The 2012 Tal Morrison Classic 5K

On Saturday April 7, I ran in the Dallas Running Club Tal Morrison Classic 5K and 15K.  The event was held at Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake, Dallas TX. This race was one day after my little brother Jimmy's birthday.  He died 6 days after his 54th birthday last year.  I miss him very much.   After my 1 mile slow jog I took a few pictures with three fast runners: Tommy and Leslie Smith, and Hector Hinozosa.  Both men are in their 40's and I wanted to speak with them about the importance of getting a baseline PSA screening to find out where their numbers are at while they are healthy.   Both the 15K and 5K stared at the same time and I ran in the shorter 5K.  This was a fast, flat, turnaround course.  The Dallas Running Club, which is a non profit organization, gives out college scholarships to DISD high school seniors who participate in their high school cross country program.  The scholarships are named after Tal who started the DRC in 1969, which is coincidentally the same year I graduated from high school in Louisiana.  I moved to Dallas permanently that same summer.  I wished I had started running before I had gotten so many health problems.  820 DRC members pre-registered for the race.  I ran my normal 5K race.  Just before the turnaround I stopped running, counted to 10, then started running again.  It seems to help my breathing and I can make up the lost time without a problem.  My recovery after the race is a lot better now that I started using this technique.  My muscles are not as sore and I seem to be able to recover the next day alot easier.   My finishing time was 24:39 with a 7:56 mile pace.  I was first out of five in my age group, 51 out of 143 men overall, and 58 out of 317 overall.  Tommy was the Master's winner and Leslie won her age group in the 15K.   USMD has a new member to their outstanding medical team, Dr. C.K. Wang.  He is the director of medical Oncology.  If anyone needs advice prior to deciding on your Prostate Cancer treatment, please contact USMD Cancer Center in Arlington TX at 214-989-7440.   Place     Bib #     Men Overall   Overall   Chip Time    Pace 1/5       2270        51/143      58/317     24:39        7:56 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Jog With the Frog 5K

I ran in the Jog With the Frog 5K on March 31, 2012.  It was held at Fair Park Banshell, Dallas, TX. The race benefited Educational First Steps, who's mission is to improve the quality and availability of early childhood education for economically disadvantaged children. The children's 1K started and 8:00 am and the 5K at 8:30.  This  was Run-On's speed training goal race, ending this years second session.  My coach Daniel Hagelburg will soon start a new job with Adidas and he came out to the race to encourage us.   This was a fast, flat course that went around the outside of the park and back inside the park.  At the 1 mile marker, Coach told me my pace as I ran by.  It was about 7:25 per mile.  I started to slow down my pace some just before the half way mark.  At that point, I stopped running, counted to 10, then started running fast again. With about 3 tenths left, Coach said to "sprint hard to the finish line... you're almost there."  I crossed the finish line in 24:47.   Coach and I went to the 3 mile marker and waited for Ken Clayton, who after finishing the race in 23:08 (10 overall) jogged back to meet his wife who was pushing their two young children in a race stroller.  Just before the 3 mile marker, their young daughter got out of the stroller and started running along with her father Ken towards the finish line with mom right behind them pushing the other child.  It was a joy to watch them have so much fun together as a family.   I placed first out of four, 19 out of 75 men overall, and 20 out of 185 overall.  About 10 or more www.backonmyfeet.org runners won awards.  I high-fived each one after they received their award with such joy and happiness.  They may be homeless through no fault of their own, but their spirit was great.  Coach Daniel has inspired me to be the best runner I can be.  I will forever be grateful to him and I'm sure everyone in his class will miss him. Place  Bib #  Men Overall  Overall  Chip Time 1/4     988     19/75      20/185     24:47 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com