Is this the same race that I LOVED last year? Oh, how one year can make a differance!!  Last year I ran it in 5:23 and felt like a million bucks at the finish line. This year every step was painful and I did it in 6:07. I still enjoyed it, but it has sure got me thinking!! Thank goodness for Gary and for an early start. Gary and I got off the bus and started walking, we had fun having the road to ourself and laughing to all the aid stations and the cops that we were the first place runners. No one seemed concerned! It was a beautiful day, I enjoyed the scenery and Gary's company. We saw the first place runners zip by us at almost the 10 mile mark. Scott was the first person I recognized, but he was past me so quickly I dare not yell at him and have him break his stride. Then I was looking for Kelli, I would have never missed the dark curly haired cutie, and sure enough at about the 12 1/2 point she zipped by and gave me a sweet little greeting , she looked also very strong and focused. AT a about mile 15 some said "are you Leslie?" and it was Lori Metcalf!!! How fun is this to know all these awesome runners. My hubby and Ernie were at mile 17, the dam crossing, to take pictures, I will see if he can down load it on my blog later At this point Gary took off not to be seen again until the fiinish line. Running down the canyon, I am not sure just where, this little yellow and black bumble bee pasted me, I thought to myself that could be Smooths double, but I found out later it was HER!! I can't wait to read her race report. I limped thru the rest of the race, I had way to many motrin and nothing seemed to help. I had no juice left to finish strong, just dragged my tired exhausted fanny over the finish line, like a worn out old woman.
I sat with Gary on the grass and he looked like he had just run a 5K and was feeling chipper, I sat there and ate a creamie and saw Smooth and Kelli, but by the time I got my crippled body off the grass to go say hello they were gone, then Kelli popped back into the picture and I got to chat with her for a few minutes. She told me about Scott's race, you need to read Kelli's blog for the details, but that was very disapointing.
Met up with Harold and Gary and Ernie and ate lunch at Roosters, came home and showered and slept. I can not believe no race reports are out yet. My two oldest children called me, and my son told me to stay away from the road races and get back on the trails. This race was nasty for me, mean to the core, and I am considering not doing UVM and Park City and just doing trails and then St. George, St. George is an absolute must until I die. This will be year number 13 and DNFED in the storm last year, so I need to redeem myself.
Time to really focus after a week off! And I have to drop 10 pounds, I was up 6 pounds since TOU last year, and I know that is part of the problem, I am way to heavy. If I can get 10 pounds off by UVM and feel like I have increased my fitness level some, I may give it a try, but I am keeping my options open. Oh, and the 50 miler???? Holy cow!!! I really need to rethink that one!!!! Who do I think I am fooling??
This was tougher than most marathons for me. I have now 3 super slow "over 6 hour marathons" now and this is one of them, but I also have 17 marathons under my belt and am happy I can still run ( or hobble or waddle or whatever the heck you want to call it!) The crazy thing is I still love it pain and all!!! It was a fun day!!! Thanks Gary and Ernie and Harold for your undying support!!! I love you guys!!! | 