Artichoke's Running Blog (Ken Spence)

Okay, now I know you are crazy! Canyonlands id your favorite, really> Which others have you run? I hate that marathon, it almost did me in! It is so beautiful, but so hard! I really must give it another go next year.

Great run, awesome January, and I hear you on spring! I do not really mind winter, but this is an ugly and cold one. if it going to be cold, we at least deserve some snow!

Have a great weekend!

Well, all runners are CRAZY, aren't they? I just like Moab because I like the area and I make it a get away every year with my 28 year old son who loves to mountain bike. I like the route and USUALLY weatherh has always turned out nice. We go hiking in Arches Nat'l Park that afternoon. I've done 35 half marathons over the years, but 10 of those are at Moab. I've done Snow Canyon, TOU, Huntsville, Hobble Creek (my 2nd favorite and old man PR), Provo River, Ogden, Painter's,Golden Spike, Midvale (years ago). Moab is not without its problems, like the cold, long wait at the start. Give it another try.

Well, all runners are CRAZY, aren't they? I just like Moab because I like the area and I make it a get away every year with my 28 year old son who loves to mountain bike. I like the route and USUALLY the weather has always turned out nice. We always go hiking in Arches Nat'l Park that afternoon. I've done 35 half marathons over the years, but 10 of those are at Moab. I've done Snow Canyon, TOU, Huntsville, Golden Spike, Hobble Creek (my 2nd favorite and old man PR), Provo River, Ogden, Painter's, Midvale (years ago). Moab is not without its problems, like the cold, long wait at the start. Give it another try. It is a hard race, I certainly didn't run it at your pace! It's tougher than it looks, because it only drops 75 feet overall, which is hard to believe. Painter's is the toughest one for me. Snow Canyon and Hobble Creek have been the hardest ones on my body. What is your favorite? You continue to do amazingly well. Keep it up!

I will for sure give it another try next year (too busy this year). We actually knew the lady who died running it a few years ago, so a huge group from are old neighborhood goes down every year to run. I would love to one day win the award that is in her name (so I have until I am 40 to get really fast!) I am not sure why it was so hard for me, it just kicked my butt. I walked so much in the last two miles it was SAD!!! My husband struggled with it, too!

You love it for all of the right reasons, sounds like a fun trip! The SLC half is still my favorite, but I really have not run too many of them. Before that was Hobblecreek, but I had to skip out on it last year due to an injury, so SLC remained my favorite (when you PR at a race, I think it goes to the top of the list!)

Oh, you edited your reply while I was typing mine. Now I have more to say!

I have run Painters twice (2009 and 2010) but I was pacing both times, so I can not properly gauge that race. To me it does not seem so bad!! I need to run it for myself next year and see. It is hilly, but I like hills as long as I can see the end. Moab was all uphill, I do not like that!

I have run:

Moab in 2009 (just seemed downright hard, struggles with starting later, had no fuel, learned I need to eat if a race starts that late. It was HOT.)

Riverton in 2009 (this was the week after Moab so I just ran it for fun, I helped the lady in charge come up with the course so I had run it about 10 times. Ended up getting almost an identical finish time as Moab on tired legs!)

SLC in 2009 (PR'd, loved the fast start and the hill at the end. I am a hill climber, so passing so many people in the end of a race was fun. The crowds were great and I loved the finish line into the Gateway.)

TOU in 2009 (did not like it, but was just coming off of an injury so it was tough)

Hobblecreek in 2008 (loved it, missed 2009 and was bummed, but it had so many problems everyone I know ended up hating it and now my husband says he will never run it again)

Provo River in 2007 and 2008 (I actually like the race okay, it is just so poorly organized. I do not like the end where you twist and turn for almost two miles in a shopping center, but I hear they changed that last year. May give it another try as it is FAST if you can hold on at the end.)

There you go. That is it for me as far as racing. You have done many more!!!!!

I couldn't agree with you more about Provo River. Could easily be my favorite with better organization. Curt Catmull means well, but this could be a GREAT event. I wanted to do Hobble Creek instead of TOU last August, but couldn't get in. You're right it has a few problems too. I have never done Salt Lake, maybe I need to give that one a go. The half marathon distance is clearly my favorite event. It's good to be able to be recovered in a week or so and get back to regular training. The marathon zaps me for at least 3 weeks.

I agree, the half is my favorite as well. I need to get out and try more of them.