3:24:22, Ran the Big Cottonwood canyon Marathon as a pacer. I was pacing the 3:25 pace group. I was nervous pacing this race, because I have never paced a race. I wasn't sure how my body react at the end of the marathon. I had Walter pick up my packet so I didn't have to drive down on saturday. Having walter pick up my packet allowed my to take my oldest son shotting so we could sight in the mussle loader for the hunt. I shot the gun a little but I didn't want to shot it much, because a sore sholder could be make a long marathon. I got back shotting at 8 oclock. I ate something and tried to drink a good amount. I am not taper so this was a good long training run. The race had a lot of down hill running that will help me for St George. I got my 3 boys into bed. My wife had gone to Brigham City to the candle light thing for the girl that was shot by her step dad. My wife grow up a few house down from her mom. This tragic event has affected my wife. I got to bed about 10 o'clock and got up at 2:45 so I didn't get a lot of sleep. I got up and got to the parking for the marathon. I got on one of the last buses. A bus in front of us took a corner wrong and got high centered. The bus I was on was right by a fire station. I got off the bus and used the fire stations bathroom will we were waiting for the buses to move. When we got to the start, they allowed us to use the rest rooms then started the race. The race started late. Before the race started I was able to use a bush and find Andy Brown, the other person pacing the 3:25 group.
The Race
Pacing was fun. We had arm bands with the splits to run even effort. I tried to run as close to the splits as I could. At the start of the marathon we as so many runners with us. After about 3 miles I notice a lady running right on my sholder and she has been there about the whole time. Andy and I traded off holding the sign. I enjoyed pacing I was just able to relax and see the scenery. At about the half way there were still a good group of runners with us. The lady was still running next to me. About 20 miles into the marathon the couse flattens out. This is were we starting seeing a few runners hitting the wall. The pace group had started to thin out. The lady was still right at my sholder. She continued to look relaxed and strong. By the 23 mile marker the lady was the only one left in our group. At one spot in the twenty second mile I noticed I was running a little fast, so I slowed down. At this time we were flighting by runners. The lady turned to me and said why did you slow down. I told her that I noticed I was running faster than I should so I slowed down. This told me she was still feeling pretty good. I told her if you are feeling good you should go ahead of us. She said that is was ok and continued to run right next to me. At the 23 mile marker I took the sign, I was planning un caring it until the finish. At about 24.5 miles into the marathon Andy told I will take the sign and stay at the 3:25 pace, why don't you run her in and see what kind of time we can get for her. When she heard that she didn't know what to think. She told me what her name was but have have forgot. I told her I would help her get a good time, just stay right on my sholder. She just stayed right with me. She gave it everything she had. When we finish the clock said 3:24:56 and my watch said 3:24:22. I know the course was 26.2. My watch was right on for all the mile markers then the last .2 to be .36 was a little frustrating. When the results post I will look up her name. She was so grateful and excited after the race. I am glad I was able to help someone achieve a great accomplishment. I plan on pacing more races. That was fun.
Splits
7:07, 7:27, 7:37, 7:27, 7:26, 7:38, 7:35, 7:58, 7:41, 8:05, 7:45, 7:41, 7:20, 7:46, 7:26, 7:33, 7:36, 7:56, 7:49, 8:07, 8:01, 8:33, 8:05, 7:31, 2:40 for the last .36 a 7:24 average.
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