Marathon #7 - Check

I know, beautiful, right?  It was a gorgeous morning.  I woke feeling great.  We had to be at the shuttle extremely early - too early.  We were shuttled up the course to the start at 5 a.m.  The race didn't start til 7:30...so we were lucky enough to sit on the bus til the gun went off if we wanted.  It was a chilly morning so I sat on the bus, half asleep til 7:15!  By the time I walked out my view was this sunrise...

I honestly felt great.  I felt well rested.  I thought this downhill course was going to be it.  My PR.  My sub-4.  As I've been looking at my Garmin stats it's all as plain as day where I went wrong.  Same ol' story.  Too fast, too soon.  I knew the course was a serious downhill in the first few miles but went went for it anyways.  Ran 8:00's and 8:30's through the first 6 miles, still at 9:00's at the halfway point.  At mile 19 I believe a cement truck pulled along side me and poured a gallon of cement in each of my quads.  Around 22 the heat started to get to me as well.  I had couple of starry moments but was aware enough to down some chomps, water and XOOD. 

Tuscon actually reminds me of Utah during the summer.  There were mountain ranges all around.  The course was scenic.  And it seemed that there was a water station every mile for the last 8 miles, which I was so thankful for.

Did you know Santa can run a 3:30 marathon?  Pretty good with that belly and suit, huh?

My official time was 4:30.  Yes, I was disappointed.  But I really did enjoy the race.  Other than the early hills killing my quads I felt so great.  I felt way better than last month's race.  I loved the warm weather even though that slowed me down at the end.  I finished the race with enough salt on my face to fill a salt shaker.  Yuck.  How bout those Ryders sunglasses though? 

When we made our way back to our hotel I found that they actually had a cold water spring!  There was ten of us in there up to our waists shivering.  Next best thing to an ice bath.  Brrrrr.

So the best thing about this race?  Meeting this chica...

Of course I'm sure you all know Emz.  She is even more amazing in real life than on her blog...if that's possible.  And those abs...they're rocks.  I wish I knew photoshop so I could fix myself up to look half way decent standing next to her!  I can't even use the excuse that I just ran a marathon cause she just did too.  We had the opportunity to meet up the night before for dinner with her cute family.  We literally laughed all night.  And yes, she sported the belt buckle.  Love it.  We clicked and had so much fun and she has got me convinced to come back to Phoenix next month for January's race.  This one she swears is truely flat.  I have yet to do an honestly flat race.  It could be the key to a PR.  I'm in closed meetings this week going over details, map comparisons and grilling race informants to make final decisions.  But it's looking like I'll be returning south for my next race.  Better start cutting out those white carbs and adding in 1000 sit-ups a night so as to be better prepared before our next meet-up...  : )

A few more details to come.  For now...the post just wouldn't be complete with a pic of a cactus.  : )