RACE RECAP: Mt. Nebo Half
There is so much backstory to this race that I am not sure how much I should recount? I originally signed up for the marathon then downgraded to the half marathon, only to reserve that decision by switching back to the marathon. Only to internally go back and forth on that decision the past couple weeks — which ended with me going back to the half marathon the day before the race.
As of noon on Friday afternoon I was very much going to do the marathon. But, by 2:30pm I knew I couldn’t. Well, shouldn’t. It’s been nearly two years since my last road marathon and I’ve really wanted to run one — but, I just know that my ankle couldn’t hold up for 26.2 miles this weekend.
Don’t get me wrong — it’s feeling much better. And, I know I can do the distance. But, I aggravated it a bit this past week chasing my brother’s dog around the house after he stole one of my running shoes. I was just stupid and zigged when I should have zagged. I’ll be fine.
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I just need to be cautious because I don’t want a major setback. So, I’ve been stretching, icing and using my tens machine on it the past few days to help loosen it up a bit. I feels much better so I’m not too worried about it going forward from here on out.
But, I am glad I went with the half marathon for many reasons. For one — it wasn’t a marathon (just half of one), I got a yearly personal best and it was my fastest time for a road half since 2016. Not to mention I had a lot of fun.
I made the hour long trek from Bountiful to Payson on Saturday morning at 2:45am. An ungodly hour. I probably should have stayed somewhere in Utah County, but I’d much rather sleep in my own bed on race night. Plus, I had too much to do on Friday night to warrant a sleepover.
A race isn’t fun unless you do it with your friends! #nebohalf #half151 @josherwalla.run
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But, I deliberately left my house without my running backpack to make sure I stuck with the half marathon. I don’t run marathons without it, mainly because it’s stuffed with fuel and electrolytes I run with for distances longer than a half marathon. I just knew if I brought it with me I’d probably be hopping on those marathon buses instead.
I made a quick pit stop at the gas station on my out to get a Monster energy drink for Mindy. It was part of my bribe for switching me from the marathon to the half marathon at the extreme last minute. She truly is the best and someone I missed working with at Runtastic Events.
After switching my race distance I met up with Zack, Amanda and some of my other friends at the buses. We waited a few minutes to jump on because we didn’t want to be waiting for the gun time longer than needed in the cold mountains. But, once we hopped on I sat with Zack and Amanda while I munched on my pecans and brie cheese. Seriously, my favorite pre-race meal that I’ve found while on keto.
But, that’s a post for another day.
Pre-race selfie. Nailed it! #nebohalf #half151 @josherwalla.run
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Once we got up to the start line it was pretty much a party. Lizz and her mom were up there volunteering and manning the aid station which also served as the Mile 13 aid station for the marathoners. Not to mention the bunch of friends from AIIA, Trails & Pavement, Run4fun and the many other local running groups. It was fun, as always.
After taking some group pictures we lined up and the gun sounded at 6:30am. Zack and I started off together, but we waited for the mass of humanity to pass before we crossed the start line. We finally crossed at 6:34 sharp. I wanted to make sure I knew the exact time because I wanted to keep track as best I could with my FitBit (I don’t run with a Garmin).
We started off fairly fast. Something I knew I probably shouldn’t be doing, but I really couldn’t help it. My legs felt great and I just let them do what they felt like doing. The course is steep anyways so sometimes you just have to let gravity do it’s thing.
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Zack and I weaved around the runners down the canyon until we caught up with Amanda at around Mile 1-2ish. Knowing we’re basically the same pace — all three of us stuck together, something I was glad about because she does intervals. I have an interval clock, but it just needs new batteries — not a big task, it just speaks to my laziness I guess?
But, after running last week’s Run Elevated Half with Amanda — I knew on this course we could both get a yearly personal best. Something we were chasing last week. Nebo is about the same elevation drop as Run Elevated, but over almost all 13.1 miles compared to Run Elevated where most of that drop is in the first 8-9 miles. I felt sticking with Amanda while doing intervals again would get me there.
Plus, we’d have a buttload of fun like last week.
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After running with Zack for the first 4-5 miles he zoomed down the canyon to run with some co-workers leaving Amanda and I to run together. The run felt easier than last week’s race — at least for both of us until about mile nine. That’s when I hit a wall.
I usually hit the wall at mile 9 at this race anyways, but I felt more side swiped than usual. Not only was my energy zapped but my left foot was again blistering and I felt a toenail hanging on by a prayer. I left my F-Bomb packet in my dropbag so I didn’t really have anything for fuel — so I just pushed through it.
If it wasn’t for having Amanda and London (who joined us around then) around at that point I probably would have just walked the rest of the way. It didn’t help that the sun was blazing and I was having a hard time catching my breath during intervals. I don’t know if it was the air quality or just conditioning? But, Miles 11-13 were pretty bad.
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But, I stuck with it as bad as I could and Amanda was a great encourager those last few miles. A role I played for Amanda last week during Run Elevated. By Mile 12 that we were going to get our year best, but instead of walking it out we gave it everything. Timothee came to help run me in as Amanda sprinted ahead and knowing that I was probably going to collapse once I stopped I sent him ahead to grab me a water.
As I made the turn toward the finish line I glanced at the clock and knew I got my goal. I felt so grateful for what it took to get me there. Not just the will and drive within me, but the friends and community around me that helped me get there.
But, at the same time as I was having these thoughts and emotions my body was hating me. Timothee threw me a water which I guzzled with no problem and while still feeling light headed I plopped myself in front of the ice bin full of water. I helped myself to two other bottles of water before attempting to make my way to the finisher’s corral for more food.
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I didn’t make it too far. I plopped myself down again, but this time on a cot at the first aid station. I knew I just needed more time to recoup so I kept drinking water while the volunteer gave me some electrolyte tablets. I knew I was going to be fine and that did the trick after laying down for a while.
After meandering around the finish line with friends for a few hours longer until the marathoners came I decided to make the trek back home, but of course not before I stopped at McDonald’s for a Diet Dr. Pepper. Not only did it keep me awake for the drive home, but it hit the spot. It was perfection — as it will always be.
Looking back on the race there are a number of things that stood out to me as lessons — one, don’t make fetch happen, two, fuel better and learn a system that makes sense and that you stick too, and three, figure out what to do with your shoe sizes. My feet were the true casualties of the day, especially my left foot. It was jacked up.
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My left foot is two sizes larger than my right foot and it just positions itself different in my size 13 shoes. But, I worry about going up a size larger because than my right foot might be too small for the larger shoe? Which I feel would cause problems for the right foot — which is also the foot I sprained.
See the frustration with my dilemma?
I really need to find a running store where I can buy a size 13.5-14 left shoe and size 11.5-12 right shoe. Or heck I should just start running barefoot? That’d probably fix everything, no?
Anyways, I figure it out. But, the focus now is the East Canyon 10K next Saturday. I’ll be running that with my friend and former co-worker. I’ve owed her a race for a while now so I am pretty excited.
A post shared by I’m Josher … (@josherwalla) on Aug 25, 2018 at 9:47pm PDT
But, after that it’s Revel Big Cottonwood before my schedule tapers down quite a bit in the fall. I only have three half marathons planned late September and December (Moonlight Half, The Haunted Half and The Bakers Dozen Half). I have a bunch of smaller distance races and group runs planned, but instead of trying to push for the Pony Express 50 this year I know my body needs to wait. But, that’s a post for another day.
I feel the tide turning in my favor and that feeling alone excites me. I’m getting back to where I want to be and I can’t wait to get there. It’s just step by step and one foot in front of the other.
2013 – 2:09:25 (41) (PR)
2014 – 2:18:45 (61)
2015 – 2:40:02 (87)
2017 – 3:02:55 (127)
2018 – 2:43:15 (151)
East Canyon 10K; September 1
Revel Big Cottonwood Half Marathon; September 8
Moonlight Half Marathon; September 21
Reese’s Loaned Legs 50K Relay; September 22
Ragnar Sunset Relay; October 6
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RACE RECAP: Mt. Nebo Half was originally published on PhatJosh | My Life Running.
