Best Run Ever (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

This was BY FAR the BEST run I have ever done.  I. LOVED. IT!  I have been hating running this past little while and this run made me like running again (even though I haven't run since).  I did 2 things different on this race that I have never done before on a run.  The first thing I did different was run with someone.  I ran the ENTIRE race with my friend Kelsey.  The second thing I did different was do a run walk sequence the entire race.  We would run for a mile and then we would walk for like 30 seconds to a minute.  I could not believe the difference it made in my run!  I was hardly even sore after this race.

Now let me back up a bit.  We spent the night up at Lisa's Sister in Laws house.  But first we went out to dinner at Olive Garden to carbo load.  It was super yummy food.  Ok, then we went back to the house (amazing house by the way) and spent the night.  We got up at 3:30 in the morning to make sure we made it to the buses by 5.  The race started at 6:30.  It was VERY cold at the start line.  In fact I started in long sleeves, but 2 miles in a took them off and tied them around my waste.

The race was BEAUTIFUL.  The scenery was amazing!   Whenever we would hit a new mile i couldn't believe it.  It felt like we had only been running for 3 minutes. The race went by soooo fast.  Kelsey and I just talked and talked and talked!  I never got cramps, I felt great, minus by throbbing knees and blisters that were forming on my feet.  But I knew the pain was temporary and I would be fine.  Ther hardest part of the race was miles 10 and 11.  That is when I started getting tired and ready to be done.  But it still was so fun because there were fans all along the last few miles.  I just kept thanking Kelsey and telling her how happy I was that we were running together and it made the experience that much better.

We ended up finishing in 2:18 according to their clocks.  Which for me was AMAZING!  We averaged a 10:30 minute mile.  I am SOOOO INCREDIBLY proud of that.  We got to the finish line and I didn't see Lisa or Jen there and I knew immediately there was something wrong.  Lisa had been sick the entire week going into the race and when I finally did see her I knew she wasn't doing well. Sure enough she had one of her meniere's attacks where she started feeling extremely dizzy.  It was amazing she finished it still standing. I am extremely proud of her for pushing through it and finishing.
I would totally do this race again some day.  I am done racing for now.  I feel like I have gotten my fair share of races in for a year. ( 3, 1/2 marathons and a Ragnar).  This is not including smaller races I have done.
I am incredibly grateful I did this race though.  I'm glad I had someone to run with and keep me company, thanks again Kels!