Oh boy, where to start. This was a tough race for me. I came into the race fresh, but also understanding that my longest run had been 16 miles (ouch!). I ran with my brother and he was in the same boat. We started with the goal of 4:00, an achievement we both blew out of the water last year. We ran the first mile a little slow and the second a little fast but after that we leveled into around a 9minute pace.

Mile 12 we picked up my coach Wendy who was walking (dropped out of the race at mile 4, but walking is only way to get out of canyon). She attempted to join us for miles 12-14 then bowed out to the porta-pottie. That is why we slowed down there, but we still crossed the half in 1:58:XX which was on perfect goal pace.

As mentioned I felt like I had gas problems in my stomach starting mile 5ish, found a porta-pottie for relief around mile 17. This helped, but then it came back, resulting in another porta pottie at 24. After 17 we were both in trouble. Wonder if it was directly correlated to our long runs??!! We dropped pace and took a short walk break during 18, ran the whole hill, and made it to the trail with one or two more short walk breaks.

21 was where it started getting really hairy, and we both KNEW it was coming. When the wall came it smacked us both right in the face. My quads felt like they took a beating with a baseball bat after the canyon. The walk breaks started feeling really good and longer and longer. It was becoming hard to start back up again it hurt so much. By the last couple miles we were walking almost as much as running.

Sure enough we made the finish line albeit a little later that we hoped and planned, but that is why they make you do the race I guess. Today we saw the result of a lack of preparation combined with a bond of family. Last year it was I who helped my brother through (and dropped him at 18). This year he dragged me along and refused to drop me, period. I told him I should have never gone on last year either, issue resolved. He was beaming when he told my mom after that he had to drag along two ironmen (myself and Wendy), himself not yet being one.

Train properly. My training period was sad and inadequate, the worst part is I raced with that knowledge.

Got the medal and bottle of something or other. Got morning clothes bag from side tent. Finish line spread is minimal, for $95 you get orange slices, bananas and apples that had been sitting out all day. We also arrived too late for beer, they ran out at least 15 minutes before we arrived, leaving many hundreds of dissappointed marathoners behind us as well who did not receive beer (or real food for that matter). They budgeted 5 kegs for 3400 finishers and were also serving to non-racers, go figure. Can you tell the lack of beer upset me?


Horrible training


This is the best course out there. This race also has the best volunteers, scenery, spectators, and participants. Unfortunately through the canyon there is very limited porta-potties, lots of people on side of the road. If you wanted real food after you race you have to wait around until noon (without beer). We finished at 10:18a. Who in their right mind would wait that long for food, that means the winner has to wait 3.5ish hours for real food, and to receive his award. It would also be nice if they gave out gels at earlier aid stations in the canyon, I didnt find much use for the gels offered at mile 24. The 5 and 10Kers do not need gel! (I think this is why only the last few aid stations had gel).