Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Texas Half and 5K

My race this week was the Texas Half and 5K. After I running my first 15K last week, I decided to run in the 5K race. The even took place at Winfrey Point in White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX on January 29, 2011. The great event was run by Lewis George who runs Mellow Productions (www.mellow.com) and is the man who started Dadfest in 2004. Dadfest is a prostate cancer race I volunteer for and run. Last year, I ran as a prostate cancer survivor with my two sons. You can see pictures of us on the www.dadfest.com site. The sponsors of the race were Run-On!, Jerry Glover Photography (who did a great job of taking beautiful racing picture of this event as he does at all the races he covers), American Laser Centers, Chirosport Chiropractor and Massage (who also sponsors all of the Dallas Running Club Races), Sweet Tomatoes, and Dole who furnished alot of bananas to the runners.
 
Instead of starting together, there were 2 different race times for the event. the Texas Half (13.1 miles with 737 finishers) stared at 8:00 and the 5K (with 258 finishers) started 15 minutes later. The race was started by Cliff Couch, who also announced the runners names as we finish the race and was also the awards announcer. He always does a great job making events fun. I took a few pictures before race, stretched, and took a few warm up laps. I ran in the 5K last year and finished 3rd place. There was a downhill at the start, but you have to climb that same hill to cross the finish line at the end of the race. The weather was a little cool but nice. I've been running with a pair of 3/4 IsoArch foot supports lately, because I had heel pain and tendonitous several months ago. I decided not to run with them this time and took them out of my shoes before the race.
 
I started on the first row. Lewis George led the first runners as he rode on a bike around the 5K route. After Cliff started the race, I took off as fast as I could. Since I didn't have those foot supports, it seemed like my feet felt a bit lighter. About 3/4 of a mile into the race, I looked at my watch and was amazed to discover that I was running a pace under 8:00. When I arrived at the 1 mile marker my time was 7:53. That fired me up. I kept pushing hard, but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it up for the whole race. My 2 mile time was 16:31 (8:37/m). I was still feeling good when I made it past the turnaround and headed back toward the finish. I knew I was going to lose some time going up that hill to the finish line so I kept pushing it hard as I could.
 
Before I got to the 3 mile marker, a lady running next to me told me "you are making me keep my pace up." I said "I am only doing my best." We were side to side until the hill then she passed me up. At the 3 mile marker my time was 24:37 (8:16/m). I tried my best to climb that hill as fast as I could. The last 1/10th of a mile took me 1:17. Normally I can run it in about 55 seconds, but that hill was a challenge. My finishing time was 25:54, just over my PR time of 25:49.
 
They posted results by total finishing time with no age breakdown so you couldn't figure where you placed in your age group. At the award ceremony Cliff called my name out for second place in my age group. I was very happy. I took a picture with two other Run-On runners sporting my brand new red Run-On cap. The cap was given to me by a nice lady named Genevieve that I've been training with at Run-On! lately. Now I can get my picture taken and put on the Run-On! after race picture site with other runners.
 
After my race I stayed to congratulated the finisher of the Texas Half for their great effort. I talked to some of them about my story and they were very proud of me also. All half finishers received a finisher award medal which was very nice.
 
Results can be seen here.
Pictures can be seen here.
 
Place    Bib #     Men Overall     Overall     Chip Time     Gun Time
 2/9        11           37/113         57/258        25:54           25:56
 
I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community.
www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

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