This race almost made up for not running a fall ultra. More and more I realize how much I miss the Arkansas Traveler. I think I must return next year. It really just feels like family there and I miss the camping and the Ouachita Forest and all of the comraderie and all of my friends.
I only decided to enter this race two days before when the weather looked like it might be favorable. And favorable it was as the start temperature was 37 degrees with a nice north wind. Perfect running weather.
My first mile was an easy 6:10 pace and that's when I knew it would probably be a good day. Last year at Tulsa, the heat and humidity was so unbearable that I left the race after the half marathon point. I knew that would not happen on this day.
I hit the half at 1:22 and some change and so I did slow on the last half of the course but I was also running alone for most of that time. I managed to run strong all the way to the finish and recorded my third fastest marathon time ever. So it was a very good day and my first good road marathon in nearly two years. I've just been doing a lot of trail running I suppose.
Now I have two more marathons in as many weeks. The first will be pacing at Memphis on December 3rd so that should be relaxing and fun. Then I will run the the Lovit Trail Marathon the next Saturday as a nice training run.
All of this is to gear back up again for the Houston Marathon in January.
I am beginning to plan out my racing for 2012 and I think it could be a BIG year for my ultra running!
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