2024 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day 5K Race Recap - Bountiful, UT

Start line before the crowds

Official Time: 25:51
Placement: 4th in the 55 - 59, 102nd overall, 75th male.
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: upper 20's, breeze from the south.
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2022] [2021] [2018] [2017] [2016] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:55	Nice start. In control
2	8:40	Not sure what happened. I think I dialed it back too much.
3	8:43	Actually hung on nicely here.
3.08	0:31	Dash to the finish
	Total Miles: 3.08- 25:51

Runners Coming into the final homestretch

Introduction

Once again, in 2024 I found myself toeing the line up in Bountiful, Utah on Thanksgiving Day.  So many races are in the valley -- probably half a dozen or more and I always choose this one.  

Since I moved into Salt Lake in 2012, I've pretty much run this race every year.  It is easy, affordable and well run.  And usually I am able to snag a pie for Thanksgiving Day.  Also, I know the course -- I usually get the opportunity to run it 3 times a year.

The race is held at the Bountiful Recreation Center, so there is a warm place to hang out before the race and flush toilets.  It's just a great way to kick start the day.

Packet pickup

The Race

I got to the race site a little after 7 AM for the 8 AM race start.  It was a chilly morning and the sun hadn't quite gotten shown up yet.  One of the advantages of arriving early is finding a good parking spot.  With the gym goers there plus a large race, parking gets to be a bit of mess if you don't snag a good spot quickly.

I managed to snag my bib, chit chat with fellow runners and volunteers.  I cycled through the bathroom a time or two and did a few strides, drills and a fairly short warm-up.  I was actually feeling pretty good, coming into the race.

It was chilly and most people were bundled up.  I have been training in colder weather, so I got on a pair of thin gloves, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and short shorts.  I was chilled while waiting for the race to start, but overall, I was adequately dressed and I knew I'd warm up quickly.

The race started on time and I headed off.  I had lined up near the front and managed to get off to a decent start. In years past, I was usually hemmed in, but this year I was running at race pace pretty quickly.

My times in the 5K race distance haven't been stellar and this course is a teaser:  it starts off on a gentle downhill and after about 1.25 miles, you hang a turn and the gradual ascent begins.  The hardest part of the course is from mile 2 to about mile 2.75.

The first mile is the best though: I am feeling fresh, I had a little tailwind and I felt comfortable.  I noticed almost immediately that I was being swallowed up by a lot of faster runners.  It was a bit demoralizing but I held on, knowing I was banking some energy for the harder sections of the course.

Mile 1 came in at 7:55 -- I knew this was slower, but my legs really weren't moving much faster.  Still, I felt good though.

The race splits off from the 10K at this point and most of the runners were doing the 5K.  I knew I had one guy ahead of me in my age group and I wasn't really sure where the others were.  I just had to run the race as best as I could and hope for the best -- I certainly wanted to come home with a Thanksgiving pie.

The mile 1.25 mark always slows me down. I know what lies ahead and mentally I dial it back.  The hill that greets you didn't look that bad but my pace definitely took a hit.  I got a bit of encouragement as I sped through the aid station at the halfway mark. I felt my pace increase just a bit.

The final looming hill really doesn't kick off until mile 2 but the between the aid station and mile 2, it is a slow grind upwards.  The first major traffic light is the mile 2 marker and I hit that in a disappointing 8:40.  I knew it was going to be a slow mile, but not that slow.

While my legs weren't turning over very well, I did feel like my pace was good.  I knew today wasn't going to be a PR day, but I was still running with other runners and we were keeping each other honest.  I hadn't given up!

I focused on form and working my way up the hill.  I knew the course, how far the top was and if I could just maintain my current pace and not crash and burn, I could perhaps redeem the race a bit.

I was still working on maintaining my position and taking down a few of the people. A runner who looked to be in my age group passed me, and I tried to stay with him.  But he had a more consistent and stronger pace going.  I knew he might be whether I "medaled".

Prizes

Reaching the summit, I knew there was basically flat and a gentle downhill left to go. I felt my pace quicken.

I got some cheers from bystanders and I could hear the clamor from the finish line.  My mile 3 rang up on my watch and it came in at 8:43.  I've done worse on the final mile of this race, so I wasn't too upset.

I finally turned the corner and ran through the finish line -- 25:51.

Update:  Originally I had posted that I finished 3rd in my age group. My name was called for 3rd at the race and in looking at the results after the race I was 3rd.  But in looking at the race results a day later, I am finding myself in 4th with a new person introduced in 2nd place.  I have a hunch there were some corrections after the race and I never intended to take an age group prize from another runner.  

Conclusion

I had another runner I knew ahead of me and he congratulated almost immediately -- I had finished in 3rd in my NEW age division 55-59.  I had just turned 55 the day before, so I was excited to see I'd probably be going home with a pie (you never know with chip timed races until the very end).

I wound up returning back to my car almost immediately to get warmer clothes and a camera to take pictures of other runners coming in.

It was starting to warm up -- just a bit -- and it made the wait for the awards a lot more tolerable.

Socializing with other runners really helped pass the time.  With the 10K still in progress, it took a bit of time to get the awards out.  To be honest, though the situation has gotten a LOT better recently and the results / awards are handed out in a reasonable amount of time.

I was able to snag a chocolate pie for my award so I was very happy to go home with some extra food for Thanksgiving.

Overall, I am okay with time.  It is within the realm of expectation, but it is a huge drop off from last year and when I raced the same course in February.  I am not sure what has happened in 2024, but this was another reminder that my fitness / running ability has dropped off a cliff.

As usual, the recreation center provides an awesome medal and t-shirt.  Post race refreshments included: chocolate milk, water / sports drink(?), oranges, bananas, donuts, fruit gummies and muffins.  About what I would expect to see at a race for around $25.

I enjoyed my morning, and while my time was disappointing, I was happy to celebrate the holiday with fellow runners and friends.  I plan to run this race for as long as I am in the area.

Upcoming Races

11/17 2024 Utah County Santa Run 5K -  Salem, UT (Confirmed)

02/23 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/01: 2025 March Madness 10K - Woods Cross, UT (Confirmed)

03/15 2025 Lucky 13 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

04/26: 2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

2024 Snow Canyon Half Marathon Race Recap - St George, UT

At the Packet Pickup

Official Time: 1:59:27
Placement: 34th out of 56, 964 out of 2135
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: upper 30's at start, low 50's at end, breeze from the south
Course Map / Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2019]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:02	Right where I want to be. Just warming up
2	9:01	Consistency!
3	8:37	Starting to descend into Snow Canyon.  Still right where I want to be.
4	8:23	Now the fun and the real scenery begins.  Still holding solid
5	8:16
6	8:23	Definitely feeling it -- the downhills is slowing up and I have get back to running easy
7	8:44	Pretty sure I took a pottie break here.
8	9:38	Pretty much done with the canyon at this point.
9	9:06	Feeling better than I did last year. So long as I hold sub 9:10, I am happy.
10	9:18	Some of the hills slowed me up, but still on target but definitely running on fumes
11	10:16	I was suffering here. Into a subdivision. Lots of little climbs that my legs didn't have the fitness for.
12	10:13	More of the same
13	9:51	Finally a slight downhill to the finish. Felt like I was running faster here.
13.07	0:36	Gave whatever I had left.
	Total Miles: 13.07 - 1:59:29

Pending rain at the packet pickup on Friday

Introduction

One race that always is on my fall agenda is the Snow Canyon Half Marathon in St George.  It is put on by the same folks that have the legendary marathon in October: the St George Marathon.  It is a well organized and well-attended race and offers one of the last chances of the year to get in a half marathon before the Thanksgiving holidays.  Also, you get to experience running down the service road of the fabled Snow Canyon State Park, which is the highlight of the course.

It is also a nice weekend getaway for me: I usually get to spend the successive days that I am on my long weekend hanging out in one of my happy places Mesquite, Nevada.  Over the years, I've made a lot of fond memories of attending their races.

I was a late signup for the race.  I was waiting for a good deal on the hotels, which have been outrageously expensive of late.  Finally, I got a good deal on the local hotel I like to stay at and paid the much higher than normal registration fee.  

Chilly Start and waiting for the race

The Race

I arrived at the race packet pickup on Friday night after a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City.  They had the expo at The Black Desert Resort.  It is an up and coming golf resort that is still under construction.  There was a bit of chaos there with getting parking but overall it was easy to get my bib, checkout the wares of some of the vendors and head on out.  

I was on the 6:45 AM bus the following morning and I managed to get a fitful (at best) sleep the night before.  I was well tapered and rested, having done a fairly low-key week in terms of mileage and intensity.

At the starting line

At the starting line

The bus ride was organized well and I managed to get to the trail head, where I'd have to wait until about 9:00 AM for the race start.  Fortunately, the threatening rain from the night before never really materialized, and while it was cold I was prepared with enough warm clothing to be fairly comfortable.  The time actually went by fairly quickly and I wound up seeing people I knew and making a few acquaintances along the way.

The race started off at 9 AM on the button and off we went down the highway back into town.

Heading into Snow Canyon

I'll be honest, I haven't been super well trained at the half marathon distance since the start of the year.  I had done about 4 long runs of 10 - 13 miles since the last one I had done (Cedar City) but I didn't feel like I had done enough.  And most of my workouts had been more geared to 5K / 10K races. I had three goals for the race:

1. Don't crash and burn like last year
2. Finish in under 2 hours.
3. Try to have fun.

With that in mind, I knew I had to stay under 9:09 minute miles and given the downhill nature of the course (at least for the first 8 or so miles) I knew that was going to be a breeze.

More Snow Canyon

The first 3 - 4 miles are on the highway.  I feel sorry for the morning commuters as they are relegated to a marshalled one-lane road and not before too long, they had a long wait to before they could get going.

While the race was crowded, I was never hemmed in or couldn't run my own race.  We basically had one and a half lanes of the freeway.  We were surrounded by desert scenery and the air was comfortable and crisp.  Almost immediately I noticed I had to go to the bathroom, despite going minutes before the race's start.

I went out in my Thanksgiving themed shorts, a short-sleeved shirt and thin gloves.  I wound up pocketing the gloves within the first 5K though.  At first, I was worried about being chilled, but I quickly warmed up.  I was racing in my Saucony Endorphin Pro 2s.

The first 4 miles went by in a blink of an eye and I was nailing my paces.  I felt comfortable and I wasn't breathing hard.  I was tailing behind the 2-hour pacer.  I remembered last year blazing out and running pretty close to 5K pace -- this year my pace was way more conservative.  Would it pay off?

We finally came to the entrance of the park.  What an epic view!  The red rocks, and towering canyon walls, the rock formations.  It all came into view and what a glorious site.

The next 4 miles would be downhill.  Not as bad as some other races I've done, but I knew I'd be running somewhere around 10K pace effortlessly.  It was at this time I also passed the 2 hour pacer. I was a bit hesitant on doing that but I certainly wasn't going to use my braking muscles to slow down too much.

The first aid station is also at this point and I'll be honest, it should be a bit sooner.  I had preemptively started a Gu and was nursing it down the entire canyon.

Again, the next 4 miles passed by quickly and I managed to jump into the bathroom at the final aid station, just at the exit of the park.  It wound up costing me about 30 seconds, but the peace of mind of having an empty bladder was helpful.  I had banked enough time to cover the loss.

When I exited the bathroom, I saw the 2-hour pacer had regained his lead.  I knew he had banked some time as well, so I wasn't too nervous and I had started a good minute behind him.  This is also where the race becomes more difficult.

We soon jumped onto a bike trail and while this race is quite large and the bike trail is fairly typical (about 8 to 10 feet in width) there was still ample room to run and pass.  We were also greeted with a cheering crowd at various sections which helped a lot.

Finish line area

Knowing I was in much better shape than last year (having not blasted down the canyon) I knew I had more or less accomplished goal #1.  I was fatigued but I was still holding a solid pace, passing people and felt like I could hold the pace I had for the duration of the race.

The race turns into a sidewalk / bike trail run for a few miles and the aid stations get more frequent.  It was also growing warmer, but not to the point where I was worried about it.  I was dressed appropriately compared to some of my peers, who kept their winter apparel on.

Finally the race dumps you into a subdivision and this is where the race got real.  Gone where the mostly flat bike trails and now I had to content with a good mile or mile and a half rolling hills.  I remembered walking last year because I was so spent.  This year, I was spent but not nearly as bad.  I managed to shuffle up the hills, work on some sort of rebound and make up a bit of time.  The scenery was kind of dull here but the houses were pretty cool and definitely new and unique.  A few solitary residents threw us some cheers as I waddled by.

The final mile is a gentle downhill and I tried to give it everything I had.  The 2-hour pacer was a solid 200 meters in front of me and I began to wonder if I'd be able to crack 2 hours and accomplish goal #2.  Part of me didn't care but I still stood a chance and glancing at my watch, I figured if I just got a few solid spurts in I could get it done.

I recalled races earlier in the year where I shocked myself and pulled off a final fast mile.  I also recalled all the training I had done, particularly the last half a dozen 30 second strides after speed sessions.  Finally, I could hear the din of the crowd from the Snow Canyon High School.  In the distance, I could make out the grandstand of the high school's track.  So close.  I probably looked ridiculous, but I dug deep and gave it whatever I had left -- must break two hours.

And I sped under the finish line!

Finish line photo!

Conclusion

So, I did finish in under 2 hours. Mission accomplished.  A solid 30 seconds under it.  It is a far cry from last year's race, but given all that I've been through in 2024, I was willing to take my win where I could.  While the last 2 miles were a slog, I felt like I hadn't blown up nearly as bad as last year and for the most part, I had fun.  There were times I was thinking "I really need to quit running half marathons" but once I hit the finish line, I was tempted to sign up for next year's event.

I grabbed a medal and some refreshments and hung around in the finish chute for a bit until I knew I wasn't going to be sick.  I was just tired and a bit dehydrated.  I was also incredibly sore from the downhill sections of the race.  I was already stiffening up.

They had typical post race offerings: sports drink, Sunny D, fruit, and a few assorted prepackaged snacks.  To be honest, I was a little disappointed and was hoping to find either chocolate milk and some sort of protein drink.  

I managed to find a spot on the artificial turf of the football field and just basked in the warm sunshine and interacted with a few other runners.  I had managed to grab my gear bag (pro tip: use a different colored bag than the one they give you to more easily find your bag).  I had extra sports drink in there and a few snacks.

The medal was pretty cool and has a movable part in it.  The shirt -- what a piece of work! This shirt will likely win my "shirt of the year" award.  I thought it was a sin to see half a dozen discarded shirts along the race course.  It has a V-neck, zipper front, long sleeved and just a beautiful design to it.

Overall this race is a  must-do if you live in Utah or southern Nevada.  The course is absolutely stunning and the race well organized.  It is very competitive though, and the race is well supported for the tourist runner and the competitor.

Awesome shirt + medal

My only gripe, really, is the long wait at the start.  I had told myself before the race that if it was pouring rain, I was going to skip the race.  There is just no way I want to sit in a muddy, shelterless field for 90 minutes waiting for a race to start.  My pro tip is definitely bring equipment to survive the long wait to the race -- you definitely don't want to go expected a warm area to hang out in.

I enjoy this race and if the budget and my training permits, I'll be here again!

Posing in the awesome shirt.

Upcoming Races

11/28: 2024 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

02/23: 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

04/26: 2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

2024 Sandy City Turkey Trot 5K Race Recap - Sandy, UT

The Sandy Race finish arch

Official Time: 26:02
Placement: 2nd in age group, 56th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: mid 40's with breeze from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2013] [2014] [2021] [2022] [2023]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:53	Nice start. Feeling pretty good. Gentle downhill
2	8:25	Just totally gassed at this point.
3	9:04	Awful mile. Just wanted to be done.
3.10	0:39	Giving whatever I had left
	Total Miles: 3.10 - 26:02

At about mile .5

Introduction

Well as the 2024 race season winds down, I am still trying to get some of my fitness back by racing.  In years past, I was always sad I couldn't do this race; it ultimately conflicted with the Las Vegas Marathon, which was annually held two weeks before Thanksgiving.  Now that the race has been moved to February I get to participate in this local race.

The race is held at Lone Peak Park and is about a 10 minute drive from my house.  It is also affordably priced: for about $30 you get a t-shirt, professional timed race with awards, and a well marshalled and supported course.  They race garners over 200 runners, so the participation level is pretty high for a local 5K.

It is also a chance to hang out with friends and celebrate the holiday season.

Packet pickup pre-race

The Race

I arrived at the race site at about 9:15 AM for a 10AM race start.  I was ahead of most of the crowd and managed to get my bib and t-shirt with virtually no wait.

It was a beautiful morning: sunny and crisp out.  There was a light breeze but nothing significant.  I wound up doing about a mile shakeout, some strides and drills.  Before the race, I commented to a fellow runner that I didn't feel ready.  Like I needed another 15 minutes or just needed to feel more fresh.  My legs just felt tired and not primed to race.  I chalked it up to pre-race nerves.

With about 5 minutes to spare, I arrived at the starting line, crammed my way in and was ready to race.  We started promptly at 10 AM and off we ran!  

The first quarter mile is half a loop around the perimeter of the park.  In years past, I always wound up hemmed in here but fortunately the crowd I had was running at about the same pace I was.  Yes, there were times I had to maneuver around people, but for the most part, it was smooth sailing.

I went out fairly conservatively and not trying to put myself into oxygen debt.  After running through the tree-lined sidewalk we were dumped out into the parking lot before going into an older subdivision.  The first mile is the fastest on this course as we zig-zag through the neighborhood and down towards the Porter Rockwell bike trail.

The first mile rang up in 7:53.  To be honest, much better than I expected.

It was about this time that we were on the bike trail and heading north.  I hadn't noticed it before, but it seemed like there was a decent breeze blasting me in the face.  Also, my legs were just shot.  I knew my pace had dropped but I was soldiering on -- I didn't want to get discouraged, but I figured I was running about 8:15.

The bike trail is probably the best part of the course: it is flat and you have a bit of scenery. 

Typical stretch of suburbia

I hadn't really paid too much attention to my competition.  I figured I didn't really want to worry too much about it.  I was working with another young man (probably less than 12 years old) who definitely didn't want me passing him and a few other runners about half my age.  At least I wasn't running alone.

There are a few oddities about the race.  To make the race official, we had to run around the perimeter of some very small parks.  It was fun but it definitely slowed you down a bit to make the turns and run through the gated entrances and exits.

My legs were growing heavy and I felt extremely winded.  I had run 4.5 miles the day before with over 800 feet elevation climb and I was definitely paying a price for that.  Mile 2 came in at 8:25.  Not good.

Heading into the finish

Despite knowing that the final mile involved taking on the hills back to the starting line, I was determined to try hard.  I still had competition and I was always working against someone.  A fellow runner I knew, blew by me and encouraged me.  I just had nothing and I knew this mile wasn't going to be any better than mile 2.

This year they had the turns marshalled by volunteers. I had made a mental note of the final mile in case they hadn't -- as last year I rescued at least 2 or 3 runners who had made the wrong turn.

Awards ceremony

On the way out, I had glanced at my Garmin and made mental notes of how far the starting line was from the park's exit and the first major turn of the race.  Like last year, it was going to come in at 3.10 miles.  

As I sped my way through the final quarter mile of the race, I figured I was going to turn in a 25:30 or so.  But as I hit 3 miles I saw that my pace had dropped off a cliff -- a 9:03 mile. I had a fellow Strava follower ride in with me for the final .1 of a mile, which I somehow found enough power to slam home.  

Smiling on the outside, inside, not so much

Conclusion

Last year, I ran the race in 24:02. This year nearly a full 2 minutes slower. To say I am slightly disappointed would be an understatement.  All I can say is: yuck.

This was NOT the race I wanted.  

I think most of the problem was that I had run the day before.  I had done a trail run out in West Wendover, and while the volume and intensity were light, the elevation climb just left me in a fatigued state.  Also, the daily running without a rest day.  Also, I've done a ton of races, back-to-back, and that coupled with regular training, I just wasn't feeling race primed.

Hat (age group award) + medal

AG Medal + T-shirt

That being said, I still didn't feel ready to race.

Fortunately, the competition was a bit lighter this weekend and I managed to snag 2nd in my age group.  I won a Carhartt winter hat and a medal.  Also, being that I had the coolest shorts, a volunteer gave me a pair of tickets to the local theater.

They had one aid station on the course and the race had a TON of volunteers.  With all the turns and nuances on the course, I am not sure we could've done it without their help.

Post race refreshments were typical for a $30 race.  I wound up getting some course photos and had plans to eat after the race, so I didn't grab anything.  They also had a beverage sampler there (Cirkul) and bananas and granola bars.

Fun times with fellow running friends

Overall, I really like this race.  It is affordable and fairly low key.  Most of the runners are locals and fairly young.  It seems to be popular with the high school.

I hope to rebound from this race and if I am going to be overly worked about my performance, I need to come in a bit fresher.  

Upcoming Races

11/16: Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

11/28: 2024 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

02/23: 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

04/26: 2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

2024 Vineyard Blizzard 5K Race Recap - Vineyard, UT

Sunrise over the Wasatch Mountains in Vineyard, UT

Official Time: 25:04
Placement: 3rd in age group, 28th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: 43F with no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2022] [2021]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:05	Started out feeling like I was going too fast.
2	8:26	Thought my race was over at this point. Some hills here
3	8:11	Rebounded nicely.
3.06	0:21	Crushed it to the finish.
	Total Miles: 3.06 - 25:04

Introduction

On to the Thanksgiving Runs!  November marks pretty much a month full of races to complete the year of running. While this race isn't themed as a Thanksgiving run, for me, it has always sort of felt like one.

The race is put on by the local recreation department in the bedroom community of Vineyard.  The "Blizzard" tie-in seems to be that the race is in part, sponsored by the local Dairy Queen, which has a Blizzard ice cream treat.  Recipients receive a coupon good for a small sundae.

Vineyard is hidden from the freeway and after about a 3 mile drive down a road, you come to a blooming slice of suburbia.  The cool thing about the little city is that it borders Utah Lake, which has some stunning views.  

The course has changed over the past year but this one matched the one I had run for their spring Gold Rush Days 5K.  I was really hoping that I'd be able to better my time that I had run in the spring (24:17) but this year has been a battle and a frustrating one in regards to my fitness.  When I arrived at the race at 7:45 AM for the 8:30 AM start, I felt like if I could hit 25:30, it would be a good day.

Junior 1K race start

The Race

Packet pickup was a snap and I managed to get settled in.  Around 8 AM I went for about a mile jog to get loosened up and a few pre-race photos of the course.  I did some strides, used the restroom and quickly made my way to the start line in a nick of time.  I could've used another 10 minutes.

The race started promptly and on time.  I was situated fairly close to the front but enough to let the lead back have their way.  The weather was cool but not brutal.  There was very little wind and I was one of the lighter dressed ones: going out with a t-shirt, short-shorts, and thin gloves.  For some reason I took along a baseball hat as well.

Looking out after Utah Lake

For a small town race you may suspect that they don't know what they are doing.  However, you'd be totally wrong.  This race is well done from start to finish and the course was well marshalled with chalk / cone markings.  There was also a police presence at key intersections.

The course starts off by heading towards the lake, before cutting across Main Street. It is basic sidewalk running but given that the race only had 250 participants, I never felt hemmed in.  You could also opt in to run on the street.

I found myself gasping for breath almost immediately.  I knew if I kept up the initial pace I was going to crash and burn.  I wound up dialing it back a bit and got my breathing under control.

I had surveyed my "competition" at the start. The race did have some 5-year age increments but starting at the age of 40, they were 10 year ones.  I knew 2 people who were in my age group  -- and they are currently running faster than me -- and had quickly set me up for no better than 3rd today.  It all depended if I had missed anyone else.

The famous stump along the shoreline.

I was running with a few pre-teen runners.  It is interesting how seriously they take the competition.  I'd catch one of them, they'd look up at me, sprint forward to only realize they couldn't sustain it.  It happens at every race and I am sure when I was their age, I would've done the same.

Mile 1 came in at 8:05 -- a far cry from my spring-race split of 7:40.  Still I was holding on and maintaining a solid pace.  To my right was the beautiful Utah Lake and I so badly wanted to stop and admire the view and scenic morning, but I had business.  To the left, were lines of condos that resembled apartments.  We were now on a bike trail that had some turns and little hills.

Typical stretch of bike trail along Utah Lake.

At this point, I had another runner come up behind me and pass me.  I took a quick look and he appeared to be my age.  Darn!  I had to keep up.

Mile 1 to 2 was the slowest.  I was paying for the fast start and at about the halfway point I did have to contend with a short, but steep hill.  Hills are my weakness and I slowed my pace and worked my way up it. My competitor passed me by but once we reached the top, I put my foot on the pedal and worked to catch up to him.

Last half mile stretch -- turn here!

Mile 2 came in at a disappointing 8:26.  My initial instinct was that this race was going to tank -- and tank hard in the final mile.  Still, I had to try.  I did see the 2nd place runner ahead of me and I figured he had about a 30 second lead on me.  I had a shot but it wasn't looking good.

The final mile is about as flat as it could be. I had memories of running that mile when the wind was blasting me in the face -- but today there was nothing.  Like a persistent dog, I clipped at the heels of my competitor.

Final stretch of bicycle trail

Up to the corner and a short turn is the finish line.

It was also at this point I started getting some drainage in the back of my throat.  I had grabbed water from the aid station in hopes that I could clear it, but I wasn't too successful.  The sensation invoked some of my gagging and I had to slow down to avoid throwing up.

Fortunately the guy next to me started to gasp. The final half mile was taking a toll on him.  I had finally cleared whatever gunk was in my throat and stepped on the gas.  I recalled all the hard sessions I have put in during training.  I focused on form and turnover and slowly I put some distance on my age group foe.

The final turn!

I had run the last half mile of the race in my warm-ups, so I knew how much further I had to go.  I think I wound up passing one other person who suddenly began to struggle with their strong start.  I was hurting, but I was sure going to make a shot at finishing strong.

I could hear the chatter of the finish line through the line of trees. I was so close, yet so far away.  The course's mile markers were coming up short for me (about .05) and when I hit the 3 mile marker, I knew I had a bit more than just .1 to go.  

Sample boardwalk -- didn't have to run on this one.

Finally, though, I made the final turn and the finish line came into view.  I knew I could hold a strong pace after all the 30 second strides I've done and just pushed it.  I had been looking over my shoulder for the last few minutes to make sure no one was going to out sprint me but the coast was clear.

As I closed in on the finish line I saw the clock still had a 24:?? on it.  Could I break 24?  How could that be? I didn't expect to run faster than 25:30.

Pretty much all smiles post race.

Conclusion

So I didn't quite break the 25 minute barrier -- I hit 25:04.  Still a fantastic run given the times that I have been running of late.  The race did come in at 3.06 miles, however, but I did see a few runners come in at 3.09 or 3.10.  My hunch is that the course is a tiny bit short.

I grabbed my finisher's medal and said hello to my fellow runners.  I knew a lot of people at the race but I did make my way over to the timer's trailer and with some trepidation, I punched in my bib number to get my time.  I did in fact, win 3rd in my age group.

My competitor had tailed in behind me and saw that he was 15 years my junior.  I was a little embarrassed by that but at the same time he was the reason why I didn't give up on the race (and myself).

Finisher's Medal and Age Group Medal

I wound up socializing and grabbing a few pictures.  There were so many people that I knew and had to visit.  For a race well outside my county, it was almost like a homecoming of sorts.  

The award system there is pretty simple: once enough finishers have crossed the finish line, you can go up and collect your medal.  They had a podium if you wanted your photo taken.

They had fruit, packaged snacks and bottled water for post race refreshments.  There was ample food too. The course was well marshalled and marked.  The chalk markings, cones and volunteers had it dummy proof.  There was one aid station on the course.

This is a low cost race and fits well into just about any racer's budget. The shirt is optional. You did receive a finisher's medal and they offered age group awards 3 deep.  I really like their races -- they are well organized and bring back simpler days of my racing "career".  

Put this race on your list to kickoff the final month of northern Utah racing.

Upcoming Races

11/09: Sandy City Thanksgiving 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

11/16: Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

11/28: 2024 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

02/23: 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

04/26:2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)