and neither did i.

I actually enjoyed the run, AND i did well.

One of the cool things about runs like this is they give you a chip that you place on your shoe. When you go over the start line your time is recorded and that is when the run ’starts’ for you. The chip was scanned at two other points in this race: at the halfway point and at the point where the 5K starts, i.e. 3.1 miles from the end of the race. When they post results, you can see your pace for the first half of the marathon, for the last 3.1 miles, and for the marathon overall. I am pretty happy in that i kept a fairly steady pace the entire route. I never walked, just ran, and felt pretty good at the end. According to SOP, i was grinning like a fool when i crossed the finish line.

I felt good after the race and still feel great. The only physical problem that is bothering me is a blister i got on my arch. I felt it coming, knew it would be bad, but was worried that trying to fix it would only result in two blisters instead of one. So, for now, i have one 1 3/4″ X 1 1/4″ blister under my arch. It could have been worse.

Interested in stats?

Chip time:

3:49:29

Chip pace:

8:45 (8 min 45 second mile average over entire 26.2 miles)

Place Overall:

309 / 1946

Place in age/sex division:

8 / 103

Place in sex overall:

58/818

1/2 marathon split (time to 13.1 mile point):

1:51:14

Pace to 1/2 marathon point:

8:29

Last 5K split (time for last 3.1 miles):

28:41

Pace for last 5K:

9:13

have i mentioned that i am nervous about the marathon? maybe a couple of times, even? ah well, it is true - i am nervous about the marathon.

i worry that i will hate it, or that i will trash my body, or that i will be so incredibly slow that the people in clown costumes will be passing me by.

and i worry that i will not have the correct music.

The salt lake marathon allows you to listen to music. SOP thinks i am probably the only person to be listening to an audio book. So, interspersed through “Sofies Welt” from Jostein Gaarder (one of my faviorite books), i will be listening to the following songs:

set…

1. There’s a girl, The Dittybops
2. Believe, Lola Rennt soundtrack
3. Sister Kate, The Dittybops
4. What you see is what you get, Save Ferris
5. Running two, Lola Rennt Soundtrack
6. If I Were God, bandits soundtrack
7. Na Und?, nena
8. Miles Away, Goldfinger
9. Nothing to Prove, Goldfinger
10. Turn it up, Save Ferris
11. What Happened to you?, The Offspring
12. Verb - that’s what’s Happening, Moby
13. Just a Girl, No Doubt
14. Nothing to Prove, Goldfinger
15. Excuse Me Mr, No Doubt
16. 1-2-8, Mighty Mighty Bosstones

I’ve got over 6 hours of material. I hope to need only 4 - 5 hours of it, but we’ll see.

go!