Patience, the NEW Endurance Sport!

Way to get your miles in when you are pooped :) It's always hard when your tired but I think these are the times we build our mental strength to get you through a marathon.

Lets see if I can rate the 1/2's I've done or if I can remember them :)

WRC 1/2 is the first hald of the marathon. It's a gradual down hill, pretty nice. The Ogden half is the last half of the marathon, there is one big hill right after the first mile, then down the canyon... probably a bit harder then the first half, but much prettier down the canyon. Hunstville have is nice and flat around the Eden/Huntsville area, have not done it in a while but liked it when I did run it. Moab, is beautiful!!! graduale down hill most of the way. I remember freezing at the start line last year, and I don't think my feet or hands stopped hurting until about mile 5, other then that I LOVED it! I did the Provo River 10 miler. I think the Provo half is the same course just started up the canyon farther. It's been a while since I ran it, but I loved this run also. Then they had the Yummies pancakes at the finish line :)

Man I must me a whimp.. I only choose realativly easy courses. HMmm I think I will need to rethink some of my races.

I think you are right Lori- easy is the way to go! 13 miles is a LONG WAY!!! :) I am looking for EASY :)

Now that you've done one, does that mean I can't call them man pushups any longer? Do I have to call them redhot pink ups now?

Mike, you are SO smart! That is exactly what I am going to do! :)

Okay, let me try and rate my halfs for you

#1 Bryce CAnyon

#2 Ogden

#3 Hobble Creek

#4 Moab

#5 Provo River

#10SLC ( yucky city hot run, I can run around the city for free why pay?) Not really hard just unattractive. All the above are scenic downhill canyon runs.

Hey girl, I had no zip today either, and no food was STUPID too!

I forgot Painters!! I would put Painters in at #6, I would recommend all the Half Marathons I listed except the SLC Half. If you ever want to run 13 miles in SLC call me and I will find you a much better route!!!

Painters was super fun, so #6 is not a bad rating. I loved it, and would do it again, but it was harder than 1 thru 5

To rate them solely on "easiness" is kinda hard, because downhill might be easy for you, yet might kill someone's quads. So, I'm gonna rate them based on fast time; not on organization/perks.

#1 Hobble Creek

#2 Provo River 1/2 (organization wise, this one stinks)

#3 Ogden

#4 Park City

#5 Painter's

#6 Spanish Fork (I love this one, even though it's not the fastest, it's the best kept little secret.)

Oh, thanks Smooth, that is exactly why I put Provo River at #5!!!

I also forgot Park City, I haven't done the half just the full, but it is nice and beautiful, but flat, the elevation is high, so that makes it alittle tougher.

Glad you are asking these questions, it is fun to get everyones opinion.

That is a hard question. Let me get back to you Sunday!

Here's how I rank the 1/2 marathons I'm familiar with. I have kept good running logs and records since 1982 and have done 32 of them, but that's over 26 years and most of my favorites are long since gone, but here goes.

Easiest to Hardest:

#1 Hobble Creek

#2 Ogden

#3 Provo River

#4 Moab - Canyonlands

#5 Painter's

#6 Golden Spike

#7 Huntsville

#8 Canyon to Canyon

My favorites in order:

#1 Moab

#2 Hobble Creek

#3 Provo River

#4 Painter's

Ones I want to do, but haven't yet:

#1 Bryce Canyon

#2 Snow Canyon

#3 Hurricane

#4 The Other Half (Moab)

The one's long since gone, but I really liked:

#1 Midvale Harvest Days

#2 The "original" Golden Spike

#3 The "orginal" Huntsville (Natural Light)

#4 Blue Cross Blue Shield (Emigration Canyon)

Probably TMI, but I'm not doing anything else tonight except packing for my favorite one in Moab on Saturday.

Keep at it, you are doing great. I know a running addict when I see one. The races are only carrots out there to keep us running and the half-marathon is my favorite and most competitive event. Good luck in your upcoming marathon!

Ok guys that was GREAT! Arti- your detail is AWESOME! You are going to do great at Moab! I am thinking about Bryce Canyon. Hummmmmm....

Hi Marion ... great workout today.

I have been thinking about you. I read your blog every once and a while (not as much as I would like). I am going to Nashville in a couple of weeks and a friend of mine has a new blog that I thought you might appreciate, you two remind me of eachother!

www.heathereatsalmondbutter.com

Enjoy, Bonnie

Thanks Bonnie- that website is fantastic. She is pretty amazing! I wish I was even a quarter as healthy as she is. That coconut ice cream sounds SO good. I am going to have to spend more time at the health food store. It's so hard to change so much from how I was raised. :)

Man, I just did 25 pushups (good form could have done more with bad form but that website says that's cheating). I am sore now. I thought 100, that'd be easy but after 2 or 3 I was already humbled. Haven't done those in a long time. I then tried a one arm push up and that was pathetic. You're going to get guns of steel.

I am not sure if you 1/2 question is fair. I could rank by my favorite, by how I think I did, or by easiest. You asked for easiest to hardest. Here's my take on easiest to hardest.:

1. Provo Canyon

2. Hobble Creek

3. TOU

4. Provo 1/2 (April)

4. Painters

5. Spanish Fork

These are the only ones that I can think of that I have run.

I am planning on sending her a link to your website too -- you are pretty impressive yourself, she will enjoy hearing about you.

Bonnie

I have run the Provo Canyon. I like it & have run it 3 times - but it is very poorly organized.

I also did the WRC 1/2 - but was have probably run that several times if you count the Ogden Marathon. I actually like the second half of the course better (which it the Ogden half).

I would be interested in Bryce Canyon, but can't afford to drive there alone and can't afford to stay there alone.

Maurine- I'd love to share a ride to bryce and accommodations :) I bet we could talk Les into a Red Hot Pink race weekend :)

I'd be game if it is a chicks only weekend. That would be fun. I have nearly 4 weeks of vacation I am probably going to use up mainly one day at a time for racing and such.

Hey, what about me? Did I get kicked out of the Red Hot Pink Chicks club?????

Okay, I said i would get back to you, so here goes:

#1 Hobble Creek

#2 Provo

#3 Riverton

#4 Painters

#5 Moab

Scott and I concur on this list. I do have to say that Provo is my least favorite to run (and Scott will never do it again) because it is so disorganized. Hobblecreek was awesome, but I just had a good day! Painters had a few hills, but was relatively flat the rest of the time. A day later, I can say that Moab was beautiful and the best organized race I have ever run. It is just so hard to get into a rhythm!! And it was too hot (they really should start it an hour earlier!) In a few months I can add the SL half to this list. And, although I have never run TOU, I have done the full so I know the 1/2 course and I would put it probably right before Riverton.

How is that for a bunch of jumbling nonsense? I guess every race has its good and bads! I will tell you that I LOVED Hobblecreek and want to run it every year. And I really think Moab and Painters will make that list as well. Well, Scott says Painters is a must every year, so we will be there. I need to run Moab again, knowing what to expect this time and being wiser! I made a lot of mistakes and paid for it. But it a good race, just a little tough. Tough is good.

Kelli- we could NEVER go without you! You are the FRB Running Queen Goddess!!! Thank you for your list :) I LOVE it!!!

It looks like everyone agrees Hobblecreek is at the top of the list, and even though the Provo Half is a beautiful course, the organization really brings it down a knotch. Interesting.

I have run his 10 milers, but what is horrible about the organization at Provo 1/2? I guess I am going to have to sign up for Hobble Creek :) You Grand Slammers will be at Park City :(

On the two years I have done it, they have not marked the route clearly and I was in the back, it was confusing, a friend of mine actually got lost and did an extra 1/2 mile, I haven't done it in years, so I am not sure how it is now, but it looks like others have seen problems too. I am curious as to why they thought it was poorly organized. Oh, and another funny thing was the T-shirt was the same both years, just changed the date, and it is was cotton shirt not a technical shirt, now I am being nit picky. I thought Hobble Creek was way better, the years I did it they gave the women flowers and had those little business like cards with your time and pace, it just seemed alot friendlier and fun.

Lack of organization at the starting line, race starts late, lack of porta-potties or bathrooms at key places, cheap t-shirts, mile markers are inconsistently placed.

Too many horrible things to name. I have run Provo River 1/2 every year since 2005. 2008 was down right dangerous. Curt packed too many runners in that old girls scout camp field (over 1,000). Not enough buses, the 9 porta-potties were put over in the weeds field in the dark. I thought if I got poison ivy or stinging nuttles rash, I would sue that guy. There was no water at the start. The race started late. Runners converge from two roads at the start, a miracle that no one got stampede. It doesn't matter how early I get to the start, it always takes at least 2 min. more on my time (2007 we had a chip, but no timing mat at the start). Curt changes the start or finish line every year. 2008 we had to run on the highway concrete (due to the trail close at Bridal Veil) UPHILL for over 1 mile. I saw two runners took a spill tripping on those divets on the road shoulders. Then we had to run a 2 miles MAZE in the Riverwoods development. We crossed the river at least twice. We could hear the music of the finish line forever and made so many turns that it sucked the wind out of ya and the bystanders kept saying you're almost there, just around the corner...YAH, we know we're almost there we could HEAR it, but it was 2 miles of never ending corner-turnings that they lied about. Did I mention he put no port-a-potties on the course or the finish He relies on the parks bathrooms. People were peeing in the river. He had one aid station with watered-down-gatorade. The finish line was on the grassy strips by the movie theater, a congestive mess. You get the same cotton T-shirt every year, the same yucky water-melon and pancakes. I had diarrhea every year after I got home. In 2008 I didn't eat any breakfast and still got diarrhea. It might have been from the gatorade that Curt mixed with his own hands. I don't know. That guy looked like he hadn't had a bath for months. Nuff said. I would run the course on my own from now on. Oh, and get this, the divsion winners get NOTHING, NADA, not even a ribbon. Only the top 10 people, like Sasha and the gang, get awards.

I think the reason why Provo River 1/2 is so popular is because of its beautiful trail, perfect downhill training for SGM. If you were to run it, I advise bring your own fuel/fluid, time your own, and enjoy the scenary. Wait, you can do that any day. Save your entry fee and find some friends to do it with instead.

The guy who runs it is a bit off.

I don't remember any port-a-potties at Painters. Am I nuts? I do remember a utility box ;)

Smooth - that was beautiful. And exactly what it has been like. Last year I was struggling to finish that stupid concrete section to find a bathroom (which were locked) so that I didn't have to drop my drawers with all the cars coming by.

Boy, Lets have an FRB run down the canyon. We can have cool shirts made and then go out to breakfast after for our prizes :)

His shirts do stink! I was pretty bummed by my 10 miler t-shirt.

All we need is couple of suburbans or vans to drop us off at the South Fork Park. We can get our own cool Red Hot Chicks tech shirts. After our run, we can go to IHOP at Riverwoods. The pancakes got to be 100% better than Curt's. We can even buy some trophies from DI for our own awards. FUN FUN FUN

I agree- I didn't bother waiting for the pancakes. I am not a big fan of eating after a race... especially waiting in line for a pancake. I loved the cantaloupe :)

OK- so how do we pick a date? Can anyone do April 11th at Memory grove? The stake canceled the baptism on that day :( so I have that Saturday free now. Oh Smooth you are going to be in Boston ;)

I don't have any big races in July planned. Should we try for a FRB- RHPC race in July????

Oh baby, I can hardly wait the Red Hot Pink Chicks Half Marathon!!!!! Who is going to be the RD? Let's set a date!!!

July sounds good, especially if you are not doing Bryce. I doubt I will do Bryce this year, but I am up for the RHPC Half!

I think I am up for the April 11th run. How many miles? Do you want me to come up with a route?

Yes- Leslie- come up with a route, please :) I only need 11 that day :)

OK- July is great for me :)

The Saturday dates are: 4,11,18,25

I will come up with an 11 mile route for the 11th of April! That will be fun!

As far as the RHPC's half I could do any Sat. except for the 4th, I think.

You guys are too funny!!! I have to say that I have run the Provo 1/2 two times, 2007 and 2008. 2007 was mu first race ever, so I did not know that it was poorly organized until I did TOU a month later. I did LOVE the pancakes at the end, but I did not have to wait in line at all. They also had Jamba Juice giving away half size smoothies which was awesome. I really liked the course aside from the lack of porta potties while running. I thought if I could just make it to the end I could find a potty, but NOPE. I almost peed my pants at mile 11. I had to stop and sit on the ground twice to prevent myself from peeing in the middle for the shopping center!! I hate that last bit of winding through the shopping center, if he fixed that the course would be perfect.

Now, in 2008 I was so excited to run it again (being prepared to hit the potties in the parks along the way, even though I did not quite have to go yet). It was AWFUL. That run up the freeway killed me, and it was almost mile 7 at that point and there had not been one bathroom/porta potty. Scott and I were together at that point and I could have stuck with him, but I had to stop and sit for a second to prevent myself from peeing my pants. As you made it off the freeway and back to the trail, you ran into the campgrounds where there was finally a bathroom----MILE 8!!! That is a problem for me and my bladder. Then, as Smooth said, the winding through the shopping center and being able to see the other runners winding and hear the crowds, and not knowing that the finish was not in the same place as the year before I sprinted way too early! Ah, it was awful. We ate NO food becasue the lines were forever and just went home! I so LOVE the course (aside from the end) but I really do not think I will run it again.

That said, I am all for the RHPC sponsored half marathon! We can buy our own tech shirts for the run, bring our own gatorade/water, and hopefully make it to the campground potties before I explode!

I have girls camp in July, I think the weekend of the 17/18. Other than that, i am free. The 11th sounds good.

Everybody- how is July 11th for a RHPC 1/2 marathon????

Actually everyone does not agree on Hobblecreek being at the top of the list. I didn't and some others didn't. Marion's question was what was the easiest 1/2 if I remember correctly, not the best organized. And if best organized wins it, then Hobble Creek shouldn't qualify either because they have started their races extremely late, which is a cardinal sin. (45 minutes late according to some). I think the Provo 1/2 is easier than Hobble Creek overall because I think it doesn't beat the crap out of you like Hobble Creek can.

You are right Michelle, not EVERYONE thought Hobblecreek was the easiest. I think the majority did, but not ALL. So, I have a question for you--why would you put Provo ahead of Hobblecreek? I felt way more beat up at Provo just because of the steep downhill at the beginning and the winding at the end (that is hard!!) Hobblecreek did not seem to be as steep and it was much easier to find a rhythm and stick with it.

Just curious! Marion really has me thinking about this, as does Moab, which I considered a KILLER 1/2 (although beautiful and I will do it again).

True Michelle, but everyone's list does include it in the very top of their lists. My main reason for asking the question is to get my brain set for races that I know little about. It is has been really interesting to hear about the races from different runners. I really appreciate all of the input.

Kelli- rank Riverton in your list for me :)

For me, Provo 1/2 beat me up less than Hobble. Hobble is still high on my list because of the downhill/fast times make it "easy". But even though my times at Hobble are faster than the Provo 1/2, I still think Provo is easier overall because it's not as steep for as long.

Marion, I did. I put Riverton in the middle. I think it is easier than Painters overall, although it does have a few hard hills. The majority of the race is fairly flat. I think the biggest drawback of the Riverton half is all of the turning here and there. It sometimes feels hard to get in a rhythm.

I do not remember Hobblecreek being extremely hilly. Strange, but I have only run it once so maybe I am just forgetting. I had a really GOOD running day that day, so maybe my perception is tainted. I still think the ending of the Provo 1/2 ruins it. I wish they could come up with a better way to get those last two miles in. Honestly, get rid of that and add some porta potties and I think Provo is perfect.

Kelli- I am blind. I am glad to see Riverton is "easier" than painters. Painters wasn't HARD, but it was not easy and mile 8-11 seemed to just zap all of the fun out of the whole thing ;) I am so glad you were there for it :)

Michelle- If I don't get into St George and decide to do TOU, I'll have to do Provo 1/2 and not Hobble Creek. It sounds like they are similar in many respects. So far, I don't have many issues with needing bathrooms, so maybe Provo's lack of potties wont bother me ;) Oh- and we are hatching a Red Hot Pink Chick Provo Canyon 1/2 for July 11th. It's byo supplies(gu, water), we are working on prizes (probably lame) and then we are going to go out and eat something bad for us ;) I am going to look into t-shirts/tanks... hot pink, just like you like ;) We might get a tad bit more organized, but for now, it's gonna be a fast fun training run with super good looking women :) Maybe we'll call it the RHPC Race to Ihop! :)