SALT LAKE CITY MARATHON - RunMarathon

Started off with Jay and we weaved around a lot of the slower runners, walkers. Within 1/4 mile I already knew my lungs didn't want any part of the chilly air and altitude. We started out at 8:15-8:30 and I knew I didn't want to try and keep that pace. I let Jay go and decided since I was racing next weekend and I didn't want to hurt that I'd just keep it easy and enjoy the race. I had my garmin and my ipod and I trotted along pretty easy most of the race. I had some great conversations with a few guys that were trying to get to the 50 state club and I told them that was a goal of mine too. I made sure to thank all the volunteers and high five all the kids out on the course. I was basically just having fun. Everything felt good except my damn lungs. I was having trouble taking deep breaths and everytime I did I would cough my head off. So, I kinda kept my breathing a bit more shallow than usual. Took a egel at mile 5, already had to potty but forgot about it until mile 12. Stopped and the port o pots were leaning kinda backwards on a hill and when I squatted to pee, I accidently peed on myself. So, the back of my trix skirt was peed on. Gross.. My half split was 2:10 and I thought, humm.. cool. that is 7 minutes faster than what I did at Gasparilla in Feb. AND, I'm screwing around. Ok, whatever.. I took in the beautiful mtns that glistened with snow, listened to my ipod, thought about where Jay was and how he was feeling doing his first marathon. I chatted, ate another gel at 16, decided to start walking thru every water station.Went potty again somewhere around mile 18. Walked up a big hill at mile 19. The hills REALLY REALLY irritated the lungs, I couldn't catch my breath and the shallow breathing sucks, so I knew to start walking hills or else I may die. :) I got to mile 22 and a girl 6 steps in front of me passed out, right on the road. A guy next to her caught her before she went down completely but it caused a big scene on the road and I walked by and asked if they need anymore help. Soon here came the ambulance. About mile 23 I was like, humm.. I am hungry, so I ate a package of sports beans (walked and ate them)! I was kinda laughing at myself because I was just WALKING in a marathon. I had never really done that before. I mean, for a minute or 2 the whole time in Gaspy but I was just walking like it was a sunday stroll. :) Thought, Yep, let's get this done, the wind had shifted and was at my back so I picked it up and tottled in. I was starting to feel back pain and pain in the left ankle. At mile 25 there was a car wreck. Actually some stupid girl had a hit a motorcop and the girl was crying on the side of the road with a million cops and EMT people there. It gave me something to look at and then it was like the last 1/2 mile of the race. So, I ran, but not fast. I had a garmin time of 4:34 something but I just looked up official times.

Umm, well.. let's see. Maybe I should actually train for a marathon one of these times. My last long run again was 14 miles and it was a little while ago with the BT mafia out at Flatwoods. So, yep, let's say I would train.

Found Jay, had a bottle of water, walked 2 freaking miles back to the hotel.


My training and the fact that I am triathlon training now.


This was the 5th yr for the marathon in Salt Lake City. I thought it was an ok race. The expo was fairly small but the course was pretty decent, they had lots of volunteers, water stations and some entertainment along the way. The first 3 aid stations were a bit clustered as the volunteers didn't really know how to handle the mass group and there were too few port of pots at the beginning water stations. The race start was a bit crowded as we started under legacy bridge and people were crammed together in the lawn, etc and the pre race music was TERRIBLE. They had some choir out there signing and it was like being in church. It DID NOT pump me up whatsoever, in fact it made me want to hurry and start the race so I didn't have to listen to it.

Overall, good race. Nice course, and this time of year in SLC is very pretty. If I didn't have a goal of running one in every state I would probably go back. I wouldn't say it's the best course to try and BQ at though.