Artichoke's Running Blog (Ken Spence)

Painter's St. George 1/2 Marathon

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Location:

Tooele & Ivins,UT,USA

Member Since:

Oct 30, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

St. George Marathon 20-year Club (completed 26)

Boston Marathon 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017 (+DNF 2011)

Running for 39 years, logged 58,000 miles since 1982. 38 marathons.

Old Man PR's:

5K = 19:58 - July 4th Freedom Run 7/4/08

6K = 26:38 - Cold Turkey Rrrun, 11/23/06

10K = 43:00 - Deseret News, 7/24/08

1/2 Marathon = 1:32:54 - Hobble Creek, 8/23/08

Marathon = 3:23:13 - St. George, 10/4/08 (Boston Qualifier)

Boston Best: 3:35:07, 4/21/08 (Boston Qualifier)

Boston Worst:  DNF, 4/18/11 

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

Keep running!

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep running for another 20 years.

Personal:

Married for 44 years to a wonderful and supportive wife. She's run 2 marathons herself in our earlier years so that helps.  4 boys, all married, and 10 grandchildren.  2 sons are runners. I celebrated 39 years of running madness, insanity, or at least OCD, on August 23rd, 2021. 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Nike Free Lifetime Miles: 22.50
Saucony Peregrine Trail Lifetime Miles: 318.15
Asics 2000 Aqua #2 Lifetime Miles: 419.50
Asics 2000 Aqua #3 Lifetime Miles: 393.10
Asics 2000 Gray/Yellow Lifetime Miles: 610.30
Saucony Peregrine Trail #2 Lifetime Miles: 168.40
Asics 2000 Aqua #4 Lifetime Miles: 355.00
Race: Painter's St. George 1/2 Marathon (13.1 Miles) 03:30:45
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
13.100.0013.10

Well, I didn't know for sure until just before the race if I would try running or not.  I tried a warm-up jog in the parking lot prior to the 1/2 marathon and my ribs just couldn't tolerate my lungs expanding.  It is still tough to breathe in fully and between that and the bouncing up and down, I just was in too much pain.  I thought I would just watch the race or maybe help out at an aid station or something, so I began walking from the very back and just kept going.  I was almost at the very last, only passing 3 other walkers all within the first mile, then I thought I would just circle back on the other trail to the starting line, but changed my mind a walked the entire distance.  I managed about 16 minute miles walking and I have never really been a very fast walker.  This is the first time in 26 years of running that I chose to walk the entire race, just to see what I could do.  It gave me an interesting perspective that I have never quite appreciated fully.  I got to the first aid station and saw all of the hundreds of paper cups being picked up by the volunteers.  I thought that I had always appreciated race volunteers, but when I saw all that they had to pick up and how far along the trail the cups had been spread, I really had a better appreciation.  They were still in very good spirits, however, still holding out cups and shouting WATER or GATORADE as if I was in the middle of the pack instead of near the very end.  They were real troopers.  I also had a greater appreciation for walkers, in general.  I have run both the St. George Marathon (2008) and Boston (2007) in serious rain storms with shoes that were soaked and never got a single blister, yet walking those 13.1 miles at 16:00 minute pace I got HUGE blisters on each foot.  A lot of things learned yesterday and a new appreciation for those at the very back of the pack and for those behind the scenes at the aid stations.  I hope to back running once I heal up.

Comments
From Burt on Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 20:45:27

Cool report. Hope you get better soon.

From Marion on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 09:41:05

I am sorry your ribs were uncooperative :( but... it sounds like you had a great experience none the less :) Sorry about those blisters :( It was a beautiful course :D Heal quickly... what happened to your ribs?

From fly on the wall on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 13:16:29

I enjoyed the different perspective. Thanks for your report.

It was a beautiful day for a walk!

From Kelli on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 22:53:51

I could not figure out why they did not have garbage cans?!? I always look for a garbage can to throw my cup in, but they did not have them! That is quite the task to pick all of that up!

I, too, ran towards the back pacing a friend and I have to say it is more fun! People actually talk to you and laugh and smile. It is a party in the back.

Great job walking! That is a LONG walk!

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