2025 Break The Freeze 5K Race Recap - South Jordan, UT

What the situation looked like at the start

Official Time: 25:40
Placement: 20th overall, 3rd in the 50 - 59 age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 28 degrees, stiff breeze from the north
Garmin / Course Map: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2022]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:48	Wow, slippery going. Some hills as well. Just wasn't sure how the footing was going
2	8:33	Into the neighborhood. Couldn't take advantage of the downhills. Slippery
3	8:05	Actually an outstanding mile. Dug deep and pushed.
3.05	0:15	Crushed the finish!
	Total Miles: 3.05- 25:43

Warm-up -- 30 mins to race time.

Introduction

So at some point this weekend, I was looking at doing a half marathon in St George -- a 4 hour drive.  I already have another one on deck in the next week. Did I really want to make 2 trips down there and push myself through 2 half marathons?  And my goal race was the following weekend?

Sanity prevailed and I decided to stay local.  With the weather looking pretty decent, I fired up my browser and signed up for the SOJO Break the Freeze 5K.

I was no stranger to the race and the SOJO series (South Jordan).  I have done the Break the Freeze race twice before.  It makes for a good time trial and a barometer to see how things are going.  And in Northern Utah, races are pretty slim in January.

Unfortunately, the weather gods had other plans for Saturday morning.  And what was forecasted to be a clear, but cold day, turned into a cold, snowy, windy day.  So much for this race being a time trial.

The Race

So the morning of the race, it was snowing -- pretty hard.  The travel to the race (which was about 9 miles away) took longer than it should've on account of the driving conditions.  There was just enough snow falling to make the drive "interesting".

I got to the race -- which was held along the Jordan River Parkway in South Jordan at the fishing ponds 45 minutes ahead of race start.  The wind was howling and I felt sorry for the poor volunteers.  I was decked out in shorts, which definintely garnered some WTFs.

I grabbed my bib and shirt and checked out the trail.  It definitely looked slippery and they had made an attempt at clearing it.  All in all, it wasn't conducive for a fast race, but at least I wouldn't be trudging through any snow.

I did a fairly short warm-up and got a good sense of how slippery it was.  I was wearing my Endorphin Pros, which I've felt don't do very well in wet conditions.  I wasn't sliding around and footing was decent.  But still I didn't have a lot of confidence -- a simple slip running at 5K pace would definitely hurt.

The race started off just after 10 AM and we headed south along the bike trail.  It was sort of crowded while running and I eased into the race.  I picked off people and within a half mile I had plenty of room to set my own pace.

After a jaunt on the bike we jumped into a well-to-do subdivision.  I remembered the course vividly but I had sort of forgotten about a hill we have to climb just before the end of mile 1.  It was slushy and the race felt hard.  I think I had expended quite a bit of energy in the first mile.  The subdivision, was plowed though -- well half the road -- so it wasn't the worst experience.

I hit mile 1 in 8:48.  Given the conditions, I expected the time.

I was running with a few other people.  There aren't any age group awards at this race, so the competition is a little thinner.  Granted, though, there are still some fast runners that show up.  I used the opportunity to motivate myself by picking out runners ahead of my and trying to catch them.  I also worked hard on running fast when I could and backing down when the conditions got slippery.

Mile 2 involved some rolling hills.  There were segments that just looked like a sheet of ice.  Fortunately, my shoes held up - but there were times when I was running in the snow to slow myself down on the downhills.

I was working with another individual who I figured was in my age group.  He would take me on the uphills and once we got to the flats or downhill portions, I'd catch up and pass him.

I crossed mile 2 in 8:33.  Better!

The final mile was pretty much all on the bike trail.  The footing was better and it was flat, so I really could dig into the pace.  My competitor was tailing me.

This was my mile. I felt like I had more in the tank and I decided to make the most of it.  I recalled all the times I put in my intervals and I knew I could hold the pace for just one more mile.

The final stretch was along a snow covered sidewalk.  It had been plowed but there was still a bit of snow on it.  But once again, my footing held.

I was still being chased down by the guy I was racing against.  I think we both knew we were challenging each other.  I moved to the side to let him pass me but he didn't take advantage of it, until we made the final turn.  I was a bit let down to be passed but I kept after him.

I could hear the din of the finish line - it was still out of site, but I knew it was close.  Competition was still just ahead of me.  Time to push.

Surprisingly, the guy didn't respond.  I sped by and just as I felt like I was running out of gas, the finish line appeared and I sped through it.  My final mile was my best: 8:05.

Conclusion

So it is a bit difficult to figure out exactly how I feel about my performance.  Conditions weren't warranting a fast time, and let's face it, my time was fairly ordinary.

I think the best thing about my race is the final mile. My competitive spirit came out and I ran hard.  The last mile is usually the hardest and I really dug deep to get it done.

I have to give major props to the race organizers for getting the course in as good as shape as possible.  The snow started about 2.5 hours before the race start and slowed up just at the start.  The course was in remarkable shape.

The race was about $30 and I got a good experience.  The medal was nice and the shirt is one I am definitely going to wear.  Without the age group awards, they did offer a raffle. Post race refreshments was simply water.

Break the Freeze is standard faire when it comes to racing.  I got a decent shirt, a nice medal, an interesting course, and good comraderie.  The race is close by, convenient and reasonably priced.  And best of all, it is a local race in January when races are hard to come by.  It is well organized and the South Jordan Park District went well above the call of duty to get the course ready on a challenging day.

Upcoming Races

01/25: 2025 Sun Half Marathon - Ivins, UT (Confirmed)

02/15: 2025 South Davis Recreation Center Sweethearts 5K  -- Bountiful, UT(Confirmed)
02/23: 2025 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)
03/01: 2025 March Madness 10K - Woods Cross, UT (Confirmed)
03/15  2025 Lucky 13 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)
04/26: 2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

2024 Sound of Hope 5K Race Recap - South Jordan, UT

Sound of Hope 5K Welcome Flag

Official Time: 25:58 (gun time)
Placement: 20th overall, 13th male
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 60's with brisk breeze from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2022]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:59	Nice little tailwind. Feeling rock solid.
2	8:24	I lost everything once I hit the turn around.
3	8:50	Yuck. Just nothing left
3.10	0:40	Sprint to the finish
	Total Miles: 3.10 - 25:54

Packet Pickup

Introduction

There were a handful of races in the Salt Lake valley this weekend.  It was a hard decision but ultimately, I decided to go with a very local race that I've done before -- the Sound of Hope 5K in South Jordan. The race supports a group in the prevention of suicide with all of the proceeds going to support that initiative. 

I've done the race before when it was held at a park a few more miles down the trail.  I think due to overcrowding and a parking situation, they have moved the race to the East Riverfront Park.  The race's starting location is a familiar one:  many of the SOJO 5K / 10K races begin and end there.

The Race

The race started at 9 AM and I was showed up at the park, found parking, and grabbed my bib by 8:15 AM.  It allowed me ample time to warm-up, get some strides in, some photos and use the bathrooms.

My legs have been shot most of the week and it took a while before I was able to get some life in them.  The strides and drills really helped.

For a local charity event, the race is well managed and it started on time.

About 500 runners started just off the trail, went under the starting / finish line arch and headed north up the Jordan River Trail.  I don't normally make it to South Jordan on my local runs but I've run the area plenty of times.  So I knew exactly where I was at and what to expect: a pancake flat, paved bike trail.

I started off feeling pretty good as we ran along the bike trail. There was a bit of a breeze that was mostly at my back and the first mile came easily.  It was nice to run along the Jordan River and the trees are just starting to change from green to yellow.  The air temperature was warm, but not hot.

I didn't look at my watch when it came to what pace I was running.  I did make a mental note of the distance I had run when I hit a mile marker on the bike trail.  It is a helpful tactic so that on the return trip I could "know" that I had .75 of a mile left to run.  Normally I wouldn't worry too much about it, but with many races, they aren't always reliable as far as total distance run.  

One thing that gave me confidence on the overall race distance was that the mile 1 (and mile 2) markers were spot on.  I hit mile 1 in 7:59.  A little faster than I thought but it felt good.

The race, if it has a fault, is that there are no age group awards.  I believe they give an overall award for pre-teen, teen, and adults (over 20+).  I was tailing a guy who looked to be about my age and using him as my pacer / competition.  I figured I was in the top 25.

It seemed to take forever to hit the halfway point.  It was a simple turnaround sign -- at exactly 1.55 miles.  Perfect! The race appeared to be set up correctly.

I grabbed some water at the aid station: mostly to rinse out my mouth and clear some of the building junk out of my throat. My allergies had been bothering me pre-race but so far it hadn't slowed me down.

I wound up passing my "competition" and I picked up the pace ever so slightly. I was on target, for what I felt, was a good race.  Although, I did notice that I was being slowed up by a bit of a headwind.  There wasn't anyone to take shelter behind either.

Just before I hit the mile 2 marker, I knew I was hurting.  My competition overtook me and left me in the dust.  I was running on fumes. Breathing-wise, I was just done.  I hit mile 2 in a disappointing 8:24 and I felt like I wasn't going to magically bounce back either.

There were a few other folks around me but the pack I was working with disappeared and there wasn't much of anyone behind me.  I had received a lot of cheers from the outbound people as well -- once again I felt like an elite athlete with getting so much encouragement.  

My pace dropped off a cliff and my job was simply to finish at this point.  I knew this mile wasn't going well.  

Finally the finish line came into view and I could hear the music.  I pushed the final quarter mile as best as I could. I also knew they'd be recording the finish line, so I put on the strongest look I had and sped under the Sound of Hope arches for another finish.

Conclusion

So my time -- was a disappointing 25:52 or so.  As I write this, they haven't posted the official results.  My competition had completely left me in the dust as well.

I grabbed my finisher's medal, caught my breath, and found a group of runners to commiserate with.  

While there was nothing on the line for this race, I was disappointed. Given last week's solid race, I was expecting to finish about 20 - 30 seconds faster.  

I wound up getting my phone and got some finish line photos.  And once my stomach had settled down, I grabbed some snacks for the road.  They had a lot of prepackaged chips, granola bars, etc.  Hydration consisted of cold water bottles.

So I knew what I was getting when I signed up for this race.  My only complaint is no age group awards.  Honestly, that is what has stopped me from registering in years past: for me, I need a shot at competition.  However, this year, I simply wanted to race, and get out and have some fun.  

The race is a bargain.  One it goes to a good cause and two, they deliver on a well organized race.  They also had a nice swag bag, which included a very cool shirt (best shirt of the year, perhaps?), a buff, a blinking night light, sunglasses, etc.  The food was above average and overall, I am happy with my experience.

Finisher's medal + t-shirt

My performance, on the other hand, wasn't what I was hoping for.  I noticed on Strava that many runners had a fast first mile and followed up with a slower 2nd and finally an even slower 3rd mile.  It was nearly the exact same pattern as me.  I think the wind did play a factor.  Also, it is interesting to note that running last week at 600 feet elevation saves me almost 1 full minute off of a 5K.

I am hoping for redemption in the next weeks as I try to salvage what is left of 2024.  It's been a rough go and I was hoping I had turned a corner after the Cole Porter Race, but clearly, it isn't quite there.

Upcoming Races

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

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 (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)

2023 SoJo Date Dash 5K Race Recap - South Jordan, UT

Official Time: 25:32
Placement: 2nd in the 50 - 54, 10th overall
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 32F - breeze from the south
Course Map / Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:40	Gentle downhill at the start. Slightly congested, but off to a good start
2	8:31	Definitely was feeling it at about 1.25 miles. Hardest part of the course coming
3	7:37	Dream killer slow grind hill
3.25	1:45	Smash the final quarter mile.
	Total Miles: 3.25- 25.35 (24:33 for 3.10)

Introduction

So I signed up for the SoJo Date Dash 5K primarily on a whim.  I didn't have anything on my race calendar for the day and I had a case of FOMO.

The race is located about 5 miles down the road from me and it was reasonably priced.  The SoJo race series is a fairly low-key event, offering a cheap race experience with all the thrills of a race.

The Race 

I arrived at the race scene about 45 minutes before the 10 AM start.  It was nice to have a leisurely morning and be able to get a decent sized breakfast down before the race.  It also had warmed up enough to make the brisk morning, tolerable weather-wise.  

The race was lightly attended so pickup wasn't a big deal.  I socialized for a bit and then started off on a 1.2 mile shakeout run.  I felt sluggish and I was having a hard time getting into a "race mentality".

The race is held on the Jordan River bike trail.  It is a paved trail used by dog walkers, cyclists and other runners.  It is scenic and flat.  I had run the course before -- in parts -- but never in this configuration.  I had studied the course and knew the route but I was less than thrilled to see a monster hill at about 1.75.  I had taken on the hill before so I knew what I was in for, but I knew that today was not going to be a "personal record" day.

The race started at 10 AM.  The race doesn't offer age group awards and the award system is sort of haphazard at best.  The top finishers usually receive some sort of prize but it isn't advertised what the criteria is.  So I was mostly running this as a hard workout.

I took off at a solid pace.  There was a bit of a breeze coming in from the south and unfortunately there wasn't anyone to shield myself.  It definitely felt cold -- had I underdressed?  I was wearing a light hat, thick gloves, 2 t-shirts and short shorts.  Usually that covers me for a 5K race at this temperature.

The first mile was entirely on the bike trail and I smashed a 7:40 mile. Not too shabby, but I certainly felt winded.  I suspect I went out a little too fast.

After the first mile, we jumped into a residential neighborhood.  I was chasing down some runners ahead of me, but I didn't see anyone behind me.  I knew the course, but at the same time, there are quite a few turns.

The runners ahead of me were moving pretty good but I was making ground on a few of them. I kept picking out runners to try and work off of.  The route got a little hilly at times -- mostly downhill so I felt my pace quicken.  But I was holding back a bit -- I knew the hill was coming.

I finally rounded the corner and the hill appeared.  I haven't done much hill work on account of my back injury, which seems to aggravate it.  My goal was to simply maintain a strong effort, get up it, and recover.

It was a painful process and yeah the hill is steep, but the distance up it is reasonably short -- maybe .10 to .15 of a mile.

Mile 2 hit at 8:30.  I was expecting something in the 9's, so I was actually pleased to see this.

After some flat running, I finally got the hill going down.  It was exhilarating and I felt a quickness in my turnover.  I wound up catching one of the runners and I started to work on getting the next one.

A few more turns and I returned back to the bike trail.  I had measured the course from the bridge to the finish line at just over .63 miles.  My Garmin indicated that this course was going to be significantly longer than just 3.10 miles.

I looked over my shoulder and there was no one closing in on me and the runner ahead of me had clearly gained some ground on me.  Part of me slowed down a bit.  My time was well off a "normal" 5K and with the course being long and no one in pursuit, I let off the gas a bit.

The finish line finally came into view and my Garmin read 3.10 miles -- I lapped it for a 24:33.  Definitely slower, but not unexpected given the course.  I had also run a 7:37 mile -- thanks for the massive downhill.

I turned on the jets for the final .15 of a mile and crossed the finish line in 25:35.

Conclusion

I was handed a water bottle at the end, which I think indicates I got a top finisher prize.  Not everyone got one and I suspect since I was in 10th place overall, that that was my prize.

I had run about what I expected I would've considering the hill.  If the course had been entirely on the bike trail, I think my time would've been more in line with what I've been running of late.

The course was marshalled well and I got a nice shirt.  The medal is probably one of the cutest I've ever gotten.  Post race refreshments was simply water.  For a $20 race, I got what I ordered and I had a decent experience.

If this race pops up on an open weekend I'd do it again.  For the price, it was a nice experience and a good opportunity to socialize.  

Upcoming Races

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

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

03/18: 2023 Vineyard City Gold Rush 5K - Vineyard, UT (Confirmed)

03/25: 2023 Riverton Half Marathon023 Riverton Half Marathon - Riverton, UT (Confirmed)

04/08: 2023 Eggs Legs 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

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

04/29: 2023 Blossom Run 10K - Santaquin, UT (Confirmed)

07/29: 2023 Timp 10K - American Fork, UT (Confirmed)

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

09/23: 2023 Witch Run 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

10/21: 2023 Haunted Half 5K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

10/28: 2023 Haunted Half 5K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)

2023 SoJo Break the Freeze 5K Race Recap - South Jordan, UT

Official Time: 23:14
Placement: 10th overall, 2nd in the 50 - 54 age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 28 degrees, slight wind from the west
Garmin / Course Map: Here
Previous Years: 2022

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:57	Off to a decent start. Some fairly dominant hills - but just get through them
2	7:42	Some rolling hills but I rebounded quickly from mile 1's hills (total climb - 120 feet)
3	7:30	Dig deep and push. Aided by heading down the hills that I had climbed.
3.11	0:40	Courses ended at about 3.01 miles.  I kept going for an official 5K
	Total Miles: 3.10- 23.52

Introduction

Well, after last weekend's fairly successful half marathon, I was itching to run a 5K.  My training of late has been focused on this distance -- more speed than endurance.  Also, I have recently purchased a pair of Saucony Endorphin Pro Speeds version 2.0.

These are carbon plated shoes and I was very interested to see if I would see any improvement in my race performance (spoiler alert: they helped a lot).

The only race in town was the SoJo Break the Freeze Race, which I had done the previous year.  It has a fun-run type of atmosphere, with your t-shirt and finisher's medal.  It is also professionally timed.  But really no awards, a simple bottle of water at the finish and a kids race to finish things off.  Very low key and budget friendly.

This year's theme was "the 80's" so there were quite a few people dressed in 80's attire.  Not sure if my neon pink shirt qualifies but that's what I wore.

The Race

The race is held along the Jordan River Bike Trail near the fishing ponds (just south of Lifetime Fitness).  I got there early and quickly grabbed my bib.  Key point is to get there early, as sometime the line up to get your bib can be lengthy.

It was a balmy 26F but the sun was shining and all things considered it didn't feel that bad.  The wind was negligible and while it was chilly, it wasn't terrible.  

I spent a few moments getting some photos and visiting people I had seen in a while before donning my bib, ditching my warm-up sweats.  I figured I ran about a mile to get loosened up and feeling good.

I got to the starting line just shy of 10 AM and secured a decent spot.  There were about a 100 runners.  Not a huge race by any means but enough to make it interesting.  I was one of the few runners wearing shorts.  I had thrown on some heavier gloves, a skullcap, and 2 shirts.  I felt a little chilled at the start but overall this outfit worked.  I had stashed a heavy jacket near the finish line so I could get into warm clothes right away.

The first mile is a bit of a challenge.  It starts off flat and quickly hangs a few turns before dumping you into a well-to-do-subdivision.  I found a few guys to hang with and was maintaining a solid but not crazy pace.  I also knew at the end of the mile I'd be greeted by a pair of hills.  

I had forgotten how intense they were.  But I knew also that they were short-lived.  Last year they ruined my first mile.  I haven't done a lot of hill work on account of my back injury, which seems to be irritated by hills.

I really hadn't been paying any attention to my pace for the first mile; I didn't want to become obsessed about it.  The pace I was running felt "right".  I was astounded and delighted to see a sub 8 minute mile hit on my Garmin.  I had studied last year's splits before the race and remembered the first mile coming in at 8:15.  This spurred me on to really push the pace and I was running with someone that normally beats me handily in most races.

The course levels out a bit (there was a hill or two) but lots of turns.  A lot of memories of the course came back from last year and it really helped knowing what lay ahead.

Last year, I had taken a wrong turn and it had probably cost me about 10 - 20 seconds.  And I remembered where it happened and I made a mental note not to follow it.  The course was either marshalled or had green arrows on the ground indicating where to run.  

I finally stumbled upon the turn (where I had run straight).  There was a dead end sign there that I had obviously missed last year but from the looks of it, it did look like it was the way to go.  

Mile 2 was even faster than last year's and I was still running with a group.  Could this be the race I was after?  And the final mile was going to be the fastest with a nice downhill stretch.

I was still feeling pretty good as I finished the last of the subdivision and returned back to the bike trail.  I glanced at my watch and realized I had .75 of a mile left and that presumed that the course was going to be short (it was).

The course made its way around the perimeter of the fishing ponds and it was a little heartbreaking to pass by the finish line with still nearly half a mile to go.

The group I had been running with had put ground on me and a woman was diligently chasing me from behind.  I was racing for the sake of time.  I figured I was in the top 10 but with no age group awards, there just wasn't that extra motivation.

Finally I reached the point where the finish line was in plain view.  It was no more than a quarter mile, but it looked to be further.  Just a few more minutes.

I really pushed the final distance and I kept glancing at my watch: how close was I to running a legit 5K?  

Just before I crossed the finish line, I hit 3 miles.  I figured the finish line was at 3.01 at best.  There wasn't a line up to get medals nor people around, so I kept going.  I felt good but I was going to smash the last tenth of a mile to see what I could run for a 5K.

It seemed to take forever to run that final stretch but I did and pressed lap on my watch, for a time of around 23:50.  That was one of my goals from last year: run under 24 minutes.  And so early in the season too!

Conclusion

I was over the moon at the finish.  One, I smashed last year's time (even with credit given to last year's time) and two, I crushed a 5K.  

So, the question is, how much value did the shoes provide?  I do think quite a bit.  Last year I am pretty sure I ran in my Saucony Fast-twich, which do not have a plate in them, but are lighter.  I also have done a nice block of speedwork, so I've been primed for this sort of distance for a while.

The course, I don't think it a very "fast" one, given the hills, either.  I just know I was extremely happy with my time.

Post race refreshments was simply water.  This race is done on a budget: with a t-shirt, finisher's medal, timing and course for $30, it is a decent bargain.  I don't expect very much and mostly I was there for the social experience and as a time trial.

The medal was unique and nicely designed.  The shirt had potential, but it is a cotton one (although nicer quality).  It probably won't make the rotation as a shirt I'll wear regularly.  In the past, I've really liked this series' shirts.

I enjoyed my experience despite not having age group awards. I liked the course and it was close to home.  Given the lack of races in January, and if the weather is halfway decent, I will continue to do this race.

Upcoming Races

02/04: 2023 SLC Run Series 5K - Salt Lake City (Confirmed)

02/11: 2023 South Davis Recreation Center Sweethearts 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

02/18: 2023 SoJo Date Dash 5K - South Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

03/25: 2023 Riverton Half Marathon023 Riverton Half Marathon - Riverton, UT (Confirmed)

04/08: 2023 Eggs Legs 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

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

04/29: 2023 Blossom Run 10K - Santaquin, UT (Confirmed)

07/29: 2023 Timp 10K - American Fork, UT (Confirmed)

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

09/23: 2023 Witch Run 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

10/21: 2023 Haunted Half 5K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

10/28: 2023 Haunted Half 5K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)

2022 SoJo (South Jordan) Turkey Trot 10K Race Recap - South Jordan, UT

View of the Jordan River Bike Trail and Snow Capped Mountains

Official Time: 49:36
Placement: 1st in the 50 - 54, 10th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 20's, swirling breeze
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2021]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:03	Off to a nice start.  Didn't go gangbusters
2	8:05	Consistent. Just working on catching runners
3	8:03	Hurting a bit here but prepping myself mentally for an upcoming hill
4	8:57	Finally hit the hill. It was a bit further along then I thought.  Cost me a solid minute
5	8:06	Got to crush the hill on the way back. There was some hill work here. This mile should've been faster.
6	8.00	I think I had to stop running for about 3 - 5 seconds. Wasn't sure where to turn. Nicely done on the way back though.
6.06	0.22	Done!
	Total Miles: 6.06 - 49:38

Introduction

Last year I did in the inaugural South Jordan Turkey Trot 10K.  It is a locally produced event a few miles down the road.  It is kind of a fun run -- it's cheap, you get a t-shirt and no medal.  They also only award prizes to the top overall finishers.  

Generally I don't do races that don't offer a chance of me winning something.  But I wanted a training run and this was reasonably priced.  Plus all the cool kids were going to be there.

I've done the course twice before and it is mostly flat. It is run along the Jordan River Bike Trail and eventually dips into a hilly subdivision in South Jordan.  There is also a large hill at about mile 4.5 that always steals your dreams of a great race.

My goal today was to try and run sub 49 minutes.  I had run the course in 49;4X and 49:5x.  I've been training pretty well and could see myself doing quite well. 

The Race

The race started at 10 AM.  I had had breakfast about 3 hours before -- oatmeal with fruit.  And it really hadn't quite settled yet as I toed the line.  

It was chilly and I had done a solid warm-up to get ready for the race.  I was wearing short-shorts, thin gloves and 2 t-shirts.  A lot of people were wearing tights and I felt I was one of the under dressed ones.

The race started and off we went south on the bike trail.  There were about 100 10K runners.  There were more running the 5K, however and there was a kid's race to follow.

My goal was to run low 8 minute miles and try to smash the final 2 miles or so.  

I wound up running the first few miles with a group of runners.  I had company for most of the race and it was great working with other runners.  

The first mile rattled off at 8:03.  Solid, and right on target.  I felt really in control of my pace.  It felt hard but not all out.  Exactly where I wanted it to be.

Despite my Garmin saying there was little wind, it seemed like throughout the race I was constantly running into the wind.  It wasn't strong but any means but I didn't feel like I ever got any benefit from it.  

As I sped along the bike trail, I recalled a bunch of races I had done along that particular stretch of bike 

trail.  The Riverton half marathon, Sound of Hope and a bunch of other races over the years.  

Mile 2 run up in 8:05.  Still right where I wanted to be, but part of me was wondering if I had it today.  I was hurting but definitely not dying or on my last gasp.  My breathing was okay and I felt I could continue to hold the pace until the end of the race.

The bike trail was so pretty. I was wearing sunglasses as the sun was really bright.  We sped by a tree planting group before exiting the bike trail and entering a well-to-do-neighborhood.  It was at this point I hit a 8:03.  Consistent!

I let off the accelerator a bit as I knew a hill was coming up.  I think I had anticipated it too soon though.  I kept thinking it was around the corner but it was a while before it came into view.  

It was also at this point that we were running with some of the 5K runners. Most of them were walkers or slower runners.  They too had to climb the dreaded South Jordan Hill.  I just focused on maintaining good form and getting up the hill.  No need to bust up it but just cover the distance.

I felt my pace quicken upon getting to the top and I wasn't too surprised to see my Garmin report that I had run an 8:57 mile.  Totally expected.

There was another small-ish hill or two, but now I was more into race mode.  It was delightful to smash the hill on the way down but I really didn't get the benefit I was hoping for out of it.  Also the 5K runners had disappeared and I was simply chasing the next runner ahead of me and trying to gain some ground on the runners behind me.  I had been trading places with a few runners and even though I was completely out of medal contention, my pride was on the line.

Mile 5 saw an 8:06.  Not exactly what I was hoping for to be honest.  And I think at this point I had to stop and ask for directions.  I knew not to follow the 5K runners onto the bike trail but I had about a quarter mile south to run before taking a little alley before returning to the bike trail.

In reviewing some of the times I think some people either ran too far or returned with the 5K runners.  This resulted in distances of about 5.50 miles versus the 6.06 I ran.  The course just wasn't well marked for that tiny portion.

I hit it as hard as I could on the final mile.  I knew how much further I needed to go and I wanted to secure my placement.

I ran into quite a few of the kids racers but it didn't hinder me.  Also I hit the only water station on the course (not that I needed it at any point).  

I cruised through the final mile in 8:00 minutes.  Unfortunately I was passed by two runners in the final stretch.  Where they came from, I am not sure.

Conclusion

So I didn't hit my A goal.  At first I was disappointed because I thought I had run slower than last year.  I quick look at my blog though revealed that I indeed had run a little faster than last year.  Progress!

I had expected a little better time though.  My training has been rock solid.  It just wasn't there.  Perhaps I was afraid to go a little faster on account that breakfast clearly hadn't settled all that well.

Still, in reviewing my splits, I was largely evenly paced.  That is something that I haven't done particularly well with in the past.  Usually I start out smoking hot and then tail off near the end.

Race t-shirt. Pretty nice long sleeved one too

The race was in the low twenty dollar range.  I got a timed race and a t-shirt.  Post race refreshments included water.  It was a pretty simple affair to be honest.  They did have a raffle as well.

This was a nice race and other than the final 5K / 10K split, it was well done and organized.  I'd do this race again if it fit into my calendar.  It was close by and something to keep me motivated.

Upcoming Races

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

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

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

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

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

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