Utah Valley Marathon Race Report
Overall a wonderful experience with some nice surprises although the time was not quite what I had hoped for I actually don't think I had a solid idea of what I was capable of.
Walking out of the hotel in Provo on race morning, the air actually felt hot. It was 3:30 am and weather.com said it was 70 degrees but it felt warmer. Boarded the bus about 3:40 and headed up the race course. The bus route followed the race course because that was really the only way to get there - up Univiersity Blvd (189) to Canyon Road through the small town of Wallsburg at about 6200 feet of elevation. It was cooler and felt cooler when we got off the bus - low 60's. Starting area was at a ranch and the prerace hanging out area was literally inside a corral (word of caution from the day before, if you sit down on the grass and think there are rocks under you - those aren't rocks - most likely "cow pies". While hanging out, killing time, and hydrating before the race I eventually got into a POP line (and huge kudos to RD for having ample POPs resulting in reasonably short lines). The next line over I see a tall guy with the name Stephen on his bib. It was none other than "Big Steve" Radle from back home and a member of the Suncoast Striders. Steve is tall and used to carry around a lot of extra weight but now he's just tall but has a big heart so I think that's why the name has stuck. Chatted a bit with Steve and some of his new friends from waiting for the race, then I warmed up and got in line for the race start.
The good miles(1-7): 7:15, 7:23, 7:27, 7:25, 7:34, 7:41, 7:41
There was a 3:15 pacer and a 3:25 pacer. I was feeling like a 3:20 kind of day so I got into the middle with the inivisible pacer. This is the point in the movie "Mark" where the audience is screaming at me to get behind the 3:25 pacer but of course I ignore it. The usual race start mayhem occurs and I lose track of who is where, a lot of people run past me and I see a pacer up ahead and it almost looks like he is carrying a "3:45" pace sign so I'd better hurry and catch up. Nope, it really was the 3:15 guy I find out nearly a mile into the race. So, first mile is a little fast, I slow down a little after that and am feeling pretty good. The first seven miles are pretty much just steady downhill with nothing terribly scary downhill. This is one of the features that makes this course potentially fast - or possibly a disaster or something in between. And although the miles are somewhat easy, it easy feeling not quite as easy as it should be. It's also warming up a little bit, climbing towards 70 degrees as the sun comes up and the altitude decreases and I'm feeling a subtle affect from the altitude.
Hard stuff I knew was coming (8-15): 8:11, 8:58, 7:38 (+0:26 resync with mile marker), 7:40, 8:28, 7:44, 7:51, 7:42
Just after mile 7 finishes, Canyon Road merges onto Hwy 189 (which becomes University Ave), there is one last dip and then the road goes up for a while (with a little bit of down), mile 8 finishes and for most of mile 9 you go up. Just before mile 9 finishes you start going down again for the most part with some up here and there for the next 3 miles after that. Mile 8 didn't go so bad and I was feeling somewhat relaxed and ready to give back a little bit of time during the easy 7 miles. So, finished mile at with an 8:11 pace, pretty much where I wanted to be. Mile 9 was a different story. The uphill really started to get to me. I saw some POPs with no line so ducked into one. Kind of needed to go but really needed a quick break. Heart rate was through the roof. At this point I felt like I was in trouble with still a long way to go. I also reasoned that because there was a long way to go there was still time to turn things around and eventually the course would get easier again. I finished, calmed down and jumped back out onto the course and by the time the downhill started again I gained back a little bit of pace and finished at 8:58.
Over the next 6 miles I was a decent bit under 8:00 pace except for one of the miles at 8:28. But, it had taken a lot out of me. As I neared the half way point I could hear members of the 3:25 pace group coming up behind me. I was holding them off for a little while but not too far past the half way point they eventually passed me by. I kept them in my sight and mile 15 I even rallied a little bit at mile 15 and managed a 7:42 pace. Help came from some musical and semi-devine inspiration in the form of Depeche Mode's song "Personal Jesus" which actually has nothing to do with the real Jesus however is a catchy song with a decent beat. And unfortunately, the rally didn't last much past the end of mile 15, and soon the 3:25 group started to slip away.
It gets harder, but I finish (16-26.2): 8:42, 9:28, 8:53, 8:29, 8:17, 8:36, 8:39, 9:34, 9:11, 8:36, 8:59, 0.3@6:55
There's one last significant hill (and a few smaller ones) starting around mile 16. It is also in a section of canyon known to have quite a bit of wind but is mostly a tail wind except for this year. Wind came on suddenly while going up a hill. I survived ok for a while but found myself walking a few times after hitting mile 16. Just after mile 21 (let's say 21.2) I looked at my overall time - 2:50. Which meant keeping every mile under 10:00 would get me across the finish line under 3:40 - so new goal, was determined to not miss that one. I think around mile 23 the 3:35 group passed me by. I heard the pacer yell out to his runners encouraging them. The road was a straight shot and you could see a very slight downill the whole way. Legs were hurting. Grabbed an ice pop which helped (not too warm at this point, about 72 degrees maybe).
Approached the finish line and managed a 6:55 paced kick and I think I passed one or two people. I saw the clock ticking away and was trying to get even just a second under 3:37:00, however I ended up with a chip time of exactly 3:37:00, but at least I had hung on to me knew goal and resisted too much walking to stay under 3:40.
After grabbing some food and drink I sat down at the awards area where they were doing half marathon awards. None other than the owner/administrator of this blog, Sasha Pachev was picking up his award as overall male masters winner for the half marathon for a time of 1:17. Made plans to meet up with him later, then headed back to the hotel.
Had a chance for a quick sit down with Steve over a coke before he had to head to the airport.
Spent the rest of the day hanging out with Sasha and his family. Saw three of his kids race in an 800m race,
then saw them race at a mile race in the Orem street festival going on. That race was point to point so I had to run/walk another mile to go catch them at their finish. Also, at this point the weather had actually turned cooler and weather was a little bit drizzly.
Had a wonderful dinner at Sasha's house including my first ever taste of home made root beer flavored ice cream.
Went to Sunday services the next day heading to the airport.
While heading to the gate I smelled something good, followed the smell and found the most garlic covered garlic fries I've ever tasted (along with a grilled cheese sandwhich)
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