Top Of Utah Race Report

Top of Utah Marathon 
'Third Times a Charm'

3:24:58.6

Overall 145

Gender 23

Division 4

**My Garmin read 26.45 @ 3:24:45 - I need to work on the tangents I guess??

Details/Picture overload....

Leading up to the race:

-         Increased carbs10g/body weight per T’s instruction – 3 days prior

-         Increased my Iron supplement – 1 week prior

-         Increased my fluid intake – 3 days prior

-         Took an electrolyte tablet – 1 week prior

-        Get min. of 8 hours of sleep each night – 1 week prior

Goals: Qualify for Boston

A+ Goal: Sub 3:30

A++ Goal: Sub 3:25

Secret super running goddesses’ Goal: 3:19

Pre-Race:  

Uneventful. Bus ride up, I sat next to a super sweet girl from Oregon.

When we reached the start is was COLD.  Waited in (The SLOWEST) line

for the bathroom and then went into the warming tents. 10 minutes

before the start I took off my warm clothes except the gloves, took ½ a GU

and got in my corral.   

Nutrition Plan: 

- GU every 35/40 minutes (Ended up taking only 1/2-3/4 of each gel)

- Instead of all 1 flavor, took several different kinds so I wasn’t getting sick of

the taste

- Switch between sips of water/Gatorade every other Aid station (skipped li

 liquid at the first and very last aid station)

**This worked out perfect

Miles 1-12

8:01, 7:45, 7:36, 7:39, 7:47, 7:44

7:44, 7:38, 7:49, 7:51, 7:46, 7:44,

Uneventful miles throughout the canyon… usually those first miles I feel amazing and they go by incredibly fast.  Not the case today.  I was pretty cold until mile 5ish where I took off my gloves.  I saw a guy running that had the symbol of the company an Ex worked for… lets just say that lit the fire to get in the game and race ;)

This marathon is difficult to negative split because you have your entire elevation drop in the front half and the hills start towards the end.  T and I had planned starting the first miles at 8 then to hold 7:50-8’s until mile 22.  My heart rate was staying below 165 running in the 7:40-7:45ish range so I went with that until I was out of the canyon. I had written on my gloves START SLOW and had to keep looking at that.    

Mile 13-17

Coming out of the Canyon with Yellow Shirt Guy

7:40, 7:32, 7:40, 7:50, 7:44

Miles 13-14 someone turned on the wind and we had a nice tailwind for 2 miles!  Mile 14 was the first time you saw spectators and my dad was there! Whooo

I felt best during this section.  Flat section, spectators, energy was high.  Yellow Shirt Guy and I were playing off each other during these miles.  The first real ‘hill’ starts around mile 18 where he told me he couldn’t keep the pace so we parted ways.

Miles 18-21

7:50, 7:52, 7:58, 7:41

Hello Hills

Salt Lake 26.2 I hit my ‘wall’ at mile 18, so after I passed mile 18 without that dragging feeling I had the hugest smile on my face! I kept thinking, I got this… no wall for me today.  

My dad surprised me at mile 16, 19, and 21! He has never been throughout the course during a race before so this was wonderful! I high-fived him every time!

Mile 22 was where I told my dad, T told me to give all I had left so he yelled -- ‘SPEED UP’!!:D

He said the police man asked him why the hell would you tell her to speed up after 20 miles!?

Miles 22-26.45

7:34, 8:01, 7:46, 7:29, 7:37, 0.45 3:14 (7:15 pace)

These miles HURT.  

Mile 23 you climb your last hill (which seemed to never end) and that is where my HR escalated to the 180's and was starting to make me nervous.  I decided to stop look at my Garmin the rest of the race and push as hard as I could. 

A new friend told me 'you have to trick your mind into thinking you are capable of faster,' so that is what I concentrated on.  Turning the corner and look up the incline on Main Street was the most daunting section of the race for me.  I saw the 2:25 pacer and made it my goal to pass him - Done.  PUSHED to the end!

After I crossed the finish line, my stomach did not want anything to do with the post race food they had.  Gave my dad a huge hug and grabbed my ‘Boston’ gloves a friend had made and took my finishers photo with them. My legs started to cramp SO bad. Saw a stream that was going through the park and went and sat right in it! Whooo felt so.freaking.wonderful.  Teresa was the first person I wanted to call! I owe so much of my progress to her and wanted to let her know we did it!!

Went and checked out of our hotel and came back real quick for awards. Saw so many faces of Bloggers I stalk look up to.  I wish I would have went and introduced myself and talked to them… ‘Hi I’m Christie, I stalk your training blog. – Want to be friends?’ ;)

The day after T had me do a 30min walk which really loosened the legs up.  Soreness mostly in my butt!  Prior marathons my body has been incredibly sore for about 3-4 days post race… I feel pretty damn great today (Butt sore still)  Difference in this post-race, has been the lack of ability to sleep and the huge hunger appetite has not hit yet – I am sure it will!

Less than a year ago I could not imagine myself running paces in the 7’s during a marathon.  Who thought someone that never really participated in any athletic sports could really start to excel?  I realize excelling, and speed, and success is all relative - I definitely don't want to sound like I am bragging...there are SO many faster and on a completely different level than I.  I just know that I can get there. It is honestly amazing what your body can do, in such short amount of time, when you are determined enough to put in the work and dedication.  So cliché, but ANYTHING is possible 

Having an incredibly supportive dad and an amazing coach doesn’t hurt either ;)   

4:30 >>>> 4:06 >>>> 3:24….. Sub 3? I think YES!!!