Very grateful for how this race played out. Admittedly, I have felt some anxiety leading up to this race. My training cycle has been good, but not amazing by my expectations. My total milage volume was less than it was last year. I had a few good tempo run efforts, but on fewer weekly miles. I didn't track my weight closely last year, but my sense is that I was a few pounds heavier this year. I changed jobs in the last year and my new job at Adobe is much more demanding making getting that extra run in the day a bit more difficult for me. The week I planned to get in more than 100 miles I worked over 60 hours. As the race approached, I prepared myself to give it my best for the day and be grateful for a solid performance. I sensed that my fitness level was "comprable" to this time last year, and based on results, I'd say that was accurate.
Let me acknowledge that those people who have participated in the St. George marathon the past two years have had amazing conditions. This makes such a big difference for 26.2
I travled to the race with my family (Dad, Mom, Sister, Aunt, and Uncle). My mom and my aunt were completing the Grand Slam for the year--my mom had also raced Boston earlier in the year. My sister was prepared to give it her best with limited running--she's been nursing an injured heal. She ran the whole race in Hokas.
I love my running friends on this blog as well as many others in this high-energy, positive, hard-working running community. When I was struggling to pick myself up after a disasterous Timpanogos 1/2 marathon, the pull of such great people made me realize that even if I didn't race, I definitely wanted to continue running with such great friends. My heart is so full of gratitude for so many of you. It may be cheesy to say this, but I don't care--I honestly love you.
For the last two years, I've had some great running company during the race--in 2011 Ryan Jonson ran 17 miles with me, in 2012 Justin Park and I ran shoulder to shoulder for 23 miles. It has been easier to find courage going into a marathon with a game plan to run with somebody with a similar goal--I have tremendous respect for the guys and gals who face this event with the courage to run for the win. I was glad to hear that Mike Nelson was open to shoot for 2:25 or faster and run with me for as long as it worked for both of us.
The start of the race felt like a really cool running reunion--many friends who have worked hard for months for this day. So many of them with an intention of doing something special--and probably more guys that really felt they could win the race then there has been in years.
My game plan was to do basically the same thing as last year--ease into the race, hit the 1/2 mark ~1:13 and let it rip for the second 1/2. I figured there would be some casualties with so many guys gunning for the win.
The race started and the lead group didn't blast off nearly as fast as they did last year for the first several miles. I was running shoulder to shoulder with Mike and I could hear a decent size group behind us for the first few miles. Mike and I picked up the pace and were running closely behind the lead group. We felt like we were actually gaining ground on them as we approached Veyo. I couldn't believe how fast those first 7 miles flew by.
As we hit the hill, Mike let me know that he was going to take it easy up the hill and to go for it if I felt good. I ran mile 8 ~6:00 flat, which felt easy and relaxed. I was running alone and had closed the gap on the group ahead of me (Matt Poulsen, Zak James, Jon Kotter, and Ian Hunter). I felt like I was slowly closing the gap for the next mile when I started to feel my left hamstring start to cramp. I was cold at the top of Veyo and for the next few miles. The hamstring threatened to cramp a few times--I kept talking out loud to my hamstring; telling it that it would be okay, that it would loosen up, that the sun would be out soon, etc. Had a psychiatrist been listening to me, I'm sure there would have been a "this-guy-is-crazy" diagnosis.
Just before the 1/2 marathon mark, I heard someone quickly closing on me--someone with a quick turnover. It didn't sound like Mike--I've run with him all year long. I wasn't surprised to see it was Jon Kotter based on the sound of his feet. He encouraged me to go after the next group with him--I let him know my hamstring wasn't up to it and encouraged him to go and get them. I did catch Pepe just after Jon passed me and he was breathing very hard. I could tell that this was not going to be Pepe's day either--not like last year.
I came across the 1/2 mark at almost exactly 1:13--I smiled to myself to have ran almost the identical split as last year. I felt good, like I possibly had more in the tank than I did last year.
I could see a lone runner in the distance that I was slowling catching. It took several miles, but I could tell that it was Matt Poulsen. I had mixed feelings about seeing Matt. First of all I knew Matt would be a bit disappointed to have fallen of his planned pace--he was definitely not feeling as strong as he had been feeling for the last two months. I liked the idea of running with him if he felt like pushing together. As I approached him, I called out and let him know that it was me. We were around mile 16 if I remember correctly. As I slowly pulled up along side of Matt, I could tell that this wasn't his day. I knew that I got to keep running my race and felt a bit heavy hearted to know that things didn't work out as Matt and everybody who has trained with him over the last few months anticipated.
My dad and uncle shouted out to me around mile 17 and my dad road his bike along side of me for the next several miles. I could see another runner ahead of me and as I approached I could tell it was Riley--again I felt mixed emotions. Definitely, not the position Riley wanted to be in, or was prepared to be in. As I approached Riley he veered off the course--it was obvious he needed to take a pit stop. It was discouraging to see. I was surprised to see how far off the road Riley went to do his business--heck it was just my dad and me behind him. I told him after the race he should have just stepped off the road and done his business, but apparently he is more private than that. He came out of the wilderness just ahead off me--probably a minute of lost time on his part. I pulled up along side him, we exchanged our frustrations for his break. I found out that this was break number three for him. Are you freeking kidding me? He was definitely bummed. I took the lead for a moment just enough to spark the flames in Riley again and watch him soar way for the rest of the race.
I missed Justin Park at this stage of the race, he really kept pushing things down those final hills. My legs were tired, but I felt like I may be dogging it a bit. I slowly started to close on Jason Holt and could tell that he was already in the hurt locker. I made sure to pass him quickly and discourage any move he might feel inclined to make.
As started mile 24, I remembered the fact that I ran this mile in 5:05 last year and didn't feel like going that fast again although my legs felt okay for this stage of the race. I figured I would just keep picking up the pace through the finish. The only runner I could see was Riley and he kept pulling away from me and was not coming back. This took the wind out of my sails a bit to push much harder--I was content to just keep running strong and feel good.
I felt like I had a lot left as I rounded the last corner and ran toward the finish line. I crossed the line at what appeared to be under 2:24--high 2:23, but my offical time was 2:24:00. Given the rollercoaster training year, a scary 1/2 marathon in July, and a less-than-optimal build up to this race, I was estatic with the results--very grateful.
I was grateful to have finished in the top 10 for the day. I knew that that would be tough with the strong field of runners for the day. I caught up with Riley for just a minute and sympathized with him for the three potty stops along the way. At just over 2:25 I turned to see Mike Nelson finishing. I screamed out his name. I was so excited to see him come in. The crowed smiled at my exuberance. I could tell that Mike was on cloud nine.
The finish line renuion kept going with David Holt, Logan Fielding, Ben Van Beekum, Matt Poulsen, Brandon Dase, Reed Seamon, and many others. I celebrated with those for whom the day resulted in new PR's and mourned a bit with those who didn't experience what they had planned. I was blown away to hear about Bryant's performance 1:15:55--and a new course record. My money was on him winning the race before it started, but I was surprised by such an impressive performance. I was inspired to hear that Fritz set a new PR and once again demonstrated that he is the master of the marathon--there are not many people like Fritz who can tune up for a race so quickly. Jon Kotter finished the race strong after his pit stop and barely edged out 42-year-old Ian Hunter--a masters running beast who is definitely on my radar for next year :-) Aaron Mekler ran a very gutsy race after rollercoaster training.
An amazing day, spent with amazing people, participating in an amazing event. The St. George marathon crew, volunteers, spectators, and course make this the flagship marathon for the state. So grateful for a healthy and strong finish.
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