The Expo

The Dogtown 1/2 Marathon was a great event. We picked up our numbers on Friday at the WCC, Washington Community Center and there was a small expo. I had my glucose levels checked and I was low, needed to eat. They were also checking blood pressure, body fat and cholesterol. Zions Way Healing Arts Center was giving massages and Cherie had a booth for UltrAspire, she’s running her first 50k soon, Chuckanut 50k! There was a giant touch screen TV that played the entire course from google earth view. And after it ended the presenter asked if my boys know Angry Birds. So they got to try it. Just a little bigger then the iPad. Afterwards, I got the boys churros from the snack bar. You can see the pool from the snack bar area and there was a lot of people swimming, Connor was upset we didn’t go in the pool. I think we will be visiting this place a lot this summer.

Here’s everything we got in the Wal-Mart bag. Instead of the usual shirt we got running shorts! This is the back. I thought it was a typo on the entry form when it said shorts instead of shirt size. lol. And I loved my number too.

The Race

I finished:

• 1:46:15 – 8:07 pace (in reality 12.9 miles = 8:15 pace) PR PR PR PR!!!
• 127/405 o/a (last year 288 entries)
• 13/52 women 30-34
• 37/202 all women

The event has a half marathon – point to point, and a 9K/5k out & back from the finish area. There were buses at the finish to take us to the start in Coral Canyon. Depending on your number you were to load the bus at 7:15 – 7:50 in 5 min increments. My bus was at 7:20. I got up at 5:45, got ready, had oatmeal and left my house at 6:45 and got on the bus at 7:20. Well… It didn’t matter what bus you loaded, they wanted the front buses filled before they left. I switched to the front bus and we left at 8:05. I could have slept in another 45 minutes!

It was 28 degrees when I left my house and probably 40 at the start at 9:am. I took off my jacket and wore arm sleeves and gloves. I dropped off my awesome 31 pink bag. They said any items left throughout the course will be donated. Really? No box at the water stations? They had white trash bags you could write your number on to leave your items. At the finish I found my bag instantly.

Rachel on the left also trains with Aimee. She looks so cute and she ran the 10 miler last weekend too. (wearing the arm warmers from that race goodie bag). I’ve also been wanting to buy those pink socks, they’re the perfect pink! Trisha on the right won her class. She beat me by 10 minutes. I loved her arm warmers too. I think she got them at the NYC marathon.

Shannon and I just before the start during the National Anthem.

At about 9:05 we started. We all ran a few feet and were forced on this trail. They said we were supposed to stay on the trail. Well…it was so crowded and people were going to slow. Some people hopped into the street and after a mile or so it thinned out. We ran through Coral Canyon and crossed Telegraph and headed towards the dump up a little hill and then turned right and headed to Hells Canyon. The first mile was a little fast. 7:47!!!! My goal was an 8:30 pace. The first four mile were downhill then it flattens out and a few hills. My next three miles were really fast, 8:03, 7:53, 7:51. I was really hoping I would still have energy at the end. But Shannon was doing it too and I felt good. I loved running through the canyon and along the Virgin River. Which is also the Hell Hole 5k/10k course in May, where I love to dress up like a devil. (See recap here.) This is where Brook left us. Go Brooke! I should have taken more pictures. But remember those paces??

I took a Clif Bar gel 35 min in. Never had it before. It was cherry and not bad. I really love the gel now. It goes down so fast! Way better than the chomps or shot bloks. I did have shot bloks just incase I couldn’t do the gel. We leave the canyon and run on a small section of dirt before we get to the Washington Dam Rd. This road is a little long with an incline, my hip flexers were starting to hurt and feel tight. I was thinking it’s because I was going to fast the first 6 miles. Shannon seemed strong here. I tried to talk a little to make the time pass. I was amazed I could talk at all! I was also amazed how fast the first 6 miles went. Once we got to the downside of that hill my legs/hips felt much better! Shannon picked it up and I followed, I needed to get my legs moving again. That was mile 6-7 8:49 pace.

I took another gel. This time Honey Stinger Banana flavor. I didn’t like this at all. It tasted like honey and really sweet. I don’t like honey because it is too sweet. This time it reminded me of when you’re at the dentist getting your teeth cleaned. I did finish it though. Then we turned on to Washington Fields Rd and we had another hill. My legs didn’t bother me this time. But I got a rock stuck in my shoe or something and stopped for a second to check. Then I caught back up to Shannon. We could see Brooke at the top of the hill, wishing I was there already. Then the road narrows. I was telling Shannon how nice it was only 4 miles to go. We ran this course plus 4 miles 3 weeks ago and it was nice to only do 13.1. Is that the trick? Run the race course +more miles to make the race seem shorter?? I’m sure if I wasn’t training for a full marathon I’d be 10 minutes slower.

Then we turned left on Majestic. Shannon said it’s the last hill, let’s go. I wasn’t as excited. I ran for a while and almost to the top I took a short walk break. I was so tired of the hill. But then I ran again, we turned right and there was still more hill! Ahhh, I walked again for short time. But then started running. Then there was a fun little downhill section and I caught back up to Shannon.

So two miles to go and I took another gel. I grabbed it at the last water stop, otherwise I only had bloks. It was GU vanilla and tasted okay. I was thinking I like the smell of vanilla better than eating it. Like a car scent or candle. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take this fuel or not with only 2 miles, but thought it might help me not fade. I never looked at my watch like I usually do. I mostly had it on the clock so I would know when to take food. Fuel every 30 minutes is the goal. I was trying to run what felt good rather than look and think I’m going to fast. Seeing a 7 freaks me out. I don’t really want to crawl over the finish line.

I saw the 1.1. mile sign left and I was excited. I put both earphones in instead of one and turned up the music for the last .5 mile. Shannon said she was yelling for me to go. I wasn’t in love with the turns at the very end- right, left, right, right into park parking lot. I passed a guy just before the last stretch and then he flew by me. I couldn’t believe how fast he went! I’m usually the one who likes to sprint, and I thought I was, 6:3ish pace to the finish. I stopped my watch. I never saw the clock. It was way behind the finish and it was kinda dark led tv with blue numbers on black. I turned around and Brooke and I were cheering for Shannon and she finished right after me.

I was like where is the food?? Need it now. I had an orange and chocolate milk. Every since Vegas, I’m afraid if I don’t eat right away I’ll get sick. There was also bread and bananas. And it’s so nice to have real bathrooms. But there were also port-o-potties.

The finish is at Treasure Valley Park in Washington. It was perfect for the family’s and kids. I wished my husband was home. He was in Mesquite working at a WORCS race. And my awesome neighbor, Grandma June was watching the boys.

Here are the medals. I love it! Maybe it should have the date?? Connor wore it all day. lol. On the back it said 1Law, a main sponsor. I stretched a little, chatted a little and went home. Driving home I saw a ton of road bikes. There was a big event called Bike 2 Bike. I went home, had a peanut butter and banana sandwich. After sitting on the couch for a while my legs were starting to ache and it was so beautiful outside. I asked the kids if they wanted to go get free ice-cream and go to the park. (I still have free Frosty coupons from Halloween) Well since they refused to nap earlier, they fell asleep in 3 minutes. So I decided to drive to town. I ordered a Texas Roadhouse salad to go. Drove back to Hurricane got a couple happy meals and they woke up at the park. They slept just over an hour. Perfect! Well at the park was the finish for the bike ride. That was great because TR didn’t give me a fork and there was a feast for all the bikers- so I got a fork.

I always try to finish my last mile strong. I thought I did pretty good. I actually didn’t think I was going that fast at all. Last week the 10 mile race seemed so hard. Maybe because my legs were tired from the 18 miles the previous weekend? But then I was a little worried my legs might be tired for this race from the 10 mile race. But I felt pretty good! Trisha said some of her friends went to go run some more miles after the race! I thought that’s crazy. But I think I could have done a few miles too. Maybe that’s easier said then done. lol Maybe if I didn’t walk I would have finished in 1:45. Maybe if I knew I was close to 1:45 I would have run harder at the end. I need to figure out what setting will work best on my watch to look at. Right now on the first screen I have current pace- big, distance, and avg pace. What do you look at? Maybe I should look at lap pace?

I’m really excited to (hopefully) run the Bryce Canyon 1/2 now. I wonder if I could do it under a 7:59 pace??  I’m sure my quads will hate me after. But camping with the family was so much fun! The kids rode their bikes, the hubby’s went mtn bike riding, the girls ran and we hiked a couple trails after the run. The trails were stroller friendly and fit on the shuttle. Hopefully we can do it this year! It’s also only $35 dollars!! And you get an awesome medal, course and views. Hello! $35!! lol Last years recap.

What I didn’t love about the race: Getting to the park so early when we left 45 minutes after they said we would leave. Washington City put on the race. And on their FB page you can’t post on their wall with any questions. The Dogtown website doesn’t tell you very much information. Just a map and start time. Nothing about shuttles or even when to pick up your number. I have to find a sitter and knowing this stuff ahead of time helps. But that’s not much to complain about.  Am I too picky??

I loved the race overall. I loved the course and everyone was so nice. Can’t wait to do it next year!  I was also happy nothing hurt bad after.  My shoes felt great!  My feet and ankles felt fine.  Maybe I shouldn’t run in compression socks like I usually do? Hmm.  But, after I ate a chicken salad around 5 my stomach started to cramp and hurt for about 3 hours.  Not sure why.  And the next day my quads are a little sore.

Shannon and I after the run. Enjoying our PRs.

This is at the park in Hurricane at the end of the day.

Thanks for reading!

Amber

PS. I’m still waiting for the race day photos. One photographer gave me high-five.