More Running - Top of Utah Marathon

For the 3rd of my 4 planned marathons this year, my brother, Tom and my sister, Teresa, and I headed north to Logan, UT to participate in the Top of Utah Marathon.  I was looking forward to this race.  The course drops 1045 feet over the 26.2 miles but is only a 1% to 2% grade.  And my last long and short run before this race were really good, so I felt more prepared for this one than for the others. 

However, when we arose at 4:00am the streets were wet from rain with more possibilities coming our way.  I was prepared with my jackets and big black garbage bag (which keeps you not only dry but quite warm - I've used them even when there was no threat of rain, just cold temps).  We got to the starting line, got in line to use the port-a-potties one last time and then it came.  Loads of rain started falling.  So we stuffed what we didn't need for the run in one drop bag, while we kept our jackets and garbage bags on and another drop bag with us so we could ditch our warm clothes when it stopped raining - because we were convinced that it would stop before long.  Which it did.  About mile 5 the rain had stopped and it was starting to warm up a bit.  Tom and I put our jackets in the drop bag and held onto the garbage bags for a bit longer - just in case.  But by mile 7 it was still fine so we ditched those as well. 

Big mistake.

It started raining around mile 9.  Scratch that.  It starting downpouring around mile 9.  It appeared as though we should be searching for an ark with the extent of the rain.  We were soaked through in a matter of minutes - if not seconds.  And it was COLD.  It then proceeded to hail on us - as if the rain wasn't dreadful enough.

It continued to rain.

And rain.

And rain.

Around mile 18(?) It started to clear up.  But I was still soaking wet and freezing cold.

And then I saw an angel.  Well, really it was an older gentleman standing outside his house with a box of garbage bags.  He was cutting holes in them for the head and giving them to the runners.  He was my hero!  I admit that I hesitated a bit because I didn't think it was going to continue to rain, but then I decided I wanted it to help warm me up. 

And boy am I glad I took it.  Not a mile later it started to down pour on us AGAIN.

Tom's iPod stopped working.  Mine stopped shortly after.  And then his GPS watch also stopped.  Misery.  Pure misery. 

I nearly missed enjoying the beautiful scenary or the ease of the course...the rain tried hard to ruin it for me.  But it didn't completely.

Around mile 22 the sun came out and it started to get warm!  Oh glorious day!  The rest of the race was pretty awesome, and we came in under 6 hours which is what I was really hoping for (I do think the rain slowed us down a bit as we were hoping for about 5-5:30 on the time - dang). 

And now I have another medal added to my collection, and only 1 more marathon to run this year.