David Tran

2017 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon
Published: Sept. 10, 2017, 11:15 p.m.
  1. Overall Rating

    5/5 Stars

  2. Describe your race day.

    Ran miles 3-19 with a new friend, a professional triathlete who had just signed up for the race on Tuesday! Had a blast cruising down the mountain and just chatting, on pace to run a sub-2:50. Hit the wall hard at mile 19/20 and dragged myself in at 2:57:46. Most memorable thing about race day though was seeing my girlfriend finally BQ after almost 9 months of training, injuries, one previous injured marathon, recovery, more training, and many hard workouts.

  3. Did you PR?

    Yep! A 3-minute PR: 2:57:46, and to my surprise, 3rd in my age group! Added some cushion to my previous BQ time of 3:00:44 at California International Marathon this past December.

  4. How would you describe the course?

    The first 19 miles were beautiful and easy. Miles 19-20 were very tough physical, and the last 4 were probably the hardest of any race I've run previously. My calves and quads just had nothing left.

  5. Tell us about your training.

    Didn't have as much time to properly train for this marathon between work and travel. Ran a couple of fast half marathon PRs in June and July and managed one 20-mile training run while traveling. Definitely not optimal in that I wish I had gotten in 2 more long runs and actually had time to follow a training plan. I think if I were to run this course again, I'd do a few workouts where I run downhill for a little bit, then switch to running marathon pace uphill.

  6. What advice would you give future runners?

    Definitely get in Friday morning. And definitely eat at Red Iguana after the race. Ask for the mole sampler.

  7. What fun things did you do in the area before or after the race?

    We flew in Friday morning from San Jose, CA, worked from the Marriott Residence Inn where we were staying in the morning, and dropped by the expo in the afternoon after a short shakeout run by Old MIll Park. We made pasta for dinner and hung out at the hot tub/pool with other runners.

    After the race, we really enjoyed a late lunch at Red Iguana (Ask for the mole sampler!), and had fun hobbling around Liberty Park. Sunday, instead of a recovery walk, we went tubing down the Weber River! Highly recommended— you'll inevitably fall out of your tube at least once, and the river is a nice ice bath for your sore legs =)

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