SLC Halfie

So, I ran the Salt Lake City half marathon again this year. I really do like this race because there are so many people, but I kind of hate it too because there are SO. MANY. PEOPLE. (like 15,000). This year was a little bit more fun though because Sarah's sponsor Paid her entry fee, so I had a friend to come along! We left Friday night and spent the night at a friend of hers who lives in Salt Lake so we wouldn't have to get up so early.

We still got up around 4:15 though because the race started at 7. We took the trax (is that what they call it?) to the University of Utah (where the start line was). Sarah lined up at the front, and I decided it would be better to pee before the race started, so when the gun went off I was in the bathroom! There were so many people though that I still had to wait in line for a while to cross the start.

I started out pretty fast for me (7:30 min. mile) and then settled into a pace between 8 and 8:30. I have to admit, this time around wasn't as fun as the first because I was working hard to get under my goal time, and they changed the course so that there was a two mile hill RIGHT AT THE END. What the?! I was not prepared for it, so it slowed me down a little. Overall though, the race worked out well for both of us.

FINAL STATS:

Me: 1:47:40 / 8:13 min. mile average / 208th place out of 2,885 runners

Sarah: 1:29:53 / 6:51 min. mile average / 17th place out of 2,885 runners

We both came in under our goal times, and got a PR!

Do you like all of these tiny pictures of us? The photography company wanted me to pay $50 to download them, so I just swiped the thumbnails...kind of lame, but better than nothing! Also, if it looks like I am in a lot of pain in the first picture, it's because I am. That was taken on that two mile hill at the end. Great idea, right?

Sarah looking awesome!

Apparently I need sunglasses so I won't make any more stupid faces like this

And this.

After the race Sarah put on her "compression socks" to help with recovery, but I think she wears them just to look cool. I told her to give me a sexy pose, and this is what I got. Come on, Sarah those sock are HOT!

Also, the fact that she is standing next to my open car is significant too because when we got back to the car we realized that my key-less entry thing wasn't working, which is kind of disappointing when you are in downtown Salt Lake all stinky and sweaty and tired. We pushed the button about a zillion times from a zillion different angles, and finally when we heard the doors unlock we shouted "yaaay!" all loud and excited just as this lady walked by looking at us like we were crazy for getting THAT excited about the Key-less entry. It was hilarious. I guess you had to be there maybe....

Then we headed over to her sponsor's store and spent an HOUR AND A HALF at REI in VAIN. More on that in another post another day because it is a dramatic story with a very happy ending.

Thanks for keeping me company, Sarah. You did great (as usual), and I am really looking forward to seeing you blow the competition away this triathlon season!


P.S. Race day happened to be right in the middle of finals week for my poor husband who does such a great job of supporting me. He watched the kids the whole time I was gone. It was pretty stressful for him, and I so appreciate him working so hard for our family. Thanks Naters for being such a great hubby, and making so many sacrifices so I can do these races. I love you!