"Without running there is no life"

Please excuse the english grammar.   

I started my race in the 3rd row in heat one corral one right be hind the elites and professionals perfect spot. I was going into the race feeling great but had know idea what the turn out would be because some adjust I made in my training. Adjustments being higher milage weeks and slower more conservative recovery runs and actually did some tempo runs and speed workouts. I'm still trying to learn how to taper down for the marathon but what I did worked but it felt like I was tapering to early. I felt like going into the race that I had no strength and no speed in my legs because I had only ran like 50 miles and 35 miles weeks before the race. So I went into the race with not much confidence in my training but I kept remembering the high milage weeks and the hard speed and tempos workouts re-boosting my confidence. Well back to the race. Started out in a 5.23 mile and was like ok that was a pretty good mile for a down hill start but slow it down no reason to get to excited. Dropped it to a 5.30 and was like good right on pace. Then I was just trying to find a good group of guys to hang with and I would catch a group and stay with them for about a min then would see another group just another 50 meters ahead and would say to myself go catch them it was a good plan until I was going faster then my race plan and was just feeling amazing. I was like better find out what my body could do while I was having a good day plus sense it was only my second marathon had to test my limits. I kept thinking I am running the Boston marathon and still couldn't believe I was there. The course was awesome with all the crowds just pumping you up. They kept commenting on my hair sense it's so long and my race number because it so high. MIle 14 I was in a little bit of trouble. I started to feel my left calve cramp up and was like you can't do this to me. I have never had this happen to me so eased up a little and tried to do that slow running stride stretch on my left side and I was lucky that it worked. I kept pressing on I was probably in or around 40th place tell about mile 18 then I started to feel my fast start. My half marathon time is my second fastest half marathon ever. I kept pushing it to mile 20 hoping that I wouldn't crash to hard knowing that even if I run a 75 min second half I would me at 2:25 pace but then the hills came and they kicked my but. I was loosing hope after mile 22, 23 and Aaron Metler the St. George Marathon winner caught me and gave me some extra motivation and confidence to try and find a second wind. I dug down and just tried to salvage the last 3 miles of the race. I kept telling my self that if I average the last 3 miles in 6 mins/mile I would be under 2:30. The legs were shot no energy left dieing to just cross the finish line finally I could see it and could see people behind me coming up but no one passed. Crossed the line hit the watch and started to get lighted headed and fell to my knees. I was like dang I don't want to be one of those kind get up you idiot but before I got up on my own two people grabbed me and stood me up. Which I was grateful for. They followed me just to make suer I was fine but I was walking on my own. I have never felt like this after race ever. I was cramping every part of my legs just trying not stop walking having it get worse. After about 20 mins I think it was 20 mins maybe longer. I was really out of it. I felt that I could finally bend over and change my shoes. Then I saw Paul Petersen and as curious to know how he finished and it was great news, he had qualified and it was awesome to know the 3rd overall American and to have him know who I was. Great guy that well deserve it. He inspires me that I can maybe make it to that level of running one day. Fun race to test my limits and to wonder what would happen if I would have gone a out a little more conservative. Chicago here I come. 2:22:00!!!!

Splits:

Mile 1 - 5.23

Mile 2 - 5.30

Mile 3 - 5.22

Mile 4 - 5.17

Mile 5 - 5.30

Mile 6 - 5.18

Mile 7 - 5.10

Mile 8 - 5,18

Mile 9 - 5.17

Mile 10 - 5.20

Mile 11 - 5.19

Mile 12 - 5.09

Mile 13,14 - 10.41

Mile 15 - 5.37

Mile 16- 5.16

Mile 17 - 5.39

Mile 18 - 5.50

Mile 19 - 5.36

Mile 20 - 6.08

Mile 21 - 7.30

Mile 22 - 7.05

Mile 23 - 6.08

Mile 24 - 5.38

Mile 25 - 6.09

Mile 26 - 7.22 (1.2mile)