2017 Year in Review

66 - Races Run
27 - Races Announced (counting Seabrook as three as there was a race on three days)
  2 - Media (Chevron Houston Marathon and TX State Homeschool XC Meet)
  2 - DNS (10K, Marathon at time of Hurricane Harvey)
  2 - DNF (10M, Marathon)
  3 - Cheering runners on
  1 - Volunteer (Announcing at Barry Blanton's run aid station at Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas)

So basically, I appeared in some way, shape or form at 103 races in 2017.

And, actually, the races run and the races announced could have been a few more.

Honestly, the number was a little elevated this year because of my work northwest of Fort Worth. 

Seven times I stopped to do the Thursday night 5K on the Trinity Trails that was produced by the Cox Running Club. 

Although one other year here recently, I was at 104; therefore, it isn't a record.

36 - Races that were new to me.
11 - Races run in new Texas cities or towns, bringing the total to 137.
  4 - Races run in new North American cities or towns, outside of Texas, bringing that total to 163.

I tried to get to 50 "new races to me" this year to match the number of years old that I turned in January, but going down with a tight piriformis muscle that pulled my pelvis out of line in mid-September limited that some.

Performance-wise, things all went down hill after the 2:06:09 Revel Mount Charleston Half Marathon in Las Vegas the last Saturday in April.

Had a 2:13 and a 2:15 half on pretty flat courses in cold weather in late January and late February, respectively, in Sugar Land and Victoria.

I think the most fun that I had all year was the wazUPwidis 3.25-mile urban run/1,000 stair climb on a very cold morning in Roanoke, Virginia this February with Waverly.

We also had a good time at the seventh annual Cutters 5K in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in late June when we went back to visit my 92-year-old grandmother and her great-grandmother.

Another interesting and fun event was the Dam Night Run 5K in Arkadelphia, Arkanas - a fast downhill 5K.

I would give a Race Director of the Year award to Lauren Stroud, followed closely by Nancy Goodnight.  I ran two races of each of these ladies. 

Lauren does a really good job and just needs to get her help into a routine and gaining the confidence to know what decisions to make - to lessen her load a little bit.  That comes with time and experience.  You owe it to yourself to run one of Lauren's races, if at a minimum because the courses are pancake flat.

Nancy, on the other hand, will make each one of her races uniquely difficult, but she is about the only person that I know that has as much exuberant energy as Nancy is Patty Godfrey.

Good move by Robby Sabban to pick up Patty to announce for his Running Alliance Sport races. 

I know that some people are disappointed I no longer work RAS races, but Patty does an admirable job.  Great voice, a lot of excitement; different approach, but committed to the same type of professionalism and excellence that I seek to create.

I was really fortunate to get an opportunity to handle the finish line for the Houston Half Marathon.  I'm certainly eager to have that chance again in 2018.

And, of course, my most cherished races are the two cross country meets that I do for Sam Houston State University and the two that I do for The Woodlands High School boys program.

They wear me out more than any other race, but the way I see it:  there's only four UIL Region meets (and I get to do one) and there's only eight NXN Regional meets (and the same thing ... I get to do one).

Not really sure what 2018 has in store for me.

Honestly, my energy level is waning. 

And I've been through some situations I wish that I hadn't had to deal with.

I'm certainly excited, though, to support Waverly's debut marathon effort in two weeks.  I will start with her, running the first 5-6 miles, peel the timing device off my bib and then meet her at mile 20 and running her in. 

Because I have a bib in the same race and I start that race, my pacing her is legal and doesn't subject her to a DQ.

My plan to get ready was short-circuited by my injury, but I've finished 54 marathons - and it will be Waverly's day regardless of what the time is on the clock.

If you know of a good race that I should do that is fairly local, please let me know.

I'm certainly partial to races that are new to me and are in places that I've never run before. 

I don't know if I'll get to a race in 400 North American cities or towns or not, but I do hope to make some progress on running a mile in every Texas county (as a race in each is unlikely). 

I got to 106 today with eight in total on this short trip.

And, of course, I continue to look for a reason to not run as many races, but until that improves, as I tell many people, I have nothing better to do (and I need to try and keep the weight in check.)

In the meantime, I'll do my best to encourage you in what it is that you like to do.

If you count me as a friend, I'm honored. 

And more importantly, thank you for being my friend.

Have a great 2018 in just your life in general as well as the things that you do to maintain a healthy lifestyle.