Running on Empty

St. George Marathon 2008

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Location:

Riverton,UT,

Member Since:

May 06, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

PR Marathon

2:51:33 (St. George 2009)

~~3:01:00 (St. George 2008)~~

~~3:09:52 (St. George 2007)~~

~~3:24:48 (St. George 2006)~~

Short-Term Running Goals:

Improve training. Get serious, lose weight.

Improve speed.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Lifetime fitness, including running.

Personal:

Married with 4 kids. I live in Riverton and work as an attorney downtown in Salt Lake City.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00

Sat, Oct 04, 2008

Race: St. George Marathon 2008 (26.2 Miles) 03:01:00, Place overall: 119, Place in age division: 16

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
0.00	26.20	0.00	0.00	26.20

St. George Marathon 2008.

I had two hopes coming into this marathon, no rain and no headwinds. So much for those hopes.

Anyway, got on the bus -- AndyB sat behind me. Initially I was worried it was going to be warm, but the rain intensified as we got nearer the start.

At the staging area I think we learned that it is very difficult to find people. I had been hoping to meet a number of bloggers, but the dark, the rain, the number of people, etc., somehow it didn't materialize like we had hoped. Did manage to get together with bloggers AndyB and James W (Coolrunnings), Joe (fastr-thn-yr-avg-joe) [and Rhett who has now joined] and (Mattk during the race.)

Anyway race started, cold, windy, dark and wet. Very difficult in the beginning to not trip or be tripped.

1. 6:57

2. 7:06 14:03

3. 6:41 20:44

4. 6:30 27:15

5. 6:38 33:54

6. 6:20 40:15

7. 6:23 46:38

8. 7:52 54:30 Around here Andy, Joe, [Rhett] and MattK caught me and we ran together for quite a while (Andy, Rhett and MattKuntil 25)

9. 7:17 1:01:48

10. 7:05 1:08:53

11. 7:27 1:16:20

12. 7:00 1:23:21

13. 6:43 1:30:04

half 1:31:07 right on pace

14. 6:51 1:36:55

15. 6:21 1:43:17

16. 6:19 1:49:37 Joe (fastr-thn-yr-avg-joe) took off from here, he was smoking.

17. 6:45 1:56:22

18. 6:54 2:03:17

19. 7:22 2:10:40

20. 6:51 2:17:31

21. 6:22 2:23:53

22. 6:38 2:30:32

23. 6:26 2:36:58

24. 6:25 2:43:24

25. 7:41 2:51:06 Left calf cramped up and my sub 3:00 slipped away. Matt, Rhett and Andy pulled away during this mile.

26. 8:09 2:59:15 couldn't go faster

26.2 2:58 3:01:00

Still, in hind sight, it was still a pr and a great race.

More later.

So, I'm glad I upped my mileage, which helped my aerobic base and helped me get my weight down a bit (still could do better here). Only after Top of Utah (despite not being able to hold pace) did I realize I could run faster and snuck in a couple of marathon pace runs. I would like to do some cross training to build back some strength. I think my mileage will drop during this off season, but I would like to make my runs more "quality" runs, as I need to improve my speed. This year's result gives me confidence that I can improve.

Comments

From The Howling Commando on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 21:56:12

What a great job despite the unfavorable conditions. And a PR to boot! You go, Paul!

From kelsey on Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 21:56:40

Wow, a pr in that weather, that's impressive. You were close to your ultimate goal of 3:00, you're going to kill that at your next race. You'll have to make a new long term goal!

From Lucia on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 00:11:05

Congratulations on a great race!

From Burt on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 00:30:28

Awesome job today.

From Paul T on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 01:43:27

What an awesome run for you under terrible conditions. I'm very impressed. I wish I could have found you and run at least part of the race with you, but I don't think I could have kept up with you for long. Great job!

From Jon on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 01:47:19

Paul, you got a PR today? That is amazing! Nice work.

From Craig on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:21:42

It's nice to get a PR and know that you can come back next year and score another PR with some better conditions. Good job.

From Teena on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:26:02

Paul,

You are so stinkin' fast!! Sorry about the cramps and barely missing the sub 3, but DANG -- you are fast!!! Congrats on the PR. You did awesome!

From Mike Warren on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 12:19:46

Paul, a PR under those conditions! You are a complete animal. Your mental toughness is just flat awesome. Congrats on a great race and a very good year of running.

From Andy on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 12:21:26

You ran a great race a deserved the sub 3. It is amazing that one bad mile did you in. You still got a huge PR and should be happy with how well your running has improved this year.

From MarcieJ on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 18:16:27

Great job out there yesterday! And a PR too! Congrats

From Cal on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 19:52:53

Paul, given the conditions your effort was well worth a sub-3 at a typical SGM. Still a great time and a great way finish off the Slam. You've come on stronger as the year has progressed. Way to go!

From Kim on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 20:01:28

Great job! I didn't mind the rain so much, but when it's accompanied by that dang headwind it does get a bit annoying! :o) It's a great story to tell though!

From Jody on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 20:03:35

You did awesome on such a tough day! Congrats on the PR!!

From Michelle N. on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 21:10:26

Great job Paul! You totally kicked butt.

From Chad on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 22:35:45

Great job, Paul. Big PR on a tough day. Nice work.

From Julie on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 22:41:50

3:01 is an amazing time. I'm so impressed. You did great.

From Predog on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:23:05

Hey great race and great job on the PR! I enjoyed getting to meet you and run with you for a few miles. I needed that pacing otherwise I would have killed myself off in the first half no doubt. So thanks a lot and hopefully we'll meet up again in some other races.

From mattk on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:49:49

Good to meet you and run with you a while Paul. I feel so bad that happened the last 1.5 miles!! Nothing you can do about that though; not like you mentally gave up. Dido to everybody else's comments about what it would've been at a "typical SGM", but I know that doesn't help much. Sub 3 for sure next race. Great job.

From JeffC on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 01:40:41

Great race in crappy conditions. Without rain and wind you dominate this beast. Congrats on a great PR and nearly gettin that sub 3.

From Rich on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 08:52:22

Paul,

You really should be thrilled with your time. I am betting you will break 3 in your next marathon. When will you run another one? I am kind of a little sad the season is over and I don't know if I have another one before Boston on April 20th. Maybe we could get together and do a couple of long runs? I am joining the Runners Series today (9am signup) and I think I will do snow canyon on Nov 8th (half)

From britta on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 22:45:17

You have much to be proud of!!! Great job. Your sub three will come easily with out the rain and wind.

From cody on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 23:41:13

To PR on a day like that, only 2 weeks after TOU is impressive. What's your secret?

From josse on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 23:41:24

So close yet so far away. With out that nasty rain and wind you would have been way below that 3 hour mark. Great job!!! You ran a very strong race.

From Mike Warren on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 23:49:23

Josse, great job on this race. Terrible conditions and still a PR. That says a ton about you. Sub 3 will be no problem for you. keep training hard, just a matter of time.

From Mike Warren on Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 23:50:26

Sorry paul, meant for Josse. DUH!!

From James W on Tue, Oct 07, 2008 at 12:49:49

You did an awesome job today, Paul! I am very impressed with how well you handled the conditions, and am absolutely confident that if we had had better weather, you would have destroyed that 3 hr barrier. Glad I could run with you for a few miles - sorry to have lost you when I had to fix my shoe.

From wheakory on Tue, Oct 07, 2008 at 17:01:45

Very nice race and time considering the conditions. You would have easily been under 3 hours if the conditions were normal. We can only try and that's what makes it fun..

From Tom on Tue, Oct 07, 2008 at 17:15:48

Just realized I hadn't yet commented on your report and congratulated you on a terrific performance! Probabably worth a 2:55 under normal circumstances. You've improved dramatically the last couple of months, very inspiring to see! Wish I could have found you guys and hung with you for a while.

From James on Tue, Oct 07, 2008 at 20:13:31

You would have destroyed that sub 3:00:00 goal the other day with decent conditions. Good run!

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