Too Cold to Hold 15K & 5K

On the birthday of my youngest son, January 22, 2012, I ran in the 17th annual Too Cold to Hold 15k/5k at Norbuck Park in White Rock Lake, Dallas TX.  This race  benefited the Protective Animal League, and was the 2nd of 7 Run-On! Premier Metroplex Race Series races.  New Balance has given $100 off a new pair of NB shoes bought at any Run-On! store for the first 200 runners to sign up for all 7 races.   I had originally signed up for the 15k but at the Run-On! package pick up, I changed my mind and switched to the 5k because I have IT Band pain in my knee, hip, and lower leg.   There were over 1300 finishers in both races combined, which started together. After about three tenths of a mile the 15k runners stayed straight, while the 5k runners went left up a steep hill. It seemed like about 30 or 40 runners passed me up... I felt like I was running in quick sand. I picked it back up going down hill and on to flat ground.  I saw Run-On! employee Alex Courrall already coming back from the turnaround close behind the other top runners. After I made the turnaround, I tried to make up some time by running faster on the flat groud. I glanced at my Garmin timer and with three tenths of a mile left, it read 22:47.  I was trying to hit a PR in honor of my son's Birthday to thank him for all he does and show him how much he means to me.  He is the one that types up my race blogs and adds the pictures.  He has a full-time job now that eats up a lot of his time, which is why it there's a delay in getting these online, but I really appreciate his help.   I met Gene who trained me at www.fitstepsforlife.org which is a cancer center. I haven't seen Gene in a while because he took a different job, but it was good seing him again.  Jan Goss, who also trains with Run On!, finished the 15k with a time of 1:16:31. She is 63 years young and way faster that I am.   My friend Alex finished 8th overall and first in his age group with a 5k time of 19:59. Place    Bib#     Men       Overall    Chip Time   Pace 1/6      176    65/289    83/707      24:22       7:52 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The 9th Annual MLK Day and Dream 5K

Two days after my last race (Hotcake Hustle) which was dedicated to my mother's 87th birthday, I ran in the ninth annual MLK Day + Dream 5k, 1 mile run/walk. This is the third year in a row that I have participated in this race which was held January 16, 2012, at River Legacy Park in Arlington TX. The race benefited AISD's Blanton and Crow Elementary Schools. With help of volunteers from St. Alban's Episcopal Church, race director Jeph  Abara, always puts on a great low cost race. There were over 20 drawings from several sponsors who donated gifts. As luck would have it, my bib number was selected and I won a pair of sunglasses. It was a bit cloudy at 67 degrees for the 10am 5k start. This is a flat, fast, wooded tree lined course. I was having some discomfort in my right knee, but wouldn't let it slow me down. We started on the street in front of the pavilion. After a short distance we reached the trail. Once I got moving I started to feel a little  better. At the turnaround, I was feeling pretty good and was able to run all out to the finish line. I finished with a time of 24:17 and a 7:49 pace.  I ended up getting 1st place out of 4 in my age group, 22 out of 73 men, and 27 out of 171 overall finishers.  There were 98 female and 73 male finishers.   In the fast 55-59 age group, long time Run On! runner, J.J. Jenkens, and Tony Colon finished 6th and 7th overall with a time of 19:57.  John Ball finished 3rd in that age group and 11th overall. These guys make me glad to be 60. It will only be a few months before they join me in the 60-64 age group, so I guess I should enjoy it while I can.   Maybe I should have dedicated THIS race to my mother...since I actually finished in 1st place. Jeph picks runners at random that did not get an award in their age group and awards them his special Souls + Soules award. When you train and do you best, you appreciate an award like this very much.  He is the only person that I've met that gives out these kind of awards... I think it's pretty cool. The results for this race can be found at www.runningintheusa.com. Place  Bib #   Men   Overall   Pace   1/4   2783   22/73   27/171   7:49 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The 2012 Hotcake Hustle 10K

On Saturday, January 14, 2012...my beautiful mother's 87th birthday, I ran in The Hotcake Hustle 5K/10K at the Addison conference center in Addison, TX. This was the first of seven races for the Run On! Project Premier DFW Metroplex Race Series. My mother, who has Alzheimer's, no longer knows who I am. I ran this race in honor of her and for everyone else who has this terrible debilitating disease. I picked up my race package, which included a free coffee mug and long sleeve t-shirt, at the Dallas Run On! store before the event.  This race was sold out with over 2,000 entries. The fun run started on a trail in front of our starting line at 8am, and the 5k and 10k started together at 8:30. The race benefited the Addison Midday Rotary Club, and several of their members volunteered to help with the race.  and Jerry Glover, of Jerry Glover Photography, took some amazing race photos, like he always does.  The weather was in the low 40s for the start of the race.  There was a Run On! table, where I met several other Run On! runners before and after the race. I saw Kevin Lipski, my Sunday long distance trainer that helps me train for my Half Marathons, among others. Kevin ran back-to-back marathons in 2 days in Allen, TX at the first of the year. Now you know why I have him help me train.   There was a nice straight away at the start of the race.  I was running under a 7 minute pace, which is way to fast, but since I was running for my mom, I was trying to finish under 24 minutes. We then came to a long bridge which had steep incline. I naturally slowed down going up the hill, but I tried to make it up by speeding up on the down hill. We then reached the 5k turnaround while the 10k runners split off. Since I ran the 5k, I hit the turnaround and headed  back the way we came.   I started to run faster as I headed back towards the  bridge for a second time. I crossed the bridge and then made up some time while passing a few runners. I was giving all I could while I thinking about my mother. I couldn't help but thank her for all that she has done for me.  At this point, I reached the straight away where I sprinted as fast as I could. Just  before reaching the finish line, I glanced over and saw timer at just over 24 minutes. I was a little disappointed as I crossed the finish line at 24:08, and the race announcer said my name and age over the speaker.  I finished 2nd place out of 13.  The winning time in the 60-64 age group was 23:41. I finished 72 out of 1,081 total 5k runners with a 7:47 pace. Because Alztiemer's disease is hereditary, I now take the Exelon patch for early signs of Dementia. Hopefully it will help slow down the process. I would hate to get Alztiemer's and no longer be able to remember my two sons, who I love so much. I love you mama... Place    Bib #      Men       Overall    Chip Time    Pace 2/13    165     55/376   72/1081      24:08       7:47 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The Bold in the Cold Half Marathon 2012

On my first race of the new year, I chose the 15th edition -- Bold in the Cold Half Marathon on Saturday, January 7.  This was a LGRAW race held at their club location at Oak Grove Park, Grapevine TX.  This was the first year they added the half to the 15k and 5k races.  To prepare for this race, I trained by myself at a park near my home until this past week when I started my first week back of early speed training with my Run On! coach Daniel Hagelberg.   At the start of the race, the temperature was in the low 40s with very little wind.  I picked up my tech t-shirt and old time chip timer and made my way to the starting line.  The Half and the 15k started at the same and ran the first 9.3 mile together. After a fast start, I was running with six 30 something ladies that were running the 15k.  We seemed to be running the same pace, but I still had another four miles to go.  The race started on the street, transitioned to a trail with very challenging hills...and that was just the first half of the race.  We had to double  back and do it again on our way to the finish line.   The Volunteers did a great job directing us and keeping us hydrated  by passing out water and Gatorade. Just past the half way mark, Dallas Morning News blogger and avid runner, 65 year old Spareribs Lamothe, just passed me up.  I've never finished ahead of him in all the times that we've raced together.  I knew that he was a strong runner, so I was just trying to keep him in my sights to push myself to get the best time.  I was running an 8:30 pace at the turnoff of the 15k.  I wished the ladies good luck as we split off in different directions.  My 15k time was 1:21:17.  At the 10 mile mark, my pace slowed as I started to get fatigued.  With one mile to go a Run On! lady-coach and partner passed me up.  This inspired me to finish up strong.   I finished my fourth Half Marathon (in 3 1/2 months) with a new PR time (personal record) of 1:55   :48.9.  I placed 5th out of 13 in the 60-64 age group, 99 out of 180 men, and 122 out 328 overall Half finishers.  I ended up with an 8:50 overall pace.  I finished 12 seconds  behind Spareribs.  Thanks to Spareribs and the beautiful ladies for pushing me towards the finish line.            Place     Bib#    Men    Overall   Chip Time    Pace 5/13      1994   99/180  122/328   1:55:48.9    8:50 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Plano Pacers Holiday Hustle

On the last day of 2011, I raced in the Plano Pacers Holiday Hustle 3K and 8K at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano Texas. This was one of the Plano Pacers' monthly races, open to club members and guests alike. It only costs $25.00 for an annual membership, and $10.00 per race for guests, which is a pretty good deal. Since I had never run a 3K race before, I decided to do the shorter 1.86 mile 3K. The temperature was about 37 degrees at the start of the race.  Both the 3K and 8K races started together at the same time. We ran a short distance around the pond in front of the closed pavilion that is being remodeled. Then, the 3K runners turned left, on to another trail that went out of park info area. I had never been to this part of the park before, so I took a look around while I raced. At this point, we ran to another pavilion then turned around toward the finish line which was on the trail by the starting pavilion.  I ran as fast as I could. My goal was to finish the race in under 14 minutes. Here's how I actually did: I ran the 1st mile in 7:29 according to my Garmin timer, and ran the last .86 miles at a 6:50 / mile pace. I crossed the finish line in a final time of 14:15.6, just narrowly missing my goal.  The finish was good enough to place 2 out of 6 in my age group, 22 out of 55 men, and 23 out of 81 overall 3K finishers. There were a total of 122 8K runners, and 10 clydesdale / athena finishers. There was also a Jr. Sprint race for the very young children, but I'm not sure how many competed.  Thinking back on this race, I remember that around this time I just lost about 5 lbs of the 10 I gained during the holidays. Basically, I started drinking more water and stopped eating the extra (healthy) snacks that I had been eating for my half marathon training.  We all say that we will start exercising and eating right at the beginning of every new year. However, most of us stop after a few weeks. When it comes down to it, every person has to decide for themselves to change the way they live. For me, the change came after I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. The doctors and staff at USMD Prostate Cancer Center, where I was successfully treated, recommended that I excursive and eat healthier so that I could avoid a recurrence. I took their advice and decided to change my life. Since then, I ran my first competitive race ever in October of 2009, and I have finished 3 half marathons with a 4th one coming up soon.   Place  Bib#     Men    Overall     Time     Pace  Age Grade 2/6    2787  22/55   23/81   14:15.6   7:39    73.1 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Carrollton Running Club 5K and 1 Mile

I ran in both races of the monthly Carrollton Running Club event, on Monday, December 26, 2011; the day after Christmas. As usual, the event took place at Mcinnish Park in Carrollton, Texas. After setting a new 5K personal record of 23:45 at the Jingle Bell Run, I wanted to try to break my club and personal record in the 1 mile race.  It was 38 degrees and cloudy on race day, which suited me fine. The 1 mile race started at 7:40 AM. I finished in the time of 7:17.66, a new record for me. I didn't have time to celebrate though since the 5K race started a few minutes later at 7:57 AM.  The park was closed for the Christmas holiday, and there was a closed road gate, so the race director, Ruben Sagyil, had to change our normal 5K course. Once the fastest runner ran the correct course, everyone else simply followed each other to the finish. Because of the new course, we actually ran 3.24 miles instead of 3.1 miles. However, Ruben graciously adjusted everyone's time. I finished the 5K in 25:40.  There were 19 first time sign ups at this event, which is excellent. The men's, and overall, winner was Tommy Brown of Florida. The women's winner was Kim Rogers-Tracy. There were no awards given out at this low cost race.  Registration is only $2.00, so that's kind of an award in itself. However, Ruben gave me a tote bag and water bottle from MOTOACTV for my 1 mile club PR. Kim, who ran with her family, received the same prize. The week after this event, I went back to my early speed training class at Run-On! The first day we run a magic mile, which helps the coach evaluate which training group will be best. As always, special thanks to Dr. Justin Lee and all of the staff at USMD Prostate Cancer Center in Arlington, Texas. None of this would be possible without their life changing surgery. 1 Mile Results: Place    Bib#    Men    Overall   Chip Time   Age Grade 1/2     7051   6/10     6/12      7:17.66        63.2% 5K Results: Place    Bib#     Men     Overall   Chip Time   Pace    Age Grade  1/3    7051   14/25    16/45       25:40       8:15      62.5% I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

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