Some days you have it and some days you don't...

In the running world, most runs are just okay and few are spectacular.  Your body isn't able to perform at 100% all the time...hence most runs are just okay.

But those days when the running stars align and your run is spectacular .....that is what you remember during the hard runs.

Today, my running stars aligned and I had a great race (after WAY TOO MANY bad runs!!). 

Here is my running journal entry:

I had really mixed feelings going into this race.  My legs felt horrible all week (crazy spasms), so my once "race it" plan turned into just "run it". 

I got up at 4:20am and had an upset stomach. Maybe it was the Costa Vida nachos I had for dinner last night or maybe it was nerves (or both).  I had a banana and ate an apple on the way to the start.

I actually found a really great parking spot among the gazillion cars.  The bus line was seriously long.  I found out later that they ordered 24 buses and only 15 buses showed up.  So I waited in the bus line for 30-40 minutes.  Ugh.....  I saw a few people I knew which is always fun.

On the way up the canyon, I sat next to the NICEST lady.  We were talking about "a race" versus "an event".  Utah Valley half marathon/marathon was "an event" (they had enough buses, nice swag bags, fires at the start, lots of fully stocked aide stations, massages, and great stuff at the finish).  Hobble Creek Half is just "a race" to make money - no frills. 

The race started 30 minutes late....that bugs!
 
Mile 1 (8:03):  Lots of dodging people and feeling good.

Mile 2 (7:54): I ran with a gal with a pink skirt.  I love picking out people to hang with during a race.  Mile markers were definitely off - they were short.

Mile 3 (7:56):  Starting to get a bit nervous that I might be going to fast and will blow up later.  But trying to take advantage of the downhill while I can.

Mile 4, 5, 6 (7:39, 7:50, 7:48):  I grabbed a cup of water at the aide station, but just spit it out.  My stomach was still feeling funny and I didn't want to throw up so early in the race.  I passed pink skirt girl and picked up purple shirt girl.  She was speedy fast.  Really starting to think I might blow up, but wanted to hang on until mile 10...then I can blowup and throw up.

Mile 7, 8, 9 (8:12, 8:18, 8:00):  I stopped at the aide station at mile 8 (I think it was 8) and walked through it.  I wanted to take some water slowly, so I wouldn't get sick.  Lost purple shirt gal.  I was starting to get tired, but just wanted to hang on until mile 10.  There was a lot more hills - not big ones, but my legs were starting to get tired and they felt big.

Mile 10, 11, 12, 13 (8:34, 8:26, 8:30, 8:05):  Definitely hit puke zone.  I kept saying to myself, "run 3 more minutes, then puke"....over and over and over again (thankfully, I never did).  I walked through another aide station, hoping that the vomit feeling would go away.  I finally looked at my overall time on my watch (I occasionally looked at my split pace, but never the overall time).  So at mile 10 it said 1:18:00...so I figured 1:45:00 might be a reality (which would be a PR for me since having kids). 

I was just trying to hang and finish.  I could start to hear the crowds at the finish.  I started looking for my kids....seeing your family=almost finish. 

The finish line never seemed to come.  We kept going and going and going around this park.  As soon as I crossed the finish, I thought for sure I was going to puke.  So I stood there for a long time.  I got my shirt/flower/water and went to find my kids.  They were so excited and I was excited to see them.  My stomach still felt really yucky.

SO overall, I am super pleased with my time.  I ran UV Half in a 1:55:00, so I was thinking I could maybe do it again.   When I looked at my watch at mile 10, I was super surprised!  My PR for the year!
Hooray for a great day and SUPER great nap!  I will be totally useless the rest of the day!