Each Day Is a Gift

Lowell got me an entry to the Ogden Half from the RD whom he's well acquainted with.  I would only do it if hubby was still in the hospital.  On Thursday, the doctor said that he'd still need to be in the hospital till next week.  So hubby insisted that I go and enjoy running with Lowell who was running the Full and I would wait for him at the Half start.

Drove to Lowell's son, Jason's house in downtown SL to drop off my car and he drove me up to Eden.  We left his house at 7:30.  RAD had given me the map and driving direction for the alternate route to Eden.  Between the map, my iPhone GPS and Jason's car's GPS, we only had to make couple of adjustments and U-turns.  Got to Eden Park at exactly 9am when Lowell called to say he's at mile 11.  Perfect! That gave me enough time to use the PoP and grab a gu, a piece of banana and water/gatorade, retie my shoes, cheer on the marathoners.

The Full started at 7:15 and the Half started at 6:45.  Lowell got there around 9:20.  He put the timing chip on my shoe while I put on the bib, not sure if the chip does any good since they probably already pulled up the half start mat.  We took a few pictures with father and son, and off we went.  Wendy loaned me her Garmin so I started it when we crossed the timing mat. 

Saw Rachelle and gave her a quick hug, she probably didn't recognize me!  But she was cheering just as enthusiastically as if we were her best buddies.  I started to feel winded and asthma coming on, so I took my inhaler, and the breathing was fine the rest of the run.  We were going to do the 4:1 thing since the most I've run was 7 miles last Sat. and am in no shape to run a half marathon.  But, we ended up walking through all the aid stations or stopped all together to take pictures.  We chatted and joked with fellow runners.   A lady in red singlet turned and said:  "Is that you, Susanna?  I recognize your voice!"  yes, she's my former neighbor from the early 80s.  It was awesome to see her again after 30+ years! 

We had a ton of fun running along and leap-frogging with the same people, we called out to them naming them based on colors of their tops or logos on their backs: gold and green girls, the ImPossible twins, pink ladies, red robyn, orange cutie....  At the uphill portion, a 24 yo girl was in quite a bit of pain having a side stitch and  abdominal pain. She was in tears.  So Lowell and I showed her how to do the deep abdominal breathing and we ran/walked with her for about half a mile then we took off.  She passed us just before turning onto Grant St. and said: "It works!!!  Thanks you!"  We shared our sun-screen with an older gentleman from St. George.  We took pictures for those who wanted a picture of themesleves and the waterfall.  We picked up some disgarded gloves, and fuel belt bottles which took up a bunch of minutes in trying to fasten them to my belt.  I ended on putting it in my short pocket...I'd do anything for Lowell!  :)

We passed the 4:45 pacer at mile 23.  Legs felt fine thru the canyon miles, but started to tire in the parkway.  Then wham!!! As soon as I got on the road out of the parkway, my nemesis aka "Ogden cramps" started attacking, first in the lower calves, then the shins then upper calfves behind the knees, then the entire lower legs.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, fighting off charlie horse, praying that I would get to the finish before the muscles ceased up on me, it was painful.  It felt as if I was at mile 25 or 26, struggling with the other marathoners.  But sadly I was only doing a Half, that is what I had expected for not having trained and have not run for nearly a year.  Lowell was running with the Mpossible boys abou 30 seconds ahead and would look back to make sure I hadn't collapsed.  I urged him to go on ahead and beat his Boston's time but he refused to leave me.  We held hands across the barricade that separated the Marathoners and Halfers all the way to the finish. I forgot to stop the Garmin until I walked over to the mist tent.  It showed my time at 2:36:39 and mileage at 13.31.   The official time on the website is 5:17:xx probably because when I started the timing mat for the half was aready shut off so it just take in clock time of start at 6:45 and finish at 12:02.  I'd say a 5:17 half is quite a PR! :)

RAD and Marcie waited for us at the finisher corral.  It was so great to hug them.  I immediately asked RAD if Toby got her BQ and was so sad and bummed for her.  RAD made sure I got all the post-race nourishment.  We took some pictures.  We didn't linger too long as Lowell had to check out of Motel 6 clear over at Riverdale.  He took me back to Jason's.  I made it back to the hospital around 2pm and was very happy and satisfied!!! :)  It feels so good to be back in the running world again! :) :) :)