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St. George Half Marathon

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)
 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

 

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!!  :)  :)  :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015.  Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis.  The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS).  It is not curable.  After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS.  It is a miracle!!! 

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

 

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles: 311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles: 313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles: 225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles: 44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles: 60.91
Race: St. George Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 02:19:45, Place in age division: 3
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.0013.100.000.0013.10

Ran the SG Half Marathon today in place of the scheduled 1x15 miles @11 pace workout.

I like to use this first race of the year as a measuring stick for how my winter training is going.  Hubby and I drove down yesterday afternoon and got to the expo around 3 and met TJ, Lowell and Carolyn there.  I got to pick my own bib so I chose 2862, the first two numbers sound phonetically as "easy fast" in Cantonese and the last two numbers is my age sound phonetically as "lucky easy"! :)

Got up just before 7.  Put on the Morgan Valley l/s top, capri that has two deep thigh pockets, Boston black/brown jacket, pink Boston cap and light headband, gloves.  Went down to the kitchen where Lowell and TJ were having breakfast.  Ate 1/2 bowl of oatmeal, 1/2 yogurt, a small banana, 8 oz. water.

Left Lowell's house (TJ driving) at 8:31 and got to Dixie Center with 14 min to spare.  We found our group at the designated meeting sign of the 2:20 pacer.  There were about 8 of us, all but me are from Pocatello, nice girls with various running talents.  Race started on time at 9:00 and I found myself walking with TJ and Erin slightly behind the 2:20 pace group to the start mat.  Off we went among the 693 half marathon participants.  Weather this time of year in St. George is very pleasant.  Today is perfect with temp at 37F, sunny and very little wind to speak of.  The only issue was some icy patches on the north facing parkway between mile 8-10. 

My goal is to test my ability to run a 10:45 average pace.  This is an honest course with the start and finish in the same location just outside of the Dixie Center, basically a big loop with a huge U shape turn between mile 9 to finish.  The gradual climb peaks at mile 6 & 7.  This year due to some road and parkway construction, the course got routed with two sharp turns into a neighborhood between mile 3 & 4.  The nature of this course's many twists and turns, along busy streets as well as quiet neighborhood, road and narrow pathway makes keeping a steady rhythm challenging!

TJ, Erin and I stayed together for the first 2 miles.  Then I let them go on the first uphill to keep my breathing in check.  Felt like I finally got into a groove at mile 5.  It warmed up quickly so I took off my jacket and wraped around my waist from mile 6 on.  I pretty much leap-frogged with the people who were keeping pace with the 2:20 pacer.  Some of them were doing the run/walk ratio thing.  I decided to only walk on the steepest part of the uphill to catch my breath and at aid stations to drink, ate a Gu around mile 7.5  Was happy to see that my slowest pace on the uphill never dipped below 12 and my "faster" downhill pace was well controlled in the mid 9's.  I finally caught sight of TJ who is now walking with Brittani around mile 10.6 and encouraged them to run with me.  They caught back up with me around mile11.5 where I started to feel some calf cramps coming on.  We ran the last 1.5 mile together to the finish.  JoEtte who finished in 1:48 ran back to run 0.5 mile with us.  My calf nearly ceased up as I crossed the finish.  Hubby, Marcia (TJ's wife), Susie (Lowell's wife) and Carolyn were cheering loudy for us! :)

My official finish time is 2:19:45 (Average pace 10:43); and TJ finished 1 second behind me.  We both took 3rd place in our respective AGs.  There were 10 old ladies in mine and 5 old men in his and Lowell's AG.  Lowell took 2nd with a time of 2:05:32.  In my "glory days" racing this Half, no matther how fast or slow I would always place 4th which I considered 1st looser! haha!  So not only was I happy to meet my goal of running 10:45 AP but delighted to receive an award that is a very hefty replica of the red rock bluff with the word "Dixie" on the cliff.  Most of all I was happy to spend time with some dear dear friends and some new found friends in sunny beautiful St.  George. 

Splits: 10:17, 10:34, 10:42, 10:32, 10:57, 11:40, 11:14, 10:12, 10:43, 10:33, 10:54, 10:25, 10:38 (last 0.1 was 8:37)

* Last year I ran this race totally not trained.  TJ was kind enough to stay with me and we finished in 2:42 with me walking the last two miles.  So, I felt like I redeemed myself and "paid" back TJ this year! :) At any rate, we had an enjoyable run both times! :)

Saucony Guide 10 (1) Miles: 13.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Rhett on Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 13:31:07 from 66.185.238.62

Great job hitting your pace and finishing as the third winner! Sounds like fun.

From Tom Slick on Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 09:08:16 from 174.148.108.89

Atta-girl Ms. Smooth. Way to getter done!

From Rob Murphy on Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 09:30:15 from 163.248.33.220

Excellent work. Thanks for posting!

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