My First Marathon... only took a year to write about it!

I raced the Deseret News Marathon last year for the first time.

Prior to that I'd run the distance... the year before... but hadn't raced officially.  That time was 3:45.

So, this was my first marathon race.

Training was a little bumpy.  I'd gotten a deep lower leg muscle pull in April that had me out for a couople of weeks.  Later I'd gotten some strange swelling around a tendon in my ankle that also had me out.  Fortunately M bought me my bike last year.  I used it a bunch when I wasn't able to run.

The timing of my dad's passing also threw a curve to me, but that only had me out a little.  It did take me to UT sooner.  I'd gotten one 18 miler in then ran a 20 in UT.  That was a fun run, Lenni cycled next to me and we talked the whole time!  Honestly those last 2 miles were rough, but I did it!

My Achilles heel with long distance is quite honestly the pooping!  It's a puzzle trying to figure out what goes in when, when it comes out, how it digests, how much to take in... blah, blah!  I thought I'd figured it out... generally I eat 12 hours prior to race start time.  But, pretty much I just planned on the fact that I'd need to stop.  I almost always do!

I was able to train on hills there.  That was good for my legs. 

On to the race... Deseret News Marathon is the oldest road race in UT and the oldest marathon west of the continental divide... did you know that?  The course has changed over the years, it used to start at the back of the mountain and you'd do both the climb and descent.  Thank heavens for that change!  The course comes down Emigration Canyon, which is the route the early pioneers took into the Salt Lake Valley.

Most of the run is down hill.  At the top of the canyon it's pretty severe!  I talked to a fellow runner from AZ on my run and she said it's a tough course to qualify on... by the time you get out of the canyon your quads are beat!  What did I know?  I felt fine at the time!

You can see the only real climb is mile 5-7.  Glad it's early in the race!

Here is a snapshot of the course.  Most of this race is unsupported, meaning the public can't get in!  Spectators can't come up the canyon, so you see the people that live up there, which are few, cyclists and your fellow racers! 

Sorry, now MY story! 

Race time start is 5:30 am!

You have to meet the buses that take you up the canyon at 3:15 and 3:45am.  Crazy! 

So, I was up at like 2:30... as if I slept at all!  I wasn't concerned about getting food in me right away because I had a while till start time, but I wanted to eat oatmeal so I ate on the way.  Anything I can do to speed up the poop process is good with me!  Too bad my body wasn't awake and responding at all that early!

My good friend Lynette took me to the buses.  I was staying with her, she also had charge of my 4 kids!  I met a new friend on the bus and we visited clear until start time.  It was good to have a buddy...

At the top of the canyon it was dark and chilly.  We all sat around, stretched, watched more runners roll in, waited in line at the porta potty's.  They had bags for us and we found our things at the finish line.  I raced with my clothes and music, just in case.

The race started on time.  It was dark.  I started well, I didn't want to go faster than an 8/mile.  Nice and easy.  I listened to people visiting around me.  I took inventory, my legs felt fine going down.  I relaxed and settled in. 

It was in between mile 2 and 4 that the sun began to rise.  I took that in, it was beautiful!  This year I'll photograph it for you.  It was a great moment to be doing what I love, in a place that I love.  The mountains amaze me, I love the clean air, the sun rising was such a beautiful sight.

Back to my breath and footfall.  This race had PowerAde instead of Gatorade, which I didn't love... honestly I don't like PowerAde.  Whatever though.  Remember at this time all I was training with was the liquid so it was important for me to take it in.  I did.  It didn't feel too hot so I took just a little at stops which offered it, every 4 miles. 

Here I am climbing somewhere around 5.  I felt strong the whole uphill stretch.  After we started descending again I ran with the AZ girl who asked if that was the last of the uphill.  I didn't know!  We ran for about a mile together, then she ducked off for a potty break.

I met up with another runner who told me about all of the marathon's he'd run.  I told him my goal was 3:45 and he reassured me I was on pace.  I had decided after mile 2 that I'd just go as I felt good.  I tried not to go faster than 7:30 pace, but was fine staying at that pace.  I reached mile 13 at 1:40.  I went ahead and took my first potty break.  No one was in there...nice.  In and out!  I wasn't feeling particularly like I had to go, but didn't want to be stranded between potty's!

Afterwards I ran with another guy for a bit.  He asked why I was speeding off... I reeled back a little and ran with two of them from 13 to 15 I think.  It gets a little confusing here because they said at mile 19 they'd have gel (which I wasn't using anyway), but on the map I think it was around 16 they offered gel.  Either way I broke off from the dudes at this point.  They stopped for gel and I didn't. 

I think my breakdown started here, but first a photo of me running near the Hogle Zoo, around 15 or 16... This was online in the newspaper...  That is me with the long braid, in the yellow top and they guy I was leaving behind!

I think I drank at mile 15 or 17, then at 19 there was gel, but only water to go with it.  I just can't drink water when I run, it makes me sick.  So, I know I didn't get PowerAde until the station at mile 21.  I was hurting through these miles.  Still running well, but looking back of course my quick depletion came because I had no fuel, and we all know by the time you are tired, it's pretty much too late! 

Here is a shot of me through there, maybe 18ish...

Thank heavens for my little crew to give me a lift here!  Lynette is amazing and knows everyone so when she came to a place they weren't letting people through, she knew someone and was able to get by!  Love having her on my side!  The kids all had signs and big cheers for me!  I wish I'd have had her standing by with my own supply of Gatorade, but that wasn't the case!

Eating breakfast while they wait for me...

Here I come...

There I go... station... with water only... crap!

I took a little bit of a walk break here.  I was mentally broken because I was hoping for that drink.

I ran again, slower, until I got to 21.  I took two cups of PA and walked to the potty for another break!

These are the moments that I replay in my head, the one's where I had to stop.  My time was good, then I stopped!

Anyway, that break helped and I continued on down the hill past the U of U.  I knew Cand would be waiting for me, I'd see her soon.  I think I saw her between 21 and 22.  It for sure was a welcome sight.  I had kept going, no walking since my last stop.  She grabbed my arm and ran with me up another small hill.  My legs were hurting for sure.  It was amazing the pull I felt from her.  I think by this point I was running on fumes.

We ran together and she talked to me.  It's funny to think about that because I know she was trying to distract me, but at that point it all sounded like noise!  I was in a zone, I had no music, only breath and that was what was peaceful to me.  Sometimes I use music, but most of the time it raises my anxiety, I just need quiet.  It takes concentration and some serious mental effort to do things when your body just wants to stop.  I found it more difficult to try to listen to her!!!  I told her I'd be ok and to meet me at the end.  I did walk a couple of times with her next to me. 

At mile 24 there was a small hill downward.  At this point I understood the words of that AZ girl.  From flat to hill again I felt like my legs were going to give out.  Like when you run down the hill too fast and you go flying?  That image went through my mind... fortunately I didn't fall!

Between 24 and 25 there was a group of spectators that gave us wet sponges... loved them, they rocked.

I did have to take breaks maybe it was 1 per mile or .75.  I did walk though, but not for long.

There were a ton of spectators along those ending miles, for the parade, I thought they'd be cheering for us more than they were.  Mostly they were there for the parade.  I about ran over a kid that was crossing in front of me, that was a little annoying.

Here is my big finish...

Oh what a feeling!

Even with the stops and walking I still finished before my goal of 3:45.

My finish time was 3:39:58 (8:24 pace).  You can see my stats on my race page.

My thoughts kept repeating, if only's, I could have bettered my time.  Rest assured I gave it all that I had in those moments that I had it!  I was very happy with my time!

My greeters!  Lynette was there with the kids to see me finish, love them, love her.  Candice was close behind!

My cute sis giving me a rub down after all was said and done.  There was great food and freebies after this race.  Turns out Mr. Bringhurst who taught us math in Jr. High is on the race committee.  We totally saw him and visited with him!

A nice big Jamba Juice was my treat after this race.  My quads hurt a bit, but I was WAY surprised that my calves hurt even worse.  My quads healed up in a day, it took several for my lower legs to get back to normal.

DIFFERENCES FOR THIS YEAR:  I run this race again in just a couple of weeks.  I ran my last long run (22 miles) last week.  Read about that in my training log. 

I'm in a different place this year.  Speed is probably about the same.  I've been able to train injury free, which is good.  I've done speed and hill work, which I did last year too.  I think last year I ran more hills since I was in UT sooner. 

I hope to improve this year, of course, and I think I'll see improvement especially as I fuel differently.  I plan to carry my own fluid and gel, and my camera!  My goal this year is to run 3:30.

There you have it, finally, my first marathon recap from last year!  It only took me a year to write it!