I ran fast out and took a porta-potty break at about mile 3 (knew I would have to, so I tried to run fast while it felt good…..I don’t run with a watch), then I caught the 3:50 pacers at about mile 4 and stayed with a MOB of them until the PACER dropped out at mile 23.  He had run the Boston and I guess got too hot.  He started popping his balloons (one by one) at mile 20, saying they were causing too much wind resistance, and when he got down to where he had one left, he ran for about ½ mile and dropped out.  By that time there were only myself and an Air Force pilot from Lawton running with him.  Anyway, the two of us kept pace with each other the last 3 miles……with lots of encouragement.  I was really hot, but was watching myself to keep from overheating.  The other guy was young, so he wasn’t too worried about it.  It was 74 when I got in…..pretty hot.  I have never run with a pacer or a watch before, so I was curious what it would be like.  Now I know that 8:42/mile feels really slow the 1st 6 miles out and feels really fast the last 6 miles!  I got a blister on the BOTTOM of one of my feet, so I’m not too sure what happened there.  I had new Thorlo socks and my favorite shoes.  I started getting it at about mile 21, but wasn’t sure exactly what it was till it was over.  Maybe just a wet sock?  What a drag for the Colorado Marathon this weekend!  Guess I’ll have to cover it in moleskin?  What do you do with that?  Duct tape?  Any advice?  I’ve never had a blister on the bottom before.  I plan to coast and really enjoy the scenery in Colorado , not race! 

Kari