2019 Ogden Half Marathon Race Recap - Ogden, UT

Official Time: 2:00:52
Placement: 51 out of 124, 450 out of 1140 men, and 754 overall.
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 40's, mild wind from the south and west. Rain
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2016] [2015] [2013]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:07	Some up hill here but just settling in
2	8:53
3	8:47	Hilly stretch here. Did way better than I thought I would do
4	8:55	Finally reach the top of the canyon
5	8:40	Let the downhill begin
6	8:44
7	8:58
8	9:03	Fairly consistent.  Would've expected faster considering downhill
9	9:02
10	9:03
11	9:36	On to the bike trail here.  Have to propel myself now
12	9:46	Legs are tired. Just want to be done
13	10:30	Shambling along
13.17	1:43	A whole lotta of nothing left.
Total Miles: 13:17 2:00:52

Introduction

Well, it's been a while since I've done the Ogden Marathon race.  I've done the full marathon 3 times and since I've been on a marathon hiatus of late, I decided back in February to jump into the half marathon.  

The race is an extremely well run race that starts up in a valley at the top of Ogden canyon.  The half marathon starts in a park in Eden Utah.  From there, you wind around Pineview Reservoir until you get to the top of the canyon's entrance.  From there, you descend through the canyon until you get to the bike trail ... and from there you wind up in downtown Ogden.

For a point to point race, this is one of the prettiest and most fun courses to run.  And it is also mostly downhill...

The race also supports a lot of youth community activities in Ogden.  So it is rewarding to know that you are contributing to that.

The Race

I took Friday off and wound up heading up into Ogden late in the afternoon for packet-pickup.  The pick-up was held at Weber State University and it was an easy in and out.  However, the Expo is definitely worth checking out.  There were at least two dozen vendors promoting races or selling running stuff.  It was also social hour for me as I ran into a bunch of folks that I knew.

After getting my bib / shirt, I headed over to the Sleep Inn on the north side of Ogden.  I probably could've skipped the hotel, but it gave me a little extra sleep and saved me another trip to / from Ogden (about an hour away).  With a 7 AM race start and a 5:15 bus loading deadline, it was going to be an early morning for me.

I wound up eating at Black Bear Diner in Ogden.  It tends to be a good choice for me and I've eaten there before.

I didn't sleep very well and was up before my 3:45 AM alarm.  I ate and prepped for the race and left the room by 4:25 AM.  I've parked in the same parking lot since 2013 and I got there with plenty of time to spare.  In fact, I had some time to drink a little more in the car.

Like each year in the past, it was raining.  I seem to bring the curse to the Ogden marathon.  When I run, it races.  Every year I've missed it, the weather has been decent.  When I had woken up it was raining hard, but by the time I got to the bus loading, it was a very mild drizzle.  

I was loaded down with just about every piece of running equipment needed for bad weather.  I intended to run it with a long sleeved shirt, a hat, gloves and shorts.  But I had with me a warm jacket, umbrella, tights, etc.  

It took a while to get on the bus due to there being several thousand half marathon runners.  But I had my umbrella and good conversation.  The bus ride from downtown Ogden to the race start was about 25 minutes.  By the time we got to the top of the canyon, it was pouring...  hard.  Everyone was anxiously looking out the windows of the bus and volunteers frantically set up their stations.

In another 15 minutes, in Eden's city park, the rain was coming down in a light drizzle.  Everything was wet and damp.  I found myself shivering while waiting in line for the bathroom.

I cycled through the bathroom a time or two as I debated on what to wear.  I didn't have a lot of confidence in my hamstring and the last thing I wanted to do was have a hamstring issue and have to walk 6 miles of a half marathon in the rain.

So I opted to keep on the tights I was wearing and the heavier jacket that I use when it is below freezing.  I also crammed a 33-gallon garbage bag in my pocket.

As soon as the race started I knew I had made a mistake.  I was warm and felt confined.  It's been years since I've worn tights.  I told myself I wasn't really racing this on account I've been injured for so long but at the same time, this course is fast.

The first 3 miles are mostly uphill.  There are some rolling hills so you get some downhills.  Arguably, this is the toughest part of the course (even for the full marathon).  Luckily I was fresh and I was feeling pretty good.  I fully expected this to be the slowest part for me, but I turned in some decent times.

The rain had stopped and for the most part the weather was ideal for running.  Although occasionally the rain would start again, but it was never very serious.

By the time I reached the top of the canyon, I felt very warm.  I was debating if it was worth stopping, re-pinning my bib to something else and discarding my tights.  I loved my running jacket (you can see my attire at the topmost photo) and I definitely didn't want to "donate" it.  I unzipped my jacket and did the best I could with my clothing.

The downhill part is the fastest part of the course.  You are running by the Ogden River and the pace at this point becomes easy.  It isn't a crazy fast downhill, but you can certainly coast a bit here.  This is also the most scenic part of the course, as you'll enjoy the sites of the surrounding rock and even pass an occasional waterfall.  

At mile 10 you are done with the canyon.  There is usually a crowd at the bottom cheering on various runners.  They didn't let us down despite the cold wind blowing through the mouth of the canyon.  

But at this point I was running on fumes and I knew the crash was coming.  While I was thirsty, there had been water stops every mile.  I hadn't packed a gel and I was wondering if my sugar levels had crashed.  Also, it was possible that my lack of training was costing me.  I was also insanely warm....

The final three miles were awful for me.  I was just tired and wanted to be done.  I was dying to ditch my jacket but my car keys were inside and I wondered how feasible it was going to be for me to go and drive back out and get it (a lot of Ogden is shut down for the race).

My pace grew to a shuffle and I became irritated with every runner who passed me.  I was kicking myself for overdressing and my hopes of running a 1:55-ish were growing dimmer.

I tried to enjoy my run along the bike trail.  There were stretches of it that were really pretty and ideal for running.  But when your legs feel like lead, it is hard to enjoy.

Finally, we turned down the main street and you can clearly see the finish line -- but it seems so far away.  I kept looking at my watch hoping that the final quarter miles would just melt away.  I saw the 2:00 hour pacer fly by me but I knew she was ahead of schedule.  To make my pace seem even slower, there was a decent headwind seeming to thwart my every effort.

Mercifully, I reached the finish line.  I tried to put on a brave face for the spectators but I was hurting.  This is one of those races that definitely have decent crowd support -- from fans to the volunteers.

Conclusion

I snagged my medal from one of the volunteers and gulped down some Gatorade.  I normally carry my hydration for a half marathon, but I had skipped that due to the colder weather.  Being insulated from the element though, made me sweat a lot more and I was dehydrated.

I grabbed some more food / beverages as I made my way out of the long finish chute.  I chatted with some of the other runners before making my way over to the baggage drop.

Unlike previous years, I didn't freeze the minute I stopped.  Actually, I could've hung out a bit longer as the sun had come out (finally).

The gear retrieval was super efficient.  I got all my stuff back in no time at all.  And I was able to get out of the parking lot in short order too as most of the runners were still running.

I was mildly disappointed with my performance.  I was on target for a really good race, but due to a lack of training and being overdressed, I didn't run well at all.  Granted, before the start I told myself I wasn't racing it and this was mostly a test to determine whether my hamstring could tolerate hills -- and for the most part it did.

The medal is a work of art.  It is heavy duty and the lanyard is of high-quality.  Definitely a keeper.  The shirt is a long sleeved shirt.  It is similar to the medal in design.  

Post race refreshments included soda, beer (a first in Utah, I think), fruit, Gatorade, water, chocolate and milk.  There also were Popsicles and protein drinks.

I paid a fair amount for this race.  I registered in February I think, right before a price increase.  It is definitely one of the most expensive races I'll do.  But it does support a worthy cause, it is a first-class event, and the course is one of my favorites.  I took advantage of the early-bird pricing and have already signed up for 2020.

I bet it will be rainy.

2017 Winter Striders 5K Race Recap - Ogden Utah

All smiles after the race

Official Time: 25:31
Placement: 8th in the 45 - 49 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 30's, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:16	Gentle downhill here. Hemmed in at the start
2	9:10	A bit of climbing
3	8:06	A little bit of a climb here but primarily downhill. Lots left in the tank.
Total Miles: 3.00 -  25:34

Introduction

Over the winter holidays I signed up for the Winter Striders Race Series.  Basically for about $130 you get 5 races: 5K, 10K, 10M, Half marathon and 30K.  The concept of this race is to get you trained and ready to run the Ogden Marathon.

It is a bargain considering you get 5 fully supported races for about $25 a piece.  You do get one shirt and 2 finisher medals (assuming you do the half and 30K).

Packet pickup early on

It is a bit of a drive from Murray to Ogden but I usually try to pair my adventures with other things up there to make it more worthwhile.

I did roll in around 7:10, plenty of time for the 8AM start.  I managed to snag my shirt and bib and use the flush toilets.  It is so nice to have shelter and a place to be fairly warm prior to the race start.

Around 7:22 I started my warm up -- and I felt like crap.  My legs were just dead and not responding.  Couple that with the fact that I had a head cold -- well let's just say I wasn't anticipating any PRs.   In fact, I was still a little hazy from the cough medicine I had taken the night before.  I was sort of regretting even showing up.

But I told myself to tough it out -- 3 miles is 3 miles and I can knock out that any day of the week.

Pre race conditions

The Race 

Last year when I did this race the roads were slick and it was hard to take advantage of any downhills.  We've had a bit of a heat wave (as far as Februaries go) and the roads were definitely not slick.  The weather was actually cooperating with having a fast race.

I went out in shorts, throw away gloves, and two tech shirts.  I was completely fine in this.  I saw a lot of people bundled up, but it wasn't that bad.

The first mile is actually fairly flat.  Looking at it, though there is about 60 feet of elevation climb.  I decided to take the first mile somewhat easy.  I remembered from last year that the course gets a lot more challenging in the second mile.

The crappy warm-up I had taken was forgotten and my legs thankfully remembered how to race a 5K.
The race is run through residential subdivisions (some appear to be very well-to-do).  There isn't a whole lot of visual appeal on this race.

The second mile -- especially the first half of it, is just nothing but up.  Everyone's easy pace suddenly got a lot more difficult.  There is about 175 feet of climbing and most of it is right away.  It felt like my legs were so heavy and it took everything I had not to walk.  People who I had been working off of were walking.  The hills are just that tough.

Once you summit the hills though you are rewarded with some super fast miles.  Here I was able to hammer the downhills without fear of falling.  I made up a lot of ground.  Although it was really hard to change gears once I got done with the delicious downhill and return to flats.

The last mile has some inclines as well, but it is primarily a downhill finish.  Usually I am dying in the latter half of a 5K but I still had plenty in the tank.

Conclusion

I was mildly surprised that I did as well as I did in this race.  I had forgotten how hard this race is.  The hills are killer.  But even considering the hills and not exactly feeling very well, I ran better than last year (okay, not by much, but definitely faster).

The course came up short this year in terms of mileage, but it was the same as last year.  I have a feeling that my Garmin lost contact a bit or I am getting really good at running tangents.

I grabbed some Gatorade and coffee and milled about a bit.  I did NOT recognize or know anyone at all.  I am friends with the race director, but I couldn't find her after the race either.

I grabbed some photos and changed in the bathrooms before heading out to Virgs Restaurant for breakfast.  Originally I had targeted a small cafe down the road, but they weren't open yet.   Virg's was a good choice -- they have a huge breakfast and at first I didn't think I was going to finish it, but I managed to put it all down.  I've had dinner before there but their breakfast is better.

Pancake was as big as my head

I totally expected not to do well in this race.  My warm-up was just awful and I thought for sure my morning was going to be one culminated by frustration.  It was just a bummer that this race fell on two other races -- I normally do the Valentine's Day race in Bountiful.

Either way, I have the 10K in two weeks, which is even more painful than the 5K in terms of hills.

This Week in Running 5/15 - 5 /21

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	7	Easy run
Monday	4	100% easy
Tuesday	4
Wednesday	Off
Thursday	Off
Friday	Off
Saturday	26.5	Ogden Marathon
Total miles for the week: 41.5 - YTD: 964.5

Week's Summary

Did I really run only 4 times this past week?

First off, I was really tired.  If you review my blog, I've basically run 7 races of longer than half marathon distance in a period of 8 weeks -- only taking Easter weekend off.

Suffice to say, after the Fireman's Half Marathon, I was pretty dead all week.  In fact on a few of my 4 mile easy runs, I was gassed.  I began to think -- wow if I am struggling to run 4 miles, how in the world am I going to be able to run 26 this coming weekend?

Sure enough, the Ogden marathon really didn't go as planned.  And I think to some extent it is because I've done a LOT of racing without a lot of recovery.

Now, I can pretty much "mail in" a race and call it a day.  But I honestly do care about my times and while I like to do races merely to do them, I know that is not the way to get the best performances.  Along with racing / training, one must take some recovery time.

So as hard as it was, I am not racing this coming weekend (gasp!), despite a half and a full marathon right by my house.

I am hoping to get in some easy miles this week and build myself up to my next "A" race.

One more good thing that is happening is that the Utah weather continues to be fairly cool for late spring.  This has enabled me to get in some more quality miles at a quality pace.  I hate summer heat and this extended cool period has been a boon.

Upcoming Races

06/??: Looking at the Lamoille Canyon Marathon. Perhaps Casper again?
06/24: Utah Midnight Half Marathon - Provo Utah (Confirmed)
10/09: Lake Tahoe Marathon (Very Probable -- hotel booked)
11/13: Las Vegas Marathon (Confirmed)
04/15: Salt Lake City Marathon (Confirmed) (2017)

2016 Ogden Marathon Race Recap - Ogden Utah

Official Time: 4:24:04
Placement: 767 out of 1559, 467 out of 838 of men, 53rd place in age group
Results: Here
Race Website:Here
Weather: low 40's at start with light rain, swirling wind.  Warmer and sunny at end.
Garmin Route: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:55	Off to a decent start. Felt a little fast but I am going downhill
2	8:57
3	9:00
4	8:58
5	9:07
6	9:08	Into a groove.  This is about the pace I wanted to hit
7	9:06
8	9:10
9	9:43	Blasted by wind and some rolling hills begin at this point
10	9:16
11	9:45
12	9:57	The half way point can't come soon enough. Buffeted by winds
13	10:03
14	10:45	Bathroom break at the half way point. At this point I think my Garmin was a little confused
15	10:42	Hills begin here
16	10:22
17	9:36	I think my garmin lost connection here.
18	11:03
19	10:05	Enjoying the down hill part. Really wish I had more in the tank to take advantage of them
20	9:59
21	10:04
22	10:22	Some how able to run this pace despite feeling like I am crawling.
23	10:19
24	10:40	At this point I wanted the race to be over. So tired, so miserable feeling
25	11:42	How many more quarter miles left?
26	11:17
26.56	5:58	Finally finished.
Total Miles: 26.56* - 4:24:04

*My Garmin appears to have lost connection in a few spots and I think it kept assuming I was running while using the restroom.  After about mile 13 all splits are questionable.

Introduction

I am not 100% sure why I signed up for the Ogden Marathon.  Sure, I am trained to run a marathon, but I've just finished a pretty lengthy series of long-distance races and I was bordering on the burned out line for quite a while.

I think when I thought about it, I noticed that the weather was good and I figured the course was a fast one and after all I had done the winter training series, so why not just go and see what happens.

I had also done the 2013 and 2015 editions and I didn't have the best race in 2013 but did extremely well in 2015.  I was hoping to perhaps close out my crazy race series with a bang.

Pre-Race

I used an extended lunch hour on Friday to make the roughly 45 minute (one-way) trip to Weber State University to pick up my bib.  I remember back in 2013 when I picked up my bib the packet pickup was in the museum at the Union Station -- it was cramped and really wasn't conducive for browsing.  In the past two years it has come along way and there are now plenty of vendors and stuff to check out.  Either way, since I was on my lunch "hour" I grabbed my packet took a quick look around and headed back to work.

I had toyed with getting a hotel room but in the past I have been unable to sleep and it really only saves me about 30 minutes of drive time.  I figured I'd save the money and just get up a bit early to hit the race.

Despite sleeping at home, I only slept marginally better and was up before 2:45.  I had to get ready (eat) and be out the door by 3:20 AM-ish to make a bus in downtown Ogden.  Previous experience has taught me to get there around 4:15 and I've never had any problems finding parking.  In fact, the last 3 years I've parked about 5 minutes away from the finish line and in roughly the same spot.

By 4:30 I was on a bus and 15 minutes later we were on our way to the top of Ogden Canyon.  I wound up chatting with a fellow runner on the way up and we compared notes on marathons and such.  The bus was HOT... it was like everyone was afraid to put their windows down. 

I had brought a bunch of clothes and supplies as experience had taught me I had a good 90 minute wait.  The cool temperatures and mild sun forecast had turned into a prediction of rain and wind -- and threats of thunder storms. I was a bit relieved when I saw that the deluge was nothing more than a sprinkle.

Since I was on one of the first buses I had a pretty good opportunity to find a nice spot by the fire, of which they had many.  I put on my warm clothes and put up my umbrella and pretty much vegetated for the next 70 minutes.  Unfortunately I didn't get to meet anyone up at the top and it was just nice to sit there, although the smoke from the wet fire didn't exactly help with breathing.

Thirty minutes before race time I used the bathroom and got my stuff into the bag truck before lining up at the race start.

The Race

The weather site had predicted that the rain would stop around 8AM.  With a 7:15 start I figured I'd have to endure an hour, at most.  Turns out, the rain would last well until mile 17 or so.  Compound that with swirling winds that almost never seemed to be at your back.  I knew I was going to be hurting in terms of being overheated but the fear of hypothermia did set in.

I had toyed with going out lightly dressed -- just tech shirts, but I opted to keep my faithful windbreaker which has served me well through many marathons.  I also went with some throw away gloves and two tech shirts and a hat.  Within a few miles my gloves were soaked through and my feet were wet.  

By the half way point, I was thoroughly soaked but not terribly cold.  Sure my hands were cold and my fingers made it hard to fish out gels out of my pocket, but my core wasn't bad.  However, I was worried about getting hypothermia.

The first few miles are downhill and I took it easy.  I hadn't been feeling 100% all week -- not in terms of physical health but just "tired".  And I knew that very likely today was going to be challenging.  I wanted to hold onto 9 minute miles, recover a bit in the middle miles and then have enough energy to bang it down Ogden Canyon (starting around mile 17).  Around mile 7 you are introduced to Huntsville / Eden and the course has more rolling hills.  The wind at various points was in your face or at your back.  It was hard to judge where or what it was going to do.  

Crowd support during the middle miles was iffy at best.  I expected it to be thin.  The Eden area isn't heavily populated and I suppose having 1500 runners tying up traffic in your bucolic neighborhood doesn't exactly bode well for us.  But a few did brave the elements to cheer us on, which was appreciated.

That plan was going pretty well up until about the half way point.  At that point I was pretty tired and while I had hit my half way split of roughly 2:02 I felt like my leg muscles were simply dead and not responding.  It was as if the cold air had frozen them.  Also, the rain was more intense at this point and I couldn't even enjoy the scenery.  So I kept thinking about how tired I was and how cold and miserable it was.

I did make a bio break at the half way point.  I managed to drop my Gu on the floor of the bathroom, which meant it was going in the trash.  My hands were so cold and I was so wet that I was fumbling with everything.  Luckily the race had PLENTY of support. They had the Cliff-bar GU brand, which I don't use regularly.  The vanilla tasted fine but seemed to not sit well with me and I didn't want to chance an emergency bathroom break.

I also saw a few people heading to shelter as well and aid station crews were asking if people were alright.  I suspected a lot of people who hadn't layered up with the clothing were calling it quits and that mentally made me nervous.

After the half way point, there is a bit of a climb and it is a grind here.  I knew it was coming but it is always tougher.  You want to see the top of Ogden Canyon but yet it is still a few miles away.

By the time I reached the top of Ogden Canyon I was really desperate.  At least for the next 5 miles I knew I could get some nice downhill and hopefully make up some of my time.  But hope as I might, my legs were just dead.  The rain had largely stopped and the canyon was cool and shaded.  It was kind of fun watching the roaring Ogden River on my right as I made my way down the canyon.

I was totally downtrodden when the 4:15 pacer passed me.  I had hopes that I had banked enough time to at least get 4:0X, but I didn't even have the energy or spirit to try and make some ground.  I just wanted the race to be over.

Only photo I took on the course

The final 4 miles or so is on the Ogden bike trail.  There is plenty of crowd support along here and in the past I've managed to eek out some decent miles.  Here, with no downhills (it was largely flat), I was forced to churn away.  I was being passed by lots of runners and I just wanted to finish so badly. 

The weather had turned from chilly and rainy to almost warm and sunny.  In fact, I was now overheating.  With a wet jacket (that was getting drier) and two shirts I was now overdressed.  I wound up taking off my jacket and carrying it the final 3 miles, which wasn't fun.

I had only managed to get down about 1.5 gels on my run and that might've been part of the problem. Also in the early miles I found myself not thirsty per say, but grabbing Gatorade at the aide stations but not really drinking it.  I'd take a sip, swallow some and mostly spit out the rest.  So I really think I was dehydrated and under fueled by the time I desperately crossed the finish line.

I do believe I saw Bart Yasso who helped push me to the finish.  He was a guest at the race and I think he was watching the 4-hour-something marathoners finish.  

Conclusion

Well, this race didn't go to plan at all.  I just struggled almost from mile 7 until the finish.  I ran into a similar situation when I ran the 2013 edition.  I think in 2013 I was under trained.  This version, I am over trained and have done way too much in the past few weeks. 

With two not-so-good races in the past few weeks, it is probably time to take notice and take a bit of a break from racing.

That being said, the organizers of the Ogden Marathon did a fantastic job.  They had plenty of aid stations that were well-stocked with enthusiastic volunteers.  The aid stations had Gatorade, water and gels and food.  Also there were plenty of bathrooms.  I only had to wait about 5 - 10 minutes 30 minutes before the race start to use one.  Also, there were plenty of on-course bathrooms.  

The waiting area, as usual was a bit lengthy, but the time went by fast.  I am glad the rain wasn't worse.  It could've been a monsoon and there is very little shelter to be had.

The shirt was nice.  The woman's version is a purple and the men's was a black long-sleeved shirt.  Very thick and has the Ogden city logo on it.  Sort of wish it had said "marathon" somewhere on the front of it in more prominent letters though.

The finisher's medal is a heavy duty one and one that is worthy of the price of admission (I registered about a week before the race closed, so I paid about $115).

Nice sign of rain at the finish

The finish line was teaming with cheering fans.  It was nice to get a warm reception.  

They had plenty of food and drink at the end.  They had the usual bananas, orange slices, sports drink and chocolate milk.  They also had Pepsi, which certainly quelled my churning stomach.  I grabbed not one, but two Pepsis and circled around until I felt like my stomach was going to be okay and that I'd be able to get my gear.  

I didn't really explore the finish line.  I was pretty miffed by my time and while I wasn't distraught, I really felt I should've been done better.  Gear claim was a snap and I got my stuff and actually this year I remembered where I had parked and had zero problems finding my car.  In the years past I've had to ask people where Brewski's Bar was in order to find my car.

Overall, though, this race won't have very fond memories for me.  Definitely not because of the organization or the course but it is all on me.  Yes, the weather was challenging, two I hadn't really fueled very well through the race, and three, I've been doing a LOT of long distance racing without much recovery.  So it all added up to a fairly predicable "slow" marathon.  

In reality, I was doing this one to do it, but at the same time, I do care to some degree about my time.  This race was definitely a wake-up call that I need to dial it back -- at least for a bit in order to recover.

Overall though, if you are reading and want to know if you should do this race, I would encourage you to do it.  The course is very scenic and the volunteers at the aid stations are among the best I've seen in a race.  I still dislike the long way at the start, but in the point-to-point races they seem to be par for the course.

2016 Winter Striders 30K Race Recap - Eden Utah

Me post race enjoying a Gatorade

Official Time: 2:46:36
Placement: 89th out of 288 - 9th in the 45 - 49 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Low 50's at start, threatening rain, 10 - 20 mph winds from the south, south/west
Garmin Route: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:43	A little fast.  Hundreds of us on a bike trail, so had to jockey for position
2	9:00	Rolling hills, but this is the pace I wanted to hit
3	8:59	Gradual climb
4	8:30	Nice gradual downhill... fastest mile of the day
5	8:59	Pack on pace. Had to stop and get rocks out of my shoes
6	8:51	Small climb but getting in the groove
7	9:00
8	9:05	Mostly flats.  Lots of wind here and it felt like it was getting warm
9	9:44	Bathroom break here easily cost me 30 seconds
10	8:51	Make up some of that time
11	8:53
12	8:53
13	9:12	On the flats with some head wind. Hit about a 1:57 half, about what I was targeting
14	9:20	Really hurting here.
15	9:34
16	9:46
17	9:20	Got a second wind on a dirt road with tail wind
18	9:51	Back to rolling hills.
18.21	1:56	Yes, it is supposed to be 18.6....
Total Miles: 18.21 - 2:46:36

Introduction

The Winter Stiders Circuit 30K race culminates their winter series.  Faithful readers know that around Christmas time I ponied up about a $100 for 5 races: a 5K, 10K, 10M, Half Marathon and the 30K. These races are set up to prepare you for the Ogden Full or Half Marathon.

In years past I've done various segments of the race, but I never did all the races in a year.  So despite some threatening weather I knew I had to complete the series.

I didn't have a whole lot of goals for this race.  Having a marathon in about 8 days I knew it wasn't my brightest idea to race 18 miles.  So while time is always important to me, I knew I wasn't going to be redlining it.  I ran the race last year in 2:40.  So I was sort of hoping that I could come in around that time range.

The course was slightly different from last year's edition.  Last year, the race started in Eden Park but being that they are offering a "short" course (about 12.5 miles) for those training for the half marathon and the long course (for those doing the full).  Unfortunately, I think they didn't adjust the course accordingly to make it a true 30K (more like 29K).

The Race

I rolled in just after 6:30 AM for the 7:30 start.  I grabbed my bib and an awesome parking spot.  I am glad I got there when I did because the school doesn't have a large parking lot but there was plenty of street parking.  I cycled through the bathrooms a time or two and debated on what to wear.  

Just before the race

The weather had predicted storms rolling in around 7 AM.  From the looks of the street it had just rained and the race director told me about an hour before I had gotten there they were talking about canceling the race.

Just before the race

I had brought clothing for just about any weather condition and I wound up going with shorts and a long sleeved tech shirt.  I had a Glad garbage bag in my pocket "just in case" and I had my 28 ounce running belt -- which I am glad I took.  

The race started at 7 AM and I took off running north.  It was crowded at the start.  They had told us all to run on the bike trail which is about 8 feet wide.  I wasn't in any hurry and at times I had to move around people, but within a mile I could run at my own pace.

I remembered a lot of the course from last year and soon the threat of rain was pretty much gone.  The clouds gave way to some sun.  While there was a stiff breeze / wind from the south and southwest, I was pretty warm.  Suddenly, I was praying for the rain.

I didn't feel the hills this week I was definitely soaking up the scenery.  Eden is a really nice place to run but the roads tend to be banked.  So it can lead to some IT-band problems.  Also I kept getting tiny pebbles in my shoes.  I think my shoes are worn down or have holes in them, so despite my best efforts, they let the little buggers in.  I had to stop about twice to empty them, losing precious seconds.

For the most part I was holding on to my low 9-minute per mile pace despite the wind and not a lot of spring in my legs.  

I wound up feeling pretty good at the 13 mile mark, but I was really worried if I was going to crash and burn at the end.  Some of the tail wind that I was enjoying early on in the race was suddenly in my face and I knew the last mile or so was rolling hills.

Mile 14 I started to feel a little hazy as I hit the main road back into Eden.  I noticed a lot of other people struggling here as well.  I would get passed by people and do some passing -- particularly those from the short course who started in a different location.

All sunny after the race

Once I got on the dirt road around mile 16 and saw that I had a gradual downhill, I picked up the pace.  I had been taking gels every 5.5 miles and I think I finally got a jolt from one.  Also, the road was wet so there was less dust and rocks that got in my shoes.

The last 2 miles of the race were a struggle.  I kept looking at my Garmin and realized that if this was going to be (more or less) an out-and-back course that I was only going to run 18.2 miles today, not 18.6 (which is a true 30K).  As the school, where we started, kept coming into view, I began to wonder if they were going to make us run a lap around it or if we were simply finishing there.  Again, I was hurting so I was happy to see that the finish line was going to be an 18.2 mile race.

Conclusion

After the race, I wound up grabbing some donuts and Gatorade and walked around a bit to cool down.  Since I had done the series, I knew a bunch of people and wound up making small talk with a bunch of them.  

This race was the smallest of the bunch but they had a good turnout for it.  Many people were ready to run Ogden next month while others had various races looming on their calendar.

It turned out to be a windy, but beautiful day for a run.  Running in Eden, despite the altitude, is really peaceful and as usual the Winter Striders group did a good job.  The volunteers knew what they were doing and most of the mile markers were spot on.  The course was also easy to follow and had police presence at critical intersections.  The bathrooms at the start were deluged but on the course, I had no problems getting into one.

I am a bit disappointed with my time.  Last year, I had a phenomenal race and I think the weather conditions were more ideal.  Also, I came into this race mostly just to log miles and complete the series.  Despite the shorter distance, I was about 7 miles slower than last year.  Not good.

At about $20 a race, this series is well worth it.  Although the drive is a bit far, I try to couple the trip up there with other activities.  This time I wound up eating at Beebop Korean BBQ in Ogden.  Pretty good stuff and definitely looked authentic.  At least it wasn't the Golden Corral.

Squid with rice

Beebop Korean BBQ - Ogden Utah

2016 Winter Striders Half Marathon Race Recap - Eden Utah

Official Time: 1:50:41
Placement: 14th out of 31 (45 - 49 age group), 160th place out of 500+
Results: Here
Race Website:Here
Weather: Low 30's at the start, low 40's at finish. Sunny with no wind.
Garmin Dump: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:53	Feeling sluggish but a nice downhill
2	8:02	Still mostly downhill here
3	8:02
4	7:57	Feeling good and have settled into my pace
5	8:09	Starting to hit the flats...
6	8:06	Actually holding up okay
7	8:03
8	8:29	Starting to hit some rolling hills
9	8:34
10	8:48	Gosh, I was counting down the quarter miles here.
11	9:09
12	9:00	My splits here aren't too terrible but I felt like death
13	9:18
13.14	1:06	Not much left at the end.
Total Miles: 13.14 - 1:50:41

Introduction

Since I had paid about $100 (or so) early in the year to sign up for a series of races, today I had a half marathon which was part of the Winter Striders Race Circuit. This series is designed to get you trained and ready for their signature event, the Ogden Marathon (either the full or half).  I have already completed the 5K, 10K and 10 Mile so this weekend I had the half marathon.

Faithful readers may recall that I did this race last year and had a phenomenal race in terms of time.  I had hopes that given the downhill nature of the course and perfect weather, I could at least crack 1:50 again.

The Race

The race started at 7:30 AM and required that I be in Eden Utah -- a bucolic little farming area just west of Ogden by 6:15 AM.  That meant about an hour and ten minute drive to Ogden and then a dark climb through a canyon to the little city nestled in a valley.

Last year I had to park quite a ways from the race site but this year I was there fairly early and had no problems getting a spot close to the finish line.  I also remember a stressful line to get my bib, but this year it was easy in -- easy out.

I also remember last year having my bladder nearly burst from the long drive -- but I didn't have that experience this year and there were plenty of bathrooms at the pick-up area.

I boarded a school bus and arrived at the race site just shy of 7 AM.  It gave me plenty of time to use the restroom (I was on the second bus) and get my stuff settled.  I am just glad it was only a 30 minute wait as it was fairly chilly up there.  I had brought warm clothes, so I was fine, but I'd hate to be up there for 90 minutes.

Just before the start

The race started promptly at 7:30 and off we went, basically following the first 13 miles of the Ogden Half Marathon (there are some differences, however, particularly in the middle miles).

The first 5 miles (or so) are primarily downhill.  It isn't a crazy downhill but definitely enough to let you get off to a good start.  This is also the most beautiful part of the trail.  You are running along the South Fork Ogden River, which is just bursting with energy at this time of year.  There also were some small water falls dumping snow into the river as well.  The course isn't closed to traffic but it is watched over by the sheriff's department.  I really wish the entire course was like this.

The next few miles are pretty much flat.  I really didn't miss the hills because I was still feeling good.  It also helped that I knew the course but I was sort of worried that I had gone out too fast and that I'd pay the price.

Around mile 9 I figured I had.  At this point the course becomes semi hilly with some rolling hills.  Not many of them are "terrible" but they will make the going tougher.  Also I was getting passed quite a bit, which made me, of course, irritated.

I had nursed a gel starting at about mile 7 but that didn't seem to help.  I just had a hard time getting enough oxygen in (note the elevation is just around 5000).  It took everything I had to really push the pace and part of me sort of wanted to give up.

The final 5K took a lot of effort.  Seeing my splits after the race makes me realize it wasn't a marathon shuffle but it was a real struggle both physically and mentally.  I had hopes dancing in my head that I'd be able to hit 1:48 again like last year but the final miles took it all out of me.

I was never more happy -- and exhausted to cross the finish line.

Conclusion

There isn't a whole lot to conclude on this one.  Something felt a little off today and the final 5 miles were a true struggle for me.  My legs, for the most part, felt fine, but I just couldn't get enough oxygen in, it seems.  I also think the rolling hills got the best of me.

I also was struggling with a bit of runner's knee.  This was bugging me at the start but quickly mellowed out.  However, after the race, the left one was bothering me significantly more than the right one (the left had been fine previously too).  

Compared to last year, my splits are pretty close to one another.  I just died in the final stretch and it wasn't my day.

After the race, I recovered and got some pictures of the finish line area and made small talk with whomever I encountered.  I grabbed some food, which consisted of coffee, water / Gatorade donuts, oranges, bananas and cliff bars -- the usual stuff for a Winter Striders Race.  

Packet pickup was a lot less stressful this year, but there were still lines 10+ deep when the race started for the bathrooms.   They had a bunch of them, but dropping nearly everyone off at 7 am didn't allow my staggering of the usage.  Also, you are in the middle of a field so there isn't really anywhere a guy can go discretely except in the potties.

Course support was good, as usual.  Plenty of water stops (about every 2 miles starting at mile 3) and the mile markers were pretty much spot on.  There were porta-potties at each of the stops as well.

Overall, I like this course -- I just wish I had done better.  The scenery is gorgeous and if you have never been to Eden / Huntsville, you are truly missing out some epic scenery.