Placement: 3rd in age group, 58th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 54F -- no wind - sunny
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: [2023]
| Mile | Time | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:06 | Off to an easy start. I was actually surprised by how quickly I ran this. |
| 2 | 8:09 | Form is good, still feeling strong |
| 3 | 8:21 | Definitely slowing down a bit. I was okay with it. |
| 4 | 8:54 | A little bit of uphill. Clearly my speed endurance is gone |
| 5 | 8:51 | Working with others. Still doing okay but not the pace I wanted. |
| 6 | 9:02 | Just trying to hang on. |
| 6.25 | 2:09 | Speed to the finish. |
| Total Miles: 6.25- 53:35 | ||
Introduction
Last year, I participated in the Run of Remembrance 10K and I had a good time. My race time wasn't what I was hoping for, but I got it done and found it to be an exciting way to commemorate Memorial Day as well as get in a run.
This year, I was hoping for revenge and bettering my time -- especially when I signed up for this race during the organizer's Black Friday sales in November. I also had hopes of placing in my age division -- having narrowly missed it last year.
 |
| Packet Pickup On Saturday |
The race is held in American Fork Utah, about 25 minutes south from my house in Murray. I had to go get my bibs (and some of my friends' bibs) at the expo on Saturday. So by the time I arrived on Monday morning at 7:15 AM, I was pretty much ready to run.
 |
| Getting ready to race! |
The Race
The race headquarters were situated at William S Robinson Park -- pretty much right off State Street. There was ample parking at a mass-use parking lot a quarter mile from the race. I managed to get the bibs I had collected pre-race to the recipients and cycled through the bathroom line. Pro-tip: there were only a few bathrooms (about 8 to 10) and lots of runners, so I made sure to go a few times pre-race.
I did a very brief warm-up and noticed almost immediately that the course was slightly different from the previous year. I was a little suspicious -- was I misunderstanding something? Did someone mismark the course? I did recognize the majority of it, but the pair of left hand turns threw me off.
The 10K, along with the 5K, started at 8 AM and several hundred runners began pounding their way south along S 100 E. I'd be coming north on my finish.
We ran to the end of the block towards a school before making a sharp left. Almost immediately we ducked into another neighborhood.
Initially it was congested, but given this was a road race and the quiet neighborhood didn't have a lot of traffic, I found myself running the pace I wanted to fairly quickly.
Currently, the 10K is about at my endurance limit. I have had a number of challenges of late that have caused me to reduce my daily volume. I knew I could cover the distance but holding what used to be my 10K pace was going to be challenging. I knew I just had to get this done, though, and I told myself to go out easy -- maybe 8:30 pace.
The pace came easily and it felt smooth. I soon found myself running with a friend of mine (BM) and it was nice to work with him for a while. Just before I reached the first mile marker, my watch beeped, letting me know that I had just run an 8:06 mile. So much for holding back.
At about mile 1.5, the 10K runners split from the 5K. Soon, I was back on familiar road and I remember the long stretch of nothing but southbound running. The number of participants had dropped by more than half at this point. BM and I were working together still holding a steady pace that was fast but still doable.
Mile 2 came up and I was still running faster than my goal pace. I knew I was hurting a little but at this point it was tolerable. I suspected though that I would have to pay the piper after the halfway point.
I had dropped BM and was working with another female runner. Occasionally, we'd pass other runners but it was pretty quiet. There wasn't much wind and it was peaceful to just run by an open grass field.
Around mile 2.5 we ran westward. Memories of last year's race popped up. It was around this point where my fantastic pace had fizzled out. And it seemed like that fear sort of came back. I could feel the lactic acid building up. I think my energy fizzled upon running along a very short stretch (maybe 100 yards) of rocky dirt road. It just took a bit more effort here and I felt like it broke my pattern. In a way, I started to panic.
I hit mile 3 in 8:21, still holding steady but I have clearly slowed down. I was still passing people and again memories of last year and struggling along this section came back to haunt me. I wouldn't describe the race as hilly, but there was a long stretch of road that just looked like it was going up hill.
I was still creeping up on people but I was running on fumes.
Finally, the long northbound stretch ended and we ducked into a nice neighborhood of well-to-do houses. I really enjoyed this change of scenery and seeing people's yardwork and so forth. I had to wonder what people thought of us running through their neighborhood.
Mile 4 -- this mile marker was off (the only one that was) but I ran it in 8:51. Not where I wanted to be. I was struggling. The monotonous, but gentle climb, was taxing me and I was a little warm feeling. I had bypassed the first aid station but liberally doused myself with cool water at the subsequent one, which helped.
 |
| Start of the mile race. |
We did another jog and finally circled back to where we had split from the 5K runners at mile 4.66. My pace was barely a saunter at this point and occasionally I'd must up some spirit but it was usually short-lived. My form was rubbish and I couldn't wait for the race to be over, but I knew I still had another mile and a half to go.
I recalled a lot of the harder sessions that I had done and focused on the work I had put in. It helped but it wasn't enough. Mile 5 came in at 8:54 minutes. Barely half marathon pace.
I found a little extra in the final mile and a quarter. There were some 5K runners still out on the course and I received a little bit of encouragement from them. Occasionally more evenly paced runners in the 10K would pass me, but I didn't have a lot of runners tailing me. I had my doubts that I would qualify for an age group award either, given that 51 minutes last year didn't cut it (it got me 4th place) so 53 and change wasn't going to do it either.
But I didn't give up. It was also at this point that I ran by the race photographer. I saw him at the last minute and usually, if I see them, I try to put on a brave smile and fix my form. Instead, I got a terrible photo (no fault to him) but I look like I am suffering.
 |
| Yeah, that bad |
Finally, I hooked the final turn and I could hear the blare of music and see the line of crowds leading into the finish line. My pace cranked up to 5K pace again and my finish line approach actually looks great.
I crossed the finish line in 53:35... about 2 minutes slower than last year.
 |
| Finish looking good! |
Conclusion
So, to make it clear, I was happy just to finish. Given the trials and tribulations I've had to deal with this spring (injuries and health issues), I was just happy to close out the distance. I am WAY behind where I was last year but I was okay with it. I did regret not signing up for the 5K though, as I think my 5K would've been pretty decent.
I was shocked -- no stunned -- that I placed 3rd in my age group. The Runtastic Events tend to be very competitive, so earning an extra medal was a nice a bonus.
I wound up spending an inordinate amount of time socializing with fellow runners. It was such a nice day with ideal temperatures.
Despite my time being slower than last year, I felt like this was a huge accomplishment. It gave me a lot of confidence in knowing I could run hard and finish a 10K. Also, my first 2.5 miles in the race were where I'd want them to be for a 5K. So I felt like things were trending in the right direction.
The medals -- especially the age group ones where really nice. Normally the age group medals are an afterthought, but this one was a very nice design and it was heavy.
I hadn't really paid too much attention to the post race refreshments but before hitting the road I swung by to see what they had: bananas, chocolate milk and oranges. They may have had something else, but I was late to the party.
The shirt was a polyester / cotton blend. I liked the design on it and it will be serviceable for short runs, but the cotton blend isn't my favorite.
I paid about $35 for the race during their pre-sale. For a 10K, it is about spot on. The price did jump quite significantly as the race event approached. I got a nice deal for it and I was happy I had participated. The course was well marked, and the finish line was a lively event.
I will likely participate in this event next year. Tons of my friends were there and it was a nice way to remember and reflect about our freedoms and those who paid the ultimate price.
Upcoming Races
06/22: 2024 Emigration 10 Mile Race - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)
06/29: 2024 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K - Taylorsville, UT (Confirmed)
07/24: 2024 Deseret News Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed
08/17: 2024 PC2PG 10K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)
09/07: 2024 Cedar City Half Marathon - Cedar City, UT (Confirmed)
09/28: 2024 Witch Run 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)
10/05: BLOCKED OUT WEEKEND
10/19: 2024 Haunted Half 5K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)
10/26: 2024 Haunted Half 5K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)
02/23: 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)
04/26:2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)
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