Dallas Running Club: The Loop 5K

On Saturday October 1, 2011 I ran in the last of the 8 free Dallas Running Club races that they offer to members each year, The DRC Loop 15K and 5K. I chose to run in the 5K since I had my long run of 11 miles the next morning with my 10:30 pace Run-On! training group. As usual, this annual event took place at Winfrey Point in White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX, and started at 8:00 AM. The event benefited Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and Back on My Feet. Led by Lea Velez and Run-On! Training Coordinator, Jennifer Kimble, many of the Run-On! team ran with a homeless runner. Some of these team members are in my 10:30 pace group, including Nancy Fallen, Teresa Nichols, and Rebecca Lange. As the DRC photographer, I took a few pictures of the Run-On! group, and runners that finished the 15K after I finished my 5K race. Both races started at the same time together. I lined up late, and got stuck about 25 rows back. There were 632 Run-On! Chip timed finishers, with 223 5K finishers including 45 5K runners and 68 15K runners in the Clydesdale and Athena divisions. I didn't start out running all out, like I usually do, because there was such a crowd. The 5K race had a turnaround, but the 15K did a complete loop around the lake. My 1st mile time was 8:00. I got to the turnaround at about halfway to the 2nd mile. When I crossed the 2 mile marker, my time was 15:54 (a 7:53 / mile pace). My 3 mile time was 23:47 (a 7:53 / mile pace). I finished the race in the time of 25:09, 43rd out of 223 5K finishers, and 4th in my age division. As it turns out, the first place winner in my age group was moved up to a Master's winner, and I was surprised when they called my name at the awards ceremony for the 3rd place award. Because the 1st place winner was moved into the Master's division, I ended up finishing 3rd out of 8 in my age group, and 36 out of 104 men. I received 7 points for the DRC Championship, and finished in the top 10 in Volunteering and Racing combined. You can see other runner's results at the DRC site. During my long run the next morning, both feet swelled up and became numb. Thanks to Jennifer Kimble, who recommended an area foot Doctor, I found out that I had arthritis in both feet, which is probably due to over-training. I listened to the Doctor and stopped running for a couple of weeks, but ran another race on October 22. Place   Bib #    Men     Overall   Chip Time  Pace                                          3/8     897    36/104   43/208     25:09     8:07 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The 2011 Prarie Man Half Marathon

On September 21, 2011 I ran in my 1st Half Marathon ever, the 2011 Prarie Man Half Marathon, 5K, and 1 Mile Fun Run. I want to thank Jennifer Kimble, the Run-On! Training Class Coordinator and RRCA Certified Coach, Mitch Hayes the Assistant Coordinator, and the training group at Run-on! for preparing me for this event. I've never had a coach or been in a training program before, and I can tell you from personal experience that it makes all the difference. The race took place along the shore of Joe Pool Lake in Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prarie, TX, and benefited the MP Foundation for ALS Awareness (Lou Gehrig's Disease). I dedicate this race in memory of fellow Run-On! runner Diane Proud who passed away from ALS a few weeks ago. Diane was a 2 time national duathlon title holder, an 8 time USA Triathlon All-American, and a world class runner. Longtime coach at the Cooper Fitness Center. She had her own race, ALS Run "Proud for Dessert", which she attended on September 10. She showed tremendous courage by running races the best she could, even with her illness. Thank you for inspiring me Diane! All half marathon and 5K runners received a free Brooks Tech shirt. The race course took runners around a pair of loops along the lake's shoreline and then out of the park to the intersection of Mansfield Road. From there, the course turned right and then followed a long straightaway stretch along the northern shoreline of the lake, leading all the way to the Joe Pool Lake Dam. At the Dam was the half way point of this 13.1 mile course. From the turnaround, we just followed the same course back. Ironhead Race Production promoted the race, led by CEO and Race Director, Jack Weiss, who is a certified USAT Training Coach, USA Cycling Level 3 Elite Coach, and a USA Certified Triathlon Coach. Run Far Racing Services planned the event, and professional photos were conducted by Celebrated Images. There were many sponsors at the event, including Mobility Outfitters, inc, Richardson Bike Mart, Spring Valley Spine and Sportscare, Gatorade, as well as a lot of other food and drink sponsors. To participate in the event, you had to arrive by 6:15 AM, because the park was closed to traffic for race. The half marathon started at 7:00 AM with temperture in the low 70 degrees. About a half a mile after the race started I checked my Garmin timing device, and saw that I was at a 5:40 mile pace. I felt comfortable, so I just kept the pace as best I could. I had planned on starting at a 9:25 / mile pace, but my first mile time was actually 8:39. My 2 mile time was 17:28 (a 8:49 / mile pace), and my 3 mile time was 26:12 (a 8:43 / mile pace). I kept my average pace at about 8:40 / mile. The faster runners were way ahead of me and there were not many runners to follow behind, like a normal 5K race. The water stops were great; they had one every 1 mile or so. At mile 4 my time was 34:50 (a 8:38 / mile pace), and my mile 5 time was 43:31 (a 8:41 / mile pace). The 6th mile was my fastest mile at 52:06 (a 8:34 / mile pace). I finally made it to the the turnaround at the Dam, and made my way back. My mile 7 time was 1:00:47 (a 8:41 / mile pace), and my mile 8 time was 1:09:30 (a 8:43 mile pace). At this point, my average pace started to climb a few seconds. My mile 9 my time 1:18:23 (a 8:53 / mile pace), at my mile 10 time was 1:27:19 (a 8:55 / mile pace). I picked it back up a bit at mile 11 with a time of 1:36:01 ( a 8:42 / mile pace). I made my was back inside the park and finished the 12th mile in 1:44:54 (a 8:52 / mile pace). On about mile 13, we got teased by the finish line in front of us. All that remained was to turn left and loop around the back-way to the finish line. I came to a crossroad, and there were no volunteers to say which way to go to get around the loop and back around the shroeline. There were not any runners to follow, so I got confused and stopped running. I just wanted until the next runner came by, and I followed her to the finish line. My 13 mile time was 1:54:24 (a 9:29 / mile pace). I lost at least 45 seconds due to the confusion. My Garmin finished the race at 13:36 (a 8:56 / mile pace). My Garmin doesn't seem to be 100% accurate, but it does help me keep a good pace and record. My official chip time was 1:57:41. I finished 21 out of only 57 overall finishers, 14 out of 23 men, and won my age group with 2 other men. My official halfway time was 57:30 (a 8:47 / mile pace), and finished the 2nd half in 1:00:11 (a 9:11 / mile pace). My overall pace was 8:59 / mile in my first half marathon. I would have been happy with a 2:09:00 finish. I've been running for almost 2 years, and with alot of help and encouragement, was able to accomplish something I never thought I could do. Thank you USMD Prostate Cancer Center, Jennifer, Mitch, and Run-On! Place   Bib#    Men    Overall   Chip Time   1st Half   2nd Half   Final Pace    1/3    529    14/23    21/57     1:57:41      57:30    1:00:11      8:59 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com