Every Race is an Adventure!

Nestle 5K

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Location:

Orem,UT,USA

Member Since:

Apr 03, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

HS/COLLEGE:
mile: 4:56, 2 mile: 10:21 (1978)
marathon: 2:52 (St. George 1982)
OLD MAN (20+ years later):
5K: 19:53 (Nestle/Art City Days 5K 2007)
10K: 39:55 (Spectrum 10K 2008)
half marathon: 1:26 (Hobble Creek 2008)
marathon: 3:07 (St. George 2007)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Get back to a BQ marathon time (currently 3:40).

Long-Term Running Goals:

Have fun running, keep fit, and fight middle age spread. Run consistently and injury free. Maintain a healthy balance between running and other life priorities. Encourage my ever-aging running buddies to keep running so we can continue to share runs on the trail instead of rocking chairs.

Personal:

Blessed to be married to Karen for 30 years. We have six children (4 daughters/2 sons) ages 16 to 30, and one wonderful granddaughter.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Altra Instinct 1.5 Lifetime Miles: 83.50
Altra Lone Peak 1.5 Lifetime Miles: 21.80
Saucony Guide 7 Blue 2 Lifetime Miles: 376.95
Saucony Fastwitch 6 Lifetime Miles: 200.05
Saucony Guide 7 Black 1 Lifetime Miles: 271.15
Race: Nestle 5K (3.1 Miles) 00:19:59, Place in age division: 5
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
1.003.100.000.000.004.10

I was torn between running the Nestle 5K this morning and helping with our stake service project to prepare Camp Shalom for Young Women's camp. I'm the stake clerk so I was in stake presidency meeting early last Sunday morning when we first found out about this urgent, last minute assignment. The stake that was originally assigned to open the camp the week before couldn't get in because of too much snow, and they couldn't do it this week because of some other big stake event they already had planned. So the camp director asked our stake if we could please help out. This was a big assignment that would require at least 25 volunteers, generators, shop vacs, snow shovels, etc. President Yeates, the stake presidency counselor who was given this assignment, left the meeting and he and a high councilor started calling bishops to ask them to get 5 volunteers from each ward.

I contacted President Yeates yesterday and he said they had 28 volunteers, but they expected some no shows. I decided to do the race, but late last night I was still conflicted and couldn't find peace in my decision. It seemed to be a decision between service and selfish, and I was choosing selfish. I count on the Lord's blessings to help me with my running, and I wasn't feeling worthy of asking for that help when I was unwilling to help him. More than once I nearly decided to just skip the race go help with the service project, but that didn't feel right either.

It finally dawned on me that I could do both. I'd have to go down a little late, and drive myself, but that was a small price to pay for peace, for being able to do both good things. Unfortunately it was past midnight before I made my decision. I had prepared my things for the race, so I then proceeded to pack another bag with work clothes. When I got up this morning I grabbed gloves, tools, my shop vac, and generator and loaded them in the Suburban and head to the race, a little late, but with peace in my heart.

Well, I was mostly at peace. I was a little disappointed at the heavily overcast skies and steady rain. I knew there was a small chance of rain, but I had expected a beautiful morning anyway. I felt a little hurried before the race but managed to get my number, hit the bathroom, and get a little warm up in. I didn't feel quite warmed up enough, but things looked like they were getting serious at the starting line so I headed over and worked my way to the front. I actually started on the sidewalk to the side. I did not want to get stuck behind a bunch of slower runners like last year.

It was only a minute or so before the race started (a few minutes early by my watch). I started quickly and successfully avoided getting stuck behind too many runners. I was breathing hard pretty quickly and began to wonder if I was mentally and physically ready. I mentally reviewed the targets splits I had come up with yesterday: 6:35, 6:15, 6:20, and 0:30 for 19:40. I chose to not wear my Garmin this morning and just ran with my Ironman watch.

1-6:35 I was a little surprised that I was exactly on target. I was breathing a little hard, but the legs were feeling okay. I was staying even with most of the runners around me, and passing a few who had apparently started out too quickly.

2-6:29 At this point I pretty much knew 19:40 wasn't going to happen in the rain today, but I thought sub-20:00 might still be possible. I was still pretty much running even with most of the runners around me and didn't feel like I was fading or backing off the effort. I was still working pretty hard.

3.1-6:55 I didn't see the mile 3 marker so I don't have the third mile split, but my target was to run the last 1.1 in 6:50 and I ran it in 6:55. I feel like I held on pretty strong, and only a few runners passed me. As I rounded the last curve on the track I heard footsteps then Hal Amos passed me. I thought the finish line was going to be at the end of the next straightaway but then I saw it just after the curve. I fired the turbo thrusters and zipped past Hal to finish in 19:59:67 (by my watch), barely under 20:00. I wish I wouldn't have misjudged the finish line and started my kick a little sooner.

I was surprised by how much kick I had left. While I feel I was fairly tough mentally during the race, I think I was a little off my game. I didn't feel ready at the start, and I think the rain (especially not being able to see clearly through my wet glasses) prevented me from focusing and leaving it all on the road.

I finished 5th in my age division, same as last year, even though my time was 6 seconds slower. I think with the rain the conditions were slower this year. I ran this race so I could compare my fitness last year to this year. Overall I feel like I'm at least where I was last year, maybe slightly ahead since I didn't feel like I raced my best, the conditions were slower, I had too much kick left, and I still had a comparable performance.

And I guess it was my lucky day, too. I called a neighbor who was participating in the service project to see how many showed up this morning. He said there were 38 people and that my help wasn't needed. I would have enjoyed the service project (I always do), but standing wet and cold under the bleachers as the rain continued, I have to admit that I was quite happy to not be driving 90 miles each way and working in the rain, mud, and snow. And during the drawing for prizes (lots and lots of awesome stuff) I was talking to Darin when I heard my number called. I hadn't heard what it was for but I hurried up for my prize. They handed me a big bag of Laffy Taffy and Sweethearts and a small white box from Costco. As I walked back to Darin I wondered aloud what I had won. Someone then said something like, "If you don't want that iPod Nano I'll take it." It turns out I won a 4GB iPod Nano. Cool! Of course it now belongs to Karen (my idea, not hers). She just stopped by and I need to go help her download songs.

Not only is every race an adventure, life itself is a pretty incredible adventure. We all have bad times now and then, that's why it's so important to enjoy the good times...like today.

Comments
From Tom on Sat, Jun 07, 2008 at 15:53:02

Paul great job on the race and sneaking under 20 minutes! Also just a great race report in general, I'm glad things worked out so you could run in the rain today. I do believe the rain slowed things down so I would imagine you're very close to where you were last year at this time.

Also cool you won some stuff! I don't think I've won anything there for years. Hope Karen enjoys the Nano.

Hey and way to make the move on Hal right at the end, I would have liked to have seen that.

From Paul T on Sat, Jun 07, 2008 at 16:11:06

I think you would have enjoyed the look on his face as I passed him back. He looked a little surprised. I have to admit that part of me really enjoyed that. :)

From josse on Sat, Jun 07, 2008 at 19:22:30

Great job you ran a good race and keeped me working for something even if I didn't catch you.

From Lybi on Sat, Jun 07, 2008 at 23:39:28

What a race! I think that was pretty fantastic that you basically tied your time from last year, and it was RAINING and cold, and you were also tired from staying up late the night before. Goooo Paul!

That's cool that you won an Ipod, too. Fun fun. I think this race probably shows an increase in fitness from last year.

From Kerry on Mon, Jun 09, 2008 at 11:27:32

Really enjoyed your race report, Paul. Things always seem to work out the right when you're trying to do the right thing. Congratulations on sneaking in under 20 under some tough conditions.

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