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I am running this race by myself. I tried to get Cole on the waiting list, but I was to late so he didn't get in. I have to run St. George by myself, so I figured..I need to put on my big girl pants and suck it up.
I arrived in time to catch the bus and as I was standing in line a girl in front of me dress for the race was holding hands with a guy that was not dressed for the race. I tapped her on the shoulder and asked "Is this the full marathon bus". She told me it was and she told me it was her first race and she was running it alone (the guy was her husband who stood in line with her at 4AM so she has support...that...is love). I ended up sitting next to her on the bus and we chatted all the way up to the start. Now getting to the start was an adventure. The race was up Big Cottonwood Canyon and as we got within 3 miles of the starting line, we realized there was a big, I mean BIG line of buses. We found out that a bus high centered making a tight corner and now NO buses could get through. The wait would be about 45-60 min. The race was scheduled to start at 6:40AM. The time was 6:15AM. Do you do the math. I had to pee so I got out and found a bush and got back on the bus. I was fine waiting. The bus was warm and our bib had the timing chip so I knew that the race would start when I crossed that starting line. But my new friend was a little anxious with this being her first and was worried about getting to the start. We found out about 10 min later that we could walk about a 1/2 mile and they would start shuttling us up to the starting line. How I don't know since nothing can get by that bus, but okay...lets start walking. Now mind you...I would have walked to the start, but it was all UP hill and we were 3 miles away. I already have to run 26...why add 3 more?
The sun was starting to come up by now and the view was breathtaking. I wish I could have taken pictures but I was anticipating rain so I had wrapped by iPhone in a bag in my arm band that was under all my warm, gear and it would have been a bigger pain to get it out. Trust me..the view was beautiful. We got about a 1/2 mile up from where we left the buses and all of the sudden..a bus came through. Yeah...we don't have to walk. We got up to the start and we started about 45 min after the original start time.
The first 17-18 miles of the race were all down hill. How can you not want to just take off. But since I decided this was just a training run, I needed to make sure I did injury myself. My bus friend told me at the starting line "I am super slow so you don't have to stay with me"-I never saw her again. I did find out she came in about 10 min before me.
The race was beautiful. Again..I wish I could have pulled out my phone to take a picture, but it was to much work. The starting line wasn't very cold and the rain held.....IT DIDN'T RAIN!! The temp was great all the way down the canyon and once we came out of the canyon the humidity hit and it was hot. I was feeling good till about half way when my bowels decided that they were going to protest! Wasted about 20 min dealing with that issue, and even through I wasn't RACING..I was still in racing mode and wanted to do good. I wanted to beat my Ogden Marathon time for sure. I did that race in the rain with little training. I should be able to (and I did...but not by much).
Remember when I said "what is 6 more"? Its 6 more miles on top of the 20 you just ran. Its hard, and it was on the roads in Holiday that had cars on them so it was rough. But I worked through the last few miles and finished out in 4 hours 51 min. I was pretty proud of myself I must say. I was kinda sad I didn't have anyone to see me at the end. It does help to have someone cheer you on at the end, but its all good.
I don't recommend running a marathon and going to a 4 hour football game and then driving home the next day for 8+ hours in a car..but what do you do??
2013 will be the year I ran 3 marathons. I feel lucky I can say that! Up next...St. George! I sure hope all this training helps me beat my 2012 time!
Heck yeah I am proud!!
In my training schedule for the St. George Marathon I needed to run 20 miles this last Saturday (3 weeks before the race). I realized we would be in Salt Lake for the Utah game. Running 18 miles the previous Saturday by myself was hard enough..I knew I would struggle to run 20 miles in Salt Lake where it was scheduled to rain. I knew there was a race the Saturday we were in town and I thought if I did the half, at least I could get 13 miles. But there was also a marathon. I thought to myself...could I? should I? My actual race is 3 weeks away...is this crazy? I need to run 20 miles...what is 6 more to equal the 26 miles of a marathon?
I looked up the race and both the half and marathon where sold out-but you could put yourself on a waiting list. So I did. The next day (1 week before the race) I found out I got into the marathon. I was shocked. I told Stu (he said I was crazy, but also awesome for doing it) and I called my 2 running buddies Liz and Cole to see if I was really crazy. They both told me I was awesome and should do it....so I sign up.
Stu was kind enough to fly Hannah and I to SLC the Friday before the race since he had to work and wouldn't be leaving Reno till 4 or 5PM. That way I could get a good sleep since I had to wake up at 3:30AM race day. The flight was over an hour delayed since it was coming from Salt Lake and the rain was coming down. I kept thinking...why am I flying on Friday the 13th.
We got to preboard and the captain came out and said "what to take a picture". Hannah would not go to him so we took this picture instead. See how Hannah is like..."who is this person"
Hannah and mamma on the plane
