rule #1 Cardio...rule #4 Doubletap...

I call this one a Redemption run!! Last year's STGM left me with a major case of Heat stroke and a longing to redeem my performance. Although I had my doubts early as it was another record setting beginning temp at the starting line... Seriously!!

I had decided earlier that my goals for the race were to 1. Beat last years time 2. Get under 4 hrs 3. No major WALL smackdowns as in my last 2 marathons 4. Keep a steady pace 5. Stave off the Heat as long as possible.

I believe I accomplished all 5.. So, I'm very happy with how yesterday went down especially with having run the Mid Mountain Marathon 3 weeks ago.

First - my time of 3:54 was a 14 minute improvement over my time last year - yehaw.

I did bring 4 s-caps to munch on along the way, which I beleive helped me accomplish goal 5 at least til mile 23... I was starting to get sucked into the heat vacuum by then, but felt pretty good overall.    

Race Details..

Mile 1-3: Started off right between the 3:45 and 4:00 hr balloon pace groups. I believe I stayed there the entire run. Knew it was going to be a heat fest when I had sweat dripping off my hat by mile 2... First three miles: 9:09 8:58 8:45

Miles 4-6: 8:25 8:28 8:14

Felt great just crusin.

Miles 7-9: 7:56 9:34 8:52

Felt great. Ran all of Veyo hill

Miles 10-13: 8:57 9:03 8:59 8:34

First half was right on schedule - had some nice cloud cover to block the sun for a bunch of it. Going a little slower was paying off - body feeling pretty good. Took a gu bomb at mile 7 and 13.

Miles 14-16: 8:50 8:08 8:12

Throwing water over my head at each aid station starting at 13.. Was going to throw the headphones on here, but decided I was going to finish the race out without any tunes..

Miles 17-19: 8:15 8:52 9:04

Getting hot, but manageable. Just taking water at the aid, avoiding the gatorade..

Miles 20-22: 9:04 8:20 9:04

Happy to see the over pass, kept a run entire way.

Miles 23-26: 10:00 8:46 10:53 10:38

Starting to feel the effects of the heat and walking a bit further at each aid station. I knew I had 4 hrs in the bag, so wanted to finish strong, but have a good time. Ate a popsicle some kid was handing out.. high fiving some kids along the finish route... The best part of the last mile though is the ice cold wash cloth they hand out....

Good times... Avg pace 8:56

Actually feeling aight... Tight in the achilles though.. Not used to running that much on the pavement for shizzle.

Hit Pineview in afternoon with G man, HairDog and Thor for a sweet ski. Lake to ourselves. Was only able to hold the line for a few, before the legs went to jellosauce.

What an amazing, painful, snowy, wet, slippery, fantastical mess my run was today. Had the day off (thanks Columbus) so, wanted to get something sweet in especially after taking last week off. Running some errands this morning I noticed Ben Lomond Peak just staring down on me mocking me, so I decided today was the day I was going to climb up there! Even though you could see the D%&^ snow line up there. Sent a txt out to Bryce hoping he'd be able to swing it - and wala.. in a few hrs we were making our way from the North Ogden Divide trailhead - Sweet.

I warned Bryce I wouldn't be moving very fast, but needed to conquer this mountain!

It's pretty much a grinder all the way up to the saddle about mile 4-5. We started hitting snow around mile 3! And yes it only got more muddy and wet the higher we went. AWESOME.

We hit the summit and the wind was rippin - snapped some pics and ran slid down the peak to the trail at the bottom of the upper switchbacks. We slogged our way back down the trail. I don't think I could feel my feet between miles 5-10.

Bryce literally pulled me up the hill - all props to him for helping me get up there. He's a machine or a Jedi I haven't figured out which one yet. Thanks Bryce.

Great times...

Parking lot to parking lot 3:55

Vert 4,318

Gym o' pain on the tM o' doom. 4 miles around 8:15 pace. nothing crazy - legs still worked from yesterday for sure. Not ready for gym...

Wheel o' life in the mEaT factory this AM. Felt Aight... avp 8:15ish...

Doesn't get much better than this... Wanted to get some Snowbasin trails in - since they are prime right now... Headed from Wheelers up Ice Box Maples and took the new Sardine trail up a couple miles... Wanted to hit around 10 so, turned it around a mile or so before the top and came back the same way. Ton's o' mtn bikers and Horses out today - only 2 other runners.

Looking up towards Basin on the maple trail....

The good things in life!

Vert: 3000ish

Runner's BoOT CAmp this AM. Original mistress o' pain left - replaced by two mistress' so, twice the pain... We'll see how it goes - today was super tough - partner pulls, intervals, lunges, wall sits, some circuit stuff... I was sweating like a fool..

Down South for  a couple days. Ran around the awesome Hurricane hill side.

Hit the Hurricane canal/Rim trail. Awesome trail - there's  a 20ish mile loop that will need to be done someday.

Another quick cruise around Hurricane.

Unreal beat down this AM at Runners boot camp! We did a couple 800's up on the track - followed by band pulls, lung laps, ab busters, some funky pilate moves... Hopefully I'll be able to walk tomorrow...Great sweat-fest....

Pig Farm Trail is back in Action. Hit a great lunch time run down by the river. Hammies and gluteus maximus still suffering from the beat down yesterday. But managed to get a good run in. Progressively faster miles last two 7:37 and 7:26..  Back to Work I suppose...

Early morning run on the wheel of life. Avg a little under 8's.. legs a bit looser than yesterday, but could have used some motivation.

After work BST South from Rainbows.. Trails pretty sweet right now!! Did an out-n-back to the lookout rocks with the Taylor Canyon ext thrown in both ways.. Weather perfect..

Vert 1375

Hello...

Had plans to hit the snowbasin trails this AM, but early morning soccer game in sub artic weather left me wondering..then an invite from Hair Dog and Jake to go carve up Pineview before it freezes over... Outside AirTemp 30...

Sweet h2O..

 PM... Had the itch to get out all day, so evening cruise along the North Arm trail down to the rocks and back.. Awesome out!! AP 8:37

Butt Kick'n runners boot camp at the gYm this AM. Intervals, circuit stations, planks, lunges, bicycles... I mean all the stuff dreams are made off... Serious sweat-fest!!

HaPPy haLLowEEn!!