2025 Runtastic Heber 5K Race Recap - Heber, UT

Official Time: 27:32
Placement: 1st in age group, 37th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather:  low 50's, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years:  First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:26	Grind uphill.  Nothing huge, but it was a solid climb
2	9:05	Turned on the jets at 1.55.  Rebounded quite a bit.
3	8:19	Wish the whole race was like this. Strong final mile
3.10	0:41	Not much left but 6:45 pace. I'll take it.
	Total Miles: 3.10 - 27:32

Introduction

Well, this race sort of popped up on my schedule.  I wasn't planning on doing this race at all and I was offered a bib transfer from a friend who needed to pass it on.  It was a little longer drive than I'd normally want to take for a 5K, but it was a new race and I figured why not.

The race organizer, Runtastic Events, puts on a great show and you can count on them to have a high quality race.

The race is held on the other side of the Wasatch Range.  I normally don't cross over the mountains except for a handful of races.  It is a beautiful area that is growing up fast.  It used to be farm country when I moved here in 2012, but now, it is burgeoning section of the state, with lots of new development.  It still remains a beautiful area.

Almost start time!

The Race

I got up at 3:45 AM and was out the door by 4:30 AM to pick up another runner.  By 5:45 or so I was at the race site.  It was dark drive to the race as I had to traverse I-80 / Parley's Canyon.  It isn't lit, uphill, and involves a lot of S-curves to the summit.

I had a friend get my bib for the race, and she had stashed it near the entrance of a school.  The Runtastic website suggests that they have a $15 fee for day-of pickup.  Parking was a bit congested but overall, an easy experience to get settled in.

The 5K race only had a few hundred runners, so the 10 or so porta potties were enough.  I wound up doing about a half mile warm-up.  I noticed almost immediately the cooler air and the thinner air.  I was running at close to 5700 feet.  In Salt Lake, the average altitude is about 4300.

I ate about half a watermelon Gu to get fueled up.  We assembled about .10 of a mile from the finish line and took off at 6:30 AM.

The race is mostly a residential run.  The first quarter mile or so is through the entrance to the park / school system.  It is fairly flat.  However, upon exiting it, one must begin about a mile ascent to the top.  This is on a road that is closed to traffic and would appear to be a fairly main artery to Heber's outskirts traffic.  It was lined with ranch-style houses and at the loop, there was a lot of new construction.

I had studied the course prior to my arrival so I knew what I was in for.  I had surveyed my competition and there were many Runtastic regulars there.  I wasn't sure who I was competing against, but I was just giving the race a good go.

I was working hard in the first mile, and I felt like my breathing was in control.  I didn't glance at my watch at all but was just working off of feel.  I had settled into a groove and some of the slower starters had passed me.  I was working with a hodge podge group.

First turn onto the main road

Mile 1 rang up at nearly exactly at the spot of the first mile marker.  I will say this, the mile markers on this race were spot on -- every single time.

It showed 9:30.  I wasn't running that slow, was I?  I was running in thin air, my legs were still kind of dead not entirely fresh but 9:30?  

The start of mile 2 was still a climb.  I kept looking into the rising sun to see how much further I had to run before we made a right hand turn where we'd do a loop around a block. The turn occurred at about mile 1.25 and another quarter mile, and another turn, I was greeted with a downhill.  Finally!

Runners heading into the finish

Instantly, I went into race mode.  While this was not going to be any sort of PR day for me, I could at least salvage this race with a nice negative split.  I was actually feeling pretty good and I went into attack mode.  Let's see how many people I could pick off.

I probably passed about half a dozen people and I let gravity do some of the work.  I was running what I would argue was a solid 5K pace finally.

Mile 2 wasn't a huge improvement over 1 but half of mile 1 to 2 had been uphill.  

At this point, the entire race, to me was, how fast could I run the final mile?

I dug deep and pushed.  I had a few people who had the same idea around me and we worked together.  

Mentally, I was bothered -- it felt like the course was going to come up long.  And I was trying to decide how much extra energy I would need to hold back to sprint the last extra distance.  The mile markers (which were now matching the half marathon) were still spot on.  but I just didn't trust the situation.

Finally, another right hand turn and back into the entrance road to the finish line.  I had measured this point on the way out and it was about .4 of a mile.  With the starting line behind the finish line the course was indeed going to measure up.

I was working with another woman and I wasn't really sure if anyone was behind me.  That last quarter mile or so, seemed to take an eternity. Again, the mile 3 marker rang up perfectly on my watch.

I made a gallant effort to finish strong and heard my name shouted as a I sped under the Runtastic Finish arches.  Pretty funny: Here comes Edward Gaul -- pretty good finish for a 25 year-old.  I had a good laugh about that (I am 55).

Smiles at the finish

Conclusion

So, part of me was disappointed with my time. But I had to take this one with a grain of salt.  

• I was running at higher elevation
• The course was uphill (at least half of it) and I was unfamiliar with the course
• I have been pushing the "race boundaries" for a while.

On the plus side, I raced strategically and I (easily) negative splitted.  I didn't give up, even though at times I wanted to and I did win my age group.  My overall time, isn't anything to write home about, but it was another race experience.

The course wasn't anything to write home about -- but it was honest, perfectly marked and the distance as spot on.  It was challenging though and I would argue it isn't a fast one.

Podium!

Post race refreshments included bananas, oranges, sports drink, and chocolate milk.  There were some 3rd party vendors there as well giving out product samples.  Awards were given out very quickly (I almost missed them).

The race is on the smaller side (the half marathon is the main feature).  Due to the lighter field, I wound up winning my age group (always a plus).  The medals were nice and the t-shirt is a solid design, but I am not a fan of the polyester / cotton blend.  

Overall, I came home with a positive vibe from the race.  I won something. I ran according to my race plan, and it was a pretty drive (coming and going).  It was also something new.  I'd love to come back and do the half marathon on this one.

Upcoming Races

08/09: 2025 Alpine Days 5K - Alpine, UT (Confirmed)

08/16: 2025 PC2PG 10K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)

08/23: 2025 Path to Opioid Prevention Half Marathon - Riverdale, UT (Confirmed)

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

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

2025 Run TIMP (Timpanogos) 10K Race Recap - American Fork, UT

Sun rising over American Fork Canyon

Official Time: 53:38

Placement: 1st in the 55 - 59, 62nd out of 360
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 57F. No wind and sunny
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: First Year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:02	Slow start, but a gentle grind uphill
2	8:28	Nice downhill section of the race. Finally can get up to speed
3	8:36	Solid effort here
4	8:42	Fatigue setting in but still holding steady
5	9:03	Gentle grade uphill and running on fumes
6	8:29	Intermingled with the 5K and downhill. Gave it all I had
6.18	1:17	Fast finish!
	Total Miles: 6.18- 53:36

Introduction

So, this weekend I wasn't anticipating on racing. I was still pretty sore from last week's half marathon and I figured I could use the week as recovery and getting ready for future endeavors.  However, in a group chat someone was willing to transfer a race bib to anyone who was interested in running the TIMP 10K.  I had been toying with racing it -- it usually falls on the same weekend as the Taylorsville Races.  

I figured why not, accepted the bib transfer and deemed, despite my fatigue and soreness, ready to race on Saturday morning. 

Bus loading for the 10K

The Race

I showed up to the Art Dye Park at 5:30 AM.  The park was loaded with hundreds of cars who had parked for the big race of the day: the half marathon.  I wound up (easily) finding some street parking that was close to the bus loading zone.

I had to be on a bus by 6 AM and I was able to jump on one, once the couple that had picked up my bib the day before had arrived.  I was actually en-route by 5:45 AM.

 I had to ride a bus to the start: located near the mouth of American Fork Canyon at an LDS church.  It was about a 10 - 15 minute bus ride (if that).  There were plenty of bathrooms and I had no more than 45 minutes to kill.  I wound up socializing, warming up for a brief shake out run and getting a caffeinated GU into me.

The race started at 6:45 AM.

There were a few hundred people in attendance (about 360) and for some reason I was lined up near the front. It was like no one else wanted to be there.   I didn't want to get boxed in from other runners so I made do.  I knew faster runners were going to pass me immediately.

We started in the church's service drive and almost immediately made a right hand turn onto the main street.  I hadn't run this race before, and had only studied the course briefly.  I knew the first mile or so was going to be a gentle uphill.

Of course, I was immediately passed by dozens of runners.  I was running solid but I felt like I was working a bit too hard. I told myself not to panic and be patient.  The race should get immensely easier -- and soon.

As we headed east, I saw the American Fork Canyon entrance looming ahead. I wasn't sure how far we'd have to run in that way, but soon, I could see glimpses of half marathon runners snaking out of the canyon.  Just shy of a mile, we joined with them and continued eastward.  By the time we hit 1 mile, we made another right hand turn and joy of joys: downhill!

Runners at the starting line.

We were now on a bike trail.  And with the merging of the (faster) half marathon runners with me, things got a bit tight. I was never really stopped from running my pace, but I could no longer judge who was a 10K runner versus a half marathon runner.

I hadn't seen anyone that looked like they were in my age group at the start, but still, I was hoping to secure a top 3.

The bike trail was pretty and actually a joy to run on. The scenery changed a bit, with beautiful views of the valley, a lush golf course to the left and plenty of vegetation.  I could settle into a groove.  There were some uphill sections here though, and I took those easy and quickly got back into pace on the downhill or flats.

My legs were still pretty torched from the half marathon last weekend and I could feel a growing fatigue in them.  They definitely didn't feel particularly springy despite running in my Saucony Endorphin Pro 3's. There were times when I felt like walking, but I endured and kept at it.

Mile 2 popped up at 8:28 -- solid and I was happy with that.  

Crowds at the finish line

The subsequent mile was like the 2nd.  Bike trail running and a bit of street running.  It was fun, beautiful and I was motivated.  I was still getting passed by half marathon runners.  I suspect they were running in the 1:30 to 1:40 range, so it wasn't unexpected. I took a sip of water at the first aid station and poured the rest over my head. It wasn't terribly hot, but it was warm.

Mile 4 to 5 is where I began to really struggle.  The downhill had ended and I was primarily running on the flat Murdock Bike Trail.  I wasn't really intrigued by the scenery anymore and my pace dropped off a cliff.  I was still working hard but I was kind of in desperation mode.  

The fatigue had caught up with me and I was really hoping the race would be over soon.  Perhaps the race would be short -- or to my nightmare, long?  The mile markers were consistently about .04 of a mile short of my watch from the start.  

Starting at mile 5 was the memory mile.  The mile was lined with deceased family members of runners.  It was inspiring to see so many people memorializing their loved ones.  It was also at this time I had merged in with the 5K runners.  So now 3 different races were running to close out the race.

It got crowded at times but it was empowering to pass by 5K runners.  I was still getting passed by half marathoners but I was passing some of the ones that had gone out too fast.  I still had absolutely no clue who was running what and to be honest I really didn't care.

Most of the race, I had run before, but the final half mile or so, the sights became familiar.  I had run the Steele Days race in 2023 and I remember suffering running the uphill portion of the course to the east of Art Dye Park.  This time, I only had to contend with the downhill -- and it was just what I needed.

Others around me could smell the finish line as we zig-zagged down the S shaped curves at a breakneck pace.  I could hear the murmur of the crowd in the distance.  We were close!

I could barely make out the Runtastic finish line arches in the distance as I hit mile 6 and like my other comrades, I dug deep and pushed.  I had a goal of going under 55 or better and upon glancing at my watch, I knew I was going to easily make that.

There were hundreds of people lined up along the finish line and they were cheering us on.  With over 2000 runners in attendance, those that had already finished or who had brought their family and friends, were giving us great support.  It spurred me on and I did a sprint finish; and I sped through in 53:36.... 

1st in my age group!

Conclusion

The course came in just shy of 6.20 miles, but given how much tree cover and turns I had to make, the course was arguably accurate. The course also was challenging -- while there was 100 feet more of descent versus ascent, there was enough uphill to challenge myself. 

Smiles at the finish line!

I will say the course is fast though.  Other than the first mile, it is one that you could really cover quickly.

There were 3 aid stations on the course and the course was well marked and marshaled.  With so many runners on the course it was hard not to know your way.  At times the course did get crowded but overall, I didn't feel like it hindered my time in any way.  

T-shirt, age group award and finisher's medal

I really was happy with the course too.  It was new to me and other than the stretch of bike trail from 4 to 5, I was interested in where I was running.

As usual, Runtastic did a great job with the medals.  The half marathon finisher one was beautiful.  The age group medals were huge as well.  Definitely well worth hanging around for.

Post race refreshments were bananas, oranges, chocolate milk, water and Powerade.  There were some vendors in attendance offering soft drinks and ice creams.  

There were a LOT of people at the finish line.  It was overwhelming, but with the race having over 2000 runners, it wasn't unexpected.  I was sort of expecting a morass to get out of the park area, but actually it went smoothly.

The shirt is a nice design.  It is a blended shirt of cotton and polyester.  I would probably wear it a lot more if it was 100% polyester, but the design is cool so it'll see service.  The buses were school buses and were well organized.  My only gripe is that it was hard to hear the race awards and they were pretty slow about giving them out.  Overall, though, a solid experience from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this race.  I wasn't expecting to feel this good about it.  People were excited about the half marathon too.  I would highly recommend this race and recommend signing up sooner rather than later for it.  If I had to sign up for the week of -- I am not sure I would've run it.  It was pushing $60 with the service fees and taxes.  In hindsight though, I'd pay for it knowing the experience I'd get.

My performance: was decent.  I wasn't expected much -- in fact, I wasn't really sure what I was capable of, especially coming off of a half marathon.  I had fears that I'd go out and crash and burn in 2 miles.  But fortunately, I was moving along nicely and I wasn't too discouraged by my time.  I felt like it was a step in the right direction.

Hopefully, it is a trend that continues.

Upcoming Races

06/28: 2025 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K - Taylorsville, UT (Confirmed)

07/04: 2025 Sandy City 4th of July 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

07/12: 2025 Farmington Days 5K / 10K - Farmington, UT (Maybe)

07/19: 2025 Mantua 5 Mile Race - Mantua, UT (Maybe)

07/26: 2025 Handcart Days Races 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

08/01: 2025 Parowan Half Marathon - Parowan, UT (Maybe / Probably)

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

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

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 Run of Remembrance 10K Race Recap - American Fork, UT

Official Time: 53:34
Placement: 3rd in age group, 58th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 54F -- no wind - sunny
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: [2023]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:06	Off to an easy start. I was actually surprised by how quickly I ran this.
2	8:09	Form is good, still feeling strong
3	8:21	Definitely slowing down a bit. I was okay with it.
4	8:54	A little bit of uphill. Clearly my speed endurance is gone
5	8:51	Working with others. Still doing okay but not the pace I wanted.
6	9:02	Just trying to hang on.
6.25	2:09	Speed to the finish.
	Total Miles: 6.25- 53:35

Introduction

Last year, I participated in the Run of Remembrance 10K and I had a good time.  My race time wasn't what I was hoping for, but I got it done and found it to be an exciting way to commemorate Memorial Day as well as get in a run.

This year, I was hoping for revenge and bettering my time -- especially when I signed up for this race during the organizer's Black Friday sales in November.  I also had hopes of placing in my age division -- having narrowly missed it last year.

Packet Pickup On Saturday

The race is held in American Fork Utah, about 25 minutes south from my house in Murray.  I had to go get my bibs (and some of my friends' bibs) at the expo on Saturday.  So by the time I arrived on Monday morning at 7:15 AM, I was pretty much ready to run.

Getting ready to race!

The Race

The race headquarters were situated at William S Robinson Park -- pretty much right off State Street.  There was ample parking at a mass-use parking lot a quarter mile from the race.  I managed to get the bibs I had collected pre-race to the recipients and cycled through the bathroom line.  Pro-tip: there were only a few bathrooms (about 8 to 10) and lots of runners, so I made sure to go a few times pre-race.

I did a very brief warm-up and noticed almost immediately that the course was slightly different from the previous year.  I was a little suspicious -- was I misunderstanding something? Did someone mismark the course?  I did recognize the majority of it, but the pair of left hand turns threw me off.

The 10K, along with the 5K, started at 8 AM and several hundred runners began pounding their way south along S 100 E.  I'd be coming north on my finish.

We ran to the end of the block towards a school before making a sharp left.  Almost immediately we ducked into another neighborhood.

Initially it was congested, but given this was a road race and the quiet neighborhood didn't have a lot of traffic, I found myself running the pace I wanted to fairly quickly.  

Currently, the 10K is about at my endurance limit.  I have had a number of challenges of late that have caused me to reduce my daily volume. I knew I could cover the distance but holding what used to be my 10K pace was going to be challenging.  I knew I just had to get this done, though, and I told myself to go out easy -- maybe 8:30 pace.

The pace came easily and it felt smooth.  I soon found myself running with a friend of mine (BM) and it was nice to work with him for a while.  Just before I reached the first mile marker, my watch beeped, letting me know that I had just run an 8:06 mile.  So much for holding back.

At about mile 1.5, the 10K runners split from the 5K.  Soon, I was back on familiar road and I remember the long stretch of nothing but southbound running.  The number of participants had dropped by more than half at this point.  BM and I were working together still holding a steady pace that was fast but still doable.

Mile 2 came up and I was still running faster than my goal pace.  I knew I was hurting a little but at this point it was tolerable.  I suspected though that I would have to pay the piper after the halfway point.

I had dropped BM and was working with another female runner.  Occasionally, we'd pass other runners but it was pretty quiet.  There wasn't much wind and it was peaceful to just run by an open grass field.

Around mile 2.5 we ran westward.  Memories of last year's race popped up.  It was around this point where my fantastic pace had fizzled out.  And it seemed like that fear sort of came back.  I could feel the lactic acid building up.  I think my energy fizzled upon running along a very short stretch (maybe 100 yards) of rocky dirt road.  It just took a bit more effort here and I felt like it broke my pattern. In a way, I started to panic.

I hit mile 3 in 8:21, still holding steady but I have clearly slowed down.  I was still passing people and again memories of last year and struggling along this section came back to haunt me.  I wouldn't describe the race as hilly, but there was a long stretch of road that just looked like it was going up hill.

I was still creeping up on people but I was running on fumes.

Finally, the long northbound stretch ended and we ducked into a nice neighborhood of well-to-do houses.  I really enjoyed this change of scenery and seeing people's yardwork and so forth.  I had to wonder what people thought of us running through their neighborhood.

Mile 4 -- this mile marker was off  (the only one that was) but I ran it in 8:51.  Not where I wanted to be.  I was struggling.  The monotonous, but gentle climb, was taxing me and I was a little warm feeling.  I had bypassed the first aid station but liberally doused myself with cool water at the subsequent one, which helped.

Start of the mile race.

We did another jog and finally circled back to where we had split from the 5K runners at mile 4.66.  My pace was barely a saunter at this point and occasionally I'd must up some spirit but it was usually short-lived.  My form was rubbish and I couldn't wait for the race to be over, but I knew I still had another mile and a half to go.

I recalled a lot of the harder sessions that I had done and focused on the work I had put in.  It helped but it wasn't enough.  Mile 5 came in at 8:54 minutes.  Barely half marathon pace.

I found a little extra in the final mile and a quarter.  There were some 5K runners still out on the course and I received a little bit of encouragement from them.  Occasionally more evenly paced runners in the 10K would pass me, but I didn't have a lot of runners tailing me.  I had my doubts that I would qualify for an age group award either, given that 51 minutes last year didn't cut it (it got me 4th place) so 53 and change wasn't going to do it either.

But I didn't give up.  It was also at this point that I ran by the race photographer.  I saw him at the last minute and usually, if I see them, I try to put on a brave smile and fix my form.  Instead, I got a terrible photo (no fault to him) but I look like I am suffering.

Yeah, that bad

Finally, I hooked the final turn and I could hear the blare of music and see the line of crowds leading into the finish line.  My pace cranked up to 5K pace again and my finish line approach actually looks great.

I crossed the finish line in 53:35... about 2 minutes slower than last year.

Finish looking good!

Conclusion

So, to make it clear, I was happy just to finish.  Given the trials and tribulations I've had to deal with this spring (injuries and health issues), I was just happy to close out the distance. I am WAY behind where I was last year but I was okay with it.  I did regret not signing up for the 5K though, as I think my 5K would've been pretty decent.

I was shocked -- no stunned -- that I placed 3rd in my age group.  The Runtastic Events tend to be very competitive, so earning an extra medal was a nice a bonus.  

I wound up spending an inordinate amount of time socializing with fellow runners.  It was such a nice day with ideal temperatures.

Despite my time being slower than last year, I felt like this was a huge accomplishment.  It gave me a lot of confidence in knowing I could run hard and finish a 10K.  Also, my first 2.5 miles in the race were where I'd want them to be for a 5K.  So I felt like things were trending in the right direction.

The medals -- especially the age group ones where really nice.  Normally the age group medals are an afterthought, but this one was a very nice design and it was heavy.

I hadn't really paid too much attention to the post race refreshments but before hitting the road I swung by to see what they had:  bananas, chocolate milk and oranges.  They may have had something else, but I was late to the party.  

The shirt was a polyester / cotton blend.  I liked the design on it and it will be serviceable for short runs, but the cotton blend isn't my favorite.  

I paid about $35 for the race during their pre-sale.  For a 10K, it is about spot on.  The price did jump quite significantly as the race event approached.  I got a nice deal for it and I was happy I had participated.  The course was well marked, and the finish line was a lively event.  

I will likely participate in this event next year.  Tons of my friends were there and it was a nice way to remember and reflect about our freedoms and those who paid the ultimate price.

Upcoming Races

06/01: 2024 Utah Valley 10K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)

06/22: 2024 Emigration 10 Mile Race - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

06/29: 2024 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K - Taylorsville, UT (Confirmed)

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

08/17: 2024 PC2PG 10K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)

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

09/28: 2024 Witch Run 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

10/05: BLOCKED OUT WEEKEND

10/19: 2024 Haunted Half 5K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

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

02/23: 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

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