The Jingle Bell Run 5K

It was a Wednesday night on December 21, 2011, that I ran in my third Jingle Bell Run 5K event. The race took place at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas Texas, and benefited the Trinity Strand trail and the Dallas Mavericks Foundation. This is one of the most sponsored races that I have attended, and I can't even begin to list them all. Check out the event website for a complete listing as well as results for the chip timed finishers.  There were over 6,000 walkers and runners attending this 7:00 PM night race, including 1,236 chip timed finishers (581 men and 655 women). The rest participated in the 1 mile fun walk and/or the non-chip timed 5K race. One thing I really liked about this event was that they had timing clocks at the 1 mile and 2 mile markers. This really helped, and I wish more events would do this. Another great thing about the race course was that there was no turnaround. Instead, we ran in through the historical arts district.  Champ, the Dallas Mavericks' mascot was at the starting line to greet everyone, just like he did last year. I started 6 rows back and got off to a fast start. I just kept running hard, following the big crowd of runners ahead of me. At the 1 mile marker, I saw the timer as I passed by. It read:  7:36. I felt great in this cool 40 degree weather. Breathing is easier for me in this type of cool temperature.  When I got to the 2 mile marker, my time was about 15:35 according to the timer. Usually, this is where I ry to increase my pace and give what I have left so that I can finish strong. That Wednesday night was no exception, and before long, I made it to the long straight-away to the finish line. As I approached the finish, I could see and hear all the relatives and friends cheering everyone, and the sound of the music.  As I crossed the finish line, I looked up at the timer, and saw that it was under 24 minutes. I was very tired, but was happy and satisfied when I crossed the finish line in the time of 23:45, a 7:40 / mile pace. When it was all said and done, I finished 220 out of 1236 overall finishers, 169 out of 581 men, and 2 out of 11 in my age division. I was also rewarded with my highest 5K age grade up to this point, 67.5%.  Peter Mullin of Houston won our age division in the annoyingly superb time of 18:22, for a 88% age grade. There are lots of teenagers that can't even run that fast! While we may not all achieve times like thats, we can all set our own personal goals… and achieve them with proper training. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I set a goal to survive and live a healthier lifestyle. Thanks to Dr. Justin Lee of USMD Prostate Cancer I was able to achieve this goal, and many more.  To date, my personal best 5K time is 23:33. However, I'm certain that the course was a little short. So, instead, I will count this as my new PR (personal record). My final time at last years race was 25:52, so I improved quite a bit in the past year. It must be the great Run-On! training. Thanks. Place  Bib#  Men Overall  Overall   Chip Time   Pace   Age Grade 2/11   355     169/581    220/1236    23:45     7:40     67.5% I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The Jog'r Egg Nog'r 15K and 5K

Once again, I raced in the 2011 Jog'r Egg Nog'r 15K and 5K Run and Walk. The race took place on December 17, in White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas. Like last year, I chose to run in the 5K race. This was a www.whiterockracing.com race, so check out their site for the results and more photos. The event sponsors were Run-On!, Baylor Sports Care, Davis Creative, Costco, and others. Oak Farms Shepps Dairy generously donated the egg nog, which everyone enjoyed. The finish line was at Norbuck Park. I arrived at the event, and parked close to the finish line, then warmed up with a brief jog. After that, I walked up a trail to the starting line, which was about half a mile away at the corner of Peavy and Van Dyke. Both the 5K and 15K races started together at 9:00 AM. The starting line was overlooking the beautiful White Rock Lake at the majestic skyline of downtown Dallas; the view was amazing. I was excited to get started since there was a downhill right at the beginning. Everyone got off to a fast pace as we ran down the steep downhill. It was about 40 degrees at race time. This was the only race in the Dallas area, and so all of the top local runners ran. There were 930 registered runners. All participants received a free long sleeved technical shirt with registration. After the fast start, I just tried to keep it going. After the turnaround we ran on a trail and then continued on the sidewalk. Finally we made our way back on to the pavement and headed toward the finish line at Norbuck Park. I finished in the time of 24:36 (a 7:55 / mile pace) for a 4th place finish out of 11 in my age division, and 116 out of 511 men. Also running in the race were Nan Ross, who recently got married, and Nicole Vela, who I trained with in the Run-On 10:30 pace group for White Rock races. Both ladies finished at the top of their groups. This is the only race company that gives out awards to the 5 fastest runners in about half of the age groups. So I received a coffee cup mug as a 4th place finisher. Place     Bib#     Overall     Time      Pace                                                             4/11     5645  126/511    24:36    7:55/ mile I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The Dallas White Rock Half Marathon

For my third half marathon I chose the the 42nd Metro PCS Dallas White Rock Half Marathon. The event took place on Sunday December 4, 2011. 8:00 AM at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. I know, I'm just a little late in posting the results here, but I will try to be more timely in the future. In any case, the event benefitted the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for children, with 1 million dollars being donated to the worthy cause.  There were 13,000 registered half marathon runners and 6,000 registered for the full marathon. There were also 5,000 five-person relay teams that pre-registered for the event. As a bit of motivation, there was a $25,000 total marathon purse, with $5,000 awarded to the overall men and women's marathon winners respectively.  The race was covered and televised by the ABC affiliate, WFAA channel 8 from 8 - 11 AM. Something interesting happened when I picked up my bib #, chip timer, and shirt on Friday morning at the sponsors expo at the automobile building in Fair Park. Many of us runners were asked to write a message on a sign with the title "Why I Run the Rock". Additionally, we were recorded on video saying a few words about why we run. Channel 8 ran our videos on a few big screens along the race course, as well as a selection on the live broadcast.  I had recorded the video on my DVR, so after the race I looked at the recording and was surprised to see my video on TV. This video was later included in a series of YouTube videos. My brief video is on video #3. Check it out here. There were just too many sponsors at the event to mention here. Check out their web-site: www.runtherock.com for the full list. You can also view the race results too. Arlington High School student, Virgilio Martinez, who ran the last 2 miles of a 16 member boy and girl high school relay team, passed and defeated the Kenyan marathon winner. There were over 300,000 spectators along the race course, cheering the runners as we ran. It was great.  I arrived early and parked behind the automobile building. This is where I, and other runners, gathered together before the race. This was the first race that I've run where we were assigned a corral to line-up before the race.  Because there were so many runners, it took me about 8 minutes just to reach the starting line. If you think that sounds bad, just keep in mind that the last runner crossed over the starting line in 38 minutes. At this point it wasn't raining, but that would change soon enough. The race-time temperature was about 42 degrees. It was basically impossible to pass the other because of the thousands of runners on the course.  At about 1 1/2 miles into the race, Teresa Nichols ran up beside me for a minute. Teresa is a member of the awesome Run-On training group that I run with (10:30 pace). I told her to go on ahead of me. I was doing my best, but wanted to pace myself for this long race. My favorite racing store and training location, Run-On!, had several tent locations along the course handing out towels to everyone. Thank you Run-On! There were also several bands playing music while we raced.  At about 3 miles into the race, it started raining. But thanks to a suggestion from my son John, I was prepared. I brought a bottle of Rain-X at AutoZone and put it on my glasses. It worked very well, keeping the rain off my glasses. Thanks John. From mile 5.5 to about 9, I had to face my worst enemy, hills. This is where I slowed down my pace. A little past the 8th mile, the marathon runners turned left, and I followed the other half marathon runners to the right. The good news is that the rest of the course was pretty flat except a few spots. My plan was to increase my pace at the 9th mile (after clearing the hills).  There were timing mats placed at the 5K, 10K, and 15K marks. My 5K time didn't register, but my 10K time was 54:08 and my 15K time was 1:23:47. I crossed the finish line the time of 1:57:16, a 8:57 / mile pace, and a new half marathon PR! I finished 1993 out of 9,675 half finishers, and 1371 out of 4057 men. There were an impressive 5616 women finishers. Great job ladies. I placed 15 out of 90 in 60-64 age division with my coach Tom Mason. This was amazing race to run in.  With all my health problems, I never thought I could run long distance races like this half marathon. Thanks to Run-On!'s training for the past year, I feel like I am able to run at my best potential. Special thanks goes to Jennifer Kimble and all the Run-On! coaches for keeping me in great physical shape, as well as USMD Prostate Cancer Center in Arlington, TX for keeping me healthy and cancer free.  I trained and ran my races the best I could. I wanted my little brother Jimmy to be proud of me and hoped he would try and exercise a little. He was a diabetic like me and our father, and he had several minor strokes and other severe health problems. In April of 2011, he passed away just 6 days after his 54th birthday. I believe that I am blessed to be able to run. Do yourself a favor and make today the day you begin your love of walking and running for your better health. If I can do this, you can too. Just start slow, and anything is possible. Place   Bib       Overall      Men Overall  Chip Time   Pace 15/90  20795  1989/9667    1369/4051      1:57:16      8:57 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Carrollton Runners Mile and 5K

After my 15K Plano Pacer race I raced the next morning, Sunday November 27, in the Carrollton Runners Mile and 5K at McInnish Park in Carrollton, TX. I ran in both of the races. The 1 mile started at 7:37 AM and the 5K started at 7:48. It was about 39 degrees with 16 mph cold wind blowing. When I tried my slow jog to warm up like I always do before a race, I knew it was not going to be one of my better race days. I was very sore from my 9.3 mile 15K race the day before. MOTOACTV, a music and fitness company, gave us a free tote bag at the starting line. I left mine tied to a tree by the curb, so I could run without the extra weight. Usually, on Sunday, I run with my Run-On! 10:30 pace group for our long runs, but I knew I couldn't do another 9 miles the day after that 15K. I finish the 1 mile race in the time of 8:22 / mile pace.  Place   Men     Overall   Time   Age Grade 2/2     10/13     12/15     8:22      55.0% After the 1 mile, I went back to retrieve my tote bag and by the time I had turned around, they had already started the 5K race. I just took my time, walked to my car to put bag up, then started the race in last place. Since this was a chip timed race, my start time didn't matter; the clock started when I actually crossed the start line. I passed my 80 year old running friend Robert Cunningham and a few others. My other running friend, 63 year old Scott McKissik, also raced in the two events. He finished ahead of me in the 1 mile race. Also running the race was Dallas morning News online blogger and runner, 65 year old Spareribs LaMothe, who mentioned the Carrollton Runner Club and its Race Director Ruben Saguil on his site. My 1 mile time was 9:07. I passed the turnaround shortly after, and my halfway time was 14:17. I always try to have a negative split during the second half of the race. My 2 mile time was 18:08 (a 9:00 / mile pace), which was about 2 1/2 minutes slower than my normal 5K pace. At abut 2.5 miles I finally started to loosen up my sore muscles. My 3 mile time was 26:39 (a 8:31 / mile pace). I started to run faster the closer I got to the finish line. I finished the second half in the time of 13:18, which was a 59 second negative split. I finished the event in the time of 27:34. My friend Scott also ran a 5K at Plano the day before. I assumed he had a better time than me. There were no awards given at this very small race. The fee was only $2.00 for member and $3.00 to new members on race day. Anyways, I was suprized when I looked at the results in the Dallas Morning News paper the next morning. I had actually finished a few seconds ahead of Scott. Next, I'm going to write about my the White Rock Half Marathon which I ran early in December. Still trying to catch up on my posts. Apologies for the delays. Place    Men      Overall    Time    Pace   Age Grade 1/2       15/26      21/47    27:34     8:52      58.2 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Plano Pacer's Turkey Runoff 15K

On Saturday November 26, 2011 I ran in a 15K race at the Plano Pacers Turkey Runoff 5K, 15K and Jr Sprint at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano TX. The race was free to yearly members and only $10 to guests. It was raining when I left to go to Plano and didn't stop until right before 6:00 AM. The temperature was just under 70 degrees for the start of the 15K and 5K which started at together at 8:00 AM. I started about 15 rows from the front and waited for the race to get started. After the first mile I looked at my Garmin to check my time. I had run it in 8:04, which was pretty fast for a first mile in a 15K race. I told myself to slow down. This was a 9.3 mile race, basically three 5K in one, so I needed to reserve some energy for the finish. I actually ran this race earlier in the year in February, so I went back to read what I had written on my blog so I could "study" the course. Because of that bit of research, I already knew there were a few small hills, and mentally prepared myself for them. My 3 mile time was 25:01 (a 8:25 / mile pace). Around the 6th mile is where the hills were, and so my pace slowed down a bit at that point with a time of 51:11 (a 9:13 / mile pace). A little farther on from the 6th mile marker was the turnaround, just past the 10K marker. There were only 2 water stops on the course, but they were set up in a way that you passed them twice. Great idea, the problem is that the cups of water were very small. I took a few of them all along the way for energy. With only 2 miles to go, I ran as fast as I could. At mile 8, my time was 1:08:20 (8:16 / mile pace) and I ran the same pace for mile 9 with a time of 1:16:36. We had to circle the pond and finish in front of the pavilion, and I finished in the time of 1:19:47 (7:48 / mile pace). They gave out nice trophies to all the award winners including the Jr. Sprint kids. I placed 2nd out of 6 in my new 60 - 64 age division; 32 out of 50 men and 37 out of 77 overall 15K finishers. For the first time ever, I scored above 70 in my age grade with 73.1. To compare, my time on this same course in February was 1:26:01, so this is a new personal record in a 15K race. Like most runners, I run faster when the weather is cooler.  Place     Men      Overall    Chip Time    Pace     Age Grade  2/6      32/50      37/77       1:19:47       8:34        73.1 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Help The Homeless 5K

On Saturday November 12, 2011, I ran in the Help the Homeless Run and Walk 5K at Fair Park in Dallas, TX. Honoring Dallas Homeless Veterans, the proceeds of this event benefitted The Bridge, and Back on My Feet. The Program Director for Back on My Feet, Lea Velez, led the stretching before race aided by a large number of homeless runners and walkers from the organization and their Run-On! training partners. Race registration started at 2:00 PM, at the race started at 3:30 PM which is later than usual for these types of races. As it turns out, there was an Alzheimer's walk at the same location in the morning. There was a huge amount of sponsor support for this event, including: Orix Foundation, Walmart, Baylor, Fannie Mae, Marianne and Roger Staubach, Run-On!, 103.7 Lite FM, My Fit Foods, Cliff Bars, Poweraide, Community Coffee, and more. The fun walk started at 4:30 PM, and there was live music from a band called Emerald City afterwords. I arrived early, and took my 1 mile slow warm up jog, then took a picture with 103.7 radio and talked to the Run-On! crew. I lined up on the first row along side a few homeless runners to start the race. I took off fast, and after about half a mile I was running at a 7:07 pace. I told myself to  slow down, there was still a long way to go. We started inside of Fair Park, then went on the street outside park, eventually running back into park to the finish line. I crossed the finish line and stopped my watch at 25:07. I later checked the posted race results and it showed that I had finished in 23:31. That seemed way too fast. I asked other runners and they said their times were fast too. I spoke to the Run-On! race timer and he found and corrected the times, and listed them on the websites final results. I knew I didn't run that fast. I only want the results that I earn from my Run-On! training and my own effort. Everyone seemed to have a great time at the race. There was dancing, music, food, and all that good stuff. There were only 157 chip timed finishers but many hundred more ran and walked without the chip. It cost $5.00 more if you wanted to have chip timed, and many opted to run without it.  I finished 1st place in this, my last race in the 55-59 age division and 17th out of 157. My final time 25:06 at 8:06 / mile pace.  Place   Bib #    Men       Overall    Chip Time     Pace 1/4     364     15/71    17/157     25:06        8:06 / M I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The DRC Half Marathon

On sunday, November 6, 2011 I ran in my second half marathon race, the DRC Half at Norbuck Park in White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX. The event benefitted the Tal Morrison Scholarship Fund, and there were many sponsors, including: DRC, Run-On!, New Balance, ESP, Cliff Bar, Muscle Milk, Powerade, and many more. The first 3,500 registered runners received a long sleeve technical shirt; yellow for the men and pink for the women. I volunteered at the Dallas Run-On! store for the first morning of packet pickup, and noticed that there were more runners that registered without getting the shirt. They gave away cash prizes for the top half marathon finishers, totaling $5,000.00. DISD (Dallas Independent School District) had a shuttle service for runners that used DART (Dallas public transportation). At 7:30 AM there was a early marathon start for those that planned on finishing the race in over 3 hours and 15 minutes. The half officially started at at 8:00 and the 5K started at 8:20. There was a large food tent and the Beer Garden opened at 10:00. Looking around, I was proud to see that there was a large turnout of Run-On! runners and volunteers at the event.  Since there was no parking at Norbuck Park, I arrived early and parked across the street at Flagpole Hill. I volunteered to take some pictures for DRC, and wanted to do a good job. I took some pics before I ran my half then had to go back to my truck to get the camera again after the race (since I didn't want to run with it). Usually I like to start at the front, close to the starting line, but for this race everyone was told to line up according to pace group. I got behind the 1:50 / mile pace group which I knew was too fast for me, but I didn't want to start too far behind in such a large crowd of runners. The humidity was high, and there were tons of hills which slowed down most of the runners around me. Thanks to Run-On! Training Coordinator Jennifer Kimble, I had a good plan on how to run this race course. The first 3.5 miles were mostly flat, then there were many hills. I trained with my Run-On! coaches and 10:30 pace members to take these hills a bit more effectively. I was running at a comfortable pace, but every time I came to a hill, my pace started to slow down. The final 3 miles of the race was back to the White Rock Lake trail and then back to the finish line at Norbuck Park. It was mostly flat course but I had exhausted a lot of energy making it over those hills. At about 2 miles left, many runners started to pass me up. In a shorter race, I like to save some energy for the last mile or so but my legs just didn't want to run any faster. I just tried to keep the pace I had, and finish the race. I wanted to finish under 2 hours. Back at Norbuck Park I passed the 13 mile marker, and gave what I had left. When I crossed the finish line, the clock said 2:00:04. I was a little disappointed that I had missed my goal by 4 seconds. Theresa, who I train with at Run-On!, said that since I started further back, behind the pace group, I should have finished under 2 hours. Later, I checked the results and found that I had finished in 1:59:30. Looks like I just made it. This was by far my most challenging race so far. I would like to thank USMD Prostate Cancer Center and everyone who has encouraged me at my Run-On! training. My next half is the Dallas White Rock Half on December 4, 2011. I received my DRC 35 Anniversary Commemorative medal for finishing this half. Place     Bib #       Overall      Chip Time    Pace                25/82     1633      880/2716      1:59:30     9:10 / m I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com