American Fork Canyon 1/2 Marathon 2012

The American Fork Canyon 1/2 Marathon was the weekend after Ragnar.  If I didn't love this half so much, I never would have run it the weekend after Ragnar, but it is a fantastic race.  Of all the races I have run this is the most organized race, for the best cause, and has an amazing course. The weather was perfect!!!  I am so glad that the start time was 6am, because when it isn't cold up the canyon at 5am, you know that it is going to be really hot when the sun comes up.  

It was a great race.  I love having pacers when you race.  (People with little signs that have a time.  If you keep up with that person you will run the race in the time that is on their sign.)  Because this race is all down hill, it is easy to get going really fast.  I really wanted to run a 1:45 race.  So when I caught up to the 1:40 pacer I decided that I should just park myself behind him.  I could have passed him, but I knew I couldn't keep up that kind of pace.  

One thing I love about the race is that it is so close to our home.  Devin and the kids stopped at a few places along the race course.  Anna was so excited to hold up her, "GO MOMMY GO!!!" sign.  

Before the race started I saw our kids' pediatrician.  We love Dr. Wilcox.  I am not sure how we got talking about running at one of our visits, but we always have our little running chats at the end of each exam.  I didn't see Dr. Wilcox throughout the race, but the last 3 miles we were running right by each other.  I am glad that I had someone to help me push it the last three miles.  

So in the end....I ran the race in 1:41:51.  I was SOOOO excited!!!! I never thought I could run a race that fast.   Another great perks of the race was that Kneaders was doing all the food at the end.  Thank you Kneaders for feeding my family breakfast! 

If you look really close in this picture you can see Dr. Wilcox just behind me. (Not the kid in the blue Pepsi shirt, but just behind him.)  Anna was SOOO excited to see him.

One last perk of the race...the coolest running shirt.  LOVE the color and design!

We can't wait until next year!