This race had an unusual feel for me today, with a positive result.
I rode to the race with Larry & Jo. We picked up Wayne on the way. We left late and the last buses were leaving as we got there. Larry hooked up the trailer for drop bags and we drove up to the start. We were all surprised by the lack of crowds at the start. We knew the race hadn't filled up this year. One volunteer said they were down about 500 runners this year. It was very noticeable.
I was a little worried about the heat. We've had record warm low temps recently, and it was already in the 70's on our way to the race. Fortunately, the race starts high up the canyon and the temps were 15-20 degrees lower. I chose to run without my hat today as I've felt it's been overheating me more than shading me. I also chose to wear a sleeveless shirt to help me keep cool. I think both were wise choices. I never really felt too hot even though the sun was out in full force by the end of the race. The shaded areas in the canyon were really nice.
The race started on time. I didn't run to warm up, just a few light stretches, choosing to use the first mile or two to warm up. I wasn't sure whether I was going to race this race hard or just medium hard. I started with Wayne but when I started to weave to pass slower runners I felt the pull of the downhill and soon left him behind.
I decided to not check my pace until at least halfway through, and at that point I chose to not look at it at all. I just focused on turning my feet over, conserving energy on the uphills and taking the brakes off on the downhill. The younger, skinnier runners consistently passed me on the uphills, but I quickly caught and passed most of them on the downhills.
After the first several miles, I gradually, but consistently, caught and passed runners, often after a few passbacks on the hills. I can only remember three younger female runners who passed me in the last several miles, and one was a Harper.
I feel like I prepared for and ran the race pretty well. My stretch goal was to break 1:45 and 8:00/mi pace for the race. Both my Garmin and the official results had my finish time at 1:41:50. My watch showed 7:55/mi for 12.9 miles; the official results showed 7:46/mi for 13.1 miles. I felt strong the entire race.
At mile 10 my legs still felt strong and I was thinking about when I would start my kick near the end. Instead I stepped on the gas just a little and stayed with and even passed the younger female runners who were running near me. I felt a little bad when one thought she had finally passed me for good and I managed to get by her again and pull away. Crystal Harper was the only runner I recall passing me, doing so around the run through the neighborhood that is before the left turn to the final long stretch to the finish. Two other younger female runners passed me with a mile or so to go. I never caught them, but I mentally hooked on to them and pushed passed a number of runners along that last stretch. I felt strong through the finish. I was very pleased to break 1:45 by over 3 minutes, run sub-8:00 pace, and finish as the 62 male and finally score an Elite 100 medal again.
I recovered very quickly after race, and my legs aren't sore at all. I'm almost wondering if I didn't run hard enough, even though I exceeded my stretch goals. It's pretty encouraging. Hobble Creek is typically a pretty good predictor for the St. George marathon, with a conversion formula of 2x + 10 to 20 minutes. So my 1:41:50 finish maps to 3:23:40 + 10-20 minutes, or 3:33:40 to 3:43:40. My BQ at age 55 is 3:40. It seems within reach.
Mile splits: 7:17, 7:27, 7:35, 7:33, 7:38, 7:40, 8:21, 7:50, 8:03, 8:30, 8:29, 8:17, 7:56
I feel like I ran a steady effort throughtout. I'm pretty sure the faster miles were downhill, and the slower miles had uphills in them. I said I didn't check my pace throughout. That's true, but near the golf course at around mile 7 the timer app of a runner alongside me announced his current pace and his overall pace that was around 7:38 I think. Hearing that was a positive, giving me hope to be able to hold on to break 8:00/mi.
Wayne and Jo also ran well. It was beautiful morning. I enjoyed being with my friends and the other runners. For the future of the race I hope they can get numbers back up, but there were certain advantages to fewer crowds. Great morning!
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