Each Day Is a Gift

Snow 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: Snow Canyon Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:50:39, Place in age division: 2
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
2.002.009.100.0013.10

Really happy with this race.  Perfect weather, cool temp (mid 50's), overcast sky, beautiful downhill course, all the ingredients for a PR. 

Traveled down to SG w/ my friend, Karen, Fri afternoon.  This is Karen's first ever race.  After a late dinner we went to bed at her in-law's in Hurricane.  Got up at 5:30, packed up and drove to the Snow Canyon HS at 7am where we met Teena, Matt & Brooke for the bus ride up.  There was ONE very long line to all the port-a-potties, thankfully it moved pretty quickly.  Saw MichelleL who warned us of the screaming downhill from mile 3-6.  My quads instantly felt mushy!!! :)

Karen and I lined up at the back of the pack.  My legs were still sore from the 10 miler on BST less than 48 hrs earlier.  Debated whether I should run w/ Karen, making it a fun run.  Finally decided to start with her and see how the legs feel as the race progress.  Ran the first two miles w/ Karen at what felt like jogging pace.  DonGardinero ran up to say hello!  :)  The elevation drops severely at mile 3 where I lost Karen.  Passed lots of people who had slapping feet.  Ran at a controlled pace trying to minimize the punishment I'm heaping on my already trashed quads.  Passed bare-foot guy and praised him about his *shoes*.  Great conversations and cheers! :)

The breath-taking scenery in the Snow Canyon Parkway really got me in the groove. Passed lots of runners.  My breathing was easy.  My legs felt tight at times but not too bad.  Walked through each aid station.  Took gu at the mile 7ish aid station.  The shins started to cramp up around mile 11.  Tried to ease up with different strides and engaged the abs.  Looked at my Garmin and figured that if I stayed at a sub-9mm pace I could PR.  Told myself that:  "This is just a daily run around my block...a horse smelling the barn...trot home and get'er done."  At the corner turning into the HS, MarcieN was there to cheer, that just put a huge smile on my face!  Ran around the track and saw Teena and her cute family.  Teena yelled: "catch him", the yellow shirt guy ahead.  I responded but he didn't want to be chicked and sprinted away.  Dang! 

Karen and I at the bus line:

Teena and I at the p-o-p line:

Karen finished in 2:03:24!   So PROUD of her first race ever!!! 

 

Mile:   

1.  9:25  Gentle downhill.  

2.  8:54  Karen doing good job staying w/ me.

3.  8:24  Nice downhill, kept looking back to find Karen.

4.  7:38  Huge elevation drop.

5.  7:40  Enjoyed the beauty of Snow Canyon.

6.  7:43  Reminisced running Spectrum 10K.

7.  7:46  Wow, half way done already!

8.  9:11  Walked to take gu.  Some incline. 

9.  8:00  Out of Canyon, course flattened a bit.

10. 8:26  Legs started to fatigue.

11. 8:55  Shin cramps.

12. 8:45  Tried to relax and concentrated on forms.

13. 8:29  Smelled the PR.  Stayed strong.

0.17  7:57  On the track...kicked it in!

I am very happy w/ the PR albeit on an aided course.  The legs held out although there were hints of charlie horse flutters soon after finishing.  Not much running next week, I will be visiting my sister who lives on a hilly peninsula in Southern California.  Might be good to rest up the legs anyway for the Valley of Fire Marathon in two weeks! :)


 

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Kathie on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 01:22:18 from 118.22.238.102

Nice job! You have had a great year this year good for you!

From DonGardinero on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 01:32:57 from 72.174.220.3

You are just plain awesome!!! Congrats on the PR. You, as always, looked smooth, fast and strong when you ran by me. We were trying to find you and Teena at the starting area, but couldn't.

That is such a beautiful canyon. I love it. I wish I would have taken out my phone and snapped some pictures, but i was really focusing on more running and less walking, so I didn't dare try to get my phone out.

From artichoke on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 19:31:37 from 97.126.183.145

Nice job on that PR! It was great weather and fantastic scenery. I liked the new course modification.

From Teena Marie on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 21:25:24 from 174.19.55.243

SSF~

You did SO SO SO SO SO SO SO good!!! Seriously, you looked fantastic running in. Effortless!!! :) :) :)

You always worry, but you always kick major trash!

I love you so much! :) :) :)

Congrats on the 2nd place and the PR. :)

(Question: Do our faces look a little elongated in the pic or are we just getting taller???? :) :) :))

From Toby on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 21:46:46 from 66.133.97.196

You are a racing machine this year! Nicely done with that PR!

From Snoqualmie on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 21:48:51 from 24.18.192.33

Great job! You've got wings on your feet these days!

From Smooth on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 22:04:41 from 63.228.197.20

kathie~ Konichiwa! how's Japan? How's James? Hope you are having the time of your life!

Dale~Teena and I stood in this huge long pop line as soon as we got off the bus...just enough time to drop off the bag and line up. So glad you said hello on the course! You did awesome, going to check your race report now.

Artichoke~ Thanks! It was a great morning...fantastic course. going over to check your race.

SSF ~ The pic does look elongated! Wish we were getting taller! Missing you sooooo much! Thanks for being there for me! Your cute kids did soooo awesome!!!

Toby & Sno ~ THANKS!!! It has been a good year especially w/ Teena there in all the races!

From Sophia on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 22:15:50 from 174.19.55.243

hi what's you doing nice job on your race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From JulieC on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 22:23:16 from 71.35.248.220

So awesome to PR Smooth!! Congrats. Sounds like it was such a nice race weekend. : D

From Nancy on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 22:30:15 from 76.27.19.206

Congratulations!! It sounds like you had a great race as usual and made it sound easy and fun.

From flatlander on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 22:45:37 from 75.214.240.65

Sounds like a great race as always. Nice speedy pace, glad you had a good time. They always have great medals in St. George.

From Smooth on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 22:55:51 from 63.228.197.20

My cutest sweet Sophie ~ Hi there! You did so AWESOME on your tuff kid race! That was a tough hilly mile and you kicked major trash...speediest tuffest kid ever!

Julie ~ Thanks! you would have loved that course!

Nancy ~ Thank you! The best part of my racing is having my SSF, Teena, there! :)

Flat ~ You need to come run more races in SG! GOOD LUCK w/ your upcoming marathon!

From Andy on Mon, Nov 08, 2010 at 11:48:25 from 199.190.170.22

Great job on the race. I can't believe you have already run an ultra and PR'd a 1/2 marathons since SGM. I am barely feeling like I can run again. You are such a die hard.

From fly on the Wall on Mon, Nov 08, 2010 at 12:20:53 from 204.113.19.47

Andy, That's an ultra and PR 1/2 two days after 10 miles on that steep section of the BST between City Creek and North Salt Lake. AND Smooth was 9 stinking seconds from 1st place! (Doh.)

Smooth you are incredible and way more hardcore than most of us (me included) are, were, or ever will be.

From Scott Wesemann on Mon, Nov 08, 2010 at 12:47:25 from 66.239.250.209

Nice report and pics Smooth. congrats to karen. That sounds like a fun course.

From RivertonPaul on Mon, Nov 08, 2010 at 14:04:18 from 67.42.27.114

Super kudos. PR for the super smooth!

From RAD on Mon, Nov 08, 2010 at 17:27:14 from 67.172.229.125

LOVE this Smooth! I love your imagery on the end and a PR as well. I hope the quads are recovering nicely, take it easy and get ready for the Valley of Fire!! YOU ROCK lady!!!

From marion on Mon, Nov 08, 2010 at 21:57:51 from 71.213.115.112

Nice race! CONGRATULATIONS on the PR :) You are my inspiration...as always!

From timp on Tue, Nov 09, 2010 at 13:26:04 from 136.182.2.26

big congrats on the PR and 2nd in AG, Smooth!

From leslie peterson on Tue, Nov 09, 2010 at 13:34:30 from 174.52.158.81

YOU ARE AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow, you never slow down and take a break? You are a fast little machine! I hope I bump into you at Mesquite. Good luck at Valley of Fire!

From Maynard on Tue, Nov 09, 2010 at 22:11:33 from 71.213.47.147

So the bling you're wearing in the last picture is the 2nd in your AG award?

AWESOME!

Wish I coulda been there. Oh well--I'll see you at VOF!

From Jon A on Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 13:30:41 from 67.214.249.195

Congratulations Smooth! Awesome PR!

From Kelli on Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 16:22:22 from 71.219.65.246

A pR is a PR!!! Congrats!!!

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