2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day 5K Race Recap - Bountiful, UT

Thanksgiving decorations along the route

Official Time: 26:51
Placement: 2nd in the 55 - 59, 172nd overall, 129th male.
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: mid 32's, breeze from the south.
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2024] [2023] [2022] [2021] [2018] [2017] [2016] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:18	A little congested at the start. Steady, downhill pull and holding back a bit
2	8:50	At about mile 1.40 the uphill starts.  Working hard.
3	9:14	Tough mile.  First .75 is progressively uphill.
3.07	0:27	Redline to the finish
	Total Miles: 3.07- 26:51

Introduction

As evidenced by the race history, one of my Thanksgiving traditions is to do the Bountiful Thanksgiving run.  The race offers a 5K and 10K edition, of which I've always run the 5K race.

The course is very familar to me, having run it for their February and August races and I've attended their races faithfully since I moved here.

This race, they had a massive turnout with over 1000 participants.  Usually they draw about 750 or so and with a crowded race market, I was shocked.

Ready set go!

The Race

I arrived at the race at 7:15 AM for the 8 AM start.  They are very well organized and I got my bib and t-shirt in short order.  I also managed to get decent parking: pro-tip: the lot fills up quickly.

I did about a mile warm-up starting at 7:30 and deemed myself ready to go. I actually felt really good coming into the race despite having just raced 5 days ago.  I had tapered and figured I might have a shot of a better than normal race.  The air temperature was ideal, no wind, I knew the course, what could go wrong?

I've written about the course at ad-neaseum: mile 1 is downhill, mile 2 begins the grind back up and the final mile gets even worse but the hill ends at mile 2.75, where the race becomes a fast finish.  It is run on city streets and only the last .25 is on sidewalk.  The course is rectangle-shaped and well marshalled and easy to navigate.

Large turnout today.

The race started a few minutes late but all things considered, it was okay.  The had maneuvered my way to the front but not too close.  It was still congested at the start but after a minute or two I was free to run my own pace.

My goal was to hold a steady pace on mile 1 and hopefully conserve some energy for the latter half of the race.  From previous experiences, I know that my race usually ends (for all intents and purposes) at mile 1.5.  I was hoping to change that today.

Course at the first half mile or so

I found myself getting passed by many runners.  I began to wonder how many were in my age group. It was hard to tell -- there were so many people and some were running the 10K.  Only a handful, of which, split off at about the .75 mile point.  At one point I found myself running with another runner who usually comes in ahead of me.  I wound up passing her.  Perhaps I was on to a good race?

Mile 1 came in at 8:19.  I was still comfortable but I knew I was on the edge of just being winded.

In another quarter mile, we hung a right and began the tougher part of the race.  Immediately my pace slowed and several runs sped by me.  So frustrating.  Given the size of the race, I figured there was a good chance I wasn't winning anything today.

I was working hard and told myself not to give up.  

At the halfway point we made another right at the first aid station.  A set of traffic lights lay ahead and I knew that was the mile 2 marker.  It seemed like it would take an eternity to get there.  I was still being passed and the runner I had caught eased by me.

Mile 2 came in at 8:50.  To be honest I wasn't surprised.  And looking back, it was about on par with what I would've guessed at the start I would've run.  I wasn't having a breakout race but at least I was on schedule.

Runners closing in

Every time I run this race, I think the final mile is going to be a miracle mile.  Hope against hope that I've saved up enough energy to blast the uphill section and sprint to the finish.

Today wasn't that day.  I still gave it everything I had but the only people who I was passing were the walkers who had started out too quickly. Occasionally someone cruised by me and try as I might, I couldn't keep up.

Finally, the summit arrived and my pace quickened as I reached the peak.  I glanced at my watch and realized I was still on target.  I pushed hard, even if I was going to soil myself or puke at the finish. This was the time not to leave anything in the tanks.  There wasn't really anyone close to me but I put on a good show for the spectators.

I saw a low 26 minutes on my watch as I cruised the final segment.  3 miles rang up on my Garmin, but I didn't even glance at it.  It took an eternity to make it to the finish line, but I crossed under in 26:51.

All smiles at the finish

Conclusion

In short, this wasn't the race I was wishing for.  But it was on a race that was in line with what I've been running lately.  It is a challenging course, so I knew I wasn't going to set any personal records today, but it wasn't even close to the 25:51 I ran last year.  In my opinion, it was another quiet period to the end of a pretty lousy year when it comes to racing.

I wound up cycling back about a quarter mile to get photos of friends were running the 10K.  There were just so many runners intermingled with the 10K runners, that I failed miserably getting photos.  I sort of felt bad too for the 10K races, who were zig-zagging around the 5K walkers / joggers.

Results were tough to come by given the lag and the business of the race day but they did eventually come.  I was shocked to see that placed 2nd in my age group.  Over the next 10 minutes I continually refreshed, thinking more results were coming in and it must be some sort of mistake.  But it held.  2nd place was mine!

It took a while for the awards (about 10 AM) but I earned myself a banana cream pie for my patience.

I really enjoy this race.  They always provide a great t-shirt, solid refreshments (donuts, bananas, oranges, drinks) and cheery volunteers.  The finishers medal was nice as well.

The race site is also held at the recreation center, so runners have access to flush toilets and a place to keep warm.

Overall, this race is a fun way to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday.  It is budget friendly and you get a lot for your money.  I think I paid about $30 with the early bird coupon code.

Upcoming Races

01/24: 2026 Sun Half Marathon - Santa Clara, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 Lindon City Turkey Trot 5K Race Recap - Lindon, UT

The starting area near Lindon City Park

Official Time: 26:47
Placement: 2nd in the 50 - 64 age group, 24th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Here
Weather: mid 30's breeze from the east
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First year for me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:09	About 100 feet of gradual decline here. If only the whole race was like this.
2	9:35	Who put the big, long hill at the half way point?
3	8:51	Took some time to recover but my pace was steadily increasing
3.03	0:14	Push it to the finish!
	Total Miles: 3.03 - 26:51

This guy was fast but had to get a photo with him

Introduction

My time is running out in Salt Lake, so what better way to hang out with my friends than to jump into a 5K in Lindon, UT?

The pickings for a race this weekend were pretty slim.  Fortunately, I was able to find a small race located in the heart of Utah county that was being held by the Lindon City Recreation Center.  Constant readers may recall that I ran a 5K there in 2023 for their city's summer celebration.

I am trying to get some solid speed work in and I figured why not jump into a (very) budget friendly 5K and see where I am at.

The Race

Lindon is located about 30 minutes from where I am currently living.  I collected a few friends to carpool with and arrived at Lindon City Park at 7:15 for an 8 AM start.  It was chilly out -- maybe in the upper 30's when I arrived.  There wasn't much wind, fortunately, and no ice or snow.  

I could tell the race was going to be lightly attended. Last year's results showed about 50 participants.  They had a bumper crop this year with 75 runners.  I think everyone must be tapering for the big Thursday races.  

First turn on the course.

I was shocked to get a VERY cool technical shirt (shirt of the year perhaps?).  As an added bonus, they had a bulging swag bag.  Packet pick up was a snap.  With the race lightly attended, it was easy to use the porta potties and I did about a mile shake out to get warmed up.

The race started exactly on time.  I had studied the course ahead of time, so I kind of knew what I was in for.  The first mile looked to be slightly downhill.  Then the course leveled out and around the half way point, it looked like we'd have to make an ascent before flattening out again in the final mile.  

The race starts off in the city's park and follows a bike trail.  The race organizers had it well marshalled so there was little doubt as to where to go.  I had warmed up on the course, running to the fun run's turn around (about .5 a mile) to get a sense of the course.  The pictures I've attached here are photos of the segments I ran.

Some of the view near the half mile mark

It was a crisp morning and I settled into a sensible but strong pace.  I was feeling really solid and I had checked out the awards beforehand:  nice Turkey trophies for the 1st place runner in each age division.  Unfortunately, mine covered a wide berth:  50 to 64.  Most of the runners, I sensed, were younger (teens or 20s).  I figured I had a shot, so I was going all in on the race; I wanted a trophy.

About 20 - 30 runners were well ahead of me and I had company for most of the race.  Despite a small turnout, there was always someone to work with.  I hadn't spotted anyone in my age group but I was careful.  

After .5 of a mile of bike trail, the course headed west.  The bike trail did continue to follow a road and occasionally we had cars tapping their horns cheering us on.  The course was primarily flat but I could sense I was going downhill.  My turnover was solid and I felt in control of my pace.  I ran an 8:08, which pleased me to no end.

The fun ended after the first mile and I suddenly had to work.  I had made a left turn and was now running on sidewalk and heading south.  I still felt like I was running at the same pace but my Garmin reports that I had definitely slowed down. Perhaps I lost focus or perhaps I couldn't sustain the pace but I know if I glanced at my watch at that time, I would've been discouraged.  

There were some older houses and large plots of land.  It was very peaceful running and even a few of the house owners were out cheering us on.  For a small race, it was nice to get a little community support.  I was still running with the same group and occasionally managed to pick a runner or two off.  I had put a gap on anyone tailing me. I was running hard and I felt consistently.  It felt like it was "my" day -- this race was going to go down as one of my best races of the year.  

However, upon making another left to begin my trip east and back to the park, I saw what loomed ahead: a long and steep hill.  Why couldn't we have run down that?  I still had high hopes and I had overestimated what I was currently running, but the hill was daunting and ultimately it was my dream killer.

Signage at about mile 2.5

I am too heavy to bound up hills anymore and my pace when I hit the steepest gradients crawled to a shuffle.  In looking at the climb, it was about a half mile long -- too long!  I almost mumbled to the woman running next to me, "well there goes my PR race".  I knew there was going to be a hill but I didn't expect the climb to this steep over such a short distance.

I reached the summit (finally) and made another left turn and hit the 2 mile mark. 9:35.  

I still felt strong though and while there was a bit of climb here, there was also a segment where I could coast downhill a little.  My pace quickened and I was working with two women, probably a third of my age, in pursuit of a finish.

I'd be running from that summit at about mile 2.25

If I had to guess my pace, I felt like I was running an 8:35 -- at least.  I was running strong and while I didn't see anyone behind me, I didn't want to lose a place to an age group contender.

I had measured the course when I started the box route and I knew that when I hung a right to head back that I honestly had about half a mile of running left. It was here, I think that I looked at my watch for a pace update.  It said 9:00+.  Wait, what?  Perhaps it was a mistake. I had to be running faster than that.

Finally, another right and I was back on the enclosed bike trail.  I could "smell" the finish line, even though I was well over a quarter mile away.  The two women I was running with put some distance on me and I couldn't respond.  I kept glancing over my shoulder and never saw anyone. I think that may have dampened by final kick effort.

I hit mile 3 in 8:51.  If someone had asked me to guess what my final mile, I would've confidently said 8:30.  

The course, on my watch, came in a little short and there was a sharp incline to the finish and I barely broke 27 minutes. 

Conclusion

Upon finishing, I was handed a pretty nice ribbon.  It was identified with their race logo and the year I participated in the race.  Not a medal, but still very cool.  And as stated, the shirt was a definite winner for me: long sleeved and technical fabric.  The shirt will definitely be used!

My ChickNLegs shorts were a hit -- I got a ton of compliments on the holiday design I was wearing.  I had worn a short-sleeved technical shirt and thin gloves.  Despite the chilly temperatures, I was dressed appropriately.  I know many people were bundled up.

Sadly, I didn't win my age group.  I thought for sure I had, given I hadn't seen many older folks. The winner of the age group finished a good 90 seconds ahead of me and if you are reading this: I would never have guessed you were in my age group (and I hope you take that as an honest compliment)

There was plenty of food at finish, especially for a small race: warm beverages, muffins, bananas and oranges.  For a $25 race -- this was a bargain!

I wanted one!

The race was well organized.  It was timed perfectly, it was budget friendly, the course was well marked and the crowd was friendly.  My only gripe would be that it was a tiny bit short, but otherwise a great morning out with friends.

As far as my performance went:  I felt really good in the race and throughout the race I felt like I was running strong (except for the half mile hill of course). I had MUCH higher hopes for my overall time.  However, for whatever reason I came out of this one feeling positive.  Mentally I was strong, I didn't give up, if I study the Garmin pacing heat map, I was running pretty strong.  I am disappointed but at the same time, not really.

This race is highly encouraged.  It is budget friendly, well organized and just a really nice experience.  I had never run any parts of it before, so the route was new to me and the course was scenic in its own way.  

Upcoming Races

11/27: 2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 Sandy City Turkey Trot 5K Race Recap - Sandy, UT

Official Time: 26:53
Placement: 1st in age group, 54th overall
Race Website: Here

Results: Results
Weather: mid 40's 10 mph breeze from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2013] [2014] [2021] [2022] [2023] [2024]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:04	Feeling good and in control. Slight downhill
2	8:42	The bumpy bike trail was throwing me off. Felt like I was running faster
3	9:24	Uphill to the start. I didn't give up.
3.10	0:39	Push it to the finish!
	Total Miles: 3.10 - 26:51

Sunny Day at Lone Peak Park

Introduction

It's been a while since I've done a race and finally I had a weekend that didn't involve moving stuff from Point A to Point B.

I had a choice between two races: the Vineyard Blizzard 5K in Vineyard or the Sandy Turkey Trot.  Honestly, I was torn between the two races, each having their own charms.  Since a bunch of my friends were running Sandy, and it was closer, and I was in desperate need of a new t-shirt (I only have about a dozen -- the rest are in storage).  With some misgiving, I opted in for the Sandy City race.

I had done the Sandy race for many years but from 2015 to 2019 it conflicted with the Las Vegas Marathon, so I had take a break from it.  

The Race

The race is held at Lone Peak Park, an easy drive from my current location.  There is ample parking there and is a suitable place for a race: with bathrooms and a pavilion.  There were about 211 other runners there for the 5K.

I arrived just after 9 AM, found parking, grabbed my bib and shirt.  I had about 30 minutes to warm-up before the race start.  It was a beautiful morning -- chilly enough to question myself as to whether I wanted to wear gloves (I opted no).  The sun was bright and there was only a hint of a breeze.  I wound up doing about a 1.5 miles of easy running and a few strides and drills before deeming myself as ready to race.

First turn out of the park

The race starts in the park on the sidewalk.  It is a clustered start and it can get crowded.  I had moved up to the front but still a respectful distance from the frontrunners.  The race started suddenly at 10 AM and we were off.

The first quarter mile or so is run on the sidewalk of the perimeter of the park.  Other than it being slightly congested, it was a pretty place to run.  I eased into the race -- but looking at my pace, it was anything but easy.  I was moving comfortably forward.  I was locked in with a couple of kids who loved my Chick-n-legs Thanksgiving themed shorts.

The kids were probably a 5th of my age and the two boys took off. I wound up running the great majority of the race with their sister.

Another quick right turn

Then down this road

After running the perimeter of the park, we exited the park and into a subdivision.  The course was well marked and they had marshals at all the turns (a few years ago they didn't).  On the open road, I could settle into a decent pace without worrying about trampling over anyone.

I felt like I was running at a solid effort and I was feeling good.  The front runners had left me in their dust.  The people I was running with were all half my age.  I saw a few senior aged runners ahead of me but I had no idea if they were in my age group at all.  It sure would be nice to win something at my coming out race.

At .6 make another right turn

Then head down this street

After a series of turns through the housing area, we were dumped off on the Porter Rockwell bike trail.  I was also greeted with a bit of a headwind.  The first mile had a descent of about 51 feet.  There were also some uphill sections.  Mile 1 rang up on my Garmin in 8:04.  The only time I had glanced at my watch was to mark how long it was from one of the final turns to the finish line (.60) but I was pleased with the time.  I knew the first mile was the fastest, though, but I was still feeling good.

Mile 1 to 2 -- I was determined to hang on.  I wouldn't call the bike trail flat and with the wind; it just made it challenging.  Also, there were a few points where I thought that the bottom of my shoe had come off.  Either that, or I was losing control of my left foot (it was only the left foot).  I almost stopped to check my shoe figuring I was going to be walking.  It turns out the trail has some hidden divots and it is easy to trip on sections of the indentations.  It definitely took my focus off of running for about a quarter mile, but eventually I was able to clear the area.

Stretch of Bike Trail

There were also a few loops around some very small little league-like fields.  This definitely caused me to lose a bit of my momentum.  I knew it was going to be there, and in some ways it was nice to catch a break from the straight-aways.

I also got an opportunity to see if anyone in my age group was in the front back (it was kind of an out-and-back course).  I counted at least two potential competitors in my age group that were significantly ahead of me.  

Finally a lap around the infield of a baseball field and I was heading back to the starting line.  I was still running with the girl and a few guys half my age.  At times, I put down a bit of a burst and if I had to guess my pace, I would've told you about 8:25 - 8:30.  Turns out, I was running 8:42.

After exiting the bike trail, climb this hill!

The final mile is a challenge.  Remember the first mile with its net descent? Well, now we'd have to run up it. I was pretty spent but still mentally in the game.  I hadn't given up and despite a flagging mile 2, I was hoping I could still turn in the same effort for the final mile.

After exiting the bike trail I had the most challenging section of the race.  It was a simple hill -- not more than .2 of a mile, but my pace cratered.  I was doing a shuffle of 11:30 or so at times.  The runners around me -- their paces slowed as well.  At least I was in good company.

Once I got to the top of hill however, my turnover increased but I was unable to get back to the 8:40 pace.  I had competition I was working against and a guy who had passed me at about mile 2 (who appeared to be in my age) -- I was beginning to real him in.  He definitely was acting like he was hurting.  By mile 2.5 I sailed past him but for the final stretch I occasionally glanced over my shoulder to see if he had anything left to chase me down.

Grind to the finish

I was working with another guy (again half my age) and we were swapping spots.  It was nice to have company and someone to challenge me.  

With about .35 miles to go, we entered the park again and I was really hoping to drop the hammer.  But my pace was still stuck in the mid 9's.  I was working hard and still trying but my 5K pace was completely shot.  It wasn't until the last .15 miles I was able to kick it up a notch.

Home stretch!

The young man I was working against had another gear (or two) and he pulled away from me -- so much for a sprint finish.  No one else was behind me but I still acted like someone was.

I made the final turn and saw the Sandy City 5K race flags welcoming me back to the start line.

Conclusion

So I had checked my watch a time or two in the park and I knew I wasn't going to hit my A goal time.  I had visions of maybe clocking 25:50 -- anything under 26 minutes I would've been happy with. Instead, I barely cracked 27 minutes.

I came into the race feeling largely fresh and with two months of nothing but a healthy amount of training, I felt like I didn't live up to my goals.  Granted, the course is not a fast one but it is an honest one.  I also came in about 50 seconds slower than last year.

About how I felt at the end -- meh

Was I despondent?  No.  But I wasn't too happy.  Although if I had to take home a positive from the race it was that I didn't give up.  I felt like I ran a good race.  

With some trepidation, I checked the race results and after some wrangling by the race timer (some ages were not entered correctly) I discovered I had won the 55 to 59 age division.  

I wound up winning a medal and a pumpkin pie (enough to feed a small family).  For a low budget race, they do have some nice prizes.  

Prizes!

I like this race.  The course is challenging and an honest one.  The distance came in at 3.10 miles and any hill advantages I had, I had to pay it back on the return.

They had bananas, granola bars and water at the end.  Pretty basic fare but expected for a 5K at about $35.  The shirt is a cotton one but as usual, they have a cute Thanksgiving Day Theme on the front of it.  I love the Sandy City's t-shirt designs.

Fun with Friends!

Once again, I had MUCH higher hopes for myself.  I came in fairly fresh feeling, my warm-up had gone well, but I think the course got the best of me.  I think I have more to give but 

I also really enjoyed seeing my friends -- many I haven't seen in quite a while with my race hiatus.  As my time in Salt Lake dwindles away, it'll be hard not to have them in my corner when I decide to race.

Upcoming Races

11/22: 2025 Lindon City Turkey Trot 5K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)

11/27: 2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

2025 October Running Report

Morning runs have been my staple all summer.

Running Updates

I haven't updated my readers in a few weeks, which is just "odd".  As someone who frequently races and reports about them, I am sure some faithful readers may be wondering "What happened?"

After the Swiss Days 10k I felt like I turned in a subpar performance.  It was a culmination of a series of races that I just didn't run well at.  I was frustrated, sore, beat up and just fatigued.

Spotted a fire in the mountains at 4 AM

I had put in a long summer of training. Lots of early morning sessions, races most weekend, and loading up on a fair amount of miles.  From about June 1st to the end of August I had run on 84% of the days and sometimes twice a day.  I was training really hard and not seeing any results.

It was time to take a step back and analyze what I was doing to myself.

Got to visit Illinois and do some runs there!

Changes

So first I had to address the overall fatigue and soreness.  Running easy wasn't cutting it. I figured that I could skip a rest day and do 2 - 3 miles "easy".  These easy runs were indeed easy, but offered very little training value.  They were done at 12+ minutes per mile.  Sure, they helped my mood and burned a few calories, but it wasn't a 100% recovery day, which is what I needed.  I took several days off and now have ditched the low value runs into total rest days.

Perhaps the easiest change was quitting signing up for races.  Fortunately, there was a lull in the race scene and to be honest, I was just really busy with life changes.

The Glacial Trail in Richmond, IL

Pizza post run!

I dropped the mileage by about 30%.  This helped give my body a break from the 40+ mile weeks.  I've lost interest in the "long" runs over time and without a big half marathon on deck, I was okay with dropping the mileage.

I opted out of the shorter interval workouts I was doing and started doing more threshold work.  I felt like I needed help sustaining a solid pace, versus blasting a few minute intervals.  The pace isn't as intense as the shorter bursts and I don't feel like it beats me up as much. In addition, I can do them a little more often.  There is the promise I'll get faster.

I've also ditched a lot of the super easy runs and bumped up the pace a little.  The "zone 2" or "80/20" plans didn't really do much for me as far as my fitness went.

So far, I've felt a little more invigorated, but I don't feel particularly fit, nor speedy.

Future Home site

Life Changes

It looks like by the end of the year I'll be relocating, permanently to Las Vegas.  I've always wanted to live there and at one point, I was gung-ho to move there. I sort of  figured it would have to wait until retirement.

Through a series of events, we opted in on Las Vegas. For a while, we were seriously considering Reno but I think Las Vegas offered a little more for me.  

Cardio Moving!

I work from home so I can virtually live just about anywhere.  It is an over 55 community and I'll have access to a pool, biking, and other fitness equipment at a very nice gym.  I am just hoping the running community is as strong as it is here in Salt Lake.

I still figure to be a regular at the Southern Utah races and I don't doubt that once in a while I'll make my way northward for a special race or two in Salt Lake.

So with some apprehension, I am looking forward to new territories to run in and new friends to be made.  But in a way as well, I am saddened, because the last 13 years have been a blast here.

All the packing and moving and preparation though, has left me fatigued and have added considerable stress.  It was yet another reason why I opted to take a step back from running.

Stay tuned for races, hopefully soon!

Upcoming Races

11/08: 2025 Sandy City Turkey Trot 5K - Sandy, UT (Confirmed)

11/27: 2025 South Davis Recreation Center Thanksgiving Day Run 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)

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

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