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Bryce Canyon Half Marathon

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)
 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

 

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!!  :)  :)  :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015.  Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis.  The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS).  It is not curable.  After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS.  It is a miracle!!! 

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

 

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles: 311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles: 313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles: 225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles: 44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles: 60.91
Race: Bryce Canyon Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:48:41, Place in age division: 3
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
1.001.0011.100.0013.10

Even though I was wide awake all night, I did not get up until the alarm went off at 3am.  I wanted hubby to have the full 4.5 hr sleep so he could drive me 80 miles to Bryce Canyon City in the dark thru the winding mountain forest roads.  Words cannot describe my gratitude for a wonderful sweet sweet hubby!!! :)  What husband would give up sleeping in a nice hotel suite (especially after a long Friday of driving, traveling and working) or enjoying the hotel's breakfast buffet to get up at the wee hours and drive a crazy wife to a race???♥♥♥ :) :) :) My eyes were blood shot, my body dog-tired.  I only had 2 hr sleep in the last two days.  What was I thinking?  Was so tempted to go back to bed or have hubby drive me to Provo Canyon for the RHPC1/2 instead! :)

We checked out of the hotel (that sadly we didn't get to enjoy) at 3:30 am.  I studied the google maps which estimated a 1hr 37 min drive.  Since we've never driven from Cedar City to Bryce Canyon, we figured a 2 hr drive would give us some time cushion.  A beautiful full moon illuminated the pine trees, river and dark winding forest roads.  We must've seen at least a dozen deer.   Thankfully there was zero traffic and only two vehicles passed us the entire 80 miles.  I forced down a yogurt an hour into the drive.

We got to the start at 5:15ish.  Not knowing the logistic I had hubby pull off the side of the road close to the start by the second lines of pops.  Got my bib/chip and went to the pop.  While in the pop, I heard them announcing that cars cannot be parked alongside the road and must be moved to the Rodeo Ground.  What? Where?  I quickly got in the car to put on the bib and chip while hubby assessed the situation.  A lady volunteer asked us to move our car.  Hubby kindly told her that he was just dropping me off and asked where to pull off.  Good thinking on hubby's part, he pulled the car off the roadside just behind the police escorts and buses facing the throngs of runners walking to the start.  I went to the pop a second time.  My tummy was not happy.

In the haste of packing, I forgot to bring a jacket.  I was freezing so I stayed in the car while straining to watch for Leslie Petersen and hoped to spot Steam8 whom I've never met.  I was getting apprehensive.  Why am I running this?  What a surprise and delight when AmberG tapped on our car window.  THANK YOU AMBER for stopping to stay hello.! You had no idea how much that meant to me!  It totally lifted my spirit! :) :) :)  Then Lowell called! :)  He and his buddies had just finished their 34 mile moonlight midnight jaunt on the Poky Course.  It was so COMFORTING to hear Lowell's and Terry's voices and their *good luck* wishes.  I choked down a banana.  With a minute before start, I hesitantly kissed hubby goodbye and headed out into the cold darkness towards the start line.

I started at the back of the pack.  It seemed everyone had two or three running partners to walk, talk and laugh with.  It was a lonely chore to weave around them.  Saw a girl with long dark pony tail and beautiful long eye lashes, I ran alongside and loudly uttered "Amy! Amy!"  (She had ear buds on).  "Steam8? Steam8?"  No respond! :)  I was overjoyed when I spotted the beautiful Leslie at about 0.3 mile.  She was bundled up nicely.  We exchanged hugs and quick hellos.  Was so cold that I had to keep moving.  The first mile was a slight incline on Hwy 63 before dumping onto Hwy 12.  First mile split was 9:30.

Mile 2-6 splits: 8:43, 7:20, 7:31, 7:56, 7:58.  I had no time goal for this run.  Based on Sasha's calculator, my UVM time would put me at 1:50 for this course.  Since I was using this as a downhill training run, I decided to focus on form and feel and not worry about time.  Was a little concerned with my labored breathing from the get-go.  Then I realized the elevation was at 7,700 ft.  The biggest drop came between mile 1.5 to 2.5 where I passed many many runners.  My ears actually popped and breathing got under control and finally got warmed up as the sun rose.  The scenery was spectacular with a vast view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, voodoos and sandstone formations.  The sky was a cloudless sunny blue.  I highly recommend Bryce for its spectacular scenery and sweet downhill course! :)

Mile 7-10:   8:25, 8:31, 8:59, 8:15.  The first little uphill came just before mile 7.  Up to this point no one has passed me.  Some young legs now passed me on the uphill.  I wasn't too concerned, just concentrated on even effort and running the tangent.   My right knee, the one that's been bothering me, was holding out okay on the downhill.  The left knee started to squawk and the 1st metatarsal on the left foot also complained.  I chalked it up as a consequence of being in heels all day yesterday.  The course flattened out a bit as we got near Tropic and another uphill leaving Tropic.  I took a gu at the aid station in Tropic (mile 9).  The smell of greasy food wafting from some diners almost made me puke.  

Mile 11-finish:  8:11, 8:37, 8:29, 7:03.  My GI started to revolt.  Each time I came upon a pop, it was occupied, STINK!!!  I kept running and hoped that I would make it to the finish before the thing explode! :)  It was starting to get warm.  With 5K to go, I finally checked my watch and realized if I held my pace under 9mm, I could finish in 1:50.  I concentrated on reeling people in.  There was a little girl in a pretty salmon color top that was running with either an older brother or uncle whom I had been leap frogging with.  I finally passed them for good around mile 11.  Another slight uphill just before mile 12.  My shins started to cramp up with a mile to go.  Ignoring the pain, telling myself the sooner I get to the finish I sooner I get to the pop and end this misery! :)  With 0.1 to go, I saw hubby and heard JulieC's cheer which gave me the extra boost to *kick* it in.  I was elated to see the clock at 1:49:4x.  Yes!  I PR'd!  :) :) :)   My official chip time:  1:48:41.  What a blessing! :)

I kept walking in circles at the finish corral and saw Steam8.  She is tinier and prettier in person than her blog pic.  What a delight to meet her! :)  She also PR'd and had a great race!  She walked with me to pick up my race shirt.  We had a nice little visit and snapped couple of pic.  So happy I got to meet her!  I had to go to the pop couple of times before heading to the award ceremony.  I wanted to wait for Leslie to come in; but hubby needed to head home so he could mow the lawn and do his stake president's stuff.

Sadly, I made hubby stopped at every gas station and rest stop on the drive home.  The drive took 5 hours.  My tummy was cramping up badly.  Not sure if it was the salad from the RS social or the lukewarm dinner last night, but I must've had a bad case of food poison.  I lost 5 pounds!  After we got home, all I could do was lay in bed between bathroom trips.  So other than the tummy issue, I had a great time and enjoyed the beautiful Bryce Canyon!  If I were to run it again in the future, I would make it a vacation and hike Bryce Canyon!  :) :) :)

Life is a blessing!!!


Inspire 6 (green) Miles: 13.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From RAD on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:20:38 from 76.27.16.189

Congrats Smooth!!! Maybe a good case of food poisoning would help me PR :)

I'm so impressed with all you did and that sweet Pres Smooth was willing to go along with the race plans. That and getting to see and meet some awesome women as well! Sounds like a perfect race (minus all the GI issues! :( ).

Rest well and recover quickly! You are fabulous! Hey, what kind of hardware did you get to bring home for 3rd place?!?

From leslie peterson on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:29:05 from 71.195.193.128

It was so fun to see you!!! Larry is an amazing husband, not too many men would do that! Congrats on your 3rd place win! I am anxious to get the results, I like to see if there are any others in my age group behind me! LOL!!! Sorry about the food poisoning, dang, it didn't seem to slow you down much. Rest up today dear!!

From Smooth on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:36:23 from 67.2.66.250

Rachel ~ thanks! I don't recommend this form of PR plan! :) :) :) It could get nasty if you know what I mean!

The "hardware" is just another bigger medal! That's it! No gift certificate, no schwag, nada! It's lame that they don't give out prize money to the master winners either! JulieC won that category again this year! You'd think with over 1300 runners, they'd include the master winners! Cash prize and hefty trophies to the top 5 male and female overall winners!

From Smooth on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:40:57 from 67.2.66.250

Hey Leslie my friend ~ So sorry I didn't see you at the finish! Larry looked for Harold but he said he can't remember what he looks like! Figure it'd be easier for Harold to recognize him! LOL

Yea, the results are up! There are plenty ladies in our division that came in AFTER you!

Hope you had a great time at Bryce! You are right, I think Bryce is now my favorite half course!

From leslie peterson on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:49:48 from 71.195.193.128

I can only find last years results, where are you looking? Glad you liked the race!! See you there next year!

From Smooth on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:57:24 from 67.2.66.250

go to stride racing here http://strideracing.com/2011/july/brycecanyon.html

Love the course! Not thrilled about the organization! Hope to see you soon!

From leslie peterson on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 11:00:29 from 71.195.193.128

Thank you! 9 ladies behind me, cool.

From Smooth on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 11:03:28 from 67.2.66.250

See! You are one cool running granny! The last one came in an hour after you finished! You ROCK!!! going to check on your report now! :)

From Nancy on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 11:36:58 from 76.23.21.118

Great race. I really enjoyed your race report.

From Chad on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 13:47:00 from 168.177.153.27

Nice Job! That half sounds like a fun one. No imodium at the pops? :)

From flatlander on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 14:07:38 from 198.207.244.102

That is quite a report, glad it all worked out in the end with an amazing PR. I can't imagine running any distance with food poisoning, I turn into a complete basket case when that happens.

From Andy on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 14:16:39 from 208.54.5.225

Congratulations on the PR. The unexpected ones are always the best. Hope you are feeling better.

From Teena Marie on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 14:50:21 from 67.2.126.85

Besides the GI issues towards the end and the knee squawking a bit, sounds absolutely WONDERFUL! A PR, award, beautiful scenery, meeting new friends ... WOW!!! :) :) :)

So happy for you!

Love you!!! :) :) :)

From Jon A on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 17:27:58 from 107.0.7.18

Congratulations Smooth! Awesome race. I hate GI problems, your awesome for pushing through. I would have just stayed by the pop. :-)

From AmberG on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 18:13:06 from 174.19.50.116

Holy Cow Smooth a PR AND food poisoning on top of ZERO sleep? That's why I always think of you as the little energizer bunny who just keeps going!!! Congrats on your fabulous race. (so sorry you had to deal with such tummy issues :( no fun)

How funny that "little teenage girl in the salmon top running with her older brother" was my niece Bailey :) and she was running with her Dad, (my brother) ha, but he looks very young!

I was So So So happy to see you and Larry at the start, thank you for always being so positive!

From MarcE on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 22:12:49 from 204.16.82.120

EXCELLENT! Wow, a PR with no sleep and tummy about to explode. You are amazing! (so is Larry)

From Kelli on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 23:12:32 from 71.219.99.3

Sorry about the tummy, but BIG YEAH on that PR!

From JulieC on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 23:16:06 from 168.103.185.96

: D pretty speedy time considering how you were talking about it when we saw each other. I think you ran QUITE well. Hope I can keep running and smiling like you!! Hope you feel better!!

From bye-wing on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 23:32:17 from 12.228.219.122

Well done. Bryce is so beautiful.

Although, I wish you would have changed your mind and come to the RHPC 1/2 in Provo canyon, then I would have been able to meet you. :)

Hope your tummy is on the mend.

From DaleG on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 01:32:28 from 76.27.13.205

Smoothie!!! Congratulations on the awesome PR AND the award. So cool. You keep getting better and better. Sorry about the tummy issues before, during and after the race. You are way too tough. I LOVE that race. I can't believe it's been two years since I last ran the race.

From Kathie on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 13:14:14 from 97.126.212.205

Great race Smooth!!!! Sorry to hear about your tummy that has only happened to me once and it was not fun at all!!!!

From Scott Wesemann on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 13:23:18 from 66.239.250.209

Loved the report Smooth! Congrats on another great race. I really want to do that race. maybe next year.

From Smooth on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 23:19:25 from 67.2.89.58

Nancy ~ THANKS!

Chad ~ Nope! No Imodium. Where's Cath or Luz when I needed them? Actually I've never taken that before. Hmmm! may be I ought to try it.

Flat ~ Isn't that what happened to you at UVM? I WAS a semi-basket-case! :)

SSF ~ Thanks! Guess those are minor stuffs! Can't complain! It was a blessing that everything worked out! LOVE YOU!

Jon ~ Those pops are funky. They leave them on the trailer bed. So you have to hike up wooden plank to get to the door. There was a group of three pops that got tipped sideway because the trailer bed was tilted forward...very comical.

Hey sweet AMBER!!! I think YOU'RE the energizer bunny! I always feel super-charged in a race with YOU in it, running, leading the thousands of runners!

How funny that the little girl is your niece. She is so dang cute! I wanted to ask her how old she was. But didn't wanna distract her strides and focus. All the runners and spectators were like: "WOW! She's the youngest one here, so fast!" I was SO IMPRESSED with her. I thought may be she's around 10 and the young fella running next to her cannot be over 21. So, he's your OLDER brother and Bailey is what barely 13? SO YOUNG and SO SPEEDY!

The fast running genes RUNS in your family, for sure! So COOL to have so many members of your family there running! Your dad must be so proud! :)

Marc ~ Yep, Larry is pretty amazing! Could have never done it without him!

Kelli ~ Thanks for the text message! I was thinking about you and our friends at the RHPC!

Julie ~ I really like the half marathon distance. So much easier to train and recover from! You did awesome with yet another course PR! You are my hero! So happy to see you there! :) I still think that they should give the master winners (YOU) prize money! This race has a big enough field and offer such little schwag that I am sure they can afford couple more prize money. So lame!

bye-wing ~ Bummer that I missed RHPC this year. I would've loved to meet you! You did awesome on your first 10 miler in the Provo Canyon!

Dale ~ I didn't know you ran it two years ago. This is the first time I ran Bryce. I hope to be able to run it again in the future.

Kathie ~ There was nothing much I could do about food poisoning. But I am glad it isn't stomach flu which would take much longer to recover from.

Scott ~ You will LOVE Bryce.

From Steam8 on Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 19:06:42 from 166.70.55.77

I loved seeing you! I just got home...what a loooooooong family vacation! I hope to be able to run with you sooon!!

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