Sometimes you can have perfect preparation and still not accomplish the time that is floating around as a goal. I had been hoping for a PR. My training had gone well, but I had some massage and muscle tempering the week before the race and it was too much. Plus I had been under a lot of stress and I really think that took an edge off as well.
The weather for the race was picture perfect. Cool at the start where it felt nice to stand around some raging bonfires at the start corral. Warm by the finish but not horrible. Gentle breeze and lots of sunshine.
So much snow this winter that the Ogden River was in flood stage, threatening to take out the road we were supposed to run down. It was actually over part of the road within the first couple of miles and we all edged to the right side of the road...the raging water would not have treated anyone kindly.
I knew within the first hour that I wouldn't be able to hold my desired pace. The course was gently downhill, dropping about 1000 feet over the distance, with a small uphill just past halfway. I came through halfway at about 1:45, but slowed down quickly after that. I even got some muscle cramps...hadn't been taking enough magnesium. Shame on me. The last 7 miles of nice downhill through Ogden canyon came too late for me...my legs really wanted to walk and my mind had trouble convincing them otherwise!
The waterfall in the canyon was absolutely raging. I don't remember ever seeing it before while driving but as my snails pace it was a nice sight as the day was heating up. I managed to hang on for 3:59:54 at the finish. Still my second fastest marathon, but I'm hoping for better some day. Perhaps at the St. George Marathon in October :)
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