In search of old age PRs

St George Marathon

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Location:

Salt Lake City,UT,USA

Member Since:

Sep 25, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

All running accomplishments are Post Teenage Years:

17:06 5K--Murray 2014

16:58 5K (aided)--Running of the Leopards 2010

34:41--10K Deseret News 2018 (aided)

1:16--(aided) Hobble Creek Half 2009

2:43--St. George Marathon 2012

Short-Term Running Goals:

Sub 2:50 Ogden Marathon

Sub 17:00 at Draper 5K

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sub 2:40 Marathon

 

Personal:

Married to Elizabeth (she got me running in 2003). We have three boys, Lucas (12) , Sam (8) and Ollie (5).

Many years ago, I read that the AVERAGE male is capable of a 2:40 marathon.  I decided to test that theory.  I began running in 2003 with Top of Utah as my first marathon (4:24).  I need 3 more minutes.

"Life is short...running makes it seem longer."--Baron Hansen

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Total Distance
35.50
Total Distance
4.50

Easy morning run around Liberty Park.  I hope its not a hot day at St. George this year!

Comments(4)
Total Distance
4.00

Short speed work session at East High this morning.  5 x 200 with warm up and cool down.  Still feel a little muscle fatigue from the last long run, but it should be gone by Saturday morning.

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Race: St George Marathon (26.22 Miles) 02:54:06, Place overall: 70, Place in age division: 12
Total Distance
27.00

Another hot St. George!  Someday, I will run in this "perfect race conditions" St George is known for. 

At the starting line the announcer told us it was 60 degrees...a new record high for the start...great.  I was wanting a sub 2:50 today, but with the conditions I knew 2:55 would be work .  Luckily, before leaving my house in Salt Lake I grabbed a two year old packet of salt tablets.  I know the rule of never trying anything new at a marathon, but I made an exception for this one.

Started of with a buddy and a few of his friends.  We started a little slow, but I  had warmed up and they had not.

Mile 1: 6:54.

Mile 2: 6:39. The group warms up a little and we begin to run faster.

Mile 3: 6:22. Final out of the crowd in a good pace.  Still nice and dark.

Mile 4: 6:14. The pack we had was pretty social.  There was a lot of talking during the first 10 miles or so.

Mile 5: 6:28.

Mile 6: 6:07.

Mile 7: 6:11. We can see Veyo and begin preparing our strategy to take it easy.  The plan was to run conservative until mile 14 or 15 then really push it.  I take my first salt cap.

Mile 8: 7:02. Veyo.  It was a good pace up the hill and we all high-fived  at the top.  I knew the course was tough the next 5 or 6 miles and the sun began to come out...worst, there was a head wind.

Mile 9: 6:59.  Rolling uphill with wind.

Mile 10: 6:40.

Mile 11: 6:58.

Mile 12: 6:36.  Glad that was over.  Some nice level and downhill work ahead.  2nd salt cap.

Mile 13: 6:21.  Our group begins to split.  I'm able to latch on to the 4th-6th girls, including Julie (won it last year).  This helped a lot with the wind.  We came through the half about 1:26:30.  I was aiming for closer to 1:25, but the course turns a little easier now.  I took my only gel at this point.  It took me forever to swallow it!

Mile 14: 6:28  I lose my running buddy.

Mile 15: 6:08 The girls picked up the pace because they could spot the 3rd place girl.  I just went with them.

Mile 16: 6:00

Mile 17: 6:13 We catch the 3rd place girl.

Mile 18: 6:22

Mile 19: 7:03 This is a horrible stretch that goes under an overpass.  It is uphill and very draining.

Mile 20: 6:25 Downhill again.  I take my last salt cap.

Mile 21: 6:18.  This is where the heat finally hit me.  My head felt like it was on fire.  I knew it was going to be work to the finish.

Mile 22: 6:47.  The 3rd-5th girls have kept the pace and left me in the dust.

Mile 23: 6:57.  Doing the math just to make sure I could still break 2:55.

Mile 24: 6:49.  Nice crowd support, so tried to run a little harder.

Mile 25: 7:30.  Toast.  I'll make it to finish but it will not be pretty.

Mile 26: 7:33 +1:49 to finish.  I can see a guy 100 yards behind me kicking hard, but my poor attempt at a sprint is ugly.  He easily passes me.  2nd half 1:27:36.  No negative split, but glad to be done (last 5K ruined it)!

All and all, it was a fair time.  In tough conditions, you really have to look at your placement and not your time.  I should be placing in the 50-100 range at the marathon and I was 70th.  Someday I will run St. George and it will be 40 degrees at the start and 62 degrees at the finish!

In review, I probably ran the Top of Utah marathon two weeks ago to fast.  I pushed the pace the first half (1:25) then coasted the 2nd for a training run of 3:04.  Next time, I'll do this 3-4 weeks out.  I am also a NEW believer in salt caps.  I simply have to find something beside gel for fuel.  It slows me down to eat it.  I am so ready for winter.

Comments(12)
Total Distance
35.50
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