What a challenging day! To skip the mumbo jumbo see results here https://www.runraceresults.com/Secure/RaceResults.cfm?ID=RCQW2013. Otherwise, read on! This morning I woke up at 3:50, ready to go. I decided to sleep in my running clothes so I could grab breakfast and head out the door. I slept 6 hours and felt good. I drove up to Ogden and had plenty of time to board the bus. Jeff Galloway was at the start, offering mental tricks with encouragement. I remember reading something in the pamplet from him, something about telling your brain to shut up and to release blood flow when negative thoughts enter the mind. I found myself jumbling the information while saying aloud, "Shut up brain. Bleed good thoughts." I was sure that wasn't the message so I stopped with the brain discipline. The temps were okay, but the rain was incessant from the start. I sat near one of the bon fires for just under 2 hours and only got colder the more time I sat. I did a short warm-up to get my body moving. It was not moving. Oh well, time to start. I had 26+ miles to "warm up!" I saw some fast ladies at the start, we huddled around each other and talked about half times we planned to hit. The first miles were comfortable but the rain was constant. I was so glad I grabbed my hat on the way out. Puddles started forming on the roads and occasionally I would see someone really make a splash. It was sort of fun at the beginning. We were totally hardcore. It reminded me of TOU in 2011. I was sure it would get better and I would dry off. I remember landing in a huge puddle around mile 4 and thought it was strange to not feel the cold water. My feet were clearly wet as evidenced my the gushing water from my shoe with each step. My feet were numb already and my body followed suite. From my forearms (what?) to my legs, the cold was literally paralyzing. I felt I was carrying 10 pound dumbells and lifting bags of sand strapped to each leg. My muscles went from cold to tingling pain then numb and finally muscle fatigue near the end. I was suffering, but clearly everyone else around me was too. I leap frogged with Josse for several of these miles, but mostly the women were keeping their places. My mantra for these miles was "light as a feather." That's all I had. I knew something was wrong around mile 7. My right leg was not lifting and responding the way it needed to. I could feel my glut and hamstring begin to tighten up. Instead of getting warmer, my body continued down a freezing spiral. Oh and the never ending headwind completing the chilling process perfectly! Around mile 12, I knew my goal needed to change. There was no way I was going to get my goal. Under different conditions, I believed I could run under 3 hours today, I really did. I changed my goal to qualify for Boston, giving me a generous gap if I had to walk by the end. I really wasn't sure I would be able to run the last half without walking at some point. My body was simply not responding and miraculous healing was not likely in the final miles. I hit the half around 1:33, just 2 mins behind where I wanted to be. I knew I was not holding back at this point but hanging on. My right glut was really starting to ache and it radiated up my back (crusty old injury laid dormant till today, nice.) Surprisingly, the hill miles didn't feel horrible, but manageable. When I reached the crest around mile 16, I considered dropping out. I couldn't fathom running 10 more miles without serious problems. I had a brief thought of Andrea and her recent surgery. It scared me into a near walk for about 5 seconds before realizing I was being dramatic. I resumed pace and convinced myself to keep going. I knew had just finished the hardest part of the course and some good downhill was coming. I also didn't want to walk by my family at the bottom of the canyon. I could just see them standing in the rain with their kids and homemade signs, waiting for me to WALK on by. "Thanks for coming out everyone to watch me on a leisurely stroll!" Nope, that wasn't happening, even if I had to run my leg to a nub, I wasn't walking. My pace became a shuffled wog. My earlier conviction quickly faded as I told myself I could walk after the hills, but I knew it would come with a price. I wasn't going to start up again. My mantra here was "the sooner I finish, the sooner Steve (spouse) can dig his elbow into my tush." And that is for real, my friends. Then Sheridan (Summertime) came. Oh thank heavens!! I cry babied for a mile or so about my glut, he was supportive and peppy. I saw Allie and James around mile 22ish followed shortly by my husband and kids. I tried to look cool while I passed, but was later informed by my daughter that I looked "dead" instead:) Thanks, hon! Then things started to turn around in the final miles after Sheridan offered me his jacket. I began to feel my body again. My legs started to respond and I picked it up on the trail passing several men and one girl. Sheridan was very helpful in locating water, gels and paving the way for the tangents. At mile 24.5 (?) Angie appeared out of no where! Oh, her and Sheridan were life savors (saviors, savers? All of the above.) Their support and encouragement in those final miles was invaluable. I saw my parents in the last mile as well as my brother, Adam and wife, Emily. With the end in sight, I sprinted to a finish in ~ 3:12:05. I walked straight to the massage tent and immediately a masseuse provide bitter-sweet torture to my limbs. My friends and family surrounded the table, offering words of encouragement and congrats. Seeing them all so soaked, evoked emotion of love and appreciation for such a loving support system. Thank you all so much! That, more than anything meant the world to me. I wasn't certain on the results. I walked straight to my car and went home. I couldn't convince myself to stay another 2 hours in the rain for the awards ceremony that I wasn't even certain I would be apart of. I placed on the leader board in 8th (9th with one masters) overall and 2nd in my age group (once overalls are counted out?). Everyone was cold and wet today, the test was how we responded to it. There was no doubt some mentally and physically tough ladies that toed the line today. I'm inspired by these impressive athletes! I need to make sure I leave room for a special THANKS. To Bonnie, for helping with my taper plan and encouragement along the way. Allie, thanks for your strategic planning as well:) Burt, thank you for keeping my mind sane during my stomach flu/ taper week by playing lots of Dice with Buddies. Angie, offering your support in that last 10ish minutes. For coaching me to a faster-than-I-would-have-finished, finish.:) Sheridan, where to start. Taking time off work, driving from Idaho Falls early this morning to run that last 10k, then heading straight back. That wonderful jacket of yours! And, being so helpful and encouraging. I would have walked if it weren't for you. You were good for at least 8 minutes off my overall time that I would have otherwise blown. You're the best. The countless messages from wonderful friends who believed in me. Thank you all for your support in this process. I have never felt so loved and supported in my life. Although I didn't get a PR and....well..hated did not enjoy the race, I still walked away with much graditude for accomplishing something so physically taxing, gratifyingly tough and mentally challenging, no matter the outcome. So grateful I can run. Ohhhhh the splits- 1-6:42, 2-6:58, 3-6:44, 4-6:50, 5-6:59, 6-6:56, 7-7:08, 8-6:58, 9- 7:18, 10-7:07, 11-7:22, 12-7:20, 13-7:33, 14-7:28, 15-7:42, 16-7:31, 17- 7:30, 18-7:42, 19-7:33, 20-7:43, 21-7:48, 22- 7:39, 23-6:49 (coat effect:), 24-7:34, 25-7:30, 26-7:19, (.35)-7:00 
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