I shared comments about a recent marathon I ran in St. George, Utah with my running mates, and I thought you might enjoy the story as well. Regarding the marathon and its trials and tribulations, it certainly hits home when one makes the analogy to successful investing. To be successful, it takes lots of preparation, a well thought out plan, experience, patience, and courage to get through the difficult times. Here's the story, I hope you enjoy it.
St. George, Utah Marathon ReportHi Gazelle’s,
If you ever want to run the St. George Marathon, here’s a re-cap of the event. Let me preface by saying it is “as advertised,” an outstanding event all around, well organized and streamlined, and the course is beautiful, almost like running on the moon. I’ll give you a general overview, and then my comments towards the end will contain more of a personal review of the run.
The event was this past weekend – it’s a Saturday marathon, which is neat as it gives you an extra day for travel/recovery, and/or a stop in Las Vegas. St. George is in southwest Utah, only 110 miles or so north of LV. As many of you know, easy to fly in and out of Vegas, and getting to St G is a snap, so the logistics are a piece of cake.
St G marathon is highly sought after. The field was limited to 6500 this year and it is a lottery type system. There were people entered from every state in the nation except for Vermont. The lottery results are announced in early May, so there is plenty of time to choose Plan B for a fall marathon if you don’t get in. Of course, Chicago blew out in record time this past year - well before the St G lottery results were known – so it may necessitate flexible thinking.
The course is point-to-point, starting approx 23 miles north of St G. You must take a bus from the finish line (between 4am – 5.30am) as the run starts at 6.45am. The start line vibe is terrific; they have massive bonfires all over the place. I think the avg. temp at start is something like the low 40’s, and this year was no different, as it was 39 degrees. The bonfires were absolutely necessary – as it was darn chilly. Irony here folks, esp. with the Chicago record highs this past weekend – as some of you know – I am a warm weather fan, and when I did the Milwaukee Lakefront marathon a few years ago (usually around same time of year as Chicago), I vowed never to run a marathon “North of the Mason Dixon Line” ever again as I cant handle running in super cold/windy/rainy weather, only unless it was either NYC or Boston. So I was actually chagrined to see the weather channel report of warm and humid conditions for Chicago, and I thought I was going to freeze my
scheister off in the Utah desert!! Little did I know what was ahead for the Chicago crew. Just proves the frailty of the human condition and sometimes, you don’t always want what you wish for.
Back to St. G….the start is surreal, crackling of the fires, 6500 runners huddled around and keeping warm, lots of music, camaraderie, plenty of port o potties, and a wide open desert if you didn’t want to wait in a 10 deep line at the port o potty. Many folks waited until the last possible moment to leave the fire and join the race once it got started. They do have pace groups. Also, easy bag loading for your supplies and cold weather clothes, plus any clothes discarded in first 5 miles would be collected and taken to the finish line if you placed name and number on them.
The start elevation is 5200 feet, and the end is 2500 feet. Elevation is not a problem, and many St G veterans and the web site will tell you not to be concerned about the altitude. My take is mostly true, frankly, I didn’t give it any thought – my concern was more about my quads and the downhill pounding I was about to endure, not worried about my lungs.
The first ½ of the marathon is flat to slight decline, with one big uphill climb around mile 7 to 8, immediately followed with a steady ascent to mile 10…so this three mile stretch is where you wanted to be on your game, but not going too fast to blow you overall pace and fitness. Once cresting mile 10, and primarily past 13, it was fast and declining most of the way in, with an ascent thrown in here and there, one big one around 19 or 20, but overall: flat, fast, and set up for a negative split for those seeking to kick butt and take names. Plenty of water stations and support, but not a course set up for a support group or big crowds. The course is beautiful, with majestic scenery, red rocks, mountains, and a sunrise to warm the bones 45 minutes into the race.
The final three miles are through town, lots of crowd support here, and a long finishing chute to bring you to completion. Easy clothes bag pickup, massage tent, usual solid post marathon atmosphere with food, drink, and more camaraderie. I did notice some vacancy signs at a few of the hotels in town the night before, so not as bad as indicated when planning a trip to this marathon. All in all, a darn fantastic marathon event. I did Pocatello, Idaho at this time last year, and in many ways, not to take away from Pocatello’s fine offering, but this one beats it hands down. The bonfires at the start line mucho mucho important, plus the decline segments over the second half made it much easier to navigate the whole course and saves your quads for the end as opposed to Pocatello, where huge declines in first half, esp. right out of the gate, didn’t leave much oomph in the legs for a strong finish. St G is set up for a fast time, assuming you are prepared! Finally, you get the benefit of a Las Vegas sojourn, with includes great meals, spas, gambling, sports betting, music, shows, the whole nine yards...so a great way to celebrate a fine marathon and a summer of training with your fellow Gazelles.
As for my effort on this day, I can only say this: I kicked arse, took names, and killed the course! I ran a personal best of 3:08, 19 minutes better than my previous best, and a BQ time to boot.
I was geared up from the get go, mentally prepared and brimming with confidence after a summer of gazelle training. My last series of Yasso’s were at 6 minute per mile pace, and I ran a 10k segment of the Silicon Labs Relay a week before at 6.30 pace – so I knew I was well prepared. The run started right on time, but I was reluctant to leave the fire pit area, as it was just dark and cold out there! Once you clear the timing mats and ¼ mile down the road, it is close to pitch black. My first mile was the slowest of the day, running a 8:00 flat mile - navigating the packed street and shimmying around runners jockeying for position. I knew there were pace groups ahead, and my plan was to find the 3:10 group and take it from there. My BQ maximum was set at 3:20, but I knew I could do better. Mile 2 was a 7:30 pace, so I knew I was good for the first two at 7:45. I passed the 3:30 group somewhere after mile 2, and I had my next target of the 3:20 pace group somewhere down the road ahead of me and I knew I’d find them eventually. Funny thing is, I reeled in the 3:20 and then the 3:10, and for a while I was right behind the 3:00 until I backed off some in fear of not having some mojo near the end. Thoughts of the Pocatello blow up were in the back of my mind at all times. However, once cresting mile 10’s hill and knowing the big ascent was behind me, I was feeling strong, with no ill feelings or thoughts, and right then and there I knew it was going to be a special day. Crossing the ½ around the 1:36 time was good, I knew I wasn’t going too fast and didn’t have any notions of this being a bad day. Running for joy was clearly evident and the beautiful surroundings were keeping me in good spirits and at this point, I knew Boston was in the bag, and it was now a question of how fast was I really going to run this thing? When you are confident, anything is possible!
Ok, of course no marathon is ever easy, no matter what you fitness level is, professional or amateur alike. Somewhere around mile 14 or 15, concurrent with a large decline portion, my left big toe just felt like I was stepping on a knife with every step. Of course, our long training prepared us, and a similar sensation occurred out on Shoal Creek this past summer, and I prayed then, as I did now, that the pain would subside and if I could force it out of my mind, I’d be ok. Sure enough, once I got down to a flat segment, and running on the outside of my foot for a few miles, the pain subsided. Onward from there! My brother met me around the 18 mile mark, his plan to pace me for as long as he could – which lasted approx 3 miles- WTH?!?! – a guy who can pedal a bike for 100 miles easy, and then he peeled off, thinking that I was nuts running a 7.15 pace for 26 miles and he too lobbed a final, “you got this one brother and I’ll see you at the end!” I wasn’t all too talkative when I saw him anyway, still focused on the goal, still feeling fairly good, but knowing the true marathon doesn’t start until the 19 or 20th mile and the first sensations of pain were creeping in. Sure enough, finally entering the small and quaint St. George town limit with a 5k to go, I was starting to hit the wall. Having the 3:20 in the bag already, I was still calculating what my PB was going to be. However, having never pounded a 7:15 pace or better for 24 miles straight, I was coming unglued. The crowd support was helping, but as we all know, those last couple of miles are grit, determination, and a singular focus on the finish line. It was now, “keep moving” time. I dropped suddenly to a walk around 24.5 miles, and said, focus on the next street, the next visible marker, whatever I need to, and keep going – so a series of walks and runs got me to 25 and change, and then that final will power of knowing the finish was close got me revved up, and over the hump, and the my last energy cells were utilized to get me to the line. My sister in law met me in the finish area, I told her about my foot and the battle over the pain mid run, and she said, “Look down John.” Holy cripes, my left shoe was covered in blood. Later did I find out what a huge piece of skin came off the bottom of my foot, and my sock and foot were caked in blood. Guess what – didn’t matter, I was finally in the Boston Club and I was silently elated and delirious, yet absolutely exhausted after leaving everything I had on the course.
A special thank you to Gilbert, all of the Gazelles, and the Austin running community. There is nothing like conquering a marathon and the satisfaction that follows. Just nothing quite like it! See you guys around.
