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Provo River 1/2 Marathon

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Location:

Orem,UT,USA

Member Since:

Apr 03, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

HS/COLLEGE:
mile: 4:56, 2 mile: 10:21 (1978)
marathon: 2:52 (St. George 1982)
OLD MAN (20+ years later):
5K: 19:53 (Nestle/Art City Days 5K 2007)
10K: 39:55 (Spectrum 10K 2008)
half marathon: 1:26 (Hobble Creek 2008)
marathon: 3:07 (St. George 2007)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Get back to a BQ marathon time (currently 3:40).

Long-Term Running Goals:

Have fun running, keep fit, and fight middle age spread. Run consistently and injury free. Maintain a healthy balance between running and other life priorities. Encourage my ever-aging running buddies to keep running so we can continue to share runs on the trail instead of rocking chairs.

Personal:

Blessed to be married to Karen for 30 years. We have six children (4 daughters/2 sons) ages 16 to 30, and one wonderful granddaughter.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Altra Instinct 1.5 Lifetime Miles: 83.50
Altra Lone Peak 1.5 Lifetime Miles: 21.80
Saucony Guide 7 Blue 2 Lifetime Miles: 376.95
Saucony Fastwitch 6 Lifetime Miles: 200.05
Saucony Guide 7 Black 1 Lifetime Miles: 271.15
Race: Provo River 1/2 Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:29:17, Place overall: 59, Place in age division: 4
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
1.0013.100.000.000.0014.10

I feel pretty good about today's efforts and the results. I got to interact with so many running friends that I won't try to list them all, but it was great to see everyone.

I picked up Lyle at 4:45am. He's a new runner from my neighborhood in his early 50's (I think). He was training for St. George last year but got injured, so he's trying again this year. This was not only his first 1/2 marathon, but his first race ever. He was a little nervous I think, but he handled everything like an old pro. His goal was around 2:00 hours and he finished in 2:01.

We met Tom and Kerry as planned, and Terry and Greg joined us for the bus ride to the start. The pre-race porta-potty activities went smoothly, I ran a mile or so with Kerry to warm up, waited for the race to finally start (a little late), and then I was off.

I didn't have any plans to run with anyone. I let gravity have it's way with me and started moving down the hill. I seem to pass people on downhills and get passed on uphills, so I guess I must like downhills. Early in the race I was gradually passing a number of runners, including Kolby and Jonathon, and eventually came up behind Josse who was running along with a couple of other runners. I remember well Josse running easily past me around mile 18 of the Utah Valley Marathon, pacing herself perfectly to go on and win $1000 while I finished in pain running 9:30 miles, so I decided to fall in with them and not push on ahead. I ended up running with Josse until the top of the big hill between Vivian and Nunns.

My splits down South Fork were: 6:07, 6:30, 6:32, 6:28. The next three miles, which included the big hill, were: 6:56, 7:01, 6:21. As we started the steep downhill I felt gravity pulling me again and pulled ahead of Josse, although I spent the rest of the race expecting her to pass me. I did get passed by several women in the last miles. Every time I heard feminine breathing or footfalls overtaking me I expected it to be her, and I have to admit I was a little relieved each time it wasn't.

After the big downhill, when we got onto the trail, I started feeling fatigued for the first time and just tried to keep running smoothly, within myself, and moving forward. My splits for the next four miles were: 6:45, 6:51, 7:04, and 6:58.

The last two miles were loopy - both meanings: 1) having or characterized by loops, and 2) crazy or bizarre. These were definitely "hang on" miles, but I didn't crash. My splits were: 7:28 and 7:21. I threw in a kick near the end and finished the last bit at a 5:59/mi pace.

Since the official race times were off by as much as 20-30 seconds, I'm just using the time from my Garmin, which was 1:29:06 (avg pace 6:47/mi). It registered the distance at 13.13.

My morning running buddies Larry, Wayne, and Kevin didn't run the race, but it meant a lot to me that they planned their long run so they could be at the finish line to cheer me in and hang out after the race. I hung around mingling with friends, and cheering in Lyle (2:01) and Carolyn (2:02). Carolyn is the 20-something daughter of our former morning running buddy Kent. Kent has taken a hiatus from running for the past couple of years, but his wife Melinda (also a runner) said today that while he was watching the finish he kept going back and forth between whether he should start running again. He was recently called as a bishop at BYU, so he's a pretty busy man. Anyway, after I saw the results and that I finished 4th in my AD I decided to head home. I left very satisfied, having enjoyed a wonderful morning that I think only runners can truly appreciate.

Comments
From Tom on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:05:57

Paul I think you ran great today. Glad to see you good training over the last few weeks kicking in. I really think a sub-3 at SGM is possible and I'm thinking sub 1:25 for you at Hobble.

BTW if you hadn't noticed the gap between you and I is quickly shrinking :)

From josse on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:18:56

Darn I wish I was one of those female heavy breathers that passed you. I need to be stronger and hang with you at Hobble. Great job you are running great. I really think you underestimate your self. You are a great runner.

From Kim on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:22:11

Paul, you always have such a positive outlook on things! I loved when you were looking at the division winners and noticed you were fourth. Your comment then was, "Good, now I can just go home!" It's always nice to get back home after the race! Good job again today!

From Scott on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 22:06:38

Awesome job Paul. I agree with Kim - reading your blog is fun because of the positive things you always have to say. Sounds like it was a good race, and that "Fun run" in this case doesn't mean "Fun when it's done run".

From RivertonPaul on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 12:36:18

Good job, and thanks for blogging.

From Terry on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 13:54:35

Good to see you again Paul. It is always nice to break 1:30. Hopefully, we can both do this for a few more years to come.

From Paul T on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 18:46:23

Well, I just reviewed the official results and I need to make some corrections, and report on my goals.

Official finish time: 1:29:17 (6:49/mi)

Overall place: 59 of 1767 (top 3.4%)

AD place: 4 of 62 (top 6.5%)

Report on Race Goals:

1. Top 3 in age division - FAILED

Last year 1:29:17 would have earned me 3rd place. This year it was only good enough for 4th.

2. Top 5% overall - PASS

I finished 59 of 1767 (top 3.4%)

3. Keep chicked count under 10 - FAILED

I got chicked by 12 women. Last year my finish time of 1:29:17 would have put my chicked count at only 5.

There were 1767 runners this year, 1594 last year. I guess there was a greater number of faster runners this year.

I tried to determine if this year's course was faster or slower than last year by comparing the times of some runners who ran both years.

I compared three men's times in my AD. One was 2 minutes faster this year, one was 2 minutes slower, and one was the same.

I compared some top runners (from FRB). Sasha was 3 minutes slower. David Holt was 7 seconds faster. Adam Wende was 5 minutes faster. Craig Green was 1.5 minutes slower.

This sample set is inconclusive. Some runners were faster, others slower, others the same.

Conclusion: I had a good time and a pretty good run. I'm happy.

From Tom on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 18:52:03

Paul I just noticed on Sasha's latest race report for Provo River he says he thinks this years course is about the same as last year or just slightly faster (30 seconds). I think that's probably about right. But if you had a good time and a pretty good run and are happy what more do you need to worry about?

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