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

Sound of Hope 5K Welcome Flag

Official Time: 25:54
Placement: Unknown
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)

2024 Cole Porter Classic 5K Race Recap - Peru, Indiana

The start / finish line of the Cole Porter Classic

Official Time: 24:51
Placement: 2nd in the 50 - 59, 5th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 50's, breeze from the south east
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:58	Solid but hesitant start.  Mostly intermingling with the 10K runners
2	8:10	Was running solo after the turn around
3	8:12	Cruising along
3.08	0:31	Sprint to the finish
	Total Miles: 3.08 - 24:52

Packet pickup

Introduction

So, I happened to be in Kokomo Indiana for a wedding this past weekend and since it was a weekend after all, I decided to scout around for a race.  At first I didn't find anything, but after I expanded the distance I was willing to travel, I found the Cole Porter Classic Race (38th edition no less).

The race is located about 20 miles north of Kokomo in Peru.  Peru, it turns out, is the birthplace of the famous American musical composer Cole Porter.  As a fan of the American Standards (Sinatra-esque songs), I *had* to run this race.

So I got the okay from the wedding organizer (I was a groomsman after all and I didn't want to shirk my responsibilities to the groom), and plunked my money down and signed up for the 5K.

About quarter mile into the race course

The Race

The race was held at the local YMCA, so we had flush toilets and a clean place to hangout prior to the race.  It was easy to find with ample parking.  I was able to snag my bib, shirt and a swag bag in no time at all.  I followed that up with about 20 - 30 minutes of jogging to warm-up (and a time to get course photos).

There were 3 races, a 5K walk (which you had to actually walk), a 5K running race and a 10K race.  There were approximately 150 participants scattered amongst the races.

The race started at 9 AM sharp and I cautiously started the race.  The race is held on the Nickel Plate Trail -- a paved bike trail running along the Wabash River. It is a popular trail and I've heard it goes for a significant way -- so it is a great place for a long run.

View of the Wabash River.

I coasted through the first mile, tagging along with a bunch of what would be 10K runners.  I had no idea who my competition was because everyone started together.  I didn't look at my watch at all until the first mile beeped -- coming in at 7:58. 

Running at lower altitude was definitely a treat.  The air was thick and heavier but I didn't have to work as hard to obtain oxygen. I was pleased with my start and I felt solid.

The course had a series of roundy turns, but nothing to actually slow me down.  There was only one hill in the entire course and that was to cross the river bridge, and it was hardly much of a climb at all.

Finally, I hit a neon orange cone for the turn around.  The course came in around 1.54 (I think) and the race was an out-and-back.  Mentally I was breaking down the race into parts and there was a mental burden released knowing that I had reached halfway and I knew the course.  

Most of the runners that I was running with were running the 10K and I suddenly found myself running solo. I think one other runner followed behind me. I wasn't sure how old they were but I tried to put some distance on them -- they were clearly an adult.

I got a lot of cheers coming from the other races yet to reach the halfway point.  I felt like an elite runner -- just powering by myself as fast I could. I really dialed in a nice effort.

I had lost site of the 4 other runners that were well ahead of me.  I think at one point, I would spot one, but my memory may be wrong.  It was just a matter of not letting anyone else pass me at this point.

Once again, around mile 1.75 I started to choke on something.  I do believe it is allergies, but phlegm gets caught in my throat, making it hard to swallow and invokes a gag reflex. I knew I lost precious seconds as I slowed down to catch my breath and try and clear my throat.  

Fortunately the event was short lived and once it passed I continued on, hitting 8:10 for mile 2.  I passed the one and only aid station and recalled my tough workouts where I pushed the pace.  Occasionally, I'd look over my shoulder and I was running in the clear.  My nearest competitor was a good 30 seconds or more behind me.  And I felt strong. I knew I had still had more in me and I wasn't hurting as bad I usually do this late in a race.  This embolden me to push just a little harder.

That didn't stop me and once I hit .5 of a mile left, I remember that just 30 minutes ago I was running there during my warm-up.  I had picked out visual sites in order to gauge how much longer I had to run.  Also, with the course being accurate, I knew I only had to look at my watch to know how much further I needed to run.

Finally, I could see the rooftop of the YMCA and hear the din of the music.  I rounded a corner and saw the arches ahead -- just a little further.  The nearest runner was no where in site.... and I crossed under the finish line in 24:51.

Runners waiting for awards

Conclusion

First off, I have to say, running at 650 feet elevation versus 4500 feet is quite a difference.  My time was about 45 seconds faster than a comparable race here in Salt Lake City.  I also felt a lot stronger in the race and wasn't gasping for air quite as much.

Potential Awards

I managed to get to my car and grab my phone.  I scanned my bib and saw that I was 5th overall, 2nd in my age group.  They only give out awards to the top 2 in each 10 year age group.  The guy trailing behind me: was indeed in my age group and if I hadn't gotten by him, I would've been out of an award.

I really enjoyed the course. It was shaded and I loved the scenery along the way. It reminded me of the Path to Opioid Prevention 5K.  I was sad I couldn't run the 10K but with time constraints and not wanting to feel like I was trash after the race, the 5K made the most sense.

Shirt, plus medal, plus age group award

Post race refreshments included what I think was a Subway cookie, bananas and bottled water.  Pretty standard refreshments for a $35 race.  I absolutely loved the shirt.  Just a super cool design and it is one, despite the material, is one I will keep. It is a nice cotton but once again, I prefer polyester.  But I can't wait to wear it.  The finisher's medal was nice and heavy and again well designed.  The age group awards, were definitely on another level though. I wouldn't have expected an actual custom made trophy.  Bravo race directors!

Post race wedding attire

Overall, I was really pleased with my race experience. The people were friendly and despite not knowing anyone, I quickly made acquaintances with several people.  If you are in the area, this race is well worth doing.  It is well organized from start to finish and the course is definitely a treat.

Race performance-wise, this was the best 5K I've run in a while.  I just wish I had given it a little more in the middle miles.  With the oxygenated air, I should've been able to put a little more into it.  This race may go down as one of the better race performances I've had this year.  Also, calculators I used indicate my time was 100% in line with what I'd run at 4300.  Definitely a good day for me.

Upcoming Races

10/12: 2024 Sound of Hope 5K - South Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

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)

2024 Witch Run 10K Race Recap - West Jordan, UT

The dawn before the storm

Official Time: 51:12
Placement: 2nd in the 50 - 54, 21st overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 60's, breeze from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] [2022] [2021] [2020] [2019] [2018]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:45	Hemmed in at the start.  Took a while to get going
2	8:21	Coasting along - settled into a solid pace
3	8:22	Surprised this went as well - had a little allergy attack
4	8:27	Still running pretty well
5	8:29	Intermingling with the 5K runners.  Holding a decent pace
6	8:28	Lots of turns at the end. Chasing down another runner as best as I could
6.04	0:15	Sprint to the finish
	Total Miles: 6:04 - 51:10

Introduction

One of my traditions for the last 6 years has been doing the Witch Run at Gardner Village.  This race is on my "home" course in the fact that I run and train on it all the time.  

Over the years, the race has changed, from a simple 5K that was run at night, to now, a morning race with the traditional 3 race distances: 5K, 10K and half marathon.

The race is well attended by both the serious runner and the casual one.  And it is a great way to see people in costume and familiar faces.

The Race

The morning of the race found me a bit sore from an intensive training week.  Since the Cedar City Half Marathon, I've been building a stronger base and added a few more sessions.  In September there is a bit of a lull in the racing scene so it gave me time to focus my training.

I had picked up my bib the night before the race, saving myself a $5 fee and was dropped off at the race site in the morning to avoid the $10 parking fee (ouch!).  Since I live only a few miles away, after the race, I simply shuffled home.

Runners assembling

The half marathoners had departed at 7:00 AM and I had just missed them.  My race didn't start until 7:30, which afforded me the opportunity to do a brief warm-up and get settled in.

I lined up about 30 - 40 feet behind the lead runners and off we went.  

The starting line has changed this year: normally we start in a larger section of the parking lot and have to make immediate turn and then have traffic waived for us until we got on the Jordan River Bike Trail.  There are a number of safety issues with this (including the cars) and I also found there were some tripping hazards.  This year, we started along a partitioned off corridor along the side of the road.  It was super congested and with lots of newbie-ish runners, it was a slog before I get going.

Half Marathoners Coming in.

Soon, though, we were on the bike trail and another .1 of a mile I could run comfortably at my own pace without having to clip someone's heels.

I tried to gauge who my competition was (I had spotted one of my age group rivals) but since I was running with 5K runners, I wouldn't know for sure who I had to watch out for.  But suffice to say, I was gunning for 2nd place at best.

All of the course was familiar territory and it is basically pancake flat bike trail running.

A pasture along the trail

Mile 1 passed in at 8:45 -- slow but not surprising given how I probably lost 20 seconds (at least) with the slow start.  I was feeling pretty good and just worked at dialing in my 10K pace -- about 8:15 - 8:20.

Soon, we reached the 5K turn around.  A few master level runners peeled off and made the turn to head back.  The amount of 10K runners definitely thinned out.  My rival was running the 10K, which I was hoping he'd be running the 5K.  Perhaps, though I could catch him -- our times aren't too far off.

Mile 2 came in around 8:20 -- pretty much where I wanted to be.  I was still feeling good and just working on keeping an easy pace.  I had a bit of a breeze coming at me, but I didn't feel like it was hurting my pace.  I was working with a few other young men.

On my way to the turnaround, I started to get some allergy issues.  I get this issue when the weather starts to get colder and I get -- for a lack of a better word -- snot that drips down the back of my sinuses and it is hard to get rid of.  I knew this was likely to happen and had been working on clearing it, but I failed.  I probably slowed down a bit during this section.

Typical stretch of bike trail

As we made our way past the Sandy City golf course, I knew the turn around was coming up.  A few of the lead pack were already headed back.  I wasn't sure who, if any, were running the half marathon.  My rival shouted that the turn around was coming up soon. I couldn't wait!

Finally, a simple turn around cone was in place.  At about the point I hit it, my Garmin chirped letting me know I had run 3 miles.  The course was definitely going to be short.

My rival was a solid minute (or two) ahead of me and another masters level runner I had passed about a mile before was still tailing me.  I wasn't sure if he was in my age group, but I suspected I was at worst in 3rd place in my age group.

I also got to see if anyone was coming up behind me and most of the runners were definitely under the age of 40.  Getting their cheers and encouragement spurred me on, and with a bit of a tailwind, I bumped up the pace a bit.

Mile 4 saw me slow down a bit, which was a bit discouraging.  I felt like I was running faster.

I was in the home stretch though and soon I went through the 5K turn around.  There were a handful of 5K walkers scattered about for the rest of the race and I had to use a bit of energy to weave around them.  It wasn't terrible though and they shouted kind words as well.  While I am (very) far from any sort of elite athlete, I definitely felt like one.

The next mile also saw a fairly consistent split of 8:27 or so. 

The masters runner, at this point, had caught up with me.  I was trying to gauge how old he was and I almost asked him.  He looked younger but there was a hint of gray in his hair.  Could he be?  I wasn't sure.  He overtook me but he was in my sights for the rest of the race.

My goal was to try and catch the runner.  He knew I was dogging him, and a few times I made some spurts but I was holding back: the last quarter mile has a series of sharp turns, small hills and places where you definitely have to slow down.  It always costs me time.  

On one of the final turns, the guy missed it and proceeded to head south (you have to do nearly a 270 degree turn).  Fortunately (for him), he figured it out pretty quickly, but it allowed me to gain a few seconds on him.  The course is clearly marked and we weren't alone, so I think he just zoned out on it.

I felt bad for him and I tried to keep up but he knew the finish line was coming up.  With a few other 5K runners coming up and a very short and sharp descent, I had to slow down.  I was hoping I'd catch him in the final .1 of a mile of the funneled chute but he had another gear.

I hadn't really paid too much attention to my overall time, but as I passed under the chute I looked at my watch: finishing in 51:10 and just seconds behind my goal runner.

Conclusion

I felt pretty good about my time.  I've alluded to the fact that racing in 2024 has been a challenge, given the health setbacks I've had.  But this seemed like a step in the right direction.  My splits were fairly consistent, I felt strong and never totally gassed, and I didn't give up.

I wound up getting a few photos and congratulating other runners I was working against.  I honestly felt really good.

Finisher's Medal + Age Group Award

With some fear, I looked at the age group awards:  I was in 2nd place!  It does turn out -- the guy I was running against was in my age group.  Right before the awards ceremony he found me and thanked me for getting him in 3rd place.  Since he had started in the front, and I had about a 10 - 15 second delay before starting the race, I had a bit of a cushion -- I wound up taking 2nd by a mere 2 seconds.  I suspect, his goof on the turn cost him.

Post race refreshments were candy, oranges, bananas, sports drink, carbonated water (provided by a sponsor). 

I had signed up for the 10K race way back during OnHillEvents Thanksgiving day sales.  It winds up being a nice bargain and the medals were a hit.  The shirt was pretty basic and again, the cotton / polyester blend doesn't do much for me.  

T-shirt + socks (I love the socks)

Overall, I was pleased with my experience.  I wish the course was a bit closer to an actual 10KM, though.  The course was well marshalled and there was an aid station we hit twice (I think the 10KM turn around station was misplaced).  I do think with a full 10KM, I would've run about 52 minutes -- nearly 2 minutes slower than last year.

Upcoming Races

10/12: 2024 Sound of Hope 5K - South Jordan, UT (Confirmed)

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)

2024 Cedar City Half Marathon Race Recap - Cedar City, UT

Official Time: 1:58:07
Placement: 144 male, 9th in the 50 - 54 age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 50's, slight tailwind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2023] 

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:12	Easing into the race
2	8:45	Letting gravity pull me downhill, but not pushing it
3	8:49	Still coasting.
4	8:33	Feeling pretty good. Largest descent of the race
5	8:39
6	8:41	Course starts to level out.
7	8:51	Pretty much done with hills. Just have to work for it now.
8	8:51	Holding steady
9	9:03	Can't wait to get to the bike trail.
10	9:21	Finally the bike trail!
11	9:24	Just a simple 5K to go
12	9:57	Just want to be done
13	9:46	Can't wait to make the finish.
13.02	0:10	Push the last hundred meters or so. Just happy to be done.
Total Miles: 13.02 1:58:06

Introduction

Last year, I ran the Cedar City Half Marathon for the first time.  It is a well established race -- going into its 15th year this year, and is run in Iron County -- down Cedar Canyon Road.

The race is well attended and offers a 5K and a half marathon.

When I ran the half marathon year I distinctly remember telling myself "never again". I was in agony as the final miles wore me down.  I am just not good at downhill racing, I told myself and was mentally punishing myself for even trying.

After the race though, I was really happy with my overall experience and those negative feelings sort of subsided.  A few days later I got an email with an offer code to get into the 2024 edition for a more than fair price (I think about $40).  Being the sucker I am to save a few bucks, I figured why the heck not and signed up.

As the date of the race approached, I'll admit, I had some anxiety and remorse about signing up.  Did I really want to put myself through it again?  Smashing the first 6 - 8 miles and then with my quads shot, try to finish the remainder of the race with a fake smile on my face?  Sure, why not...

Pre-Race

Cedar City is about a 3.5 hour drive from Salt Lake City.  I left the Friday before the race (which was on the next day, Saturday).  I made the trip in good order, checked into my Best Western, which is incidentally located about 2 blocks from the bus pickup / drop off.  

Packet Pickup at the Heritage Center

I then made my way to the Expo to get my bib and shirt.  It was well organized and had a vendor or two and incase I had forgotten something, I could arm myself with some gels and even a new set of shoes.

I'd be up in those mountains tomorrow morning

I decided to go for a short 3 mile-ish run around Cedar City.  It was pretty warm -- about 90F degrees and I found myself sort of short on air -- Cedar City does sit at around 5000 feet elevation -- a smidge higher than Salt Lake.  The run did me good. It helped me loosen up after the long drive and help me calm my nerves.

I had some loose plans for dinner. Pizza? A Buffet? Subway?  I didn't feel like moving the car and so I found the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant across the street.  It worked well and I would definitely go back there again.  It was also cool in the fact that the restaurant was in a refurbished Union Railroad Station.  You could still feel the old timey-ness in it.

I slept okay -- better than last year -- I think partly because I knew the drill and what to expect in the morning.  

In the morning, I ate some cereal, a couple of apples, the plainest, most boring cup of coffee ever and some Gatorade.  I wound up snacking on a packet of Gummies before the race to top off my energy stores and I had some Tailwind that I made as well.

The Race

I was on the bus by 5:40 AM and it took awhile, but the bus eventually got going and we were off.  It was about an 11 mile ride and took about 20 minutes.  The ride up there brought back memories of last year and to be honest, I wasn't anxious or nervous about the race. Despite it being a destination race, it felt like home.  I think in some ways it was because I had set a more than reasonable time goal and I had let myself off the hook on competing.  This race was just going to be about enjoying the atmosphere and getting it done.

People assembling pre-race.

I had about an hour wait at the top and I knew a few people.  They had music, fire pits, and plenty of bathrooms, although they could've used a few more).  

The race's starting line is located at Wood Ranch Park.  It was nice watching the sun rise.  There was a chill in the air and I was glad I brought a light jacket.  I also brought thin gloves which I wound up not needing.  I was okay in shorts but it would've been more comfortable to have had some tights on.

The race started off promptly at 7 AM.  It was hard getting going at just over 8,100 feet of elevation.  But I knew I just needed to get out of the park and onto Cedar Canyon Road and soon gravity would take my plummeting down to Cedar City.

Last year, I went all out in the race and was blasting near mile race pace for the first 5 or 6 miles.  This year, I clearly was not going for a PR or even racing it.  Given some of my heath issues this year, I haven't run a half marathon since March and while I had covered the distance a few times in training, I hadn't really banked the miles and training I would've like to have done.

My primary goal was to finish.  The next goal was not to blow up and finish under 2 hours.  

For the first few miles, as I made my way down the canyon, I was neck and neck with the 2-hour pacer.  I think he was going out a bit too fast but the early miles seemed easy and gravity was doing most of the work, it seemed.

It was beautiful out and I was enjoying the scenery. I remembered a great deal of it from last year but this year I was able to enjoy it a bit more.

Bag pipe players given encouragement to the runners!

The first 6 miles are massive downhills.  About 200 - 300 feet of decline according to my watch.  There were a few sections of flat or even uphill, but mostly you could just coast.  This part of the run was also the prettiest and we were treated to a group of bagpipe players around mile 3.  It was definitely worth a brief pause while running to take a photo.

The canyon walls, pines and greenery eventually gave way to a bit more of a red rock landscape.  Cedar City has about the same temperature profile of Salt Lake City, but it is on the fringes of St George, so it shares a lot of the same geology.  The trees got fewer and there was more red rock canyon walls, mining pits, and desert like scrub.  Also, the course began to level out.  It was still a net downhill but now I actually had to work.

After mile 6, my pace dropped a bit.  My legs were pretty smashed and my lack of long-distance / endurance-based training, was starting to show.  It didn't drop off a cliff but I remember feeling that the final miles were going to be tough.  It definitely didn't feel as bad last year's.  I am pretty sure I went off the rails around mile 7 ... So I was mentally patting myself on my back for not flying down the hills.

At mile 8, I was mentally fatigued -- maybe even more so than physically.  I was breaking down the race and was looking for the first hint of the bike trail.  The bike trail, would signify that I had about a 5K race to go before finishing.  Also the bike trail had a different set of train: houses, parks, soccer fields, and crowds.

The volunteers along the race course were great and enthusiastic, but the first 8 miles -- hardly anyone was there to lend  you a cheer.  Most races of less than a 1000 people are like that but I was feeling it today.

There were a group of people welcoming you to the bike trail, including some Army soldiers.  It was a welcome site and knowing I had about 30 minutes left to go, brightened my spirits.

The bike trail has some undulating hills.  You do get some downhill and overall it is downhill, but I still had to put in an effort to stay under 2 hour pace.  It was also at this point where I started to panic: I REALLY wanted to get under 2 hours.  I had left the pacer behind (he had slowed up to a more accurate 2 hour pace) and I had been on target for something of around 1:55.  

The Southern Utah Cross Country / Track team was on the course providing hydration, support and directions.  The course was well marked and there were some areas where one could've gone off course but every turn had a volunteer, cones or arrows.  It was easy to follow.

The race was large enough so I was never running by myself.  I felt a bit sad though as I found more people were passing me than I was passing.  It felt uncomfortably warm as well, despite wearing nothing more than short-shorts and a tank-top.  

Last year I remember walking and then doing strides in the final mile or so of the race.  I was toying with doing that but I just kept shuffling along.  I didn't want to walk.  

Definitely feeling it on the bike trail

I kept looking at my watch:  I'd run for a bit, guess at how much more I had to run and then see in reality how much longer I had to run. I really wanted to be done and in the last mile I kept looking over my shoulder: was the 2-hour pacer closing in on me?  If he had showed up, I think I would've wept.

Finally, with a  half mile to go, I heard the din coming from Bicentennial Park. This is the city's park that looked to be used for city events and local youth sports (baseball / soccer).  I did pick up the pace here a little but I wasn't going to catch anyone and I clearly wasn't up for any age group awards.

When the finish line came into view, I was knew I was going to get under 2 hours and I was going to finish!

Conclusion

So this race was more of a moral victory than anything else.  Since all my health issues, my running times have plummeted.  I set a realistic goal, realistic pace and I got what I came for.  The final 2 miles, were a challenge, but I didn't feel the screws being tightened until then, versus at mile 8 or so last year.

My time is a far cry from last  year's time and is on par with the times I was putting in, in late Spring.  But this was a gravity-assisted course, so hardly comparing apples to apples.

The course is punishing though.  With all the downhill, it will leave you sore.  Even as I type this, on Wednesday night, I still have some residual soreness.  I did opt to run in the Brooks Glycerin shoes, versus my normal Saucony Pros.  I have been dealing with some plantar fasciitis and I felt like I needed the extra protection -- which actually was a smart move (if I do say so myself). 

Refreshments at the end (just some of it)

This race is a gem:

1) The t-shirt is (nearly) unarguably the best I've gotten this year.  Nice color, nice design, nice material.  This is one I'll definitely wear -- a lot.  Thank you!

2) The swag bag was packed with stuff.  Stuff I could actually use.  There were a few promotion items in it that were worthless, but most of the stuff in there I'll definitely try: hydration, snacks, gels, etc.

3) The medal is honking BIG.  I mean this thing may go down as one of the best medals I've gotten all year.

4) The race was well organized: from packet pickup, to bus loading, to race start, to course management, to aid stations. 

5) The finish line food at the end was epic.  Snacks, Coke, protein products, sports drink, water, even some local restaurants providing food.  I don't have much of an appetite after a race, but Coke is my absolute favorite after a long run.  Well done Cedar City!

6) The finish line area had live entertainment was incredibly relaxing to sit in the sun, make new friends, and soak in the atmosphere.

7) I was able to jump on a shuttle bus a mere 50 yards away from the finish line and get driven back to the bus loading area.  I then had about a 10 minute walk back to my hotel. 

I really enjoyed my weekend (I wound up going to Mesquite, Nevada for two nights after the race to enjoy the food, pool and casino).  I want to put this one on my list to do again.  There may be some life changing plans coming up soon, so I hate to pony up the money now, only to not be able to do the race.  But if I am in the area, I'd certainly do this race again and I would highly recommend it to those looking for a blazing fast half marathon course.

Celebratory (Virgin) Pina Colada

Upcoming Races

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

10/05: BLOCKED OUT WEEKEND

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

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

11/02: Vineyard Blizzard 5K - Vineyard, UT (Maybe)

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)