Notes
Prepared pretty well the night before, including scoping out where the Days of 76 rodeo grounds were. Got everything laid out in the motel room and was ready to go by 5:45. Longish walk from parking to the marathon bus. The half buses were right there, but we got special treatment. Talked to Satish from California and a couple of people from Yankton. Landed at the start an hour before race start, and it was cold; cold enough that several people were scaling the steep hillside to catch a little sun, and I wore my beach towel. Lent it to a woman who was freezing while I got in the potty line, and retrieved it in time for the bag drop. Met a guy from Lincoln and another from Omaha while waiting.
At the gun, took off at a comfortable pace, with little idea what the pace was. I actually had little idea what my pace was throughout the race, since the mile markers were wildly inaccurate. The start was a shortish (1/2 mile?) out and back before getting on the trail. That was the last downhill we would see for quite a while. Feeling pretty good, but the constant incline wears you down, and it seemed to significantly increase in steepness at mile 10. Not seeing that on the profile. Just me, I guess. DW, DD, and SC were first encountered with their cowbells shortly past M10. Met them twice more during the race, and they clanged as they drove by as well. I kept thinking/wishing for the crest, because I was getting tired. Got water (2 cups) at every stop. Poured it over myself at a couple of the later ones. The sun was beating down on us pretty much from the start. Did GU at approximately 4, 8, 14; glad to get water to rinse that out. Began feeling some gut nastiness as the GU/water found its way to sensitive places, but I didn't panic, and it subsided. As soon as I crested, the decline felt pretty wonderful, and I got some 8:nn pace miles. That didn't last too long, especially at the leveling off, followed by the steep drops. A lot of the running was quiet, without even many runners in my vicinity. Started passing some of the halfers who were walking at my 14 - finish. So tempted to stop at points along the last 5, but resisted. Thought of SIL, and her complaint that people were telling her she could get through her last six months before retiring standing on her head. Similar to the last six of the marathon. It's not the same as the first six. Plugged along, thinking I've got to finish, but sorely tempted to bail. Also, a little concerned about heat sickness, so took extra long at the final water stops. At long last, wended my way into Deadwood and the finish area. Great crowd support there (and at select other places along the course). Family was there too, of course. Got my water and food and collapsed, gingerly, onto the pavement in the recovery tent. Note to race organizers: Some chairs or benches for the runners would have been greatly appreciated. Talked to Lincoln guy (Chad), who also thought the race was brutal. He came in at 3:53, I think.
DD bought us root beer floats. :) When my results came in, picked up my AG prizes - Deck of cards, bandanna thingy, and cert for another scoop of ice cream.
13.1 split was 2:03:19, so it was actually a smaller positive split than any marathon so far, I think. Cool.