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Provo City Half Marathon

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Location:

Mesa,AZ,

Member Since:

Apr 04, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

Prs:

1 mile:  6:31

5K:  23:37

Half Marathon: 2:04

My first post-high school 5K, in which I thought I was going to die

The first time I won my age division.  Yippee!

My first half marathon, in which I attack Sasha

The time I beat my high school PR for the 5K (as a 31 year-old mommy of 3!)

My first 5K barefooted

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

I'm just getting back into running after a long break to have my last child.  I would like to race some 10Ks, a half, and a marathon in the next 2 years.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Be the oldest woman to complete a marathon.  Yea!  But hopefully I will also complete some BEFORE I geezer up, like, before I'm 40 for sure.  I think it would be fun to dress up really strange for marathons, like impersonating celebrities and stuff.  Except I don't really like celebrities, as a rule, so maybe I'll have to stick to the age old question of ninja, or pirate.  I say ninja. *Hyah!*

Personal:

I am happily married to James W (Cool Runnings). We have 3 boys and 1 opinionated little girl.  I love reading and I'm also a news junkie.  I am a stinker.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Provo City Half Marathon (13.11 Miles) 02:03:18, Place overall: 72, Place in age division: 12
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.5013.1113.61

Well, that was different!

I had a troupe of people helping me accomplish this little race, and I have to say that I don't know if I would have made it to the end without them! It was kind of a relay, and I was the baton, of course.

I started the race with Adam (Calcio) from the blog. He took me to the 3 mile point. He was pleasant and laid back--he's a young guy who has lived all over the world. It would have been interesting to talk to him, if I hadn't been breathing hard. During these miles, my main thought was that it was feeling way too easy and that I couldn't believe I was running faster than my usual 11 minute miles. By the end of those three miles, my average pace was 8:50. Calcio took off at mile 3 to finish the rest of race with a speedy 10 miles to finish at 1:42.


My husband James was waiting for me with 2 little 3 year-olds in a jogging stroller to take me through miles 3-8. It was REALLY nice having James with me for this portion of the race because, with the addition of the humongous stroller, he cut a wide swath through the wind. This portion was WINDY! Every time we turned, I thought that the wind would HAVE to finally be at our back, but it really seemed like it was either a headwind or a unfriendly cross-wind for 90% of the time. The course turned onto the Provo river trail for most of these miles, and I was immersed in the lovely sights and sounds of nature UNTIL my little son started crying, and wouldn't stop around mile 6.5. Other runners would run by and try to comfort him. It was aggravating/pathetic to listen to him cry and not be able to do anything about it, so I finally told James to take off and get him out of the wind around mile 7.4 or something. By the time I got to mile 8, my average pace was about 9:11 for the whole race to that point. I did slow down, obviously, but there were a lot of gradual inclines and that darn wind in this section, so I felt it was acceptable. If the race had ended there, I would have been quite proud of my efforts. But it goes on...

James ran the kids back to his parked car, and left to pick up Sasha from the finish line to take me the rest of the way. So mile 8 was the only mile I ran alone. I was still feeling pretty good on that mile.

Now comes the rest of the race, which I would prefer to leave out, but I will include it for the sake of posterity.... Sasha joined me at mile 9. I had been visualizing exactly how the end of the race would go: Sasha would appear, he'd tell me to go faster, I'd respond appropriately, push myself through the pain and end triumphantly. That was the dream. But real life is sometimes cruel, and the main point of the next 4.11 miles was that I was rather pathetic and ended up with an almost embarrassing last couple of miles. Sasha tried everything with me, he sang "BINGO" and "Come, Come Ye Saints." I had told him that it would help if he would sing, but the truth is that I just wanted to make him jump through some hoops to show his dedication. (Evil Snicker.) I began to feel like there was a thick rubber band binding me to the 11 min. girl. I could pull against the rubber band for a short burst, so I could obediently go give Sasha a "low 5", but then the rubber band would snap me back into and even slower pace. I began to run with my eyes closed for most of the time. It is slightly unsettling to see someone running with you who looks like they are just taking the most leisurely pace possible, while you are running as fast as you can. So I just listened to the almost constant encouragement, and peeked out every once in a while to make sure I wasn't wandering into the road. The absolute hardest mile was 11, and 12 too, and 13 was no good either (he he). One of those miles (I can't remember which) was my only mile at over 10 pace (10:30 to be exact)). That darn stupid mile was full into the wind (Sasha does not stop much wind) and uphill too. It made me angry, which delighted Sasha. I think I punched Sasha 3-4 times during that mile. He encouraged me to get really angry, but of course, as soon as he told me to, all the fun of it was destroyed and I just kept dragging along. I took off my shoes with about 2 miles to go & finished in my socks. I thought it would allow me to fun faster without dragging all that extra weight, and it worked like a charm...for at least 20 meters.  Very shortly I was back in drudgeville.

Michelle Lowry, the Queen of the Blog, joined us for the last mile and a half or so. I really enjoyed having her there, and I think she may have saved Sasha's life just by being close enough to be a witness.  Calcio joined the party with about half a mile to go, and I was doing my best just to keep upright at this point. It was weird. I thought I would be battling pain, the way you do in a 5K, but I didn't. My knees, hips, feet, everything felt no pain at all. But WHOA, there was just a complete lack of energy that was almost impossible to wade through. It was hard to even care that I SHOULD want to go fast. But all I really wanted was to lie down and sleep. I think I did kick a little for about 50 yards at the very end. Whatever, I finished the darn thing, and I only walked through 2 aid stations (I kept getting gatorade up my nose, and those times I wanted to actually DRINK it) but I did walk just a few steps on a monstrous overpass climb, which was cruel beyond measure.

Overall, I feel kinda proud that I did it, and kind of embarrassed about those last few miles. My ave. pace was 9:26, or something like that. 10 miles at 1:32:08, which is a huge PR for me.

Sasha got the "quote of the day" award after the race. I looked at myself in the mirror and said "my face looks puffy to me, does it look puffy?" To which he answered "yes, but no more puffy than usual." Sometimes I think it's a really good thing that guy's so fast.


Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Comments
From Mom on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:10:47

But you did it!!! Happy first anniversary of running. Thanks to everyone who paced/encouraged, harrassed her. Thanks for posting such an enjoyable blog.

From Kim on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:11:46

That last paragraph is hilarious! I think we all think he is lucky he can run so fast with some of the things he says to us!

Way to go on your first half marathon! Someday we will run the same one at the same time! Planning on seeing the gang tomorrow night!

From Tom on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:14:59

Good job Lybi! And of course with Kim and I both having undergone the Sasha treatment in the past it is always wildly entertaining to hear how others feel about the whole low-5, bingo, tat-tat-tat-tat torture treatment. Glad you didn't have to kill him though, wouldn't be good for the FRB.

From josse on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:15:44

You should be very proud of yourself. That is quite the accomplishment.

From Mom on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:26:50

WOW Lybi! Wasn't your agreement with Sasha to do a half in under 2? Well way to stomp that! You did amazing!

From Kristina on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:27:36

whoops, that was me, not your mom. I'm using her computer and didn't realize it said her name :) It was me :)

From Mik'L on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 18:41:18

Great job Lybi! In a lot of parts I felt like I was reading my one and only half marathon experience. I felt SO much like that at the end. We would be good to run together in a half, although you did beat me by a few minutes on a harder course. Good job and keep it up. I don't think I could handle running with all those fast guys trying to prod me on. LOVE the last paragraph...priceless.

From Brent on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 19:13:13

Lybi, 100 commando points for the PR, first 1/2 marathon. Congradulations. Some boasting for you is in order, proudly you be.

Stay Kool, and under control, B of BS Rools out

From MichelleL on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 19:56:53

Lybi-being a first hand witness I think you handled the last few miles tremendously well. You get 50 commando points from me for each Sasha punch and for each surge you took. That adds up to at least 400 points. Sot that makes 500 for the race :) You were responsive and gave it your all. You should feel horrible at the end of a race, it shows you were racing it. And way to not walk when you wanted to up the hill. It was truly inspiring. I hoped you weren't mad at me for trying to motivate you for that last bit of your race. I am afraid I am not experienced on pacing. It was great to spend some time with my AZ remote buddy!

From Jody on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 20:21:05

Congratulations!! What a way to celebrate! You did an absolutely awesome job!! Enjoy your weekend!

From laura on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 20:28:09

YEA, LYBI !!!!! Congratulations on your first half and for doing it so well and injury-free! I'm sorry that I'm such a worry-wort, but that was my big concern with this race. I'm so happy that it went well. It's funny that your first 8 were great - you can pretend I was running it with you, since that's exactly what I ran today! :o) Next half, girl, it's me and you together!!! (with any other FRB friends too, of course!)

From andee on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 20:37:41

Way to go Lybi!!!! A great time and sounds like a wonderful way to mark your first year of running.

From Christi on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:24:38

Oh the flashbacks! As you know Sasha ran me in the last mile at Painter's and I hated every minute of it! (but of course was thankful for him afterwards) I think you did AWESOME! 9:11 is a great 1/2 pace. Sounds like a fun day w/ the bloggies & so cool that you finished in your socks- hope we get pictures. Great Job!!

From Cody on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:44:26

Nice Job Lybi! I was excited to read your race report and you sure delivered. Hilarious! Your race was awesome.

From crumpyb1 on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:34:56

Congratulations! You did it! You finished!

From Paul T on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:58:01

You told me you like to read my race reports, well right back at you! What an awesome race and report! My motto is "Every race is an adventure!", and you had a great one. Experiences like you had today are what running is all about to me. Good times and bad times, alternately enjoying and battling mother nature, testing our physical and mental limits, adjusting to adversity and enduring to the end, and sharing it all with good friends. You have nothing to be embarrassed about at all. You were victorious today. Congratulations!

From Clay on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:19:37

Congrats on the great time Lybi, you are awesome!!!

From James on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:26:13

Good to see you made it up here and finally did your half marathon after all this time. Now when is that first marathon going to be? Good job on your run today.

From Lynday on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:44:11

You're my hero!

From jtshad on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:18:57

Great job Lybi! Way to gut it out and what a great race report. I am very proud of your persistence to run a great race.

From Jon on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 10:39:15

Awesome job, Lybi. 1/2 marathons are tough races, nothing easy about them. But the first one is the hardest, so it's all downhill from here! I laughed that you ran with your shoes off! And don't forget to put this as a new PR, as well as replacing your old "longest continuous run"- two PR's in one day!

From Ian on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 10:54:59

Well done Lybi, you've fought hard and raced your first 1/2 marathon. Your race report deserves a medal, it has got me and my wife chuckling away. Keep up the good work.

From Lulu on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 18:41:53

Lybi,

There are a lot of people who would kill for a 2:03 first half. Amazing! Congratulations! I am ssssoooo proud of you. BTW, sometimes an effort like that will affect your salt balance and make you puffy. Again congratulations. I think this warrants smiling one entire day for each mile!

From Kerry on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 20:22:27

Loved reading your race report. It reminded me of my first half, which by some strange coincidence was also a 2:03. Those last miles can be really tough, but you can get to the point with your training where you feel like you can just keep going at the end.

From Walter on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 00:13:54

Wow great run Lybi, I didnt know you where up here for this race. If you guys ever need a place to stay for any races in SLC,just let me know. My wife and I would love to have your family after the generosity you showed me down there. Way to go Lybster!

From sarah on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 16:33:56

Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I did have secret plans to make you a cake but just ran out of time...Hope the trip back was good. You guys got out so early. Very impressed. You've got us whooped on trip efficiency. No fun around here without you guys. We had a great time.

Great work on your race. I am now waiting to see you bust my fast time on an aided course...I'll bet you could do it on a tough course. Hope you enjoyed the party and everything but I'm sure you are going to be sooo happy to be home. :)

From Christi on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 17:17:03

What's this?! Happy Birthday in store? I hope its a MOST EXCELLENT BD for the Lybster!

From Brent on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 20:24:16

Happy Birthday

From Lybi on Tue, Apr 08, 2008 at 01:28:28

Weelllllll, after reading all these glowing and encouraging remarks, I am led to wonder, did you people even READ the part about where I started to turn into a lump of jello? Oh well, I'll take it. You are all the best, and I feel absolutely privileged to share a first half time with Terry. Thanks guys!

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