With a new race director, they've managed to increase the participation in the marathon from about 60 in 2008 to 128 in 2010. The route also changed, making it a little easier by cutting out the 300' hill at mile 7, and running through Sugar City. This is a long-straight, slightly downhill run without any turns. You get into a nice rythym, but it's nice to have turns, because you can see the runners ahead. I held 5th place the entire way from mile 6 on. My half marathon split time was 1:30:45. I was feeling good and KNEW I could PR at 3:10. The wind was strong, out of the north-north east. We had a little help over our right shoulder running west. Not a lot but enough to stay cool. There were in total, about 4 miles north and 1 mile back east into a the head wind. My 8 and 16 mile splits were 55 and 1:53. I was pleased, and KNEW 3:10 to 3:15 was possible, beating my 2008 time of 3:18 on a course that was a little easier. The race manual said Hammer Gel at 8, 12, 16, 20 mile marks, with electrolites at every other mile. I started getting low on energy at 12 and asked for a Gel. "Sorry", they said. But they did have the drink. As luck would have it, none of the tables had Gel, and none had anything but water to drink. Getting low on energy also made me a little angry at the race director. No one had any Gel. No one. Twice I hate half a bananna, but I really wanted some quick sugar and there was none to be found.
The fellow who ran 200 yards ahead for 20 miles started to distance me until the hill at 17 miles. Then I started gaining on him. We finished 45 seconds a part. I know that if I had energy, I'd have knocked off a few minutes. Rosalie and Teresa were at the finish line. I walked right past them and into the coral. I needed to eat. I ate 3 oranges and stuffed a piece of bread. Feeling life return, I then found the race director and expressed my disappointment about the Gel. He was incredulous, and said "I took it out to every station before the race started. They must not know what it was". He left immediately and went out to the stations and got it going for those behind.
I've never slowed down nearly 20 minutes on a second half before. I could have run a better time had things worked out. I should have carried at least one Gel. I was grateful that I had a bagle and a banana for breakfast. Oh yes, for dinner I went to their expo and had the potato bar. This was a different pre-race meal than I'd had before, and it was good. It gave me a little gas during the night, making it hard to sleep, which may or may not have been related. I really like this run and plan to do it again. I think they've got the right course, though I miss running by the Temple.
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