Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't

I went into this race with the intent to cross the finish line with no injury.  I actually wanted to cross with no pain but along the way I was reminded that is kind of hard to do.  My right ITB just wants to get me every time.  The last 5 or 6 miles calls for some walking breaks more often than I would like in front of all the spectators!  

My training this year was just running...no specific things to help me get anywhere near my best.  But that is ok and that is what I wanted and that is what I got.  I knew I needed to keep things slower than a 9:30-10:00 minute pace the first half or I would really regret it later.  I was pretty good to do that.  Every once in a while I found myself going a bit faster but I was pretty good to bring it back down and enjoy.

I started off with David Ludlow.  He had plans to go a little faster than I wanted at the start so we were only together till about mile 4 and then I told him I wanted to keep to my plan.

After awhile I ran into a guy who seemed to be holding a very steady 10 minute pace so I started talking to him.  He was the legendary Val Barnes.  He was a speedy guy back in his hay day.  It was a pleasure to run several miles with him.  

Val started going a little slower so when Bob Bradshaw and Dave Hill came up behind me I started in with them also.  At this point it kind of traded off with Val and Bob/Dave...depended on which one was going what I wanted to do.  

Then we came upon David Ludlow who was really struggling...we got him running a bit but he was not doing well at all.  I left them and just did my own thing as my ITB started giving me it's woes.

As I got to about mile 24 I looked a bit ahead and saw none other but Tom Lee who was suppose to be reaching the finish line about an hour before me!  I ran to catch up to him and could tell he had not been having much fun at all.  He said he gave up on his 3:30ish attempt at about mile 5.  So we were able to run the last couple miles together.

It is always amazing to me to take that journey....whether I am trained and can run a PR or less ready and run a bit slower.  I am so grateful I am able to do this with my mind and body.  

This was 9 SGM in a row for me.  I suppose I will need to run next year to make it 10.  Then maybe (or maybe not) Tom and I will take a break from marathons for a while and just do half marathons.

After taking a week off after the marathon I got out with Dan and Carolyn this morning for 4.25 and then about 40 minutes of Zumba.  It all felt good.  My heel is still a little sore after running but not during.  

Last day with Carolyn before she has to go in tomorrow and have a double masectomy.  :(

Today I got to push my good friend, Elsha in her 101st race!  It was a beautiful morning and quite a nice course to push her.  I like that there was not a lot of down hill...or up hill!  I liked the gentle downhill slope of most of it.  Pushing up or pulling back on the chair for downhill is hard on the shoulders and neck.  

Since I ran SGM 2 weeks ago and had some knee trouble the last 6 miles I wasn't quite sure what to expect today.  I would have been happy with 2:30.  But I surprised myself and came in just over 2;10.  The last few miles on the Jordan Parkway Trail were probably the hardest.  I didn't love the windy trail...it is hard to steer the chair back and forth.  But I was very happy with the whole thing!

I definitely love being with Elsha and both of her parents.  What amazing people they all are!  

Easy, enjoyable run with my hubby in the beautiful sunshine!

Tom and I decided to sleep until we woke up.  When we woke up it was dark as could be and I was bugged that we woke up so early anyway...but it was actually 7:00.  Crazy how dark it is in the mornings right now.  It will be nice to go back to regular time instead of day light savings time.

We did about 8 together and then I added some on my own.  Beautiful morning!  Love, Love, Love!