Memorial Day Report; May 31, 2021

So, Sunday evening, Waverly and I went and walked four miles on The Woodlands Waterway.  Make that 4.05 actually.

We had to veer off the normal course south of The Waterway because of the fireworks setup around the Waterway basin near Town Green Park.

We covered the entire distance in 59:38 and Waverly had our pace on her Apple Watch as 14:42 per mile; therefore, I figured out the distance from there.  (We went 30:58.29 out and 28:38.31 back.)

On our way out to Fleet Feet Sports, we saw Dan Jordan and Susan Rouse.  Second time in a week that I've seen them out.  Good people.

Today, Monday morning, I headed north to Huntsville to run the Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K.  

It is something I've done six of the last nine years.  Two of the three years that I missed were to visit my grandmother in 2016 and 2018 before she passed away and then two years ago to announce the inaugural Memorial Day 10K/5K, then at St. Thomas High School before COVID-19 last year.

Really great group today.  52 ran the 5K and another 25 did the 1-mile run.  

There were probably about a dozen volunteers.

I went through the first mile in 9:08.16 and went, "Oh crap," especially since I knew the last two miles had some inclines in them.

And they didn't disappoint:  10:05.82 in mile two and 10:39.87 in the third mile.

I sprinted - for me - to a 50.40 in the last tenth of a mile to finish in 30:44.25.

Thanks, as always, to Ken and Marilynn Johnson and their families who hosted the event in the Timberwilde subdivision just west of Interstate 45 off of Highway 30.

The Freemans, the Bickfords, Steve Allen and others also volunteered.

Appreciate the entire Seven Hills Running Club group.

No surprises from the south and I was personally thankful for that.

Before I took my rental car back to the IAH airport, I also put in 10 miles on the Air Assault bike

My running and walking to break a sweat totals through 4 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2021 (I may go walk four to break 170 later) are as follows:

GVRAT miles = 166.081 

Ahead of pace at 31 days = 157.80 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 31 days = 163.36 based on 642.9 miles

And ...

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on foot.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25 - May 31 (7 days)

19.25 miles running - 20.08 miles walking = 39.33 miles combined + 9.87 miles light walking = 49.20 miles on foot.  40.3 miles cycling.  6,217 meters rowing.

Am thankful for everything, including the stuff that just sucks and never had to be.  Lot of cost (to me) to that, but it is all about self-preservation (or self-care).

Cibolo Crossing Stampede 5K Race Report; May 29, 2021

This morning's Cibolo Crossing Stampede 5K in Schertz, Texas was my "at least" 898th race since starting to run in 2003.

I say "at least" as there's at least two years (2009-2010) I don't know if I have a complete ledger of races.

Rain was going to be in play anywhere you raced today, Saturday, May 29, 2021, up and down the Interstate 35 corridor all the way from San Antonio to the D-FW Metroplex.

I really wanted a third go at the Larry Don's 7 & 7K in Gustine, but I want to be able to drop a few more counties this weekend.

I have run a mile or more in 185 Texas counties with 69 to go.

If all goes well, I plan to at least get four before making my way north for tomorrow's Bad Ass Texas 10K in Waco.

So I drove over last evening here to San Antonio and found a Hampton Inn close to the race site that will be a launching point for today's mile-plus running activities.

I made it to the race site at 7 a.m. for an 8 a.m. on-time race start (and it was) and had a chance to visit with good friend Scott Wood of Athlete Guild, who was timing the race today.

After we visited a little bit, I scoped the course out a little bit and knew from looking at the course map that it was going to be a double loop, where on the second loop we would be cut short of the full distance to get the overall distance right.  Was just asking if somebody was going to be there to keep people from cutting it short.

I hate running a course short -- well, or long, for that matter.

At about 7:40 a.m., I did something that I normally don't do:  run a mile warm-up.  Nothing too hard.  Just 11 minutes easy.  I should do more of it, but it did - other than a little rain - get me sufficiently soaked pre-race.

I've never been a fan of standing in a corral before COVID so I didn't again today and was the last one to cross the start line.

We started in between two buildings, through a short driveway and then a right out on to a completely closed road.  We went no more than a tenth of a mile or two and then we took a right to do a short out and back to get the distance right.

On the loop south, we had a short incline and then a steep long one before we got the mile one marker which was just after the turn to go back north.

Mile 1 was 9:27.00.

There was a short incline and then another long gradual one back close to the start and then another turnaround to come back south.

Before the place where we made the right hand turn for the quick out and back was mile 2.

With the two inclines, it slowed me down a little to 10:07.04 in the second mile for a total of 19:34.04.  Am thinking to myself, "OK, 9:45.  I can live with that with the inclines."

On the third and last full mile, we got three inclines and that came in at 10:00.98.

The last one tenth of a mile was 1:07.07 for a total time of 30:42.09, but I'm thinking that the mile marker was placed wrong because I was, for me, half hauling butt and I normally can crank off a 54-second last tenth of a mile.

I talked to a runner in the parking lot and he had 3.08 miles on his wrist device.

Good effort.  I'll take it after a complete off day yesterday.

This was my 19th race of the year and 11 of those have been new to me.

GVRAT miles = 146.781 

Just off pace at 29 days = 147.61 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

A bit more off pace at 29 days = 152.82 based on 642.9 miles

And ...

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on foot.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25 - May 29 (5 days)

4.1 miles running - 16.03 miles walking = 20.13 miles combined + 5.77 miles light walking = 25.9 miles on foot.  30.3 miles cycling.  6,217 meters rowing.

Chasing Texas Counties; May 29, 2021

Long day, but a good one.  Mostly.

When I "chase counties" like I did today, a lot of the time it is therapy for me.  And, as of late, I really need it.

My job keeps me inside five days a week so when I'm done working I have to get out, including the weekends.

I have a hard time sitting at home.

Sure I like to read and want to chew off a bunch of books again this year, but I need to get out and be moving.

After running the Cibolo Crossing Stampede 5K, I ventured south down Interstate 35 and found the last Whataburger before breakfast stopped being served at 11 a.m. in Lytle.  It would prove to be my 154th different Whataburger to purchase something from (most of the time it has always been a meal, but once or twice I got a shake).

Then it was south to Dilley and then head west to Carrizo Springs.

The routine, if you're a new reader, is to go to the county courthouse, take a few pictures, including anything interesting that might be around it.  There are often historical landmark signs and today in Uvalde, for example, it was the Grand Opera House - in a town of about 12,000 people.

I run for approximately 15 minutes to make sure I get more than a mile in, get in the car and post the pictures and then head to the next county.

I've run in higher temperatures than I did today, but it just felt hot for some reason.

My paces were between 10:26 and 10:34, even though I think the mileage might be a little long on the Strava app. 

However, if I use the same tool now going forward, it's all the same.  Plus we're not talking about 10 versus 10.2 or something like that.

No big surprises in any of the runs.

They were as follows:

1.46 15:17.26 Dimmitt County Carrizo Springs

1.51 15:47.70 Zavala County Crystal City

1.44 15:16.28 Uvalde County Uvalde

1.44 15:23.37 Real County Leakey

A total of 5.85 miles in 1:01:43.61.

This gets me to a mile or more in 189 Texas counties with 65 remaining. 

I was going to try and chew off a lot during vacation, but I've changed that approach since I'm going to go and get in eight miles with Robert "The Raven" Kraft on South Miami Beach.

Long drive from Leakey to Waco as I didn't want to get on Interstate 10 or 35 this evening.  Just cutthroat driving basically.

I went through Fredericksburg and then all the way north on 16 to Goldthwaite and then in on 84 into Hewitt, Woodway and Waco.

My total mileage for the month, which will get over 160 with the races Sunday and Monday, looks like this now:

GVRAT miles = 152.731 

On pace at 29 days = 147.61 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Very slightly off pace at 29 days = 152.82 based on 642.9 miles

And ...

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on foot.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25 - May 29 (5 days)

9.95 miles running - 16.03 miles walking = 25.95 miles combined + 5.77 miles light walking = 31.72 miles on foot.  30.3 miles cycling.  6,217 meters rowing.

Bad Ass Texas 10K Race Report; May 30, 2021

The beat down in Waco this morning was brutal at the Bad Ass Texas 10K, put on by Run Project out of Dallas.

I knew that this likely wasn't going to be pretty after the long day yesterday, including the 10 miles total that I put down and the long hours driving.

But the hills and the humidity, despite a cool breeze at time, served a healthy dose of butt-whipping out to me.

No sooner had I picked up my bib, I saw Hiroshi Hamada from Houston and then I went over to say "Good morning" to J.J. Kick, who was timing today's race.

So funny when I went to see J.J., a lady was playing "bulldog" as in "what are you doing here?" and I was like, "I just came to say hello to my friend."  Calm down.  :-)

I went back to my vehicle, made a post on Facebook about only needing to see Nancy Goodnight from Waco and who pulls about two minutes later, Nancy!

We had a chance to visit and she shared that she's seven weeks past her horrific bike accident at Ironman Texas 70.3 in Galveston in early April, but is still out until July from getting on the bike on the roads.  She said, however, that she's putting in a lot of time on the trainer.

She made a comment about walking the half with her.  I knew better than that.  And I wasn't going to walk a half for $100.  And, sure enough, as I waited for the 5K/10K to start, Nancy was running it with one arm in sling with three friends.  I made the right decision.

First mile was congested.  I spent much of it running on the Brazos River trail pathway as opposed to the road.  Mile 2 was pretty flat, but my left knee and the humidity started to do me in before the hills in mile 3 finally got me.

In the early parts of miles 3 and 4, there was a circular rough asphalt/dirt circular path that was used for an out-and-back.  It was tough with traffic because you were surging to try and get around people.  It was like doing constant interval work.  A lot like the Texas Marathon in Kingwood on New Year's Day.

Right around that time Logan Burgess saw me.  Logan measures courses, including that one today, and is Texas' state certifier.  I chuckled and asked him if it was his course.  He replied, "I measured it."  I laughed.

Race producers have to take what public entities give them.  These roads get a lot of use.  Doesn't mean I like them any more.

Here's how the ugly went down:

Mile 1 - 9:57.19

Mile 2 - 11:05.52 (21:02.71)

Mile 3 - 12:22.17 (33:24.88)

Mile 4 - 10:48.79 (44:13.67)

Mile 5 - 11:13.00 (55:26.67)

Mile 6 - 10:59.72 (1:06:26.39)

Last .2 - 2:32.07 (1:08:58.46)

Here's where I sit for the month of May.  Again, these are miles running or brisk walking (a pace to break a sweat):

GVRAT miles = 158.931 

Ahead of pace at 30 days = 152.70 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 30 days = 158.09 based on 642.9 miles

And ...

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on foot.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25 - May 30 (6 days)

16.15 miles running - 16.03 miles walking = 32.18 miles combined + 5.77 miles light walking = 37.95 miles on foot.  30.3 miles cycling.  6,217 meters rowing.

I'm starting to see some physical results, although certainly not in my times.  I'm encouraged by it.  I'm doing it for me and maybe for one other person.

Reined In Thursday; May 27, 2021

Thursday evening and I'm kind of shipwrecked at home.  My job requires me to be on-call for a weekend, off an entire week and then a day a week until our weekend comes up again.

Just really can't be more than about 15 minutes out from the house in case we get a call that we need to engage a vendor for a specific application for one of the hospitals that we provide support for.

It isn't my most favorite thing to do, but I'm compensated pretty well so I'm completely thankful for that.

Another night on the rower and bike before getting in slightly over four miles on foot this evening.

12 minutes on the rower for 2,265 meters and 10 miles on the Air Assault bike in 28:46.

While on the bike, I put down another 30 pages of "A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team".

One statement that rang true for me was, "For some people, you have to keep an eye on them from the rearview mirror and keep moving forward."

Unfortunately, yes indeed.

I had two separate two miles walk segments.  The first is what I call the Fern Lacy 2-Miler.

15:20.73 out and 15:05.98 back for a total of 30:26.68, then another 2-mile stretch that measured at 2.03 miles in 31:35 according to the MapMyRun app.

So my new totals are as follows:

GVRAT miles = 142.781 

On pace at 27 days = 137.43 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Just off pace at 27 days = 142.28 based on 642.9 miles

And ...

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on foot.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25 - May 27 (3 days)

0 miles running - 16.03 miles walking = 16.03 miles combined + 3.4 miles light walking = 19.43 miles on foot.  30.3 miles cycling.  6,217 meters rowing.

Still feel like I fighting an uphill battle, but my goal is to keep this up all summer.

Vacation Plans Underway; May 28, 2021

My vacation is starting to take shape.  Pretty excited about it.

Friday night, July 2, I will drive to Lake Charles, Louisiana where I will run the LAR's 4 for the Fourth there on Saturday morning.

I'll drive to the greater Mobile area, stay in Fairhope and hope to visit some friends in Robertsdale.

Oh, yes, I'll get one of the two Buc-ee's in the state of Alabama there in Robertsdale off of Interstate 10.

In the morning, Sunday, July 4, I plan to run the SHARK Run 5K in Orange Beach, Alabama.

The day will take me to Winter Park, Florida where I'll stay close to Rollins College off Interstate 4 in the greater Orlando area.

Monday morning, July 5, I look forward to running in the AdventHealth Watermelon 5K in Winter Park.

That morning and early afternoon, I'll hit the road to South Miami Beach where I look forward to meeting and running with Robert "The Raven" Kraft and his eight (8) miles that he's been doing every day for 45 years.

I'll scoot up the coast and on Tuesday, July 6, I'll make stops at the Buc-ee's in Daytona Beach and St. Augustine and then see a minor league game in Jacksonville, Florida.

Wednesday and Thursday haven't been crafted yet.

Friday evening, I have a minor league game planned for Pearl, Mississippi, just outside of Jackson, and the drive to Monroe, Louisiana.

Saturday morning, I'll travel to Saline, Louisiana to run the Dam Melon Run 5K, put on by the Magnolia Baptist Church.

Then on Sunday, I'm looking to do the 11K at the Magnolia Hill XTERRA trail run in Navasota.

Busy week, but again, really excited about it.  And, obviously, lots of driving, but all good.

Wednesday Double; May 26, 2021

Not sure how much ground I'm making, but I'm going to keep trying.

11 minutes on the rower for 2,098 meters, 10.1 miles cycling on the Air Assault bike in 29:25 and then another four miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway in 1:01:20.

And, with it being 82 degrees tonight and humid, I came home soaked.

Out - 31:46.99

Back - 29:33.11 

Total = 1:01:20.10 (15:20 pace)

The current total running and walking miles for the month of May so far look like this:

GVRAT miles = 138.751 

On pace at 26 days = 132.34 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

On pace at 26 days = 137.01 based on 642.9 miles

Didn't see anybody I knew out there this evening.  I sometimes pray a good bit, but the only thing I think I mustered was for some favor for a friend that was thinking about running a race that is the granddaddy at its distance (and it isn't Boston, which they've run four times).

I burned a lot of brain cells on my recent challenge, but it didn't take me down any serious rabbit holes.  I'm just amazed at the individual's lack of a conscious, heart and maturity.  Otherwise, I'm doing OK.

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on foot.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25 - May 26 (2 days)

0 miles running - 12 miles walking = 12 miles combined + 1.2 miles light walking = 13.2 miles on foot.  20.3 miles cycling.  3,952 meters rowing.

Wednesday AM on The Waterway; May 26, 2021

Couldn't sleep so I got a shower and was out the door at 5:40 a.m.  I made it to my parking spot at The Woodlands Mall near Dick's Sporting Goods to hit the The Woodlands Waterway at 5:55 a.m.

Another semi-cool morning, but the humidity was certainly in play.  However, Mother Nature has been pretty kind to us so far in 2021.

Good to see Mike Csikos and Patrick Wills out there this morning.  Looked like there was a big group of Zero Dark Thirty runners at Starbucks post-run at about 6:30 a.m. when I made the turn near Fleet Feet Sports in Hughes Landing.

Forgot to mention that I saw Dan Jordan and Susan Rouse last evening.

On The Waterway, the time looked like this:

Out - 30:57.40

Back - 28:28.85 

Total = 59:26.25 (14:51.5 pace)

The current total running and walking miles for the month of May so far look like this:

GVRAT miles = 134.751 

On pace at 26 days = 132.34 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Behind pace at 26 days = 137.01 based on 642.9 miles

Not too worried about being behind as when I run for counties I will have more than five miles in a day or when I do a half marathon, which I might in Waco now on Sunday.

January 1 - May 24 (144 days)

217.86 miles running - 220.5 miles walking = 438.36 miles combined + 170.15 miles light walking = 608.51 miles on feet.  473.47 miles cycling.  10,930 meters rowing.

May 25

0 miles running - 4 miles walking = 4 miles combined + 1.2 miles light walking = 5.2 miles on feet.  10.2 miles cycling.  1,854 meters rowing.

Just Another Four on Tuesday; May 25, 2021

A pretty calm day and a quiet evening.  Rain had pretty much passed when I started walking The Woodlands Waterway at about 8:20 p.m.

Earlier in the evening, I was part of an online Zoom book launch call for former The Woodlands resident Trace Sherer and his new book, "Nerves of Steel", and the lessons that he learned from his MS diagnosis that helped him stay positive and long outlast the doctor's original life forecast for him.

It was good to be able to support somebody who truly appreciated it and had nothing to offer in return other than a friendly, cheerful disposition, which was perfect.

I put in 10 minutes on the rower and 30 minutes on the Air Assault bike for 10.2 miles, during which I added about 40 pages of "A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team" by Arshay Cooper.

On The Waterway, the time looked like this:

Out - 31:35.50

Back - 29:37.37 

Total = 1:01:12.87 (15:18 pace)

The current total running and walking miles for the month of May so far look like this:

GVRAT miles = 130.751 

On pace at 25 days = 127.25 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Behind pace at 25 days = 131.74 based on 642.9 miles

I'm either going to go Laredo or Cibolo Saturday morning and then likely Waco Sunday morning for a 10K, but until I switch my rental car on Thursday it will still be up in the air.

Laredo's a five-hour drive Friday evening, but I can pick up some counties on Saturday.

I could also catch a game out in Alpine at Kokernot Field Saturday night, but that's a haul back in on Sunday.  We'll see.  I have time.

Race Shirt of the Day; May 25, 2021

Going to start something new here as I really need to work through all of my old race shirts and get them out to somebody who can use them.

Therefore, my goal each day is to snapshot a (or) picture(s) of a previous race shirt and share it.

Today's is from Saturday, June 4, 2014 in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, my hometown.

It was just about two months after my grandfather had passed away in early April before his 91st birthday.  I went back to visit and spend some time with my grandmother.

The race - the Faith Day 10K - was put on by the Joshua House, a non-profit youth outreach whose mission is to help youth find purpose.

It started near downtown off 10th Street, down Park Avenue (past two places where my family lived) and then out 3rd Street W which became Hoover's Lane.  There I ran by my great aunt Jane's house that she shared with her son, Doug, and family friend, Pat.

The course was flat until we got out on 3rd Street where we started to get a little terrain, plus I think we had to do a little section off of it - to get the distance right - that included an incline.

Now you got it all back, but on a warm day you felt like you lost time.

The next day, I went to Clearfield, where I participated in the Royal 5K.

Saturday's 10K was in 1:06:01 followed by a 32:08 effort on Sunday.

Good memories.

Monday Four; May 24, 2021

Was going to try and brisk walk eight miles for the fifth day in six, but it wasn't to be.

My first toe to the left of my big toe on my left foot got a blister yesterday or the day before and it makes it a little bit less pleasant to walk even though I have it bandaged up fairly well.

Parked midway near the Riva Row Boathouse again, since rain was in the air, and headed toward Interstate 45 out to the Some Like It Hot aid station for Ironman and then took the northern route to Fleet Feet at Hughes Landing.

Out - 13:03.67 + 17:34.30 = 30:37.97

Back - 29:17.07 

Total = 59:55.04 (14:59 pace)

GVRAT miles = 126.751 

On pace at 24 days = 126.47 based on 642.9 miles

Had to run a little back back to the starting point on the return as the rain started to pickup and I didn't carry my jacket, but it was time to go anyways.

Trying to figure out where I'm going to run this weekend.

I have one long option and that's 5K in Laredo and then pick up some counties on Saturday and maybe Sunday.

Another is to return to Gustine for the third straight year in a row for the 7K there.  It was the first race back in Texas after the pandemic.

And to stay even closer is to run a 5K in Giddings, or actually the small community of Serbin.

Who knows?  I tend to make it up as I go.

Oh, I uploaded my first activity to Strava, which made my route out to be 4.22 miles.  It is already making me faster.  :-)

And I will end up my 4/25 to 5/24 reporting period with 147.11 combined miles -- 62.42 running and 84.69 walking (to break a sweat).  Beats the previous high of 142.92, set in the same time period a year ago.

If I get on the bike for 11.5 miles, I can go over 300 "on my feet" and cycling mile for the time period for the first time ever.

I think I'll be happy with a new record of 288.56 miles.

I'm seeing a little bit of a difference.  If I can keep it up, hoping for a big physical different at the end of August.  We'll see.

Saturday / Sunday Recap; May 23, 2021

Pretty good weekend.  Can't complain too much.  Hey, I don't want to lose my six readers.  :-)

Seriously, Saturday overall was great.  So very, very thankful and grateful.

I'm not going to lie.  I had looked at the race calendar and saw a few different places I could have gone and run at that would have been new to me, but I decided to return to Bellville for my second race there in four weeks.

This past Saturday morning, we were at Clark Park, which was on the city's north side.  Had no idea how the course was going to go, but I didn't have to worry about leading so you don't worry about things out of your control.

When I got there most all of the people that I knew had already arrived -- Bellville police chief Jason Smalley, Ken Johnson, Becky Nesbitt and Donnie Artley with Run Houston Timing.  Kim White and Julie Stevenson with Bill Dwyer's Volte Endurance Training group arrived a little bit later.

I had the opportunity to introduce Jason to Ken.  I think Ken had already gotten his packet.  Becky and I walked up and got ours.

I'm continuing to heal and recover from a bad personal situation that was really hoisted upon me and I appreciated Donnie sharing a little bit before the race that he and his wife - with some friends - had experienced some similar type issues.  It's great to know that sometimes you're not the only person in the world dealing with issues that are minor in reality, but when you're in them -- oh my.

The race that we all were at was the Mindy Moses 5K Memorial Fun Run.

It was organized by 13-year-old Levi Malinowski.  The young man had the most straightforward video appeal to come run the race.  Jason had put Becky and I on to the event when we ran Run With The Lions 5K four weeks before.

He had 230 participants registered the night before the race and there 193 timed finishers.  The young man hustled and did a great job.

Jason introduced me to him and I told him that between Ken and myself that we had probably done 2,100 or more races and that he had done an incredible job.  It was such an honor to meet an incredibly poised young man.

When you go to a race in a smaller town, schedules sometimes go right out the window and it was perfectly fine that we didn't get started until about 8:15 a.m.

The only issue that the rains, at some point, would eventually come calling.  (We learned later that Donnie, after getting some help breaking down his timing equipment and setup, had just dodged a bunch of rain.)

We got folks a short, quick countdown, the airhorn was sounded and we were off.

After a straightaway south and a quick turn to the east, we made a right and went on a long straightaway that ran us through downtown Bellville and by the Austin County Courthouse.

The course wasn't completely void of inclines, but there weren't as many as the course we ran four weeks before.

We went as far south as we were going to go and we made a pair of lefts to head back to north and then a right and a left that led into the straightaway that brought us back to town.

Essentially, it was an out and back with a few turnouts.

I ran OK.  31:18.3 was my time.  I had 30:20.77 on my watch, but I don't think I was able to hit it with the quick airhorn.

When I had made it back, I was leaning on Ken Johnson's truck, waiting for him to finish and Becky to finish talking with a runner that had been at the race four weeks before.

I asked Becky, "Did you win?"  She smiled, almost embarrassed to say, and said that she had.

She was the fourth overall runner in 22:03 and the next closest female finished in 24:30.  Julie was third overall in 25:28, edging out a high schooler by a second to snap the last podium spot.

I had run off to my car to change shoes and shirt and I think I heard them announcing Becky's overall win and when I returned I was there for Ken's second place age group finish and grabbed a picture (that is on my Facebook page).

We all had a great visit.  Jason had also introduced Becky and myself to the new race director of the Watermelon Run For The Fallen 5K in Hempstead on Saturday, August 21.  It is a city that I haven't run a race in before.

Ken said he had to go cut his grass before he had a group of family over for his 80th birthday on Sunday.

I had told Becky three weeks ago as I hung out with her - after running the Vintage Park Half Marathon that she was volunteering for - that I would treat her to breakfast if she was interested.

She was.  And we had a good visit at Newman's Bakery after the race.  Great chance for us to learn a little bit more about each other as we just pass each other at different races.

I left, hit Buc-ee's in Waller on the way back home (had on the way there too) and then prepared for have dinner with Waverly for her 26th birthday at The Cheesecake Factory.  I had also put in 10 miles on the Air Assault bike before heading to the mall to pick up a few things for Waverly for her birthday today.

I was a little slow moving this morning.

But I did get out to The Woodlands Waterway after breakfast and put down 8.53 miles in one pop.

Out - 14:18.38 + 17:23.67 = 31:42.05

Back - 29:05.31

Total = 1:00:47.36 (15:12 pace)

After the first four-mile loop, I took the jacket that I was carrying and put it in the car.

Out and back - 4:01.47 + 4:01.92 = 8.03.39 (0.53 miles)

But after starting out for about four minutes, it started to rain.  I turned around, went back to the car and carried the jacket the rest of the way.  And, yes, it didn't rain.

Out - 14:01.16 + 17:11.47 = 41:13.03

Back - 28:59.25 

Total = 1:00:12.28 (15:03 pace)

GVRAT miles = 122.751 

On pace at 23 days = 121.20 based on 642.9 miles

I'm going to do this a little bit more often as I've got to get ready for a long distance race in December and I'm considering on my week's vacation in July going to Miami Beach and doing eight miles with Robert Raven Kraft.

Ken Johnson told Becky and I his story about running with Raven and how he got his nickname from Raven as Two Bucks.  You'll have to ask Ken when you see him next in person.

Have a great week.  If you're reading, and in my corner, thank you.

Third Straight Double; May 21, 2021

That's right.  Eat your heart out.

I'm not too ashamed to say that when life gets a bit boring, go exercise a little.

I don't like it necessarily, but what am I going to do?  Wallow in self-pity.

The movement, even though I'm working through many of the issues presented to me recently, at least keeps me from ruing over things that have happened.

Third straight day for a double.  Honestly, not sure how long I'm going to be able to keep that up.

I did see a movie called "Profile" a bit earlier in the evening.  Wasn't too bad, but have seen better.

Out – 31:49.29 (2.07 miles for 15:22 pace)

Back – 29:21.04 (1.93 miles for 15:12 pace)

Total = 1:01:10.33 (4 miles for 15:18 pace)

GVRAT miles = 111.121

On pace at 21 days = 106.89

Looking forward to heading to Bellville in the morning to run the Mindy Moses 5K Memorial Fun Run.

Am expecting to get some rain, but will get to see Bellville police chief Jason Smalley and two of the classiest people you'll ever meet, Becky Nesbitt and Ken Johnson.

Have a great Saturday.

Friday Morning Four; May 21, 2021

It takes me about 10-12 minutes to get from my house just off FM 2920 and Holzwarth to The Woodlands Mall parking lot where I start by four-mile out-and-back run or walk.

I got on the The Woodlands Waterway pathway at about 6:20 a.m. and ran to the Fleet Feet location in Hughes Landing and back.  My normal route.

Not a ton of activity this morning.  A couple of people running, but nobody I knew.

I haven't had my first real test of passing certain people from within a group that has forced me to step away from the community for some time.  

I saw one runner from the group the other night when I was walking, I hollered at them but they had their earpieces in and was moving at a pretty good clip.  I had reached out electronically and shared a short, yet always positive conversation.  The individual is probably the antithesis of the problem that I've been working on losing permanently.

Even though the temperature this morning wasn't oppressive, the humidity seemed to be in full force again, for the second morning in a row.  I was soaked when I finished.

Out – 21:36.93 (2.07 miles for 10:27 pace)

Back – 20:11.16 (1.93 miles for 10:27 pace)

Total = 41:48.09 (4 miles for 10:27 pace)

GVRAT miles = 107.121

On pace at 20 days = 106.89

I did get a piece of news this morning about the fall schedule for me announcing.

I learned that the UIL Region III Preview meet will be hosted once again by Sam Houston State University's men's and women's track and field and cross country teams at Kate Barr Ross Park on Saturday, September 18, 2021.

It will be on the same day as Ten For Texas, which means that I will be in Huntsville.

I currently have a call into Megan Meaux with The Woodlands Township Parks & Recreation Department to make them aware of the conflict.  This is only an issue because Ironman Texas is being held on Ten For Texas' normal day.  I hope to be able to return to the event in 2022.

Have a good rest of the day here on Friday. 

Another Double on Thursday; May 20, 2021

My evening didn’t go as planned, but it still worked out alright.

The last two nights I’ve gone to a movie at Cinemark 17 in The Woodlands and then planned to walk (Tuesday) and did walk (Wednesday).

I was going to see “Final Account”, a movie with “never-before-seen” interviews with the last living generation of Hitler’s Third Reich.

Bought the ticket online and when I went out to start my car, the starter died.

I do not drive anything fancy.  In fact, I drive free:  my grandmother’s 2010 Hyundai Sonata.

So Waverly took me out to the airport to rent a car for the week.

When I got there, the buses were picking up people to take to the airport on the ground level.  Odd.  It was chaos.

Turns out, fuses blew and there was no power in the entire Rental Car Center building.

The depots with each car company on the ground level was and there were ferociously long lines.

Fortunately, I’m a Budget Fastbreak member and was able to bypass that, get my car and head to The Woodlands.

I got on The Waterway a little before 9 p.m. and got my four miles in in 59:57.98.

Out – 31:21.25 (2.07 miles for 15:09 pace)

Back – 28:36.73 (1.93 miles for 14:50 pace)

Total = 59:57.98 (4 miles for 14:59.5 pace)

GVRAT miles = 103.121

On pace at 20 days = 101.80

As I made my way to the turnaround where Barry Blanton’s “Some Like It Hot” aid station is for Ironman Texas – something that I may not be at this year, I saw a marriage proposal right about where I announce from each year.

I offered my congratulations.

Also Oak Ridge High School was having its 2021 graduation at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and as I was going back by Town Green Park, I had to navigate many folks.

Huntsville’s Ken Johnson was telling me last night that his family was going to be in that crowd tonight as his grandson was graduating.

Earlier in the week, his son was getting his Criminal Justice degree from Sam Houston State University.

And Sunday, Ken moves into a new age group, 80-84, as he celebrates a birthday with my daughter.

Have a great Friday.  

And please continue to keep me in your prayers.  

Thursday Morning on The Waterway; May 20, 2021

 Going to try and do a better job of getting up and running more in the morning.

I made it to The Woodlands Waterway maybe at about 6 a.m. and I ran The Woodlands Waterway parkrun 5K course.

It starts on the east side of the Waterway Square bridge and across the Waterway from Goose's Acre, goes all the way to Northshore Park and back.

Felt like I ran parts of it stronger than my time reflects, but maybe it was all just the humidity.

Out - 15:35.15

Back - 15:32.06

Total = 31:07.71 (10:01 pace)

It was my third time to run it this year,  31:44 on April 15 and then 30:02 five days later.

I then decided to run a little bit more by following the Pathway down to Timberloch and then back to where my car was.

It added another .88 mile in 8:54.39 (for 10:07 pace) and a total of 3.98 miles for the morning.

GVRAT miles = 99.121

On pace at 20 days = 101.80

Will probably add to everything some more tonight.

Have a great Thursday!

Doubled It Up On Wednesday; May 19, 2021

So what are my goals?  I don't know.  Really.

I don't have any burning desire to achieve anything.  Why?  Not sure.

There isn't any athletic item that I need to do to make me feel better about myself.

Besides, after God calls me home one day, there isn't going to be some athletic leaderboard that I'm going to be judged on.  Although many seem to do that here.

There's never anything wrong with trying to beat a certain time in a race.  I try to every one I run whether I have a chance or not, but I'm not going to mess up a day, week, month or year if I don't.

So, for me, it is just about keeping at doing something.

So what have I done the last two days?

Tuesday, May 18, I was pretty burned up over some information that came to me mid-to-late Monday evening.  I was up early and got in 8.2 miles cycling on my Air Assault bike, covering 24 minutes and five seconds.

Later that evening I was going to run or walk after a movie that I saw at Cinemark 17 in The Woodlands, but I felt like I needed to discuss some things with Waverly about some decisions that I made earlier in the day, and then the weather picked up from there.

By not running or walking, I broke an 18-day streak that I had going.

Earlier this morning, after languishing in bed a little bit, I went and brisk walked my four-mile route on The Woodlands Waterway, had breakfast and made it back here to start work just after 8 a.m.

I wore my heavier rain jacket from The Woodlands Marathon which just kept the heavier stuff off and keeping me from getting soaked.

Out (2.07 miles) - 31:02.35 (14:59 pace)

Back (1.93 miles) - 28:17.95 (14:40 pace)

Total (4 miles) = 59:20.30 (14:50 pace)

GVRAT miles = 91.141

I pretty much had the Waterway to myself.  On the return, I saw one individual on the south side of the Waterway heading east towards the Riva Row boat house.

After seeing a movie earlier this evening, at the same theater, I brisk walked four more.

Out (2.07 miles) - 31:17.54

Back (1.93 miles) - 29:02.17

Total (4 miles) = 1:00:19.71

GVRAT miles = 95.141

On pace at 19 days = 96.713

So I'm just a mile and a half off pace for making the total distance for the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee, which makes me glad.  Have to keep it up.

My reporting months go from the 25th to the 24th.  Why the oddity?  

One year after my grandfather passed away in April 2014 and I went back to Pennsylvania over Memorial Day to visit my grandmother, I ran four races in four days.

So through the evening of the 19th, I have the following numbers:

51.336 miles running

64.161 miles walking

23.085 miles walking (Apple Health)

88.1 miles cycling

2,442 meters rowing

The Apple Health "walking" is just miles on my feet other than what I run and walk.

With five days to go, I have my highest running and walking month - 115.50 miles so far - since last May/June and the most total "time on my feet" miles (138.58) since the same time.

I have some more work to do.

I've already signed up for a race for Saturday and have already checked with the event that we'll still run as long as there's no lightning or flooded streets.  Should be fun.

Pressing The Reset Button; May 19, 2021

In many ways, I'm a complete nobody and am comfortable with that.  

I know that you're probably saying to yourself, "Isn't Jon being hard on himself?"

Actually I'm being a bit facetious.

Look, what nobody knows is that I've had a situation in our endurance sports community that's been running me ragged.

My first piece of advice to anybody is this:  The first opportunity that you have to return a text, an e-mail, a Facebook messenger, please do so.  

Even if you're answer is "No" and whatever explanation that you wish to put behind it, just make it happen.  Be a man or a woman and just take care of it.

The situation that, as it spiraled out of control, caused me some very dark moments at the hands of an individual in The Woodlands, Spring and Montgomery County endurance sports community was absolutely unnecessary.

I expected better and I was disappointed.  I don't think that they're somebody that I can ever trust again.

And in the end, as a result of a number of things that transpired over the last seven months, it has cost me much, but I will be in a much healthier space in the days, weeks and months to come.

And the price may become higher, but time will tell on that.

While I think there are so many great aspects about our athletic communities, there's so much dysfunction as well.  And it is sad to see.

I have no major goals other than to stay as healthy and happy as I possibly can.

I've been fortunate enough to finish 54 marathons in 34 states.  Some were great and some weren't pretty.

I've also seen my daughter, before she turned 25, finish her first two marathons.

She also has 15 half marathons to her credit and has a goal to add 15 more over the next four years to get to 50 before she turns 50.

So you may very well get very bored or you may have fun following along.

Last year, during the pandemic, I signed up for the first annual Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee, an attempt to log 1,000 kilometers between May 1 and August 31.  

I signed up 19 days late and was behind the eight ball when I burned out about 45 days in.

I'm in for the second edition and am close to being on track.

I had 18 consecutive days in from April 30 to May 17, before taking a break Tuesday night because of the inclement weather and needing to discussion a major situation at hand with my daughter.

More to come.  Thanks for reading and your support.

Vintage Park Half Marathon Event Report

 I ran Sunday’s Vintage Park Half Marathon for two reasons only.

1. I want to run 200 half marathons (Sunday was #153) and maybe call it a day at that distance and this race added another toward that count.

2. I ran to support Ron Stitt.  I consider Ron a friend and he is a professional at what he does.

And the other thing was that they held the price at a $100 until April 21.  

I am not a fan of that price, but I paid it and so be it.

However, I think it stayed there up until race day, but I honestly did not check.

What does that tell me?  The race is trying to get to certain numbers to cover costs or make their projected profit margin.

Let’s face it:  You cannot lose money forever.  (And nobody is suggesting they were or are.)

I have no issues with an attempt to make a profit, but when you see the price put out there higher and pulled back you realize that there might have been an overestimation and correction was needed.

So how did things go numbers wise for the event?

Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, April 9, 2017

Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, April 8, 2018

Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, April 14, 2019

Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, May 2, 2021

Half Marathon

Vintage Park 2017 - 970 (545 female + 5 elite / 413 male + 7 elite)

Vintage Park 2018 -- 876 (489 female + 377 male + 11 elite)

Vintage Park 2019 -- 907 (488 female / 399 male / 14 elite / 6 PC)

Vintage Park 2021 -- 838 (401 female / 434 male / 3 PC; 981 live entered)

5K

Vintage Park 2017 -- 356 (221 female / 135 male)

Vintage Park 2018 -- 392 (252 female / 140 male)

Vintage Park 2019 -- 430 (262 female / 168 male)

Vintage Park 2021 -- 480 (297 female / 183 male; 603 live entered)

Half Marathon Relay

Vintage Park 2017 -- 52 (19 female / 10 male / 23 mixed)

Vintage Park 2018 -- 64

Vintage Park 2019 -- 38

Vintage Park 2021 -- 15 (31 entered)

Kids 1K

Vintage Park 2017 -- 59 (30 female / 29 male)

Vintage Park 2018 -- 60 (29 female / 31 male)

Vintage Park 2019 -- 71 (35 female / 36 male)

Vintage Park 2021 -- 45 (21 female / 24 male; 65 live entered)

Total Finishers (Counting Relay as 1 finisher)

Vintage Park 2017 -- 1,437

Vintage Park 2018 -- 1,392

Vintage Park 2019 -- 1,446

Vintage Park 2021 -- 1,278

So overall, the numbers were down about 11.6% from the last running of the event. 

And I don't give a rats butt about virtual:  before or after.  Those numbers aren't included anywhere. 

In the post-COVID running world, that is not terribly bad; however, that would suggest that the brand is strong and the relationships that Ron has cultivated with some of the larger running clubs in the area – Cypress Running Club, Champions Running Association and Northside Running, of late, paid off.

While on the course, you either saw lots of shirts running from two of the three and certainly a lot cheering from the other.

So when this race got cleared to be produced, the first thing I noticed was on Facebook where I saw an advertisement under TXRUNS.  Looked kind of odd to me because I never had associated that with the Run Houston Race Series or the Bayou City Half Marathon Series.  

However, I had bigger things personally in my life to worry about at that time.

As I started to think about racing it, I noticed the main photograph at the RunSignUp page and I was trying to place it.  I couldn’t.  Bill Baumeyer has taken pictures at Aaron and Ron’s races over the years and it wasn’t one of his.  Thought to myself that it was odd not to see an actual event race photo, given all of the previous branding.

Then I noticed some All Community Events references and that’s when I realized that the father and son who had owned the two race series – after they bought it from the original owner, Aaron Palaian -- had sold it to a company based out of Illinois.

And was there any announcement of it?  Of course not.

So, an out-of-state race production company coming into Texas?  Hmmm.  

We saw this with the Santa Hustle race in Galveston and others.

Texas is viewed as a place I guess where runners – and triathletes – will support anything.  

Personally, I question that a little bit.  

Even though I’m from Pennsylvania originally and am proud of it, I identify with Texas’ independent spirit and I think that Texas runners are pretty loyal, for the most part, but you have to definitely earn it.

As I do most of the times, I’m boots on the ground at a race site very early to see how things are done, especially when I know new folks are involved.

When I was driving to the race site to park, I went down Cypresswood to 249 so I could pull in where I would not be trapped in getting out after I was done running.

Doing so, I noticed that Cypresswood was very well-coned off, but I did not see any mile marker signs.  (I was told they were going up on a second pass of the course before the start of the race.  And they were out there.)

After parking, I noticed where the start was going to be and that it was buttoned up well.  There was an opening so I followed the line of cones to where runners would enter the corrals in.

There was a sign there about runners not entering it until 10 minutes before their start time and, of course, there was no way they would be able to police that.  Unless, if there was a QR code on the bib that had the start time and you had a volunteer with a QR reader in their hand to enforce entry.

Shortly after six a.m. I started to hear announcements – something I always take a keen interest in.

Nothing really alarmed me.  I even heard time mentions, like I do as we roll to a start.

The one thing that I never heard though was directions being given as to where to enter the corrals at.

There were large groups in front of the starting line at the arches of Vintage Park - close to the 6:45 a.m. start - that had not even begun to make their way there.

All but the latter item is, of course, style points.

I made it around and was not even able to get in at my appointed time of 6:56 a.m., but I could see what was going on.  The front of the line had not started to move.

The pre-race messaging was two runners every three seconds.

838 finishers and that 1,257 seconds or almost 21 minutes.  I think it might have been slightly longer than that.

However, that was not the main issue.

The announcer was making comments that it was to allow for social distancing on the course.

Maybe so (although really that is impossible unless everybody is lined up perfectly according to pace all at once and everybody runs their pace with no variation; never going to happen), but the end result was that the corral had rows and rows of people all within less than six feet of each other and about half of the people were not wearing masks.

Basically, no staff enforcement of the protocols that you put into place - likely to get your permit(s) - and I would love to see what the comparison of people’s start times as to what they registered for to what their actual really was.

I would surmise they were nowhere close.

I call this COVID-19 theater.

Learn something from Texas folks at The Woodlands Marathon:  go to a walking, rolling start.  It worked first for the 5K and then for the marathon and half marathon.  

People walk slowly to the line together, maintaining distancing and then you take off and run.

Additionally, your social distance argument on the course went out the window when the 5K and half marathoners merged into a single lane of traffic.

Course and traffic control, otherwise, was pretty much flawless, with a small exception.

When I finished and as I was heading west on Vintage Preserve Parkway in the left-hand lane, there was an awkward crossover of runners and cars before the intersection you would turn right onto – before making a left to the finish.

That was really the only hiccup.  It seemed like you would stay in the left-hand lane and then make a right-hand turn into the left-hand lane.

Otherwise, that was probably the most spot-on item of the entire race.

One thing that was off were the mile markers a little bit.

Only an issue for old schoolers like me that don't wear a Garmin or some other device.  My 50-lap Ironman model watch has served me well for 15-16 years.

At mile 2.  Wait, or was it 3?   The mile 3 marker was placed where mile 2 is.  I ran by the flag and then realized that I should probably hit my watch.  At mile 3, there was the mile 2 flag.

So you immediately get a negative thought in your head like, "Wow, is it going to be like this the rest of the way?"

There was no mile four marker or it wasn’t very visible.  (A runner told me they saw it near a busy aid station.)  And other markers were off.  I would suggest that 10, 11 and 12 might have been in question some what.

The one big thing that I noticed is that while water and Gatorade were in disposable bottles – a COVID measure, for sure – it gave license to a poor performance by runners and walkers to lay them in a range of distance from the aid station so much greater than any race I have ever seen before.

That is not necessarily on the race, but rather just lazy and inconsiderate runners.

Running coaches, get off the course with your bike.  

The only thing that being on the course is that it appears that you may be giving your athletes unfair pacing assistance.  

Whether you are or are not, it looks that way and secondarily, it is a safety issue no matter if you can handle your bike like Greg LeMond.

And that goes for anybody else that is not an official race vehicle.

Race producers should be able to give law enforcement the ability to pull them off and give them a warning, if necessary.

I saw a guy on a bike on multiple spots on the course from at least mile six on - and he was at Blue Bell too.  Element something on the back of his grey shirt.

Then there was a 9- to 10-year-old boy that was riding in the traffic lane on Cypresswood going no more than about five miles an hour and he went through a manned intersection and the two law enforcement officials did nothing to get him to get in the lane with runners and out of traffic.

Also, not sure how many times it needs to be said, but if you don’t have a bib, get off the racecourse, especially on the roads.

In the Preserve, cannot really do anything about that, but saw others – not pacing – just out running in the middle of things.  They were with a group that there is a sense of privilege with.

And one – or maybe two – of Bill’s runners was running on the course against runners around mile 10.  

A second runner was with him, who said something to me, but I did not recognize him even though I was walking.

Finally, something I noticed that might have gone unnoticed.

There was no Adam Reiser, who has announced the two Series’ races maybe going back to their beginning.

You take one of Texas’ most respected voices out and replace him with a rah-rah voice.  Please.  The guy had a great voice, but basically your insulting our running base here with that.

If you want a natural, high energy guy, bring Mark Purnell over from San Antonio.

The thing about not having an Adam there - especially being involved in event production, smarter than most as a Rice grad and a former collegiate athlete -- is that you take away another set of eyes and ears for the race director.  

I know I can say that every race director I worked with knew that I would manage the start and finish line - and that they could go and attend to other things.

That told me all I needed to know about this new entity that took over, All Community Events.

Cut, cut, cut.

The other thing is that there was no announcing of names at the finish line.

I personally do not care about it when I run, but I asked if around if there were at other times and I was told not.

I don't know what they do in Illinois or wherever other places ACE has events at, but runners here in Texas - and I think many other places -- love hearing their name announced every place that I've been.

How did I become as well known and loved as I have in our sport?  

Ah, the name announcement at the finish line as one of a great group of announcers to do so.

I'm just very weary of people who do not have roots here coming in and immediately don't handle the little things well that make you think that they're just here to make a buck off of people that they don't know.

I ran Rock N Roll San Antonio the very first year after they took over just because they had a ridiculous $65 day one registration price, but never again.  (I know some love their races for the experience and I’m glad others do.)

But their numbers in San Antonio aren't what they have been from the early days and, of course, the Dallas Half Marathon that they produced was dropped after numbers softened some.

ACE seems to be trying to force an unknown - and yet unmerited - brand on you, but have made absolutely no effort to take the time to reach out and communicate with you the local runner on a personal level.

How about a Facebook Live, "Hey, my name is so and so and I'm with ACE.  We're happy to have acquired ...." and so on?  Absolutely no PR savvy whatsoever.

And they're expecting to build it by putting race staff in red shirts and so on?  Gimme a break.

Most people won’t see or care about any of this and that’s OK, but that’s what companies in these situations are hoping for.  That you don't care, will just fork over your hard earned money and not say anything.

That you're too ignorant to know and that you’re so hungry – especially post-COVID – to run anything live that you’ll look past imperfections that might otherwise not get past the naked eye.

That's what I saw based on my experience working with 10-15 different race production groups over the last 15-16 years.  Certainly hope some of the little things behind the scenes get better.