I went out today with the goal of keeping my pace in the 6:40's as long as I could in hopes of breaking 3:00 in my first official marathon. My split times were 6:49, 6:43, 6:43, 6:54, 6:49, 6:49, 7:12, 7:21 (stopped to get rocks out of shoe), 6:43, 6:41, 6:50, 6:37, 13 -6:40, 6:47, 6:52, 6:33, 6:33, 6:39, 6:40, 6:49, 6:45, 8:00 (emergency bathroom), 7:01, 6:55, 7:07, 1:41 I felt great until mile 23 when my heart rate finally got into the 170's and suddenly I couldn't keep my speed up anymore. My heartrate was basically in the 150's until mile 22. I did get attacked by a bird twice by the golf course. I ran it's wing into the back of my head as it dive bombed me. Scared me, maybe that is what drove my heart rate up and over the edge. That's right, blame the bird. Overall, I am very pleased, just wish I would have worn the gaiters and didn't have my bowel issues and then I would have broken 3:00. There's always St. George. It was great to run into my wasatch back team at the mouth of the canyon to provide some needed energy, and then my family and parents came and watched me go several times from there until the end. I ended up 39th overall and 9th in my age group 35-39 I think it was broken down to. Not a bad first effort I would say. Look forward to doing some actual speed work and see what I can really do for St. George.
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