn’t medal, it was rubber- but I liked it. Then I definitely wanted to eat something because I did not want a repeat of the Vegas race. (getting sick). I got some chocolate milk, because everyone brags about drinking that after, though I don’t think I’ve ever drank cold chocolate milk before, just have never liked it. And then I got a Texas Roadhouse roll with their butter. Ohhh that was so good!! And I loved the chocolate milk too! I also never had a cramp or side-stitch. This was the first race I didn’t get one! And I know it’s because of Aimee and speed work.  
 
Michelle saw me finish and then after I ate it started raining pretty hard. We decided to just leave. I know I didn’t win. haha. And results will be posted online.  
 
My original goal was to try and stay with the 1:50 pacers. Well at mile 7 I couldn’t stay with them up the hill. So then I kept thinking about the 1:55 pacers. I really didn’t want them passing me. So that was on my mind the whole time. lol. Then my other goal was to try and keep every mile under 9 minutes. Well after one of the hills I thought, well that’s out the door. But after looking at my splits I was so close! 
 
I really enjoyed the race. I loved the challenge of the hills, they didn’t seem as bad as when I drove the first eight miles the day before. I loved finishing strong. And I loved getting a PR! Since I beat my Bryce Canyon time- which is a fast downhill course. It’s nice to know that I’m improving. I wonder what my time for Bryce would be now? My next race is a 10 miler, the Dam to Dam at Sand Hollow. I did the 5 miler last year and had a great time, in the rain as well. Then I have the Sand Hollow Marathon 3/31/12.  
 
Here’s some pics from the photo people.  
Thanks for reading! Sorry it took so long….