Halloween Half Marathon

[ThatSportsFan]

I'm running the Halloween Half marathon in Provo tomorrow. Looks like a fun run, I'm excited.

Have any of you ever ran it before? Any tips? It looks like there is going to be 3400 runners.

This will be my second half marathon, I ran the Park City Half in September and I'm expecting a huge PR tomorrow.

[bluegoose]

Nice. Looks fun. Are you going to dress up for the race?

What is the general course route?

Oh, and welcome to the board, TSF.

[ThatSportsFan]

Nice. Looks fun. Are you going to dress up for the race?

What is the general course route?

Oh, and welcome to the board, TSF.

No costume for me.

The run course will travel on Alpine Loop Rd headed southbound in the northbound lane (this is the left side of the road which will be closed to traffic) from Provo Canyon.

The run will finish in the Ron Last Park on 250 West and at approximately 5400 North.

[ThatSportsFan]

Here is the map of the course.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/10808992

[BigPiney]

I believe this is the same group that put on the midnight 1/2 that I ran earlier this year. They do an ok job, but I really enjoyed the race. Good luck. That is a really, really steep race. Could be very fast.

[ThatSportsFan]

I believe this is the same group that put on the midnight 1/2 that I ran earlier this year. They do an ok job, but I really enjoyed the race. Good luck. That is a really, really steep race. Could be very fast.

Yea the first 5 miles look really steep. Hopefully it doesn't trash my legs too bad.

[Pheidippides]

I believe this is the same group that put on the midnight 1/2 that I ran earlier this year. They do an ok job, but I really enjoyed the race. Good luck. That is a really, really steep race. Could be very fast.

Unless they are running on the Provo River trail, the route is deceiving. There are hills that will kill you on that route if you run the road through provo canyon. Trust me and my injured legs on that one.

[BigPiney]

Unless they are running on the Provo River trail, the route is deceiving. There are hills that will kill you on that route if you run the road through provo canyon. Trust me and my injured legs on that one.

I can't imagine any hill, no matter how small, after that steep pounding of a downhill. The quads are going to killing regardless.

[Borg]

I ran it last year. From Sundance down to the highway....it is a fairly steep decline. Pretty jarring on your legs. So many people are dressed up and it's so goofy that you really are pretty distracted by the time you get down to the highway.

I did not notice any hills other than just the decline going down. I will warn you though, the decline may take it's toll. At mile 11...my calves were cramping up and getting real tight.

Fun run though, wish I was going with ya.

Good luck, it's fun!

[Borg]

Report Sportsfan? How did it go?

[ThatSportsFan]

Report Sportsfan? How did it go?

Well here is the report

The packet pickup on Friday was a nightmare. Took 1 hr and 15 minutes to get it, but I don't want to go into the details.

Mrs. TSF and I got to the buses early and got up to the start line. It dropped us off and it was cold and we knew there was big tent to warm up in but there wasn't anybody there to tell us where to go. So we stood there for 5 minutes and finally someone found it and told us where to go. I really liked the big tent, it was cold and the tent was nice to have. Loved the costumes, we didn't wear one, but my favorite was a guy doing the costume from the Karate Kid.

They were about 7 minutes late starting the race which is fine but then we got going. Like everybody knows the first 5 miles are steep and it was really hard for me to not take off. But I held myself back and I was enjoying the steep downhill. I knew my legs were going to be feeling it when the steep portion ended.

When we got to the road on Provo canyon so we could cross it, the cops stopped the runners and we had to wait a minute or two for them to let traffic pass. I wasn't too happy about being stopped and the adrenaline kicked in from being upset and I took off.

The first 7 miles flew by and I knew I was going to PR. Mile 8 hit and the effects from the downhill hit my legs. My hamstrings were really tight, and my calves felt like rocks. But I was still running at a good pace and I was passing a lot of people.

The weather was perfect and the course was beautiful with the fall colors. I hit mile 11 and I was dead and cruised in at a good pace to finish. I loved the tunnel of people at the finish, it reminded me of running cross country in high school, good memories.

The medal is probably my favorite medal I have gotten so far.

Final time 1:51 and a PR of 14 minutes. Mrs TSF ran it in 1:55 and a PR by 18 minutes. Yea I know the 5 mile downhill helped but I will take it for it being my second half marathon. This is probably the sorest I have ever been after a race, that downhill killed my legs. Wow I can't walk anywhere, I feel like my Dad with his bad knees. He saw me today and was laughing they way I was walking, but it was well worth it.

[Borg]

Nice report TSF! That sums up my experience with that race last year! Mile 11...my calves were pretty dang angry and were tight as they possible could be without tearing away from the bone.

The next two days...I walked around like a 90 year old!!! So funny...I know exactly what you're saying.

Good times, good memories.

Congrats!

[ThatSportsFan]

This is great.

http://thedeeppost.tumblr.com/post/12149269080/awkward-running

I felt like the last guy my last 2 miles yesterday.

[BigPiney]

Great report.

When we got to the road on Provo canyon so we could cross it, the cops stopped the runners and we had to wait a minute or two for them to let traffic pass. I wasn't too happy about being stopped and the adrenaline kicked in from being upset and I took off.

This would be a deal breaker for me. I would never run this race till they get this figured out. No way am I just standing there waiting.

[SteelBlue]

Great report.



This would be a deal breaker for me. I would never run this race till they get this figured out. No way am I just standing there waiting.

I was just thinking the same thing. If I'm paying for a professionally recorded time, it's not going to include time spent waiting for cars. A friend ran the SF women's marathon a couple weeks ago and said that even as far out as mile 10 she was still shuffling her feet due to traffic. No thanks.