Each Day Is a Gift

This run/walk was organized 5 years ago by a local Stake.  I understand it has doubled in size every year since.  It's a free race but you do need to register to obtain a commemorative bib.  My brother-in-law Gary was in town so he signed up his wife, daughter and mother.  So I signed up my hubby, and our missionary (an elder from HK who graduated from BYU-H and now here to start graduate study at the U) who's staying with us. 

The website projected that there were nearly 10,000 registrants (we registered the night before).  The race starts at 8pm. at the Provo Temple and finish at the Provo City Center Temple.  Bib pick up at the start between 6:00 to 7:30.  So hubby being the punctual guy decided we need to leave the house at 6am.  We parked our car at the temple overflow parking lot where they have the bib pick up tables.  After getting our bibs, we called Gary who was parking at the finish and taking the shuttle bus to the start.  We moved our car to the church parking lot where there were lines of portapotties. We saw a big group of missionaries at the parking lot.  Gary and the rest of the family arrived, we took pictures and milled around until the race started at 8:10.  The annoucer said there were estimated 20,000 participants this year.  The atmosphere was fun, families with strollers and even pioneer costumes.  There were hymns being broadcasted and even a poster cut out of Pres. Monson standing on the top of the starting ladder.  The sun was peeking over Squaw Peak and you could see a sea of people on the road going up the hill behind the temple.  Those with timing chips (for about $9) get to line up in the front marked up cones followed by runners, then walkers.  Those with strollers or wheeled stuff line up behind the second crosswalk. 

Gary and my niece Jessie (18 yo) and Nelson (our former missionary) jumped in after the first wave of runners.  Lily, Grandma and Larry would jump in with the walkers.  The first mile was down Temple Dr. going west then turn south passed the MTC. then another right turn going west to the stadium.  Then we turned onto BYU campus running pass the field house.  I was able to keep up with Jessie and Gary.  At the field house they were giving out water bottles, so I made my way across there and picked up a bottle.  Took a big gulp and was going to put the cap back on so I could run with it; but dropped the cap so decided to drink some more and ditch the bottle.  Gary and Jessie got a little ahead and I chased back up to them.  We're now running south on 200 E.  and I glanced down at my watch and saw that we're running a 8:40 pace which scared me a little.  I told Gary our pace and saw Jessie breathing hard.  I eased up a bit and let them go.  The runners around me were all breathing just as hard.  I wanted to keep a good tempo and would sprint once I see the finish.  I was surprised to see the finish as soon as we turned west on 100 S.  So we only have to sprint from 200 E to 50E.  Man, I should've picked up the pace sooner!  I stopped the watch after I crossed the finish and high fived Gary.  Very pleased with the time.  The last time I "raced" a 5K was probably in 2010 at the Nestle 5K.  My PR was 23+ min.  I seriously thought it would take me 30 min to run a 5K.  I guess it helps to have some youngsters to pace me! :)  Splits: 9:19, 8:59, 8:53, (0.1 @4:58)  I have not run in these paces for years!!!! Haha, I know...this is supposed to be "fast'runningblog"...and I'm really a jogger these days! :)

I was supposed to run 18 miles today; so plan was to run to the mouth of AF Canyon to wait for Wendy (who's running the Timp Half) then run her to the finish and then tag on 5 more miles afterwards.  Lowell called last week and asked if I would run this Half (for old time sake when we used to run the SOGOFull/Timp backward).  Anyway, last time I ran him in to the finish, I wished I had signed up and ran the race.  So, the night before packet pick up, Lowell called and said he was not going to run this afterall because he had a wedding to go to in Pocatello on Sat.  But really, this is only a half...I told him I would sign up if he would.  SO, we both signed up at the last min.  By now the entry fee is a whopping $90 (more than what I paid for SG Marathon).  Luckily I got a FB discount of 15%.  With that, I feel motivated to actually run this and test where my fitness level is.  Three weeks earlier I ran the Hobbler Half in 2:19:  , I figure I can shave at least 30 sec./mile on this. 

Wendy and I picked up the race packets at AFHS.  We bought some running shorts/capri at the Expo.  Lowell got to my house at 6pm and off we went to Oliver Garden, his favorite, for his birthday celebration! :)  We didn't go to bed until 11:30 so got about 3 hours of sleep.

Since I'm driving, I told Lowell we have to leave the house at 3:35 to pick up Wendy and make it to the bus ride by 4:00.  Well, we left at 4:45 and got to AFHS at 4:05.  I ate a Greek yogurt and 1/2 banana on the bus.  Got to the start with 90+ min to spare.  Wendy brought a camping pad for us to sit on.  Saw Don and David Rogers, Emily King, Josse Tobiason and Michelle Lowery.  Plenty of portapotties and time to make 3 trips.  Race started on time at 6am.  We all lined up with the 2:30 pace group.  Temp was probably in the high 50s. as the sun was rising. 

Within the first quarter mile, we passed the pace group.  I told Lowell we should run the canyon miles in 10 mph pace conserving energy.  We started to pull away and lost Wendy after about mile 3.  At times Lowell would run ahead chatting with other runners, I kept a steady comfortable pace and would always catch him at the aid stations where we would walk.  I took a Gu at mile 3 since breakfast was over 2 hours ago.  There was a nice tail wind around mile 6 which I took advantage of.  Took another Gu given by the volunteer at mile 7 aid station.  The course flattened out at mile 7.5 leaving the Canyon onto the Golf Course trail which was rolling with some inclines which I also walked. 

Mile 9, 10 and 11 are on the Cedar Hills trail and Murdock Canal Trail which for some reason slows me down; may be my brain has been conditioned to run these slowly because I've run on them for my long runs.  Weird!  Once I got to Art Dye Park, I realized there's only couple miles to go, so I put a little more effort.  It was also getting warm, so I took off my hat and dump water on my head at the last aid station.  I saw the 2:10 pace group as we turned onto 700 N. so I focused on reeling them in.  We made a right turn onto Cavemen Dr. I focused on passing people and before long I saw Larry and John (Wendy's hubby) at the corner by the Seminary Bldg.  I smiled and waved to them as we made the last turn left towards the High School's track.  We had to run 3/4 way around the track to the finish.  The 2:10 pacer was yelling for us to go faster.  I realized he had gone a bit faster than pace and waiting to get the group in on time.  The clock read 2:09:xx when I crossed.  My official time 2:08:01.  So pleased with this time, and no cramping.  Well, I did have to keep walking after I finished around and around the water mister.  Lowell came in couple min. after me and Wendy came in 14 min later.  We're impressed with the finish goodies: chocolate milk, fruits, pizza, creamies, wash cloth.  We took some pictures and high tailed out of there as Lowell had a wedding to attend in Pocatello at 1pm.

Splits: 9:58, 9:50, 9:46, 9:58, 9:23, 8:48, 9:36, 9:14, 10:40, 10:28, 10:22, 9:43, 9:35, (0.1@8:12)