2024 Provo Haunted 5K Race Recap - Provo, UT

Welcome to the Haunted Half

Official Time: 26:43 (*25.44 for my 5K)
Placement: 4th in my age group, 117th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: Mid 40's breeze from the south (but felt like the north)
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2022] [2021] [2015]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:06	Hemmed in start, but still feeling good throughout.
2	8:19	Slowed down a bit. Lactic was definitely building up
3	8:30	Overall, this mile isn't too bad but it felt bad.  Was just done.
3.22	1:49	Given the dropped hat and running through a tunnel, not too bad.
	Total Miles: 3.22 - 26:44

Getting my bib at Utah Valley University

Introduction

About 2 years ago (yes 2!), I picked up a cheap entry to the Haunted 5K Provo edition.  The race organizer, every Thanksgiving timeframe, offers up all of their races for a cheap price.  If you can commit to a race a year in advance, you can save a lot of money.  

Unfortunately in 2023, I couldn't attend the race due to a wedding on the west coast, so I had to defer it to 2024.  So this year, I finally got to collect on money spent back in 2022.  Yeah for me.

So, on Friday I drove to Utah Valley University, scored my bib (and 4 others for friends) and deemed myself ready to race this year.

Folks lined up behind me

The Race

So this race is a big one -- it sold out in the final days leading up to the race -- with 1400 runners potentially racing.  Runtastic's Halloween races are some of the most highly attended races in the Salt Lake Area.  They also had a half marathon going on as well.

Almost at the start

I arrived at the race site at 7:45 for the 8:30 AM start.  I got settled in and used the ample bathroom supply and did a fairly short warm-up.  I managed to meander my way to the start line, sneak up into the front (not 100% in the front but close enough to not be hemmed in too badly).  It was cool out but not terrible and I went out with thin gloves, a t-shirt and shorts.  Other than the gloves I wasn't dressed any differently than some of my summer races.

And off we went.  Initially I was hemmed in.  The race organizers, if they were looking for a way to improve the start line experience, would be to encourage slower runners to start further back (or even having pace areas)

I was hemmed in but managed to navigate my way around people.  I probably lost 5 - 10 seconds here.  It wasn't the worst but it definitely cost me a few precious seconds.

The race was situated at a corporate park and we took off on a small side street and eventually headed down a service road.  I think I ran this service road in 2021.  While my Garmin reports the wind was blowing from the south, it felt like it was coming from the north.

I wound up passing two people that I suspected were in my age group.  I had no idea who else was in my age group but my goal was to go out strong and hang in there.  

I knew going in that the race was going to be somewhat long.  On their website, they had a mapped out course, with the measurement coming in at 3.18 miles.  So I wasn't too surprised to see my Garmin chirp well before the first mile marker.

Pumpkin Finish Line

Despite the congestion, I had started off at 8:06. I felt really solid and the pace came easily.  The course was fairly flat and I was having mini competitions with the runners around me.  In fact, I was willing to bet at that point I was going to have a fantastic race.

We were on bike trail for a bit before circling around the perimeter of a shopping center before jumping onto a tree shrouded bike trail.  If I have one complaint about the course (other than it was long), it was that I'd run within a quarter (or half) mile of the finish line twice and I just want to be done.  I could hear the announcer and the din of the crowd each time.

I knew I was slowing down but I told myself I would hit it hard on the final mile and to be patient.  My mile 2 came in at 8:16 -- not quite what I was hoping for but okay, I'll take it.

Mile 3 was tough.  Again, there was a gentle breeze and it just seemed to take the life out of me.  Also, I suddenly found myself running back in the corporate park.  The mile markers at this point were .12 miles out of sync and I knew this was going to be a long race (they matched up with the half marathon though).

Mayhem at the finish line

This part of the course was dull and I could sense the race course was just making up distance so that it could get in the mileage.  I felt like my pace was in the crapper and I really didn't want to look at my watch and figure out how slow I was running.  I gave it what I could.  I did glance at my watch several times trying to calculate how much further I had to run -- including the shorted distance.

We passed right by the starting again and I knew I had about a quarter mile to go.  I dug deep and finally got off the quiet street and onto the driveway to finish the last part of the race.  

I was deciding on whether to run through the tunnel.  Runtastic's Halloween runs have about a 50 yard darkened tunnel with streamers, low light, etc that you get to run into.  It definitely slows you down due to the lighting and you have to actively move the streamers aside to avoid getting slapped in the face.  I knew it was coming and they give you the option to run along side of the tunnel to avoid it.

The tunnel of doom!

I was wearing a cap and of course at the first round of streamers, it took my hat off (I noticed the runner in front of me had the same experience).  I was tempted to leave it behind and get it later, but I stopped, turned around and grabbed it -- costing me another 5 seconds or so.

Running down the inflatable alley is always fun and there was a decent fan base cheering us on -- it felt like I was finishing a marathon.  I finally sped under the inflatable pumpkin finish and I saw the first number for my minute time was in the 26s.  Yuck.

Happy / Sad Eddie

Conclusion

So, I was disappointed but hopeful that I was going to place in my age group.  I hadn't seen too many people in my age group so I had hopes I'd place.  But it was a big race and over a 100 people had finished before me, so I knew my chances weren't great.

Turns out I finished 4th -- again.  

So all things considered I ran "okay".  Not great, not terrible, but simply right about on par.  I clocked my 5K at 25:44 (or so) given that I had lost a few seconds at the start, it is about average for what I am running right now.  I was baffled though because I did feel like today was going to be a good day, but the final mile -- it just wasn't there.

I had a good time, though.  All things considered this is a fun event.  Provo is such a pretty area and running along the fall colored trees next to the Provo River -- that is cool.  The course was nearly 100% flat as well, so it was primed for a good race.  There were, however, quite a few turns, but I actually enjoyed that as it broke up some of the "sameness".

Finisher's 5K medal + shirt

The medal -- as usual -- was very cool.  The shirt was basically a repeat of last week's but a different color.  Not a fan of the material, but none the less a cool Halloween shirt.  Post race refreshments included sports drink, bananas, oranges and donuts.  There were vendors there as well giving out protein bars and samples.

Although I am frustrated with my race time, I did have a great time and it was a picturesque fall racing day.  I couldn't ask for a nicer day in fact.

For a race that had 1400 5K runners (plus spectators) and a large half marathon race (I think nearly a 1000), the race was well organized and marshalled.  They had marshals to ensure people weren't cutting the course as well as providing instructions on where to go. 

Put this one on your list to get you in the Halloween spirit!

My attire for the race!

Upcoming Races

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

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

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)

2024 Salt Lake City Haunted 5K Race Recap - Salt Lake City, UT

Inflatables at the Packet Pickup

Official Time: 24:23
Placement: 4th in age age group, 107th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: mid 40's, breeze from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2022] [2021] [2020]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:43	Congested start. Took a while to navigate around people. Decent hill halfway through
2	7:59	Cruising now. Mostly a downhill mile.  Enjoying this segment and felt FAST!
2.96	7:42	Smashed this mile. Really happy with it.
	Total Miles: 2.96: 24:25

View of the lake at Sugarhouse Park

Introduction

Last year during the Black Friday sales, I wound up signing up for the Haunted Half 5K put on by Runtastic Events.  This race organizer puts on several races around the Salt Lake area and their Halloween runs are probably their most well attended event.  They have a sister event the following week in Provo that also offers a 5K and half marathon.

I would love to sign up for the half marathon, but I just hate gambling on my fitness and signing up for the race so close to the race date winds up being expensive (I think the registration got up over a $100 for the half marathon).  

This race is well attended, competitive and generates a huge crowd -- with over 1,000 runners in the 5K and close to that number for the 5K.

The starting line

The Race

I had grabbed my bib at the expo the day before, so when I rolled into the race around 7:45 AM (8:30 AM start), I was ready to go.  It was a chilly and breezy morning as I walked about half a mile from the parking spot to the race headquarters: Sugarhouse Park.

People I had to work around at the start

I knew I was going to warm up quick, so opted with summer attire -- shorts, t-shirt and thin gloves.  I wore the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 shoes which have served me well.

The park itself is iconic and home to many 5K races.  The Salt Lake City Marathon makes a lap around it and a lot of charity races throughout the year are held there.

The half marathon runners had started at 8:00 AM and had been bussed to the top of Emigration Canyon.  They had ample bathrooms and I wound up doing a quick warmup and strides to get ready.  I felt pretty good, but some soreness / fatigue in my legs.

The race started promptly at 8:30 AM and we were off.  We did a quick jog to exit the park before crossing a street and heading into a tree-lined subdivision.  In the fall, it is a pretty place to run.  The houses are older and it is just a fun place to run.  Also the first mile is a gentle culminating with a pretty steep climb.  I wasn't too shocked to see an 8:45 mile.  

Given the size of the race, the first quarter mile was pretty congested. I wasn't way up in front but I probably should've jockeyed a little closer.  There are a lot of "fun runners" and I often had to navigate around walkers, people pushing strollers, etc.  But eventually I did get to let loose.

I noticed right away that the mile markers were way way off.  I've run the route a few times and it usually comes in at 3.05 miles, but the mile 1 marker was off by at least .1 of a mile.  I certainly didn't think the route had changed.

Half marathoners coming in just after mile 12

At the summit of the largest hill in the race, we finally got to run downhill.  Memories of previous times I've run the route came back at me and I knew this was the mile to make up some time.  I felt like I had worked pretty hard to get where I was but I was renewed with energy and I careened down the gentle slopes -- dodging patches of potentially slippery leaves along the way.  

Once again the mile 2 marker was off but my Garmin rang in a sub 8-minute mile.  Could I salvage the race after a slow start?  I did get some shouts of encouragement from the other racers and I was still feeling solid.  

Upon passing the 2 mile marker (along with the 12 mile half marathon marker) I entered Sugarhouse Park to run a lap around the perimeter.  It starts off with a nice downhill and then a series of small uphill climbs.  I am never thrilled with running a lap around the park -- it doesn't feel fast and the finish line is so close, yet so far away.

Costumes and photo opportunities galore.

I didn't really see anyone in my age group and the one guy I was trying to keep in my sights, who I suspected was in my age group, had put a good 30 - 40 second lead on me (it turns out he was in my age group and why I didn't get an age group award).

I felt like I wasn't running very fast and there were moments when my pace felt like it dropped to a crawl and other times where I simply rebounded and overtook a few people.  I kept replaying in my head all the sessions that I've done in training and had to dig deep to complete.  I knew I could handle it.

Finally the finish line came into view and I could hear the music and announcer shouting out names.  I still had so far to go.  

I ran by the 3 mile marker and sure enough I was at about 2.80 miles or so.  Sometimes race organizers misplace the final one but it seemed to be eternity to get to the finish line.

Sadly, due to high wind conditions, the race organizers couldn't put up the inflatables along the finish line. Usually the last .10 of a mile involves running by a ton of blow-up Halloween decorations.  Also, you run through a long, dark tunnel filled with streamers.  It definitely slows you up (I think most runners were happy not to run through it) but it definitely adds to the Halloween atmosphere.

The finish line experience was sort of anti-climatic and I wasn't 100% sure where it ended but I sped through the finish line, finishing in 24:23 at a distance of 2.95 miles.

Smiles at the finish line

Conclusion

So a race converter basically puts me at around 25:40 or so.  About average for my current level of fitness.  I felt, however, that I could've chipped away a bit more time at the end and I probably lost a good 15 - 20 seconds from weaving and losing time at the start.

I did, however, feel that the race was a success. I ran strong and it just felt like a better experience that my most recent races.  

I was disappointed with my age group results -- 4th place -- 2nd in a row.  Turns out the guy I was trying to keep up with was in my age group and was the deal breaker for going home with 2 medals.

Post race refreshments were hydration (sports drink), bananas, oranges and donuts.  There was also a protein bar maker there that was offering that as well.

Bib, shirt, medal

The t-shirt design this year was above average -- but still a cotton / polyester blend.  I probably won't wear it much. Please race directors: 100% polyester, sports-tech.  The medal was a work of art and I really wanted the half marathon one: it was definitely a step above the 5K one.

I was really disappointed with the lack of a finish line experience.  It isn't the race director's fault but one of the joys is being cheered in by the crowds as we speed down the final stretch surrounded by inflatable objects.  

I do believe that last year, we started a bit further west along the service road, hence the discrepancy in the race distance.  The race's course was the same, but I think this was the primary reason why the race wasn't even 3 miles (most people got between 2.95 and 3.05 miles).

All in all, it was a great experience.  The weather was perfect and many of my friends were in attendance.  While not a stellar performance, it was a small step in the right direction for me.  At this point, I'll take my wins where I can.

Upcoming Races

10/26: 2024 Haunted Half 5K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

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

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)

2023 Haunted Half 5K Race Recap - Salt Lake City, UT

Ready to Start!

Official Time: 23:27
Placement: 4th in age age group, 53rd overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: low 50's, slight breeze from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2022] [2021] [2020]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:09	A bit of a slow start. Last part of the mile was a grind uphill
2	7:34	Taking advantage of the downhill here. Feeling good.
3	7:28	Some up, mostly downhill.  Could see / hear the finish line the entire way.
3.04	0:14
	Total Miles: 3.04: 23:27

Entering Sugarhouse Park

Introduction

One of the biggest races for the Halloween race season is the Haunted Half races put on by Runtastic Events.  They have a race on one weekend in Salt Lake City and another race the following weekend 30 minutes south in Provo Utah.

The past few years I've really enjoyed doing their races, particularly the 5K races.  The weather for a fall half marathon in years past has always been dicey and also the half marathon involves a bus ride and sometimes a lengthy wait in a cold canyon before the race start.

Southern Pond / Lake at Sugarhouse

Either way, I do enjoy the 5K race distance and that has been my focus for most of this year. The events are well attended and well organized.  I also saved quite a bit of money by registering nearly a year in advance.

This year saw a return to Sugarhouse park -- a large, multiuse park on the east side of town.  I ran this course in 2021 and it has some hills to it, but I felt it was a very fast course.  I did miss the massive downhill from 2022 but at the same time, I didn't mind the bus ride for a simple 5K race.

Waiting to Start!

The Race

Unlike 2021, we had picture perfect weather.  A nice breeze, sunny skies and no rain.  I went out with a shorts, thin gloves, and a t-shirt.  I probably didn't need the gloves but I figured why not.

I had gotten my bib the day before at a packet pickup in downtown Salt Lake.  So I didn't have to worry about the logistics of getting it with 700+ other 5K runners.  Pretty much the walk to the park from where I parked covered a decent warm-up.  I did a few drills and strides and I was ready for the 8:30 AM start.

Random Lawn Decorations

The race started at the summit of a hill (thankfully we didn't have to run it).  And then we had to run about a quarter of a mile before exiting to an older subdivision.  We did have to cross a busy street, but fortunately it was crewed with Salt Lake's finest.

Mile 2 but facing the race start

The first quarter mile felt really hard.  There was a slight incline and my legs just sort of groaned at the thought of running fast.  I had done a shaky warm-up but I had put in a fair amount of training in the week leading up to the race.  Even before I left the park, I was gasping for air.

I told myself to take it easy a bit as I navigated against a busy start.  With this being a popular race, there were many casual runners there, who had clogged up the start.

Fortunately it didn't derail me much and I got off and settled into a pace. I felt like my breathing was labored and I didn't want to get too discouraged by looking at my watch.  I was trying to just settle in and I had a vague memory of the first mile being slightly up hill -- and I was right!

Flags to mark Mile 2 and 12 into the park

We were in an nice community with some charming homes.  It was an older section of town and I could smell the smells of pancakes and sausages in the air.  There were a few residents cheering us on as we ran along the mature treelined streets.  

I was overtaking some runners who had gone off to fast and I felt my breathing settle in.  I felt like I was on target for a 5K effort.  I was greeted with a hill here though and my pace went from 5K effort to half marathon and finally full marathon.  I had totally forgotten about this part.

I could spy up ahead runners hanging a left and I knew that was the summit of the hill.  I just focused on getting up, conserving energy and then knowing the rest of the way I would have a nice downhill.

Mile 1 flashed up on my watch with an 8:09.  Not quite what I was hoping for, but given the hill I had just climbed and knowing the rest of the course was "fast", I felt like I still had the potential for a great race.

Once I hit the summit of the hill, I hit it hard.  Time to make up some time.  I pounded down the hill and started overtaking some runners.  My pace was definitely fast.

I knew I had one mile in the neighborhood and I knew exactly how the final mile was laid out.  

It was nice to see some of the other 5K runners still on mile 1 making their way up the course while I was cruising into mile 2.  The organizers had it laid out nicely so there wouldn't be any conflicts.  I got an occasional cheer from a friend as well, which was helpful and motivating.

But I was hurting but I was still cruising along.

Just as I exited the subdivision I hit mile 2 -- hitting a 7:34.

I seem to recall that in 2021 the exit (which was the same as the entrance) wasn't supervised very well. This year they had it down and I didn't have any fears about crossing the street.  I had a few other runners around me, but the crowd had thinned.

At this point, I had entered the east side of Sugarhouse Park.  I simply had to make my way around the perimeter of the park and get to the west side.  Most of this was downhill (with a bit of an uphill on the west side).  I could hear the din of the finish line, yet I was so far away.

I was still running strong, but I also felt fatigued.  I was too afraid to look at my time - mostly I didn't want to get discouraged if I was running slower than I thought and I simply didn't want to lose focus of just getting as fast as I could to the finish line.

I overtook some runners and I was trying to figure out if any people looked to be my age were close by.  Granted with it being a chip timed race and a massive start, I had no guarantee they started at the same time I did -- but I didn't want to take any chances and any insurance I could bank against them might prove invaluable.

The finish line was nearer than ever now and I had the final turn looming ahead. I spotted another 50-something runner.  I still had some time and I made my move, pulling ahead of him and his group and kept going.

I realized my error though, as I had started my sprint a little too early.  I was sitting at mile 2.80 or so and still had a dark tunnel to run through.  I slowed down as the finish line sprint returned back to normal 5K pace running.  

Some of the runners that I had passed gained on me and a few passed me.

One of the interesting parts of the race is the final .15 of a mile or so is lined with Halloween decorations - mostly the inflatable types.  Also, it is encouraged that you run through a streamer lined tunnel of about 50 yards or so.  It is dark and feels like there is the potential to run into someone or have a slip and fall issue, however.  I love it and it is a fun experience, but at the same time, it blows your finishing kick.  I found out later, you could run to the side and simply avoid it, and I had considered that midrace, but I didn't want to appear as a party pooper.

Upon exiting the tunnel, and seeing my pace drop as I brushed aside the streamers, I saw the 50-year-old runner that I had passed several seconds ahead of me.  How did that happen?!?!?

I tried to catch up, but I didn't have anything left.  It was nice to hear the cheers from people as I sped the final way to the finish line, crossing in a fantastic time of 23:27, a distance second or two from my presumed rival.

All Smiles

Conclusion

I recovered pretty quickly after finishing.  I grabbed my medal and some refreshments.  They had sports drink, chocolate milk, bananas, oranges and donuts.  A few vendors were there as well, supplying free energy drinks and Vitamin Water. I wound up socializing with several people and complimenting some runners on their choice of costumes.

Check out the Avatar on the right!

Trepidatiously, I made my way to the results booth and typed in my bib number, hoping upon hope, that I placed.  I knew at least one guy in my age group had finished well ahead of me, had not beating the guy cost me a medal?

I was 4th in my age group -- missing out 3rd by 1 second.  The 5th place runner was .8 seconds behind me.  What a stacked age group!

Finisher's Medal + shirt

So as they like to say, "Them's the breaks".  I was sad and I sort of let it spoil my otherwise decent time.  I suspect the course may have been slightly short but it's hard to tell with all the turns and of course the tunnel at the end blocking signal.  But overall, I hit the time I was hoping to do: run better than I did in 2021 and get well below 24 minutes.

All in all, I am happy with my time and I had a really good experience.  I liked the course -- it felt speedy and it was scenic.  There was a good crowd there and the race was organized well.  I paid around $20 for the race, so it was a bargain.

The medal was nicely designed. I like the shirt, but I am still not a fan of the cotton / polyester blend.  The only dark cloud over the race was I finished 4th -- missing out an award by 1 second.

Anyhow, I do plan on returning next year - potentially going for the ultra-competitive half marathon.  We shall see though.  I've done a lot of Runtastic runs this year and I have yet to be disappointed in them.  

Upcoming Races

11/04: Vineyard City Blizzard 5K / 10K - Vineyard, UT (Confirmed)

11/11: Sandy City Turkey Trot 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

11/18: 2023 Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

11/23: 2023 South Davis Recreation Center 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

01/13: 2024 Virgin River Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

02/25: 2024 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

04/20: 2024 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

07/24: 2024 Deseret News Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed

09/07: 2024 Cedar City Half Marathon - Cedar City, UT (Confirmed)

10/XX: 2024 Haunted Half 5K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)

2022 Haunted Half 5K Race Recap - Provo UT

Heading into the finish line.

Official Time: 24:13
Placement: 3rd in age group, 79th out of 975 overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: 32F with gentle breeze from the west
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2021] [2015]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:56	Crowded start but once I got rolling I felt pretty good.
2	7:52	Knew the course here, so had some confidence.
3	7:56	Running out of gas but helped by a 41 feet of downhill
3.06	0:27	Navigating the Halloween decorations for the final push
	Total Miles: 3.06 - 24:13

Views of the Wasatch Mountains

Introduction

So for a Black Friday sale last year, I wound up signing up for the Haunted Half 5K race in Provo Utah for about $20.  Normally the race runs around $40 or more so it was quite a bargain.

I've done the race twice before -- the half marathon years ago and the 5K last year.  The half marathon involves a bus ride to the start and then a lengthy (and often chilly) wait for the race to begin.  So the 5K tends to keep things simpler.

Once again, this year was a new race course.  The gist of it was that you'd park at a corporate center where the finish line was, walk (or warm-up) to the school where the starting line was.  The deal was, the school was about half a mile from the finish line.  

To make things even more interesting, I was under the false impression that the race started at 8 AM.  So when I arrived at the school there was hardly anyone there and the starting line wasn't even setup.  Oops.

Final turn before the finish line.

The Race

So after making a few trips from the parking area to the school (for a bathroom break) I was thoroughly warmed up.  In fact, I made a 3 trips -- each at about half a mile.  Normally I warm up less than half a mile for a 5K.  And as I toed the line at 8:30 waiting for the race to start, I began to question whether I had worn myself out -- after all I had had a fairly sluggish week of training leading in to the race.

The Headless Horseman's Horse

The race started at 8:30 and were headed south.  The race was chip timed from start to finish and I had lined up fairly close to the start but I was respectful of the other runners.  The first few hundred yards were congested but by the time we made our first turn, I was free to run the pace I wanted to.

Initially there was a bit of wind to contend with but there was enough cover to duck behind people.  It was a mild nuisance but I don't really recall it being a major factor in the race.

As I got into the first mile I began sizing up the competition.  While waiting I had spied a few other people who I thought might be in my age group.  My goal was to hang with them and keep them in my sights, but still run my race.

As we wound our way through the first mile, I immediately recognized where I was.  I knew at some point we were going to run on the Murdock bike trail where I had run the PC2PG race in August.  Sure enough, just as I hit mile 1, I jumped onto the bike trail and I was suddenly in familiar territory.  I was pretty happy with my sub 8 minute mile, but I knew I'd have to hit it a bit harder.

The next mile was on the bike trail and I knew exactly where we were and what to expect.  It gave me a lot of confidence as I knew I didn't have to hold back much out of fear there was some sort of hill.

I expected a faster mile after the first mile but still hit a 7:52, only slightly faster than the first mile.  But I had made ground against some of my supposed opponents who I presumed were in my age group. I was hurting but still holding my own.  I also knew that after mile 2 that I was going to get a bit of a downhill.  

Despite a lackluster week of training and running on pretty fatigued legs, I was still having what I would consider a good race.

The Dark Tunnel!

Sure enough after exiting the bike trail we jumped into a residential area that had a significant downhill.  It wasn't massive, but it was enough to give me a boost.  I could coast -- just a little bit -- and let gravity assist with the running.

It was at this point that I passed my would-be competitor. Now I just had to keep that lead.

Looking good at roughly mile 2

I had studied the course briefly before the race and by the organizer's own measurements, the course was going to come in at 3.17.  I think I had even measured it using MapMyRun.  So my presumption was that I had better save a little bit of energy for that final push and that I'd be running quite a bit further than the standard 3.11 miles.

So in that last half mile or so, I did dial it back.  While I was tired and at the end of my limit for the 5K, mentally I wrote the race off as "not legit" or "I'd have to correct my time to what I think I would've run".  So in short, I sold myself short.

The race had thinned out at this point but there wasn't anyone in my age group within shouting distance.  Finally, I saw where people were making a left turn into the finish line's corporate center.  I glanced at my watch.  I was still well under 3 miles.  Could this course be actually short?

I made the turn and heard the roaring crowd.  This was a family event and there were plenty of spectators in the final stretch to cheer me on.  I cruised through a darkened tunnel, made another left turn and blasted through the finish line.

Award Time

Conclusion

So the course came in at 3.06 miles.  A lot of other runners got this exact distance as well.  Measuring it once again with MapMyRun I came up with 3.16.  My time is typical for a 5K

I wound up finishing 3rd in my age group.  I was thrilled to get a medal . The race was kind of a haunted 80's theme so the award was actually medal of a cassette tape.  The finishers medal was akin to the one I got at last week's race.  The shirt was also identical.  I wound up wearing a shirt from 2011 from the Haunted Hustle in Palatine IL Turns out that 11 years ago to the day I ran that race.

They had plenty of snacks and drink after the race: donuts, oranges, bananas, chocolate milk, water, orange juice, etc.  Runtastic Events definitely knows how to put on a party.  The finish line was also an epic Halloween festival and I think people really enjoyed it.

I had signed up for the race on a Black Friday deal, so I had gotten a very nice price (less than $25).  I was happy with my experience but was a little disappointed that there were no bathrooms at the actual 5K starting line. I am partially to blame for this since I got to the starting line WAY early.

I was pretty happy with my time all things considered.  My splits were even and while I was hurting at the end, I was still pushing hard.

I plan to do this race next year.  It was fun and I knew a lot of people there.  It was a large, family event but still gave me the opportunity to keep and run hard.

Upcoming Races

11/05: 2022 Vineyard Blizzard 5K - Vineyard, UT (Confirmed)

11/12: 2022 Sandy City Turkey Trot 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

11/19: 2022 Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

11/24: 2022 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

01/14: 2023 St George Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

02/26: 2023 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/04: 2023 March Madness 10K - West Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

04/22: 2023 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

08/19: 2023 Rock 'N Roll Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)