Notes
This race was super hard! Check out the Garmin profile! I started out behind Alyssa Wildeboer (yes I was nervous and excited to be running with her. She is fast!) It was way to slow of a pace for me so I put on my blinders and ran my own race. I got up the hill with both calves screaming but my body felt comfortable. I used the next 5 miles to descend and recover....That part was hard. I didn't want to blow myself up on the descent. The course then took us up 10 miles and I had run ever step of the race at that point! I ran down to the aid station, filled a bottle and walked around mile 23 up Terrapin Mountain. It was .5 miles of walking then I had to locate two punches and punch my bib. After squeezing between the rock cave I picked up the pace and ran the best I could up and down and surprised myself with how good I was feeling! I was in 9th place overall until the last 2 miles where I got passed and fell back to 13th place. Descending is not one of my stronger points! I truly ran my heart out and felt I executed my nutrition plan perfectly as Meredith and I discussed. I ate for breakfast a coffee, plain oatmeal, a banana and peanut butter. I ate a salt tab every 30 mins and drank 3 0z double scoops of HEED mixed with water, 2 liters of water, 5 dates, 5 gels and one Perpetuem solid. I did not have to crap or puke! This is the first time in any race over 16 miles that I did not have to crap!!!!! I have also decreased my starches and maybe that helped too. I peed 7 times in the first 13 miles but then was fine! I felt so strong and could not believe I achieved my goal of under 5 hours! THANK YOU SO MUCH for being such an amazing coach! Without your guidance I would not be running this well! I am seriously nervous and excited about Leona. I know I will get my ass kicked there but I am going run my best and have fun! I had a blast at this race!