Relentless

St. George 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: St. George Marathon (26.2 Miles) 02:30:19, Place overall: 5, Place in age division: 1
Total Distance
26.50

Race Day turned out to be a memorable one!  So I have run through the worst Boston in history and now the worst SGM in history.  I wouldn't say that conditions were as bad as Boston '07 overall; but the wind was there pretty intense the whole time, and this time, I was really working against it on my own for a big portion of the race.  Here's how it all went:

Race day conditions were rainy, chilly and windy.  Got to the start line and tried to stay dry in my garbage bag until a few minutes before the race.  Warmed up by running around the corral for a bit and trying to stretch out a little.  Had some tightness in my upper hammies that stayed pretty much the whole race only to be replaced by MAJOR tightness everywhere later!

Mile 1- 6:01 - We watched Jose take off and we all sat back, way back.  It seemed that no one wanted to take the lead and have anything to do with the wind. 

2- 5:50 (11:51) - Still very easy.  We all noticed how very dark it was and this, along with the very slow pace, caused a lot of jostling for position and clipping legs and arms.

3- 5:24 (17:14) - I got tired of this and took the lead (as we had long since passed any mad dashers).  Sasha tried to real me in, but I told him that I was just taking my turn up front - really I was just trying to get things moving.  Although times seemed to be out the door for the race, we still couldn't just piddle around (this became my attitude for whole race, I guess).

4- 5:21 (22:35) - Group was now moving along and thinning out a few people.  By this time, I think most of us had stopped worrying about trying to stay dry and we were just going.

5- 5:29 (28:04) - These miles felt pretty good.  I did a few mental checks of key areas of the body around 3 and 5 and tried to convince myself that I really felt great.  I really didn't feel sharp yet, however.

6- 5:11 (33:15) - Dropping into Veyo, Danley picked up the pace a little; I noticed that the other guy - Mark Currell - also wanted to be right up front.  I made a little push to go up front and position myself for my first water and gu and everyone moved right with me.

7- 5:14 (38:29) - Had a smooth water stop and threw my hat to my dad.  Although this isn't the highest level, I kept thinking to myself how cool it was to be doing "championship racing", the strategy forming early, working together, working against people.  It was fun.

8- 6:09 (44:38) - This is where the leader/winner made a big move.  Right here on Veyo.  Danley seemed to try to go with him, or at least move also.  And I settled behind Sasha, but he wasn't moving up quick enough and Nick came up, so I went with him, so did Sasha and Jeff.  Nick and Jeff actually pulled up a little near the top.

9- 5:59 (50:37) - Knew that I HAD to pull back up with Nick and Jeff, so I surged for 1/4 mile and got back to them.  I really tried to put myself in the mindset to stay with everyone, because the way I was feeling, if I fell back, I won't ever get back on track. 

10- 5:58 (56:36) - I told the group that we could work to get Danley and then go for the top guy.  I was really the only vocal one in the group.  I hope it wasn't annoying, but it helped me stay focused.  We pulled Danley back during the end of this mile or during the next.

11- 6:17 (1:02:53) - I tried to relax on this mile and stay behind Nick and Jeff as we finished off the Dammeron hills.  Pretty slow, but the wind was ripping in here.  Ultima stop.  It sat fine; I didn't drink too much.

12- 5:51 (1:08:44) - I pushed us across the top and tried to get it moving again toward the half.  My hips were so tight the whole race.  I remember they really hurt in here.

13- 5:38 (1:14:22) - Wow - a bad wow.  Obviously, the times were much slower than last year, but I really was working a lot harder.  I hit the half in 1:15:20 - I think.  This was really the first time since the early miles that I had looked at the time (hardly looked at the watch at all the whole race.  I didn't dare; I didn't want to get discouraged).  Through this mile, I decided it was time to make a move - not on the group, but for time.  I had originally planned on really moving through miles 13-17.  Although I new the time wasn't going to be there, I wanted the effort there.  About my move - in retrospect was it the smartest move?  Probably not for overall.  All it really did was spread out the group and create someone for everyone else to shoot for since the leader was long gone.  But I am proud of myself for doing it.  I may have been able to hit 5th or a little higher by staying with Nick for longer, but it was time for something to happen in the race and it turned out okay, even with a dead finish.  I won't ever need to wonder what I could have got if I would have gone harder today.  I went as hard as I could on this given day.  So would I do it again?  Yes.  And hopefully I'll get even better at it next time.

14- 5:41 (1:20:02) - I was originally planning to drop to 5:00 here!  Nope.

 15- 5:20 (1:25:23) - Saw my XC kids here and they got me my gato and a loud shout out.  It was fun to see them out.  Came off the volcano okay.  Again, my hips really seemed to play a role in keeping me from really rolling.  They were - and still are - very sore.  Had to force myself to drink some of the gato.  I knew I needed to, the race was still long.  But the cool temps and rain gave a false sense of hydration.

16- 5:16 (1:30:39) - Did okay dropping to Snow Canyon.  Finally a little crowd.  It was very lonely running out there by myself.  Throughout the race, I could see the cops up with the leader in the distance, but I felt totally isolated from everything and everyone.

17- 5:33 (1:36:12) - The Winchester hill loomed and I told myself, "They are coming.  Just keep pushing."  I was right; they were coming!

18- 5:42 (1:41:55) - Tried to keep focused.  The wind was tearing me apart.  I tried not to think about it at the time, but I knew the factor it was playing on me. 

19- 6:06 (1:48:00) - I was so slow up the hill.  I wanted to look at my watch, but refused to let myself.  I was sure it would say 7-8:00 minutes and that would have killed me.  I just though, "I am racing for 2nd at St. George!  Keep it going.  Keep it going."  I did what turned out to be my last little mental check after going through my ward's aide station.  I was out of it.  I don't remember anything about going through except a lot of yelling and the neighbor girl who gave me my drink.  I tried to convince myself that I could finish, but I wanted so badly to stop and just be done.  Marathoning is so hard.  So hard.

20- 5:56 (1:53:57) - I realized I was fading fast.  My pace slowed for a section of this mile to nearly a standstill.  I drank a little more of my flat Pepsi from 19 and hoped the gu would kick something to me.  Then just tried to gut something out.

21- 5:35 (1:59:32) - My nemesis miles, through the twist. If I could just get the legs going again, I could maybe hold on to this.  10K left I thought.  I focused on trying to get leg turnover where there was none.

22- 5:54 (2:05:26) - I held them off for a mile; do it again.  Here is where Steve A. and Clyde got me last year.  I tried to get anything on the little climb out of the twist.

23- 5:37 (2:11:03) - Held them off for another mile.  But now the cheers are closer behind me.  The girl at the aide station held out my water, but I was on the other side of the road from the tangent.  I yelled to her to bring it to me; I hope she didn't think I was a jerk, but I could barely keep moving forward let along sideways.

24- 5:45 (2:16:48) - My long battle of attrition was over.  After running alone and pushing the wind for over 12 miles, someone came up on me dropping into town.  I gave a quick backward glance; it was Nick.  I gave him a fistbump and he encouraged me and was gone.  What now?  Try to hold off the next one.

25- 5:59 (2:22:47) - A major goal of mine, and a key to my goal time, was to really keep on it at the finish.  I have never once had a finish of a marathon where the last few miles were something to write home about.  How do I feel about today's?  I am not sure.  I didn't quit.  That's a positive.  It wasn't a whole lot slower than even last year.  But I was D.E.A.D - dead!  3rd place got me just before turning off diagonal.

26- 6:03 (2:28:50) - I knew some big dogs were still hunting me down and I didn't want to lose all I had worked so hard for, so I tried to grit down.  I got a little boost when the PVHS pep band hit a little fight song for me as we turned on Tabernacle.  It was exhilarating for a short minute (I wish they would have pushed me all the way in!).

26.2- 1:19 (2:30:19) - Coming down the end it was gone.  Everything was gone.  4th caught and passed me with about 200-300 to go.  I wish I could have held it, but I was hoping not to fall down.  I have to stop making a habit of these dramatic finishes - I really am not doing it for the attention.  As I ran, my legs would just drop lower and lower and I started to weave.  I tried to stand up straight and the whole process would start again.  I really just hoped to cross the line.  My legs were cramping and there was not one ounce of anything in there.  Made it and was caught at the line by one of our trusty men in uniform.

Well... That one is over.  Really nothing left to say or analyze that I haven't already.  I was an amazing training season.  The Circle of Trust totally pushed me through.  My wife and kids are an absolute amazing support.  And congrats to everyone.  I am especially proud of James who qualified for Boston, broke 3, and hit a 30(?) minute PR.  Good job big bro.  It was a ton of fun running with you. 

I guess I should also note for future reference when I am an old man (yes pvxc I am not an old man, yet!) that I won the Silver Shoe for top local finisher.  A nice trophy, bread for a year, and a treadmill, and don't forget that cool jumbo candybar with the SGM logo on it.  That was pretty neat.  Also top 10 and top finisher for my age division.  I got 3 bags - one for each of the girls! 

Comments
From rockness18 on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 18:58:47

Impressive run! Looking forward to reading the remainder of your report.

From Lucia on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:04:20

Congratulations on a great race! I love reading about your thoughtsl; the mile 7 recount is pretty cool. Working together yet competing against each other - interesting. You rock!

From Burt on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:22:11

Great job on the awesome race! I hope you post who the winner was. I've yet to see in anyone's report who won the race.

From dave holt on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:30:05

Thanks guys.

Burt, Matt Currell - the guy who made the move at 8. We didn't have a chance of catching him today. Even in this weather he hit a 2:22. Former Southern Utah University runner (go T-Birds!) from Washington state I think.

From Lucia on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:31:47

GOOOOOOO T-BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!

From Dale on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:39:17

Wow. Just wow. I felt like I was there from your description. I *so* know what you mean about marathoning being hard, wanting to finish strong but feeling dead, and having nothing left at the finish. Sounds like you gave it EVERYTHING....what more could you ask for? Great job! Wow!!!

From Superfly on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:40:13

Good job Dave. I'm proud of you for making that "move". I wish I could have been there with you to do it too. Why to finish actually very well on such a crap-o-la day. I'm glad you got the treadmill and all the other booty. You earned it man!

From paul on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 19:42:40

Wow, great race, way to put it all out there on the line. True, perhaps you could have been more conservative and placed a spot higher or so...but absolutely nothing beat going for it and putting yourself out there. "Championship style racing", as you put it, certainly is exciting. I love that feeling of making a break. Nice job.

From James Holt on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 20:02:06

Congrats Dave. Im coming up for some sandwiches. You ran a great race in some crapy conditions. You are going to have to start leaving some energy in your body for the finish line crossing thought. You did GREAT! Nice job.

From RivertonPaul on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:07:20

Nice race. Your blogs are always great.

From kelsey on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:17:09

wow, i wish i could remember my races that clearly. great race in tough weather. way to stick with it at the end when your body was obviously saying it was done! congrats.

From Kamm on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:18:30

You did awesome today, and you earned it. All those long, lonely, early, unnoticed training miles paid off. Way to bring the Silver Shoe back to St. George. You're an amazing runner and a great person as well. Now go eat all the junk food in the house.

From Chandis on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 23:00:30

GOOD JOB COACH!!!!

From MarcieJ on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 01:04:10

Great job! Marathoning is hard but pushed through it and did awesome. It was a tough one out there today! Great job on the silver shoe. I so wanted that today but a girl from cedar got it, this is the first year they changed it from washington county resident to a tri-county thing. lame!

From jona on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 01:26:48

Wow. Great job! Thank you for such a great report! Wow your awesome.

From dave holt on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 02:01:25

Marci - tri-county thing? What a joke. That really chaps me. Now that is 2 straight years I am mad at them.

Thanks everybody!

Kamm, let's go hit some trails buddy. I drank all the Pepsis, ate a ton of pizza and 1/2 a cake in one sitting tonight!

From Jon on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 02:12:44

Great race, Dave. Top 5. You should be very proud.

Sounds like we both had similar experiences- broke away from a pack around the half way mark, did well for a while, then got eaten alive by the others due to the wind. At least we tried.

From JohnK on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 08:31:00

Dave, you performed amazingly well and gave an incredible effort. From my understanding of the weather conditions, I'd be pretty sure your performance yesterday surpassed last year's PR race. Sorry you lost those places late but still that should take nothing away from your accomplishment. Your training for this was very inspiring! Top 5 is something to be proud of for sure.

From Matt on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 09:51:27

You are a major stud. Congrats the longer races really don't tend to be as fun. Reading you log hasn't made me think otherwise.

From christi on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 09:59:05

Yay Dave!! Congrats on 5th place- that is amazing!!! You rule!

From Kim on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 11:29:18

Way to win the local! Sounds like some great prizes for you! I especially like the free bread for a year! I hate the prices of bread right now! Congrats!

Thanks for your kudos on my blog!

From Mike Warren on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 12:10:31

Dave, thanks for your nice comments. I have a ton of respect for the great race you ran. Congrats on the Silver shoe and top 5, very impressive!

From Predog on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 13:45:06

Holt, you are amazing. I can't imagine running sub-6 min. miles for that long...but one day...Anyway, you are a beast! Keep it up and keep having fun!

From Ruthie on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 14:24:59

Wow. You are so awesome. My bro texted me your time and place right after you finished and I was amazed: One- at how well you ran with the insane conditions and, Two- at how well you placed and that you got the Silver Shoe! I'm way excited for you and have been bragging about you all weekend. Thanks for being such an amazing example, coach!

From MichelleL on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 20:45:50

I find your race report very inspiring. You sure went for it and raced tough. I think your finish was well worth writing home about. I loved the picture in the paper. We should all finish that way.

From dave holt on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 21:22:37

Yeah, my dad showed me that one today! I look like a real turd. Wasn't there something better to take a picture of than me dropping like a sack of potatoes?

From Mik'L on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 21:23:16

Good job Dave. I'm so glad you got the Silver Shoe and all the goodies! I have never seen so much concentration on someone's face as I did in yours as you tried to get to the finish line. I could tell your legs were DONE, but you totally willed yourself through. Good job giving it everything!

From Mik'L on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 21:24:11

By the way...at least you weren't in a wheelchair in your newspaper pic. haha

From Paul Petersen on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 22:09:00

By the way Dave, I enjoyed your TV interview. We actually got to watch full marathon coverage up in Logan last night. Ah, the wonders of Dish Network. That local St. George channel is hilarious, but your interview was definitely the high point of the coverage. Good plug for the running center and the blog as well.

From josse on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 22:49:50

Great job!! My sister got some great pics of you going down. I will send them when I get them.

From Chad on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 23:04:03

Dave--you've had a lot of nice comments on your race. I don't have much to add to them except to quote your entry, which I think is exactly the right thought for this race:

"I won't ever need to wonder what I could have got if I would have gone harder today. I went as hard as I could on this given day. So would I do it again? Yes. And hopefully I'll get even better at it next time."

Nice work, Dave.

From Mike Schramm on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:32:20

Dave

Great recap. It is nice to read how the race played out, the newspaper does such a horrible job of that. You deserve all the rewards, you work hard and are a great example.

Mike

From JeffC on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 01:24:57

Dave, great race and incredible report. Thanks for all the great detail. I though I was lonely when my running partner dropped back at mile 6, I can't even imagine what you leaders are going through when you get spread out.

From dave holt on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 09:41:57

Thanks again guys. I like what someone (sorry, I can't remember who) said on their blog that it's races like these that really make the memories.

Just Making Memories!

Paul, my wife and I often record the local news (since 9:00 is way to late to stay up for!) and watch it the next day just to laugh at all the screw ups. For us it is better than a sitcom - real life stupidity!

From Paul Petersen on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 09:50:43

Lots of good blunders during the news. My favorite was when the "anchor" lady started talking about something, realized that she missed the topic she was supposed to talk about, and then actually said, "Oops, I'm sorry", and then started completely over on the different topic, right in mid-sentence. And the two guys on-site were just complete buffoons, with comments like, "I can't even comprehend running a mile, but here's what the runners must be thinking...". I think next year they should get Hooper to do the color commentary.

From scotthughes on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 10:17:56

Great race Dave!

Top 5 is awesome. It has all been said in the other posts....

From Dustin on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 10:37:01

Dave Great, Great Race! Sorry I didn't see you guys at the finish. I was in so much pain and disappointment I left for home right after I came in and I haven't been around a computer until this morning. Even though you didn't hit the time, you wanted to place as high as you did was Awesome. You have really put in the work and glad things turned out. I'm pretty bummed about my race, but it was just one race. I'm sure I'll bounce back and be able to find another race and redeem myself.

From kellies on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 12:46:54

Wow, impressive. Nice work! Fun post to read.

From Jon on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 13:49:03

"The marathon is like a bullfight. There are two ways to kill a bull, for instance. There is the easy way, for one. But all the great matadors end up either dead or mauled because for them killing the bull is not nearly as important as how they kill the bull. They always approach the bull at the greatest risk to themselves, and I admire that. In the marathon, likewise, there are two ways to win. There's the easy way if all you care about is winning. You hang back and risk nothing. Then kick and try to nip the leaders at the end. Or you can push, challenge the others, make it an exciting race, risking everything. Maybe you lose, but as for me, I'd rather run a gutsy race, pushing all the way and lose, then run a conservative, easy race only for a win."

- Alberto Salazar, 1981

From Burt on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 19:02:49

I just wanted to point out that the city with the most people that finished in the top 25 was Mesa, Arizona. Clearly Mesa has the best runners overall as a whole. (Which is why I just moved to Queen Creek from there.)

From garrett smith on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 22:00:27

hi coach good job think your the best

From Jody on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 22:10:33

Congratulations on a great race! I loved reading you report and your last mile was a lot like mine. You did an amazing job!

From Big Z on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 23:39:45

Holt, you're insane! Way to go! And i think the pvxc blog needs some pictures.

From Lybi on Tue, Oct 07, 2008 at 01:30:08

What a great race, Holt! You really know how to give your all! What a race--enjoy that hard-earned bread!

From Andy on Wed, Oct 08, 2008 at 12:18:24

You ran a very inspiring race. Thanks for sharing the experience with so much detail. I saw a replay of your finish and it was very cool. I have always thought that is the way you should feel at the end of a marathon.

From dave holt on Wed, Oct 08, 2008 at 15:27:58

not me Andy, not me! I don't ever want to finish another race like that again.

From Brent on Wed, Oct 08, 2008 at 21:26:25

Coach, great race, loved reading your race report, tactical account, effort and guts against the day. 2,000 wet and wild commando points for the effort.

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From air dark horse on Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 16:10:44

Dave, I am impressed at your pace going into Dammeron valley considering the wind.

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: