Everything Counts

Alta Peruvian Downhill Dash 8k

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Location:

South Weber,UT,

Member Since:

May 09, 2012

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Personal Records:

800 Meters 1:50.14 (Track-BYU)

1500 Meters 3:42.07 (Track-Stanford) Likely the best race of my life; converts to a 3:59.85 Mile

5000 Meters 14:20 (Track-Stanford)

8000 Meters 23:53 (Cross Country-Pre Nationals Iowa)

10000 Meters 29:57 (Track-Stanford)

Half Marathon (Mesa-Phoenix Half) 1:05:11

Marathon (St George) 2:16:09

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

Mesa-Phoenix Half - 3rd Place 1:05:11 PR

Ogden WRC 10-Miler - 1st Place 55:46

Provo City Half - 1st Place 1:06:33

Ogden Marathon - 2nd Place 2:25:46

Long-Term Running Goals:

My main goal is just to stay healthy. I was injured every year in my college career except for one. I would like to reverse that trend and always stay injury-free.

Personal:

I am a family man. I am married to my beautiful wife Amy (who also ran at Weber and is quite the runner). We have four beautiful daughters named Evelyn (6 years old), Hannah (4 year old), Nora (2 year old), and Iris (5 months).

Twitter handle: @RunnerRiley7

Instagram RunnerRiley7

I am supported by Brooks

I am a Generation Ucan elite athlete

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Salomon Pro Wings 2 Lifetime Miles:						161.10
Brooks PureCadence 5 Lifetime Miles:						101.85
Brooks Adrenaline 17 Lifetime Miles:						161.85
Brooks Transcend 4 Lifetime Miles:						219.45
Brooks Ravenna 8 Lifetime Miles:						225.10
Brooks PureCadence 6 Lifetime Miles:						188.10
Brooks Launch 4 Lifetime Miles:						107.50
Brooks Glycerin 14 Lifetime Miles:						101.47
Brooks Hyperion Lifetime Miles:						92.13
Brooks Caldera Lifetime Miles:						31.10

Sat, Sep 08, 2012

Race: Alta Peruvian Downhill Dash 8k (5 Miles) 00:23:42, Place overall: 4

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
5.50	0.00	0.00	5.05	10.55

Well I wasn't expecting much out of this race. I'm a horrible downhill runner and figured I wouldn't have much of a chance at winning. But, I figured I'd try my best to not run with my normal arched back running form and try to get my shoulders and hips forward so as not to fight gravity. But that didn't last long, I run faster getting forward like that but it's so uncomfortable I can't sustain it for much longer than 400 meters at a time, and I end up leaning back again and slowing down. It was funny after the race my wife said, "Don't get offended by this but yours and Ken's downhill form is night and day. You just look awful!"

It was a decent field through four runners. It was Ken, Teren, Jon Kotter, and me. The race got started and I dashed to the lead. I led for about a half mile until we hit a steep stretch. The other three gained 10 meters on me on this steep section. Then it flattened out a bit again and I zoomed back to the front. I was in 1st at the mile with a 4:22 split.

Right then my stomach really started rumbling and I had GI problems the rest of the way. In case anyone is wondering, having GI problems and running a fast, jarring downhill race don't mesh well. I had two choices, slow down or mess my shorts. I opted for the former.

The other three guys put 30, yes 30 seconds on me almost immediately in the next mile. I was 4:40 for mile two and Ken told me after he was 4:12. My stomach was really hurting and I was looking for somewhere to stop for a potty break. Nowhere looked good yet so I kept trying to run as fast as I could under the conditions. Mile 3 was 4:37.

During the next mile there was a port a potty a few yards off the road and I had to stop and use it. I don't know how long I was in there but I figure it was about a minute looking at my split for that mile. Afterward I was able to run a bit faster now, at least until the last half mile when my stomach started hurting again. Miles 4 and 5 were 5:28 and 4:21.

So I finished in 4th and immediately ran into the trees to find a secret bathroom. Jon ended up winning, with Ken 2nd and Teren 3rd.

Asics DS Racer Miles: 6.55	Asics 2170 (Newer) Miles: 4.00

Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Bam on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 06:57:43 from 89.204.253.2

Crikey O'Riley, what a bizarre race. 23:42 for 5 miles with a 1 min potty break. Well done - that's a cracking time. What time won the race?

I bet the secret bathroom was more rewarding/comfort than the fast time.

From RileyCook on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 07:01:33 from 75.162.188.151

Bam: It's certainly a crazy race. To say it's aided is a big time understatement. I think the winning time was 21:30-ish.

From fiddy on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 09:42:37 from 97.117.90.93

Riley, what do you eat before your races?

From MarkP on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 10:49:41 from 75.169.22.194

Great job! Get those points!

From AngieB on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:25:19 from 65.130.84.232

Running downhill w a arched back fighting against it must be a middle distance runner trait cuz I do the exact same thing and I am horrible at downhill no matter how hard I try. There is definitely an art to downhill running that some people just got it down...not me. I'm still trying to figure it out.

From Jake K on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 14:50:41 from 67.177.11.154

At least Devra didn't catch you! :-)

Good chatting w/ you last night.

From Ben VanBeekum on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 16:51:59 from 216.206.44.14

Great run even with the bathroom break. We will hit one more long run and just practice the downhill form! Great job!

From Superfly on Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 11:55:31 from 74.211.21.81

I hurt just reading about this. Good job man- recover well!

From scottkeate on Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 13:59:28 from 216.49.181.254

4:22 for the first mile! Smokin' fast! Sorry to hear about the GI issues--it would have been cool to see how well you could have run without the runs. Four pretty fast dudes decided to show up. Congrats on performing as well as you did under the conditions.

From RileyCook on Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 10:48:16 from 214.25.5.117

James: I don't eat anything before morning races (or during for that matter) unless it's a marathon. This being an evening race I had a PB/Honey sandwich for lunch.

Angie: Yeah maybe you're onto something there. The arched back does act as a "sail" for tailwind though right? At least I tell myself that.

Jake: Yeah, she was pretty close when I came out of the porta potty. It was good talking to you too and thanks for the tip on places to run in the District.

Ben: Thanks. We still on for an evening run on the 22nd up in Monte?

Clyde: It certainly hurts, more so two days after than during or the day after. My quads and hammies are still tender.

Scott: Thanks man. Even without the GI issues I think I would've placed 4th. Jon and Teren and just plain fast and Ken is one of the best downhill runners I know.

This race is tailored for my weakness...downhill running. My form is just horrible and it's too uncomfortable to mentally change it for the entire race. I am definitely more competitive on flatter courses (for example Thanksgiving Point).

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