New Shoes New Race!

Smiling because I'm done, bending over because I feel like I'm going to barf. I did a race last Saturday to help me get ready for my marathon that's coming up in 3 weeks. It was an interesting distance. One I've never done before, and it might be the only running race in the country that is a 30K (18.64 miles). Weird distance huh? It's perfect for someone training for a marathon though! It was long enough that I felt like I had run a full marathon later that day because I was so sore. I can't believe in 3 weeks I'll have to do that again, but 8 more miles! I was right on pace to get my goal marathon pace. It seems impossible that I'll have to keep up that pace for 8 more miles to get my goal, but I have hope! Anything's possible. Plus I'll be more rested on race day because I'm going to taper my training after my half marathon this Saturday.

I was so glad that Scott came to support me! For one, I probably would have gotten lost on my way to the race because I'm terrible with directions, and for two, he makes me run faster because I want to be able to tell him I made my time goal when I see him at the finish line. I was having my doubts about getting my time goal during the race. At times I was feeling nauseous, or like my lungs were going to explode, my IT band was super tight and I had to stop and stretch it several times, and my feet were sore and developing blisters because I did the ultimate no no and wore brand spankin new shoes on race day. Not a good idea, especially for an 18.64 mile race. I knew there would be consequences, but my shoes came a week later than the store told me they would. I chose to wear them and risk getting blisters rather than wear my old ones and have sore knees because the padding has been worn out for a long time now. It wasn't ideal to wear my new shoes, but it wasn't a disaster either. I just got one small blister, and my feet were a little sore becasue they weren't used to the shoes yet. When things got rough and brutal during the race I was able to think about seeing Scott at the finish and telling him that I made my time goal. That helped me keep pushing because I really wanted to be able to tell him that I did it! The picture above is me about half a mile from the finish. That was the first time I had seen Scott since I started the race, and I had a huge smile on my face as I waved and told him I was going to make it in 2:35 like I wanted.


I surprised myself and Scott by actually having a kick at the end. I'm usually holding my side and about to fall over or something by the time I cross the finish. I think I was just really excited at that point because I could see the finish line and I was actaully going to make it in 2:35. I really wasn't sure if I was going to make it at several points in the race, so I was ecstatic when I did it! I ended up getting 1st place in my age group too!

This Saturday I have the Provo half marathon which I realize now is a little too close to my race last Saturday! I will barely be recovered by then. (I hope.) My muscles are still pretty sore and tight, but that will be my last long run before the marathon! I can't believe the hard part of my training is completly over now. It's all down hill from here (except for the marathon)! It's marathon number 7, and I hope it's lucky number 7. So far the number 7 has been good to me.