This time for this trip out to Utah, I remembered that they were an hour ahead. I got ready and left the house at right before 3:30 am. The first leg of my long ass road trip took me out to Primm, NV. I pulled up to the Tesla Supercharger at about 6:30 am. After plugging in the car for a charge, I placed my order on the McDonald's mobile app and walked over to pick up my usual breakfast. There weren't any good deals, so I got a Sausage McMuffin with Egg Sandwich meal which came with a hash brown and a small coffee.
Tesla Supercharger Primm, NV
Sausage McMuffin with Egg meal
Small coffee
After I was done with my meal and had used the restroom, I hopped back in the car and continued on with my trip. Even though I was driving a Tesla with a long range battery, it was still a stretch to try and wait until reaching Beaver, UT before getting a charge. Instead of having to deal with range anxiety, I decided to pull into the Tesla Supercharger in St George. This location was new to me as I don't recall it being here the last time I was here for the Sun Marathon earlier this year. While I waited for the car to finish charging, I went inside the adjacent Cracker Barrel to use their restroom. I ate here the last time I was here. I'm pretty sure that I'll be getting food here on the way home.
Tesla Supercharger St George, UT
For the next leg, I had thought about waiting until I had gotten closer to Salt Lake City before charging, but ultimately, I opted for stopping at the Tesla Supercharger in Beaver, UT. The charging rate was cheaper at this location and I also wanted to stop in at the Chevron to pick up some drinks. The last time I was here, I was still driving my Mini Cooper. After using their restroom, I bought 2 bottles of Powerade for $3. Not a bad deal.
Tesla Supercharger Beaver, UT
2 for $3
The 4th leg took me to the Tesla Supercharger in Provo, UT. I thought about getting something to eat from the nearby Arby's. However, I decided not to since I usually get sick whenever I eat their food. There's something in their ingredients that doesn't agree with my body. I opted to wait in the car until it was done charging.
Tesla Supercharger Provo, UT
After getting back on the freeway, I finally arrived at my destination. I drove up State St and made a left at 100 South. I turned into the City Creek Center West Garage entrance just after passing Main St. I found a spot near the SW Temple St exit. From there, I crossed the street for the race expo inside the Salt Palace Convention Center. Per the email that was sent out, I made my way over to hall E. There were plenty of signage to direct runners as to where they needed to go. On the way out, I bumped into my marathon friend, Heather. Seems like it happens all the time without any planning, so I can see why she calls me her stalker. :)
First 2 hours were free
City Creek Parking Garage
Expo
Race shirt
Back of race shirt
Expo haul
Participants name wall
Found my name
After hopping back in the car, I started heading south for my hotel for the night. Parking appeared to be free for the first 2 hours. As soon as I scanned my ticket, the gate arm raised for me to exit. Heading over to the freeway turned out to be a pain in the butt as there was a lot of construction in the area and one of the left turn signals was only on long enough for 2, maybe 3 cars per long cycle. Once I had finally gotten on the freeway, I encountered a bunch of traffic as it was probably the beginning of Friday rush hour traffic. Along the way, I exited to eat dinner at the Cracker Barrel in West Valley. I was seated at the other end of the restaurant next to a table where one of the ladies was hacking up a lung each time she coughed. Hopefully, I don't catch what she has. Per the usual, I ordered their Country Boy Breakfast with steak tips, eggs sunny-side up, okra, and grits. I got an unsweetened iced tea to go with my meal.
Country Boy Breakfast with steak tips, okra, and grits
After finishing my meal and paying my bill, I drove the final stretch for the day and pulled up to my hotel for the night. It was the Ramada in Draper. Usually Ramadas are pretty good, but this one was definitely subpar. After checking in at the front desk to get my room key, I was greeted by 3 flies in room #210. Normally, I can swat them with one of the hand towels. However, they were quite elusive. Thankfully, they left me alone for the most part. I watched the US Open match between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev while unpacking and going through the race packet. After taking a shower, I laid out my flat runner and started getting ready for bed as I had to get up pretty early for a bus ride up to the start line. I was lights out shortly after watching 2 Bob's Burgers episodes. There were some screaming in the hallway by what appeared to be little kids during the night, but I was too tired to care.
Ramada in Draper, UT
View from my room
Carlos Alcaraz
Daniil Medvedev
Flat runner
Bob's Burgers S10.E4, Pig Trouble in Little Tina
Bob's Burgers S10.E5, Legends of the Mall
Saturday 9/9
In the emails leading up to the race, we were encouraged to get to the bus pick-up location early. I got ready and checked out of my room at just before 3:30 am. The drive over to Cottonwood High School took just under 20 minutes. After I gathered everything that I needed, I walked over to the finish line area to use one of the portapotties before getting on a bus. I ended up on the school bus that left just shortly after 4 am. I ended up having a nice conversation with my fellow runner sitting next to me. His name was Scott (bib #2274) and he was a local from Lehi. Looks like he's quite an accomplished runner as I found an article about him and his family in the Lehi Free Press. My friend, Sabrina, was also on the same bus.
Sabrina!
After using one of the portapotties, I walked up to the start line to check things out. I then made my way back near the bus drop-off location to get away from the crowd of people that continued to grow with each busload of runners. Normally I would want to start my race as soon as we're released, but this time since I didn't have a particular time goal, I hung back with a bunch of other runners to use a portapotty one last time before starting my race.
Heather and Glen
Galen and Xiao
I ended up running a bit with a daughter and dad duo. Mike (bib #3428) was from Charlotte, NC and her daughter was going to BYU. This was her first marathon. I parted ways with them after they were joined by the mom who was registered for the half marathon. I ended up running a good stretch with my friend from NY. However, I could not keep up with him after around mile 16. I never run with music. However this song was on repeat in my head... Bury Me in Georgia by Kane Brown. I thought it was quite appropriate since at some points, I felt like death. Once I was relegated to just power hiking, I got out my banana chips. They were nice and salty. Maybe I should just stick to hiking. I had rallied enough to run pretty well during the final stretch and u-turn for the finish line.
Last time I was here was for skiing!
I was tempted to sit a spell
Approaching the finish line
Finish: 5:06:46
Click here for my Garmin data.
Well, I ended up running a personal worst time for a REVEL downhill course. Honestly, the outcome of this race was pretty much what I had expected given what I have been doing for the past 4 months in terms of exercise. You can only do during race day what you've done during training. Still, I was hoping to have finished in under 5 hours.
After collecting my finisher medal, I picked up a bunch of post race goodies as well as a printout of my race results. Along my way over to the final stretch of the course, I bumped into a couple of my faster friends that had finished ahead of me. I then met up with a couple of my friends that were at the grassy area near the finish line, cheering on runners. I ate and drank some of the post race goodies to help recover as it got pretty warm during the latter part of the race. I stayed long enough to see my friend, Mike from Las Vegas, who had run the half marathon.
Cookie!
Fast Eddie and JC
Finisher medal and post race goodies
Jen and Gabe
Before hitting the road for the drive down to Las Vegas, I headed towards the portapotties to empty the bladder. I bumped into Galen. Since it has been a while since we crossed paths, we chatted a bit concerning our races before parting ways.
After using one of the portapotties, I was about to head back to my car when I noticed a bag of post race goodies and a finisher medal. I asked a nearby couple if it was theirs, but they said it wasn't. Looks like someone was so out of it, they left without it!
Before heading out, I checked the map to see what my options were for charging the car. Once again I opted to charge the car at the Tesla Supercharger in Provo as the rates were lower there. Once I got a full charge, I resumed my drive down to Las Vegas.
Tesla Supercharger Provo, UT
I exited the freeway to take a break and to get a charge at the Tesla Supercharger in Beaver. Shortly after plugging in the car for a charge, the rain started coming down. Once the rain let up a bit, I walked over to the Chevron to buy a coffee drink as I was feeling pretty fatigued.
Tesla Supercharger Beaver, UT
Frappuccino to help stay awake!
I exited the freeway to charge the car at the Tesla Supercharger in St George. Since I didn't use that much of the battery to get here, I waited in the car for it to finish charging before driving next door to eat dinner at the Cracker Barrel. Once I was seated, I ordered the usual Country Boy Breakfast with steak tips, eggs sunny side up, okra, and grits. It looked like my server was either new or having a bad day. First she brought out the biscuits, but didn't bring out the gravy until I asked here for it. She then forgot the okra. She was about to give me my bill already when I asked her for my okra.
Tesla Supercharger St George, UT
Country Boy Breakfast with steak tips, okra, and grits
They sell Disney merchandise at Cracker Barrel?
I rolled into the Baymont Las Vegas South Strip parking lot just a little after 8 pm even with the hour that I got back with the time zone change. The lot was pretty full, but I was able to snag one of the last remaining vacant parking spots. I checked in and was given room #126. After taking a much needed shower and watching some TV, I was pretty much lights out instaneously!
Baymont in Las Vegas, NV
View from my room
Sunday 9/10
I got ready and checked out of my room at about 8 am. I drove over to the nearby Tesla Supercharger located in the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets parking lot adjacent to the McDonald's near Warm Springs Rd. After plugging in, I walked over to McDonald's for a quick breakfast. On the mobile app, I ordered a Sausage McMuffin with Egg for $2. The dining area looked like it was recently updated and quite clean, so I decided to eat my breakfast there before returning to the car.
Tesla Supercharger Las Vegas South Premium Outlets
Breakfast sandwich for $2 mobile app deal
Dining area looks to have been recently remodeled
After finishing my breakfast and the car was done charging, I hit the road for the drive home. I supposed that with the longer range battery that I would have just enough energy to go all the way home, but I decided to exit the freeway for a quick charge at the Tesla Supercharger in Victorville and a bite to eat. However, shortly after I plugged the car in for a charge, I received a text from my mom letting me know that she had cooked some food for me. Home cooking always trumps outside food, so I unplugged the car and continued on my way home.
Tesla Supercharger Victorville, CA
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