I consider this one of my core marathons. I like to try new ones whenever I get a chance, but the Deseret News Marathon is one of my favorite Utah marathons. Running down East and Emigration Canyons are highlights for me. Combining with it being the oldest continuously hosted marathon in Utah, (Since 1970) and a marathon my father completed in 1995.
I rode on the bus with Layne Koldewyn to the start at the top of ‘Big Mountain.’ We chatted on the way up, and just milled around until the 5:30 a.m. start time. He has run the race a few times before, but it is certainly not one of his favorites. I believe he decided to do it as just an opportunity for a good workout in leading up to the key race for him, the Wasatch 100 in a month and a half.
I felt good throughout the race, but a little off in leg speed. The conditions were good with temperature and air flow, but I didn’t quite have the pacing in me I would have preferred. Perhaps, the trail running I have been doing was a contributing factor. That is a much different kind of running. Maybe the lack of a quality distance run in a month since the Utah Valley Marathon played in to it. Or yet, returning from Montana the day before, and getting acclimated with being home, was associated with it. I will never know. I had a streak of a few years in completing the race around 3:10 and then a 3:04. Last year, my time was 3:15:28, and this year was 3:15:36. Finish time is only one aspect of the race, and while I am a little puzzled with the slow down, I cannot let it destroy my enjoyment of being part of it. I will be back for more!
My Garmin splits were:
1. 6:28 14. 7:03
2. 6:35 15. 6:54
3. 6:36 16. 7:19
4. 6:49 17. 7:06
5. 7:02 18. 7:26
6. 7:10 19. 7:24
7. 8:07 20. 7:51
8. 7:29 21. 8:09
9. 6:47 22. 7:44
10. 7:19 23. 8:30
11. 6:59 24. 8:41
12. 7:23 25. 7:57
13. 6:51 26. 8:20
27. 4:09 (Read .49, 8:24/mi.)
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