Psalm 91:1 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place

Kory, I don't know if this blog page will allow all of my 2003 St. George Marathon report, but in case it will I am doing a copy/past here. This is the year I collapsed with a couple hundred meters to go. A memorable race. The story may help orient you some on the mile by mile route.

Enjoy, Paul

2003 St. George Marathon – Paul Ivory – 4 October 2003

Every marathon you run is a unique experience, because the conditions are different and you are a different person every time you run a race. This year was another unique experience for me with some crazy events to highlight this race.

The short summary of essential highlights follows. My marathon goal and personal prediction was to beat last year’s time of 3hr 15min 56sec. After running over 26 miles, with only 200 yards to go I was on target to beat last year’s time, and out of nowhere I collapsed in the middle of the road to my hands and knees. By the time I got my senses back and struggled to my feet, regained my mental orientation, and started walking and then jogging and then running to the finish that last 200 yards took about 3min 15sec, so I finished with a time of 3hr 18min 4sec. The good news is that on this hot day in St. George, my finish time was good enough to give me an 8th place finish in my age group out of 192 men (top 5%), and a finish of 417 out of a total of 4433 runners (top 10%). It was very disappointing to collapse and get disoriented and miss out on another PR (personal record), but wow what an experience it was to push hard enough to leave everything on the course. This was a great race to be cherished in my running memories.

The longer version with mile by mile race details follows. If you read it all allow plenty of time as it is 7 pages. If you want to just jump to the exciting finish of the last mile and the collapse with 200 yards to go, just turn to the bottom of page 5, where the 26th mile starts.

This year’s preparations for St. George started after taking a month off after running Boston in April. The training included all the good long runs on the weekends, the speed work on Monday’s at Connally High and a few speed sessions of my own, and the mid-week runs up at Florence High usually running about 4 or 5 miles mid-week. A typical running week of training usually consisted of between 25 to 35 miles of running. I had long runs of 20, 23, 25, 28, and 30 miles. This year I did not do any 5K or 10K races during the summer, and I did not do any hill work, which would have been a good thing to add to my training. As I prepare for my next marathons I will make it a point to include more hill training. I am predicting to set a new PR next year in St. George.

Lynn, Paul Dean and I flew to Salt Lake City on Thursday 10/2, rented a car and drove to Lehi and stayed at Lynn’s parents home. We drove to St. George on Friday, arriving to pick up my race packet at about 1:30 PM. At the packet pickup I stopped by the Clif Bar booth and talked with Scott, who was going to lead the fastest pace group at a 3hr 15min pace. Scott had never run St. George before, so I related him my experiences for the past two years, and cautioned him about the effects of the uphill running at mile 8 and 10 and 11. I picked up my pace bib for the 3hr 15min pace group, and we headed for the course.

We drove the course and got reacquainted with the up-hills at mile 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 19. The main uphill challenges are the steep mile 8 hill up past the volcano, and the long gradual uphill miles 10 and 11. The other uphill sections are not very significant, but they do add a few seconds to the running so they have to be accounted for. By the time a race is over, every second counts and every extra exertion to get over even a small hill takes its toll on the total marathon time. I proved this point during this marathon. The good news at St. George is that there is a bunch of down hill miles to compensate for the uphill sections you run. The race starts at an elevation of about 5,240 feet and finishes in town at an elevation of 2680 feet, so despite some significant uphill sections, the overall drop during this marathon is 2,560 feet. Some runners suffer serious cramps of calf muscles and quads during this race, and again I saw runners trying to stretch out cramps after mile 15 throughout the course.

All day long I did not eat a meal, as I focused on drinking PowerAde and water, and eating Power Bars so my stomach would be clean and I would be absorbing good carbohydrates throughout the day prior to the race.

After a decent night’s sleep, we got up at 4:00 AM, got ready for the race and Lynn dropped me off at the buses in town about 4:30 AM. My bus arrived at the start area about 5:30 AM. I did the usual routing of keeping warm by the fires, drinking more PowerAde, and making stops at the porta-potties. I got in about a 10 minute jogging session about 6:20 AM, and then headed for the start area and found Scott and the 3hr 15min pace group. Scott had 3 balloons on a stick with 3:15 written on the balloons. There were other pace groups of 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, etc., but the fastest group was the 3:15 group, and I observed all these young firm bodies in this group and this one old guy who was me. Our group had formed about 50 feet from the starting line. At the race start I believe the temperature was in the high 40’s or low 50’s. I could tell it was warmer than last year.

At 6:45 AM the race started and I filled in at the back of the 3:15 pace group and we worked our way through many runners during the first mile. Scott said he was going to take advantage of some of the downhill sections of the first 7 miles to get ahead of the pace before we hit the big hill at mile 8 and the long gradual hill miles 10 and 11. For a 3:15 marathon we would have to average a 7min 26sec per mile pace.

We ran the first mile, winding around other runners, at a 7:29 pace. Last year I did the first mile at a 8:14 pace as a warm-up mile., so this year’s time was about 45 seconds faster than last year. Galloway reminds us that for every second we run too fast in the beginning of a marathon, we will pay 10 seconds at the end of the marathon. I proved this proverb to be true when I collapsed with 200 yards to go.

I took my 30 second walk break at the start of the 2nd mile, as using the Galloway method has helped me be successful in several marathons. This let the 3:15 pace group get ahead of me, so I had to run fast enough to catch up with them before they got to the end of the 2nd mile. We ran the second mile at a 7:34 pace. There is a bit of a hill during part of this mile, and the pace felt fine. Last year I ran the 2nd mile 7:34 pace so this one was right on target.

I took another 30 second walk break. We ran the third mile at a 7:06 pace, as there is some significant downhill to this mile. So when I account for my 30 second walk break I probably ran at about a 6:46 pace during this 3rd mile. I knew we were pushing the pace. Last year my 3rd mile was at a 7:26 pace, so this year was 20 seconds faster.

I took another 30 second walk break. We ran the 4th mile at a 6:58 pace with more downhill during this mile. So my pace was about 6:38 during this mile after the 30 second walk break. Again, I knew we were pushing it. Last year I ran the 4th mile at a 7:23 pace, so this year was about 25 seconds faster.

I took another 30 second walk break. We ran the 5th mile at a 7:23 pace, so my pace was about a 7:03 pace after the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 5th mile at a 7:23 pace so this was right on target.

I took another 30 second walk break. We ran the 6th mile at a 6:57 pace, so my pace was about a 6:37 pace after the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 6th mile at a 7:03 pace, so this year was only about 6 seconds faster.

I took another 30 second walk break. We ran the 7th mile at a 6:52 pace, so my pace was about a 6:32 pace after the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 7th mile at a 7:06 pace, so this year was about 14 seconds faster.

I took another 30 second walk break, and as we started the mile 8 run the volcano hill lay ahead of us. This is the most challenging part of the race. Last year I pushed up this hill and did mile 8 in a time of 8:57. Scott and the 3:15 pace group got ahead of me during my walk, but by the end of mile 8 running up the volcano hill, I had passed them. Scott yelled to me and told me he was running the hill the way I had suggested for him to do it. We did this hard hill mile in a time of 8:34, so with my 30 second walk my pace was about a 8:14 pace. The 8:34 was 23 seconds faster than I had run the hill last year.

I took about a 40 second walk break, feeling the need for some extra recovery after doing the volcano hill so fast. We ran mile 9 at a 7:40 pace. During this mile you finish going over the top of the volcano hill, and then get some recovery with some slight downhill the rest of mile 9. So with my walk break, my pace was about 7:20. Last year I did mile 9 in a 8:04 pace, so this year was about 24 seconds faster than last year.

Now we had the long steady mile 10 and mile 11 hills ahead of us. I had told Scott that if I was able to stay with his 3:15 pace group up through mile 11, I thought that I would be able to do a PR in this race. So far I had stayed with his group, but I knew without a doubt that we had pushed these first 9 miles pretty hard compared to last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break. We ran the 10th mile at a 7:45 pace, so my pace was about a 7:25 pace after the 30 second walk. Last year I did mile 10 at a 8:00 pace, so this year was about 15 seconds faster.

I took about a 30 second walk break. We ran the 11th mile at a 7:56 pace, so my pace was about a 7:36 pace after the 30 second walk break. Last year I did mile 11 at a 8:04 pace, so this year was about 8 seconds faster than last.

I took about a 30 second walk break. At this point I knew the worst of the uphill work was done, and I also sensed that there may be a price to pay for pushing it so much harder than last year at this point in the race. We ran the 12th mile at a 7:40 pace, getting some recovery from the previous uphill miles, so my pace was about a 7:20 pace after doing the 30 second walk break. Last year I did the 12th mile at a 7:40 pace so this one was right on target.

I took about a 30 second walk break. Now we were into the 13th mile approaching the half way mark. We ran the 13th mile at a 7:10 pace, so my pace was about a 6:50 pace after my 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 13th mile at a 7:13 pace, so this one was about right on.

I took about a 30 second walk break. I passed over the 13.1 mile half way mark at a time of 1hr 38min 37sec. This time was about 3 minutes faster than I had done the first half of the race last year. I could feel the effects of pushing this 3 minutes faster and knew there would be a price to pay.

From this point on, I never quite caught up with the 3:15 pace group, even though I would get close to them several times, and I always had them in sight, but never caught up. Even with the downhill running ahead of me, I would not be able to run quite fast enough to catch them.

I finished the 13th mile at a pace time of 7:10, so my running pace was actually about 6:50 pace with the 30 second walk break. Last year I did the 13th mile at a pace of 7:13 so this year was almost right on target.

At the start of the 14th mile I took a 40 second walk break to give myself some extra recovery, and just as I took a step or two to start running I knew I had to sneak behind the porta potty for a few seconds so I took care of that business, so my total break time at the start of the 14th mile was a little over a minute. I ran the 14th mile in a pace time of 7:35, so with the extended walk/relief break time of 1 minute, my actual running pace was probably about a 6:55 pace. Last year I ran the 14th mile at a 7:25 pace, so this one was about 10 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break. I ran the 15th mile at a pace of 7:25. So my actual running pace was about 7:05 with the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 15th mile at a 7:04 pace, so this one was about 21 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break. I ran the 16th mile at a pace of 6:57. So my actual running pace was about 6:37 with the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 16th mile at a 6:57 pace, so this one was about the same.

I took about a 30 second walk break. I ran the 17th mile at a pace of 7:15. So my actual running pace was about 6:55 with the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 17th mile at a 7:04 pace, so this one was about 11 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break. I ran the 18th mile at a pace of 7:31. So my actual running pace was about 7:11 with the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 18th mile at a 7:22 pace, so this one was about 9 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 40 second walk break, and was feeling the effects of running hard. The 19th mile has the last significant uphill section. I ran the 19th mile at a pace of 7:53. So my actual running pace was about 7:30 pace with the 40 second walk break. Last year I ran the 19th mile at a 7:47 pace, so this one was about 6 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break, and remembered that last year I felt great at the start of mile 20, and this year I was really feeling like I had pushed it, but I knew that there were reserves in there to run with, and I knew the course real well and could take advantage of the downhill sections ahead of me. I ran the 20th mile at a pace time of 7:51. So my actual running pace was about a 7:31 pace with the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 20th mile at a 7:19 pace, so this one was about 32 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break. I ran the 21st mile at a pace of 7:09. So my actual running pace was about 6:49 with the 30 second walk break. Last year I ran the 21st mile at a 6:57 pace, so this one was about 12 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 30 second walk break. At this point I was really feeling the effects of the fast pace, and I lost track of which mile I was running. I thought that I was into the 23rd mile, so when I saw the 22 mile marker instead of the 23 mile marker it was a little disappointing. I ran the 22nd mile at a pace of 7:51. So my actual running pace was about 7:31. Last year I ran the 22nd mile at a 7:26 pace, so this one was about 25 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 40 second walk break to get a little more recovery. I ran the 23rd mile at a pace of 7:28. So my actual running pace was about 7:05 with the 40 second walk break. Last year I ran the 23rd mile at a 7:18 pace, so this one was about 10 seconds SLOWER than last year.

I took about a 40 second walk break. I ran the 24th mile at a pace of 7:07. So my actual running pace was about 6:45 with the 40 second walk break. Last year I ran the 24th mile at a 7:07 pace, so this one was right on.

I took about a 40 second walk break. I ran the 25th mile at a pace of 7:52. So my actual running pace was about 7:30 with the 40 second walk break. Last year I ran the 25th mile at a 7:25 pace, so this one was about 27 seconds SLOWER than last year.

Last year I did not take a break to start the 26th mile, but this year I knew I needed a walk break. I took about a 40 second walk break, and then started running and again passing runners. One thing that I had done throughout the race was to make sure than once I started running that I kept up the practice of passing runners. Although I could not specifically see Scott and the 3:15 pace group, I could see a general group of young athletic runners ahead of me and figured that must be the group. I remember looking at my watch and knew that a PR was still within reach if I could have a strong finish, like I always like to do.

So with the crowds of people cheering along the side of the road I made the turn onto the 300 South Street in St. George and headed toward the FINISH line, a little less than a mile away. I knew I was about out of energy, but I continued to pass a few runners. I knew that Paul Dean was down there with his video camera ready to get some great video. Lynn was there with the binoculars looking for me so she could tell PD when to start taking video.

The announcer at the FINISH line had announced to the crowd to expect the heat to take a toll on the runners with slower finishing times and heat problems for many runners. The woman next to Lynn had told Lynn and PD that her son had collapsed right in front of them there at the finish area last year, and he was running this year for a 3:15 finish goal. Lynn told her that my goal was to run with the 3:15 pace group.

As I pushed ahead I was trying to breathe deep to get as much oxygen to the body as possible. I passed the 26 mile marker, with a pace time of about 7:45. Last year I ran the 26th mile in a pace time of 7:06, so this one was about 40 seconds SLOWER than last year.

At this point I was totally focused on the FINISH banner, and I could tell about where Lynn and PD were supposed to be, and as if by instinct I made the attempt to push my running pace into a more respectable rush to blast past runners over the last 200 yards like I always like to do for a fun finish. I sensed that a PR was still possible, but it would be very close. Lynn had spotted me with the binoculars and had told PD to start shooting the video. And then it happened.

At the very moment that I tried to will my body to push ahead for a strong finish, my body’s internal safety mechanisms made a strong statement and decided to shut down. I had pushed all that my body had to offer, and it could not accommodate the will to push ahead for the final rush. Without any specific warning I found myself crashing to the pavement landing hard on the palms of my hands and on my knees, putting a pretty good gash in the palm of my left hand and good scratches on both knees and the other hand.

I was totally disoriented, and knelt there staring at the pavement and closing my eyes trying to get some recovery. I could hear other runners going by asking if I needed any help, and I told them no, I would be okay. Lynn and PD jumped down from the bleachers and came running through the crowd to see if I had crashed with a heart attack or what. Of course Lynn wondered the worst and was real concerned.

Although I thought I had stayed still in the middle of the road, Lynn said that when they arrived I had crawled to the side of the road and was just starting to get up onto my feet. When I stood up, the crowd really started yelling cheers for me and I focused on the FINISH line and tried to walk in that direction. I drifted to the left and then drifted to the right like a drunken sailor as I tried to progress toward the FINISH line. Finally I got my bearings and was able to walk in sort of a straight line. When I got to about 50 yards from the FINISH line I was able to start running again and passed a couple of runners and finally crossed the FINISH line with a time of 3hr 18min 4sec. I had missed my PR goal, but had had an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Coincidentally, this was only 1 second slower than I had run 2 years ago at 3:18:03 here in St. George.

By my best measurements, the last 200 yards took about 3min 15sec for me to finish, which took me away from a PR, needing to beat 3hr 15min 56sec.

After the race I drifted like a drunken sailor through the recovery area, turning down offers to go to the medical tent, and I finally found Lynn and PD and we went over and sat down. That is when the giant cramp hit my right calf muscle. PD was impressed with how big a cramped calf muscle can get. Lynn and PD each grabbed one of my feet and pulled the toes toward the knees, stretching out the calf muscles. After about 15 minutes of laying on the ground I started to get some color back into my face and my eyes began to look more normal. Lynn and PD said that I had a grayish white color to my face when I first came out of the runners recovery area, and that my eyes didn’t have much color to them.

Then the good news, when we went over to the finishers board, it showed that I had actually finished 8th out of 192 men (top 5%) in the 55 to 59 age group, and 417 overall out of 4433 runners (top 10%). So when they gave out the awards for the top 10 finishers in each age group I received the 8th place plaque for my age group. Last year when I set my PR at 3:15:56, I finished 12th in my age group, so the heat must have taken its toll and slowed up some of the other runners too. So, in theory, this was a stronger effort and actually a better performance for the conditions than last year.

Although I can’t report a new PR, this goes down as a most memorable race where I know without a doubt that I gave it all that I had, and fortunately that was enough to finish in the top 10 of my age group. I am committed to set a new PR in St. George next year. I will run a smarter race and not go out quite as fast in the first 13 miles, and have a stronger finish over the last 6.2 miles like I did last year.

As usual the phone calls to my running partners and family were special again this year. I have a great support system of friends and family who enjoy the training and the racing and the experience of seeing what can be done when you put it all on the line.

Run4Fun, Run4Life, Run4Friends, Run4Family,

Paul Ivory