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West Mountain 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: West Mountain Marathon (26.2 Miles) 05:06:47
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
26.350.000.000.0026.35

By far the smallest marathon I've ever run (23 women, 29 men in the Full; 44 women, 21 men in the Half).  I was the oldest female running the Full! 

The race website description: 

"The West Mountain Marathon is our answer to $100 entry fees (got free entry, thanks to RAD), and crazy 4:00 a.m. wake up calls to catch a bus in the freezing dark to wait around for a couple of hours before you actually get to run.

Held at the scenic Genola Town Park near the shores of Utah Lake, the West Mountain Marathon is for runners. Our certified loop course which starts and finishes at the same location will feature rolling hills, one sturdy climb and a finish line party at the park with burgers, hot dogs and fun for everyone. Registration is limited to just 500 total runners for our first year as we seek to grow the event wisely."

 

Yep, it was just as described.  We received emails with race day info on Thurs. reminding us that this is a CUPLESS event.  We're to bring our own hydration device.  There were 8 aid stations spread every 3 miles apart, with water to fill up your own bottle, Gu, pretzels.   The course is very scenic, rolling hills, around the West Mountain with 715 ft of  elevation gain.

Karen picked me up at 6:30am for our drive to Genola (4 miles west of Santaquin).  Got there around 7:30 and Toby was ready to roll.  (The Full starts at 8am and Half starts at 9am.) We hopped on the truck with Dan who was driving out to mark the Half course.  He dropped us off at the Start which was about .75 mile from the finish.  Start temp was 43F, sunny blue sky.  The RD gave a brief instruction/direction of the course which basically runs counter-clock-wise around the mountain at the edge of Utah Lake.

I had done very little training the last 6 weeks since the Woodlands Marathon, with PF issue and lots going on in my life at this time.  I couldn't have done this if not for the patience, love and support of my cherished friends, Karen and Toby. 

The first couple miles were an uphill climb towards the mountain.  Then it's a gentle decline for the next few miles with the vast view of the snow capped mountains to the east and open farm lands of Utah County.  We ran through quiet orchards and farms with quaint houses/homes.  Around mile 10, hubby drove up...I was so happy to see him.  Mile 12 to 20 was along the lake shore dotted with occasional fishermen.  We encountered more cyclists than motorists. 

I bonked badly around mile 17, I was DONE, legs were cramping up, breathing was labored.  They ran out of Gu at that aid station.  Luckily, Tammy, a girl who has been leap-frogging with us, gave me one of her Gu.  We ran together the next 3 miles.  Turned out she's friend/neighbor to the Levine's.  Sis. Levine was one of our missionaries who was hit by a car and is now doing miraculously and remarkably well.  Somehow talking and listening to Tammy got my mind off the pain.  I also took couple of ibuprofen and salt caps.  We took a few walk breaks going up the hill at mile 19-20. 

The last two miles were painful.  Karen did her best to encourage me.  At one point I looked over and saw that she was walking while I was running...how pathetic!!!  My breathing was labored and my legs were dead.  That green finish arch seemed to keep moving away from me.  I kept telling Karen to go on ahead and run her pace numerous times over the entire race, but she would not leave me!  :)  I would've walked a lot and possibly take 6 hours to finish.  No matter how many marathons one runs, the last 5K is always the hardest, and, crossing the finish line is the greatest feeling ever. I am forever grateful for wonderful friends who so lovingly and patiently run with me.  They made it so fun!!!  :)  And what a blessing it was to have my hubby there today.  Marathon #55 done! 

Huge congratz to those who ran Boston!!!  You all did marvelously on such a cold, rainy, windy Patriot Day!  I'll see there next year! :)

Inspire 10 (ocean Breeze) Miles: 26.35
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Hillbilly Runner on Tue, Apr 21, 2015 at 02:16:18 from 173.191.121.34

Congratulations on another fine marathon!! Your simply amazing... I'm glad Larry was able to be there. Y'all are a "Super Couple"

From DaleG on Wed, Apr 22, 2015 at 23:05:32 from 152.216.15.5

Nice job toughing it out!

From Rhett on Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 12:22:21 from 24.121.0.8

Great job sticking with it. How's the PF doing?

From Nancy on Fri, Apr 24, 2015 at 16:26:53 from 24.10.168.18

Great job! That sounds like a very nice marathon.

From flatlander on Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 14:34:53 from 76.31.29.220

Great job out there, I missed this completely. Very inspiring report.

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