Rob Murphy

Xterra Turkey Track Trail Whatever

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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: 31.75 Month: 142.00 Year: 396.22
Race: Xterra Turkey Track Trail Whatever (6.21 Miles) 00:49:28, Place overall: 2, Place in age division: 1
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
6.004.006.200.0016.20

I don't even know where to start with this race report but here goes...

I signed up for the Xterra Turkey Track Trail Marathon and Half Marathon intending to run the half marathon. The course is two 13.1 mile loops, hilly and rocky, and about 95% muddy singletrack. After the start, I settled into second place following a Brazillian dude who was running the full marathon. Eventually he built about a 30 second lead on me but I could still see him (I didn't know he was running the marathon). Anyway, we were pretty much all alone and after 3 miles, I figured out why...Brazillian dude missed a turn and I followed him and we got ridiculously lost. When he stopped in the middle of this Forest Service road we began trying to communicate. He was pissed! Talking about how in Brazil trail races are marked every kilometer and such and swearing in Brazillian. He did know the F word in English though.

Anyway, we jogged about 3 miles along the road until I came to a marker I racognized from driving in. We made it back to the start line (also the finish line) and the race directors were sincerely upset and apologetic, one even saying that he had "thought about" putting a person at the turn we missed. Here's where it gets really odd for a mostly road racer guy like me. They offered to do a seperate re-start of the race for the two of us and said they would count the times in the official results. After some thought, the Brazillian took them up on the offer and started out on the marathon again after having already run 7 or 8 hard miles.

I asked them for an entry in the 10k which was a half hour later and they graciously did that for me. So I started the 10k at 10 am, the same time Abby started the 5k. The 10k course went about 2.5 miles downhill on a supper muddy (lots of rain lately in Pagosa Springs) dirt road and then about 4 miles of rolling singletrack with a couple tough climbs. Anyway, once again I settled into second place behind this youngster who really looked like he knew what he was doing decked out in all his Pearl Izumi Racing Team gear and all. So I was in no-man's land once again just after the 5k running some pretty good splits in the 6:20-6:30 range and really enjoying the challenging course when Pearl Izumi dude comes running back towards me.

"Is there a turn-around up there" I said.

"No, we ran off the course". He said.

At this point, I uttered the F word. It just doesn't pay to play follow the leader!

So we started jogging back and I asked him why he thought we were off the course. He said he asked a walking half-marathoner. I asked him why he thought a fat, walking, half-marathoner knew anything about the 10k course. He didn't answer. At this point we encountered the 3rd runner who was a local and assurred us we didn't run off the course.

"Man, you guys came a long way back". He said. 

So we did another 180 and resumed racing but I have to admit, I lost a bit of interest. My goal was to enjoy the run and finish 2nd, which I did. But I finished and Andy was sitting on a log about a quarter mile from the finish with a camera and cheering for me so I spunked up a bit and finished with a little bit of pride.

Ran about 7 miles in 49 minutes.

So I ended up doing about 13 miles of racing today in 2 seperate races. So I guess I raced a half marathon. I am sad that I couoldn't finish the half which was won in about 1:45. I would have run about 1:30 or so on that course. They had just about the coolest trophy I've ever seen.

Sigh...

Spending the night in Monticello, Utah tonight and will be back in Salt Lake tommorrow.

Oh, and congratulations to Abby for being the overall women's winner in the 5k!!!!

 

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00Calories: 0.00
Comments
From Jason D on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 18:59:19 from 68.80.27.222

ee, boy. This is the stuff pre-race nightmares are made of. At least you got in some miles and some quality ones.

I've been surprised by how well marked the trail races I have run have been. They are generally marked by runners, which helps. They use flour to make directional arrows, which is probably pretty standard.

From Abby Murphy on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 19:00:38 from 74.40.191.3

Well at least you got a turkey foot

From Rob Murphy on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 19:18:45 from 74.40.191.3

I actually do have those sorts of nightmares Jason.

Abby is right. I did win a ceramic turkey foot for winning the masters 10k.

From Jon on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 19:24:59 from 107.203.52.135

Congratulations on the, umm... races? Sounds like a bit of a messed up day, but at least you were running at a beautiful location. And congrats to Abby.

From Rob Murphy on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 19:37:52 from 74.40.191.3

Thanks Jon. It was frustrating but turned out ok. Fun day for the family. I got a lot of great Colorado trail running in this week. Truly stunning in the San Juans.

From Jason D on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 20:16:52 from 68.80.27.222

I definitely have those dreams too. Mine usually involve trying to run through several floors of a house and me thinking "How am I ever going to maintain pace through these 180 degree turns in this person's living room?"

From Fritz on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 at 21:41:02 from 98.202.9.237

Nice job Rob. At least this is a day of racing and getting lost you won't forget.

From RileyCook on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 07:06:37 from 73.52.134.194

That's got to be frustrating. But at least you didn't let it get to you too much and still got a good run in. Nice work Rob, sounds like you're off to a good start enjoying your summer. Good for you; you deserve it.

From jtshad on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 08:50:29 from 69.20.183.178

What a cluster...makes my issue with the Tommy Vaughn's race a couple years ago look good (worse than Just Cuz for you as well!). Nicely done though with all the issues.

Congrats to Abby for the win!

From Amiee on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 17:04:08 from 24.10.188.197

Maybe you were just running way too fast to see all the course markings :) It's all about the adventure though, huh!?!

From Drew on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 17:08:13 from 173.171.218.92

Might not seem like it now, but that's going to be a pretty funny story in a couple years.

From Abby Murphy on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 17:08:25 from 24.10.247.181

It was clearly mostly my fault. There were these pink ribbons tied to bushes and trees along the course. I was spending too much time keeping track of the guy in front of me.

From Rob Murphy on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 17:14:11 from 24.10.247.181

Oops. Abby was logged into my computer.

From Matt Schreiber on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 20:43:56 from 66.17.112.31

Bummer! Congrats to Abby!

From Tom K on Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 20:54:54 from 174.58.54.215

Never trust anyone in Pearl Izumi Racing Team gear. One of the craziest race reports I've read. Congrats on the turkey foot!

From Steve on Thu, Jun 18, 2015 at 03:39:58 from 66.87.127.206

Love this report! Reminded me of taking two wrong turns on the Skyline Mountain Marathon last year, and the director's response; This ain't no road race. Know the course. :-)

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