Ogden marathon in 3:09:14.
Coming into the marathon my A goal was 2:59:59, B goal 3:05 and C goal 3:10. So I guess I got my C goal. It funny how much things change within a week. Late last week I get an email telling us that the long term fore cast was saying that it was going to be hot and you might want to do your training latter in the day to get a custom to the heat. Can I tell you how wrong that was. Friday I went to the expo and picked up my packet. About the time I get home it starts to rain. It rained all night. I get up at 4:00 am fixed some breakfast and started going to the race. I got about 2 miles when I realized I had forgot my race bib. I came back and got it. I live north of Ogden but I decided to take 21st exit because I know how where parking is from that exit. At least I thought I know. They had so many roads blocked off, it was nuts. I got to the buses and took one of the last buses. I had plenty of warm clothes and things to stay dry for the hour and a half wait. While I waited it was raining very lightly. About 5 minutes before start it starts to rain. It wasn't very hard, but it was getting me very wet.
The Race started on time. I was about to find a runner that was also going for 2:59:59. The runners name was Mandy. For the first 7 miles Mandy and I worked together. At about 7 miles in my shoe came untied. Funny because during the first part of the marathon I was debating with my self if I had tied my shoe to tight. I stop to tie my shoe. I was never able to catch Mandy again. When I got to mile 8 and turned onto the rollers around the lake. My plan was to run 7:00 pace and run easy during this section. I am feeling OK during this section. OK being I am cold and wet. I don't need to tell you It rained the whole time I am on course. There was also a 8 mile an hour head wind. I got to the half way spot at almost right at 1:30. The chip time said 1:30:12. The hill at mile 14 to 15 didn't feel to bad. At the top I wanted to surge and start running some 6:50 miles again the really hit the canyon. Things didn't go as planned. I was only able to run 7:30 miles down the canyon. My hips and legs just wouldn't go any faster. When I got to the trail I was starting to catch a number of half marathons. I am not a big fan of catching the half marathon runners. I was going by two half walkers when I am just ahead of her when she yells good job as loud as she could, It startled me. That is not what I want at that point in the marathon. About 23 miles into the marathon I know I have to go visit a POP do to GI issues. I am hoping I don't have to stop. At mile 25 I know I can go no farther. Luckily On of the two POP is empty. I was hoping I was going to be able to go in and come back out really fast. I think I was in there for about 2 minutes. I was about to run pretty well the last mile. When I starting running my watch just hit 3 hours. I really wanted to finish in under 3:10. I ran the last 1.1 to 1.2 miles in 9 minutes. I am happy with the way I finished. I figure the weather took 5 minutes off our times.
When I finished I was so cold and wet. The finishing area was not very impressive, in fact I would say it was one of the worst.
Splits
6:31, 6:42, 6:42, 6:32, 6:39, 6:42, 6:39, 6:55, 6:55, 7:14, 7:08, 7:12, 7:17, 7:27, 7:04, 7:10, 7:05, 7:24, 7:38, 7:16, 7:21, 7:05, 8:01, 8:54, 2:41 for the last .37 a 7:10 average
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