The 2010 St. George MARATHON!!!!!!!!!!!!

(These first two photos should be at the bottom, but my computer won't let me put them down there.)

Here we are at 3:30am before we go over to the buses to head up to the starting line of the ST. GEORGE MARATHON!!!!! Chad, Clint, Bennett (Clint's friend from BYU, known as Prince Bennett to our girls because they had a crush on him) and me. I will point out that Bennett grew that really styling mullet just for this race.
We are about 10 minutes away from starting the race up in Central, Utah. We are trying to now be a bit nervous. We had tried to chill out a bit by wrapping ourselves up in the metallic emergency blankets they were handing out and laying on the ground to try and sleep a little. I actually did fall asleep for at least 15 minutes. It was a nice power nap since I only had three hours of sleep that night. We did think it was funny that the warmest year they have had for this race was the year they started giving out emergency blankets at the start line. It was still chilly, around 59 degrees, we were told.

I ran this race thinking about "inspiration". There were a lot of inspiring things with the marathon. As I had been training and running the marathon course I was very inspired by the beautiful area. I love the change in geology and vegetation as you start in an area that is part of the Great Basin Cold Desert and we pass the changing point at Snow Canyon State Park to the Mohave (Hot) Desert. With that change there is a difference in smells because of the different plants and the view of Snow Canyon is always breathtaking.
During the actual marathon I didn't focus so much on the scenery, as I focused on the road ahead of me. I was very inspired by the people around me running, my brothers, Bennett and other friends I new were running. Chad and Bennett were much faster than me so I stuck with Clint until mile 11 and I really enjoyed running with him.
When we passed through Brookside there were signs for Clint and people cheering for him. Katheryn, Clint's now fiance, is from Brookside so her brothers and father were there cheering for him. I loved how he beamed and it gave a lot of renewed excitement to our run. In Veyo we had Cottam cousins cheering like mad for Clint! I think they were shocked to see me running too and because I have changed quiet a bit in the last few years with weight and my hair - they didn't really recognize me. We were looking for Katheryn because she said she would be in Veyo to cheer for Clint. We almost missed her, but finally saw her. Katheryn's mom was going crazy with the cheering! Katheryn gave Clint a big hug and a kiss on the cheek and off we went again. I think the adrenaline rush from Katheryn just pushed Clint right up the Veyo hill.
As for me, the Veyo hill sounded ominous, but didn't look all that bad. It felt that bad though. I did a slow steady run up the whole thing. In fact, I did run (sometimes slowly) the entire course of the race, except for when I stopped at aid stations to put on Bengay (icy-hot) - which was pretty much every aid station in the last half of the race. My left hamstring was bugging me, but the icy hot sure made a big difference and I tried to run at a pace that didn't bother it so much.
When I went ahead from Clint I found myself trying to keep up with the 5 hour people. There was a pacer running with balloons on a stick so she was very visible. I was amazed she could keep holding that stick of balloons for 26.2 miles!
Along the way I saw many different runners and even chatted with a few. Most I talked to were also running their first marathon. I really loved observing a grandfather running with his young teenage granddaughter. That was really cool! They helped each other along the way. The grandfather was helping the granddaughter keep a realistic pace and she would help him start running again after they had taken a break with walking a bit.
I loved watching the signs along the way. Some of my favorites were "Running is a mental sport, and we are all INSANE!" "Anyone can run 20 miles, it is the last 6.2 that count", "We run 26.2 miles because 26.3 would be CRAZY!". It was neat to see all the different signs for different people. I knew there would not be any signs for me and I was okay with that. I was having a good run and I had passed the half way point and then I saw it.......... a sign...... with MY name on it! I was so excited! Katheryn's mom had made me, Clint and Chad a sign to cheer us on! I got a new burst of energy and was even a bit emotional at how much a little cheering on effected me.
The volunteers were so great to help out in the hot sun. I was very glad that I had run the last half of the course so many times because after 18 miles it was not so fun anymore, it was just a goal to endure and finish the race. I had tried to be wise. I was drinking a lot of both Gatorade and water. I was taking some potassium/magnesium pills Clint gave me and I was eating two electrolyte chews each hour. It was hot and I did feel good, but I noticed how tired I was as I hit the 23 mile mark and passed Snow Canyon Parkway. My brothers had told me how awesome the crowds are to cheer for you as you enter town. It was so hot there really were many people there cheering. I knew I was going to finish, but I slowed down my pace quite a bit those last three miles. I was inspired by those around me trying as hard as I felt I was trying to finish. I thought about my pioneer ancestors and how nuts they would think we are for running in the hot St. George sun for 26.2 miles of our own free will and I laughed. Those last three miles were the most challenging of the race, but I made it. I was grateful I had finished and had a real appreciation for all those that have run a marathon and pushed themselves those 26.2 miles to the finish. Kade and the kids were there and cheered for me at the end, along with my mom, Karla and Chad (he finished 20 minutes before I did).
After the race I felt tired, but excited because Clint was going to propose to Katheryn at the finish line after he came in. So, I didn't go cool down and stretch. I drank a bit of water and helped to find Katheryn, but then I felt so dizzy I just had to sit down. I got to visit with Kade and the kids and they helped me drink my waters and eat my ice cream. It was so hot - I couldn't not share with them.
Clint's proposal was great! Katheryn gave Clint his medal and we took some pictures, then he got down on one knee. Katheryn thought he was collapsing and tried to help pick him back up. Clint pulled out the ring that Chad had smuggled to him and she realized what was happening. He asked her to marry him and she said YES! They embraced and kissed and it was SO COOL!!!! They are getting married December 28th in the St. George Temple.
After that I started feeling really sick and nauseous. I went over to the grass with Clint to cool off and started throwing up. I went to the bathroom and threw up some more and then went to meet the kids and threw up all over a tree. Chad suggested I go to the medic tent. I was so out of it I didn't even know there was a medic tent. I only knew I didn't know what to do with myself. I was feeling like I do when I have been in labor for 20 hours and can't deliver the baby. I was just throwing up and throwing up, I had a fever and I couldn't help myself. At the medic tent they gave me an IV of saline and dowsed me with ice water to help regulate my temperature. The doctor said my digestion processes had stopped and my ability to regulate my body's temperature. That is what happens to my body when it has had enough and starts shutting down. I felt so miserable and sick. I finally stopped throwing up around 4pm and I ate a good dinner at 12 midnight that night. I was kind of stiff because I never did end up stretching after the race. I did roll out my leg muscles with a high density foam roller and that helped a lot. Even though I was really sick after the race I was kind of grateful. It resolved some of my lingering "what ifs" from when I had Kari. I was so sick and my body was shutting down, but I always wondered "what if" I had just stuck it out a little longer, could I have had a natural child birth. Now I know for sure the answer is NO. My body had had enough and I couldn't do anything more than I did. I am grateful to have that resolve.
As far as being sick from this race... I may have prevented it if I had taken care of myself better after the race. I was sick running the race and on a Z-pack, but my doctor said if I felt okay I could run. I felt okay, although my chest was a bit tight that morning. Also, I did get blisters that week before the race. I hadn't gotten blisters since May and I got them with some different shoes I was trying out the week of the race. I was frustrated, but I still conquered. My feet are doing great by the way and I am more sick with my cold/flu. I haven't had a voice for the last two days so I have used my little microphone at school.
So, will I do the marathon next year? My initial answer was "NO", even before I ran the race. The training just takes so much time and is rather hard on my body. There isn't much 'moderation' in marathon training. Now, a few days after the race I would say "maybe", but I probably won't train quite as hard, more moderately. My body is still happy after a half marathon and I like those a lot. I am planning on running the Snow Canyon Half Marathon the first weekend of November.
Side note: I was in the weight category, being 13lbs more than is allowed for a regular category, and I placed 50th! In a normal category I would have been 357th. I'll take 50th! It was a great adventure!




Hooray!!! I did the St. George Marathon!
*More photos to come when I get them from my awesome sister.