Salt Lake half

Well we signed up back in January and finally the day came that we had to run it.  This time I was equipped with two watches, and my parents were AWESOME and drove us to the start.  It was weird because you start no where close to where you end.  So if we were to drive to the start, then we would've had to take Trax back up to the U to get our car.  My parents arrived at 6am to pick us up, it definitely helped calm the nerves because they were chatting to us.  It worked perfectly because they literally stopped for 5 seconds and dropped us off and we were at the start.  We quickly ran down to the bathrooms, which had RIDICULOUS lines and there we stood until the gun went off.  Literally it went off when we were going to the bathroom.  Luckily with the races these days your time doesn't start until you cross the starting line since your bib has a chip in it.  I was feeling good, trying to get all the different mechanisms coordinated once we went over the starting line.  We never saw Kerry or Jeramie before we started, we kept going different directions from them.  Evan at the start just told me to set the pace and he would follow.  He is crazy athletic.  About half a mile in Kerry and Jeramie found us, I was a little too into the zone to even talk much.  The first 5 miles zoomed by, and that's when we stopped for water and started on our shot blocks.  Mile 6-8 weren't too terrible, our pace definitely slowed a bit from the first 5.  Mile 9 Ev had to stop at the porta potties while I stretched, mile 10 I was demanding gu from Evan.  Literally that crazy person hitting the person holding the Gu.  I have a mile 10 issue, so I definitely didn't want to hit the wall.  At this point is when Ev gets his second wind and this is when I always die.  Basically the last 3 miles Ev was constantly encouraging and saying I could do it, and that we were going to get our time, basically nothing short of amazing.  He is the best to run any race with.  He sticks with you and whenever you need a little boost he is there to smile and say catch up.  It's basically the best.  Mile 12 was a gradual hill...it wasn't terrible...but I'm not going to say it was a walk in the park.  Once we got to the top, Ev said we had to hit the gas pedal or else we weren't going to hit our time of 2:10.  Needless to say I didn't think I had any gas left, but my jello legs made it to the finish with my Mom and Susan yelling and then right after them we saw the whole Howard clan.  It's the best to see faces you know and gives you that added burst of energy.  I can honestly say I gave 100%, and so did my sister in law who ROCKED it.  She set a goal of 2:20 and destroyed that time and got 2:12.  She was right at our heels.  It was surprisingly fun, and I felt like I was way more prepared for this one then any of the others I've done in the past.  Plus it helps to run with someone.  I need that extra motivation.  Sorry I have the best husband...get pissed about it!

Coming up to the finish line

Baylee and Sharon made us amazing signs!!!

The group with our signs

Great after shot!!