2020 5th Annual Labor Day Pun Run 10K Race Recap - Lehi, UT

Official Time: 51:02
Placement: 7th overall male, 5th in the 45 - 99 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: mid 60's no wind, smokey air
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:47	A little bit of a drop here, but off to a rock solid start
2	8:02	Rolling gentle hills.  Still surprisingly good start
3	8:18	How much longer can I keep this pace.  Still felt mostly downhill
4	8:11	Wow, insane.  The hills aren't really slowing me down.
5	8:23	Miles are starting to add up now.  Still a good mile
6	8.37	Definitely the worst of the hills here. Still good
6.21	1.39	Push it hard to the finish!
	Total Miles: 6:21 - 51:02

Introduction

For the last few years I've seen the Labor Day 5K / 10K Pun Run come up in my race calendar.  And every year -- mostly because I've run a race on Saturday, I pass on it.

But this year, with races at a premium due to Covid cancellations, I opted to jump into this one.

The race is help on Labor Day and is started at Olympic Park in Lehi, UT -- about 25 minutes south of where I live.  The course is on the Jordan River Trail put in an area I've never run in.  The race course is around Thanksgiving Point, kind of a touristy spot / shopping center and I rarely make it down there.

So mostly out of curiosity and for something to do on the holiday weekend I plunked down my money and jumped into this race.

The Race

A few days before race start they announced that the 10K was lightly attended and therefore only the first place overall winner would win something.  I've won a race or two, but generally speaking the odds of me winning any race isn't very likely.  

Also, with no age group awards AND having just run a 10K less than 48 hours before, I didn't have super high expectations for myself.

Although during my warm-up, I actually felt pretty good.  There was no soreness, no stiffness, just a little bit of nerves.  Again, I wasn't trying to win this race (looking around, I realized it wasn't realistic) but I'd go into it, give it a shot and see what happened.

The race started a few minutes late and I quickly realized that I did NOT want to start with the mass of people.  There were about 150 people huddled around the starting line and with Covid a dark reality, I didn't want to be apart of that.

Fortunately, the race was chip timed and just as they were assembling people to the starting line, I opted to actually use the restroom one last time.  Just as I was getting out, they started the race.  It was a good minute or so before most of the people had started so I quickly took off, passing the walkers and those pushing strollers.

I felt like an elite athlete as I worked my way up, easily passing 50 - 75 people in the first half mile.  I probably expended a little extra energy for my efforts but that was okay.

I was shocked -- actually flabbergasted to see a 7:45 appear after the first mile.  I felt good -- but not that good.  The course seemed slightly downhill so I chalked it up to the slight downhill.

I knew I was going to pay a steep price though.  I even commented to a few runners who ran aside from me that we were going to die on the way back.  

The course was run on the Jordan River Parkway Trail.  It was a standard 8 foot wide, paved trail lined with desert shrubbery.  It smelled nice and there was a beautiful view of the north flowing river to our left most of the race.  It was all new to me, so I was constantly astounded by the views.

Mile 2 had me concerned.  Another 8 minute mile! How long could I continue this?  Would I be walking back to the starting line because the uphill on the way back would kill me. Daunting thoughts crossed my head.

On the plus side, at mile 1.55 I hit the turn around.  Most of the runners were running the 5K (I think a 6 to 1 ratio) and only a few people proceeded past the 5K point.  It was also spot on accurate, so I knew very likely this was a "legit" 6.20 mile run.

Mile 3 saw me slow down a bit.  I remember an hill or two here and again, I didn't have a lot of confidence that I was going to be able to hold this pace.  I felt like I was going to regret what I was doing.  Finally I hit the turn around point  -- just at 3.10 miles.  Perfect.  This was going to a PR worthy course.

The next mile had me concerned.  I had had a bunch of downhills and now I'd be paying a price on the way back.  

I was working with a few runners but as the race proceeded the 2nd place overall woman slow put ground on me and she became a distant target.  The few people I had passed also stayed in my rear view mirror.  So I am totally not sure what possessed me to try so hard.  Perhaps it was because I was turning in rock solid splits.  Again, I had my doubts -- the return route "seemed" mostly uphill AND I was still pretty gassed from Saturday's race.

I kept surprising myself.  Mile 4 and 5 flew by, with decent, but not insanely fast splits.  However, mile 5 to 6 would present the biggest challenges.  The mile that had let me have a fast start was looming ahead and there was a pretty decent pair of hills I would have to cross.

I kept focusing on maintaining my form though.  And when the hill presented itself, I simply worked my way up as fast as I could.  Yeah my pace was slower, but once I reached the top, I found myself returning to race pace.

The final third of a mile was a straight shoot to the finish line.  I was passing a few walking 5K races at this point and I glanced down at my watch and realized I had a very decent shot at exceeding my expectations on this one.  My lifetime PR for a 10K is around 40:30.  Since I've turned 50, my times have been about 52 - 53 minutes -- on a good day.  Today -- I was going to hit upper 50 minutes or low 51 minutes.

Conclusion

When I crossed the finish line and clicked off my watch, I saw a 51:02 pop up.  I was very excited to see that.  I had run a 5.90 mile 10K on Saturday only 20 seconds faster.  This was a legit 6.21 miles and my best time in a VERY long time -- and on a fairly challenging course.

It took me a bit to recover as I was doubled over trying to catch my breath after a final push.  I heard a few "Nice work Eddie".  

There were no finisher medals for this race.  It was a charity race and for the most part a "fun run".  I normally don't do those types of runs, but I really enjoyed this one and it gave me a chance to see a really nice part of the trail system.  I am very tempted to go back at some point and do a long run there.

I signed up about a week or so before the race start but found a coupon for it that saved me a few dollars.  For $40 I got a well-organized race, a t-shirt, food / water at the end (watermelon, bagels and grapes).  They also had a raffle prize thing going on, but alas, I was not a winner.

Overall, this may be my "A" race for the year.  I was very pleased with my performance and every time I felt like I didn't have much left, I dug down, pushed the pace and kept going.  I think it helped to be running some place new, focusing on my running and also enjoying the sites and smells of the trail.  I was very fortunate to have cool weather for the morning.

I am not sure I'd do this race next year, but if I feel up to it, I might give it a go again.  It was something new and I ran really well.  I just wish Covid hadn't made a mess on this to make me hyper sensitive to socializing.

2020 East Canyon 10KM Race Recap - Morgan UT

Official Time: 50:50
Placement: 9th overall, 1st in the 50-54 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 68F and no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:12	Wow, fast start. Feeling good
2	8:17	Continuing going. This course is flat and I am feeling good.
3	8:54	Okay definitely paid the price.
4	8:28	Got a bit of a second wind here
5	8:55	Again, some tough miles here.
5.91	8.02	Closing in on the finish.
	Total Miles: 5:91 - 50:51

Introduction

I haven't really been to Morgan Utah.  The closest I've gotten is when I hike East Canyon and I make it to the Big Mountain Parking lot.  And I always ask myself -- what is beyond there?

Well this year, with Covid in play, I decided to find out.  Normally, I do the Swiss Days run out in Park City, but the festival was shut down on account of the pandemic.  That left me with pretty much one choice today:  the East Canyon 10K put on by OnHillEvents.  

Normally I'd jump into the half marathon, but my training hasn't been rock solid all summer.  Unable to do much of my training on the bike trail and also because of the high heat, my mileage is at an all time low.  I am, however, trained for a 10K and so I ponied up the money and jumped in to give this race a shot.

Morgan is kind of in the North East quadrant of the state.  You have to take a circular route to get there -- as the crow flies it probably wouldn't be too bad, but with a mountain range in between the Salt Lake Valley and Morgan, you have to take a roundabout way there -- also at about 50 miles (one way).

Fortunately it was smooth sailing and I left just after 7 AM for the 9 AM start.

The Race

Packet pick up was a snap and by 8:15 I was ready to run.  However, with a 9 AM start, it gave me ample time to socialize and warm up.  Morgan is a definitely a small, rural town on the edge of civilization.  It was chilly (about 50 degrees when I arrived) but you could tell it was gonna be a warm one.  The sun was out and I was admiring the hills and mountains in the area.  

As I was warming up, the faster full marathoners and half marathon runners were finishing.  It was kind of cool to see them coming in and just as the 10K started, there were even more runners coming in.  It was interesting to see who was having a good race and and who were feeling the mounting miles.

The race started slightly late -- maybe 9:10 or so but we lined up roughly according to pace and the race director started off in about 10 - 15 second increments.  As soon as I started running I tore off my mask and tucked it in my pocket.

With Covid these days, I am using my own hydration -- avoiding the hand-outs they have at the race.  I had a small 12 ounce flask of water in my pocket.  It probably slowed me down a bit but it was nice to have it when I needed it.

The first mile took us out of the Morgan County Fairgrounds and had us head into town.  There were a long row of classic, old school storefronts along here.  There was definitely some history here:

But before we got into the downtown area we turned a corner and went to a residential area and finally a bike trail.

As I ran the first mile I gave some encouragement to the fast finishers of the other races and dug in deep to really push it.  I was really enjoying the cooler temperatures and the new scenery.  I was pretty jazzed to see an 8:15 mile pop up on my Garmin after the first mile.

After reaching the 5K turn around, we were on a main drag.  It was flat and kind of interesting seeing schools and some homes.  I was catching some of the runners that had started in front of me and I was still holding a decent pace.  More and more racers were coming in from the full and half marathons as well.

NOTE:  From here on out, the photos posted are of the half and full courses, which I drove after the race.

From mile 2 through 3 -- I was definitely feeling it.  I was paying a price for going out too fast.  Also, I was no longer really racing against anyone.  A woman who had started before me was ahead of me and I wasn't making much ground on her and literally no one was behind me.  

The 10K turn around was the 2nd aid station.  When I reached it, I saw the sign on it saying 10K turn around.  I glanced at my Garmin and saw that it read 2.96 miles(!).  I asked the volunteer -- are you sure this is the turn around? And she replied "yes".  I had also seen the woman in front of me turn around here as well.  Drats, another "short" race.

Oh well, I somehow found the energy to kick it up a notch as I headed back towards town.  I was really happy to see a mid 8 minute mile flash on my Garmin upon crossing mile 4.

Mile 4 to 5 has us back along the main street.  It was tough running here.  Occasionally I passed a struggling half marathoner or full marathoner but I was just hurting at this point. I did get passed by a couple of other runners who definitely had more in the tank than I did.

Finally I hit mile 5 and I was back on the bike trail and just a few minutes from the finish line.  Part of me was grateful for a short course.  This was definitely not a PR day for me but I really turned it up a bit as I turned the final corner and cruised towards the finish line.

Conclusion

My Garmin read 5.91 when I crossed the finish line.  Definitely a quarter mile short of a full 10K.  I did talk to a few other people and some got over 6 miles.  I'll have to re-run the route through another tool to see what it measured.

Post race refreshments included water, an orange, delicious Fat Boy Ice Creams, and string cheese.  Usually there is more of a free-for-all with post race food, but with Covid restrictions in place, there were some limitations.

I won my age group (only 2 of us) and came in 9th overall.  It was a small race, with only about 50 runners.  The medals were very nice and heavy.  The t-shirt was kind of generic and I am not a fan of the 50/50 cotton / polyester shirt (I prefer the 100% polyester "tech" shirt). 

I paid $40 for the race.  I got a decent race and a fun morning.  And I got to see a part of Utah I hadn't seen before.  I wound up making a long 100 mile route around Emigration Canyon to see a variety of sites.  I took the long way home and took some photos of the reservoirs and scenic area.  I hadn't driven that area at all and was always curious what was beyond the area I had seen before.  

Definitely worth.

The tough question is, will I do this race next year, or Swiss Days....  

2020 Provo Canyon to Pleasant Grove 10K Race Recap - Lindon, UT

Official Time: 51:03
Placement: 9th overall, 1st in the 50-54 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 60's 5 - 8 mph wind from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2019]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:44	Uphill to start. Forgot that the first mile is agonizingly slow
2	8:13	Downhill here. Got some time back
3	8:47	Rolling hills along here. Tough times but finally got to the turn around
4	8:38	Wind in my face or at my back -- not sure, but this was slow going here.
5	8:43	Had to work going up
6	8.30	Crush it to the finish
6.02	0.08
	Total Miles: 6:02 - 51:46

Introduction

Sometime before this whole Covid-19 mess, I signed up for the Provo Canyon to Pleasant Grove 10K Race (PC2PG).  I got a pretty sweet deal around Thanksgiving time -- I am thinking around $25.  I had run the inaugural year and felt that it was a pretty good race.  It was a place I hadn't run before and I thought the bike trail course was really nice.

In fact, last year, I won the 10K race, so I definitely wanted to defend my title (no pressure).

So to support a fledgling race I signed up for the 2020 edition and made my way down to Utah county to run the Murdock Trail once again.

The Race

I rolled in at about 7:15 for an 8:15 start.  I could tell this race's attendance was much bigger than last year's.  Definitely less parking (but it wasn't a problem to find parking).  

Packet pickup was a snap and I wound up warming up and killing some time before the race's start.  Due to Covid restrictions, we had a staggered start (we were starting with the 5K).  

Normally everyone starts at once and you jockey for position.  However, this time we had a staggered start.  We were started off in spurts of about 20 seconds.  It definitely helped to reduce close contact with others.

The first mile is definitely a gut check.  I had forgotten how hilly it was.  It isn't a massive hill but it'll definitely slow your first mile down.  I was shocked to see the first mile flash on my Garmin in 8:44.  Was I running that slow?

I doubled down on mile 2. I didn't even realize that there was a gentle downhill (I realized it on the way back, however).  I was pretty excited to see mile 2 come in significantly faster.

The race -- after a brief residential stretch, is run on the Murdock Trail.  It is a multi-use bike trail that is very wide.  It was being used by other runners, cyclists, walkers and skateboarders.  It wasn't terribly busy but with the half marathoners returning from their run as well us, it was busy.

There were 2 sections of road we had to cross over (we had to re-cross them on the way back) but other than that, we were pretty safe on the bike trail.

Mile 2 to 3 was a challenge.  The race had thinned out at that point and I was feeling pretty warm.  I was working off of a young man (probably half my age) for most of the race (he pulled ahead around mile 4) and I just didn't feel like I had endurance this time.   

There was an aid station at the 5K turn around and at the 10K turn around.  I was carrying a small flask with water in my shorts pocket -- simply to reduce my risk of covid.

The course came up short last year (6.07) and this year, my Garmin buzzed for the 3rd time right at the turn around.  I was hurting, so I didn't mind, but some people's Garmin's had 6.10.  

I kept telling myself to hang on (my hamstring has been sore and it was flaring up mid-run).  I knew I could push the final mile if I had a little bit left since it was going to be a downhill.

There were a few 2 hour half marathoners to work off of, but no one else.  There was no one chasing me down and the other 10K runners were a solid minute or two ahead of me.

I kept pushing though, mainly I wanted to beat last year's time -- which I wound up doing.  The final half mile is a fast downhill and I certainly took advantage of it.  I wanted to get in under 52 minutes and sure enough, I squeaked by!

Conclusion

Race finishes are definitely subdued these days.  I knew quite a few people and as best as I could, I said hello to them. 

They had a medal for you in a bag as well as some snacks.  I had stashed my own drink at the end.  Sometimes a bottle of water isn't enough and with restrictions in place, I might've needed more.

I was pretty worn near the end.  I had expected to run this faster but I was humbled by this course.  It was more hilly than I remembered.  I still loved the course and I've been meaning to drive down there and explore the trail some more (as well as get some photos of the course).

They were out of t-shirts for me, so at some point one will be coming.  The medal was nicely designed and I loved the lanyard.  For the price I paid, I was happy with my experience.

My performance was solid on this one.  Again, this one had some gentle hills, so my time was slower than a flat one.  Also, I am happy to report I beat last year's time -- not by much, but at least some.

I would definitely do this one next year especially if I catch a nice deal on it..  

This Summer in Running 2020

Current Mileage: 1044.25 (as of 8/8/2020)

Updates on Running

It's been a long, hot summer.  The weather systems pretty much flipped the switch around July 1st, when we lost most of the cooler June weather and it turned into 90F+ degree days.

I always intend to run in the morning but forcing myself to get to bed early and then subsequently get up early is a challenge.  I am a total creature of habit and I like to go to bed after 9 PM and my alarm has been set for 5:55 AM for a very long time.  Switching it to 4:XX AM is just not in the cards.  So it makes summer running painful for me.

So that means I usually work throughout the day, eat dinner, lay low for a few hours and then start my run anywhere from 7:15 PM until 8PM -- depending upon how hot it is.

I am still logging anywhere from 3 to 6 miles 6 days a week.  I am also getting in a fair amount of weekend hiking as well for cross training.

I try to get in a semi-long run on the weekends followed as well as one "quality" workout.  Either quarter mile repeats or hill repeats.  Most of the time I've been nailing my goals as far as doing that.

I pretty much ended my 10+ mile runs at some point in June.  It got too hot and the runs got too humbling and resulted in me having heat issues or just feeling totally wiped for the rest of the day.  Plus I really don't have any half marathons planned until late fall.

Race Scene

With Covid-19 still in full swing the race scene is more or less at a minimum here in Utah.  There are races however.  But a lot of my favorites -- often community events tied with festivals are more or less postponed for the year or have turned virtual.  

I am not a virtual runner.  I'll do one for charity I guess but I have a hard time treating it like a real race.  I've got more medals than I know what to do with, so earning another one doesn't do much for me.  

But there are races... and instead of having a bunch every weekend, you more or less have one to choose from.  So for someone who really enjoys racing, it's been a challenge.  But in another way, it has been good in that I can focus on training and being really ready to perform.

I've been mostly choosing small races and avoiding putting myself at risk for large events.  Also races that advertise themselves as "covid-aware" are usually picks in my book.  I am also registered closer to the day of the race, just in case I get sick OR the race is unceremoniously canceled.

But there is a definitely an element missing from the races.  You basically show up, run and get the heck out of there.  I am just happy some races are back though.

Weight Loss

Since the pandemic began, I've really worked on my diet.  It has been a challenge for my and I've written about it before.  

I am happy to report that I've gone from 189 (or 190) pounds to about 172-174.  That is nearly a 10% drop.

I feel better and without too much additional training (I am actually running less these days) my times have come down.

Some things that I did to drop the weight:

1. Walk every day at lunch -- at least 1.5 miles
2. Skip restaurants -- or at least eat there sparingly
3. No buffets (easy -- since they were closed)
4. Stick to 100 calorie dessert sizes
5. Instead of eating candy, eat fruit
6. Eat more vegetables
7. Reduce dinner portion sizes
8. Avoid sugar but don't be afraid to have some
9. Avoid soda (but allow myself one, once in a while).
10. Reduce potato chip consumption.

This didn't result in a massive and sudden, overnight weight loss.  But it has come gradually without a whole lot of sacrifice.

Upcoming Races

08/15: 2020 PC2PG Race 10K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)

09/05: 2020 East Canyon 10K - Emigration Canyon (Confirmed)

09/07: 2020 Labor Day Pun Run 10K - Lehi, UT (Confirmed)

09/12: 2020 Rock the Canyon 10K - Provo, UT (Confirmed)
09/26: 2020 Witch Run 5K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

10/10: 2020 Antelope Island 10K (or Half) - Syracuse, UT (Confirmed)

10/24: 2020 Haunted Half 5K - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)
11/07: 2020 Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed - but likely not going)
11/15: 2020 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Canceled)

03/27: 2021 Havasu Half Marathon - Havasu, AZ (Confirmed)
04/XX: 2021 Eggs Legs Race 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)
04/XX: 2021 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)
05/XX: 2021 Ogden Half Marathon - Ogden, UT (Confirmed)

2020 Legacy Marathon 10K Race Recap - Farmington, UT

Half Marathon runners lining up

Official Time: 51:08
Placement: 5th overall, 1st in the 50-54 age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 60's, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2019] [2018] [2017] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012] 

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:19	Off to a decent start. Felt good.
2	8:08	Even better 2nd mile.
3	8:19	Feeling the miles build up.  I was kind of gassed at this point.
4	8:37	Always hard re-starting again after the turn around
5	8:45	No one in front, no one in back. Was hurting here
6	8:31	Pushing hard to the finish here. Felt really good
6..06	0:27
	Total Miles: 6:06 - 51:09

Start of a typical race now in 2020

Introduction

Some time before the start of 2020 I signed up for the Legacy Midnight Races.  It is an annual tradition of mine to do in the dead of summer.  It is held late at night (10PM is when the half starts) and it usually is a late night where I get home after 1 AM.  

When Covid came around, the race was ultimately changed from a night race to a morning race and now sported a full marathon (along with the traditional half, 10K and 5K).  

I am pretty much done running halves in the dead of summer.  I've learned my lesson too many times that long distance races and the heat don't agree with me, so I plunked my money down for the 10K.  I respectable distance that includes speed as well as endurance.

At the start of the year I full expected a night race, instead I got a morning one.

Sun coming up over the mountains to the east

The Race

I rolled into the Legacy Events Center in Farmington UT around 5:45 for a 6:30 race.  Packet pickup was a snap.  The full marathoners had already started and the half marathoners were lining up.  With about 40 10KM runners, it wasn't a big deal to grab my bib and get myself ready for the race.

Around 6:25 (for the 6:30 start) we lined up.  Most people were wearing masks while we kept about 6 feet away from one another.  The race director began sending us at about 30 second intervals and I was off and running along the Legacy Bike Trail.

Rio Grande Bike Trail but a typical stretch of trail

The bike trail is a multi-use, paved trail that mostly serves runners and cyclists.  I've done about a zillion races on it.  It isn't the most exciting place to run, but it is flat and with a light amount of runners in attendance, it was easy to maintain safety protocol as far as avoiding others mid-run.

I started off at a decent clip.  I hadn't done much of a warm-up: mostly some striders and random leg swings.  I figured with the warmth of the day and it being a low key race, I'd just use the first mile to sort of warm-up and go from there.

Once again, I had started in the back and with each runner spaced at about 30 seconds apart, it nice to have some targets to work for in the early mile.  Unfortunately, I was also a target as two speedy young runners flew by me.

I wound up passing a little more than half a dozen people by the time I reached the turn around.

At first I felt like I had gone out too fast but I quickly settled into a nice pace that I felt comfortable holding.  My goal was to run in the low 50's and do about an 8:25 or so pace.  I am a fast starter so it wasn't too surprising to see the first 3 miles go below that pace.

The turn around came just after 3.03 miles.  Some races I am glad to have it short but other races, not so much.  With me trying to hit a rock-solid 10K I was a little disheartened.  

It seemed like there was a bit of a head wind on the way back, so if there was any wind at all, it was blowing from the north.  There were a few runners ahead of me, in the distance, but there weren't any closers coming from behind.

I did what I could to maintain the pace, but mile 4 and subsequently 5 I really had to dig deep.  I hadn't seen anyone in my age group but it was hard to tell with the staggered start times.

Around mile 5 I knew I was gonna have a good race and I pushed a little harder.  At this point there were some 5K runners to work with and get some cheers from, so my motivation was a little higher.  Again, there was no one behind me or in front of me to try and take on.

I flew under the finish line just a hair over 6 miles and a time of 51:09.

Post race selfie

Conclusion

After finishing, I was handed a bag which contained some snacks, an orange, and a bottle of water.  Again with Covid, you were urged to disperse from the finish line as soon as possible.  

I wound up socializing a bit but the number of runners who had finished were pretty limited.  Sort of anti-climatic after a decent race.

The medal and t-shirt are forthcoming on this race -- as well as any age group awards.  In a way it was nice to go home and not bum around waiting for awards but the whole "race" atmosphere kind was lost without all the post race buzz.

Yes, the course appears to have been short.  My 51:08 gets translated to about a 52:32, which is a lot faster than many of my recent 10Ks.  Once again, another nice performance for myself and hopefully more good things are around the corner.

Hopefully this race will return next year in a night format.  But overall, for the price paid on this race, I was happy with my experience.

2020 Handcart 5K Race Recap - Bountiful, UT

Official Time: 24:59
Placement: 2nd in age group (50-54)
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather:  80 degrees, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years:  [2019] [2018] [2017] [2015] [2012]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:41	Rockin!  Good start thanks to a gentle downhill.
2	8:25	Pace comes to a halt here as I have to grind a ways up hill. Nothing major but definitely have to work at it.
3	8:42	Final push to the top of the hill then flats the rest of the way. Tough running here.
3.03	0:12
	Total Miles: 3.03 - 25:01

Introduction

Every summer -- at least for me -- brings the opportunity to the Handcart races up in Bountiful.  They are put on by the local recreation center in tandem with the celebration of Utah's settlers who arrived with all their belongings on a handcart -- hence the name, Handcart Races.

Normally, there's be a lot more going on at the park and the race would've been more heavily attended, but with Covid-19 wrecking havoc on the race scene, social distancing, masks and extra precaution were in order.

Masks were required for pre / post race as well as packet pickup.  

The Race

I rolled into the race just shy of 6 AM.  I got an opportunity to see the half marathoners start off, which is always nice, as it gives me a chance to wish those that I know well wishes.  I've done the half a few times and know that the half -- in the summer -- just isn't my cup of tea.  I've died so many times in the last 3 miles of it that I prefer to do the 5K.

Packet pickup was a snap.  Masks were mandatory and people were pretty respectful of that.  Since I was there early, I didn't really get that close to people and I was back outside in no time at all.

I wound up doing some drills and doing some easy running to kill time.  Around 6:50 (race start was at 7 AM) I made my way over to the starting line.  They had the starting line cordoned off for about 10 people per segment.  To play it safer, I went to about the second to last starting area and waited for the race to begin.  I had a good 5 minute wait before the race started. I made small talk while wearing a mask and keeping a distance from the other 8 or so runners in my block.

It took a few minutes for the other runners ahead of me to start.  But it was definitely interesting to start in the back of the race. Normally, I am up in the first third of the starting area.  I hope I wasn't hemming myself in, but with the fastest runners in the front and only lots of 10 in front of me, I  didn't have that problem at all with this race.

This race is entirely residential.  It isn't the most exciting course but it starts off with a moderate downhill and once you turn the corner at about mile 1.25, it is grind back to the start.  It forms a loop around town.  Normally, the course measures about 3.07 to 3.08 but it came up fairly short this time.

Since I haven't raced since March, this 5K was pretty much on my "A" list.  Plus, being about 15 pounds lighter, I felt like I was ready for a great race.

I blasted out the first mile and since I had a downhill I knew it was going to be fast.  I hit a 7:41 and was worried I had gone out too fast.  I still felt in control but it had been a while since I had ran that sort of pace. It was fun to start in the back of the race and work my way forward.  There was some concern about inhaling people's exhales, but I tried to stay as far away as possible and run off to the side.

Once I tuned the corner to head east and finally another right to head back south to the starting line I knew the race had begun.  Here, my pace definitely takes a hit as I see a slight incline and then another grind back to the top.  It looks daunting but it isn't that bad.  I dug down deep remembering all the hard work I had put into my diet and my training and quickened my stride as best as I could.

Mile 2 was a blur as was mile 3.  I just reminded myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  I did panic when I saw an 8:30 flash on my watch as I crossed the 2 mile marker.  Looking at previous results though, that mile is traditionally pretty slow for me.

I was running solo by mile 2.75.  Occasionally a speedy half marathoner would fly by me (they had an hour head start) so it was humbling to have one of them cruise effortlessly past me.

Finally, I hit the home stretch and I put everything I had in the last .15 of a mile.

Conclusion

I was really hoping to go sub 25 minutes on this race.  So I was a little disappointed with my time.  On the other hand though, I absolutely demolished my time from last year and even this February, by a good 50 seconds.  Once I saw that, I was a lot more excited about my time.

After finishing, I really wanted to keep running another .07 of a mile, just to make it official with my Garmin.  But they were handing out medals and I didn't want to be rude by sprinting through the finish area.  The course, for whatever reason, measured short with my Garmin, but I know I've done it many times before it is measures at about 3.07 or 3.08.

The race was well organized and quite a deal.  I could've run this virtually, but opted to run it in person.  Back when I signed up for it, Covid was a big deal but it hadn't escalated into what it is today.  So I had quite a bit of anxiety about how this race would go.  

I felt good about it and kept my distance from people.  Although I wish there hadn't been as many people while running.  Again, I tried to limit my exposure to others but you can only do so much.

The race was a bargain. I paid around $15 for the race.  I got a cool t-shirt and huge medal.  I placed second in my age group, but I didn't stick around for awards.  I think they are post race pick-up, so next time I am in the area, I'll try to swing by.

I didn't indulge in any post race food.  There seemed to be a lot of people in the area and I was doing my part to social distance.  I always bring my own beverages / food so it wasn't a big deal.  It looked like they had ice cream, bananas and bottled water.

I am very pleased with my results and it shows I am trending in the right direction.  It gives me hope I can get back down to some more competitive times.  It is definitely easier being 15 pounds lighter than February.