Tuesday, July 30, 2019

2019 Legacy Midnight Run 10K Race Recap - Farmington, UT




Official Time: 53:17
Placement: 11th overall, 2nd in age group
Results: Here
Race WebsiteHere
Weather: Low 70's but warm, no wind. Run at 11 PM at night
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2018] [2017] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012]

Mile TimeComments
18:25A little hemmed in and trying to get a sense of what I could run
28:21Consistent here
38:20It was warm and beginning to fatigue
48:40Heading back...
58:50Started to get sick feeling, maybe too much food, maybe the heat
69:10Felt like I was running faster here
6.201:29Sprint to the finish
Total Miles: 6.20 - 53:17




Introduction


This past November I signed up for this race -- I got it for a steal at about $25 for a 10KM.  It also helped that I've done this practically every year since I've moved to Utah.  I still remember the first time I ran in 2012 and managed to eek out a blazing 1:41 half marathon.

Some 7 years later, I still show up to this night race.  It is one of the things I "must" do and it is just fun yet competitive race.



The Race


I rolled into the race at about 10:15.  Plenty of time for an 11 PM start.  I remembered all the times when I did the half marathon and I got bused out to the start, so being there after nightfall and not having to jump on a bus was a nice experience.

Packet pickup was a snap and I used the bathroom a time or two before doing my warm-ups.  With it being hot, I didn't really need to warm up that much and sufficed to do a few strides and hip swings.

The race started at 11 PM and I was off and running.

Normally the race is held on the Legacy Bike Trail.  I've run on that trail a dozen times for various races.  However, the Legacy Bike Trail is under some sort of construction so the race was rerouted to the Rail Trail, which is another bike trail just west of the Legacy Trail.

Both trails are nearly identical and since we were running at night, I couldn't tell the difference.  Although the Rail Trail had a few cattle guard fences up that we had to circumnavigate.  The race director had put glow sticks on them and volunteers to help direct traffic.



The first quarter mile took some getting used to running.  I was carrying a headlamp that throughout the race I would periodically use, but for the most part I ran 100% in the dark.  To help see each other, though, we wore glow stick necklaces.

The first mile went by pretty quick and I was happy to see an 8:30(ish) illuminate on my Garmin.  This was about the pace I wanted to run and I was hoping I could hold it.  I was breathing comfortably but the air was a little humid and despite it "only" be 70F degrees, it was sort of humid.

Mile 2 I was starting to find my groove.  The race was lightly attended and the leaders had left me in the dust and I was running with the faster-than-the-middle-of-the-pack group.  As the race went along, people came and went but it was pretty much a solo affair.

Mile 3 I knew I was hurting and while my pace didn't suffer, it seemed a lot more of an effort.  With any new course, I was curious as to when I'd turn around and head back.  Fortunately, the course was well marked and once I hit the second aid station, I looked down at my watch to see a 3.10 distance.  Always a relief to know I am not running too far.

Mile 4 was a struggle.  I could feel my pace dropping and while I had ate light beforehand, it seemed like my stomach was full.  Was I going to puke?

I contented myself with just working through the discomfort and gazing at some of the bolts of lightning raining down on Antelope Island.  It was truly spectacular and part of me just wanted to find a camera and take pictures.  But I had a race to run.

Mile 5 found my pace slowing gradually.  I was trying to do the math in my head on how many people that I had seen come back were in my age group.  I looked behind me and didn't see anyone and at this point too I had people from the 5K on my trail as well as the half marathon.  So who knows who I was competing against now.

It was good to see the 5K runners heading out and got words of encouragement from them.  Again, it was a small race compared to years past so there wasn't as much excitement.

Finally, mile 6 came and I had to run through the tree shaded final stretch.  I flipped on my headlamp and I had to dial my pace back a little.  Footing had turned from asphalt to dirty and grass (at times).  It was just ripe for a fall, but that never happened.

I cross the finish line after a sprint to the finish.  Another 10K in the books.





Conclusion


I grabbed a cool finisher's medal and walked off the nausea of having run fast in the heat.  I was "okay" with my time.  I was a little upset that my pace had dropped so far off in the last mile.



The medal was very nicely designed and heavy duty.  Each finisher, regardless of the race distance received one.

Afterwards, there was a bit of a party.  The Legacy Events Center, where the race was held, had some indoor shelters and there was an alien theme, music and glow lights.  There was also an ample selection of food: cotton candy (yuck after a run), Powerade, fruit, and Fat Boy Ice Cream sandwiches (yum).

I wound socializing and waiting for the results.  I was excited to see that I placed.  However, by the time the awards were being handed out it was after 1 AM and I was beat. 

I got what I paid for at the race: a good time and an accurate, well marshalled course.  


Saturday, July 20, 2019

2019 South Davis Recreation Center Handcart Days 5K Race Recap - Bountiful, UT




Official Time: 25:41
Placement: 39th male, 2nd in the 45 - 49 age group
Results: Here
Race WebsiteHere
Weather: Low 70's and warm, no wind
Garmin Dump: Forgot it
Previous Years: [2018] [2017] [2015] [2012]


Introduction


6 - 8 weeks ago I decided in my infinite wisdom to sign up for a half marathon -- in the middle of summer.  At the time that I signed up the summer wasn't that bad.  The highs for the day were around 82 and for a Utah summer, it was very mild. 

Unfortunately it didn't stay that way and summer became just that, summer.  So with about a week to go before the race and with temperatures hitting the mid 90's on a daily basis, I opted to switch to the 5 -- despite a mildly bruised ego.

The race director happily switched me over at no additional headache or cost.  I was pretty happy with my decision when I saw race weather showing around the low 70's for the start.  I haven't been getting in as many miles as I should for a half and I don't think I am quite heat acclimated just yet.


The Race


I rolled into the South Davis Recreation Center just as the half marathon was starting off (6 AM).  They had in the low 100 runners and I watched them head on out with just a tiny bit of regret.  I grabbed my bib in short order and began a warm-up.

Unfortunately they were out of my shirts, so apparently they are going to mail me one.  Bummer.  It looked like a good one this year too.

My warm-ups went well and I felt like I had a shot at a decent race.  It was warm and I was on a light mileage week so my legs weren't too beat up feeling.  I was ready to run fast -- I had my fast 5K shoes on and despite the warmth it was a fairly decent day for a 5K.  

Photo of the west side of Bountiful where I'd be running in about 30 minutes


It was during the warm-up that I realized I had forgotten my Garmin.  Argh.  I hate that because it screws up everything.  I had some thoughts about using my phone to track my run, but my phone these days is a fairly large one and the last thing I wanted to do was lug around a heavy phone.



The race started promptly at 7 AM and we were off.  I was hemmed in at the start but within a few hundreds yards I was off.  People were jockeying for position and soon enough I had settled into a pace... not sure what it was but I felt like it was aggressively.

I remember the first 1.5 miles or so as we ran down one of the main drags in Bountiful was mostly working with a young boy who ran about 100 - 200 yards hard and then would stop and tie his shoe or walk for a bit.  I'd thought I have left him in the dust when he came flying by me again.  It was until about half way through the race that I finally got some peace.... 

I was hurting at this point and I sensed that this wasn't going to be my race.  My legs just felt a little heavier and I felt like I wasn't getting enough air.  At about the 1.25 mile mark you also start a steady ascent back to the start.  I've written about it before -- it isn't a crazy uphill but just a death by a 1000 cuts.  

By the time I got to the aid station (at about mile 1.60 or so as memory serves) I knew the final stretch was going to hurt.  As I made my way south on Main Street I counted back the numbers of times I've run this stretch and how almost always I've suffered through it.  I am so close to the finish line yet so far away.

It was demoralizing being passed by the speedy half marathoners.  They had had an hour head start and the ones finishing in the sub 1:30 range fly by me.  Here I was racing my guts out at mile 2 or so and they were on mile 12 and they darted past me like nothing.

I dug deep and I just keep pressing.  I felt like I was going to puke and fortunately no one was behind me for quite some time.  

Finally I reached the summit of the hill and knowing there was less than a quarter of a mile left, I pushed with whatever I had left.  Thinking back I don't remember much about this segment of the race other than it felt so hard and painful.

The finish line finally came and as I crossed I couldn't tell if I had finished in 25:13 or slower... but I wasn't too surprised with my time.




Conclusion


I walked off the light headed feeling and was kind of dejected as I thought about my time.  25 and change.  Ugh, not the race I wanted.

I grabbed my finisher's medal and went over and got some Gatorade.  I reviewed the race with a few people but I only knew a handful of people there.



In the past it's taken them a while to do results and today it was no different.  Sadly it took nearly 2 hours to get the awards handed out.  On the plus side, though, there was a pancake breakfast and plenty of food.

It also took a while to simply find my time and placement.  But I was in no rush and had plenty of time.



I was excited to see that I finished 2nd in my age group.  They had some pretty slick awards and all said and told, I definitely got my money's worth.  I paid $30 and got a premium medal, shirt, refreshments, and breakfast.  Quite a deal.

I reviewed my time from last year and yes, I was slower.  But I appeared to have struggled last year too.  So given the time of year, this is probably not an ideal time to race for me.

This race was a painful reminder that 5Ks are tough.  Yes, the distance is not very intimidating, it is the pace of the race.  From the outset, it is rough going and really a test of fortitude (at least for me) and mental strength to keep pushing the pace even though you start feeling hazy, pukey and jelly-legged.



This course is definitely a test one too, since I've run it at least a dozen times, so it is a good fitness indicator.  It also means that I need to work on my speed endurance in the near future to reverse my time's directions.

Saturday, July 13, 2019

2019 Farmington Festival Days 10K Race Recap - Farmington, UT




Official Time: 55:01
Placement: 38th place overall, 22nd male, 4th in the 40 - 49
Results: Here
Race WebsiteHere
Weather: Lower 80's, overcast with slight wind from north.
Garmin Dump: Here (Garmin somehow quit recording my location)
Previous Years: [2018] [2012]

Mile TimeComments
19:15First half mile or so is up hill.
28:35Nice stretch here where I could get some speed going. Some downhills
38:55Hot out and it is wearing on me now
48:58Trying to hang in there
59:26Lots of turns and curves here.  I was pretty cooked at this point
69:18Mustered up a bit of a rebound but I was pretty gassed.
6.060:35
Total Miles: 6.06 - 55:01




Introduction


This weekend tends to be fairly light as far as races go.  I think there is a lull between the 4th of July and Utah's state holiday: Pioneer Day.

One of the races that I like to do is the Farmington Festival Days.  Farmington is located about 20 minutes north of Salt Lake City and is in the heart of Davis County.  They celebrate their town's history this weekend and like most summer time celebrations they tie a run to it. 

In the past, they've held a half marathon but recently they just offer a 5K and 10K.  It comes in at an affordable price and it is hard to pass up.



The Race


I rolled into the race at about 6:15 and grabbed my bib and shirt.  I was one of the first ones there so it was easy in and easy out. 

I wound up doing about a mile warm-up before the race and it felt tough.  The air seemed oppressive and muggy.  While it wasn't mid-western humid, it just felt heavy.  My warm-up didn't instill much confidence in me and I still felt half-asleep when I started to toe the line for the 7 AM start.

The race started on time and almost immediately you are greeted by a hill.  The hill lasts about a third or a half of a mile.  So much for getting off to a good start.

I was patient and took my time.  Finally, after rounding a corner the race starts to go flat and in fact you get the downhill.


At this point of the race you are running down Main Street in the bike lane.  Traffic at that hour is pretty light and the course was well marshaled.

Just after the mile marker, the 5K runners hang a right and the 10Kers continue down Main Street.  In a way, I wished I had been running the 5K as I was already hurting.  My legs just weren't responding and I was warm.  However, a 9 minute mile is just way too slow and I know I would've been frustrated running that for my initial mile in a 5K.

We got a bit of downhill into a residential section after mile 2 and I felt my spirits rise a bit. 

After running through the downhill section we are dumped out near I-15.  I was dying for a drink but in the first 2.5 miles -- nothing. 



At this point too we rejoined with the slower 5K runners.  Unfortunately they were walking / running 3-abreast on the tiny bike trail.  It wasn't too hard to navigate through them though. 

Close to mile 4 or so, the 5K runners hung a right to make their final push to the finish, while I continued to hit the Farmington Bike Trail. 

The trail is your standard-issue bike trail but it is heavily shrouded in trees.  It is actually quite pleasant.  You also get to take a few sneak peeks at the Lagoon Amusement park's animals.

I was hurting at this point and was trying to keep my pace going.  I had resigned myself that this wasn't my race but I hoped to beat last year's time (about 53:50). 

I couldn't gain much ground here on account of all the turns and also I just didn't have a lot to give.  I felt pukey and I felt like I was running on fumes.  I wasn't too surprised to see a 9 minute mile flash on my Garmin.

The last mile took me out of the bike trail and back onto Main Street.  There were some rolling hills here and I was working on sticking with the few runners that I had been with for most of the race. 

I remembered from last year that the race was a bit short and I was thanking my lucky stars as we hung the final right hand turn towards the finish. 

I crossed the finish line just over 55 minutes. I just didn't have a lot to give on this one and was totally spent.



Conclusion


No medal on this one.  For a budget race you have to finish in your age group and I was 4th.  Kind of sad about that but I would've had to finish about 4 minutes faster to get into the hardware.


I grabbed a bottle of water at the finish and worked my way around congratulating people that had run with me.  Once my stomach had settled I grabbed a banana and sauntered back to my car to get my stuff and some Powerade.



One of the nice things about this race is you get a super nice french toast breakfast.  While I was eating the clouds finally let loose with a decent rain.  Why couldn't it have done that during the race????



Overall, I was pleased with my race experience.  The course was easy to follow and the Farmington police did a good job managing the traffic so I could run without car interference.

My performance however, not so good.  The heat got to me and to be honest, my heart really wasn't into running this morning.  It was just tough going the minute the air horn went off.



For $20 I got my money's worth.  The shirt is a tech-cotton one.  Pretty simple design and nothing fancy.  The race could've used another water stop. There were two water stops and given the temperature, another one would've been nice.

For the price, I'd definitely do this one again.