Goal was 3rd overall and a 2:40. I also didn't want to go into suffer mode and have a long recovery. With the wind in the first 6 and the heat in the city, this ended up being closer to marathon effort than I wanted. 1:18:30 first half on schedule but almost a 1:28 second half. More later.
There was a pretty considerable wind storm on Big Mountain about 15 minutes before the start. The wind was blowing from the south. I thought it would be a nice cooling wind but it was a bit of a problem. It wasn't constantly hard but it was constant and was also a problem going up little mountain and for the final few miles in emigration canyon. I felt pretty good for the first while but not super. Goal was 5:35s for 1-4 and they were 5:15 (I swear it was the easiest mile ever and it was hard to let Jon, Fritz and two others go), 5:34, 5:37, 5:52. Ultimately right on. I was trying to focus on a light footfall and not burning out my quads. For 5-8, there was the last down mile then up to little mountain at 5:54, then 6:13, 6:56 and 6:32 (this one was half up summiting little mountain/half down).
Then the emigration canyon miles. Thought here was 5:55 average. There is an unfun out and back just after the start of the half that breaks the stride a bit. 5:45, 6:13 (out and back), 5:55, 5:58 for 9-12. These were slightly slow as they are the steeper miles and I felt like 5:55 wasn't going to happen. In fact, no more miles in the 5s after this. 6:05 for mile 13 and 1:18:30 for the half. This was right on target because I ran up little mountain a little too fast. Clearly the 6:05 is an alarm because I want to be under 6:00 at this point but this was the start of the next headwind as well. 14-16 down the canyon were into a headwind and came in at 6:05, 6:03, 6:02 (this one included the initial climb up east of the zoo so again climbing too fast).
Now the canyon is over and it's after 7:00 and the sun is warming things up. The wasatch miles 17-19 are where things were no longer easy. 6:15, 6:31, 6:08 (back down foothill and I am unable to accelerate).
Now my legs are done and I wonder whether its worth it to finish the marathon if it's going to set my training back. I can obviously blame the heat and not adjusting pace in the first half, but I also wonder whether no runs over 15.5 since June 7 caught up to me. 6:37 for mile 20 down foothill and 7:25 for mile 21 with 72 ft up - I am unwillling to try to push the pace and just let my legs dictate. 6:30 for mile 22 with 195 ft down to 1300 east. That's the last of the 6s. 23-26 going down 1300 E, down S Temple, down 300 E and then the strange 200 E and back (why separate us from the other runners?) were 7:08, 7:08, 7:12, 7:36. Final .26 on the garmin was 1:53 or 7:10 pace. Done.
Clearly slowing down in a marathon is no fun but I am fine with this result. It was a tough day and it was warm and I didn't fall apart completely. Enjoyed a nice ice bath at the finish and enjoyed catching up with others.
A million congratulations to Fritz for an amazing 2:26. Last December, he said he'd rather run in 80 degree weather than 30 after CIM. He proved it today with a gutsy performance. He continues to be my favorite local hero.
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