Canyonlands (Moab) Half Marathon This was my first time running this race. I almost ran Boston this year but due to budget constraints, decided to run this race instead. We (Bethany and I of course) got my parents to babysit the twerps for two nights and we were lucky enough to join up with Paul, Stacy, Ben, and David for a group rate in a cabin outside of Moab. Sweet setup, made the whole vacation experience! Excellent way to spend time with friends. No TV, computer, internet, cell phone service (AT&T at least), basically everything I am addicted to normally. It was kind of a de-tox for a techie nerd-guy. Anyway... The morning of the race, we were excited to see overcast sky's and cool weather. We also had a bit of a tailwind for the first mile or two. We waited and waited and FINALLY got to start the race. I started fast, but with the first mile downhill, it was to be expected. I settled in next to Logan and watched Walter cruise off. Logan kept me company for a bit but was quickly bored with the pace and moved on. He went on to show the big boys how to negative split in a big way. Very impressive show...from a distance. I felt fine and was hitting my splits comfortably (for a race, right?). I hooked up with Brad Phippen at mile 3. He offered to trade mile leads with me since we had the same goals and were actually already working together already. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement that lasted almost to the end. I felt decent and was positive I could keep a good run together until just after mile 10. We had just run the big hill together and it put us in the tank. After that, it was survival mode. I felt like I was in a marathon at mile 22. After that, it was a struggle to keep any pace. I figure that my fitness got me to 10 and I need to gain more fitness to get past that point. I have focused on base work and have done only a few short Tinman tempo workouts (which was the pace I slowed to actually). So, with my limited training, I feel I held it together pretty well. I gave it my best effort and ran as hard as I could at this point of the season. I enjoyed the course. I did think the rolling hills take a lot out of you. Plus, the headwind at the mouth of the canyon was pretty stiff. I would say it was worth 20-30 seconds easily. I think the course it tough, but can be mastered with ideal training and racing. Anyway, enough rambling. Bottom Line, I think I ran to my potential on that day and am pleased. Mile 1: 5:25 (163) Fast downhill (biggest downhill of the race) Mile 2: 5:48 (176) Settling into my goal pace of 5:50-6:00 range Mile 3: 5:57 (176) Drafting behind Brad and a few others occasionally Mile 4: 5:53 (177) First mile of Brad and my alliance (I led). I was working hard to do my part. Mile 5: 6:03 (176) Brad's first mile. He slowed a bit, but we were ok still. Mile 6: 5:55 (176) I was definetly stronger than him during this part of the race. 36:10 at the 10K point.
Mile 7: 6:03 (175) Fatigue setting in, but still ok. Mile 8: 6:04 (175) I led Mile 9: 6:15 (173) Slow, but I couldn't have done better by myself. Mile 10: 6:09 (175) Big hill, I cruised up the first part, then hit the top part fast and carried speed down the hill. I actually gapped Brad for a bit, but he recovered on the downhill and came back up to me. Mile 11: 6:28 (175) It was windy and difficult here. This is where the wheels fell off. Brad was stronger here it seemed. Trouble... Mile 12: 6:18 (175) It was my turn, but I hit the gas and nothing happened. The best I could do was pull alongside Brad. I even dropped a few steps behind him here. On a positive note, somewhere along here, I met Craig (fellow blogger) and encouraged him to go for it as he was looking really strong. I couldn't even attempt to stay with him. He took off and finished really strong. Good Job Craig! Mile 13-13.1: 6:34 (5:55 Ave) (179) Everything I have got. I caught Brad and we ran side by side for a while. We turned the last corner and after a block or so I decided I would try and gap him and a guy named Ben who had caught us earlier. I started my "long kick" and it worked. I was able to hold them off to the finish. Oh, happy day, I am done... My watch showed 1:18:55, race results showed 1:18:53, but the website shows 1:18:43. Off by 10 seconds somehow. I will go with the official results, I guess. Thanks Brad for working with me.
1:18:43 (6:00) 175 ave 184 max (during the kick) Course PR of course. I was impressed with many people there. Logan, and Craig, as I already mentioned. Walter just smoked me. He certainly has more endurance than I do. Watch out at the 10 miler Chad and Jon... Paul ran the 5 miler pretty sweetly, fast but smartly controlled. Bethany ran her heart out. My watch that she borrowed from me died so she had to go by feel and did awesome. She is now hooked I can tell. It is her turn for a year of PR's. Ben and David both ran well and exceeded their expectations. It was a lot of fun to enjoy this experience together. 
For those interested in more photos, go to http://cody.prismview.biz/Moab/ and click on the links for the images. You can then download whichever ones you like. There are some of Logan, Walter, David, Marcie, and of course ME. | 