Utah Half Race Report

I decided to do the Utah Half at the last minute. Kona is only six weeks after the Utah Half so I chose to just train through this race and not taper, as this is the prime time to put in the big training weeks for Kona. I was surprised that I felt great the whole day. I felt really good and never had a time in the race where I felt crappy. (Maybe I should not taper anymore). Heath Thurston and I started 2 minutes apart. He was in the Elite wave and I was in the first Age Group wave. (Heath was not allowed to wear a wetsuit but I was, not very fair to Heath). Someone told me that I was 9 minutes behind Heath after the swim. At the time I thought we started 5 minutes after them so I was stoked. (I later learned it was only 2 minutes, I have great time perception), Heath had a very fast bike ride and I came in around 2 or 3 minutes behind him. I ate into his lead slightly on the run and at the halfway point, I picked up my pace and was running between a 5:55 and 6:25 pace most of the last half of the run. Heath slowed the last few miles and I passed him at an Aid Station. I was able to win the race in 3:58. Heath is such an awesome guy, He has been very generous helping me develop over the last two years, it’s ironic but I probably would not have won if he hadn’t been helping me to get better. I wish B.J. Christensen would have done the race, he very well could have beat me but I would like to have seen how close it would be. Great job to everyone who participated, It was a hot day and I saw a lot of folks who really pushed themselves. My most wonderful wife Megan brought our 3 kids to watch the race and it was really awesome to give them all fives as I finished. Having my kids be proud of me was the biggest highlight of the race. They kept saying “Dad you won”.