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