My goal was to run 4:30, totally doable based on my training. I ran pretty conservatively the first ten miles and hung by the 4:45 pace guy. The second ten miles I was between the 4:45 pacer and the 4:30 pacer. About mile 18 I realized I needed to slow down...the heat was really starting to hit me. As I passed the mile 19 sign I heard a man beside me groan. I turned to look at him and he laughed and said "I thought this was mile 20! Now I have to run mile 19 again!' We both laughed and chugged along chatting for the next mile or so. After mile 20 I knew I needed some music, so put the headphones in and away I went...pretty slowly. My pace really fell off miles 18-26. The heat just got to me. I had a few near miss calf cramps, stopped once to stretch them on the curb. I saw so many people walking off cramps, stretching, and hobbling along. The last half mile was a constant chant of 'don't cramp, don't cramp'. Made it with no muscle cramps or GI issues!

Really, nothing. I did the best I could under the conditions. I knew the heat was going to be difficult for me to handle--it didn't break me, it just slowed me down!

I found the man I had heard tell a couple of guys that his goal was to break 5 hours. He finished just ahead of me. When I found him he was holding his daughter and his wife was taking his picture. I walked right up to him and said "I'm so happy for you! You made your goal! Congratulations!" He looked dumbfounded until I explained I heard him way back around mile 3 tell a few people his goal.
I walked back to my hotel room, showered, jumped in the car and drove right back up to my daughter's softball tournament in time for her third game. I ended up only missing 2 of her six games of the tournament. What a hoot.


Ummm...lack of good running genetics, short legs, the heat.


The race swag was non-existent. The SLC Marathon ownership changed hands a few months before the race so I knew it'd be bare bones, but it was even worse than that. At packet pickup we got our bib and a tshirt handed to us...no goody bag, no goodies at all. The expo was about 10% of what it usually is. But, I expect next year will be better. The course was well supported--that is the important part.