2026 Deseret News 5K Race Recap - Salt Lake City, UT

Packet Pickup!

Official Time: 26:53

Placement: 39th place, 6th in the 55 - 59 age division
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Uppers  70's - humid
Garmin Route: HereHere
Previous Years: [2025] [2023]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:21	Decent start. Downhill section. Hemmed in a bit.
2	8:48	Reality setting in on the flats.
3	9:34	Last mile or so is slightly uphill. I was dead in the water here
3.02	0:09
	Total Miles: 3.02- 26:53

Introduction

It has indeed been a while since I last raced.  Living in Las Vegas -- it means the summer months are more or less race free.  And while I've been training and running pretty hard, it did mean that there wasn't much as far as competition went.

So I found the opportunity to double dip two races -- if I was willing to travel.  I've been homesick for Utah for quite some time and I decided I'd run the Deseret News 5K and the Bountiful 5K, which has been a summer tradition of mine for quite sometime.

I desperately needed a race and I desperately wanted to see people that I dearly miss in Salt Lake City.  So I put together a 3-night road trip back to Salt Lake so that I could race.

Pre-Race

So I arrived in Salt Lake, via a 5.5 hour drive, on Thursday a few hours after noon.  I think the initial rush of the packet pickup at Liberty Park had passed.  I remembered last year being fairly crowded.  

I managed to get in and out fairly quickly.  I found a few people who I hadn't seen in a while and chatted with them.  I also did a little window shopping at the discount shoes offerings but didn't really see anything.  I was kind of itching to find a place to eat, to be honest, so I didn't linger very long.

Lead Runners from the 10K

I did notice it was pretty humid.  I think there had been some rain in the area recently and I definitely felt it -- especially in comparison with the Las Vegas bone dry air.

I wound up grabbing some food, checking into my hotel and I actually slept pretty decently.  

The race started at 7 AM and one of the logistical issues of doing the 5K is finding parking.  There is no bus options for the 5K and with over 1000 participants the message I got was to try and find parking "somewhere" and arrange for yourself to get to the starting line or finish line.

I wound up parking somewhere in the middle... about a mile or so from the finish line and about half a mile from the starting line.  To be honest, it worked great.  Hardly anyone else had done that, and there was ample parking and I made excellent time getting out of the post race mess.  It was about a 10 minute walk to the starting line, and a 15 minute walk from the finish line.

The Race

I did a very limited warm-up.  It was already feeling very oppressive at the start and I had probably spent a little too much time socializing versus getting my head into the game.  This really wasn't my A-race but I still wanted to do well.  I had studied the previous year's results and I figured I had a shot of an age group award if the turnout was limited.

The race started at 7 AM and soon we were off and running.

The race starts in downtown Salt Lake.  We start a few hundred yards from where the other 3 races pass by -- the 10K, half marathon and full marathon.  The 10K had started at 6 AM and I saw a few of them throughout the race.

Post race photos with friends

The first mile, while crowded, is a fast one.  There is a gentle downhill at the start and I coasted down it with ease.  Despite being from Las Vegas, where the temperatures are warmer than Salt Lake's, I felt like it was hot.  Also, I the elevation is about 1500 feet more than where I live.  It just felt a lot harder to crush that 5K pace.

It was also hard to determine who was in my age group. While there were a TON of high school aged runners using the race as a tune-up, there were just so many people.  I just told myself to hang on.

The race pace didn't come easily.  It had been 2 months since I last raced and I had missed a lot of June with a bronchitis like cold that was a pain to get rid of.  

Saying hi to Olympian Jared Ward was a highlight.

I crossed mile 1 in 8:21.  I felt like I was working quite a bit harder and I expected something in the very low 8's / upper 7's.

The course eventually flattens out and soon I found myself running along the parade route.  Most of the crowd was holding their seats until the parade kicked off.  It was nice to get a few cheers while I suffered through the next mile. I couldn't coast anymore and my effort seemed even harder. I remembered when I ran this race in 2025 and the half marathon in 2023, wishing that I had never started running. While it wasn't as bad that, I knew it was going to get harder.

Mile 2 came across in 8:48.  Disappointing but at the same time, not unexpected given my pace for mile 1.

The final mile is where reality sets in.  The parade route was still in full swing and the crowds got thicker, but the effort seemed a lot harder.  I knew what lay ahead on the final turn -- an grindy, but long final three-quarters of a mile.  

I am not super familiar with the downtown area, but I always remember being filled with dread looking up the hill.  You can hear and see the finish line, in the distance.  You know you still have quite a ways to go, yet it looks so close.

My legs were heavy at this point and it took a lot of willpower to not walk.  My pace did feel like a walk and I knew I'd probably have a meltdown if I glanced at my watch.

I was being passed by a lot of people and I am told there were a few people who were having medical issues from the heat.  It was that kind of day.

Eventually, I did make it to the top.  I knew it would come and while my watch says it was only about 30 feet of climbing, it felt like a hundred.  

I sped through the finish line in under 27 minutes.  All things considered, better than I expected I would've done.

Conclusion

So I wound up not placing in my age group.  Fortunately, it was easy to get results.  I was okay with it.  I was just happy to finish in the realm of respectability -- and it was my first race in over 2 months.

I was able to get some photos and check-in with friends who I hadn't seen in quite some time.  That was about 80% of the purpose of the trip: see people that I can chat with online, but wanted to see in person.

There was ample post race celebrations, food, and drink.  You definitely get yours money's worth on this one and there are a lot of product vendors giving away free samples.  

The shirt was a nice design and a polyester / cotton blend.  I'll wear it, but it isn't really race worthy.  The medal was definitely a keeper, especially for a 5K. 

T-shirt and medal

The 5K is definitely the way to go if you want to save yourself a lot of headache.  When I've done the other two races, it took an eternity to get to your car and once you got to your car, it took even longer to get back on the road to the point where you could get home.  

I should also note that my Garmin came in significantly short on the course.  I am not sure what happened -- perhaps some taller building interference.  I also do wear the watch head on my inner wrist.  Most Strava users got 3.10 or slightly above in their distances.  Given that this race is attended by elites, I do believe the race distance is accurate and the inaccuracy was a mismeasurement of my watch.

This race is an ideal way of celebrating Pioneer Day in Utah -- which is a state level holiday to commemorate the time when the settlers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.  The race is definitely worth doing -- but just be forewarned it is VERY competitive (there were many Olympic caliber runners at the various race distances) and it tends to be very warm.

Upcoming Races

01/23: 2027 Sun Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)

02/21: 2027 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed) 

04/03: 2027 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

2025 Deseret News 10K Race Recap - Salt Lake City, UT

Okay I didn't run 26.2, but it was a photo opportunity

Official Time: 54:43

Placement: 10th in the 55 to 59, 417 out of 1050
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Low 70's breeze from the south
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: [2023]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:21	Good start.  Feeling comfortable and enjoying the race
2	8:18	Building up some steam
3	8:49	Declines stopped here but it was a grind upwards.
4	8:43	Mostly flat in here. Felt like I was running faster
5	8:49	At least I am consistent.
6	9:39	Grind to the finish. Just wanted to be done.
6.22	1:59	Not much left to go on.  Pushed it hard to the finish
	Total Miles: 6.22- 54:42

Packet Pickup

Introduction

I was on the fence about doing the Deseret News race this year. My summer schedule has been packed with races in places and this was a bubble race.  It is a well attended race and it would require a day off from work, so it wasn't initially high on my list.

I decided to pull the trigger and actually do the race a few weeks ago.  A friend of a friend had a big to sell and was desperate to transfer it.  I decided to help them out and purchase it from them.  It wasn't cheap, but it got me into the distance I wanted to run: the 10KM.

Having run the half marathon in 2023, I knew the race was kind of downhill, it'd be warm and it'd be an early morning.  Also, I knew all my friends would be there and there'd be a good dose of local elite talent there.  This race brings out the big guns in Utah.

Lining up before the start

The Race

The race requires that one get their bib on Friday at Liberty Park, which also serves as the race's finish line.  I made the journey there on my lunch hour and pickup was a snap.  I did some shoe shopping and scored an "on sale" price on some Saucony Endorphin Speed 4s.  

I slept fitfully the night before the race. I am not sure why. I was in my own house, had an alarm set and it was just a 10K.  It seemed like a lot of other people had the same experience.  Just pre-race nerves.

With a race start at 6:05 AM, I made the arrived at the race sight about an hour early.  It was dark but parking was easy to find.  Pro-tip: In hindsight, I'd have parked to the west of the university in the suburbs and hoofed it to the start line. It would've made the race a LOT easier to leave.

I did a short warm-up (it was already pretty warm). I was sort of sore / fatigued from Sunday's long run.  While I had taken Monday - Wednesday as mostly low volume / low intensity, I still had some residual soreness.

The race start is located near the Fort Douglas cemetery on the grounds of the University of Utah.  They had plenty of porta-potties that were widely open but 30 minutes before the start, there were long lines forming.  

After the National Anthem, we started on the dot at 6:05.  I settled in about 100 runners from the start and got into a decent pace.  It was crowded but we had a wide avenue to navigate.  Within about a quarter mile, I was able to maintain my own pace.

I had scoped out some of my competition before the race, but with over 1000 runners, and previous race results to review, I knew there wasn't much of a chance to place.  Still, I wanted to race / run hard and if I finished in the top 10 in my age group, I'd be reasonably happy.

The first mile went quick.  I was shocked at how effortless it felt and it was a decent time.  Granted, I had just ran a bit downhill, but I was off to a decent race and feeling comfortable.  I knew the latter half of the race would be challenging, but the 8:21 was a confidence building start.

We started to run down Foothill Blvd and the gentle downhill was nice.  I had settled into a good pace.  Everyone had mostly sorted themselves out, I had plenty of room to run and I could comfortably push the pace a little.  We had an entire lane of the boulevard and while there was some traffic, it wasn't much of a safety concern given how early it was.

Mile 2 tickled me pink:  8:18.

Eventually the massive drops ended and I remembered from 2023 that this was about the point that I started to suffer in the half marathon.  Fortunately, I was only running the 10K and I was still early into the race.  

We had to make a right and I was greeted with the first real uphill of the race.  I remember running into it 2 years ago and the refresher view didn't lift my spirits.  It isn't a back breaking hill, but it is a long, slow one.  My Garmin doesn't seem to indicate much of a climb, but trust me there is.

My pace ground to a halt.  While I was still moving okay, I was now running at half marathon pace.  Fortunately, upon reaching the top, I was able hit a downhill stretch.  Overall the mile wasn't the worst, but it had taken a lot of me. I'd say right now, that 8:49 is about an average 10KM mile.

The closer we got to the finish, the more crowd support we received.  We also ran through the start line of the 5 KM race, where runners were beginning to assemble.

Runners coming into the finish line

The heat was slowly started to get to me.  It was warm and a little humid.  My mouth was dry and I was feeling a bit swimmy at times. Despite the hill, I was still on for a decent time.  I was hoping the distance between the 4th mile and 5th mile, would be a rebound mile.  I felt like I was running fast, but I also knew I was working very hard. And, mentally, I knew the toughest mile was ahead of me.

Mile 5 rang up at 8:49. I could live with that, but it wasn't what I was hoping for.

Finally, the parade route.  This is where races are made or broken and in my case, just like the half marathon two years ago, my pace came to a crawl.  I was working hard and trying to get some motivation off of the crowds, but my legs were heavy, I was sweating profusely and my mouth was so dry.  It was nice to get help from the crowd, but I felt embarrassingly slow.  

I kept looking for the final left turn -- constantly calculating how much more I had to run.

Finally, it arrived and while I was hoping I had a short jog to the finish, the finish line wasn't in sight either. It was yet another slow grind uphill.  There was still plenty of people to cheer for you but I might as well have been running in mud.

My form was crap

The blue arches finally came into view.  So close!  Yet looking at my watch I still had half a mile to go. And it felt like an eternity. 

I was counting down the .1 of a miles and I just wanted to be done.  Once I hit mile 6, I gave it whatever I had left.  The course's markers were pretty much matching up with my watch the entire race.  

As I sped through the finish line, the finish line announcer shouted that I had the coolest shorts she had seen (I get a lot of comments on them).  I had a laugh about that despite my suffering.

Putting on a brave face as I finished.

Conclusion

So my time was about what I expected.  For being sort of sore and of late running 26:30 for a 5K, finishing in under 55 minutes is decent.  Still, it is another race where I fell short of my year's goals.  

I wound up seeing some people at the finish line that I knew and made small talk while I recovered.  One of the attractions of the race is also getting a chance to mingle with the elite and YouTubers.  I got to meet a bunch of my favorites.

Mingling with the elites

Post race refreshments were bananas, chocolate milk, cookies, and water.  There were plenty of vendors in attendance though giving away free stuff.  With thousands of runners at the race, there was no shortage of photo opportunities and things to check out.  Also just about every runner I know in my social circle was there participating in one of the races: 5KM, 10KM, half marathon and full marathon.

The medal was nice -- larger than the usual offerings.  I sort of wondered though if all runners got the same medal, which would've been disappointing if I had been running the full.  The shirt was nice, but not the material I normally wear.  The swag bag was filled with useful coupons and product samples.  Definitely props to that.

Medal + shirt

Despite my lackluster performance, I did come home excited. I got to meet a lot of my runner idols and overall, I had fun.  It sure beat work.

The race was run by pros: it was accurate, mile markers were spot on, and while it was expensive (I paid about $60), I got a really nice experience.

Post race festivities at the park

My only gripe was getting from the finish line back to my car.  There were ample busses, but getting to my car, which was only about 5 miles away, took an eternity.  And getting out of the university area was a mess due to many runners on the road.  I shouldn't complain, because only an hour ago, I was one of those runners causing traffic congestion.  I suspect had I lingered at the race for another hour, the situation might've gotten better.

Upcoming Races

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

08/02: 2025 Runtastic Heber 5K - Heber, UT (Confirmed)

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 Salt Lake City Half Marathon Race Recap - Salt Lake City, UT

Start of the Salt Lake City Races (bike race)

Official Time: 2:05:51
Placement: 21st in the 55 - 59 age group. 1378 out of 3676 overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 50's, breeze from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2018] [2017]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:21	Sluggish start.
2	9:32	Some rolling hills.  Keeping it easy but not pushing too hard
3	8:39	Enjoying a bit of downhill
4	9:04	Start of heading into the downtown area
5	8:37	Nicely done!
6	9:47	Yuck. Just a slow grind up Temple Street
7	8:59
8	10:25	Biggest uphill section.  This would be the last major hill at least. Slow going
9	9:22	Some rebounding here. Somewhat okay pace here though.
10	9:52	Hoping to be done soon
11	9:27	Liberty park area. Maybe there was hope around a 2-hour finish
12	10:04	Come on!
13	10:30	Out of gas at this point. Uphill a bit, but just wanted to be done.
13.23	2:07	Couldn't finish fast enough.
	Total Miles: 13.23 - 2:05:51

Packet pickup at the expo

Introduction

After the 2023 edition of the Salt Lake City Half Marathon, I (almost) immediately signed up for 2024.  However, when it came to running the 2024 race, I find myself unable due to a variety of health issues.

I was able to defer to 2025, thanks to a generous policy.  It cost a few bucks, but it was better than just losing the entry altogether.

This race is one of the crown jewels of the spring racing series, in my opinion.  It is wildly popular with locals as well as out-of-towners.  It is run primarily on the east side of the city, but also gives runners a chance to experience the city as well.

There is also a wide variety of race distances: 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon.  There is also a bike tour.

Smiles before the start

The Race

Packet pickup was held the day prior to the race.  With over 10,000 registered runners, it was the only option. I got there around 11:30 and it was packed.  However, by the time I left the expo, the crowd was thinning. I think just about everyone had the same idea: get your bib on your lunch hour.

They had a lot of generous exhibitors and I wound up coming home with a few samples.  Overall, the process was easy but it seemed like there were more vendors there. The feeling was definitely "this is a big race" feeling.

I got up at 4:30 AM for the 7 AM start on Saturday morning.  One of the nice things about the race is that they give all participants a free pass to ride the rail system (Trax) to the race start.  Fortunately, I live about a mile from a station, so it was an easy drive and I caught an early train to the start (about 5:12 AM).  I made it to the race site at 6:00 Am without worrying about parking or getting lost.  And the starting village was just footsteps from the train.

I spent an hour socializing, getting a bit more food into me and using the bathroom.  By 6:45 AM I had my gear bag stashed and was in the starting queue.

Early in the week, the weather forecasted suggested it was going to be rainy and miserable.  But as the week progressed it got better. There was a forecast of wind from the south, but I really only noticed it a few times during the race.  It was warmer than I would've liked -- with temperatures reaching the low 60's by race's end.

I had about 5 - 7 minute delay before starting. With several thousand runners, we were all self-seeded into the corrals.  

Miles 1 - 3:

The race starts near the track at the University of Utah.  There is a very short service run and then you are greeted with the first of several hills.  I took it easy as I hadn't really warmed up and wasn't ready to press the pace.

I hadn't really set any ambitious goals for the race either.  So I was kind of just working through how I felt and going with it.  Given my recent race times, I didn't think 2:00 hours was very realistic, but I had hopes that if the running gods were smiling upon me, perhaps I could get close.

If you studied a map of the course, you might think it was a fast one.  But it really isn't the case.  There are quite a few hills on the course and it is very hard to settle into any sort of consistent pace.  

I felt like I was working at an adequate pace as we sped through the well-to-do neighborhood with the million dollar views.  

There was some nice crowd support -- some of the neighborhood came out to cheer us on.  I was passing people and being passed, but I really didn't care.  I just focused on enjoying the experience.  My pace was pretty slow, but I figured I'd pick it up.

Probably the best part of the race.

Miles 4 - 6:

At this point, the fun starts.  The race is now behind the capitol building and you have a glorious downhill waiting for you.  This is probably the most scenic part of the course too as you get a glimpse of the foothills.  

I picked up the pace here but was still holding back. I didn't have a lot of confidence in my endurance so I was banking energy.  I didn't want this to be a death march too early in the race.

The downhill section is long enough to be meaningful -- probably close to 1.5 to 2 miles.  But once it ends, it is over.  And once you hit the city, you have a very slow grind eastward.

Questioning my life choices as I grind away

Still it felt good and the scenery motivated me to keep plugging away.

Finish line near the courthouse

Miles 7-10:

This section of the race takes a while to get through -- at least for me.  There are some uphills and downhills but the one at mile 8 is the worst. Normally, most races wouldn't subject you to a hill of this nature, but this one is thrown into it to just totally punish you.

As soon as you turn the corner you see it and the reactions from people made me laugh.  Unfortunately, laughing didn't help me get up any faster.

My pace was all over the place here.  I was motivated and keeping up with most of my peers but I could feel the growing fatigue in my legs.  I couldn't wait to get until the 5K point.

Also around mile 9, the full marathon runners peeled off and began their journey to the east side of town.  At least the roads got a bit less congested.

I knew I was getting close to the finish when I hit Liberty Park. This park is popular with many elite runners and is a popular spot for people to do laps.  The park has been around for over a 100 years and is loaded with mature trees.  There was another round of cheering people to push us forward.  But I was really struggling at this point. I noticed that if I could have an epic 5K finish maybe I could hit 2 hours.

Finish line area

Miles 11- 13.25

The motivation ended a little bit after that and mile 11 was difficult.  I was in shuffle mode but I still felt like I was doing okay.  I was passing people and my form seemed okay.  There just wasn't a lot of pep in my legs.

The course was mostly flat but there seemed to be a steady incline.  I kept counting down the quarter miles -- just willing myself to somehow pull off some fast sprints.  But there wasn't and there wasn't a lot motivating me.  2 hours was kind of out of the question.

We made the final turn and looking at my watch I knew I still had at least another .75 of a mile to go. I could see the tiny arches of the finish line ahead.  So close yet so far away.  In a way, just seeing it, made me tired.  My running turned into a shamble.

The mile markers -- up until the mile 11 one -- were pretty much spot on.  Mile 11, however, came in at least .12 of a mile.  I was hoping that mile marker was the only one that was off, but Mile 12 followed suite.  In fact, the course came in well over 13.1 miles.  I do think that to get all the races to finish at the same place, they had to fudge a bit.  Kind of disappointing but I suppose there are only so many ways to make it all come together.

I did get a bit of motivation within the final quarter mile.  There was another runner -- from the looks of it, running their first half marathon. They were getting shouts of encouragement from family.  I used that too to push a bit more and somehow in the final .1 of a mile, I found the energy to make a good showing.

My race wasn't definitely one to set any records, but judging by my final sprint, you might've guess I was trying hard.

Finished!

Conclusion

So according to my watch, I finished the half marathon (about 13.11 miles) in 2:04.  With the extra distance, I came in around 2:05:50.  Not a great race but not outside the realm of what I was expecting to run.  I was upset but given the current state of my running and lack of half marathon level workouts, I got what I put into the race.

It took a bit for me to feel good.  It was warm and for a bit I thought I was going to be sick.  Fortunately they had water and Gatorade, which I greedily took.  They also had a banana but I wasn't ready for that.  I did have ample time to stay near the finish pen.

I got a few photos and sauntered off to get my bag.  They had a great group of volunteers and I had my bag in no time at all.  From an organizational standpoint, this race has got it down.  

I took a break and reflected upon my race.  I was glad to have it done but at the same time, a far cry from what I would've liked to have done.  It simply gets harder every year.

Hanging out with Spidey!

Before leaving, I made my way through the more substantial food area.  I managed to snag a protein drink and some chocolate milk and a bag of chips for the trip home.  

It was only about a block walk to the train station and it was easy to jump on a train and get home in about 20 minutes.  No headaches of getting out of parking lot.  Just almost door-to-door travel back home.  

This race is a lot of fun and if you sign up early (generally a year in advance) the price is very reasonable.  If you wait to the last minute - it isn't.

The shirt is very nice. I like the design and it is high quality.  The medal was a bit on the ho-hum side.  For a major race, it was kind of small.  There were some issues with the timing system but my results are in the clear.  Others -- not so much.

Finisher's medal + shirt

This race is a must-do if you are in the Salt Lake area.  It showcases the city well and is a lot of fun.  The race is well organized and the course will definitely keep you guessing.  The locals really come out to support you.  If I am in the area next year, I hope to be in attendance again.

Pre race selfies with RC!

Upcoming Races

05/04: 2025 Bob Blazier Run for the Arts 5K -- Crystal Lake, IL (Confirmed)

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

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

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