My Running Log

St. George Marathon

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Location:

Lehi,UT,USA

Member Since:

Jan 01, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Personal bests since 2009:

  • 5K - 18:31 (Freedom Run, 2021)
  • 10K - 38:52 (Dana Point, 2009)
  • Half marathon - 1:25:54 (SLC, 2012)
  • Marathon - 3:02:40 (St. George, 2009)

Short-Term Running Goals:

  • Break 3:00 in a marathon
  • Run at least 5 days a week

Long-Term Running Goals:

  • Lifetime fitness
  • Run the Boston Marathon
  • Do an Ironman triathlon (someday)

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Air Pegasus 25 Lifetime Miles: 1220.37
Asics Equation 2 Lifetime Miles: 1198.81
Asics Blue And Silver Lifetime Miles: 930.43
Pearl Izumi Orange Streaks Lifetime Miles: 194.77
Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 2381.47
New Balance 690 Lifetime Miles: 313.68
New Balance 310 Lifetime Miles: 1120.96
Race: St. George Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:03:51, Place overall: 148, Place in age division: 33
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
26.200.000.000.000.0026.20

On Thursday night, my wife took our baby to the ER because she had a really high fever. So the weekend turned out differently than we had planned, but I decided to still run the race. I dropped the other kids off with family members. Thanks to the 80 mph speed limit on much of I-15, I made it to the expo at 8:40 pm, twenty minutes before it closed. Everything went smoothly. I grabbed a burger and fries for dinner and then drove to Dustin's house. They were very kind to let me stay with them. I slept well for 4-5 hours, and we were off to stand in (a long) line for a bus to the starting line.

I wasn't sure what to expect for this race. I think my longest training run in the last two months was 10 miles. And my weekly training mileage had been 30-40 miles the past two months. On the other hand, my weight was lower than the last time I ran St. George, and my fitness level was as high as it had been all year (based on my training times). Breaking 3 hours was my stretch goal, and I figured I had nothing to lose in shooting for that. Fortunately, Dustin and a few others were also planning to run that pace, so I had others to run with.

The first 7 miles were nice and relaxed, according to plan. We averaged about 6:50 pace. Then we hit the hills. The next two miles were in about 7:35 pace, not too bad. After that, there is some flat/gradual uphill. I actually felt really strong and relaxed on this part, which hadn't happened in past years. My goal at this point was to get back to 7:00 pace average. I wanted to keep in striking distance.

Around this point, a guy in a green singlet was running near me and was encouraging runners to stay relaxed and not burn through the downhills. So I stuck near him for the next 9-10 miles. He was great.

Once I got to mile 18, I was exactly on 7:00 pace average. I slowed down a little on the Winchester hill, but not too much. After that I decided to push the pace. I was feeling amazingly well and was having to hold myself back until that point. Now I wanted to start being more aggressive. But the downhill was hurting, so I could only push so hard. I knew that if I ran a 10K in 39 minutes, I could break 3 hours.

As I came into town, I was still feeling amazingly well. The crowd also got me going. Around mile 23, I couldn't hold back from smiling. It was such a cool feeling. I was running 6:30 pace at this point.

But then as soon as we turned off Bluff St., my body ground to a halt. I struggled through the last 2 miles and finished with 3:03:51. This time was a minute slower than last time, but I was very happy with it, considering my training. And I placed higher than last time (148th), maybe because of the heat, not sure.

This race brought me a lot of joy. It's hard to describe why. For one thing, I felt like a runner again. My body felt light and smooth for most of the race. I loved being out in nature and being around great people. I also was happy that I had stuck with my (limited) training, even though many times I had wanted to give up on it. It also proved to me that it's possible to run a decent marathon on limited training.

As I came toward the finish line, I kept thinking one thing...this would be my second marathon I had run faster than my friend Matt's PR. That should be embarrassing to him. Ha ha. 

A few things could have made it better...1) practicing downhill running, 2) eating GU and/or drinking Gatorade at one or two more aid stations (I stopped at every aid station until mile 21), 3) increasing my training mileage at least a little. I'm forgetting what else.

I'm not sure when I'll do another marathon. Next year I probably won't race much. But I do want to focus on a few key races to keep my motivation to train. The rest of this year I'll probably do just enough to maintain fitness and keep my weight down.

Thanks again to Dustin, and I hope he can find his groove again for next year. 

1- 7:06

2- 7:04

3 - 6:47

4 - 6:38

5 - 6:50

6 - 6:35

7 - 6:47

8 - 7:45

9 - 7:26

10 - 7:17

11 - 7:26 (maybe should have pushed a little harder here)

12 - 7:09 (and here)

13 - 6:55

14 - 6:54

15 - 6:44

16 - 6:39

17 - 6:48

18 - 6:54

19 - 7:18

20 - 7:05

21 - 6:46

22 - 6:53

23 - 6:54

24 - 6:31

25 - 7:02 (I guess it wasn't as slow as it felt)

26 - 7:42 (ditto)

26. 2 - 1:46 

Pearl Izumi Orange Streaks Miles: 26.20
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Chad Robinson on Sun, Oct 02, 2011 at 21:32:40 from 208.110.158.227

Nice racing Steve! You really did well keeping within yourself. Higher mileage probably would have helped out those last couple miles, but injury would not have allowed you to get there. I hope the little one is doing well.

From allie on Sun, Oct 02, 2011 at 21:51:04 from 24.10.191.18

way to go, steve. that was a very nice report. i am so glad you felt great and enjoyed the experience. that is an impressive time given your limited training. but i know you are always consistent and that definitely is the key in the end. congrats on a great race. i hope your baby is okay.

From Scott Ensign on Sun, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:02:13 from 70.58.46.82

Steve, you run amazingly well on little training. how you can run a 3:03 with your longest run being 10 miles is beyond me. and then with a prerace dinner of burger and fries....

hope the baby is feeling better. hope to see you at a race soon.

From Burt on Sun, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:35:02 from 72.223.91.148

You know, if you ever properly trained for a marathon, you might just win.

Hope the baby's better.

From MarkP on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 at 00:07:52 from 97.117.127.158

Great time with all that was going on (family and weather)!

From Dave S on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 at 12:56:06 from 4.254.223.108

Nice job! That is amazing that you can run that fast off of low mileage and just a 10 mile long run and still be running that good so late in the race. Hope your baby is doing well.

From Jake K on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 12:21:52 from 155.100.226.53

Steve I know its been said here a few times already, but I am seriously impressed that you ran 3:03 w/out going over 10 miles in training runs. Way to go man... nice race!

From Kelli on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 14:09:05 from 71.219.83.151

It was so nice to see you SEVERAL times along the course. You were running so strong, you really did look at ease. The last time you passed me I so wanted to try to keep up with you, but you were just cruising along like it was a walk in the park! Great job on this race, you are one talented runner to do so darn well on your limited training! I need several long runs to make a marathon feel doable.

That is two marathons we have run "together" at points....maybe you should NOT train at all next year and then come run another one with me so I can win this time!!! ;o)

Hope your baby is ok!!!

From JulieC on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 11:06:39 from 207.108.176.69

Steve, now that I am "over" my sadness. I am reading some reports. I really should have paced myself with YOU. By golly I went out too fast at the beginning. You ran the same splits (about) as I for the first two miles then I forgot I had my garmin in average pace mode (I was trying a new method with my garmin, but it backfired) and was freaking out that my third mile was still in the 7s (but it was really just the average into the third mile.) so I kept picking up the pace. It wasn't until about mile 5-6 that I realized I was in Average pace mode so obviously a 6:24 mile and a 6:36 mile with a pee stop is ludicrous for me in the beginning. Your splits look so nice and even, the way I like to run and then pick it up at the end. I wonder if I will ever learn? apparently you did and all that energy from running low mileage must have helped too!! way to go my friend!! :D.

From Steve Piccolo on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 15:39:53 from 155.101.146.105

Thanks everyone for your nice comments! I did do some long runs earlier in the summer (just not in the two months leading up to the race), so I don't want it to sound like I didn't train. But it was nice to be able to still run well during a time when I couldn't train as much. Also, it makes running so much nicer when you have friends to share it with. So thanks!

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