Arizona Marathon

I run a charity half marathon on the western edge of Phoenix. As you might expect if you know Phoenix, the course is flat and fast. So flat that the freeway overpass during the final mile seems like a mountain. As you might not expect, this race through the desert is surprisingly cold at 8am, and surprisingly lush with the first half winding through golf course resort neighborhoods.

I had low expectations for receiving serious race support. The early aid stations offered cinnamon rolls with gooey frosting. But then around halfway as I approach an aid station, a young boy sprints up to me, struggles to run along side me, holds out a handful of PowerBar Gels and asks me if I want one. I am so impressed: first by his effort, second to receive just what I wanted - Power Gels, and third to receive them right when I needed them at halfway right before water.

I finish 3rd overall out of 540 in 1:19:43 - precisely a minute slower than Kanagawa, but reasonably good given the lack of taper, and given that I could see no one near me for most of the last half of the race. All I could see was this huge futuristic stadium finish, and the freeway overpass looming across the desert in the distance.