2025 Run Farmington 10K Race Recap -- Farmington, UT

Final stretch of bike trail

Official Time: 57:45

Placement: 1st in the 55 - 59, 44th out of 157
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: low 60's, breeze from the east
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: [2024] [2023]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:43	Getting rolling.  Easing into the race. A little bit of a climb on the freeway overpass
2	9:08	Had segments that were pretty good but slowly gaining elevation
3	11:00	Yuck, massive up hill here. I actually had to walk the last one.
4	8:33	What goes up, must come down. Enjoyed this segment very much
5	9:26	Pretty spent at this point. Not much in the legs
6	9:48	When will this race end?  Grinding it out on the bike trail.
6.12	1:06	Not much left for a sprint to the finish.
	Total Miles: 6.12- 57:47

Arriving at the race

Introduction

Sometime this winter, a few runner friends insisted we do this race.  It was on my radar but was I was inclining to take a wait and see approach to it.  Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't.

But of course, the coupon / discount codes code flying in and the pressure became insurmountable.  One friend wanted to do the 10K and another wanted the half marathon.  I would've leaned doing the 5K, but I felt like putting myself through the torture chamber and get the most for my entry fee and do the 10KM race as well.  The 10KM is notoriously hilly.

So I set a date for May 10th and plunked my money down.  I knew this was a fun race and generally speaking, Farmington is a special place to run.

The Race

A group of us arrived at Farmington Regional Park just after 7 AM for the 7:50 AM start time.  For a large race (about 600 runners) they had it well organized -- with lines designated for each race division.  I was worried about problems waiting, but fortunately, the pick-up was smooth and less than a minute.

I wound up cycling through the restrooms and watched the 1 mile kid's race take off followed by the half marathon.  Our race was supposed to start around 7:55 AM and it was closer to 8 AM due to the kid's race taking a bit longer.

They started the half marathon and a few minutes later the 10KM runners started.  For the first 5 miles (or so) we would be sharing the same course.

The start takes you through the parking lot of the park and then onto the street / sidewalk.  You make your way to the bike trail.  Traffic was well marshalled -- in fact -- throughout the entire race I never felt "not safe" or had no worries about where to go. 

I have run several races in this area, so the course was not unfamiliar to me.  I was coming into the race fairly tired and I was going out at what I thought was a conservative pace. I was working but not aggressively hard.  I was slowly roping in many of the half marathon runners.

I had no idea of who my competition was and to be honest, I didn't care.  This was just about getting this race done and putting in a solid effort.  Mentally and physically, I came into the race pretty much drained.

That's me in the red ahead

It was also warm -- I am not yet used to running the warmer sun and it was already 63 degrees at the start and climbing.  I was wearing sunglasses, a t-shirt, and short shorts.  

Mile 1 came in predictably -- 8:45.  I was okay with that.

Finally, after crossing I-15 on an overpass, I found myself on the east side of Farmington.  Familiar sites hit me -- the Farmington Days Race (in late June) occur on many of the sections, so it was a nice reminder I wasn't exactly in new territory.

For about half a mile, my pace was solid.  Eventually, however, we found ourselves on a twisty-turny bike trail that seemed to be climbing.  I knew that at mile 2.5 we'd have a long hill but my pace dropped.  I think I was already at the edge of my limits and just given how much I've raced, my legs and breathing weren't really having it.

Perhaps my GPS was off due to the low hanging trees but I hit mile 2 at a low 9 minute per mile pace.  I wasn't overly flustered, but it felt like I was working too hard to hold that.

Sure enough, the hills began from mile 2 to 3. And they were brutal.  Most of them reduced my pace to a shuffle and the last one I figured I'd expend just about the same amount of time running as I would walking, so I simply power walked up one.  My legs felt rubbery and I still had 3 miles to go.

There were a few points where I wanted to stop and take photos, but this was a race.  I sort of regret at least trying to get a few hasty ones in.

I had paced the 2:20 pacer and was battling with the 2:10 pacer, who probably started 2 - 3 minutes before me.  

I crossed the 3 mile marked with an 11:00 mile pace.  Worse than I thought, but expected.

After the hill, I got a sweet reprieve.  Beautiful, glorious downhill.  I repassed the 2:10 pacer and was holding steady.  I actually felt like I was racing again.  The hill wasn't a massive downhill, but it was enough to hold steady for more than half of it.

We were done with the shaded bike trail and now onto public roads.  There were some occasional spectators cheering us on.  The area was somewhat familiar with me and I could recognize we were heading to Farmington Center where the Farming Days race starts and finishes.  When I hit mile 4 in 8:33, I had hopes that I could salvage this race.  It was also in the middle of this mile that we hit the first aid station.  In my opinion, it was positioned a little too far, especially for the half marathoners and for a warmer day.  I managed to gulp down a Gatorade -- I was definitely feeling the heat.

Runner coming into the finish

Unfortunately, I was running on fumes.  I was just trying to run strong.  I wasn't looking at my watch, but I was working hard.  I had hopes I was running about 9:00 min / mile pace, but it turns out I was quite a bit slower.  I just wanted to be done.  I still hadn't seen anyone in my age group and I still couldn't decide who was running the half and 10K.  We hadn't split yet.

We crossed over I-15 once again and on the other side the half marathons split from us.  The number of people I was working with dropped precipitously.  Also, so did my pace.

Another photo towards the finish

The last mile and a quarter were along the bike trail that we had started on and it seemed to take forever to get to the finish line.  I kept looking at my watch -- I was within half a mile but still had so much further to go.  I turned to one guy -- and muttered "so close, yet so far away"

I just didn't have any energy and my pace was dropping to a half marathon shuffle.  I had no spring and I was probably dehydrated.  With the warm temperatures and only one aid station, it just wasn't working.

The number of people in my field of vision was fairly limited and I couldn't motivate to chase down anyone in front of me and I had a solid lead on those behind me.  I did encounter a few 5K walkers, so that gave me a bit of a boost to move by them, but still, my pace was "I've given up -- I am here to finish"

Group Photo

While the overall distance on the course appeared to be short (at least according to my Garmin) the finish line just seemed to never arrive.  It took forever but I knew I'd reach there.

Finally, I rounded the corner and did my best to pull a "fast finish".  And I crossed under the finish line in 57:45.

Conclusion

So before the race started I had predicted I'd finish around 56 minutes.  Going into the race, I was just sore and spent -- physically and mentally.  I've done a lot of racing leading into this one and given the nature of the course, I knew it wasn't going to be a fast one.  I had hopes, maybe it would, but I didn't see too much to be optimistic about.

The race was a challenge from start to finish.

Finisher's Medal and age group award

The price of the race was decent and I felt like I received a good deal on my registration fee.  The t-shirt was optional (and I didn't purchase it) so that saved me some money.  It was a cotton or cotton-polyester blend, but it did have a cool design.  If the material was 100% polyester, I'd definitely be interested.

The course is a stunner -- despite its challenging nature.  It is a pretty run and I loved miles 2 - 4.  It was fun to speed through the tree lined bike trail and even the city streets weren't terribly bad.  The course just keeps you guessing.

Thumbs up finish

Organizationally, it was a good race.  Easy pickup -- super fast age group awards -- and they had pancakes and sausages at the end. I think there were some protein bars as well as water and Gatorade.  The park also has drinking fountains.  The pancakes weren't very good though -- they were kind of cold by the time I got one.  

The course was well marked and marshalled.  In my opinion, they needed another aid station.  On a warm day, one wasn't enough, especially for the half marathoners.

Performance-wise, no surprises for me.  I predicted my time and more or less I got it.  I feel like I haven't 100% bounced back from the Salt Lake City Half Marathon, which I did two weeks ago. In addition, I ran quite a bit doing some "running tourism" while in Illinois.  So I was pretty fatigued going in.  I am sad I didn't turn in a better time, but at the end of the day, I won't lose any sleep over this one.

This is a well organized race and if you are doing the 10KM race or half marathon, I suggest giving it a go.  The course is a challenge, but a lot of fun. It has a lot of competition -- given how many other races are going on in the area, but for the price and effort required, it is well worth consideration.  Also the age group award is definitely unique (as well as the cool finisher's medal).

Upcoming Races

06/14: 2025 Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon - Lamoille, NV (Confirmed)

06/28: 2025 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K - Taylorsville, 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 Bob Blazier Run For The Arts 5K Race Recap - Crystal Lake, IL

Raue Center Race Headquarters

Official Time: 25:33
Placement: 2nd in the 55 - 59 age group, 31 out of 181 runners
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: mid 40's, breeze from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: [2005] [2006] [2007] [2008] [2009]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:50	Slight downhill but very solid start. Felt in control and locked in.
2	8:16	Some rolling hills here but nothing major. Definitely slowed up here.
3	8:26	More hills.  I think there was more climbing here than my Garmin indicates.
3.15	0:59	Crushed it to the finish!
	Total Miles: 3.15 - 25:32

Runners getting ready to run

Introduction

I still have family in McHenry County Illinois, so when the opportunity came about for me to visit family, I decided to jump into a once very familiar race:  The Bob Blazier Run for the Arts 5K in Crystal Lake IL.

In 2004, I started my racing journey and one of the earliest races I did was this race.  The race is a fund raiser for the local live-theater and was once championed by Bob Blazier - aka Mr. Crystal Lake.

I still remember Bob being the master of ceremonies at the race but he passed away.  Still, the race he called still lives on, drawing a solid contingent of runners to challenge the streets of Crystal Lake.

When I arrived into town, I found myself tingling with excitement.  Who would I see?  Would anyone recognize me?  And how much slower was on going to be on a course that 15+ years ago gave me my legit 5K personal record (19:59) and fastest race mile ever (5:55)?

Familiar looking race arches pre-race

The Race

I arrived at the race site about an hour early for the 8 AM start.  I found plenty of parking and saw other runners milling about.  It was a mere 15 minute drive from my hotel in McHenry.  

A few minute walk from my parking spot found myself in the Raue Center Theater's Lobby and I quickly got my bib.  One of the volunteers recognized my name and asked me if I knew someone and I was like "yes!"  I was already being recognized.  I also mentioned I had come all the way from Salt Lake, in part, to run this race.

That definitely drew some attention!

As I meandered about taking photos I ran into more and more people that I knew.  It was overwhelming at times, but people remembered me and began asking me what brought me back into town (family stuff).  

I managed to get away for a bit to warm up and get some strides in.  I was there to see people but also race.

As I was warming up, I began to wonder if in the intervening years, if the race organizers had changed the course at all.  I had vague recollections of it -- the first mile was slightly downhill, the 2nd mile had some rolling hills and the final one had a poorly placed hill right near the end.

The race is held on the city streets, which were quiet on a Sunday morning.  The street was wide and with only about 200 runners in the race, there was no worried about being blocked in.  Most of the course on residential roads that were lined with stately, mature trees and older, but well-to-do houses.  The race start and finish were pretty much near the theater in the business district in the classic downtown area.

The start was a gun start but a chip on your bib would record your finish time. I was encouraged to start near the front if I cared about my time and placement.

I had sized up my competition and I really had no idea who was in my age group.  The crowd was definitely an older one and I feared I had have to put up one heck of a race to place.

Race Start

We were off at 8 AM and those that I suspected were fast, took off.  I felt like a few runners in my age group were already ahead of me.  Perhaps I could reel them in but the prospects of winning something, despite the previous year's results saying I'd probably would, weren't encouraging.

None the less, I was trying for a fast time, and I didn't want that to discourage me.  I also was running in lower altitude, coming from higher altitude.  

Typical stretch of road

I definitely noticed a difference as my breathing felt in control and I actually felt like I was getting more oxygen.  A series of small downhills and easy turns, had me turn in a 7:50 first mile, despite me not getting overly anxious about my pace.  Solid start!

Memories of the previous races I had down were coming back to me.  It was the same course and that would mean that the course was going to come in around 3.10 miles. No shortages here.

For a 5K, this race does have quite a few spectators and I gave one a large surprise when I knew their name.  I shouted it and I could tell their jaw hit the ground.  I got a voluminous shout of support back.  It pepped me up.

The second mile found my pace slow up.  There were a few uphills here and I had to slow down a bit.  I was wearing short shorts, a t-shirt, a cap and thin gloves.  Many others seemed overly dressed for the weather conditions.  I was holding my own on the course, neither overtaking people nor being passed by too many runners.

I knew my pace was dropping, mostly on account of the hills.  I was definitely rebounding on the downhill sections though.  Mile 2 popped up in 8:15.  About what I expected.

The final mile has a a steep uphill.  We had more or less exited the neighborhood portion and were on a major section of road.  I remembered it being the toughest mile as we ascended one hill after another.  I also remembered that the finish line sort of snuck up on you.

I still had my doubts about placing. One guy who I had thought was definitely in my age group (he wasn't) was clearly 90 seconds ahead of me. I also suspected a few other runners may be in the top 10 as well.  It wasn't looking good.

Still, I was on for a fairly decent race. I ran by the cemetery and a police station and finally I could see (and hear) the train station at the top of the hill. 

Finish line stretch

The  mile markers had been spot on, but the finish line couldn't come fast enough.

As I head into the downtown area, the crowd support picked up and the final .15 miles felt like I was finishing a marathon.  They had a drumming band there blasting out tunes and the crowds shouted encouragement propelled me forward.

I wasn't really going to catch anyone ahead of me, but a few quick turns over my shoulder indicated I had some pursuers behind me.  I didn't have any idea of their age groups, but I wasn't going to let them pass me.

Fortunately, I wasn't passed and I sped through the finish line -- in a respectable 25:33. 

2nd place Age Group Medal.

Conclusion

After the race, I saw so many people I knew.  I was also graciously welcomed by the Hillstriders running group -- many of them I still knew.  I also surprised a lot of other runners that I hadn't seen at the start.  It was overwhelming at times but it was awesome to see so many people that were still at it.

With some trepidation, I checked the results and was happy to see I was in 2nd place.  I wound up refreshing the results at least half a dozen times because I didn't actually believe it.  but my there it was: 2nd place.

Post race refreshments included Country Donuts, water and bananas.  The donuts were outstanding and are a classic Crystal Lake "thing".  

Donuts!

Some things never change and I am happy to report that this race still serves up a solid race experience -- just like it did over a decade ago.  

The shirt was high quality and wonderfully designed.  There were no finisher's medals but you had a decent shot at an age group award.  The medals were adequate to celebrate the accomplishment but not the top. The course was extremely well marshalled and I never had fear of where I needed to run.  The final finish line stretch was incredible as well.

T-shirt, bib + age group medal

My race performance was a mixed bag. It was indeed better than usual and I felt better than I had in a while.  Still, I was hoping to go 24:50 - 25:10 or so.  I think I came very close to hitting it if the course was 3.10 but my Garmin (and most others on Strava got it slightly longer).  It definitely was a step in the right direction though and I left with positive feelings.

Father time always wins in the end and yes as I get older, I am getting slower and less fit.  I miss the days where I was hitting 20-flat.  But unless a miracle or some training breakthrough happens, those days are over.  Still, it was fun to compete and see what I could do.  It was also so nice to be welcomed back into the McHenry county running fold -- where I first toed the line back in 2004.

Upcoming Races

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

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

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

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

2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon Race Recap - Salt Lake City, UT

Start of the Salt Lake City Races (bike race)

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

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

Packet pickup at the expo

Introduction

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

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

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

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

Smiles before the start

The Race

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miles 1 - 3:

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

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

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

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

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

Probably the best part of the race.

Miles 4 - 6:

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

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

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

Questioning my life choices as I grind away

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

Finish line near the courthouse

Miles 7-10:

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

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

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

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

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

Finish line area

Miles 11- 13.25

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finished!

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

Hanging out with Spidey!

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

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

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

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

Finisher's medal + shirt

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

Pre race selfies with RC!

Upcoming Races

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

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

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

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

2025 Eggs Legs 10K Race Recap - West Jordan, UT

Easter themed billboard at Gardner Village

Official Time: 53:16
Placement: 1st in the 55-59 age division, 29th overall
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 30's, Breeze from the south
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: Previous Years: [2024] [2023] [2022] [2021]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:38	Controlled start. A little hemmed in but was running strong
2	8:33	Still a solid effort
3	8:47	Pretty baked at this point. Still running okay though the but the turn around couldn't come soon enough
4	8:49	Pushing hard.
5	8:57	Running on fumes
6	8:58	Guarding my position but at this point, my position was locked in.
6.07	0:30	Looking good at the finish line.
	Total Miles: 6.07 - 53:16

Packet pickup at Gardner Village

Introduction

Another weekend -- another race.  I hadn't raced the previous weekend and I opted to give another 10KM a go.  I decided to give my local race another shot -- after my terrible showing at the Lucky 13 Race about a month ago.

I have felt stronger and better suited to racing and I knew that this weekend was going to be a better result than my horrid 56:12 time at Lucky 13.  Am I in personal best shape? Definitely not, but I knew I could do better.

This race is held at Gardner Village, a local shopping area, a mere 2 miles from my house.  I usually train on the course on my Sunday long runs and I am very familiar with the area. 

Due to flooding, the race was held on an open lot just south of the village.  Normally the race starts and ends at the village but due to an underpass being flooded, it was moving to a dryer spot.

Ready to race!

The Race

I had gotten my bib 2 days before the race.  With Friday being Good Friday, packet pickup was on a Thursday.  So by the time I got to the race site on Saturday morning I was ready to go.

The 10KM race started at 8 AM.  The half marathoners had started at 7 AM and the largest race of all -- the 5KM would start at 9 AM.

It was chilly out but dry.  There was a bit of a breeze but it wasn't terrible.  I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, thin gloves, arm warmers and my Saucony Pro 3's.  I was very comfortable throughout the race.  I felt sorry for some that had overdressed as it warmed up quickly, especially when the sun came over the mountains.

The race started on time and after a brief warm-up, I felt pretty good.  The race is held on the Jordan River Bike Trail and runs south towards the city of Sandy, and ultimately into South Jordan.  I lined up near the start and was ready to race!

The first quarter mile was a little congested as we sorted out the faster runs with the slower ones.  I had surveyed my competition and didn't see anyone around me that looked to be my age.

I felt comfortable as we sped across a bridge and I settled into a strong, but not dying pace.  

Looking fresh at the start

Mile 1 came up at about 8:37, solid.  I was hoping to go a bit faster but given where my fitness is at (which isn't very good) I'll take it.  It was also at this point that a man, who appeared to be my age, overtook me and put a bit of a lead on me.  I made it my mission to stick with him.

I was working with a group of runners, so I wasn't running along.  Most of the people were at least half my age but it kept me motivated, although mentally, I was fatigued from the route: I run this route all the time, so it wasn't terribly exciting.

As we continued south, I noticed that there was a bit of a breeze. It wasn't awful but it just seemed to slow me down a bit.  There really wasn't much of anyone to run behind either.  The effort also seemed to be getting harder.  How long could I hold this?

I got a bit of water at the 5KM turn around and continued into Sandy. I was in the top 20 at this point and I want to say that I had overtaken my competitor. Was there anyone else my age ahead of me?  I really didn't care, I just kept pushing.  Mile 2 came in at 8:33, faster yet.  Could this be a breakout race?

I couldn't wait for the turnaround.  I had reached the golf course and this part always seems to break me down.  Mentally, I am usually tired at this point and I keep willing myself forward to get to the turn around so I can be done.  This is where there race suddenly gets "real".

5KM runners in the home stretch

After a series of turns along the golf course area (but still a paved path for cyclists and runners) I finally saw the 2nd aid station, which would mean that I am close to the turn around.  Thank goodness!

I hit mile 3 just shy of the aid station in 8:47. I knew it was going to be a slower mile but I told myself I'd negative split it.  

The mile markers were mostly spot on and I was shocked to see the mile 3 marker and then almost immediately after it, the turn around (which coincided with the aid station). I suspect we were supposed to go a bit further but given that everyone else turned around at the stationed cone, I did as well. The course was going to be a bit short.

At the turn around, I realized that I was being pursued by a bunch of runners. I clearly appeared to be one of the older ones but still, I was so focused on picking up my pace, I really didn't care.  My competitor wasn't in sight fortunately.

From about mile 2 on, I was encountering many returning half marathoners.  At various points in the race, as runners paced me, I wondered if they were running the 10K or half marathon.  It made me nervous when another runner my age passed by me who I wasn't going to be able to catch.  Fortunately, he was running the half marathon.

My pace alternated between a shuffle and an elegant tempo paced stride at this point. I got some cheers of encouragement from outgoing 10KM runners which helped me.  That is one thing I like about this race, is the community support.

Mile 4, despite my best efforts was an 8:49. I wasn't getting any faster.

At this point, I was grinding and occasionally a half marathoner would glide by me. Very frustrating because here they were 11 miles into the race and I was less than 5. Why couldn't I keep up?  I wasn't sure at this point who was running what distance either.  Occasionally I'd throw a look over my shoulder to see if anyone was pursuing me, but the people I did see were female or clearly younger than me.

Looking south along the Jordan River Bridge

Mile 5 was an 8:59.  Yuck.  Why couldn't I run faster?

Even though my position was pretty much locked in, I really made an attempt to push as hard as I could for the final 1 and change miles.  I knew it wasn't going to be a record setting day, but it meant something to me to just dig deep.

Some runners who were on the cool down shouted encouragement and there were a handful of spectators as well.  Again, mentally, I was strong but my body wasn't cooperating.  Mile 6 was just as painful as 5.

Finishing Strong (looking)

I was (sort of) grateful that the race was a bit short.  The agony ended about a minute sooner than a full length 10 KM race.  But I made a strong showing and gave it all I had in the final sprint.  I sped into the finish line just as the 5KM runners were starting to assemble for their 9 AM start.

Finish line mayhem

Conclusion

All in all, a massive improvement over Lucky 13 race.  But definitely a massive let down versus last year.  I felt pretty good, especially at the start, but the speed endurance wasn't there. In January, I probably could've held onto an 8:15 pace but, now it seems a lot harder.  Overall, this was good, but not where I want to be. I am still hungry for improvement.

I grabbed my finisher's medal and congratulated those that had finished around me.  Assuming some of the people in the half marathon weren't actually running the 10KM race, I felt pretty confident I had finished first.  

I checked my phone and saw that I was in first and the other runner that had taken an early lead took 2nd.  

I wound up getting some photos of other runners as they came in.  I also had an opportunity to see the 5 KM runners start (and finish)

Podium Photo

I wound up taking 1st in my age group, so it was a double medal Saturday.  

Post race refreshments included granola bars, fruit, sports drink and cheese sticks.  I was a late registrant so the race was close to $50.  The shirt was nice and I actually wore it on this morning's long run (Easter Sunday) so it seemed appropriate.  Still, not 100% polyester but it held up.  Maybe I'll have to reconsider some of these shirts.  The medals were also nicely designed.

The course is flat and well supported.  All the important turns were clearly marked or marshalled.  If you haven't run in the West Jordan / Sandy / South Jordan portion of the Jordan River Bike Trail, this will be a treat, but for me it was old hat.  There is something to be said, though, for competing on your home turf. Other than the 10KM being a little short (the other two races appear to have been spot on), this was a very enjoyable race.

If you are looking for an Easter themed race check this one out.

Upcoming Races

04/26: 2025 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)

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

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

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

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