You get out what you put in

Did just a little bit of warm-up, just wanted to feel myself out for this race. Got about 30 yds back from the start and elbowed a guy in the face, accidently. He turned out to be a great running partner, I just stayed with him through the 1st 3 miles. One of his friends had the time for the 1st mile, 6:43, I was surprised and thought it was :23, but just felt through the next miles. I kept up that same pace the whole way so that was great. When we hit the flat N Temple I was passing people, got passed by one surger who had a dark orange long sleeve shirt, he then took it off to reveal a gray shirt underneath, he was having all sorts of trouble keeping it until finally he discarded it when we were into the parade course. I passed him and said, "What are you doing wearing 2 shirts?" I had my eye on a KSOP shirt runner who had passed me at 2.5, I passed him at 4.5. Was slowly eating runners up, did get passed by a couple of serious girls in pink, and couldn't quite get a girl and and Asian high school guy who were ahead, the girl did a long surge, the guy sprinted ahead of me but I passed a few in the closing stretches and was very happy with my result. Used Marky's registration just so you know.

This is good motivation for continuing to get in shape and some races, I really haven't been a runner for a while, just a b-ball, softball, frisbee golf guy.

This was my 3rd race of the year and it was fun that it was so competitive.  I'm just hoping to sharpen up as I'm still rounding into shape.  Hoping to run a college 4 miler in 3 weeks and not take last place! I saw Doug at the beginning and figured it would be perfect to run with him. He did a fantastic job of not starting off too fast and still passing people who do after the first 400.  I ran to his side and behind until we started down the big hill on state where he got race form advice from Bill? (sorry don't know ur name). Bill started on the downhill and took off and I tagged behind him.  I commented that he likes the downhill and he gave me his standard, "I'm old and slow." He said the same thing to me at the Great Salt Lake Half 2 years ago. After tagging on him we went through the mile in 6:37 and I was a little surprised that it was that slow, I wasn't pushing myself 100% so then I picked it up and started to pick people off.

 Altogether I figure I passed 20 people between mile 1 and the end.  I started to get at a max level, (hold, hard, hurt) and was feeling good. When I saw mile 2 in 11:00 I actually miscalculated and thought that I was running slightly negative split pace, not thinking that two 6:30 miles added up to 13, not 11.  That actually means I was running well because I was focused on my running and not my watch, cause I'm not actually bad at math.  The last mile with the hill up to the stadium I could see Bill Cobler, another Wasatch veteran, Susannah and Carol's husband? I knew that was good cause that meant I'm not in bad shape.  One day I'd love to not just see Bill ahead of me but actually beat him. That might only come cause he's gonna turn 50 some day, and I'll only be 40!

Felt good coming into the finish with a sprint.  I did pass a few on the hill, but didn't catch any of the aforementioned.  Seeing the time of 18:12 I was confused and disappointed.  Patrich Rotich, you're a really nice guy, but why did you follow Demetrio and not the motorcycle? As a fast runner you have an obligation to know the course!  Actually I talked to Pat and asked him where he went to college but he says he didn't, he's just run all over the world including a 2:15 marathon.  Ok, you're forgiven, but not really!  Overall though, even with that tough last mile uphill, I ran faster the last mile than the 1st so I can't complain, I do however need to evaluate how hard I push myself, I'd say 85% this race, and be ready to hold my hand over the flame in the next race.  Peace to all and to all a good run.

This race is a killer on the quads but a fun one.  I ran my 1st mile in 5:28, then 10:36, (5:08), 15:46 (5:10) 20:55 (5:09) 26:10 (5:15).  The last mile feels steepest but that's probably cuz you've run 4 downhill miles already. I obviously slowed down that last mile but I think I passed about 6 people after getting out from the crowd after the 1st mile.  I even slowed down for water between miles 2-3 and dropped my hat and had to run back 10 feet to get it and then get in the flow again.  I passed the 2nd place girl but she wasn't even breathing hard, she was running her 2nd race of the day and running not to get 3rd. I feel great about tying my time from 4 years ago. I felt like I was at the top of my aerobic effort but looking back still feel I could push more, like I was at supposed max but afraid to push more, but overall I'm pretty happy to be in similar shape to 4 years ago. 

Easy jog home after truck broke down. Fun over fences and back roads up from JL thru radio open area and Kmart.

Arrived a little late but was able to stride out a little bit. Saw a lot of people at the race and was ready to run. Started about 10 yards back from start and as soon as the race started, 4 top guys separated themselves, then there was a space and a pack of about 8 was ahead of me. I thought I should be able to stick it in with the 8 runners. I felt like I was doing the first mile fast, tried to just hang in and keep a good pace, probably started just a tad fast, but I was happy with where the first mile marker came. I had passed a few and kept it up. The course is clockwise up and around the campus, good uphill and downhill. I could see a strong girl running in a dress that was ahead and I caught her about 1.5 in, she was running with another guy and as I passed, I said, "Let's go." She stuck with me for a little bit, but dropped off and I set my sights on 2 more runners 30 yards ahead. The girl only finished 30 seconds back from me and was the first woman, Stephanie. I reeled in the 2 guys, one 24, one 19 and the 24 year old shrewdly tucked in behind me as I tucked in behind the younger. I had done some work to that point so I noticed we had slowed down, and did a mental gut check and decided to take the lead. We had entered a parking lot and as we came out with probably 1/2 mile to go I took the lead. There were 2 more guys ahead I could set my sights on but one put some distance between the other and I couldn't really catch them. As we came downhill on the sidewalk for the last drive to the finish we took a hard left turn and I almost started to run on the grass, I knew I was pushing it, but I underestimated the guys behind, I didn't pay attention to the fact that they were still right behind so when we came to the uphill sidewalk finish they both sprinted by and I mentally thought I had already pushed hard enough. Of course in hindsight I thought I should have pushed more and sprinted. So that's motivation for the future, I was surprised by the course finish, where and how (uphill sidewalk) but no excuses, do it to it. This probably counts as a good PR since my flat 5K PR is only 25 seconds faster. No 30 year olds beat me though I don't think there were any serious 30 year olds there. Peace and God bless you as you recognize His superlative grace and abounding lovingkindness which has already given us everything we need for life and godliness.

Getting this report out a little late but better nate than lever. I wanted to have a final race against the more serious runners and what better way than the final LDR circuit race? I warmed up a few miles down the avenue road and thought about trying to run 18:00 or so, I thought 18:30 was possible. I felt pretty good and was ready to run. At the start I saw Kyle Perry standing about 4 rows back and I asked him, "Aren't you going to win this race?" I was surprised by his humility and openness, I got to talk with him for a while afterward and he's a great guy, a runner who's enjoying what life has to offer, and not condescending considering he's in another league to most runners. I hope he can find joy in his semi-professional status.

We started off down the hill and I didn't realize it was going to be a slope for so long but I got into my pace, trying to feel like I'm racing, which I certainly was since I first passed Mel, a surprise, and then his son Dakota, a pleasant surprise, and then Bill Cobler, a huge surprise but also anticlimactic.  I've been wanting to beat Bill for 5 years, I know he's gotten a little slower and I've gotten faster, but to pass him in the first 1/2 mile is like achieving a huge goal without any effort. In any case I passed him and set my sights on Zak followed by Adam followed by Devra, a woman who I didn't quite go with in the 1st mile and tried to catch later, but she's a real runner. We hit the steep block hill and as we cruised downhill and set back for home I realized how uphill it now was, the nice slope at the first part of the race was now hard but I was enjoying that because I always try to run the last half faster (at least feeling like I do) and the uphill was just another obstacle to overcome.

I continued on, trying to enjoy the pain and slowly catch Devra, who was slowly catching Adam. I ran my cooldown with Adam, and really enjoyed it, I mistook him for another runner I'd seen ahead of me bfore, particularly because he acted exactly like I thought he would. When Devra caught him I figured he'd take off since I thought he'd be really strong the last mile, and he was. They both caught Zak and left me to catch him too, which I did. In the last moments of a race when you're tired and you start to think complacent thoughts, it's always nice to try to catch that one last person, and Zak was my guy. I caught him and latched on, I think even running even with him a little, but he was a trooper and wasn't about to be eaten up just yet. I made an ignorant error in not knowing that the finish was not where the start was so I was saving myself for an uphill sprint. When we passed the 3 mile mark in 17:50 there wasn't much race left so when I started to spring Zak was ready, I kept pace with him and felt like I was even gaining on him really close to the end but somewhat satisfactorily finished right behind him and patted his back, he ran a good race. I was happy with my time knowing that this wasn't a flat race and that I can compare it to my previous fastest 5K of 3 years ago which was flat, where I ran the exact same time. I feel I'm progressing nicely. Ready to roll and maybe finally have a winter base.

Drove down with the family enjoying the anticipation of a good race, my first 10K since Deseret, which doesn't count. Surprised to see the flashing lights of a cop who asked me if I saw him on the entrance ramp. "Of course I didn't see you." (If I'd seen him I would have slowed down.) So that was the 1st whammy, the second was that according to the race schedule there were to be 2 starts, one for 5K, one for 10K. I watched the crowd line up and take off. Yaaah! Then I ran one more warm-up lap around the block coming back to the start to see, surprise, no one there. I'd even asked a guy in charge if they were going to start at 9:15 and he said yes, but they changed their minds at the last minute. They made an announcement moments before the start but I was in the zone about my race and not listening--also not wearing my hearing aids but I still would have heard if I was trying to hear. So I started about 3 1/2 minutes behind everybody and got the wonderful joy of getting to weave through all the 5K'rs. Since the race was chip-timed I figured it'd be okay but that didn't mean I wasn't running angry for a little bit before I settled in.

I resigned myself to passing people the entire time. When we split off for the 10K course my minions were laid out before me. A group of probably a dozen topped off my a red-shirted runner who looked serious. I ate them up. I felt like explaining myself as I cruised so easily by everybody but I didn't. "I started late so don't worry that I'm passing you so easily, you're still running well." Try saying that in one breath. I think about mile 3.5 I had caught red shirt. We had a tough hill at mile 4 and there were 3 more runners ahead.  The 2nd was a younger kid I passed as we did a step up on a curb along 8th North.

Finally we were on the home straight and there was an orange long-sleeved runner that I set my sights on. He was running a good pace and gave me some doubt but I set myself to catch him, painfully but purposefully. As we made the last turn, his own negative thinking got the best of him and he gave in. So my last sprint was passing 5K'rs once again who were not sprinting. But this definitely counts as my fastest flat 10K ever. Ran 37:18 at Des a year ago, but that's so downhill it's not a great barometer. They did the awards from chip time so all's well that ends well.

Peace and Love from Christ who brought the possibility of peace to all who believe in His Father, the God who is Love.

Awesome run in the evening when it was getting dark. Should have run sooner but ran from homestead along old canal past a few intersections to 3600 W and 75th S. Thought I was running into the wind but when I turned around I had been mistaken. Got good sleet layer on my shirt and hat, hail snow pelting me in the face, hands stinging. Concentrated on mental toughness and enjoyed being out there, even in the dark with the white snow on the ground the path can be seen. Was out for about 1 hr 10. Had dry clothes to change into and then family dinner, good times. 

Really wanted to run a 10K so I jumped in this race, it was nice in that it was only $15 if you didn't get a timing chip--coolio. There were 3000 running altogether including 5K walk for benefiters. I managed to get off on 123rd S and travel south so I was a little late, grabbed my bib # and got out to the waiters in the mall. It was pretty well organized, I was just late. I got there when they were making the call for the red balloon wave 10K so i figured I was good. I went outside into the freezing weather--I had already decided that driving in a warm car was the best warm-up, since running would just make you cold. Going outside the start commenced and not knowing what was going on I jumped in, luckily, as it was the green wave, those who were 7:30 mile pace or better, which was the wave i was supposed to be in, but I didn't really know what happened until the end.

There were about 100 people in this wave and I passed 90 of them in the 1st 1/2 mile. I could see the trio of 3 leaders behind the police car which I found out later was Jared from T-ville, Cody from Kearns, and I guess Mike M. Then a white t-shirt (Juan?), a black t-shirt (Terry) and about 3 stretched out in a line in front of me (Chris, Thomas, Craig?). It was cold and my left shoe was loose but I just tried to concentrate on the task at hand. I passed 2 guys after about 2 miles, which was roughly the same point where the cold was no longer bothering my face.  As we came back onto mall territory I caught up to Chris in orange and we had lost sight of Terry, we weren't sure about the turn and I yelled back to some volunteers about where to go but didn't hear or get a response, we followed the main road and all was well. Chris had shrugged about where to go but then it was clear sailing. I passed Chris and could hear him latch onto me, we had a couple nice straightaways and I could see the police car, the path ahead, and got some encouragement from some corner volunteers, "You're almost halfway!" That was nice since there were no mile markers. I could see that we were going to run into the wave of 5K walkers, oodles of them.  I was trying to catch up to Terry who was approximately 25 seconds ahead. I also at this point felt the lactic acid wall, but that faded as we hit the 5K pack, and Iunfortunately I never saw Terry again. Then it was 5K dodeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. I went left, right and sometimes right up the middle, saying "Sorry" at least 1/2 a dozen times for bumping people. I didn't mind so much, just figured that's the way this race was. I learned later that I guess they changed the 10K course due to weather, it was an out and back course instead of the double loop smash into slow 5Krs. It was all fun, a Thanksgiving race, cold breath coming out of you, muscles cycling, pushing your own limits.

With 1.5 to go i started to hit the joggers and I tried to get to the top of my aerobic but weaving removes a little concentration. I did sprint it in and I was a little disappointed with the time but with the cold, the 5k wave etc. I've rethought that and I'm okay with it. Go Thanksgiving and I hope you can be thankful to a God who is really Sovereign and who is real, the One and Only True God, Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ His Only Son, and the Spirit, Three in One.
http://www.milliseconds.com/participants/final_list/overall/143681
 

Gotta love this race, one of only 2 races in Salt Lake that serve coffee and hot chocolate afterwards, and also donuts. It also starts at a decent time for a winter race: 11:00. At the start I saw the regulars, Chris James and Dale, but then there was Alesandro, the new sponsored by Charlotte Running out-of-stater that jumped in and upset my chances.

We started off and Alex started slowly, but by the time we turned left he had caught front-runner Dale and was pulling away. I passed Dale going by the park and was biding my time until we hit the main road. As we cruised down the seemingly shorter every year main road I was catching Alex on the downhill, but mentally I let up on the turnaround and the uphill return. He put probably 10 seconds per mile on me in the race.

We hit the town again and some young kids that didn't do the whole race ran with me. I felt strong and like I was pushing it, but there was no 3rd place competition and I think I slacked off a little. I did sprint into home and high-fived Alex, he's a 3 year runner whose run 4 marathons, the fastest being 2:47 so I thought I had a chance, but 2nd is nice. My fastest time on this course, and I was glad that my right Achilles didn't flare. Cocoa and donuts at the end, an extra shirt and mini-boxing gloves for Phin signed by the Fullmer boxing bros. My dad walked Phin and I cooled down running back to them. Lunch at 1st Pres and another fun run in the books.