2025 Farmington Festival Days 5K Race Recap - Farmington, UT

Getting ready to start the Farmington Festival 5K

Official Time: 26:38
Placement: 7th in the 50 - 59 age division, 125th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 60's,  breeze from the east
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2022] [2021] [2019] [2018] [2012]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:43	Uphill and congested start.  Once I get settled in, I was fine though.
2	8:26	Good downhill. Feeling strong and in control
3	9:09	Somewhere I simply ran out of gas. I felt like I was running faster
3.06	0:22	Wow, fast last stretch
	Total Miles: 3.06 - 26:41

Introduction

One of my summer traditions is doing the Farmington Festival Days.  Farmington is simply an awesome venue for races.  It is a scenic town with lots of trees, bike trails and just downright stunning scenery.  I do several races there each year and I always come away with just a sense of joy and pure beauty.

This race offers a 5K and 10K -- both of which are challenging.  Farmington isn't known for being flat so this course isn't for the faint at heart.

The race is coordinated with the city's summer celebration day.  It draws a solid crowd and one of the best parts of this race is that your bib gets you free entry into the community's breakfast -- which is unarguably the best in the state (they even state the same thing).

Farmington City Hall

The Race

The race starts at 7 AM, and I arrived at 6:15 and picked up my bib at the community hall.  I was told ahead of time that this was going to be a busy race -- with over 500 attendees (most of whom would be running the 5K).

I was able to get my bib in no time at all.  I used the bathrooms and wound up getting in about a mile warm-up.  I actually felt pretty good despite a fairly heavy week of training.  

It was warm, however, and I was dressed in a light shirt, shorts and my Saucony Pro 3s.  

The race started promptly at 7 AM.  

I had lined myself up about 80 people behind and that was sort of mistake.  There were simply too many runners who were running significantly slower at the start and it took a while to get going.  But, actually, I was okay with it, as the first third of a mile is mostly uphill.  I went up it at a decent clip but nowhere near race pace.  I knew, however, that once I reached the top, it would level out or be slightly downhill.  "Be patient", I told myself.

Sure enough, once I reached the top, I gathered some speed and began passing people.  I was running along the very familiar Main Street.  Traffic had been cordoned off and I was running neck and neck with other 5K and 10K runners.

I had tried to pick out runners who were in my age group, but there were simply so many that had passed me at the start and I knew at least one was well ahead of me.  With 10-year age increments, I knew the chances of me placing were slim.  But I was still going to try hard.

Mile came up in 8:45.  It could've been worse.  With the clustered start and the uphill, I was actually satisfied with it.

Finally, the 10K and 5K split off just around mile 1.  We hung a right and the 10K would continue straight.  With the taking of our turn, I was greeted by a glorious site: a giant downhill.  I knew it was coming and I loped down it, feeling speedy.

The race had thinned out and I was trying to find runners to pick off and work with.   There were plenty of younger children but my competition was always changing.  I was still searching for age group competitors but the field was actually pretty young; perhaps I had a chance.

Start of the initial hill 30 seconds into the race

Once I reached the bottom of the hill, runners jump onto a bike trail.  In the past, this is where my time fell off a cliff.  Today, however, I was holding steady.  I wasn't running fast, in my opinion, but I wasn't trying to run through quicksand.

Mile 2 came in a satisfactory 8:25. I was okay with that.

Finally, the home stretch.  Mile 3 takes you along the parade route.  There are a smattering of people cheering you on and on your right you can hear / smell the finish line. But clearly there is well over a half mile to go.  Normally people run on the street, but this year the 5K runners were all on the sidewalk.  Monkey see, monkey do.

I was wiped out at this point but still pushing hard.  After the 8:25, I felt like if I could just hit that split again, I could salvage the race.

About mile 2.5 into the race

I was a little crestfallen when the lead 10K runner blew by me (I figure he was at mile 4 when I was at mile 2.5).  He continued to straight making the 6 minute per mile effort look easy compared to my death gasping.

I turned the corner up a tree lined street towards the heart of the downtown area.  I had just run this stretch back in May at the Run Farmington race.  I was hurting here just as much as I did back then.

10KM Runners closing in at mile 5.5 or so

I was so close to the finish line,  yet so far away.  I turned another corner and climbed a small hill towards City Hall and the government buildings.  There were more crowds here spurring me on.  I think if I had looked at my watch at this point, I would've been really disappointed. I felt like I was running at least 8:45 pace in the difficult spots.  However, I clearly wasn't.

Almost done!

I lost a little motivation towards the end because there was no one chasing me.  I was trying to catch a runner or two in front of me though, including a woman who was probably slightly younger than me.  Anything to motivate myself... I needed a goal!

Runners closing in at the 5K

Finally, I reached the summit of City Hall row (as I like to call it) and made another turn down a residential street.  I was close and I could see the final turn a little bit away.  Time for my kick.

I gave it all I had in the final stretch powering past a competitor or two and I pushed it through the finish line.

Post race food line!

Conclusion

I finished in 26:38.  About on par for my current fitness.  I wasn't thrilled with my time and when I had reached mile 3, I was disappointed to see a 9:09 ring up on my watch.  I definitely didn't feel like I was running at what was recently my half marathon race pace.

Part of me was upset with my time but I also recognize the course isn't really a fast one.

I scanned my bib and saw that I was in 7th place.  I figured maybe I had a shot at 4th at the worst, but clearly there were some fast runners.  The one runner who I knew was in my age group that was well ahead of me didn't medal either.  Tough day at the office!

There is no finisher's medal for this race.  At a budget price of $26, your entry includes a race, a t-shirt, and a post race breakfast. The post race breakfast was what they have every year: French toast, fruit, hash browns, sausage and bacon.  They had a juice drink and chocolate milk.  So delicious and it was good too!

Best post race breakfast in the state.

There was a good community vibe to the race and despite my relatively poor showing, I still came home feeling good about it.  This race is highly recommended and offers a good, scenic course that is a joy to run.

Upcoming Races

07/24: 2025 Deseret News 10K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

07/26: 2025 Handcart Days Races 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

08/02: 2025 Runtastic Heber 5K - Heber, UT (Confirmed)

02/22: 2026 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

Sandy City 4th of July 5KM Race Recap - Sandy, UT

Official Time: 27:32
Placement: 72nd place, 2nd in the 55 to 59 age division
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: mid 70's, 14 mph breeze from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2012]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:47	No descent here. A little tailwind but 50 feet of climb.  Oof, I am slow.
2	8:46	This mile should've been faster. Got the rebound downhill, but now a headwind
3	9:04	In desperation mode. Was passing people, but not a lot left
3.13	0:54	Emptied the tanks
	Total Miles: 3.13 - 27:33

Introduction

In the United States, next to Thanksgiving, the 4th of July race is the most popular.  You can roll a bowling ball down the street and hit a race. (Okay I am exaggerating a bit).  

So, this year I had a bunch of choices: Riverton, Centerville, Magna, Orem and Sandy. I had run Sandy in 2012 and I had friends who were running it, so I decided it was a budget race, close by, friends I knew would be there, and it was something to do -- why not?

I had vague relocations of what the event was like in 2012.  I remember it being hilly and pretty warm but the finer details of the race escaped me.  Either way, it was a race to attend and have some fun at.

Starting line shot

The Race

I had gotten my shirt and bib the day before the race. I had errands to run in Sandy and figure why not swing by the recreation center and get them.  So by the time I arrived on Friday morning to the race, I had my bib and was ready to race.

I wound up doing about a mile of drills and easy running and had about 5 minutes to spare for the 7 AM start.  It was warm but not crazy warm.  There had been a bit of drizzle as well, which is surprising for a dead of summer race.

Starting line shot

There was also a noticeable breeze coming from the south. I was doing strides in that direction and could tell it was going to slow me down.  About a mile of the race was going to be into this wind.  

I had sized up the competition and didn't really see anyone in my age group starting in front of me.  I didn't have very many goals going into the race other than just finish and try for a decent time.  

The race started on time and initially the course goes down a gentle slope.  I settled into my pace and hoped for the best.  I had started fairly close to the front -- but a respectable distance to allow the faster runners space.  Almost immediately I was swallowed up and passed by dozens of runners.  Wow.

It had been since 2012 since I had run this race and I only remembered bits and pieces of it. I am familiar with the area though.  It was hilly though and almost immediately we turned into a subdivision and was greeted with a hill.  It was a residential area and I could only imagine what they might be thinking seeing hundreds of runners snaking through their tiny area.  

Finally we summited the hill and I figured the worst was over.  The latter half of of the first mile was downhill and my pace picked up.

It was also at this point a runner who appeared to be about my age passed me. I tried to keep up with him but he just was too fast.

Mile 1 hit at 8:45.  I tried not to get too worked up about it, telling myself I was just holding back to smash the latter half of the race.

The course had a few more rolling hills and sadly, we were climbing, ever so slightly.  The southern wind was also holding me back.  I tried to duck behind someone to draft off of them, but no one was running my pace.  

I was picking off a few runners as the race progressed. Mentally I thought I was running fast, but my splits were simply average.  Around mile 1.55 we hit the first (and only aid station).  It was near the starting line and I just wanted to peel off and call it a day.  I did get some encouragement though from the bystanders.

As we sped down the promenade I saw the shopping center that we'd have to run a loop around.  That was a nice sign as it made me realize the race was about halfway over.  The number of competitors around me had thinned, but I was still working with whomever I could get.  My age group competitor -- was well ahead of me.  I was hoping I could reel him in, but no such luck today.

I had hoped that mile 2 would see an improvement, but the grind was just too much and the breeze just made it a bit harder to run.  At least my split was consistent.

I finally made it to the shopping center.  This one has certainly seen better days thanks to online shopping and it is the least attractive part of the course.  Just gray concrete and often times abandoned shops.  I was starting to pass by other runners who had gone out too fast. It gave me encouragement that all was not lost.  It turns out, I probably passed the 3rd place runner in my age group during this segment.

The loop just didn't seem to end and I kept looking at my watch: how much further do I have to go?  On the plus side, despite the wind, the course was flat here.

Once I reached the apex of the loop, and began to run north, I got a boost of energy.  I now had a nice tailwind.  My pace quickened.

Finish line shot

I could hear the sounds of the finish line nearly a half mile away.  In desperation, I gave it everything I had.  There were still some tiny uphills here, but I knew the final stretch was a gentle downhill.

After a series of turns, I was back on the promenade and in the distance, I could see the finish line: tiny blue arches, crowds and a gentle slope downwards.

Mile 3 rang up on my watch and I was crestfallen to see a 9-minute mile hit.  Was I that slow?  I had figured this one might be the fastest mile.  I think the wind and slight uphill portion of the start of the 2nd mile had cost me more than I realized.

I did push as hard as I dared in the final .1 of a mile. I was really hoping to hit 26:XX but with the course being slightly long (and hilly) I knew today wasn't going to be the breakout day. I saw a 27 on the timer's clock and my worst fears were confirmed: not my day.

Runners finishing the race

Conclusion

So I finished in 27:32.  One of my slowest 5Ks -- ever.  I was pretty upset with myself, but given my recent race times, the result isn't unexpected.  I asked around after the race as well: how much slower was this race compared to a "flat" or "regular" 5K race and the answers were generally 45 - 60 seconds slower.  So my finish time, isn't out of the realm of my current fitness.

I did check the results and indeed the early guy who appeared to be in my age group (whom I never caught) was indeed in my age group.  I placed 2nd.  So at least I'd go home with a medal.  There wasn't a finisher's medal.  Also, for 2nd place, I got a pair of Nike socks.

Post race refreshments were bananas, granola bars and bottled water.  Pretty simple affair. They also had a raffle with about 10 winners -- which I was not a winner.

I really love Sandy City's t-shirt designers.  They are always well done, colorful and entertaining. However, they are consistently cotton, so not exactly race wear.  I do keep most of them though, as they make good holiday shirts.  

2nd place age group and t-shirt

This race is reasonably priced (I think I paid about $30) and well organized. The Sandy Recreation Department does a bunch of races every year and they are always well done and the awards are given out promptly.  

The course is a hard one but overall if you want to kick off your 4th of July morning with a race, this is a solid and budget friendly choice.

Upcoming Races

07/12: 2025 Farmington Days 5K - Farmington, UT (Confirmed)

07/19: 2025 Mantua 5 Mile Race - Mantua, UT (Maybe)

07/24: 2025 Deseret News 10K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

07/26: 2025 Handcart Days Races 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

08/01: 2025 Parowan Half Marathon - Parowan, UT (Maybe / Probable)

02/22: 2026 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

2025 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K Race Recap -- Taylorsville, Utah

Official Time: 26:16
Placement: 59th overall, 2nd in 50 - 59 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 66 degrees, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2024] [2023] [2022] [2021] [2019]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:26	Congested start.  Took a bit to get going.
2	8:37	Some nice segments here, but even the tiniest uphill slowed me up
3	8:42	Felt like I was running faster than this.
3.08	0:31	Turned it on in the final stretch
	Total Miles: 3.08 - 26:18

Introduction

I've been really look forward to the Taylorsville Dayzz 5K race.  This race always makes my calendar and gets circled in red.

It is a simple community race that is less than 5 miles down the road from me.  It is about as my "local" race as it can be.

What makes it special is that it is a fairly fast course and they offer a small cash prize for winning one's age group.  In the past, I've won $20.  They only offer an award for first and the age groups are in 10-year increments.  As a 55-year-old, I am in the middle of the pack and the competition can be tough.

The race is well-organized and is affordable, so it is something I really look forward to in the summer months.

Typical stretch of walking trail at the park

The Race

I got to the race about 45 minutes before the start (7 AM).  I quickly found parking, socialized for a bit and got my bib.  

I did about a mile warm-up, getting photos of the course and using the porta potties.  I felt extremely dead-legged and sore during my warm-up.  I had done a fair amount of mileage leading up to the race, and I was feeling it.  I crossed my fingers, in hopes that once the start kicked off, that the adrenaline would see me through.

Circus rides abound at the Taylorsville Dayzz Race

I wound up starting about 50 people back and that was kind of a mistake.  There clearly were some faster runners that deserved to be near the front but there were also many who in all honesty, shouldn't have been up at the front.  Almost immediately after the race started, a little boy ran right in front of me and I almost tripped over them.  I don't mind easing into the race but this definitely cost me some time and had to take the least advantageous route.

The race is held on the walking path at the Gary Swenson Regional Park.  It is wider than most paths, but still it was congested.  Fortunately after about a quarter mile, I could run without worrying too much about tripping or running into someone.

Part of the course around the baseball field

As I sped through the first mile, I felt like I was breathing heavier than I should've and my legs just felt stiff and not very springy.  My warm-up had been thorough, but I was coming into the race fatigued. The race rush I was hoping for wasn't really there and I knew I was going to have to work for it.

It was warm but not stiflingly warm.  My mouth, however, was already dry.  I was breathing less hard than my competitors and I was trying to find people I could work off of.  Every now and then a faster runner would fly by me and other times I'd pass by other runners.  There was a mix of ages -- mostly younger runners, and while I suspected other 50 year olds were in the race, I hadn't spotted any.

There were some rolling hills (and downhills) in the park but nothing outrageous. I hadn't really glanced at my watch during the mile and it buzzed at mile 1 in about 8:26.  A lot slower than I had hoped.  I definitely wasn't going to have any sort of personal record day.

After a mile, we reached the south end of the park and had to do a lap around the baseball diamond. I am not sure what makes this section speedy.  But here, I ran some of the best I had all race.  I had younger people to work with and perhaps I could at least evenly split the race.

Almost to the end of mile 2

The effort was short lived as after making the loop around the park, you exit the park and there is a fairly modest grade of hill as we run on the blacktop street.  Every year this gets me and my pace came to a crawl.

We made another turn and began running down a quiet street. To my left, were well-to-do houses and to my right, a babbling creek.  I love this section of the course and while my pace was fairly constant I felt like I was putting in a lot of work.

Finally, mile 2 came up, I had definitely slowed down and it was a disappointing 8:37.  I honestly couldn't wait to finish.

The final mile in this one always seems to be the longest.  

We finally made a right hand turn and jumped into an older subdivision.  It was pancake flat here and I had plenty of people to chase down - again mostly people half my age.  

My form had deteriorated by the time I had gotten back into the park.  I could hear the finish line to my left -- less than a quarter of a mile away.  Unfortunately, I had about half of a mile to go (or slightly more).  Even while running in the neighborhood, I could hear the announcer calling out the names of the sub 20 minute finishers.

I kept pushing and my head was "go go go" but my legs were like "no no no".  It was incredibly frustrating.

I always worry about this part of the course because midway through I think the organizers change the directional arrows.  Once again, they had it set up so that I could complete the final quarter mile.

Final turn

At this point, the course is run on grass and packed dirt trail.  It'll slow you down a little but nothing serious.  Finally, the final turn came into view. This part of the race is a bit of a question mark, as you can really short cut a bit of distance.  It really needs to be coned off to make everyone's finish route "official".

Either way, I took the same route everyone else did.  As soon as I hit the sidewalk, my watch vibrated I had hit 3 miles.  The course usually measures in at 3.06 miles, but today, I'd finish in 3.08. I think, in part, because of all the zig-zagging I had to do at the start.

I gave it all I had in the final .1 of a mile.  I didn't have much but at least I'd make a good showing for the YouTube finish line video that was being recorded.  I saw the finish line clock and saw that it was well into the 26 minutes -- not what I was hoping for at all. 

I sped under the finish line arches, grabbed my finisher's medal.

Runner crossing the finish line

Conclusion

This race didn't come together very well for me.  I was dead-legged coming into the race and even during my warm-up I felt tired and stiff.  Sometimes that is just pre-race nerves but I didn't have anything from the start.  

If I had to blame it on anything, it would be that I did too much training leading up to the race.  I did a harder long run on Sunday, and a longer half marathon workout on Wednesday morning (10 x .5 miles). I figured that I would have enough time to recover from it but I never really did.  Also, I am still feeling like I am not recovering from my last half marathon and 10K.  Excuses aside, it wasn't my day.

Smiling at the finish

I was very frustrated with myself, but in all honesty, this is about where I've been running at this year.  Low 26's on an average day.  I was hoping to get in around 25:40 or so.  So clearly, I missed my mark.

Overall, I was happy with my experience.  I paid about $30 for the race.  I got a technical t-shirt, a finisher's medal, and a pretty nice spread of post race food.  The race was also well-attended, having sold out.  And there was a solid, friendly crowd there.  The course, despite its complex, twisty-turny nature, was well marshalled.  I think there was only spot where I felt it wasn't clear, but having run the race many times, I knew where to go.

If you are looking for a fun, community race, on a flat course, check this one out.  This race always reminds me of the simpler days of racing that I started with two and a half decades ago.

Upcoming Races

07/04: 2025 Sandy City 4th of July 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

07/12: 2025 Farmington Days 5K / 10K - Farmington, UT (Maybe)

07/19: 2025 Mantua 5 Mile Race - Mantua, UT (Maybe)

07/24: 2025 Deseret News 10K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

07/26: 2025 Handcart Days Races 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

08/01: 2025 Parowan Half Marathon - Parowan, UT (Maybe / Probably)

02/22: 2026 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

2025 Run TIMP (Timpanogos) 10K Race Recap - American Fork, UT

Sun rising over American Fork Canyon

Official Time: 53:38

Placement: 1st in the 55 - 59, 62nd out of 360
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 57F. No wind and sunny
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: First Year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:02	Slow start, but a gentle grind uphill
2	8:28	Nice downhill section of the race. Finally can get up to speed
3	8:36	Solid effort here
4	8:42	Fatigue setting in but still holding steady
5	9:03	Gentle grade uphill and running on fumes
6	8:29	Intermingled with the 5K and downhill. Gave it all I had
6.18	1:17	Fast finish!
	Total Miles: 6.18- 53:36

Introduction

So, this weekend I wasn't anticipating on racing. I was still pretty sore from last week's half marathon and I figured I could use the week as recovery and getting ready for future endeavors.  However, in a group chat someone was willing to transfer a race bib to anyone who was interested in running the TIMP 10K.  I had been toying with racing it -- it usually falls on the same weekend as the Taylorsville Races.  

I figured why not, accepted the bib transfer and deemed, despite my fatigue and soreness, ready to race on Saturday morning. 

Bus loading for the 10K

The Race

I showed up to the Art Dye Park at 5:30 AM.  The park was loaded with hundreds of cars who had parked for the big race of the day: the half marathon.  I wound up (easily) finding some street parking that was close to the bus loading zone.

I had to be on a bus by 6 AM and I was able to jump on one, once the couple that had picked up my bib the day before had arrived.  I was actually en-route by 5:45 AM.

 I had to ride a bus to the start: located near the mouth of American Fork Canyon at an LDS church.  It was about a 10 - 15 minute bus ride (if that).  There were plenty of bathrooms and I had no more than 45 minutes to kill.  I wound up socializing, warming up for a brief shake out run and getting a caffeinated GU into me.

The race started at 6:45 AM.

There were a few hundred people in attendance (about 360) and for some reason I was lined up near the front. It was like no one else wanted to be there.   I didn't want to get boxed in from other runners so I made do.  I knew faster runners were going to pass me immediately.

We started in the church's service drive and almost immediately made a right hand turn onto the main street.  I hadn't run this race before, and had only studied the course briefly.  I knew the first mile or so was going to be a gentle uphill.

Of course, I was immediately passed by dozens of runners.  I was running solid but I felt like I was working a bit too hard. I told myself not to panic and be patient.  The race should get immensely easier -- and soon.

As we headed east, I saw the American Fork Canyon entrance looming ahead. I wasn't sure how far we'd have to run in that way, but soon, I could see glimpses of half marathon runners snaking out of the canyon.  Just shy of a mile, we joined with them and continued eastward.  By the time we hit 1 mile, we made another right hand turn and joy of joys: downhill!

Runners at the starting line.

We were now on a bike trail.  And with the merging of the (faster) half marathon runners with me, things got a bit tight. I was never really stopped from running my pace, but I could no longer judge who was a 10K runner versus a half marathon runner.

I hadn't seen anyone that looked like they were in my age group at the start, but still, I was hoping to secure a top 3.

The bike trail was pretty and actually a joy to run on. The scenery changed a bit, with beautiful views of the valley, a lush golf course to the left and plenty of vegetation.  I could settle into a groove.  There were some uphill sections here though, and I took those easy and quickly got back into pace on the downhill or flats.

My legs were still pretty torched from the half marathon last weekend and I could feel a growing fatigue in them.  They definitely didn't feel particularly springy despite running in my Saucony Endorphin Pro 3's. There were times when I felt like walking, but I endured and kept at it.

Mile 2 popped up at 8:28 -- solid and I was happy with that.  

Crowds at the finish line

The subsequent mile was like the 2nd.  Bike trail running and a bit of street running.  It was fun, beautiful and I was motivated.  I was still getting passed by half marathon runners.  I suspect they were running in the 1:30 to 1:40 range, so it wasn't unexpected. I took a sip of water at the first aid station and poured the rest over my head. It wasn't terribly hot, but it was warm.

Mile 4 to 5 is where I began to really struggle.  The downhill had ended and I was primarily running on the flat Murdock Bike Trail.  I wasn't really intrigued by the scenery anymore and my pace dropped off a cliff.  I was still working hard but I was kind of in desperation mode.  

The fatigue had caught up with me and I was really hoping the race would be over soon.  Perhaps the race would be short -- or to my nightmare, long?  The mile markers were consistently about .04 of a mile short of my watch from the start.  

Starting at mile 5 was the memory mile.  The mile was lined with deceased family members of runners.  It was inspiring to see so many people memorializing their loved ones.  It was also at this time I had merged in with the 5K runners.  So now 3 different races were running to close out the race.

It got crowded at times but it was empowering to pass by 5K runners.  I was still getting passed by half marathoners but I was passing some of the ones that had gone out too fast.  I still had absolutely no clue who was running what and to be honest I really didn't care.

Most of the race, I had run before, but the final half mile or so, the sights became familiar.  I had run the Steele Days race in 2023 and I remember suffering running the uphill portion of the course to the east of Art Dye Park.  This time, I only had to contend with the downhill -- and it was just what I needed.

Others around me could smell the finish line as we zig-zagged down the S shaped curves at a breakneck pace.  I could hear the murmur of the crowd in the distance.  We were close!

I could barely make out the Runtastic finish line arches in the distance as I hit mile 6 and like my other comrades, I dug deep and pushed.  I had a goal of going under 55 or better and upon glancing at my watch, I knew I was going to easily make that.

There were hundreds of people lined up along the finish line and they were cheering us on.  With over 2000 runners in attendance, those that had already finished or who had brought their family and friends, were giving us great support.  It spurred me on and I did a sprint finish; and I sped through in 53:36.... 

1st in my age group!

Conclusion

The course came in just shy of 6.20 miles, but given how much tree cover and turns I had to make, the course was arguably accurate. The course also was challenging -- while there was 100 feet more of descent versus ascent, there was enough uphill to challenge myself. 

Smiles at the finish line!

I will say the course is fast though.  Other than the first mile, it is one that you could really cover quickly.

There were 3 aid stations on the course and the course was well marked and marshaled.  With so many runners on the course it was hard not to know your way.  At times the course did get crowded but overall, I didn't feel like it hindered my time in any way.  

T-shirt, age group award and finisher's medal

I really was happy with the course too.  It was new to me and other than the stretch of bike trail from 4 to 5, I was interested in where I was running.

As usual, Runtastic did a great job with the medals.  The half marathon finisher one was beautiful.  The age group medals were huge as well.  Definitely well worth hanging around for.

Post race refreshments were bananas, oranges, chocolate milk, water and Powerade.  There were some vendors in attendance offering soft drinks and ice creams.  

There were a LOT of people at the finish line.  It was overwhelming, but with the race having over 2000 runners, it wasn't unexpected.  I was sort of expecting a morass to get out of the park area, but actually it went smoothly.

The shirt is a nice design.  It is a blended shirt of cotton and polyester.  I would probably wear it a lot more if it was 100% polyester, but the design is cool so it'll see service.  The buses were school buses and were well organized.  My only gripe is that it was hard to hear the race awards and they were pretty slow about giving them out.  Overall, though, a solid experience from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this race.  I wasn't expecting to feel this good about it.  People were excited about the half marathon too.  I would highly recommend this race and recommend signing up sooner rather than later for it.  If I had to sign up for the week of -- I am not sure I would've run it.  It was pushing $60 with the service fees and taxes.  In hindsight though, I'd pay for it knowing the experience I'd get.

My performance: was decent.  I wasn't expected much -- in fact, I wasn't really sure what I was capable of, especially coming off of a half marathon.  I had fears that I'd go out and crash and burn in 2 miles.  But fortunately, I was moving along nicely and I wasn't too discouraged by my time.  I felt like it was a step in the right direction.

Hopefully, it is a trend that continues.

Upcoming Races

06/28: 2025 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K - Taylorsville, UT (Confirmed)

07/04: 2025 Sandy City 4th of July 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

07/12: 2025 Farmington Days 5K / 10K - Farmington, UT (Maybe)

07/19: 2025 Mantua 5 Mile Race - Mantua, UT (Maybe)

07/26: 2025 Handcart Days Races 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

08/01: 2025 Parowan Half Marathon - Parowan, UT (Maybe / Probably)

02/22: 2026 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)