St. George Half. 1:11:15 Warmed up with Logan for early 5 only to realize I had forgotten my chip about 10 minutes before the race. So I ran in and kind of bumped my way around to get a new hip and number. I made one of the major sins I always yell at my team for - get everything ready the night before, but I thought that I had plenty of time in the morning so no worries. Anyway, that kind of gave my heart a little rush just before the gun. Started off with Riley Cook and we were moving. I felt pretty good and felt a good time was in order. 1-5:17, good start feeling quick. 2-5:18, right around last year, so I wasn't too stressed about anything. 3-5:10, a bit quicker up here, but just sat behind Riley for most of the mile, until he decided to really start moving. 4-5:15, Riley had separated himself from me now,but I wanted to keep him in sight to try and work toward my goal. 5-5:26, first part of the hill up Bloomington Hills (this where the course was a little different than last year). 6-5:42, right around what I was last year up this hill and the next. 7-5:42, Bryant past me here near the top of Brigham. I just struggled too much up the hills today. They totally cost me my goal. Mad at myself about these two. They not only cost me time, but threw me off mentally and cost me the rest of the race. 8-5:21, about 5 seconds slower than last year down the hill. Should have been able to go sub 5:10 here at least. 9-5:15, tried to regroup myself here on the trail. Felt good about the split. 10-5:27, fighting fatigue. After the last 5:15 felt so good. I thought I could finish it off with a few more. But I just wasn't fighting and pushing like I should have. 11-5:38, same thing as I crossed over the bridge to the other side of the river; no push, just running. 12-5:34, some guys were coming (Howell brothers, Kimzey cousins) and I just wanted them to pass me. 13-5:28, finally one of them got me with about 600m to go. I kind of went with him for a little and then let him slide by. 13.1-:38 (5:02 pace), just ran it in. Not really pleased with how things turned out today. This is one of the most interesting things about running: last year I had no expectations and ran a 1:12:3something and was petty pleased with it. This year I was nearly 1:30 faster and I feel pretty bummed. What is better to have little/lower expectations and leave happier more often or to have loftier goals with mo of a chance of disappointment? If this was one of my runners I would tell them to quit moping and be happy about the quicker time. Easier said than done. I really expected to be pushing to break 1:10 today - and I think if I ran this again I could, so that's why I'm blah.... Shoulda, coulda, woulda - I hate you. Now just about a month of hard work until Phoenix. I still think I am on track for my goal there, but a 1:10 would have been a nice bit of confidence. (Boston 964.75)(Rocket2 30.5) Goals for next week: recover quickly, hopefully, and get back to some mileage and workouts. | 