This race was fun for me. I recently ran a marathon 3 wks ago....which went awful!!! I was still very sore. Big Cottonwood Marathon was unlike any race I have ever done. It was SSSSOOOO downhill. It made SG Marathon seem like a flat course. I also feel like I suffered the consequences of that race. I was much sorer than usual. I had a massage by Adam at the Running Ctr the Tuesday to help relieve my calf soreness and IT band pain. I was even debating on doing the Marathon at all. Peg talked me into running with her. She has been having sciatic issues and hasnt able to train as she had planned. She said that we should try to run the marathon in this method she had heard called the YELLOW, ORANGE, RED method. (So you run the first 1/3 of the marthon in the Yellow zone which is super easy pace, then the next 1/3 in the Orange zone which is a little brisker, but shouldnt be killing yourself, then the last 1/3 in the the Red zone in which the Racing actually begins). NOrmally I wouldn't try something like this...but what did i have to loose?!
Morning of the race. Ryan and I met at Pegs house and rode up with Peg and sheryl. Went to the bathroom and huddled by the fires. I hung out with some members of Team Booyah! (Who were all running in memory of Brayden who had died this yr. He got hit and killed while riding his bike with the Tri Club. I also worked with Brayden at the Hospital and it was very sad to see him go). As the race was getting nearer, I had to go to the bathroom again. Peg and Sheryl headed toward the clothing drop off. I was suppose to meet them there. After I left the porta potty, the race had already started. I went to clothing dropp off anyway. Didnt see them there. but just decided to jump in and start running whereever. Peg decided not to run with a watch, I did however, not that i looked at it much in the race, but its always nice to know!
This race was actually kinda fun. I started out in the Yellow zone. Running super easy pace. But since I started back with the 5 hr people, I was still passing people. It mentally felt good. I say Natalie Moss, TJ stout, and my cousin Randy. I ran with each of them for awhile. Coming into Veyo. My IT band started to hurt on my knee. Bother! So i switched to otherside of road and ran. Ran up veyo hill. Felt super easy and my nice Yellow pace. (820 pace for Yellow Zone)
Orange Zone. This is the progressive uphill stretch. My favorite....NOT! Ran this at a slightly faster pace for first 3 miles (mile 9-12). My IT band started to hurt so bad. I stopped at Aid station. They rubbed Icy hot on knee. I took 3 IBprofens. Strectched. Then started running again. I decided to back off a little and run more a Yellow zone pace, until the gradual uphill was done, in hopes to preserve my knee the rest of the race. Ran down to Snowcanyon area (840 Orange Zone pace)
Red Zone: Downhill!!! yeah!! picked up the pace. I prob did more of a orange zone for first 4 miles. My knee was still bugging, but not so bad. Didnt hurt as much when i was doing downhill. around mile 20-21ish, saw Peg and Ran with her awhile. Talked for a bit. At this point. I was actually feeling really good. LIke i felt like I had alot of energy. (more than i typically have at mile 20!) I told peg that I was gonna go. Ran the rest of the race feeling good. I didnt hit the wall! yeah. I was just glad that I wasnt hobbeling!! Came down to Diagonal. Ran past Ryans moms house. (No one was outside...bummer....they prob got sick of waiting....lol). At this point I felt great. Knee was numb. So I ran the last 1.5 miles in the Red zone. Seriously felt so good to pass people at the end....again...this is new for me...im usually a zombie at this point! Saw my friend Heather S when I turned onto the last block of the marathon. She came out and we High Fived eachother!! Yeah. It was done!! (Red zone pace 835).
At the finish line I saw Courtney and Haley. They had a great race! I then sat in the Grass waited for Ryan. I saw and talked with several friends. I saw tiffany gust, Lisa, Mark L...to name a few!
I felt so good at the end. Like I just maybe ran a training run. The only thing bothering me was my knee. Which im sure Im gonna pay for later....!!!!
Ryan did great and beat his time last year by 5 minutes.
Would I run this style again....MAYBE....if I dont train or have an injury. I maybe will. The main Con to this was I had a hard time guaging my speed. I had more than enough energy at the end. Maybe to much! The main Pro...is I ran off of how I "felt"...I had a good run the whole day, didnt hit the wall, was able to enjoy the race, and was able to actually pass people (again rare! :)
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