30,305

That's approximately how many steps I took yesterday.  It's a lot!  26,000 of them were from the Top of Utah 1/2 marathon.  It's something I didn't think I would ever do, and in the last week, it has been something I really thought I couldn't do.  I trained with Holly all summer, but didn't get as far as I wanted to, with my farthest distance ever being 7 miles.

There's something about the power of the crowd and the energy of the race though.  I started out with Colleen and Tracy.  We stuck together for a couple of miles, running about a 10 minute per mile pace.  That's way fast for me, but I couldn't slow down!  I'm horrible at keeping a good pace.  At mile 6 they had oranges.  I took a couple and it was the best food I've ever tasted!  Oh, they were so refreshing!

The canyon was beautiful, loved it!

I was able to run until mile 9.  After that I did intervals (which means I walked when I couldn't run - but 'intervals' sounds more professional, don't you think?)  I tried to keep running, but many of my muscles were screaming out in pain!  And not just muscles, my toenails were hurting!  I couldn't wait to take my shoes off!

At the end, probably 11 1/2, I started talking to this older guy who had been neck and neck with me for awhile, also doing 'intervals'.  He was funny.  I felt like I was getting an awesome time and said something like that.  He laughed and said it was his worst!  He had run 7 marathons before and many halfs, but had tummy trouble today and thus was getting a bad time.  After a few minutes I left him, thinking I'd run to the finish.  But my toenails and muscles cried out and I slowed back down.  This guy tapped me on the shoulder and said "Race ya!" for the last 200 feet.  I was sure I could beat him, but about 5 steps into my sprint I had to back off and finish .something seconds behind him.  It was a pretty fun little incident to end the race.

So, I ran it in 2 hours 28 minutes.  I was amazed!  That breaks down to an 11 1/2 minute mile.  What a rush!

After inhaling more oranges and some water, I was surprised to get a text from Marion.  I thought he wouldn't be able to come to see me run at all, but he was able to and had been looking for me.  We ended up meeting in the Macey's parking lot where he gave me the prize of a cherry, cream cheese danish.  Yummmm, he knows what I like!  It meant a lot that he came.

Marion took the picture.  I wouldn't turn around because I thought I looked horrible!

But, he finally won out, and I did look horrible - at least a little exerted.  

It was awesome!  I don't know if I'll ever do it again, but it was awesome!  What an experience!

 I really loved seeing Colleen, Tracy, Erin, Jason, Ethan, Holly, Dan, Sasha, Ptolemy, and Conna there too.

(The other 4000 steps came from coaching John's soccer game.  That was an experience.)