Running Indoors at the Basin Rec Fieldhouse

I hate running indoors. But I hate running in the cold even more. And it can get cold here in the winter.

So, in preparation for the Canyonlands Half Marathon coming up on March 19, 2011, I've had to learn to deal with running inside. Thankfully, Basin Rec Fieldhouse has an indoor track. And it's really not that bad.

The 1/9 mile (9 laps == 1 miles) track features two lanes. There are digital clocks that display seconds in two of the corners so you can time yourself. 1 lap per minute == a nine minute mile (approx. 6.7 mph). They alternate the direction you run daily -- one day is clockwise, then the next is counterclockwise. [Although I have seen people turn the sign when no one else is running if they want to go a particular direction.] Walkers are asked to stay to the outside so runners can pass them on the inside. It usually works out fairly well.

And if you get dizzy on the the track, there are several treadmills you can use.

I've spent my share of time on both the track and the treadmills this winter. But without them there's no way I'd be in shape for the 2011 Canyonlands Half Marathon this weekend.

Where do you run in the winter?

Jeremy Ranch to Kimball Junction via the Millenium Trail

Looking for someplace safer than the sides of the road to run this winter? Check out the Millennium Trail. This paved trail runs along side the frontage road on the south side of I-80. Eventually it will run all the way into Park City. But right now, the stretch from Jeremy Ranch to Kimball Junction is plowed (except for a tiny stretch between Ruby Tuesday's and Walmart) and snow free. This provides a great place to run that is safer than the snow-covered shoulder of a road. And it's great for baby joggers or roller blading too.

You can park either near the Fresh Market at the Jeremy Ranch exit or near the Walmart at the Kimball Junction/Park City exit. It's just over 2 miles from one end to the other. And, as the snow melts, you'll be able to run farther towards Gorgoza Park or Park City.

Get out and enjoy this great weather!

Thanks to the good folks at Basin Recreation for all their work creating and maintaining these trails.

Park City Marathon 8/25

Despite getting my butt kicked last year, I decided to run the Park City Marathon again this year. It's a beautiful course and 26.2 miles is a great challenge, so what the heck?

They changed the course up a bit this year. We basically ran last year's course in reverse except the high point this year was higher than last, THEN we ran over last year's high point! So this year was definitely a little harder despite a mostly downhill finish.

I got to the start a little later than I'd hoped, but then I don't really need a lot of warm up for a marathon. Still, when doing the clothing drop 5 minutes before the start I realized I'd left my racing jersey in the car and had to sprint back and get that. In retrospect, that wasn't a great warm up for the race and my time would have been better spent stretching. Oh well, the gun sounded and we were off.

Only after I was running did I start my iPod only to find out it had died! I had created a killer playlist to pull me along and charged it up, but forgot to switch it off and the battery was dead! Not a great start to the race!

So, with no tunes I got to focus on running. I was aiming for 9/min miles which would get me a 3:56 or so. I knew I could run the first few a little faster than that and hoped to run the last few faster so I could take it easy on the hills in the middle of the course. I set out at what felts like a conservative pace and was averaging about 8:50 for the first few miles but my IT band was already a little sore, so I was kinda worried. My pace started to slow as I hit 11 miles and that was just the start of the uphills! But I knew I had to run smart -- push it too early and I'd die in the last few miles like last year. So I tried to listen to my body (without stopping completely!) and took it easy up to Deer Valley even though I saw a few 10+/min miles on my Garmin.


(Under Swede Alley, near mile 14.5)

Fortunately, that bit of conservation helped me feel ok when we turned back down and I felt decent crossing the Town Bridge and heading up to Empire Avenue. But on the downhill past the resort and the golf course I was feeling tired and not making the time that I'd hoped to. And my IT band wasn't getting any better.


(Brandon & I passing the White Barn about mile 21.)

About the white barn I realized I was off my pace by about five minutes and decided I was going to push it to the end, even if it killed me. And the way my legs were feeling I was afraid it might! :) Fortunately, my legs held up and I ran a great last 6 miles and got close to four hours (officially 4:01:26). It was 15 minutes better than last year, but still a little slower than I had hoped to run so I was a little disappointed. Still, I was impressed with how hard I was able to push myself, especially at the end when I wasn't feeling so great. In all, it was a tough race, but I'm already looking forward to next year.


(Finally finished!)

Thanks to Brandon for running with me and helping set a great pace those last few miles. And thanks to mom and dad for coming out, cheering us along, and taking some great pictures.

'til later,
- Jeff

Vail Half Marathon 7/22

Come late July I had a few days off work and really needed to get out of town, so I decided to head to Vail and visit some friends out there. Turns out there was a half marathon going on that weekend. So I tossed my trail shoes in trunk and headed east. I've skied Vail quite a few times and I've driven through in the summer, but I've never been on the hill when there wasn't snow. Trust me, it's just as beautiful in the summer!



About 200 of us lined up for the start on a beautiful July morning. From the maps on the race website and a hike I'd done the day before, I knew it was all uphill (constant 7% grade!) for the first 9.5 miles. Knowing that I hadn't done a ton of training and that this was even higher altitude that I was used to, I decided to start out easy.

I hit the first mile marker at 13 minutes and decided that, if I could keep that pace on the uphill for the first 10 miles, then kick it up to 8 minutes miles along the ridge, I could finish in under 3 hours. I'm just glad I didn't look back because there were probably only 20 people behind me! I kept plugging along methodically -- careful not to get anaerobic on the climb. Unfortunately, my pace started to slip a bit as the miles wore on and I clocked a few 14 minutes miles. I knew I has some work to do on the ridge.



After enjoying the incredible views of I-70 over Vail Pass at the water stop at mile 9, I cranked it to the top. But there was no time to take in the gorgeous wildflowers that were all across the top of China Bowl. I began the descent along the ridge and really picked up the pace. This was gonna be fun!

My legs were still feeling great as were my lungs -- taking it easy on the way up turned out to be a great strategy. I passed tons of people and was having fun all the way to the finish at the top of the gondola.


(Me at the finish.)

My official time was a 2:55:36 and that was good for 116th place. Nowhere near the leaders, but a good race for me. It left me eager to run again and feeling almost ready for the Park City Marathon in August.

'til later,
- Jeff