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Nutcracker 5K @ UVSC

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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: Nutcracker 5K @ UVSC (3.1 Miles) 00:20:13, Place overall: 10, Place in age division: 1
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
0.903.100.000.000.004.00

Tom Lee emailed during the week to see if I was interested in running the Nutcracker 5K at UVSC. Since Larry and Wayne would be running the Death Valley Marathon, I decided to run the 5K.

The registration materials state that each runner is required to wear a tutu (in honor of the Nutcracker Ballet), but it is not (thankfully) enforced, although most of the runners did wear them, even many of the men. I did not wear one.

I was prepared for a very cold run, but with sunshine and the temperature in the high 20's it wasn't really too cold. I was glad I decided to not wear my fleece vest.

I ran the first mile with Tom in 6:23. He then began to fall back slightly. I tried to hold the same pace and managed to run the second mile in 6:23, too. Both of these miles had some pretty good downhill portions in them. The third mile had some gradual uphill. The 3rd mile marker must have been misplaced (too short), because I ran the third "mile" in 6:21, yet the last "0.1" took me 1:06. I'm pretty sure I didn't slow from a 6:21 pace to an 11:00 pace during my kick. I think it is more likely I averaged 6:46/mi (6:21 + 1:06) over the last 1.1 miles with the gradual uphill.

I finished in 20:13, a new PR (previous was 20:29), and finished 1st in the 45-49 division and 10th place overall. I received a blue ribbon and a small wooden nutcracker. I was very pleased with my performance.

Tom finished in 20:59. It wasn't a PR for him but he did meet his goal of breaking 21 minutes and he won the 40-44 division and also received a nutcracker.

Scott Blake (another WBR teammate) also ran. His goal was sub-24 but he finished in around 22:30, another new PR for him. He also won a nice pair of running shorts from Runner's Corner in the raffle.

We all left winners. It was a great morning.

Comments
From Cody on Sat, Dec 02, 2006 at 13:43:50

Congrats on a PR. I bet that feels good. Pretty cool to win first in your division and also run faster than the first place in the division younger than you. Not bad!

From Kerry on Sat, Dec 02, 2006 at 19:58:54

Congratulations, Paul! You never cease to amaze me. A PR at this time of year is really something to celebrate. It's obvious that your training this year is really paying off. It won't be long before you go sub 20 for the 5K. Give Tom and Scott my congratulations when you see them.

From Steve on Mon, Dec 03, 2007 at 16:41:22

I, too, ran in the Nutcracker 5k, and even wore a tutu (part of the fun). I didn't get close to a PR, and honestly wasn't expecting to with all the ice and slush--I was more concerned with keeping my feet under me. The weather, with my couple of layers, was perfect. Next run... 12/31 "Beat the New Year 5k" at Sugarhouse Park!

From Cal on Mon, Dec 03, 2007 at 19:07:45

Whoa! This was last year's race, huh? That explains my confusion over some conflicting blogs that I read today...

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