Rob Murphy

Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon

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Location:

Salt Lake City,

Member Since:

Feb 11, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I had some success in high school and college. Winner 1985 Rod Dixon Run 

Had a fair amount of success as a Masters runner for most of my 40s. 

Short-Term Running Goals:

Have fun with running, explore more trails, stay healthy.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep running and racing consistently for as long as I can. Find what is sustainable for me over the long run.

Personal:

I teach AP European History and other courses at Alta High School. I coached the track and cross country teams at Alta for 16 years.

Married, two kids - Abby and Andy

My Twitter  @murphy_rob

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Miles:This week: 11.50 Month: 121.75 Year: 375.97
Race: Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:15:56, Place overall: 62, Place in age division: 3
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
1.000.0013.100.0014.10

Had quite a day at the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon after a night with zero sleep. This is something that I really need fo figure out and it just keeps getting worse before every race. I can't seem to switch my brain off at night. Just once I'd like to run a race after a decent night's sleep.

Ann dropped me off at the bus pick up at the U. of Minnesota Duluth. The course is point to point along the Lake Superior shoreline.I was supposed to hitch a ride with our friend's next door neighbor who was running the half as well, but he called at like 4:30 AM to say that it was raining too hard and he wasn't going to run.

Rained hard right up until the 6:30 start time. I got to huddle under a tent with the other ELITE ATHLETES and laugh at the masses of ordinary runners as they got soaked and froze their a**** off. Also got to make extensive use of the ELITE ATHLETE POP's which were nice and dry. Dropped my bag off at the ELITE ATHLETE bag drop right on the starting line about 30 seconds before the race.

Seriously, I felt a little self conscious hanging with all these Kenyans who were going to run 62 minutes for the half marathon. Clearly there is a wide disparity in what qualifies as "elite". But I really appreciated the fine treatment and I highly reccomend Grandma's/Gary Bjorklund to all of you considering an out of town race. And it's on a Saturday which I know is important to a lot of Utah people.

Gun went off. I was wanting for once in my life to avoid going out too fast and this was the perfect race to succeed at that as I didn't know anyone and so felt free to run my own race. Good racing weather - cool, light rain, nice tailwind.

Here are my splits: 5:48, 5:42, 5:42, 5:51, 5:48, 5:38, 5:55, 5:52, 5:48, 5:43, 5:42, 5:45, 5:46, and 5:24 pace for the point one.

I ran too conservatively, and looking back, I realize that if I had run more aggresively that I could have run a really nice time. But I wasn't sure how the zero sleep would affect me in the later miles and I wanted to finish strong. I just got into a nice comfortable groove. Nobody passed me after the first mile and I must have passed twenty people over the last couple miles into downtown Duluth.

Off to the awards ceremony now.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00Calories: 0.00
Comments
From Bret on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 17:20:13 from 96.243.187.166

Awesome race Rob - really cannot be wanting for much there - excellent splits and a fine finish - you'll sleep well with that accomplishment. Great job.

From Teena Marie on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 18:38:21 from 67.2.101.26

Have you ever considered taking an ambien the night before a race?

I'm glad you were well treated and avoided any buttocks freezing off. That would have looked really crazy running sans fanny.

Congrats on yet another AMAZING race! :)

Enjoy your down time. :)

From Smooth on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 21:03:26 from 67.2.124.217

Congratulations on another OUTSTANDING performance!!! You deserve to be treated elitely!

AWESOME pace and STRONG finish!!! :) :) :)

Grandma is on my to do list!!! I promise my niece I'd run it with her someday! :). Enjoy the rest of your stay there! :)

From Jon on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 21:13:55 from 98.84.72.101

Nice job, Rob. Sounds like a good time and great elite treatment.

From Paul on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 21:20:31 from 24.10.141.104

Nice job!

From jtshad on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 21:23:50 from 69.20.183.178

Great time, Rob! You got that 1:15. Sounds like an interesting race with all the rain before the start.

Sorry about the insomnia before the race again...remember, you are doing this for fun!

Have a great vacation.

From baldnspicy on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 23:28:31 from 72.77.101.46

Great race report, Rob. Congrats on a 3rd place finish. Unbelievable that 60+ people beat you with a 1:15 time! Awesome job, nice consistent splits and a dry start for you - a cool elite! Enjoy your vacation and hopefully it will stay nice and dry.

From Wesley Hunt on Sun, Jun 19, 2011 at 00:10:21 from 99.25.245.254

Awesome race, great splits, strong finish. You really turned it on at Mile 9. Congrats, Rob.

From Holt on Sun, Jun 19, 2011 at 11:36:25 from 97.126.207.204

Great job Rob!

From Laputka on Sun, Jun 19, 2011 at 18:51:49 from 98.202.142.68

Your friend's next door neighbor is a class A wienie! There, I said it for you. I envy your ELITE treatment. Congratulations.

From Steve on Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 16:17:24 from 209.191.207.60

Sweet race Rob, like I said, I'm just glad you were not running the marathon this morning

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