2024 Cedar City Half Marathon Race Recap - Cedar City, UT

Official Time: 1:58:07
Placement: 144 male, 9th in the 50 - 54 age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 50's, slight tailwind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] 

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:12	Easing into the race
2	8:45	Letting gravity pull me downhill, but not pushing it
3	8:49	Still coasting.
4	8:33	Feeling pretty good. Largest descent of the race
5	8:39
6	8:41	Course starts to level out.
7	8:51	Pretty much done with hills. Just have to work for it now.
8	8:51	Holding steady
9	9:03	Can't wait to get to the bike trail.
10	9:21	Finally the bike trail!
11	9:24	Just a simple 5K to go
12	9:57	Just want to be done
13	9:46	Can't wait to make the finish.
13.02	0:10	Push the last hundred meters or so. Just happy to be done.
Total Miles: 13.02 1:58:06

Introduction

Last year, I ran the Cedar City Half Marathon for the first time.  It is a well established race -- going into its 15th year this year, and is run in Iron County -- down Cedar Canyon Road.

The race is well attended and offers a 5K and a half marathon.

When I ran the half marathon year I distinctly remember telling myself "never again". I was in agony as the final miles wore me down.  I am just not good at downhill racing, I told myself and was mentally punishing myself for even trying.

After the race though, I was really happy with my overall experience and those negative feelings sort of subsided.  A few days later I got an email with an offer code to get into the 2024 edition for a more than fair price (I think about $40).  Being the sucker I am to save a few bucks, I figured why the heck not and signed up.

As the date of the race approached, I'll admit, I had some anxiety and remorse about signing up.  Did I really want to put myself through it again?  Smashing the first 6 - 8 miles and then with my quads shot, try to finish the remainder of the race with a fake smile on my face?  Sure, why not...

Pre-Race

Cedar City is about a 3.5 hour drive from Salt Lake City.  I left the Friday before the race (which was on the next day, Saturday).  I made the trip in good order, checked into my Best Western, which is incidentally located about 2 blocks from the bus pickup / drop off.  

Packet Pickup at the Heritage Center

I then made my way to the Expo to get my bib and shirt.  It was well organized and had a vendor or two and incase I had forgotten something, I could arm myself with some gels and even a new set of shoes.

I'd be up in those mountains tomorrow morning

I decided to go for a short 3 mile-ish run around Cedar City.  It was pretty warm -- about 90F degrees and I found myself sort of short on air -- Cedar City does sit at around 5000 feet elevation -- a smidge higher than Salt Lake.  The run did me good. It helped me loosen up after the long drive and help me calm my nerves.

I had some loose plans for dinner. Pizza? A Buffet? Subway?  I didn't feel like moving the car and so I found the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant across the street.  It worked well and I would definitely go back there again.  It was also cool in the fact that the restaurant was in a refurbished Union Railroad Station.  You could still feel the old timey-ness in it.

I slept okay -- better than last year -- I think partly because I knew the drill and what to expect in the morning.  

In the morning, I ate some cereal, a couple of apples, the plainest, most boring cup of coffee ever and some Gatorade.  I wound up snacking on a packet of Gummies before the race to top off my energy stores and I had some Tailwind that I made as well.

The Race

I was on the bus by 5:40 AM and it took awhile, but the bus eventually got going and we were off.  It was about an 11 mile ride and took about 20 minutes.  The ride up there brought back memories of last year and to be honest, I wasn't anxious or nervous about the race. Despite it being a destination race, it felt like home.  I think in some ways it was because I had set a more than reasonable time goal and I had let myself off the hook on competing.  This race was just going to be about enjoying the atmosphere and getting it done.

People assembling pre-race.

I had about an hour wait at the top and I knew a few people.  They had music, fire pits, and plenty of bathrooms, although they could've used a few more).  

The race's starting line is located at Wood Ranch Park.  It was nice watching the sun rise.  There was a chill in the air and I was glad I brought a light jacket.  I also brought thin gloves which I wound up not needing.  I was okay in shorts but it would've been more comfortable to have had some tights on.

The race started off promptly at 7 AM.  It was hard getting going at just over 8,100 feet of elevation.  But I knew I just needed to get out of the park and onto Cedar Canyon Road and soon gravity would take my plummeting down to Cedar City.

Last year, I went all out in the race and was blasting near mile race pace for the first 5 or 6 miles.  This year, I clearly was not going for a PR or even racing it.  Given some of my heath issues this year, I haven't run a half marathon since March and while I had covered the distance a few times in training, I hadn't really banked the miles and training I would've like to have done.

My primary goal was to finish.  The next goal was not to blow up and finish under 2 hours.  

For the first few miles, as I made my way down the canyon, I was neck and neck with the 2-hour pacer.  I think he was going out a bit too fast but the early miles seemed easy and gravity was doing most of the work, it seemed.

It was beautiful out and I was enjoying the scenery. I remembered a great deal of it from last year but this year I was able to enjoy it a bit more.

Bag pipe players given encouragement to the runners!

The first 6 miles are massive downhills.  About 200 - 300 feet of decline according to my watch.  There were a few sections of flat or even uphill, but mostly you could just coast.  This part of the run was also the prettiest and we were treated to a group of bagpipe players around mile 3.  It was definitely worth a brief pause while running to take a photo.

The canyon walls, pines and greenery eventually gave way to a bit more of a red rock landscape.  Cedar City has about the same temperature profile of Salt Lake City, but it is on the fringes of St George, so it shares a lot of the same geology.  The trees got fewer and there was more red rock canyon walls, mining pits, and desert like scrub.  Also, the course began to level out.  It was still a net downhill but now I actually had to work.

After mile 6, my pace dropped a bit.  My legs were pretty smashed and my lack of long-distance / endurance-based training, was starting to show.  It didn't drop off a cliff but I remember feeling that the final miles were going to be tough.  It definitely didn't feel as bad last year's.  I am pretty sure I went off the rails around mile 7 ... So I was mentally patting myself on my back for not flying down the hills.

At mile 8, I was mentally fatigued -- maybe even more so than physically.  I was breaking down the race and was looking for the first hint of the bike trail.  The bike trail, would signify that I had about a 5K race to go before finishing.  Also the bike trail had a different set of train: houses, parks, soccer fields, and crowds.

The volunteers along the race course were great and enthusiastic, but the first 8 miles -- hardly anyone was there to lend  you a cheer.  Most races of less than a 1000 people are like that but I was feeling it today.

There were a group of people welcoming you to the bike trail, including some Army soldiers.  It was a welcome site and knowing I had about 30 minutes left to go, brightened my spirits.

The bike trail has some undulating hills.  You do get some downhill and overall it is downhill, but I still had to put in an effort to stay under 2 hour pace.  It was also at this point where I started to panic: I REALLY wanted to get under 2 hours.  I had left the pacer behind (he had slowed up to a more accurate 2 hour pace) and I had been on target for something of around 1:55.  

The Southern Utah Cross Country / Track team was on the course providing hydration, support and directions.  The course was well marked and there were some areas where one could've gone off course but every turn had a volunteer, cones or arrows.  It was easy to follow.

The race was large enough so I was never running by myself.  I felt a bit sad though as I found more people were passing me than I was passing.  It felt uncomfortably warm as well, despite wearing nothing more than short-shorts and a tank-top.  

Last year I remember walking and then doing strides in the final mile or so of the race.  I was toying with doing that but I just kept shuffling along.  I didn't want to walk.  

Definitely feeling it on the bike trail

I kept looking at my watch:  I'd run for a bit, guess at how much more I had to run and then see in reality how much longer I had to run. I really wanted to be done and in the last mile I kept looking over my shoulder: was the 2-hour pacer closing in on me?  If he had showed up, I think I would've wept.

Finally, with a  half mile to go, I heard the din coming from Bicentennial Park. This is the city's park that looked to be used for city events and local youth sports (baseball / soccer).  I did pick up the pace here a little but I wasn't going to catch anyone and I clearly wasn't up for any age group awards.

When the finish line came into view, I was knew I was going to get under 2 hours and I was going to finish!

Conclusion

So this race was more of a moral victory than anything else.  Since all my health issues, my running times have plummeted.  I set a realistic goal, realistic pace and I got what I came for.  The final 2 miles, were a challenge, but I didn't feel the screws being tightened until then, versus at mile 8 or so last year.

My time is a far cry from last  year's time and is on par with the times I was putting in, in late Spring.  But this was a gravity-assisted course, so hardly comparing apples to apples.

The course is punishing though.  With all the downhill, it will leave you sore.  Even as I type this, on Wednesday night, I still have some residual soreness.  I did opt to run in the Brooks Glycerin shoes, versus my normal Saucony Pros.  I have been dealing with some plantar fasciitis and I felt like I needed the extra protection -- which actually was a smart move (if I do say so myself). 

Refreshments at the end (just some of it)

This race is a gem:

1) The t-shirt is (nearly) unarguably the best I've gotten this year.  Nice color, nice design, nice material.  This is one I'll definitely wear -- a lot.  Thank you!

2) The swag bag was packed with stuff.  Stuff I could actually use.  There were a few promotion items in it that were worthless, but most of the stuff in there I'll definitely try: hydration, snacks, gels, etc.

3) The medal is honking BIG.  I mean this thing may go down as one of the best medals I've gotten all year.

4) The race was well organized: from packet pickup, to bus loading, to race start, to course management, to aid stations. 

5) The finish line food at the end was epic.  Snacks, Coke, protein products, sports drink, water, even some local restaurants providing food.  I don't have much of an appetite after a race, but Coke is my absolute favorite after a long run.  Well done Cedar City!

6) The finish line area had live entertainment was incredibly relaxing to sit in the sun, make new friends, and soak in the atmosphere.

7) I was able to jump on a shuttle bus a mere 50 yards away from the finish line and get driven back to the bus loading area.  I then had about a 10 minute walk back to my hotel. 

I really enjoyed my weekend (I wound up going to Mesquite, Nevada for two nights after the race to enjoy the food, pool and casino).  I want to put this one on my list to do again.  There may be some life changing plans coming up soon, so I hate to pony up the money now, only to not be able to do the race.  But if I am in the area, I'd certainly do this race again and I would highly recommend it to those looking for a blazing fast half marathon course.

Celebratory (Virgin) Pina Colada

Upcoming Races

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)

11/02: Vineyard Blizzard 5K - Vineyard, UT (Maybe)

11/09: Sandy City Thanksgiving 5K - Sandy, UT (Maybe)

11/16: Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Maybe)

11/28: 2024 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Run 5K - Bountiful, 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)