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Utah Valley Marathon

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Location:

Saratoga Springs,UT,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

2016 Finished 12 100-milers during the year.  86 career 100-mile finishes, 9th in the world.   First person to do 6 consecutive summits of Mount Timpanogos.  Won Crooked Road 24-hour race. Achieved the 5th, 6th, and 8th fastest 100-mile times in the world for runners age 57+ for the year.

2013  First person to bag the six highest Wasatch peaks in one day. First and only person to do a Kings Peak double (highest peak in Utah).  I've now accomplished it four times. 

2010 - Overall first place Across the Years 48-hour run (187 miles), Overall first place Pony Express Traill 100.

2009 - Utah State Grand Masters 5K champion (Road Runners Club of America).  National 100-mile Grand Masters Champion (Road Runners Club of America). USATF 100-mile National Champion for age 50-54.

2006 - Set record of five consecutive Timpanogos Summits ("A record for the criminally insane")  See: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=42

2007 - Summited 7 Utah 13-ers in one day.  See: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=14 

Only person to have finished nine different 100-mile races in Utah: Wasatch, Bear, Moab, Pony Express Trail, Buffalo Run, Salt Flats, Bryce, Monument Valley, Capitol Reef.

PRs - all accomplished when over 50 years old

5K - 19:51 - 2010 Run to Walk 5K

10K - 42:04 - 2010 Smile Center

1/2 Marathon: 1:29:13 - 2011 Utah Valley

Marathon - 3:23:43 - 2010 Ogden Marathon

50K - 4:38 - 2010 Across the Years split

50-mile - 8:07 - 2010 Across the Years split

100K - 10:49 - 2010 Across The Years split

12-hours 67.1 miles - 2010 Across The Years split

100-mile 19:40 - 2011 Across the Years split

24-hours 117.8 miles - 2011 Across the Years split

48-hours 187.033 miles - 2010 Across the Years

Long-Term Running Goals:

I would like to keep running ultras into my 60s. 

Personal:

Details at: http://www.crockettclan.org/ultras/ultracrockett.pdf Married with six kids and six grandchildren.  Started running at the age of 46 in 2004.  My first race since Junior High days was a 50K. I skipped the shorter road stuff and went straight to ultramarathons.  I started as a back-of-the packer, but have progressed to a top-10-percent ultra finisher.  Wish I would have started running at a much earlier age.  Have had several articles published in national running magazines.  Check out my running adventure blog at www.crockettclan.org/blog

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Utah Valley Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:33:11, Place overall: 58, Place in age division: 7
Total Distance
27.00

I ran in the Utah Valley Marathon.   At the last minute I entered this marathon, feeling that I had recovered enough from a good finish at the tough Squaw Peak 50-miler just a week ago.  I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see how I can do.  Besides, all the trails were soaked from all the rain this week and a nice road run down Provo Canyon would make sense.   It would also be a nice last long run before Big Horn 100 on Friday.

I ran in this Marathon last year in its first year.  This year, it looked like it had 10 times the number of entrants (about 800 or so) and now is becoming a new major marathon in Utah.   The course started way up Provo Canyon, near the dam at Deer Creek Reservoir.   The right lane of the highway was blocked off all the way down the canyon for the course.   Then it went on some city roads and eventually joined up with the Provo River Parkway, a paved trail the follows the beautiful Provo River all the way to Utah Lake.  From there it went through a maze of neighborhood roads for six more miles and ended up at the South Town Mall at the south end of Provo.

The first half of the marathon is fast because of all the downhill, but the second half is pretty tough and slow because of all the twists, turns, ups and downs as it passed under major roads.  I think this marathon is 5-10 minutes slower for me than the Ogden Marathon which is mostly a straight shot down the canyon.

Busses took us up the canyon to the start and I tried to keep warm near the barrel fires as everyone arrived.  I was able to meet several fastrunningblog bloggers including Tarzan and Smooth.  

My goal for this race was to come out uninjured, and treat it like a training run.  I expected that I could finish at least in 3:45.  But I knew that once the competitive juices flowed, that I would probably press it harder, especially with the initial huge downhill over the first ten miles.  Caution would be essential.

The gun went off and away we went.  Sure enough, I went out with the top-30 runners.  The first mile was a gentle uphill which wasn’t too bad because our legs were fresh, but then the nice downhill came and I kicked it into gear, passing several runners.   I struggled for the first few miles because I just wasn’t warmed up yet.   The sore ankle behaved itself.  I really only felt it when the road sloped to the right.  My splits for the first six miles were:  6:57, 6:32, 6:48, 7:25, 7:26, and 6:56.  I think the only major hill was at mile 5 and I concentrated on pushing the pace on that.

But by mile six, my calves were complaining.  This always happens in marathons.  I didn’t want to risk a muscle pull so I backed off the pace.  I had finally warmed up and the quads were saying, “faster, faster!”  But the calves were say, “whoa, Nelly!”   By changing my foot placements I could change the pressure on the calves and that seemed to help keep them lose.

My next four miles splits down the Canyon were 7:20, 7:38, 7:38, and 7:48.  Small groups of runners started to pass me.  The course then went by the River Bottoms on a road behind some huge houses.  My splits for miles 11-13, were: 7:57, 7:59, and 7:57, pretty consistent.  I was bummed out that I couldn’t keep a 7:30 going.  I had the strength but the calves didn’t want to do that.   The right calf really started to get tight, so I finally quickly took two Succeed! Caps (electrolytes) and within two miles it felt much better.  I could not feel any bad effects from running Squaw Peak 50 a week ago.  My half-marathon split was 1:37:02, not bad for me.

Elite injured runner, Michelle Lowry was out on the course cheering us on.  I recognized her by her crutches on the ground.   She yelled great words of encouragement to me both times I saw her.  I sure hope the doctors can finally figure things out to get her healed.

The course then made some weird gyrations near University Parkway, going back and forth and around a shopping center.  It finally joined up with the Provo River Parkway.   I did fine at first but once the trail started to dip below roads I started to struggle.  There were two other runners near me, one in orange and one in red.   They were both starting to use walking spells and then run at about a 7:15 pace.   I kept my steady pace going and would almost catch up, but then they would run ahead.   Eventually I passed them for good as their walking spells increased.   My splits for miles 14-16 were: 7:36, 7:42, and 8:02. 

I had my first split over 8 minutes. Around mile 16, the wheels started to come off my race.  I could start feeling the effects of Squaw Peak 50.  It became a significant struggle to keep my pace going.  I took gels and that helped a little.   My splits for the rest of the Parkway by the river (miles 17-20) were:  8:13, 8:54, 9:00, and 9:10.

We now were dumped out onto roads near Utah Lake.  Before the race, I wisely drove this section of the course so there would be no surprises.  This was a good mental strategy.    The final six miles were a terrible struggle.  The gas tank was just running on empty even though I took gels which came back up and out a couple times.  My hips started to hurt badly from last week.   I was just hanging on for dear life.  I didn’t want to croak.  At that point I hear sirens.  “Great, they are coming for me.”  I looked at the clock and knew a PR (sub 3:24) was out of the question, and soon a sub 3:30 was not likely.   I set my sights to at least break 3:35, which would be another Boston Qualifier time for me.  My final splits, miles 21-26 were:  8:55, 9:24, 9:26, 9:25, 9:25, and 10:14.  I believe I saw fellow ultrarunner Leon Deitlaf pass me in the last mile or two.  I just couldn’t keep up. Dang, I just can’t beat him in marathons.  So close this time.

I finished in 3:33:11, in 58th place, 7th in my age group.  Our age group was pretty bunched up, five ahead of me finished within nine minutes before me.   Recovery was rough.  I really gave it all I got without injuring myself.  For the next 15 minutes I had to lie on the grass to find my strength again.   It came back and I enjoyed watching finishers for the next hour.   My 4th road marathon was in the books.

Mizuno Wave Elixer Miles: 27.00
Comments
From MichelleL on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 15:23:56 from 71.35.250.200

You toughed it out! Nice to meet you mid race. Hope your ankle doesn't hate you next week.

From Maurine/Tarzan on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 15:26:44 from 97.117.76.29

Great job on the race, Dave. It was nice to meet you at the start. You did a good job and I always enjoy reading your analysis of a race afterwards.

From Holt on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 16:39:43 from 75.169.89.6

For one or two runs this week I thought I could get back and try a race. On today's run I realized that I was very happy I didn't try! Great job Davy; you're like a machine!

From LuzyLew on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 18:10:17 from 69.169.165.206

Nice 'training run' BQ'r & 7th place... !

From jun on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 18:28:45 from 71.213.18.126

Fantastic race Davy. I'm glad the foot held up and that you are feeling ready for your next race. Congrats on another big race.

From Kelli on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 18:50:17 from 71.219.76.64

Another race? I am going to submit you for an article in Runner's World, seriously!!

Great job! I must have passed you at some point (running the opposite direction to pick up my husband). Wish I had recognized you, I would have cheered LOUD!!!

So, what race is next??? Take care of the ankle and heal up.

From fiddy on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 18:55:53 from 67.183.153.81

A marathon one week after an Ultra, that's crazy tough!... or maybe just crazy...no, I'm just going to stick withcrazy tough.

From crockett on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 21:00:52 from 71.36.86.81

Well coach, if I would have run SP50 as fast as you (only in my dreams) I wouldn't be able to run for many weeks. For others who don't understand, the recovery time is based on a combination of mileage base, body adjusting to long runs, and how fast you do them. My 12 hour pace at Squaw Peak 50 last Saturday was somewhat lazy because of the bad ankle, so I didn't trash my quads by blasting down the hills. So, recover is pretty fast. If I would have run an hour faster, I doubt that I could have run the marathon today.

Kelli, next race for me, believe it or not will be on Friday, the Big Horn 100-miler race up in Wyoming. I should be recovered from this marathon by Wednesday. I expect the ankle will slow me down again. It will probably take me 28 hours or so to complete this 100. My best time was last year, 26:45, 25th place out of 120 runners. It is a tough course starting with a grueling 3,500-foot climb in seven miles. It is a gorgeous course with wildflowers blooming. Hopefully it will be my 24th 100-mile finish (in 4 years.)

From Jon on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 22:48:49 from 75.169.139.27

You did a 50, then a "warmup" marathon in prep for you 100. Wow.

From Kelli on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 23:39:26 from 71.219.76.64

OKay, yup, I am turning you in. You are amazing. I need to come watch one of these ultras. All the pictures are starting to scare me.

I want to try a 50k this fall. Any suggestions of when and where?

From jtshad on Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 09:58:55 from 12.187.226.130

Congrats on a strong race. Just an easy marathon in between a 50 and 100 miler...incredible!

I hear you on the calf issues, mine started to tighten early on as well.

From Twinkies on Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 23:25:19 from 67.166.71.60

Great race Davy. I agree with Fiddy. You are crazy tough. Good luck next week at Big Horn.

From Smooth on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 15:34:51 from 71.36.79.7

Davy!!! It was so good to see you at the start. You ran a smart "training run" with very respectable time. I'd kill to run a BQ and 7th place in any marathon. You continue to inspire us. Yes, Kelli, you need to turn Davy's adventures to RW. I'm constantly talking about Davy to my hubby and son. You are an inspiration to us. 24th 100's in 4 years. UNBELIEVABLY INCREDIBLE!!! Keep up the good work. AND BEST OF LUCK on Friday.

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