Official Time

Bib # 603 Pat Monahan Chandler AZ 45M

Chip Time: 2:42:48 (PR) Clock Time: 2:43:15

Overall: 649/837
Men: 329/364
Age group: 55 /60

Valley of Gold Half Marathon Official Results

My All Time Five Favorite Runs

1. PF Chang’s Rock N’ Roll 2007 Half Marathon January, 2007

My first half marathon. Loved the crowds, atmosphere, bands and it was the first time I ran a long distance and not had to retrace my steps. It was from downtown Phoenix to ASU. The final 100 yards in front of thousands of people, with the announcer calling out my name is something I’ll never forget.

2. Lost Dutchman 2007 Half Marathon February 2007

Oh so scenic. Views of the Superstition Mountains, running thru the desert on dirt roads and hills. I even beat my time from the Rock N’ Roll half ran one month before.

3. Bumble Bee 2006 Big Balloon 5k in San Diego

Ran in downtown San Diego along the bay. At the start of the race, they had grandstands full of people getting ready to watch the parade for the Holiday Bowl (Texas A& M v. California) and we got to start the race in front of them.This was a PR too.

4. My First 10 miler in Gilbert 11/18/2006

Ran along the canal all by myself. I thought it was a big deal at the time to get into double digits. The last half mile, I had to cross Gilbert Road in middle of the Gilbert Days Parade. I even got a few cheers from people watching the parade as I ran right down the street between floats. For some reason there was a large gap at the perfect time.

5. First Run – June, 2006

For some reason, in the middle of the summer in Arizona (yes it was over 100 degrees), I put on my runnin’ shoes and ran about 1/10 of a mile. I finished walking around the block and was convinced I was a runner. Total mileage for that day was about ¾ of a mile and I haven’t looked back yet.

5. Run for Brooke, Sept., 2006

This is probably tied with my first run. Less than 3 months after my first run, I ran/walked my first 5k. I ran it in 42:15, but I felt great about it. I crossed the finish line, handed my camera to a spectator and then went and crossed it again to get a finish line picture.

Today’s Run:

I DNS’d two morning runs in a row, so I paid the price by running at 3 pm in the Arizona sun. It was in the mid 80’s and not a cloud in the sky. I just wanted to get in a 30-40 minute run and I did with a 30:15 for 2.56 miles. I could have gone further, but I was at my driveway and I was a bit concerned about my knee.

My Knee:

It used to hurt only when I first started walking. Getting up from my desk, car seat, etc. After I ‘loaded’ my knee 4-5 times the pain would go away and I’d be fine. Now it hurts then and for the first 3-4 minutes when I run. Then the pain goes away and I’m fine. I’ll ask about it when I see my doctor. I just got a blood test, so that she can tell me how well I’m doing lowering my cholesterol and weight. In the meantime, I will do the exercises that I found in the last issue of Runner’s World to strengthen my glutes, hips and quads and to stretch my IT band and other things.

Speaking of my legs, I went to see Body Worlds III at the Science Museum. I believe it is also in Dallas and Chicago. It is an amazing exhibit of the anatomy using real human cadavers. Yes, you see actual people that have donated there bodies to science. These bodies have had a type of plastic injected into them and you see them in different poses. If you get a chance, it is a most see. What impressed me most, was seeing an IT band. I’ve read about them in running articles, but to see one was pretty cool.

Stats, you gotta love stats

Here's my stats for 5 mile runs. Do you like stats? I'm a baseball fan, so you know I like stats.

I read on another blog, a runner would compare his run with what he had done in the past. He would say it was his 10th best run ever or it was the slowest time this year.

I like to run 5 miles, so I have more of these runs than anything else. I have a lot of 3 and 3.1 milers too, so I might do the same thing with that distance.

So, we can see that my last run on 3/9 was the 6th fastest 5 miler I've done. The fastest being on March 2nd and 7 of the top 8 being this year. The three slowest were back in September and on my birthday in November. That was a fun run, but I'm not sure why it was slower, other than it was only my third 5 miler. Two days later I shaved 5 minutes off the time and added almost a 1/10 of a mile.

5 Mile Runs


1. 57:28 - 3/2/2007
2. 57:50-1/4/2007
3. 58:05 -1/16/2007
4. 58.11 1/24/2007 (5.08)
5. 58.55 12/4/2006 (5.03)
6. 59:17 -3/9/2007
7. 59:23 1/25/2007
8. 59:29 1/2/2007
9. 59:34 12/9/2006
10. 59:42 2/22/2007
11. 59.57 2/28/2007 (5.06)

12. 1:00:13 2/27/2007
13. 1:00:22 -12/13/2006
14. 1.00.30 12/21/2006 (5.11)
15. 1:01:00 1/29/2007
16. 1:01:06 11/21/2006
17. 1:01:33 11/26/2006
18. 1:01:34 1/1/2007
19. 1:01:51 1/19/2007
20. 1:02:05 12/14/2006
21. 1.02.46 11/9/2006 (5.09)
22. 1:03:54 2/10/2007
23. 1:04:37 9/19/2006
24. 1:07:20 11/7/2006
25. 1:10:53 9/5/2006

3 Mile Runs


1. 31.05 1/27/2007 5k Race
2. 31:13 3/4/2007 5k Race
3. 33:16 12/28/2006 5k Race
4. 34:00 11/12/2006 5k Race
5. 34.35 10/29/2006 5k race

6. 35:06 1/10/2007 3.1 Mi
7. 35:52 9/18/2006
8. 36:10 9/3/2006
9. 36:21 11/13/2006
10. 38:04 9/12/2006
11. 39:10 10/14/2006
12. 39:16 9/13/2006

13. 40:05 8/15/2006
14. 40:17 1/31/2007
15. 41:29 9/27/2006
16. 41:49 8/21/2006
17. 42.15 9/2/2006 5k race

18. 42:49 8/30/2006
19. 43:06 8/16/2006
20. 43:59 8/22/2006
21. 44:40 8/14/2006
22. 44:53 8/18/2006
23. 45:00 8/11/2006

24. 46:27 8/26/2006
25. 47:00 8/12/2006
26. 50:00 8/25/2006