Winning Back What I Lost

US Sun Valley Idaho Half Marathon

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Location:

Meridian,ID,US

Member Since:

Mar 31, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

PR's:

5K Beat Coach Pete Fun Run Boise, ID- 21:13(2009)

Meridan Barn Sour Days 10k, Meridian, ID- 41:32(2012)

Famous Potato Half Marathon, Boise, ID- 1:30:40 (2012)

Utah Valley Marathon, Provo, UT- 3:20:14 (2011)

Athlinks profile here.

Garmin Connect profile here.

Short-Term Running Goals:

2014 Racing Schedule and Goals: 

-Get healthy

-St. George Marathon, October 4, 2014, St. George, UT

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run at least one marathon every year until I buy the farm.

Qualify for Boston Marathon.

Personal:

Started running in November 2007 to get fit. Now I'm back almost to square one after back surgery. I did it once and I'll do it again.

"In truth, runners don't race other runners. They race against themselves: to conquer their wills, to transcend their weaknesses, to beat back their nightmares. And while a runner can't actually beat himself, he can beat his time. Even years into running, he can get better."  Running for His Life by Michael Hall. 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
New Balance MR 1400 Lifetime Miles: 392.77
Saucony Kinvara 2 Lifetime Miles: 424.41
Saucony Kinvara 3 Lifetime Miles: 438.89
Saucony Ride 5 Lifetime Miles: 235.68
Brooks Launch (Blue/Yellow) Lifetime Miles: 282.52
Hoka Rapa Nui Tarmac's Lifetime Miles: 181.17
Hoka Clifton (Blue)(2) Lifetime Miles: 164.15
Total Distance
23.40
Total Distance
4.30

T/M; I'm winding down the mileage in preparation for the Sun Valley 1/2 on Saturday; quick run building my pace from 8:57 to 7:47 from 2.5 miles to end; my legs felt very strong for a change and the soreness on the tops of my feet is almost gone.

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Total Distance
3.50

T/M: Quick run; continuing the reverse taper in preparation for Saturday's 1/2 marathon; felt really good after having visited the chiropractor in the morning; seems my left hip was turned out and causing some pressure to my IT band muscles and lower knee; worked up to a 7:47 pace for the last 1.5 miles; 8:12 overall pace

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Total Distance
2.50

T/M: Final run before the race on Saturday; visited chiro again today for another adjustment to my hip; he gave me a foam roller to help stretch my IT band and recommended some good stretching exercises; short run gradually increasing incline to 4.0 over 2 miles; 8:57 overall pace; my diet has been horrible the past week; gained a couple of pounds; hope to lose them before Saturday so I can be at my best; looks like the weather could be horrible (chance of thunderstorms and wind).

Comments(1)
Race: US Sun Valley Idaho Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:58:07, Place overall: 39, Place in age division: 8
Total Distance
13.10

My first half marathon experience was quite eventful.  Rain, hail, no porta potties, steep hill climb at the start, only 4 water/gatorade stations (2 of which were in the first 2 miles); 6200 ft of altitude; lots of rollers and an uphill to the finish line made sure that I finished well below my 1:45 goal time.  Even with all of that, and a bad post race stomach ache from holding it the whole race, the experience was a net positive.  I tried to go out slow, at least what I thought was slow, on the 1 mile hill climb at the start (8:54).  I made up the time right away w/ some sub 8 min miles through mile 5.  I was in good shape to hit my goal but the altitude, lack of water between miles 2 and 7 caught up to me and I was hurting.  I tried to pick it up but another hill between mile 8 and 9 and steady uphill rollers until mile 11 set me back again.  The mile 11 turnaround was a nice downhill where I returned to my roughly 8:10 pace.  At that point I saw that I would salvage some dignity by finishing under 2 hours.  This seemed like a given until the last half mile to the finish which was uphill.  That's right, the start and finish were both uphill as a result of a last minute change in the location of the start/finish line on this loop course.  This was definitely no easy course- or so I was told by more than one racing veteran.  The altitude and the climbs/descents just sapped me.  I've actually had better times on training runs than what I ran today but none of my training runs have come close to the hill work I endured today. 

Nonetheless, it was a net positive experience.  I learned what not to do on this course (i.e. leave my aid belt and gu at home and eat yogurt and a bagel before the start and a cheeseburger and fries the night before.  But first and foremost, my wife and I were able to experience a nice weekend alone!  Hallelujah!

Comments(4)
Total Distance
23.40
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