Well, this was not a spectacular performance or anything. However, I was satisfied with my effort, especially considering my current fitness level and training (or lack of). I ran this race in 2006 and ended up taking a wrong turn around mile 11.5, so this year the main goal was to first run the correct route. The second goal was to push the first 10K hard and then just see how long I could hold on. I really didn't have any time goals going in and I figured if I ran a PR that would be a bonus, but not something I would be focusing on or upset with if I didn't hit a PR. At the start Bill and I met up with Michelle, Josse, and Marcie. I told Michelle I would try to help her out some if I could. Once the gun went off it was really weird, Mike Vick took off, but nobody else really jetted out of there. I was really surprised because I figured for sure there would be some faster people or at least some younger runners going out hard, like most races. Anyway, I just decided to stick to my plan and try to hit around 5:40's 1-5:33 2-5:43 Just Michelle and I in 2nd and 3rd place. At this point I realize my Garmin is off on where they have the miles marked. Anyway, I should have just started taking splits from their mile markers, but I didn't. So pretty much the whole race my mile splits were different from the marked course.
3-5:47 (17:04) in 2006 I was 16:33 at 3 miles, so I'm already thinking that today will be slower. I picked up the pace a little on Michelle, but figure she'll catch up before long
4-5:42 5-5:51 Still holding on to 2nd place overall 6-5:59 (34:27) Around this time the two bandits show up and I just let them go by. Start feeling a little stomach cramp 7-6:05 A small hill, and starting to heat up 8-5:53 This mile felt pretty good 9-6:06
10-6:22 Legs are dead by now and the hip has started to tighten up, 2nd place overall runner from Wasatch Running Center passes me, and Michelle is closing fast.
11-6:35 I put it into relax mode and encourage Michelle to go after it. Kind of funny I look at the back of her singlet and think. Yep! I just got chicked. 12-6:39 Managed to make the correct turn this year and coasted through the neighborhood. I even stopped at a guy's house and cooled off in his sprinklers. 13-6:10 Didn't push it too hard to the finish and just worked on keeping the hip in check.
Anyway, I figured I was 6th overall, and the 5th male finisher. However, I didn't know that two of the guys were bandits and didn't finish, so that bumped me up to 3rd overall for the males with a time of 1:18:19 (5:58 pace). I know all you fast guys are saying 1:18:19 and you got third? All I have to say to you guys is thank you for running either Top of Utah Half or the Park City Marathon. For my efforts I did receive a nice plaque and $50 gift certificate to Runner's Corner. However, I still feel like Shawn Crawford did the other day when the two runners in the 200m got disqualified and he ended up with a medal. Bill had a PR which was great and he ended up taking 3rd in his division and Marcie took 1st in her division. So St. George was represented nicely. In conclusion, I was glad I went up and did the race, I really didn't know what to expect and now I have a better idea where I'm at and what I need to work on in preparation for the marathon. Speedstar-125
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