St George Outing

What a fun trip to St george this last weekend. We ended up renting a house for the weekend, which was the best idea ever! Thanks Amy. We had our friends Pedro and Carol join us too.
We got down there Friday at 5ish. Pedro and Carol were 15 minutes behind. We got all settled and headed over to the Expo to pick up our race packets. This was my 5th trip down the registration isle.

I really had no expectations going into this race. My thought was that I hadn't done any speed work and all my training has been based on my A race, the Wasatch 100, three weeks previous. I really took a week off after the Wasatch. This turned out to be a great thing as my legs were well rested.

Pedro and I took off around 4:45AM in route to catch a bus. 26.2 miles later we we're dropped off. Right when I stepped of the bus I knew it was way warmer than I remembered it being in years past. I race here back in 2008 and it rained almost the entire time… from start to finish! We made our way passed all the fire pits and to the second to last row of shitters and waited in line. I focused and told myself that I really needed to unload here or I'd be hating it somewhere along the run. Pedro had to pee bad enough, that he ran in into the bushes. He came back while I was still about five back in line. Pedro hung out with me and decided he better give the shitter a shot too. We both got lucky!

We hung out at the fire pits for a bit before dropping off our drop bags. Pedro took notice that they had a Guatemalan flag, I asked him if he had put Guatemala on the registration form. He did and I replied, "The flag is for you then". We squeezed or way into small space in between the 3:30 and 3:40 pacers. Pedro thought it was too close but I assured that he would be fine.

The gun goes off and I start to make my way to the left to pass on the gravel. I had decided to just go as hard as I could comfortably go for 26.2. I didn't wear my Garmin and didn't even start my watch. Classic Shaun on race day. I did look at the time when I passed the starting line, 6:52AM. As I passed the first mile marker I did a speed check and I knew it was around an 8 minute mile. I got out of traffic around the two mile marker and settled into a pace. I guessed I was around a 7:30 mile. I felt really good. Coming into Veyo I hit the 3:10 pacer and his big following… Wow!! I passed them as soon as I could, Didn't really like that group for some reason. They caught me going half way up the Veyo hill. I suck at hills apparently. This has been a theme at my last few marathons. I pass going down and get passed going up. Hill work…

At the top of the hill I ran into Jason Garlick and asked him how he was doing and what he was going for. He said he was trying to qualify for Boston and needed a 3:14 and then asked the same of me. I said I had no idea and that I was planning on a 3:20- 3:30. I ran with Jason through aid station at mile 11 and then left him behind along with the 3:10 pacer. I came across the 13.1 at 1:34. I was really happy about that and told myself "lets try and negative split this" I ran into Dre and her friend right out of the 13.1 aid station and said HI.

At mile 22 I had a little twinge in both my quads on the outside. I thought they better not cramp. I drank water and Gatorade at all the aid stations and made sure to keep up on that. I pounded my last of 3 Gu's and went for it. I ran the last 3.2 miles pretty hard… I'm guessing 19:55 for the last 3.

I came across the finishline at 3:05:23. I was way happy to be done and to have pushed it as hard as I did. I meet up with my awesome cheering section and waited to Cheer Pedro through. I felt bad as the day really started to heat up and knowing that there were a lot of runners out there.

Pedro came through around 4:35 for his first marathon. Awesome! We all headed home. Pedro BBQ'd as I passed out on the couch out in the patio. Thanks Pedro. We had a great lunch and headed out to Sand Hollow to swim and enjoy the beach there. That was perfect for recovery and an awesome time. Needless to say I slept well that night.

We took our time getting up and out of there Sunday as we had no check out time. We rolled into Orem around 7:15PM. Mercedes and Ryan were so awesome and brought us over some yummy Dinner. I'm so blessed to have such an awesome daughter and son in-law.  What an awesome weekend!