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Snow Canyon 1/2 Marathon

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Location:

Woods Cross,UT,USA

Member Since:

May 01, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

Current Running Life:
5k: 17:50 (2010 NSL)
10k: 38:20 (2007 Des News)
1/2 Marathon: 1:23:30 (2009 Provo Half)
Marathon: 2:53:46 (2007 St George)

Short-Term Running Goals:

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

 

Personal:

Daddy to 3 great kids - 16 year old son and 11 year old twin daughters

I do not know what tomorrow will bring but I do know it will start with a run.

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Grid A2 Lifetime Miles: 125.40
GoRun2 Lifetime Miles: 53.70
Adrenaline 2014 Blue (1) Lifetime Miles: 442.70
Adrenaline 2014 Red (1) Lifetime Miles: 429.20
Race: Snow Canyon 1/2 Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:29:14, Place overall: 23, Place in age division: 2
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
1.3013.1014.40

Not what I was hoping for this weekend.  Figured if nothing else, I would get a nice relaxing night in a hotel without kids.  Checked into my "no smoking" room and it smelled like a casino.  On top of that, it was right next to the indoor swimming pool that was open until 11 and below the rowdy high school swim team.  I wasn't overly concerned about getting to bed early since the race didn't start until 9:15 and actually slept pretty soundly once I drifted off.

Got to the start line early as usual and jogged a little over a mile.  Met up with Cal, Bill and Don.  Asked Bill for advice on the course and he said to resist the temptation to hammer the first couple of miles (should have listened to him).  I analyzed splits from other peoples races last year to try to get a feel for the course.  It would have actually been a decent predictor if I would have followed it.

 MileSplit
 Note
 1 5:36The course starts with 1.3 miles of screaming, quad killing downhill.  The pace really isn't that fast.  I just let gravity do it's thing.  I wasn't pushing too hard and felt comfortable. Ran near Rich Borget and knew that meant I was going too fast.  This was 20 seconds too fast according to my calculator.
 2 6:04 After 0.3 miles of the super steep hill the course turns onto the trail and has a more comfortable gradual downhill.  Split was only 10 seconds too fast.
 3 6:33 Right on pace and feeling pretty good.
 4 7:20 Turned onto the dirt road and started the uphill portion of the race.  Set my pace by hanging with the group of runners around me.  A few seconds slower than predicted but right where I want to be.
 5 7:07 Felt like I started to push the pace and passed a few runners.  Counted the runners coming back down to see where I stood.  Made the turnaround and slipped and almost fell.  I was in 27th place at the turnaround but immediately passed 2 runners as they stopped for a drink.  My goal going into the race was to finish in the top 25.  Passed 2 more runners putting me in 23rd place.
 6 6:58 I'm guessing my split here.  My Garmin lost it's signal and I didn't realize it until later.  I assumed that only my mileage was wrong and the timer was still going (more on this later).
 7 7:10 My analysis showed that mile 7 was 5% slower than the average pace and I couldn't figure out why because the elevation chart showed a steady downhill.  There is a good, steady climb during part of this mile which explains the slowdown.  Once again, I estimated the pace because of the Garmin error but reset my splits so all other splits are accurate.
 8 6:39Feel decent but can tell that my legs are just about done.  They are getting really heavy and I am losing the desire to push.
 9 7:03 At this point I called it quits.  At least I made it twice as far as the last 1/2 marathon when I sent up the white flag after 4 miles.  I forgot to bring my GU with me but they had it at the table just before the 9 mile mark. This aid station was a complete mess.
 10 6:58 I'm in survival mode and just shuffling along.
 11 7:13 Predicted a little slower than average for this mile but not this much.  There are a lot of rolling hills once you dump out into the neighborhoods that really take their toll.
 12 7:10 Really struggling and can hear somebody catching up to me.  He moves by me on the last big hill and I have no energy to respond.
 13 6:52 Was able to pass a runner that I had my eye on for 2 miles.  I could tell he was struggling just a little more than I was.
 13.1 0:31 On the high school track for a final push.  Glad to be done


When I finished I thought my final time was 1:25:41 because that was what my Garmin showed.  While I was disappointed with how I felt at the end I felt good about the time.  Once the results were released, I realized that not only did my Garmin stop measuring when it lost it's signal but the timer stopped too.  My final time was actually 1:29:14.  To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.  I could not believe that I was that slow.  After a lot of reflection during the drive home I am more at peace with it and have come up with a few thoughts about the race and my training. 

The fact that most of my daily runs are 8 miles and I fell apart after 8 miles in this race is not a coincidence.  I have not done enough consistent long runs (15+ miles) in the past few months to sustain race pace in a half marathon.  When I PR'd in August, I had a couple of months of decent training including long runs.  Since then, I have run very few runs past the half marathon distance.  Not only is there a physical limitation but the mental skills required to push through the discomfort is missing. 

I usually take a GU at the halfway point.  While you do not need the extra carbs during a 1/2 marathon, it always provided a little pick me up.  Since I forgot mine and only got 1/2 a clif shot at mile 9 I think this may have hurt me a little (especially since I went out too fast).

Despite the race starting later than most races and it being unseasonably warm, I do not think the heat had anything to do with my collapse. Even though my shirt was soaked, I never felt hot during the race. 

My weight is probably a limiting factor in me being fast right now. I have to decide if I want to allow my weight to drop and become gaunt again to run faster times.  I look a lot thinner than I really am and I'm not sure I want to be 15 pounds lighter with where I am in my life right now.

While not entirely thrilled with the race, I did complete one race in the Runner's Series which is the most important thing.  Now I have to decide if I am happy being a 1:27-1:29 half marathoner and 3:05 marathoner or if I want to refocus on training serious and dropping weight and becoming a 1:20 halfer and 2:50 full runner.  Does it really make a difference in the grand scheme of things?

Adrenaline 2009 4 Miles: 14.40
Comments
From Jeff L on Sat, Nov 07, 2009 at 22:38:00 from 74.81.252.152

Nice job, even though it was a bit of a disappointment for you.

From Teena on Sat, Nov 07, 2009 at 22:54:40 from 67.177.20.13

Hey there!!! I have been waiting for this race report all day!

I am so sorry that you are disappointed. But I think your analysis is dead on. Only you can weigh the costs though. All I know is that you are a stud!

Also, your goal was top 25 ... you nailed that with room to spare! AND ... 2nd in your AG. I know this is likely no consolation, but dang, there are SO SO SO many of us (including me) would would absolutely die (maybe not literally) for such a remarkable outcome! You are incredible!!!

Sleep well tonight. No HS swim team to keep you up. :)

From RivertonPaul on Sat, Nov 07, 2009 at 23:46:33 from 75.169.15.140

Andy, good job in racing in the off season. I admire you for doing much more than me. Bummer about the casino smelling room. Still sub 1:30 which I couldn't pull off last March. Keep at it.

From Smooth on Sun, Nov 08, 2009 at 00:28:21 from 174.23.240.142

I really enjoy reading your race report and your self evaluation. Sorry it was a disappointment to you. I felt you did the best with what's given. You will always be a running rock star to me/us no matter which path you choose in your running career!

From Rhett on Sun, Nov 08, 2009 at 11:11:24 from 216.67.216.176

Even on a bad day for you, you still had a great race to many of our standards, and I love reading your reports. They are so insightful. Thanks for sharing.

From timp on Sun, Nov 08, 2009 at 11:24:52 from 66.167.51.146

good job in the race - even if it wasn't what you wanted. Dang that first mile was fast!

That last question is the big big question for many of us. It is hard to keep the hard training fire burning.

From jtshad on Sun, Nov 08, 2009 at 11:31:54 from 69.20.183.178

Sorry the race and trip wasn't quite what you expected, but you still went out and competed. You have done a very thorough analysis and learned a lot about your fitness, racing and moving forward.

From Andy on Sun, Nov 08, 2009 at 16:37:43 from 198.60.114.178

Thanks everybody. I did forget to mention the best part of the weekend. My girls hid pictures of them in my bag of running gear so I would remember them while I was down there. Very cute.

From Huans32 on Mon, Nov 09, 2009 at 09:45:10 from 138.64.2.76

I response to your last question does it really matter??? Well yes it does. It will be your goal for the next few months or even the whole year. Just decide what it is your wanting and work towards that goal. You did awesome considering all the training you have done. You are really a great fast runner. And I really admire the way you race so hard. If those first couple weren't so fast you would of ended alot differently. But now you know for next race and next year if you do it again. Awesome report and race Andy. You still did great and hung in there.

From fly on the Wall on Mon, Nov 09, 2009 at 12:07:51 from 168.179.215.132

Thanks for including your drive home reflections.

Does it really make a difference in the grand scheme of things? Not likely but will it lead a net gain in fullfillment, satisfaction, happiness, etc?

From jeffc on Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 11:44:51 from 167.207.128.101

Great race Andy! Not much you can do on that first hill except let it go and enjoy the ride. When I read your question "does it matter?" Probably not in the "grand scheme" of things but it surely matters for your sense of personal fulfillment, etc.......dito fly.

From Clay on Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 12:44:40 from 67.222.231.10

What really matters Andy is your two little girls putting their pictures in your bag, in the grand scheme of things they are what really matter, running in my opinion is secondary.

Great job on the race any time you are sub 1:30 its a good race.

Keep up the good work.

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