The Hell Hole is a great race despite the name. And I really love it when there is a costume contest! Though this is the last year it will be called the Hell Hole, it will now be called Cotton Days 5K/10K. Since it is affiliated with Washington City’s Cotton Day’s events. Maybe they will get more runners? Not sure, it still is a hell of a run.

My costume that won me $25 to Pizza Factory!

Why is it called Hell Hole? Well it is called Hell’s Canyon trail and there is a 12% grade!! Some of this course is also part of the Dogtown 1/2 marathon. I did the 5K two years ago. It was my 3rd ever race, I was still heavy from my pregnancy and I did it in 41:28 = 13:23 pace. Last year I did the Modified 5K, because the river washed out some of the trail. It was really a 6K and my pace was 9:27. This year I did the 10K. It is way harder than the 5K! And I did it with a 8:20 pace. So next year a 7:20 pace? Haha. That’s 45 minutes. The girl who won today- Amber Green did it in 40 min. Geez! But I also think she won the St George marathon once. In 2:48. But her first one was a 4:02. So with enough discipline and hard work you can do most anything! Okay, enough of that Amber.

So, I ran the Safari Half last weekend and I ran 3.1 miles on Wednesday. I was feeling a little off Thursday and Thursday night was a terrible night of sleep. Mike left for CA. I went to bed at 11, Connor got up at 12, Connor fell off my bed onto the cement floor at 3, Evan woke up at 3 crying from a bad dream, then he laid next to me all night, then at 5:am Evan said I should get up like Daddy, I told him to go back to sleep. We got up at 7. Big breath.

So Friday I’m super tired and have a sore throat. I don’t feel like doing anything. But I had to go get my number. My neighbor Michelle, was also husband-less and only had her girls, so she came over for lasagna. I made some alterations to my devil costume, because my flame skirt was too big. I also spray painted my shoes red to ‘Pop’. They have about 500 miles on them so why not. I don’t really want to wear them anymore. I need a new pair. And what do you know? I got $20 for 1st place to the St George Running center.

Friday night I slept terrible. I woke up every hour and my throat hurt. So I end up staying awake at 4:am! Ugh. But I get up at 4:35 and slowly get ready. I have a slight fever of 100.4 and I took two DayQuil’s at five and that totally helped me! Took away all the aches. I had oatmeal and loaded the kids in the car to take to Michelle’s. Michelle is bringing the kids to me at about 8:am. Of course Connor cries and doesn’t want to get out of my car. It took him about 5 or 10 minutes and Michelle’s iPad to calm him down. I then snuck out. I forgot to take my anti-fatigue pills at six, so I took two at 6:24. Who knows if it does anything. Lol

This is a small race with only 78 entries. So that’s the only reason I got first in my age group. Probably won’t happen again. Lol. I talk to a few people and we start about 5 minutes late. He counted down from five and we were off. It is chip timed too! We start on dirt and descend a steep hill, going pretty fast. It then turns to a paved trail and at about a half mile the 10Kers turn left for an out and back, then we follow the 5K trail down to the Virgin River, we then pass the 5K turnaround, run on some dirt to the bridge then head back to the start.

I haven’t run in a 10K in a while, it seemed super short! The first 10K part was not easy. Lots of small steep hills, but I never walked. I passed a guy and assumed he was right behind me the whole time, so I never walked. I looked at my watch and it was only .78! My legs were so tight and these hills were crazy! It’s so much easier going the other way. I see the leaders coming I get to the turnaround and see there is no one behind me at all. There are three girls ahead of me. And maybe three guys. After the turnaround it was a little downhill and I actually had a 7:43 mile! It flattens out along the river and I see a ton of 5Kers coming.

The beautiful canyon.

Mile 3-4 I was like where is this turnaround? Maybe because it was a 7:43 mile. I’m telling everyone great job and I finally see the leaders. Amber says good job, but it looks like she is out for a Sunday jog, at a 6 something pace. I feel like I’m dying. My legs are tired. But I’m doing okay. The girl in third I can see the whole time but she is pretty far ahead of me. She does the turnaround and then gives me five. At the turnaround I stop for a second and take a drink of my water and eat a gel while running. There are only two miles left but thought it might help. I like seeing all the other runner on the way back. There’s just one small hill then the big hill at the end. I’m getting closer to third place but then I decide to take some pics since the sun is behind me now. We’re almost to the last 1/2 mile uphill. I run pretty far, so close to third because she is walking a lot, but then so do I. It’s a tough hill to the finish! I pass a few 5Kers and make it to the top and cross the finish line. Woohoo!

I tell the girl ahead of me good job and we talk for a bit. She ran track in college and thought she’d try distance running and this was her first 10K. Then I see Michelle pull up. The kids have fun running around. They do the 5K awards first. The costume contest next. Okay, there were only four of us. LOL. There were so many last year! I should have got a pic! Darn! It was people’s choice. I think I got the biggest cheer, (and some people told me that too) He said I got 2nd. But the three of us got the same thing. $25 to the Pizza/Pasta Factory. WooHoo! I love their bread-sticks!

Now I have a gold 10K medal and a silver 5K medal. =) Notice my nails? One coat of red to change from pink. Awesome. =)

Then they did the 10K results and I got first in wmn 30-39. Only Because Amber got the o/a win and doesn’t get counted in the age group classes. $20 gift certificate to the St George Running center. First place o/a got $100 to the running center.  The results aren’t posted yet, so I don’t remember my exact time.  My watch said 51:45.

The three red heads!

We load up and head to the Cotton Days parade down the street. The kids had a great time. What kid doesn’t like having candy thrown at them? We head home after. Connor and I were so tired. Connor fell asleep from 10-1. Yeah, early bedtime tonight. Especially since I’ve been up since four.

I wasn’t sure if running would make me feel worse or not, but I feel the same. My neck hurts, I feel like I’ve taken PM pills and I’m out of DayQuil. My voice comes and goes. Lol

So I thought this would be a super short report, but I guess I can’t help myself.

Well I’m finally home from SoCal.  Only 1,065 miles, which included three gas fill ups. $78/ $82 / $82.  Not too bad, I guess.  I left Thursday and stayed in Vegas with Mike in our motorhome.  He was working the Endurocross race, which our rider won the event.  Woohoo!  We also took the kids to see “Pirates, Band of Misfits”.  It was okay, entertaining.  My kids are free at home, but adult price at The Orléans. A 1-yr old is $7! Really!  My two-year old still doesn’t like movies, he played with the iPhone during most of the movie.

I left Friday at 7:30 am and drove to Vista, CA.  Five hour drive and arrived just in time for my Mom’s lunch break.  We ate at a great Mexican place.  The kids did great on the drive.  They watched TV and played on the iPads.  The best things ever.

After lunch I drove over to my Mom’s place, plugged in a movie for the kids while I unloaded all the stuff that I over-packed for the 5 day trip.  You know all the ‘just in case’ stuff sure adds up.  Then I tried to put Connor down for a nap, well all my FB friends know what happened.  Connor locked himself in the bedroom.  I tried for about 30 minutes to get him out using a butter knife, credit card and bribery.  After a while he started to cry and say he’s scared.  I tried giving him Doritos and cheese-its.  The cheese-its came flying back, it was pretty funny.  Then I slid the iPad under the door.  That worked of course.  FYI- it is a lock & key door knob, with no keys.  So I tried three locksmiths and they were all busy.  So then I called the Fire Department.  They were there within 5 minutes and freed him. Yeah! (And it was free, hehe) So I made chocolate chip cookies and packaged them nice and had the boys drop them off at the Fire Department.  I know, I’m pretty nice.

Saturday morning we went to the Vista Farmer’s Market then we went down to San Diego for the expo at Road Runner Sports.  There were hundreds of people. And not one person had any type of running sticker or any sticker on their cars.   I on the other hand do. Lol. There was a coupon in the goodie bag for a free child’s meal at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery.  So that was good advertisement because we went to Carlsbad and had a late lunch there.  I had a great salad but terrible service.  30 minutes is a little long to get your food, no?

Road Runner Sports.

Inside the store. It was pretty big and the warehouse was at lease twice as big in the back. I bought some good flip-flops to wear at the Safari Park.

Expo outside.

My sister dropped off my two nephews around 7:pm and we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner since it was Cinco de Mayo.  There was a mariachi band that the boys enjoyed.  I had a shredded chicken burrito with just rice and beans and didn’t eat much of the tortilla and some chips and salsa.  Isn’t that what everyone eats the night before race? Lol.  We were all asleep by 9:30 and I set my alarm for 4:20 am.

Morning of – The plan was to leave by 5:30, we had a 20 minute drive to the mall where the race starts from.  But in reality we left at 5:40.  Getting 7, 4, 4, & 2-year-old boys ready and packed for the day at the zoo took a little longer than expected. Lol. We parked pretty quick at the mall and then rushed everyone to the other side of the mall so my family could make the shuttle by 6:20.  I then stood in a huge line for the bathrooms.  It was 6:14 and didn’t think I would make it in time.  And as it got closer to 6:30 the line got shorter and shorter, though my line still seemed the slowest and longest!

I'm still in line for the bathroom, yet no one else is.

The start – Someone sang the National Anthem and the race started exactly at 6:30.  I was still in line!!  I finally get in and had the longest pee ever, really?!  So then I run to the start and there were three other girls dressed up and we were last.  But I didn’t start my watch yet and I was waiting for the GPS to lock, standing at the start, waiting, while they are all looking at me to hurry up.  It finally locks, I push start and cross the start line at 6:35.  One guy was holding one end of the timing mat to put it all away.  As I passed he folded it all up.  So, I was literally the last person to start!! Crazy!

Mile 1/4 – I wasn’t by myself for long.  We ran a little ways, turned left at the light and headed down, or up, the road to the Safari Park.  The people at the intersection were yelling at the people I just passed to hurry up so they could open the road for traffic.  They were already walking, or just planned on walking it.  There was a three-hour time limit I believe.  The race officials did warn us that there were no late starts, though we do have timing chips.  It was about 55 degrees and 90% humidity. Yes- OMG! And there was mist on my face for the first 5 or so miles. No sunglasses needed. I will take my 20% dry heat at 3400′ any day!!  But actually the humidity didn’t feel that bad.  I wasn’t too hot in my tiger tights, the weather was perfect.

Mile 1-5 -  I was running a comfortable pace, it was actually faster than I expected due to the rolling hills right away.  I caught up to the runners.  We are on a two lane road with 2661 runners.  This was tough.  I was running in and out of people, jumping up and down the sidewalk, running on the dirt shoulder, saying excuse me for about 5 miles.  I was wondering if I would be faster, slower, easier if I started with my pace.  But it was kinda fun to pass 2291 people!  Everyone loved my outfit.  We passed a winery, a dairy farm- and there were even three cows out on leashes you could take pics with if you wanted.  They had a table out with big Easter eggs and lanyards, I think.  But I kept on going.  It’s hard to take pictures and breathe and say excuse me running a 8 minute pace.  And it seemed like the hills never ended!  Lots of rolling hills.  My quads seemed tired right away.  They knew I was running hills and I was thinking maybe they haven’t recovered from the Marathon 5 weeks ago?  But after about 4 miles they seemed okay.

Mile 6-7 – Zookeeper Willie was at the entrance where we turn left into the park.  It was a soft, powdery dirt trail.  And then I was like ‘What the hill?!’ So I run/ walk this hill.  It was so steep!  What the heck! I was so impressed with all the people ahead of me that just kept running this hill.  Then I took a few pics.  I had to prove there was a hill.  There was a trash can band midway and signs along the way.  I was only able to read a couple of them.  “Why did the Tiger lose at poker?” On one sign, then the answer on another.  “Because he was playing a Cheetah.”  Hehe.  And then we finally made it to the top and you could see a lot of the park and some animals.  I passed all the people who passed me on the hill, well at least I think I did.  Lol. It was a fast downhill and I passed the 2:00 pacer.

This was definitely a hill! (Behind me.)

Mile 7 hill. I was just a little slow. 11:09- OMG

Behind me. At least some other people are walking too. hehe

Drummers mid hill.

We quickly left the park at mile 8.  We came out of the main entrance and there was a camel out on the grass.  We ran on the road again and I was saying “woohoo” only 5 more!  I was still passing people, but at a very slow rate now.  I spoke to one guy about his Ironman visor and he said he had a friend that did St George.  I was sad to miss the final full Ironman.  But maybe run the 1/2 next year? Ha. Maybe the Kokopelli tri in Sept first.

This was just passed the entrance to the park.

Mile 9-13 – A gradual climb, a little down, then a steep climb through a residential neighborhood then we turn left to head up a back street into the park.  But I was like ahhh this hill!  We are so close to the end.  I walked and ran up it.  Took a few pics and finally made it to the top.  We are now in the park again and at mile 12. We now have a fast downhill for the last mile.  Woohoo! I’m pretty much sprinting as fast as I could.  I see all the fans lined up along the fence and crossed the finish line.  The clock said 1:58 so I knew I was 1:53ish.  I would have liked to be under 1:50, oh well, I guess I need to not walk as much as I did.  Lol.

The last hill.

The top of the hill was in sight then it was a fast downhill mile to the finish!!

I had oatmeal at 5:am and took my gels at 35 min, 65 min and 1:35.  I took 3 anti fatigue pills an hour before the race and forgot to take the last one an hour into the race. Darn!

At the finish line a lady told me thanks for running such a good pace that I helped her and she followed me to the end.  I took a picture of a guy so he could post it to FB and I spoke to a few people.  There was water and banana’s.  I saw my family and we followed signs all the way to the post race party.  There were venders set up with samples, prizes and some more refreshments; chips, bars and drinks. There was a pay bar and music.  I asked about the costume contest and someone told me it was by the runners breakfast that we paid $15 for.    This was another hike to find the breakfast.  There were a couple of signs, but still had to ask where to go. Other people didn’t know either.  The $15 breakfast included mini muffin, eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, two pancakes, juice, coffee and a pay bar.  There was eating inside with heaters for people with tickets, or tables outside with heaters.  My family went down to a food vender and bought breakfast for themselves.  A breakfast burrito, eggs, muffins, a toaster hash brown, and drink.  It was cheaper than mine, but I got pancakes and better potatoes.

My tiger costume. I never found the contest. I heard Tarzan won. He ran barefoot too.

Then I asked someone about the costume contest and they said it was back at the finisher party with the awards.  So me and a couple of kids walk all the way back and we missed it. Oh well.

Some quick finisher stats:  1:53:09 = 8:38 pace / 370th of 2661 finishers. 28th of 327 women 30-34.

Elevation

Splits

My Garmin 405 – Looking at the map close up it cut most of the turns short, WTH! So that’s why it said I only went 13.03.  Though with all in & out of passing people I had to have gone farther than 13.1.  I wonder if the Garmin 610 has better GPS tracking?  I do like how it has the option of vibrating rather than beeps.  I just need Garmin to sponsor me. hehe

Course

After we all ate we toured the park until it closed at five.  It was cold so I didn’t even change out of my clothes until two.  My tights kept me warm.   I felt great, wasn’t sore or tired.  But the next day… My quads were so sore for two days! I didn’t realize there was that much hill.  And my upper back muscles were also sore.  I wore my ears all day and the lady working in the gift shop said I was causing all the trouble, because everyone wanted my ears! =)  My friend Elizabeth came all the way from Long Beach to the park with her two boys and sister, thanks to the 50% off coupon. So we had 6 boys!  It was a fun day and trip visiting my family.

Monday morning was a lazy day.  Then we went to the Oceanside Harbor playground on the beach.  The boys had a great time and the weather was perfect.  We later went to another park to meet up with my sister and nephews.  Then went back to my Moms and they made dinner. Yummy.  I set my alarm for 4:30 to leave by 5:am.  I wanted to miss all the traffic Tuesday morning.  I was driving at 4:59! Pretty good.  The boys stayed awake.  Connor slept from 7-9 and Evan slept 9-10.  I decided to stop at the Fashion Show mall in Vegas to break up the drive, stretch, have lunch and visit the Lululemon store.   This was a two-hour stop.  Then headed home for two more hours, which flew by fast.

Last year I did the RnR San Diego 1/2 while visiting my family.  I’m really happy I chose to do this race instead and look forward to it again next year!  I’m running the Utah Valley 1/2 June 9th.  I’m really excited that it’s a fast downhill course.  I have a 10K this Saturday, there is also a costume contest, so I need to work on my devil costume tomorrow.

Comparing the 1/2 to my full 5 weeks ago.  I never wished for it to be over.  The scenic course and all the people made it go by fast.  It didn’t seem that short though.  My half split for the full marathon was 1:53.  Is that just my magic number?  It seems that if my split for a full marathon is 1:53 my half marathon time should be way faster!  OR I just went to fast during the first half of the full?   Well, all I do know is Utah Valley 1/2 will be a new PR. LOL

Here are a TON of pics from the weekend.  Some at the end are repeats that are already in the post.  Enjoy!  You can click on them to see them bigger.