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