Race start is 7am. Stayed at Fairfield Inn by the airport. Got to the Gateway trax station at 5:33, saw the prior tram take off. Waited about 19 minutes for the next one. That is a crazy wait for a race morning where thousands of people are relying on this transportation. That's pretty much my only complaint (ok one more, the course was just a tad short). Got to the race start at 6:22, after many stops where the tram was too crowded for waiting racers to get on. It was so sad, and I was sitting next to the window, just seeing them. Apparently there was a tram right behind us with more room. I warmed up 2.7, and found my very own Narnia just .3 miles from the race start, by the field on the fort, with noone else using it. The pots by the start were ridiculous, so this was quite a find. At the start was Allie Scott, a woman named Katherine who got third last year to Lindsay and Nan at Hobblecreek, and Julie Thomas, so a good group of ladies. Race started just about 5 minutes late. The mile markers were all dead on (the ones I saw and checked, though I just let my GPS run) except the first one, which was about .06 off, so all were .06ish off from then on out. Allie said they should have started the half a stretch back from where they did. Splits were by gps: 1 - 6:05, flat and downhill, about in fifth place, Allie and I are together 2 - 6:16, flat and downhill, I think Allie pulls a tad ahead by the end of this mile. My legs are feeling much fresher than my last race, no achiness, I am feeling hopeful. 3 - 6:00, 4 - 6:02, 5 - 6:23, have a 180 turn here and can see the competition. I am in third at this point, and Allie is in first, Rachel (found out who she was after the race) in second, just staying calm, 6 - 6:12, more downhill, pass #2 girl to get in second., 7 - 6:08 still gradual downhill, thinking not sure how they found so many nice downhill miles in SLC, 8 - 6:07, 9 - 6:14, miles 7-9 I was hopeful of reeling Allie in, 10 - 6:27 , some uphill around Sugarhouse, wheels wobbly. 11- 6:28 some downhill, then start the long uphill climb, happy with pace but Allie isn't getting closer (will be interesting to read her splits!), 12 - 6:49, damage control zone, first .5 of this mile is gradual uphill, then gets steeper, then last .15-.2 starts the downhill, 13 - 6:08, nice downhill on this mile, so glad I could find the right gear again, kicked it in decently, scared of #3 girl, I liked turning into the gateway (other the cobblestones on my hot feet), which was cool to run through the tunnel of spectators. .05? didn't stop watch properly. I got 13.05, I am curious to see the distance other racers measured. I would have loved to have been up there with Allie, but given my string of races recently it didn't make sense to go out with her, which would have been quite aggressive, I think I raced it just right, felt like a racer again. Would like like to be a couple minutes faster? Wouldn't we all, eh :D But I am out of my slump and racing to ability so that's good news. For cool down, I ran 2.75 on the course, stopped at the water stop about 1.3 miles from the end and asked if I could volunteer. I spent about 45 min handing out water to 2:00-3:00ish hm racers (also saw the fastest marathoners). I haven't volunteered at a water stop ever. It was so cool. I felt so connected to these runners, as we are all struggling against our demons and against ourselves as we race, I felt a stronger connection to the running community after this short bit of work. The runners were so gracious. I am grateful I stopped, but had to move on after I got colder and colder (didn't help that it was raining on us). Ended up running another 2.25 to get my award medal and back to my car.
| 