2026 Chilly Willy 5K Race Recap - Las Vegas, Nevada

Entrance to the Park Bill Briare Park

Official Time: 26:40
Placement: 14th overall, 2nd in the 55 - 59
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Low 50s. Slight breeze from the west
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:24	Decent but quick start.  After the loop around the park, though it was a grind
2	8:43	First half was more uphill than I'd like. 2nd half of the mile was great!
3	8:10	Tough mile.  First .75 is progressively uphill.
3.16	1:22	Slight uphill
	Total Miles: 3.16- 26:40

The rubber-like track

Introduction

Well, one way to make friends when you've moved to a new location is to jump into a race.  So that is precisely what I did -- do the Chilly Willy 5K -- a race that celebrates what Las Vegans deem as chilly weather (this former Salt Laker begs to differ).

The race offered 3 distances: a 5K, 10K and half marathon.  Given that I am racing a half marathon in about 3 weeks, I opted in for the 5K.  I primarily was running it as a time trial and to see if I had many any improvements since my last race in November.

The Race

The race's headquarters were at Bill Briare Park.  It was easy to find, but with very limited parking.  Smart cookies got there early or had to scramble for some sort of street parking.  I got there about an hour early and found suitable parking.

Packet pickup was a snap.  I spent a little bit of time touring the park before beginning about a mile warm-up.  There was only one bathroom (the park's facilities).  Fortunately, I found a WinCo grocery store around the corner, which I slipped into prior to the race during my warm-up (the park's sit down toilet wound up being clogged).  My legs had a bit of fatigue in them but I was ready to race.  

The air temperature was cool -- about 50 F.  I was dressed in shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt.  I was going to wear gloves, but I ultimately decided I didn't need them.  I also pulled out the Saucony Elites, so I was set for business.

I could tell the race was fairly small. In looking at the results, they had about 200 runners, most of whom were running the 5K or 10K.  

After a few strides and drills and about 1 mile of running, I was set to go.

Typical stretch of bike trail

The race started promptly at 9 AM.  Oddly enough, we didn't jump onto the Bonanza Bike Trail immediately.  We first had to do about a half mile loop around Briare Park.

It felt like a rubberized track and my shoes and stride were super happy on it.  With a mild downhill start I was quickly hitting a nice sub 8 minute mile.  Fast -- too fast though.  I reeled it back just a little. The last thing I wanted to do was crash and burn.

I had a vague understanding the course was "mostly" flat but knowing the topography of Vegas, going west usually involved some hills -- and the first mile or so we'd be running in that direction.

After about a quarter mile, we hit the end of the park and began the next quarter mile back to the starting line.  There was a slight incline here and my pace slowed down a bit.

At about the half mile mark we sped by the starting line.  I was feeling good and trying to gauge where my competition was and who was running what race. For a while, I was neck with another masters runner -- and we were definitely working off each other.

At this point, we were on the Bonanza bike trail and pushing westward.  There was a gentle incline and I could feel myself working hard.  We cruised under a pedestrian bridge and past the my WinCo.  Mile 1 rang up not long after at about 8:30.  Fair enough I felt.

On my left was the Summerlin Parkway and to my right, Trader Joe's, doctor's offices, and a shopping mall.  It felt like the race had just started and I was already a mile into the race.  Thanks to the initial loop, the bike trail section was going to feel really short.

The uphill section got progressively more intense.  The business complex eventually gave way to the Kellogg Zaher soccer complex.  Faithful readers may recall that I ran the 2023 Las Vegas 4th of July 5K here. I recognized it almost immediately.

The front runners were already making their way back towards the finish line.  There was a time in my running journey when that would've been me.  The paved running path continued upwards and my pace ground to a halt.  The first (and only aid station for the 5K) was positioned at the top of it.  The master's runner who had passed me continued on  -- thank goodness.  

I reached the summit, touched the first aid sign and I knew the next mile and a quarter were going to be a glorious downhill.  I forgot to look at my watch to determine (roughly) how long the race was going to be; I was so eager to launch myself downhill.

I couldn't believe the pace I was running. I felt strong and my stride lengthened.  All the hill repeats and work I had done in December -- perhaps it was paying off.

Somewhere near the start of the race.

Mile 2 came in at 8:40.  Considering that the first half was uphill, I was pleasantly surprised.  It definitely wasn't going to be a PR day but I could probably salvage the race with a strong finish.

I dug deep and gave it everything I had.  I set my sights on 3 runners ahead of me, but I think they were taking advantage of the downhill section.  They were a hundred or so yards in front of me and slowly, painstakingly slowly, I inched my way closer.

This was the most fun I've had racing in a very long time. I felt empowered and my turnover was great.  I felt there was a good shot I was going to crack 26 minutes.  I also knew the return course, as I had just run it heading out.

I had made mental notes of how much longer I had to run at various sections.

Finally the finish line came by. I still had to run by it and do about a half mile segment on the lovely rubber track (.53 miles on my watch).  I clearly wasn't going to catch the front runners but I was going to make a strong showing.

Finish line photo.

My gusto lasted until about the last quarter mile.  At this point, I had reached the lowest portion of the race and I had a bit of an uphill section to push it to the top.  I knew this is where the wheels would come off.  My sub 8-minute per mile pace was now a crawl: 9:09 and I was struggling.

Mile 3 rang up at 8:10, which I was elated with.  However, that final .1 of a mile was the longest of my life (or so it seemed).  No one was chasing me down and the front runners had (probably) already finished.  I still gave it whatever I had left.  I made the final turn and blasted through the finish line (I can't wait to see my photos).

Smiles at the finish line

Conclusion

My "unofficial" 5K time was approximately 26:12. My official finish time was 26:40.  My watch read 3.16 miles, another person's read 3.18.  I was running 26:51 at the end of November on courses that were a little shorter than 3.10.  So I was thrilled with the improvement.

They had super simple age group system for awards. They had a traditional 5-year groupings, but they also had Masters and Grand Masters overall divisions.  If it was just straight up age groups, I'd have placed 2nd.  But given the over 40 situation, I was the first grand master.  Something to brag about I suppose.  Awards were done without fanfare -- just check your time in with the marshals and they were pretty quick to dispense an award.

Post race refreshments were bottled water and granola bars.  Pretty basic.  I paid $37 for the race (plus service fees).  About what I'd expect to pay for a race.

The race was chip timed and the t-shirt was optional.  I decided to get one for $5 dollars.  It is a cute decision and very wintery, but a cotton one.  It has a nice design and clearly is a runner's shirt.  I just wish it was a blend or polyester one.

The course was easy to follow.  There were only a few spots where one could possibly get lost but in those spots it was clearly marked.  It was pretty much a loop and a straight out-and-back.

The medal was super cool and the age group award can pin onto the lanyard.  

Overall, I was happy with my experience. There was a good friendly crowd there and I felt like my training is going in the right direction.  It probably helped that I was running in almost 1500 less elevation, though.

I'd happily do this race again next year.  It is a low-key, fun locals race (although there were some out of towners there).

Upcoming Races

01/24: 2026 Sun Half Marathon - Santa Clara, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 Running Year in Review

Wrapping up the year in Mesquite, NV

The Numbers

Total Miles Run: 1677

Races:

5K: 14
10K: 9

Half Marathons: 5 (1 was a DNF) 

Introduction

Wow, 2025 was a challenging year to say the least.

The year started off promising with a wildly successful Sun Half Marathon.  It wasn't as fast as 2024, but I ran it well and finished strong.

From there, though, it went downhill.  

I usually judge my year by my race times, but this year I have to take a step back and acknowledge some of the errors I made and some of the successes.  Sometimes it isn't about the races, even though this year stung -- a lot.  I had set up some goals in 2025 in hopes of building off the end of the end of the year's successes.

Goals From 2024

I set the following time goals [FAIL]:

5K: 24:30

10K: 51:00

Half Marathon: 1:55

I came close to the half marathon but the rest, not even close.  As the year went on my times got slower or were stagnant.  Every time I felt like I was due for a breakout, I seemed to slip back a bit.  Pretty much every race I did was destined to failure.

Core Work [SUCCESS]

Another goal of mine was to continue to do my physical therapy work and core exercises.  I was successful at this until life got busy.  Now that things have calmed down, I am back at it.  It wasn't 100% successful, but I was committed to it for most of the year.

Destination Race [SUCCESS]

I traveled to Illinois to do the Bob Blazer Run for the Arts 5K.  The purpose of the trip wasn't to do the race, but since I was there I might as well do one.  It was one of the highlights of 2025 and I'll be honest, I ran pretty well.  Although, I think the sense of the goal was to do a new race in a new place.

Training on the bike trail in Mesquite, NV

Training

I did log nearly 1700 miles.  For not really training for anything further than a half marathon, let alone, a full marathon, that is a healthy amount.  I generally ran 6 or more times a week and, knock on wood, I wasn't hindered by any "do not run" orders from doctors or any major injuries.

I was also very consistent with prioritizing workouts / speed sessions.  I generally did them at least once a week if I was racing, twice (or more) if I wasn't.  There was a time in my life that I disliked hard workouts; now I embrace them.  I've also found I generally dislike the long run now.

I also felt I was successful at keeping my easy runs, easy.  My harder days were definitely focused on the task at hand: getting the workout done.

The year wasn't without some failures though.  As mentioned before, I think I failed at my (time) goal because of the following:

1. I ran too much.  During the summer I was running two, even three times a day. Yes, most of the secondary runs were beyond easy-paced, but they just added additional strain on my already worn down system.  It was nice to achieve (or overachieve) my mileage goals but it came at a cost.  Now that I am 56 and well in my masters years, recovery / cross-training should become more of a priority.
2. I raced too much.  I couldn't say no to a race.  And even during some weeks where I meant to take a break, someone would invariably want to go to a race or I'd get a free entry.  Going all out in races was just taking a toll.
3. I moved.  Starting in September, we decided we were going to leave the Salt Lake Area. Ultimately, we decided on Las Vegas.  When I moved to Utah in 2012, it was a lot of work, but this one took a toll.  The Salt Lake house sold in 4 days and the new owners took possession before our new one was built.  So we had about 2.5 months of doing the Airbnb thing.  Living out of a suitcase was challenging.  Also, I was busy packing, moving boxes from Point A to Point B on a weekly basis.  It just beat me up pretty badly physically.  My resting heart rate averaged 10 beats per minute faster than normal.
4. I am getting older. There isn't much I can do about this. It is natural. Some people seem to grow older and never seem to be bothered by it.  Me: I am sore, my muscles ache, I don't move as quickly as I used to, and avoiding creeping weight continues to be a challenge.  I used to think I'd dodge this fact of life -- I eat pretty well, I exercise and I take care of myself.  But I don't think I have the genetics for it.

Best Races

Sun Half Marathon  Unarguably my best race of the year in terms of performance (1:55:38). I just love this event. It is a solid course and it was an out of town event -- so lots of new scenery.  I trained fairly hard for this one and I was happy with my time.  This race has made my list two years in a row and I am planning on being there in 2026.

Bob Blazier Run for the Arts 5K: This race wasn't my fastest time (25:33) but it was perhaps the best time at a race I had all year.  I didn't really tell anyone I was showing up.  I hadn't race it in well over a decade and a half.  It was amazing how many people I knew there and how familiar the course. was.  My PR at the 5K was on this course.  It made me homesick, but I really enjoyed this one and the subsequent training runs I did out on my old stomping grounds.

Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon: Another one of my favorites and I want to say I ran pretty well here.  How could one not run well?  With over 3000 feet of drop, this small boutique races is always one of my favorites. I am to make it in 2026

Upcoming Races

01/04: 2026 Chilly Willy 5K - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

01/24: 2026 Sun Half Marathon - Santa Clara, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day 5K Race Recap - Bountiful, UT

Thanksgiving decorations along the route

Official Time: 26:51
Placement: 2nd in the 55 - 59, 172nd overall, 129th male.
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: mid 32's, breeze from the south.
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2024] [2023] [2022] [2021] [2018] [2017] [2016] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:18	A little congested at the start. Steady, downhill pull and holding back a bit
2	8:50	At about mile 1.40 the uphill starts.  Working hard.
3	9:14	Tough mile.  First .75 is progressively uphill.
3.07	0:27	Redline to the finish
	Total Miles: 3.07- 26:51

Introduction

As evidenced by the race history, one of my Thanksgiving traditions is to do the Bountiful Thanksgiving run.  The race offers a 5K and 10K edition, of which I've always run the 5K race.

The course is very familar to me, having run it for their February and August races and I've attended their races faithfully since I moved here.

This race, they had a massive turnout with over 1000 participants.  Usually they draw about 750 or so and with a crowded race market, I was shocked.

Ready set go!

The Race

I arrived at the race at 7:15 AM for the 8 AM start.  They are very well organized and I got my bib and t-shirt in short order.  I also managed to get decent parking: pro-tip: the lot fills up quickly.

I did about a mile warm-up starting at 7:30 and deemed myself ready to go. I actually felt really good coming into the race despite having just raced 5 days ago.  I had tapered and figured I might have a shot of a better than normal race.  The air temperature was ideal, no wind, I knew the course, what could go wrong?

I've written about the course at ad-neaseum: mile 1 is downhill, mile 2 begins the grind back up and the final mile gets even worse but the hill ends at mile 2.75, where the race becomes a fast finish.  It is run on city streets and only the last .25 is on sidewalk.  The course is rectangle-shaped and well marshalled and easy to navigate.

Large turnout today.

The race started a few minutes late but all things considered, it was okay.  The had maneuvered my way to the front but not too close.  It was still congested at the start but after a minute or two I was free to run my own pace.

My goal was to hold a steady pace on mile 1 and hopefully conserve some energy for the latter half of the race.  From previous experiences, I know that my race usually ends (for all intents and purposes) at mile 1.5.  I was hoping to change that today.

Course at the first half mile or so

I found myself getting passed by many runners.  I began to wonder how many were in my age group. It was hard to tell -- there were so many people and some were running the 10K.  Only a handful, of which, split off at about the .75 mile point.  At one point I found myself running with another runner who usually comes in ahead of me.  I wound up passing her.  Perhaps I was on to a good race?

Mile 1 came in at 8:19.  I was still comfortable but I knew I was on the edge of just being winded.

In another quarter mile, we hung a right and began the tougher part of the race.  Immediately my pace slowed and several runs sped by me.  So frustrating.  Given the size of the race, I figured there was a good chance I wasn't winning anything today.

I was working hard and told myself not to give up.  

At the halfway point we made another right at the first aid station.  A set of traffic lights lay ahead and I knew that was the mile 2 marker.  It seemed like it would take an eternity to get there.  I was still being passed and the runner I had caught eased by me.

Mile 2 came in at 8:50.  To be honest I wasn't surprised.  And looking back, it was about on par with what I would've guessed at the start I would've run.  I wasn't having a breakout race but at least I was on schedule.

Runners closing in

Every time I run this race, I think the final mile is going to be a miracle mile.  Hope against hope that I've saved up enough energy to blast the uphill section and sprint to the finish.

Today wasn't that day.  I still gave it everything I had but the only people who I was passing were the walkers who had started out too quickly. Occasionally someone cruised by me and try as I might, I couldn't keep up.

Finally, the summit arrived and my pace quickened as I reached the peak.  I glanced at my watch and realized I was still on target.  I pushed hard, even if I was going to soil myself or puke at the finish. This was the time not to leave anything in the tanks.  There wasn't really anyone close to me but I put on a good show for the spectators.

I saw a low 26 minutes on my watch as I cruised the final segment.  3 miles rang up on my Garmin, but I didn't even glance at it.  It took an eternity to make it to the finish line, but I crossed under in 26:51.

All smiles at the finish

Conclusion

In short, this wasn't the race I was wishing for.  But it was on a race that was in line with what I've been running lately.  It is a challenging course, so I knew I wasn't going to set any personal records today, but it wasn't even close to the 25:51 I ran last year.  In my opinion, it was another quiet period to the end of a pretty lousy year when it comes to racing.

I wound up cycling back about a quarter mile to get photos of friends were running the 10K.  There were just so many runners intermingled with the 10K runners, that I failed miserably getting photos.  I sort of felt bad too for the 10K races, who were zig-zagging around the 5K walkers / joggers.

Results were tough to come by given the lag and the business of the race day but they did eventually come.  I was shocked to see that placed 2nd in my age group.  Over the next 10 minutes I continually refreshed, thinking more results were coming in and it must be some sort of mistake.  But it held.  2nd place was mine!

It took a while for the awards (about 10 AM) but I earned myself a banana cream pie for my patience.

I really enjoy this race.  They always provide a great t-shirt, solid refreshments (donuts, bananas, oranges, drinks) and cheery volunteers.  The finishers medal was nice as well.

The race site is also held at the recreation center, so runners have access to flush toilets and a place to keep warm.

Overall, this race is a fun way to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday.  It is budget friendly and you get a lot for your money.  I think I paid about $30 with the early bird coupon code.

Upcoming Races

01/04: 2026 Chilly Willy 5K - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

01/24: 2026 Sun Half Marathon - Santa Clara, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 Lindon City Turkey Trot 5K Race Recap - Lindon, UT

The starting area near Lindon City Park

Official Time: 26:47
Placement: 2nd in the 50 - 64 age group, 24th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Here
Weather: mid 30's breeze from the east
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:09	About 100 feet of gradual decline here. If only the whole race was like this.
2	9:35	Who put the big, long hill at the half way point?
3	8:51	Took some time to recover but my pace was steadily increasing
3.03	0:14	Push it to the finish!
	Total Miles: 3.03 - 26:51

This guy was fast but had to get a photo with him

Introduction

My time is running out in Salt Lake, so what better way to hang out with my friends than to jump into a 5K in Lindon, UT?

The pickings for a race this weekend were pretty slim.  Fortunately, I was able to find a small race located in the heart of Utah county that was being held by the Lindon City Recreation Center.  Constant readers may recall that I ran a 5K there in 2023 for their city's summer celebration.

I am trying to get some solid speed work in and I figured why not jump into a (very) budget friendly 5K and see where I am at.

The Race

Lindon is located about 30 minutes from where I am currently living.  I collected a few friends to carpool with and arrived at Lindon City Park at 7:15 for an 8 AM start.  It was chilly out -- maybe in the upper 30's when I arrived.  There wasn't much wind, fortunately, and no ice or snow.  

I could tell the race was going to be lightly attended. Last year's results showed about 50 participants.  They had a bumper crop this year with 75 runners.  I think everyone must be tapering for the big Thursday races.  

First turn on the course.

I was shocked to get a VERY cool technical shirt (shirt of the year perhaps?).  As an added bonus, they had a bulging swag bag.  Packet pick up was a snap.  With the race lightly attended, it was easy to use the porta potties and I did about a mile shake out to get warmed up.

The race started exactly on time.  I had studied the course ahead of time, so I kind of knew what I was in for.  The first mile looked to be slightly downhill.  Then the course leveled out and around the half way point, it looked like we'd have to make an ascent before flattening out again in the final mile.  

The race starts off in the city's park and follows a bike trail.  The race organizers had it well marshalled so there was little doubt as to where to go.  I had warmed up on the course, running to the fun run's turn around (about .5 a mile) to get a sense of the course.  The pictures I've attached here are photos of the segments I ran.

Some of the view near the half mile mark

It was a crisp morning and I settled into a sensible but strong pace.  I was feeling really solid and I had checked out the awards beforehand:  nice Turkey trophies for the 1st place runner in each age division.  Unfortunately, mine covered a wide berth:  50 to 64.  Most of the runners, I sensed, were younger (teens or 20s).  I figured I had a shot, so I was going all in on the race; I wanted a trophy.

About 20 - 30 runners were well ahead of me and I had company for most of the race.  Despite a small turnout, there was always someone to work with.  I hadn't spotted anyone in my age group but I was careful.  

After .5 of a mile of bike trail, the course headed west.  The bike trail did continue to follow a road and occasionally we had cars tapping their horns cheering us on.  The course was primarily flat but I could sense I was going downhill.  My turnover was solid and I felt in control of my pace.  I ran an 8:08, which pleased me to no end.

The fun ended after the first mile and I suddenly had to work.  I had made a left turn and was now running on sidewalk and heading south.  I still felt like I was running at the same pace but my Garmin reports that I had definitely slowed down. Perhaps I lost focus or perhaps I couldn't sustain the pace but I know if I glanced at my watch at that time, I would've been discouraged.  

There were some older houses and large plots of land.  It was very peaceful running and even a few of the house owners were out cheering us on.  For a small race, it was nice to get a little community support.  I was still running with the same group and occasionally managed to pick a runner or two off.  I had put a gap on anyone tailing me. I was running hard and I felt consistently.  It felt like it was "my" day -- this race was going to go down as one of my best races of the year.  

However, upon making another left to begin my trip east and back to the park, I saw what loomed ahead: a long and steep hill.  Why couldn't we have run down that?  I still had high hopes and I had overestimated what I was currently running, but the hill was daunting and ultimately it was my dream killer.

Signage at about mile 2.5

I am too heavy to bound up hills anymore and my pace when I hit the steepest gradients crawled to a shuffle.  In looking at the climb, it was about a half mile long -- too long!  I almost mumbled to the woman running next to me, "well there goes my PR race".  I knew there was going to be a hill but I didn't expect the climb to this steep over such a short distance.

I reached the summit (finally) and made another left turn and hit the 2 mile mark. 9:35.  

I still felt strong though and while there was a bit of climb here, there was also a segment where I could coast downhill a little.  My pace quickened and I was working with two women, probably a third of my age, in pursuit of a finish.

I'd be running from that summit at about mile 2.25

If I had to guess my pace, I felt like I was running an 8:35 -- at least.  I was running strong and while I didn't see anyone behind me, I didn't want to lose a place to an age group contender.

I had measured the course when I started the box route and I knew that when I hung a right to head back that I honestly had about half a mile of running left. It was here, I think that I looked at my watch for a pace update.  It said 9:00+.  Wait, what?  Perhaps it was a mistake. I had to be running faster than that.

Finally, another right and I was back on the enclosed bike trail.  I could "smell" the finish line, even though I was well over a quarter mile away.  The two women I was running with put some distance on me and I couldn't respond.  I kept glancing over my shoulder and never saw anyone. I think that may have dampened by final kick effort.

I hit mile 3 in 8:51.  If someone had asked me to guess what my final mile, I would've confidently said 8:30.  

The course, on my watch, came in a little short and there was a sharp incline to the finish and I barely broke 27 minutes. 

Conclusion

Upon finishing, I was handed a pretty nice ribbon.  It was identified with their race logo and the year I participated in the race.  Not a medal, but still very cool.  And as stated, the shirt was a definite winner for me: long sleeved and technical fabric.  The shirt will definitely be used!

My ChickNLegs shorts were a hit -- I got a ton of compliments on the holiday design I was wearing.  I had worn a short-sleeved technical shirt and thin gloves.  Despite the chilly temperatures, I was dressed appropriately.  I know many people were bundled up.

Sadly, I didn't win my age group.  I thought for sure I had, given I hadn't seen many older folks. The winner of the age group finished a good 90 seconds ahead of me and if you are reading this: I would never have guessed you were in my age group (and I hope you take that as an honest compliment)

There was plenty of food at finish, especially for a small race: warm beverages, muffins, bananas and oranges.  For a $25 race -- this was a bargain!

I wanted one!

The race was well organized.  It was timed perfectly, it was budget friendly, the course was well marked and the crowd was friendly.  My only gripe would be that it was a tiny bit short, but otherwise a great morning out with friends.

As far as my performance went:  I felt really good in the race and throughout the race I felt like I was running strong (except for the half mile hill of course). I had MUCH higher hopes for my overall time.  However, for whatever reason I came out of this one feeling positive.  Mentally I was strong, I didn't give up, if I study the Garmin pacing heat map, I was running pretty strong.  I am disappointed but at the same time, not really.

This race is highly encouraged.  It is budget friendly, well organized and just a really nice experience.  I had never run any parts of it before, so the route was new to me and the course was scenic in its own way.  

Upcoming Races

11/27: 2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 Sandy City Turkey Trot 5K Race Recap - Sandy, UT

Official Time: 26:53
Placement: 1st in age group, 54th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: mid 40's 10 mph breeze from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2013] [2014] [2021] [2022] [2023] [2024]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:04	Feeling good and in control. Slight downhill
2	8:42	The bumpy bike trail was throwing me off. Felt like I was running faster
3	9:24	Uphill to the start. I didn't give up.
3.10	0:39	Push it to the finish!
	Total Miles: 3.10 - 26:51

Sunny Day at Lone Peak Park

Introduction

It's been a while since I've done a race and finally I had a weekend that didn't involve moving stuff from Point A to Point B.

I had a choice between two races: the Vineyard Blizzard 5K in Vineyard or the Sandy Turkey Trot.  Honestly, I was torn between the two races, each having their own charms.  Since a bunch of my friends were running Sandy, and it was closer, and I was in desperate need of a new t-shirt (I only have about a dozen -- the rest are in storage).  With some misgiving, I opted in for the Sandy City race.

I had done the Sandy race for many years but from 2015 to 2019 it conflicted with the Las Vegas Marathon, so I had take a break from it.  

The Race

The race is held at Lone Peak Park, an easy drive from my current location.  There is ample parking there and is a suitable place for a race: with bathrooms and a pavilion.  There were about 211 other runners there for the 5K.

I arrived just after 9 AM, found parking, grabbed my bib and shirt.  I had about 30 minutes to warm-up before the race start.  It was a beautiful morning -- chilly enough to question myself as to whether I wanted to wear gloves (I opted no).  The sun was bright and there was only a hint of a breeze.  I wound up doing about a 1.5 miles of easy running and a few strides and drills before deeming myself as ready to race.

First turn out of the park

The race starts in the park on the sidewalk.  It is a clustered start and it can get crowded.  I had moved up to the front but still a respectful distance from the frontrunners.  The race started suddenly at 10 AM and we were off.

The first quarter mile or so is run on the sidewalk of the perimeter of the park.  Other than it being slightly congested, it was a pretty place to run.  I eased into the race -- but looking at my pace, it was anything but easy.  I was moving comfortably forward.  I was locked in with a couple of kids who loved my Chick-n-legs Thanksgiving themed shorts.

The kids were probably a 5th of my age and the two boys took off. I wound up running the great majority of the race with their sister.

Another quick right turn

Then down this road

After running the perimeter of the park, we exited the park and into a subdivision.  The course was well marked and they had marshals at all the turns (a few years ago they didn't).  On the open road, I could settle into a decent pace without worrying about trampling over anyone.

I felt like I was running at a solid effort and I was feeling good.  The front runners had left me in their dust.  The people I was running with were all half my age.  I saw a few senior aged runners ahead of me but I had no idea if they were in my age group at all.  It sure would be nice to win something at my coming out race.

At .6 make another right turn

Then head down this street

After a series of turns through the housing area, we were dumped off on the Porter Rockwell bike trail.  I was also greeted with a bit of a headwind.  The first mile had a descent of about 51 feet.  There were also some uphill sections.  Mile 1 rang up on my Garmin in 8:04.  The only time I had glanced at my watch was to mark how long it was from one of the final turns to the finish line (.60) but I was pleased with the time.  I knew the first mile was the fastest, though, but I was still feeling good.

Mile 1 to 2 -- I was determined to hang on.  I wouldn't call the bike trail flat and with the wind; it just made it challenging.  Also, there were a few points where I thought that the bottom of my shoe had come off.  Either that, or I was losing control of my left foot (it was only the left foot).  I almost stopped to check my shoe figuring I was going to be walking.  It turns out the trail has some hidden divots and it is easy to trip on sections of the indentations.  It definitely took my focus off of running for about a quarter mile, but eventually I was able to clear the area.

Stretch of Bike Trail

There were also a few loops around some very small little league-like fields.  This definitely caused me to lose a bit of my momentum.  I knew it was going to be there, and in some ways it was nice to catch a break from the straight-aways.

I also got an opportunity to see if anyone in my age group was in the front back (it was kind of an out-and-back course).  I counted at least two potential competitors in my age group that were significantly ahead of me.  

Finally a lap around the infield of a baseball field and I was heading back to the starting line.  I was still running with the girl and a few guys half my age.  At times, I put down a bit of a burst and if I had to guess my pace, I would've told you about 8:25 - 8:30.  Turns out, I was running 8:42.

After exiting the bike trail, climb this hill!

The final mile is a challenge.  Remember the first mile with its net descent? Well, now we'd have to run up it. I was pretty spent but still mentally in the game.  I hadn't given up and despite a flagging mile 2, I was hoping I could still turn in the same effort for the final mile.

After exiting the bike trail I had the most challenging section of the race.  It was a simple hill -- not more than .2 of a mile, but my pace cratered.  I was doing a shuffle of 11:30 or so at times.  The runners around me -- their paces slowed as well.  At least I was in good company.

Once I got to the top of hill however, my turnover increased but I was unable to get back to the 8:40 pace.  I had competition I was working against and a guy who had passed me at about mile 2 (who appeared to be in my age) -- I was beginning to real him in.  He definitely was acting like he was hurting.  By mile 2.5 I sailed past him but for the final stretch I occasionally glanced over my shoulder to see if he had anything left to chase me down.

Grind to the finish

I was working with another guy (again half my age) and we were swapping spots.  It was nice to have company and someone to challenge me.  

With about .35 miles to go, we entered the park again and I was really hoping to drop the hammer.  But my pace was still stuck in the mid 9's.  I was working hard and still trying but my 5K pace was completely shot.  It wasn't until the last .15 miles I was able to kick it up a notch.

Home stretch!

The young man I was working against had another gear (or two) and he pulled away from me -- so much for a sprint finish.  No one else was behind me but I still acted like someone was.

I made the final turn and saw the Sandy City 5K race flags welcoming me back to the start line.

Conclusion

So I had checked my watch a time or two in the park and I knew I wasn't going to hit my A goal time.  I had visions of maybe clocking 25:50 -- anything under 26 minutes I would've been happy with. Instead, I barely cracked 27 minutes.

I came into the race feeling largely fresh and with two months of nothing but a healthy amount of training, I felt like I didn't live up to my goals.  Granted, the course is not a fast one but it is an honest one.  I also came in about 50 seconds slower than last year.

About how I felt at the end -- meh

Was I despondent?  No.  But I wasn't too happy.  Although if I had to take home a positive from the race it was that I didn't give up.  I felt like I ran a good race.  

With some trepidation, I checked the race results and after some wrangling by the race timer (some ages were not entered correctly) I discovered I had won the 55 to 59 age division.  

I wound up winning a medal and a pumpkin pie (enough to feed a small family).  For a low budget race, they do have some nice prizes.  

Prizes!

I like this race.  The course is challenging and an honest one.  The distance came in at 3.10 miles and any hill advantages I had, I had to pay it back on the return.

They had bananas, granola bars and water at the end.  Pretty basic fare but expected for a 5K at about $35.  The shirt is a cotton one but as usual, they have a cute Thanksgiving Day Theme on the front of it.  I love the Sandy City's t-shirt designs.

Fun with Friends!

Once again, I had MUCH higher hopes for myself.  I came in fairly fresh feeling, my warm-up had gone well, but I think the course got the best of me.  I think I have more to give but 

I also really enjoyed seeing my friends -- many I haven't seen in quite a while with my race hiatus.  As my time in Salt Lake dwindles away, it'll be hard not to have them in my corner when I decide to race.

Upcoming Races

11/22: 2025 Lindon City Turkey Trot 5K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)

11/27: 2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

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

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