2025 Vineyard City Gold Rush 5K Race Recap -- Vineyard, UT

Running along the shores of Utah Lake

Official Time: 26:20
Placement: 3rd in the 50 - 59 -- 63rd overall
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 43F -- damp but negligible wind
Course Map / Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2024] [2023]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:23	Decent start. Still slower than usual.
2	8:52	Was hoping I'd at least match the first mile. I think a few hills slowed me up.
3	8:45	Pushing as hard as I could.
3.05	0:19	Dug deep and pushed.
	Total Miles: 3.05- 26.21

Calm before the race!

Introduction

Despite not having a great race last weekend, I somewhat surprised myself by signing up for the Vineyard City Gold Rush 5K.  I had a case of FOMO and I kind of wanted something to do on Saturday morning.

Having run the race before, I knew that Vineyard -- along with its views of Utah Lake, would be a beautiful opportunity to run in an area I normally would make a special trip to.  It has also been a bit of time since I've run a 5K and given my current fitness, maybe I could surprise myself at the event.

Packet pick up at Vineyard Grove Park

I did arrive at the race just shy of 8 AM for the 8:30 AM start.  It was damp but not terrible out.  The weather was threatening a bit of rain but the morning was ideal for racing:  perfect footing, no wind and cool out.

Packet pickup / parking was a snap since I had gotten there early and I wound up doing about a mile warm-up.  On the 30 minute drive to Vineyard, I felt ready to race.  My warm-up was a different story.  I felt flat and not very "fast".  I could barely must up any sort of stride work and I felt the stiffness / fatigue that I've been dealing with for the last 2 months creep up.  This was going to be a challenging race.

Let's do this!

The Race 

If you've been following my blog of late, you know my race performances haven't been the greatest.  I was really hoping that today was going to change all of that.  I felt okay on the 30-minute drive down to the race, but once I started to do my 1 mile easy warm-up, I felt the fatigue creep in.  I didn't really have any energy to do any strides and it seemed to be a struggle just to do a shuffle.  My Garmin was reporting that my heart rate was near 150 BPM, which also seemed very high for the shuffle I was doing.  Was this a false report?  What is going on?

Section of the running path along Utah Lake

I managed to get to the starting line and started to look at my competion.  A friend of mine, who happens to be in the same age division and would surely finish ahead of me, made me think that at best I was competing for 2nd place.  Should I be worried?  

I just told myself to relax and just get this race done!

Section of the running path along Utah Lake

The race started off and immediate we began to run westward along the sidewalk.  It was crowded running, but I had lined up appropriately.  At times I was cramped and opted to run on the streets, but for the most part it was smooth sailing.

After a block, we hung a right to go north and then once again ran south towards Lake Utah. This course was identical to their Thanksgiving race.  Despite the damp conditions, the running conditions were great.  It was a bit muggy out, but it wasn't a detractor and there was virtually no wind.

Just after or before mile 2

Just before the mile 1 marker hit, up came another runner who definitely looked to be in my age group.  

Was I now competing for 3rd?

I felt okay and the brain fog / fatigue was there, but it wasn't dominating my run.  The mile 1 marker came up and not soon after, my watch ran 8:15.  

I hadn't glanced at all at my watch and the pace was decent and not unexpected.

The final push along the streets of Vineyard Utah

At this point, we were on the highlight of the course.  To my right was Lake Utah with some stunning views of the westwide mountains.  My competition was still ahead of me, but he wasn't gaining too much ground.  

I felt like I was running okay but every now and then I'd hit a minor hill and my pace dropped.  I knew I had had difficulties last year on this stretch.  I knew my pace had slowed, but it would seem like everyone else's had as well.

Section of the running path along Utah Lake

While I thoroughly enjoyed running on the bike trail, I knew a mental queue was when I would go head east - and at that point I knew I was going to be in the final third of the race.

Finally, the runners ahead of me could be seen making the turn.  Internally, I sighed with relief.  In addition, my competiton was still within striking distance.  Time to turn it up a notch!

Hilly portion of the walkway

After another quarter mile or so, I was greeted by the mile 2 sign.  We were back to running on the sidewalk and headed east.  I was working with a pack of runners and I felt like I could really press the final mile, despite having run a kind of disappointing 8:45.

Section of the running path along Utah Lake

I was now running neck and neck with my competition.  Usually I can't pull off something like that but today, I was doing it.  It gave me motiviation.  Part of me wantede to ask him his age group, but I'd rather have to work for the finish.

I started to put some ground on him.

Section of the running path along Utah Lake

I had done my warm-up, up to the final turn and I was trying to find the park on the right, which would indicate the turn back onto a bike trail.  Finally the park came into view and I saw a solitary orange corn with an arrow on it.  It didn't change how far I still had to go, but it was yet another mental breakdown of the race.

Finally, the black asphalt appeared and I ducked left.  A little more than half a mile to go.  I felt like I was running fast but at times I had glanced at my watch and it was slower than my perceived exertion.  

I didn't want to look over my shoulder to see how much distance I had put on my competition.  I imagined him right on my tail and that only spurred me on.

It was also helpful: I was running with another guy who was at my same pace.  He may have been encouraging his children but he was also encouraging me.  Push! And telling us how much distance we had.  Hearing someone else definitely helped, even though a simple glance of my watch would've told me the same thing.  I was just nice to work with someone.

Recalling from the Thanksgiving race, I knew that once I turned the final corner I wouldn't have much road left to make up the distance.  The course, routinely comes in at around 3.06 miles. Despite hitting the 3 mile marker early, I knew I had to push my hardest.

My running mate and I both took off at the same time. He probably had 15 years on me, and his sprint was definitely better than mine.  But I sped through the finish line, with the final mile coming in at about the same as mile 2.  But I was done!

The finish line!

Conclusion

I wound up beating the Leprechaun in the race.  One of the gimicks is that if you beat the volunteer, you won a golden coin (a real $1 coin).  I didn't even see the Leprechaun but it was a nice incentive.

I also received a pretty cool finisher's medal.

Runners finishing.

My friend came up to me after the race (the one who was in my age group) and reported that a probable guy in our age group (50 to 59) beat him.  Now, I was worried.

After recoverying, I went to the truck to print my results.  I came in 3rd and it later became official.  It does turn out that the guy who I was chasing, was indeed in my age group.  I felt pretty bad about it, but I know I've been in his shoes many times before.

Quick post race photo

Post race refreshments were water and some flavor packets. There was also an assortment of granola bars and fruit.  We were also encouraged to go to the local school (that we passed early in the race) for a community breakfast -- that was free.

Runners cheering finishers on

I wound up doing about a 2.5 mile cool down after getting my award.  Most of the photos you see on the page were taken post race.  The post race breakfast was there to showcase some local exhibitors.  I had missed most of it, but there was yogurt, hot chocolate, muffins and high-end cupcakes.  There was also fruit.  A simple help yourself continental breakfast.

Medals + Leprechaun chase coin

This race is a bargain and runs like a well oiled machine.  I got into the race about a week before it and paid $30.  There is an option to buy a shirt, but they are cotton and I've already got a ton of them.  The race was also filled with a mix of casual runners and those who were definitely competing.  The course is also flat, well marked and offered one aid station.

My performance: was not a break through. It was simply okay and par for the course, and I've definitely lost something.  It was nice to come home with a double medal (plus the lucky coin).  I was able to shake off the fatigue and brain fog but I still felt like something was holding me back.

I need to figure out things.  Mysteriously, I've lost a fair amount of time in my races and I don't have a reasonable explanation.  Perhaps a doctor's visit is in order

Upcoming Races

04/26: 2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

05/10: 2025 Run Farmington 10K - Farmington, UT (Confirmed)

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