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St. George 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.

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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
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.000.0027.200.000.0039.20
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
5.200.000.000.000.005.20

At noon I ran Eagles View with Tom at an easy pace. The weather was cool and pleasant and the run was very enjoyable. I suspect Saturday's run will be a little less comfortable.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
5.300.000.000.000.005.30

I ran some easy miles through Lindon with Larry and Wayne this morning.

I'm a little bummed about my bum knee. I tweaked it during Saturday's run, but the pain quickly subsided after a few steps so I didn't worry too much. But then I felt a couple of twinges during yesterday's run, and again this morning. I still don't worry too much because this is my bad knee that's bothered me off and on for the past 33 years. (I was clipped playing youth football at age 14 and had major knee surgery. One of the effects is that my left leg is a little over an inch shorter than my right leg, I wear a lift in my left shoe, and my knee can predict an approaching low pressure system.) My knee often aches when the weather changes and occassionally when I'm running, but it's never been serious or lasted very long. I hope this is the same thing, but it's marathon week so every little worry is magnifiied.

I was planning to run a little more this week, but now I've decided that the next running I do will be mile one of the marathon (or maybe a little warmup beforehand). The good news is that my knee feels quite strong except the few times I've stepped on it in just the right (wrong?) way that it triggers a temporary twinge of pain. My plan is to wear my knee strap to reduce the stress on the knee, and if it hurts when I step on it a certain way, try not to step on it that way too often.

Comments(1)
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
1.500.001.000.000.002.50

Our neighborhood's streets have been torn up throughout July, August, and September as they have been replacing storm, sewer, and water pipes. Yesterday we finally got new asphalt. Our street used to be one of the worst in Orem, now it's brand new. I did some laps around the neighborhood on the new asphalt this morning to test my knee, try out a couple of my knee supports, and remind myself that I am ready for the marathon.

My knee is definitely not 100%, but the more I warmed up the less I noticed it. I've decided the knee strap feels the best. It provides just the support I need at the spot I need it. After a mile and a half of warm up and test runs I put in a mile at fast marathon pace. It felt good. I started out at about a 7:20 pace but ended up averaging 7:00/mi overall. I definitely won't try running that pace for the marathon, but it was encouraging that it felt so good.

I'm ready. Next stop St. George. 

Comments(2)
Race: St. George Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:07:02, Place overall: 320, Place in age division: 34
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
0.000.0026.200.000.0026.20

My goal today was to run by feel, leave my fear behind, and just go for it. I wanted to discover what was in me, and leave it all on the road. Judging on how difficult the last two miles were, I think I met my goal. The end result was a 20 minute PR.

My finish time was 3:07:02 (7:08/mi). My goal all year up until a couple of weeks ago was 3:20. Then Tom and Nathan and others convinced me to go for 3:15 or faster. Then I went to the FastRunningBlog pasta party and Sasha told me I had a 3:10 in me. I wasn't completely convinced, but he did convince me to not be afraid of going out fast. (It was great finally meeting many of you.)

I was planning to run with Nathan and Will but I was never able to find Nathan before the start. I apparently missed him at our bus meeting spot by a minute or two and never found him by the bonfires. I thought I had missed Will, too, but shortly before the start I heard his voice behind me and we were able to start together. I also started with Verdon's son, Verdon III. He was out to set the Walker family marathon record of 3:11 set by his father.

We stayed together for the first 4 or 5 miles but Verdon dropped off sometime before Veyo. During this time we gradually caught and passed the 3:10 pace group. We were all feeling comfortable so we didn't back off. One of my strategies was to not push the hills, especially Veyo. Just as I got to the top of Veyo I heard the 3:10 pace group right behind me. We more or less ran with the 3:10 pace group through the midpoint of the marathon, although since they were running even splits (I asked the pace guy and he said that's what he was trying to do) they gradually pulled ahead on the uphills. I saw and talked with James W. briefly during this stretch.

Somewhere prior to the halfway point Will dropped back a little. At the midpoint an energetic young woman was cheerfully celebrating reaching that point. I told her I could use some of her energy and asked her what she was taking. She smiled and said just ibuprofen. We were running the same pace so we ran together for a few miles. I found out her name was Amber Green and she was from Diamond Valley which was coming up. I think every person along the road near Diamond Valley knew her and cheered her enthusiastically. I stole a little energy from them, as she clearly didn't need it. As we passed the crowd at Snow Canyon I drew energy from the crowd again and pulled a little ahead of her.

I think it was somewhere around miles 17 or 18 I saw Nathan just ahead of me. It was on a downhill so I pushed a little to catch him. It was nice being able to run with Nathan for a number of miles. We were both maintaining pace, but neither of us had much desire to go any faster. My right calf had started feeling really tight and I wasn't sure it was going to make it to the end. I took an eGel, ate some banana, got some Icy Hot on my calf at an aid station, and prayed (not a figure of speech) that it wouldn't give out. Somewhere along here Amber passed us, said she was glad I found Nathan, and then went on to beat us by 3:00 minutes.

As we approached St. George I started drawing energy from the crowds again and pulled a little ahead of Nathan. I wasn't trying to beat Nathan. I was just trying to stick to my goal of giving all I had and never intentionally reducing effort. The last two miles were a gut check. I just tried to maintain rhythm and form and keep my feet moving. I passed a few people and was passed by a few more. By this point the 3:10 pace group was well behind me so I was confident I was going to break 3:10. My wife and three daughters were about halfway down Main St. just before the last turn before the finish. I put on a good show for them, trying not to look as bad as I felt, and drew energy from their encouragement. Coming up the last stretch I tried to finish strong and even kick a little, but my kicks never lasted long. I was elated to finish in 3:07. I was equally excited to discover that Nathan was only 20 seconds behind me and also finished in 3:07.

I missed pushing the lap button various times until after I was through the aid stations, and missed a couple of mile markers altogether, so some of my splits are a little off. My splits were:

1 7:37

2 7:08

3 7:00

4 6:57

5 7:20

6 6:25

7-8 15:48 (7:54/mi)

9 6:39

10 7:50

11 7:50

12 6:56

13 7:29

13.10:35
1:35:33
14-15 12:30 (6:33/mi)

16
6:33

17-18 14:00 (7:00/mi)

19-20 14:38 (7:19/mi)

21-22 13:33 (6:47/mi)

23 7:26

24-25 13:42 (6:51/mi)

26.2 9:11 (7:39/mi)
3:07:02

Like I said, I didn't do a very good job of recording my splits. I am, however, very satisfied (ecstatic!) about the results of my efforts. The weather was awesome. I changed running partners a few times along the way, and benefited greatly from each of them. I appreciated and drew energy from the volunteers and spectators. I'd especially like to thank and give credit to my awesome running buddies from the neighborhood, at work, and from my Wasatch Back Relay team, and my virtual running buddies on the blog, especially Sasha. You are all an inspiration to me. As I told various people this past week, actually running the marathon is just the icing on the cake. The true benefits are reaped throughout the year from being outdoors, staying fit, occasional solitary runs to ponder life or talk with God, and socializing with some of the best people I know. I am truly blessed.

Comments(13)
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.000.0027.200.000.0039.20
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