Keeping myself sane!!!

Park City Marathon

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Location:

SLC,Ut,USA

Member Since:

Jul 31, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

It was an evening in November 2005 that I'll never forget...I was nearing the end of a long term relationship when I needed to unleash some pent-up anger.  I was driving past a baseball park near my house, when something told me to park my car, and just RUN!!  It wasn't long before I moved on with my life and continued running for new reasons.  I now run because I am truly obsessed!  It is a way of life, and I feel incomplete without my weekly runs.  I have completed 28 half marathons, 78 marathons, 7 ultramarathons, and a few other distance runs.

Pr's:

5k:  18:37 Willow Canyon Fun Run  2010

10k:   39:26 Salt Lake Track Club Winter Series 2012

10 Miles:  1:02:15 Emigration 10 Miler 2014

Half Marathon:  1:22:01 Provo Canyon Half  2011

Marathon:  2:56:52  2017 Utah Valley Marathon

50 Miles:  9:22:03 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 2011

100 Miles: 30:40:28 Wasatch 100 2013

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston

Run 100 mile ultramarathon

Sub 3 hour marathon

Beat my old pr's

Long-Term Running Goals:

A marathon in each state, a few ultramarathons....

Personal:

I have a wonderful wife, Melissa, who does not understand why I would want to punish my body with running marathons, but she is very supportive.  She patiently awaits my arrival at the finish line of most of them.  I slipped on a shirt at the last mile of the Ogden Marathon in 2008, that asked: "Melissa, will you Marry Me?"  It was a wonderful moment!

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Race: Park City Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:25:32, Place overall: 21, Place in age division: 4

I suppose this race went as I could have expected.  Although it's the slowest I've run it in the last 4 years, I'm not disappointed.  My goal was to enjoy the event, yet feel halfway decent afterwards so I could attend the Mustang car show being held near the finish.  Goals achieved.

It was fun to mingle with some friends and to take in the scenery of the Park City and surrounding areas, which included viewing hot air balloons floating in the sky.  I must suppress how challenging the course is from year to year, as I found myself wondering if the hills were soon to end! This is not your typical Utah marathon that drops you out of a canyon in a descent to the finish.

Upon completion, I was really spent and my legs were fairly sore.  I must have done some damage to my left calf muscle while running the Provo River Half Marathon last weekend.  Did this affect my performance?  Maybe...maybe not..I went easy on it throughout this past week, but lingering soreness was prevalant.  I laid around the finisher's area for about a good hour and a half, and then headed over to the field house for a quick shower.  That was the best $2 I have ever spent!  It was very refreshing!

After the race, Melissa and I hung out at the car show near her newly restored '67 Mustang.  There was an awards banquet afterwards, and she won an award of excellence.  It was a good feeling having all the hard restoration work recognized amongst other nice vehicles.

Comments
From Kelli on Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 14:44:41 from 67.172.235.55

Hey white shirt guy! I wish I had know who you were while we were out there running. I would have said HI the couple of times we went back and forth. Nice racing especially a week after a half! That was a tough race, I was very ill prepared for it (and obviously did not know the course well as was evidenced by my wrong turn....)

Great job on the mustang! Who did all of the restoring?

From Mikal Epperson on Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 16:53:55 from 67.169.243.100

Hey kelli! I should have said hi as we pounded the pavement, but alas, I guess I was in a zone of my own! Great job in the Grand Slam so far! I'm sure the next couple of races will feel better after the challenges of the Park City course! Maybe I'll see you at St. George?! As for the Mustang, my father, a friend, and myself did the restoration work. Fun times!

From Kelli on Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 19:00:35 from 67.172.235.55

Well, then, congratz on the mustang award as well. I am sure the cute wife standing by it helped, right?

Are you doing the grand slam? I knew it would be hard, but I had no clue HOW hard. If I ever do it again (which I am thinking probably not), I will not do any other racing! I tried to squeeze in too many halfs this summer and I am just worn out. I needed the time to marathon train, but I have been in constant recovery. I thought I was a machine, but , alas, I am not.

I do not talk much in races, but I certainly would have said hi when we leapfrogged! And I would have looked for you at the finish as well.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 17:38:35 from 67.169.243.100

No Grand Slam for me this year...I decided to take on the Wasatch 100 and knew that would conflict. I ran the slam 2007-2011 and really enjoyed it. It was mostly my way to have a guarantee for St. George though. I may return to the slam next year...I know what you mean in feeling worn out after doing too many races! I see you will be pacing in Wasatch. Maybe I'll see you there!

From Kelli on Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 07:40:06 from 67.172.235.55

Just make sure I know what color shirt to look for! I am pacing a 13 mile section of the race but then I am just the driver the rest of the time. It is my job to get to the aide stations and have all of her stuff ready for her. Not sure how to do that, but I guess I will figure it out. My brother says she does not get too grumpy, so she will not yell at me.

I NEVER want to run 100 miles, 50 was enough for me! Best of luck to you on that!!! I will watch for you but i can only recognize your run from behind since that is what I mostly saw. ;o)

From allie on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 18:12:41 from 174.23.155.117

nice race, mikal. and congrats on the award for your mustang.

best of luck with the 100 in a few weeks.

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 20:34:25 from 67.169.243.100

Thanks Allie! I wish the best to you at TOU next month and hitting 2:50!

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