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Utah Valley Marathon

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Location:

Spanish Fork,UT,USA

Member Since:

May 24, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

In May 2010 I was large and started running. Now I'm much smaller :), -63 lbs.

PR's:

1/2 Marathon - 1:13:25

Marathon - 2:32:40

Short-Term Running Goals:

Merge road and trail running and adventure run bonkers.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sub 2:30 marathon. Run my best at distances from half marathon to 100 miles.

Personal:

Happily married with 4 great kids. Running is but one of the amazing vehicles for connecting with others and celebrating life. Gratitude!

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Utah Valley Marathon (26.22 Miles) 02:58:31, Place overall: 27
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.0026.330.000.0026.33

When I looked up the definition for wind, the second line says: A twist or turn in a course. Indeed lol.

When the weather forecast showed a wind advisory a couple days ago I laughed. There is no way a wind will be blowing up the canyon I and many others thought. I have ran that canyon so many times and have never felt a headwind. There is either no wind or a tailwind. Everyone was wrong today :). When the lead pack of Kenyans finish in 2:29 and change you know there is a problem.

Things were good at the start. The gun went off and we were going. The plan was to run the first 7 relaxed, be conservative and consistent through the hilly section until 17, and the cut it loose to the finish. The first 7 were all 6:20 - 6:26, perfect. As soon as we made the turn from Walsburg into the canyon the wind hit. 20-25 mph right in the face. This made the hilly section from 8-11 near unrunnable. I didn't know what to do. I was alone at this point and the nearest person was about 30 seconds ahead, the tiny lead female, which wasn't worth making a push to draft off of. So 8 and 9 were 7:04 and 7:01.

At this point I started to become concerned with the 2:48 goal. I though I would make it up a couple miles at a time but that I could put a big dent in it in the downhill miles. So the slight downhill stretch of 10 and 11 that I can usually run easily at 6:00 pace instead were 6:27 and 6:38. The wind was blowing so hard you couldn't hear anything and I had to pull my hat off so it wouldn't blow off my head. This is where mentally I started to fall apart.

Here comes doubt and all it's friends. The next section the wind was relentless. I started walking in places. I was giving up. I thought about DNFing a few times. Thought about just walking it to mile 20 where I knew my brother was and having him just drive me home.7:13, 7:22, 6:43, 6:39, and a 7:57 mile 16. I saw the aide station just before 17 and ran to it and climbed into a port o' potty.

The conversation with myself (you do it too, don't even play like you  don't lol) went something like this: Ok, pull it together guy. Goal times missed are not the end of the world. This is what has been thrown at you today, and everybody else. What do you need to do to snap out of this funk? What is the new plan? Take some deep breaths and get back out and finish this. Ok.

Goal is now to break 3. I feel like shizz because I have been running too slow. I'm hot and windblown. So a few cups over the head and a couple down the hatch and I was off again. 18 and 19 were 6:31 and 6:39. My brother and his fam were waiting at mile 20 with a cold bottle of goodness. I had started a good rhythm but I walked a bit while taking down that electrolyte bottle. 7:46 mile 20.

Coming out of the canyon and turning onto university avenue the wind finally let up a little. 20mph became 4-6 and I just tried to get into the best groove I could. It had done it's damage though. I started to see the crowds and some friends and fed off of them as much as I could.

Just after the mile 23 marker here comes Curtis Eppley to get me. He decided he was going to come to the marathon and run friends and family to the finish line. He would run someone in, turn around and run back up and fish someone else and run them in too. This guy ran the Squaw Peak 50 miler last weekend in record heat and he is up here cutting wind for friends. He ran near;y a marathon of miles doing this for others today. You are an amazing guy Curtis. Thank you.

Curtis told me this: "I am running this white line all the way in. You will run on my right shoulder. I am small but I make a good wind block. Let's do this." He pulled me all the way to the chute offering encouragement, it was awesome.

I hit the chute and they said my name and I pushed it on in. Finished at last. 2:58:31.

Most everyone I talked to was off by 10-12 minutes. This made me feel better. I learned a few lessons today that will stick with me. One is that you can prepare all you want for a marathon and it will turn all of your prep on it's head just like that. That's the allure of it. So many things have to line up in order to have a great one. This is what I love about it. Sometimes we just need to go into problem solving mode, adjust the plan, dig down, and get it done.

I saw so many friends and DM'ers today. So good to connect and see everyone, especially on a day like this.

My mom finished her first half marathon today up there. Her goal was under 2:30. She ran 2:29 and change. I am so proud of her. She nailed it on a tough day. After talking to person after person after person, she is the only one I talked to that hit her goal. Awesome job Mom, you continue to inspire.

Thanks again for all of the support everyone. I really appreciate all of your kind words and thoughts. I wish you all the best in your training and racing coming up. I hope I can encourage you as much as you encourage and inspire me.

Boston '13!

Kinvara 2 Red Miles: 26.22
Comments
From Tara on Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 10:10:08 from 199.190.170.24

Yeah, congrats making it through those conditions alone! It took it's toll for sure on all. At the end of the day all race prep can really be thrown out the window if your mental toughness is lacking. Way to challenge it!

From scottkeate on Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 16:19:00 from 71.199.4.146

So glad to see you decide to kick it in at the finish. This was a tough day. Takes for being a good friend and running buddy. Let's rest up our legs so we are not limping all the way through the Wasatch Back :-)

From Jake K on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 10:09:17 from 155.100.226.54

Great thoughts Brandon, on the mental battles that everyone goes through in the marathon.

A slow day out there - you definitely have what it takes to go A LOT faster. And you will!

From Andrea on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 14:27:56 from 72.37.244.100

Nice racing! It was not the day for fast times, but you still ran a solid race. And I agree with you 100% about the learning lessons!

Are you guys running Wasatch Back this weekend??

From Brandon on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 14:35:41 from 67.214.231.170

Andrea we are :). It should be interesting for sure. It will be my first time doing it but it will be a blast to run it with Scott, Dan and the gang. I am excited for your upcoming half, you are going to do so well! Hope your hammie cooperates.

From Brandon on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 15:58:55 from 67.214.231.170

@Tara - Thanks!

@Scott - Feeling good today. I think the legs will be fine for Ragnar. Hope you are recovering well.

@Jake - Thanks much. Next time out with the right conditions I think will be much better. Still hoping to be able to get up there with you guys a few times this summer.

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