Notes
Did not run my race: I got caught up with people running faster from the start and ran quicker than the 8:45 pace I wanted to go. The weather was great so I continued for the first 10 mi loop. I told myself with time in the bank to slow to 8:52 pace over the next lap but failed. After 20 miles though on pace for 4:30:00, the wheels were coming off.
I had predicted time of 4:40:00 and thought I could still make it, but the damage had been done.
I wanted it to be over cause legs were tightening up more than my 27 mi training run. Lesson learned. The last lap was painfully slow and I prayed for strength to just finish. I had to stop several times to walk short steep hills, some flats even, and to stretch, squat to relieve tight glutes and hamstrings. Quads were wanting to cramp too. I was nearly in tears but held them back.
Thought the finish would never come. Around every corner I thought the turn for the finish had come but it eluded me.
When there I walked half of hill to finish line at the high school, but the toughest thing was to have to go past the line for the half mile out turn around loop back to the line. After passing the line, mental strength helped me finish last mile without stopping, and finished strong. Only to find out I had not gone through the finishers timing shute!
I then had to sprint back nearly a hundred yards to enter shute and officially cross the finish line. Cost me 49s and one placing overall.
All in all I enjoyed the race but I'm not sure if I want to go down this ultra path, or even marathons.
My knees are shot and I can hardly walk. Maybe time will heal.