:-)

Can I just say I don't do well in the heat. 

The day started off ok, I was awake about 4:00, and wanted to sleep more.  I layed there contemplating what material make up a pillow and how they impact how well I run.  Just kidding, I was trying my hardest to lay there and get more sleep.  :-)

I was ALMOST late to the busses.  I got on the LAST bus!  Bus 333.  When I got off the bus I had enough time to throw my coat that I wasn't wearing in the bag pickup bag and throw that into the drop off truck, get to the line and 3-4 minutes later the gun went off.  No waiting in the freezing cold hudled up next to a fire for me.  Oh wait, I don't think anyone had to do that, because it was 10000 deg out there. 

First few miles went as planned.  8:26, 8:25 for the first two, then 7:50-7:55 for the next few.  Got to Veyo feeling ok, worring a lot about the hill section that is ahead.  Tackled Veyo hill slower than I would have liked.  Hills have been a BIG mental problem for me this training year.  I've found myself giving up easy on hills that I used to go up without problem.

That was in reality the beging of the end.  I hear people talk about the "death march" in the final 2-3 miles, mine started about mile 17. 

My plan was to take the first part easy and try and let the momentum of the hills on the second half take me to a good negative split.  About mile 17 I could tell I was NOT gonna make good on the plan.

A friend of mine found me about mile 17, he was strugling and I was strugling so we just finished together.

I think this was a good race from the point of view that I learned.  And what I learned was that I need to train better.  I have been a huge slacker in the training.  Running 4 days a week at most, weekday miles of 3-7, walk breaks = poor performance on race day.  I guess I have been learning (last year and this year) that I can't be upset with my performance on race day if I don't put the effort in with training. 

I really enjoyed seeing Tyler and Kellie, Scooby, and another friend of mine Troy out on the road, Kelli and Scott in the finisher area.  I enjoyed the sprayers/mysters and the wet towels. 

I finished a marathon.  One of these days I will be serious about training.  And then I'm sure I will be joining a lot of you guys in Boston!

Have a great day!

:-)