Relentless

Salt Lake City Marathon

Recent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesHolt's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewMonth ViewYear View
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Dogtown,Ut,

Member Since:

Jan 02, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

PRs: 2:26:29 marathon @ St.George '14; 1:09:55 1/2 mar. '08; 31:00 10k '07

Short-Term Running Goals:

Love running now.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Love running forever!

Personal:

My perfect day would include a run through the desert, time with my wife and girls, tasty homemade meals, and a nice nap in the middle.

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Adios Lifetime Miles: 512.25
Rocket 2 Lifetime Miles: 109.00
Kinvara Grey Lifetime Miles: 222.00
Vazee Pace Lifetime Miles: 437.75
Pace Blue Lifetime Miles: 231.75
Boston Lifetime Miles: 520.25
Peg Green Lifetime Miles: 544.00
Speedgoat Lifetime Miles: 325.00
Peg Purple Lifetime Miles: 509.50
Ravenna Lifetime Miles: 525.50
Barefoot '18 Lifetime Miles: 6.75
Levitate Lifetime Miles: 419.50
Peg NOP Lifetime Miles: 380.00
Peg Blue34 Lifetime Miles: 408.25
Solar Glide Lifetime Miles: 210.00
Levitate Black Lifetime Miles: 83.75
Race: Salt Lake City Marathon (26.2 Miles) 02:49:10, Place overall: 13, Place in age division: 3
Total Distance
26.50

I guess I'll write about my race while I can still remember it, even though I really don't feel like it.

What a mix of emotions - I still don't really know what to say/think/feel about this run even days later. I really thought 2:40 would be possible, but with the wind, I knew it would slow me a little bit. I started out trying for it anyway. James (he ran the 1/2 and hit a big PR in 1:28!) and I got to the start with plenty of time to get ready. Then got up on the line and saw everybody after a short little warm up. (splits are Garmin, not mile markers, and it measured a little long, so they don't add up perfectly.)

1-5:44 Started off about where I wanted. Felt the group out and let the leaders go away as Sasha, Matt H., and I kind of established position. I actually wanted to start a little closer to 6, and in retrospect, I should have stayed right with Adam and Kory. 2-5:50 Pretty solid start. Sasha moves up and it's basically Matt H. and I now with no one else really around. 3-6:06 A little slower up the hill and into the wind, but just fine. 4-5:22 Big downhill mile, and we just let it roll, but don't push to overwork it. 5-5:37 Continue the downhill and near the park. 6-5:58 Settled back into pace and worked with Matt through the park. I was worried about the hills (in the couple weeks back up to the race, it seemed that I had no hill strength at all) and I had to work a little to hard to stay with Matt. 7-6:08 Set back into a good rhythm and Matt and I kept switching leads in the wind. Saw Sasha up a ways and decided working together we might get to him by the end of the race. (Oh how wrong!) 8-6:24 Wind was really working me. 9-6:23 The hill up Keller Lane ruined me. Matt pulled away and I just couldn't go and I started thinking bad. 10-6:19 Trying to work the wind and keep strong. 11-6:01 A better mile because Adam caught me and I ran right behind him for the mile, trying to get my legs back. 12-6:20 Then he left me. 13-6:57 This is where I got the worst mentally in a race I have ever been (miles 13-20). I really lost any positive thoughts and the race became a nightmare on this last climb before the turn on 62nd. 14-6:17 Tried to bring it back together on the downhill, but as the time shows I just couldn't. And I watched the lead ladies just pull away. 15-6:18 It is weird. The pace was not hard to keep at all (because it was slow), but I couldn't go any faster, and it was making me SO mad and frustrated. 16-7:00 I can't repeat the thoughts that were going through my mind at this point. Ally's grandma lives right off here and I was hoping she was out so I could quit. I just wanted to walk off. She wasn't, but that didn't stop me from looking for an out. I walked through the aid station at the end here and hoped to see a van/something that would take me in. 17-6:31 Figured I just had to keep going, so I did. 18-7:11 Walked through the aid station again. Not really because I hurt or anything at all, but just because I wanted to (to be done, to quit, to never run again). 19-6:43 Started running again. Why? 20-7:30 Walked through again. And again for no reason. The 6:30 pace wasn't hurting me at all, I just was so negative walking was my only out. But then I saw that I could still get 2:50 and I just pushed the thoughts out and decided I could make something of the run. 21-6:36 Tried to just focus on the few that had passed me because of my breaks and I actually stayed the same distance with them. 22-6:28 For a moment I thought about walking again (I had each of the last three stations), but I figured why? I don't need to. 23-6:32 Staying at this pace still. I think it showed that my endurance was just fine (or had come back pretty good), but the fastness was what was really affected by the sickness (and it had not come back at all). 24-6:37 still on pace to hit that sub 2:50 and that made me feel okay. 25-6:56 dodging a lot of 1/2'ers and the little climb in town here really hit me again. 26-7:00 I am just trying to dig, but really I am pretty spent. .2 (.34 on Garmin)- 6:29 pace. Finish was a little more organized with a 1/2 and a marathon chute. I could tell I was going down about the last .1. Legs were wobbling and I couldn't breathe at all. So I did, it was fun. I weezed and tried to breathe as they gave me an inhaler thing. But the breath came back quick and I just walked out as if nothing happened. (Ohana 32.7)

So a 2:49:10. And that's where I am stuck. I don't even feel like I ran a marathon. I run workouts quicker than that, but I was coming back from being sick. Whatever... It's over and I'll chill for awhile and then try to get back into it with a better attitude.

Comments
From jtshad on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:15:39

Solid effort coming off the sickness that you had. Keep your head up and target another race this spring.

From wildbull on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:33:42

Great race Dave. Not an easy course.

From James on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 11:02:47

Are you guys coming up for BYU in two weeks?

I am waiting for the report, but take your time.

From Superfly on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 11:04:31

I wouldn't have told you this before your race but... You had pneumonia!!! in both lungs. Your a champ for even running the race. Most people wouldn't have been able to keep running and do it. That shows some real guts. Keep your head up and this race will just make you stronger for the next one.

From dave holt on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 11:35:25

Clyde I would have rather had you tell me to hang 'em up! Club run Thursday? Or will you be off fishing already?

From Logan on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:34:07

Way to gut it out. This sounds a lot like my Ogden Marathon last year where I ran 2:55! You will get healthy again and bounce back. It is a little over a month until I get down there and then we can really get rolling.

From James on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:43:40

Any good video of going down?

From Jon on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:46:19

No worries, Dave- running sick is a tough way to go. Like you said, you still have your endurance so you will bounce back real quick. You still ran sub-2:50, which is a good time.

From dave holt on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 13:48:46

I bet someone there had to get it - but nothing from the fam. they were too far away - because the announcer said something like, "David Holt from Washington, Utah. Whoa... Whoa... finish it up!"

So I'm sure it caught a little bit of attention.

Logan, That is exactly what I needed (seriously). Thanks buddy. Let's get going!

From Sasha Pachev on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:04:25

Dave - I ran a somewhat similar race in 1999 in Boise. Except I had not been sick prior to it, there was no headwind, my second half was 1:31, and my finish time was 2:49:59. My next two marathons that year went a lot better, I ran the old DesNews course in 2:38:50, followed by 2:35:46 in TOU. After looking at my training, I believe the root cause of the crash was in a three week taper at 45 miles a week.

In 2005 I made a series of unwise training decisions which resulted in a pinched nerve in the lower back. I was in great shape prior to that, but having to cut down to 8 miles a day for three weeks was enough to untrain me. In the SLC marathon I went through the first half in 1:16 thinking I was being smart with a conservative start, and then I lacked the fitness to hold it and finished in 2:37:49, double-chicked, nearly triple-chicked with the third one being a master.

Marathon is a serious test of health and training, and it is quick to punish you for any lapses. Which is a two-edged sword. The punishment is absolutely merciless and it hurts, but at the same time there is no better way to expose those issues.

So take this one in stride and learn from it. St. George will hopefully be better.

From Ally Holt on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:06:59

Would you stop being so hard on yourself? Like everyone is saying, you had pneumonia 2 weeks ago Dave! You did great considering that. You still had a great time. I am very proud of you, and you will get back into it. Good job (even though you don't agree with me)

From Brent on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:14:11

Coach Holt: It seems time for reflection is needed, being sick, tough wind day, mental toughness etc. From my view, still a great effort on a tough day. Your work is not done, the next race is ahead.

Stay Kool, have 3 iceberg shakes, re-energize, B of BS Rools out

Rebound with vengance. Your da Coach.

From dave holt on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:40:33

Thanks guys. It's easy to talk about struggles, but harder to internalize; it's coming around however.

From Ally Holt on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 14:43:34

I am really liking Brent's idea of 3 iceberg shakes. Sounds really good!

From Lybi on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 16:21:45

When you say you "went down" does that mean you collapsed?! Ah! That is something I have never seen on the blog before. I'll have to make a note of this--no running marathons within 2 weeks of having pneumonia. Somehow I don't think it'll ever come up. :)

Well, you weathered a really tough situation and I think you are just one super tough punk to have done as well as you did! King Dave triumphs again!

From Jon on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 16:28:11

I interpreted "went down" as slowing down, not that you collapsed. Man, you can sure claim that you gave it your all!

From Superfly on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 17:19:19

I should be there on Thursday. Just remember that we're just makin memories... I guess they all can't be as good as IHOP!

From James W on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 18:40:40

I think its amazing that you were able to run the entire thing after having had pneumonia! True story - I very distinctly remember (and Lybi can back me up on this) a couple of years ago having been sick for most of the week before an 8K (just an 8K, mind you), and Lybi was worried about me overdoing it because I was determined to run. I had just started to feel better the Thursday before the race. I thought I was being smart and not going out too hard. However, I had to walk the entire last mile, I was veering back and forth, and at times my vision got a little fuzzy. I walked through the finish, started to go out to my car, threw up, went back, and asked for help (good thing, too). I ended up getting treated for shock and had to have Lybi come pick me up, because I couldn't drive the car back home. In retrospect, the lesson I learned was: don't try to run hard after being really sick. Don't be too hard on yourself, your body was probably rebelling against you, and there was nothing you could have done about it. I bet you will be back on track in no time at all.

From wheakory on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 19:08:54

Dave - I really thought about, "and I should have", when I met up with you at mile 17 of just running together. Maybe we could have worked together and gotten under a 2:45. Because after that point I was running with no one, and I regretting not sticking with you.

I'm glad you had the determination to finish strong. You came in this race with a very bad sickness during an important part in the training. Once your body recovers you'll excel in the next one.

From Jeff on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 20:14:22

Tough race, you have been sick. You are still awesome and you'll be ok. Keep up the good work coach!

From Jeff on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 20:21:25

Do we need to run tomorrow (tuesday) morning? The PVHS blog says we do and not Friday morning.

From Adam RW- on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 23:18:17

Dave, I really liked your report and the determination you showed. It takes true guts to come to the line after having been as sick as you were and it takes even more guts to have stuck it out all the way to the end. Think of it as your pneumonia recovery run and leave it at that. Well done.

From Wildbull on Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 11:19:44

Dave. 99 percent of the people out there would love to run a sub 2:50 marathon! Dude you rock. on yor worst day your better runner then most! Running is about having fun. enjoy the experience.

Add Your Comment.
  • Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
  • Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
  • If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.
Only registered users with public blogs are allowed to post comments. Log in with your username and password or create an account and set up a blog.
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Recent Comments: