Every Run is a Great Run!

Provo River 1/2 Marathon

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Location:

Spanish Fork,UT,USA

Member Since:

Jan 15, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

Lifetime PRs:

Marathon: 3:07:59 2013 Big Cottonwood Marathon

1/2 Marathon: 1:24:30 2008 St. George Painters

10K: 38:39 2008 SLCTC

5K: 18:44 2009 Nestle Art City Days

55-59 AD PRs:

1/2 Marathon:???

10K:???

5K:???

Short-Term Running Goals:

2024 plans:

Work on core strength
Overcome lingering injuries
Have fun!

Long-Term Running Goals:

Consistently place in the top 5 of my age division as long as my body will allow it.

Beat Terry Bean at any distance at least one time before I depart this earth.

Take care of mind and body so I can be in it for the long haul. Don't do STUPID THINGS!

Run until I'm 99 with Kim by my side and remember that EVERY RUN IS A GREAT RUN!

Peace of mind by striving to live like this

Personal:

I've been married to the lovely Kimberly for 38 years. We have 5 great kids and 5 great grandkids.

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	1058.20
Saucony Fastwitch #1 Lifetime Miles:						65.50
Asics Gel-Nimbus23 #4 Lifetime Miles:						829.45
Asics Gel-Nimbus23 #5 Lifetime Miles:						483.25
Altra Escalante #1 Lifetime Miles:						194.00

Sat, Aug 09, 2008

Race: Provo River 1/2 Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:26:58, Place overall: 40, Place in age division: 7

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
3.00	6.10	6.00	1.00	16.10

Not the greatest day for me today, but I guess they can't all be great. Was hoping to run in the low 1:20's but it just wasn't that kind of day. We'll just call this one a nice little 1/2 marathon and marathon pace tempo run.

Terry (oldbean) was kind enough to try and pace me for most of the race, but for whatever reason -- perhaps going out a little fast? -- I just didn't have it today and felt pretty much spent at the halfway point and just had to struggle through the last 6 miles. I kept trying to cut Terry loose because I knew I was slowing him down after mile 7 but he was kind enough to try and motivate me (mostly unsuccessfully) through about 9 1/2 miles.

It was nice to have Kim there as a spectator and give me some encouragement the last couple of miles when I was half dead. Thanks babe! It did help even though I may not have shown it at the time.

Also my garmin was kind of whacked out from the beginning and had trouble throughout, measuring the race at 13.5 miles, but most folks I talked to measured it around 13.25. So the course was a bit long so I suppose my true 1/2 marathon time is maybe 30 seconds to 1 minute better. For whatever reason the official results have everyone times adjusted down about 45 seconds faster, so they have me at 1:26:10 or somewhere around there.

Fast field today, even if I would have run in my goal range I don't think I would have been able to crack the top 3 AD what with guys like Ron Greenwood, Carl Hanson and a few other recently turned 40 speedsters running today.

Also I can't believe I let the same guy from Payson who beat me by 3 seconds at Speedy Spaniard, beat me by 4 seconds today!!! When he passed me just before mile 13 I tried to kick it for a while but I was just dead and I couldn't hold the pace as he sped up as well. I'm hoping he runs SF 1/2 marathon as I now make a vow to NOT let him beat me anymore!!!

Here are the splits but some of them are whacked out because mr. garmin wasn't behaving. Most the mess up I think was on miles 1, 8 and 10 so I've tried to make a guess (in parens) as to what the real pace was.

5:33 (5:45 ?), 6:01, 6:18, 6:05, 6:34, 6:47, 6:09, 6:22 (6:30?), 6:40, 6:26 (6:40?), 6:40, 6:50, 7:08 (ugh - I hate seeing a 7), 3:20 (2:30 ?).

Interestingly enough, even though I felt like I had a pretty bad race, I noticed when comparing my time to the times of all the guys that also ran Speedy Spaniard 10K a couple of weeks ago that we all came in in the exact finishing order in both races. So maybe everyone had a bad race or the course was just slower than expected. But I can't figure out how Pat Loss came in behind me. I'm sure I didn't pass him and I thought he was a minute or 2 ahead of me but his time shows as a minute behind me. VPB perhaps? I felt bad during the first mile or 2 I was riding too close on Pat's heels and almost tripped him 2 or 3 times. Sorry Pat!

The FRB ruled today, I think the top 7 or 8 finishers were all bloggers. Good job everyone! I should have maybe left the blog singlet at home today, hopefully I didn't shame the blog too bad with the 40th place finish.

Time to put this one behind me and look forward to SF 1/2 marathon in 4 weeks and of course the biggie.... SGM in 8 weeks.

Comments

From JohnA on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 13:27:11

Those are still great splits for having a sub par race. It is nice to run 12 miles under 7 min and call it a bad race.

From dave holt on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 13:53:44

Tom, good meeting you at the start today. Don't get down on yourself, you'll be rolling at Spanish. I love the goal to get that guy!

From walter on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 13:55:39

Well another meet and greet for a new face to the match the blog. Good to know you! You are not to far off from getting some good times! Keep it up and get your groove on. see ya.

From Paul T on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 13:58:15

Isn't it great to be running so well that you are disappointed with a 1:26 half marathon? There are a lot of people who would be thrilled with that time, me included. And isn't it great to have so many great running friends? Life's good!

From marion on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 14:20:58

I'm with Paul... except with a Marion twist...a 1:26 1/2? You rock!!! Great race!

From tarzan on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 14:33:52

Sounds like a pretty good run to me, Tom. This course was definitely harder than the previous times I ran it and the aid stations being a little off left me 'off balance' for my plans to take gu and stuff. Glad to know I wasn't the only one who thought the course was long. I cut as many corners as I could - but their mile markers kept getting farther and farther after my mile beeps on my Garmin.

From Brent on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:04:13

Coach Tom, coach is always toughest on himself, you had a crappy day and hit about 1:26, that is a good day. I don't know about the race predictor, but, your time puts you right in the 3:00 to 3:05 range (my opinion. at St.George)I would suggest take the positive from this, your right on track to give that sub 3 hr at St.George your best shot. Tom one question, why so fast a split the first mile? Also, the Provo Half always seems to have mile marker issues and course length questions. It would be nice if they could certify the course and leave it the same. (second Paul T comments)

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From JimF on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:30:19

Tom, even though you are not satisfied with the result it was a solid race and will help with the buildup to your ultimate target SGM. Great job of pulling out a good result when you are not feeling your best!

From MarcieJ on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:33:52

You have a great attitude! You will get that dude at SF! Its fun to have some targets like that, definitely a motivator. Great job today!

From Kim on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 15:39:54

I know this isn't how you wanted today to turn out, but you had a good attitude going into it. It's good to be able to learn from mistakes on a race that isn't your main focus. You are still my running hero and awesome coach/hubby!

From Curtis on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 20:17:38

Tom I would be very satisfied those times. I don't know if I will ever be able to run those kind of splits. Remember every run is a great run. I think you done awesome today. I to like the goal to get the guy. You will nail him for sure next time.

From Mike Warren on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 20:42:45

Tom, still a very good race. That is not a bad time at all. I do understand, for you and your expectations, not quit there. Thats why you will keep getting better. Great job!

From Jeff (LAD) on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 21:39:33

All in all a good time, Tom. Sub 1:27 -- I have to concur with Brent though. You went out smokin fast in your first 4 miles. I think if you would have back those miles off and evened them out around the 6:20 range you'd have been able to hold all your miles around that pace. Throw in some extra time for a few nasty hills and you're looking at sub 1:25.

From Tom on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 21:57:40

Thanks for the comments everyone. I probably did go out a bit too fast although the first 4 miles were pretty decent downhill.

Looking back I can see that almost all of my best races have been going out a tad conservative and usually negative splitting. Seems like there is a given pace on any given day that if I stay slower than that pace I can run seemingly forever but if I go faster than that pace, especially early in the race, then I'm dead meat. Today was certainly a dead meat day.

Brent the frustrating part is that my times from earlier in the year were predicting a 2:50 SGM but now we're back to 3 hours. It would be nice to feel like the 3 hours was attainable even on a really bad day but I don't know if that's the case anymore.

We'll have to just see how the next 8 weeks go I suppose. It does help to know I'm not the only one going through these ups/downs, seems like lots of folks in exactly the same boat right now after a strong winter/spring racing season. Also lots of folks battling major injuries and just luck to run at all. Need to keep it all in perspective. Running is just one aspect of our lives but doesn't define who we are. Good to sit back and enjoy all the other good things in life...family, friends, health, hobbies other than running, etc.

From Scott on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 22:17:16

Awesome race Tom. I can't imagine ever thinking that a 1:26:58 would be disappointing, but you've sure worked hard enough to feel that way. I couldn't help but chuckle about the same guy beating you by a few seconds again. I'm sure you'll get him in SF. Great job!

From Adam RW on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 22:21:34

Tom, It was great to get to meet you in person even if only for a few minutes. Sorry your race didn't pan out but like you said effort wise it looks like you are staying strong. Next time though you have to beat that other guy by 4 seconds! Great race.

From josse on Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 23:12:26

I feel your pain. But this is a drop in the bucket, some drops splash and get us all wet and some sails smoothly into the water and has no splash. We all hate getting all wet don't we.

From Dale on Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 20:12:31

Tom, I feel your pain but you really are being a tad hard on yourself. Running is a series of ups and downs, especially when we start pushing our previous limits. All in all, a pretty decent time, perhaps not the breakout race you were hoping for, but then this isn't your peak race either, right? You're just saving up to cut loose at SGM.

As for convincing yourself not to go out too fast, when you learn that trick, could you please please please teach me? Please?!!

Good race and more solid training for your target race!

From Ian on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 09:06:51

I hope on reflection after your initial disappointment you'll see the race for what it is, a decent solid summer race as a stepping stone to some stronger autumn times. We all go out too fast at times, once in a while it pays off if you're having a super top form day, most the time it doesn't. Here's to the next one!

From jtshad on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 10:47:06

Sorry to hear you are disappointed with the race, but as Ian indicated, treat it as a training run and work on the aspects of the race that will get you your SGM goal time. You are running strong, keep it up and learn from this race.

From RivertonPaul on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 12:43:45

Keep up the hard work.

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