On April 21, 2012, I ran in the NCR Sprint for Cancer 5K held at Urban Towers in Las Colinas/Irving TX.  They also had a free fun walk/run and a 10K race.  It benefited Young Texas Against Cancer (www.ytac.org/Dallas) who donated $40,000 to UT Southwestern Medical Center for pediatric cancers.  Geoff Godsey, from DFW Active Lifestyle (http://www.dfwactivelife.com/), emceed the races.  My son John and his family came out to encourage me and take pictures of the race. I took my 1 mile slow jog then looked around at the sponsors tents.  Before the race started, I noticed my Garmin was missing from my wrist so I ran this race without knowing what my pace was.  It was a cool 50 degrees for this fast loop around race.  Those that did the 10K run had to loop around twice.   I had some pain in my right knee during my warm up, so I didn't start out running full speed.  Several runners passed me up with some of them running in the 10K.  I waited until I reached the 2 mile marker to start running faster.  I started to pass up a few runners who had started out too fast.  Without proper training, starting too fast will cause most runners to have to slow way down to finish the race.  My RunOn! speed training class has helped me to pace myself and have enough energy to run the last mile strong... for an old man at least.  When I looked up to see the finishing clock I was surprised to see that my time was under 25 minutes.  Without my Garmin, it was difficult to keep a consistent pace or know what time I was running.  I finished with a time of 24:52.  There were over 20 races this weekend so there were not very many 60 and over runners at this race.  I finished first out of only 2 in my age group, 47 out of 184 men overall, and 55 out of 446 overall.   I wore my DadFest bandana to help promote the June 16 Prostate Cancer race.  Go to www.dadfest.com for more information about this race.  My son and I spoke to several men about the  importance of early PSA screenings.  If you need info, contact the best at USMD Prostate Cancer Center. After I got home I ended up finding my Garmin... in the back seat of my truck... I guess that happens when you get old.  It made me happy to find it as I cannot afford a new one... life is good.  Place    Bib #     Men Overall    Overall    Chip Time    Pace 1/2      919          47/184       55/446      24:52        8:00 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The 5th Annual Seton Soles 5K

On April 14th, I ran in the 5th annual Seton Soles 5K Walk/Run, held at St. Elizabeth and Seton Catholic Church in Plano TX. This race raised funds for the Monsignor Henry V. Petter endowment fund for support for peace and justice.  A local agency recieved $10,000 from the fund.   Justin Sucato, a 12 year Prostate Cancer survivor and mentor to me and all who attended local Prostate Cancer support group meetings in the area, suggested this race to me before he died last year.  We all miss our friend and his great research on Prostate Cancer.  The advice he gave helped everyone make the most informed decisions in regards to their care and treatment of Prostate Cancer.  He was a well respected member of the Prostate Cancer community. So much so that the North Texas Prostate Colition gives out an award each year in his honor.  This was a Run-On! race and I was able to meet a few of the Team Run-On! winners: Meg Penrose,  Betty Haynes, and Jj Jenkins.  I also met some DRC (Dallas Running Club) runners: Scott McKissick and  Bill Shirley.  After the 1 mile fun run, I started a few rows back at the start line.  The first 3/4 of a mile was a straight shot right down the street, then we turned right.  There was no turnaround, just a circle around and back towards the starting line.  We had a 30 mph wind blowing in our faces to start the race.  I did not go all out becaue I tried to save my energy for the trip back with the wind behind me.  The mile markers were a little off but the final 5K marker was correct.   I was following Bill Shirley, 68, who I've neve finished ahead of.  He missed several weeks because of an injury. Just before getting back to the 3/4 mile straight away towards the finish line, as I passed  Bill, I encouraged him to finish strong.  I ended up finishing with a time of 24:54.  Bill's time was 25:07.  He won his age group by over seven minutes.  For the second week in row I finished just ahead of Scott McKissick who also ran and finished 2nd in the Big D 5K the following day.  He's always telling me to take it easy before the race... turns out he took it easy on me.   I finished first out of 11 in my age group, 43 out of 242 men, and 50 out of 493 chip timed runners, with a pace of 8:01.  Many Church supporters ran in the race but did not use their chip timer.   As always, thanks to my Run-On! Training coaches and running group for making me the best runner I can be.  Many runners say hello to me at my races, and it makes me feel wonderful about running for a cause.  I am able to race just about every week thanks to my sponsor and treatment center USMD Prostate Cancer Center.   Place    Bib number    Men Overall    Overall    Chip Time    Pace 1/11        1415            43/242        50/493      24:54        8:01 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

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

Debbie fettermen wrote a short article on me about the Dadfest race in her weekly Friday of the Dallas morning new she also has it on her blog its on the last page of the sports page.  teddy I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

Carrollton Runner's Club 5K

On Sunday March 25, 2012, I ran in the Carrollton Runner's Club 5K and 1 mile at McInnish  Park in Carrollton, TX. It was 61 degrees and clear at the 7:50 AM 5K start. My oldest son John and his family came out to support me and surprised me by having his two step daughters sign up for their fist 5K together.  The girls had special t-shirts with my picture and blog info on them...it was really cool. David Mask, who is difficult for me to beat, is still 59 and this was my last chance to win a race in the 60-64 age group  before he turns 60.  It will be a long 4+ years for me when he turns 60.  Another club runner, Julio Lopez, 56, will be running in the Boston Marathon in April.  All of our club members are very proud of him.   There were only 32 5K finishers.  The Rock and Roll Half Marathon was on the same day, and many runners chose to run the rock instead.  I wanted to break my own club record in this race, so I decided not run the 1 mile like I normally do.  Just before the turnaround, I stopped running and walked.  I then counted to 12 and then started running fast again.  Kim Andres, 59, who races many of the same race I do, always stops for a few seconds which she says helps her breathing.  Since her time is always faster than mine, I decided to try out her strategy.  I have tired this strategy on my longer runs because I also breathe heavily, and it does help me recover quicker, giving me an excellent second wind.   At the halfway mark, my time was 12:36.  I always try to run faster in the second half of the race which is called a negative split.  However, this time I finished the second half with a time of 12:46, 10 seconds slower that the first half... for a positive spit.  At least I achieved my goal, setting my new club record in my final time of 25:21.  I finished first out of 2 runners in my age group, 15 out of 21 men, and 18 out of 32 overall.  My pace was 8:09, and my age grade was 63.2%.   I doubled back to run with the girls since it was their first 5K. When we got to the 3 mile marker, I said "who wants their name in the Dallas Morning News results".  Jasmine, the younger sister, took off sprinting to the finish line.  I stayed back with Kimberly, the older sister.  My son John took some pictures of the race.  I am extremely proud of the girls for their effort to better their health and show their support for me.   My hope is always to make a difference in someone's life before they start having health related illnesses that could lead to Cancer.  I waited until after I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer to start exercising and taking better care of myself and I wish I had started earlier.  One of the best decisions I made was to take the advice of the Doctors at USMD Prostate Cancer Center in Arlington, and begin exercising. If you need a Urology Doctor, don't waste time, contact the best at USMD Prostate Cancer Center in Arlington Texas.    After the race I visited with John and his family.  We had lunch and John even helped me type up some of my blogs.  Now my younger son Edward just has to add the pictures and post it to Tumblr.  Thanks John and Edward.  You are both great sons. I hope you know how much I love you both.  Jasmine and Kimberly, I hope to see you running at another race...good job girls and congratulations on a well run race. Place     Men Overall    Overall    Chip Time     Pace    Age Grade                              1/2          15/21         18/32       25:21         8:09        63.2% I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com

The Dash Down Greenville 5K

On March 17, 2012, I ran in one of my favorite races of the year... The Dash Down Greenville 5k.  This is the third race of the 7 Run On! Project Series.  After the race, Run On! handed out a $60,000 check to the North Texas Food Bank. After ariving early to find parking, it started raining which pushed temperatures close to 70 degrees by race time.  It was very humid.  There were over 7,600 runners registered for the Dash.  Some registered late without chip timing.  Thanks to Mark Cuban and other merchants, the annual parade that started after the race was amazing.  I stayed and took a few pictures as usual. This race did not have a turnaround.  It started out on Greenville Ave, and circled back around to finish with a long dash down Greenville to the finish.  I started about 10 rows back.  The Sunday Edition of The Dallas Morning News had a color photo of us lining up at the start. The Run On! website has over 100 photos of the race... I showed up in 3 of them.  Thanks to the Gerry Glover Photography team.  I stated like most of my 5k races... as fast as I can... just following the large crowd of runners.  I knew I would not get lost in this race because there were more than enough people to follow.  After about a mile and a half, I started to get fatigued with the humidity climbing.  Several Run On! runners passed me and encouraged me, like 72 year old Jim Sampson who finished in the time of 22:29... incredible!  I took a picture with Jan Goss (24:19), her son, and long time Run On! team runner, 75 year old Larry Martin who finished in 34:58.   I waited until the home stretch to increase my pace because if I would have done so earlier, I would have ran out of gas.  I gave what I could, passing some runners, while other passed me up.  I was totally exhausted and finished in 25:06...30 seconds slower than my time in last years race.   The female 25-29 age group had 822 total finishers which was more than the total for most entire races that I've run.  I finished sixth out of 25 in my age group and 521 out of 5035 chip timed overall finishers with a pace of 8:06. I'd like to thank my Run On! speed training coach Daniel Hagelberg and all the encouragement that I recieved from our speed group.   You probably already know that Prostate Cancer is the second most common Cancer amongst men.  What you may not know is that USMD has some of the best Prostate Cancer Doctors in the US.   Robotics Surgery - Dr. Rich Beven Thomas, Dr. Justin T. Lee, and others...Cryo Surgery --  Dr. Thomas and Dr. Cliff Vestal...Radiation -- Dr. Peter La Nasa. Place    Bid#   Overall    Time    Pace 6/25     653    521/5035   25:06   8:06 I run to raise awareness for prostate cancer and to benefit my community. www.runningforacause.tumblr.com