2023 US parkruns by Average Number of Finishers

164.3 - College Park

129.9 - Jamaica Pond

112.6 - Clermont Waterfront

100.1 - Byxbee

  96.2 - Roosevelt Island DC

  85.5 - Depot Park
  84.1 - Perrigo

  77.5 - Lillie

  75.7 - Livonia

  73.6 - Danehy Park

  72.6 - Rec Plex North

  70.3 - Fletcher's Cove

  70.3 - Exploration Place 

  68.9 - Durham NC

  67.6 - Kensington 

  66.3 - Bear Creek Greenbelt

  64.7 - Des Moines Creek

  63.7 - Terry Hershey

  58.9 - Charleston 

  57.8 - Rock Creek Trail

  55.2 - Delaware and Raritan Canal

  48.8 - South Boulder Creek

  44.4 - Deep Run

  44.4 - Spindle Tree

  44.2 - Himmel

  44.0 - Renton

  43.8 - Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

  43.6 - Creekside

  41.8 - Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation 

  41.5 - Weedon Island Preserve

  40.4 - Sippo Lake

  40.3 - Eagan

  37.2 - Riverside

  37.0 - Umstead Park

  35.9 - Ed Austin Regional

  35.4 - Leakin Park

  34.5 - Joe Creason

  34.3 - Courthouse Lake

  31.9 - Mary S. Young

  31.3 - Little Sugar Creek Greenway

  28.8 - Peace Valley

  26.9 - Fort Ward

  26.9 - Anacostia

  26.5 - Northside Beltline

  26.1 - Mansfield OH

  25.5 - ITC Community Sports

  24.1 - Evergreen

  23.4 - Warren County Armco

  23.2 - Howard Temin Lakeshore Path

  22.7 - Cornerstone Lakes

  22.6 - Canton Lower Rouge Trail

  22.3 - Kingston Park

  19.7 - Heritage Harbor

  19.1 - Eastern Trail

  18.5 - Merrymeeting

  17.8 - Osburn MetroPark

  17.6 - Riverside Park

  16.9 - Canyon Rim Trail

  15.4 - City Park

  14.6 - Hamlet Park

  14.0 - Winthrop Trailhead

  13.7 - Third Creek Greenway

  12.3 - Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

    9.9 - Susquehanna Riverwalk

    6.5 - Aspen

    6.0 - Brecksville Reservation

    3.2 - Lackawanna Rail Trail

2023 US parkruns by Total Number of Events

(These events in 2023 hosted all 52 weeks and special dates of New Year's Day and Thanksgiving)
54 - College Park

54 - Durham NC

54 - Ed Austin Regional

54 - Fletcher's Cove

54 - Heritage Harbor

54 - Kensington

54 - Livonia

54 - Perrigo

(# - New Year's Day, + - Thanksgiving, * - Both)

53 - Baltimore and Annapolis Trail +

53 - Byxbee +

53 - Delaware and Raritan Canal

53 - Depot Park *

53 - Des Moines Creek #

53 - Himmel #

53 - Jamaica Pond *

53 - Peace Valley *

53 - South Boulder Creek #

53 - Terry Hershey +

52 - Clermont Waterfront *

52 - Fort Ward

52 - Leakin Park #

52 - Spindle Tree

51 - Anacostia

51 - Exploration Place #

51 - Lillie *

51 - Little Sugar Creek Greenway

51 - Northside Beltline

51 - Rec Plex North *

51 - Renton

51 - Rock Creek Trail

51 - Roosevelt Island DC

51 - Third Creek Greenway

51 - Weedon Island Preserve

50 - Bear Creek Greenbelt

50 - Courthouse Lake +

50 - Evergreen

50 - Howard Temin Lakeshore Path

50 - Joe Creason *

50 - Osburn MetroPark +

49 - Charleston

49 - City Park

49 - Danehy Park *

49 - Mansfield OH

47 - Merrymeeting

47 - Sippo Lake

47 - Susquehanna Riverwalk

46 - Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

46 - Creekside +

46 - Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation

46 - Riverside Park

45 - Deep Run

45 - Winthrop Trailhead +

43 - Canyon Rim Trail

43 - Warren County Armco

41 - Umstead Park

39 - Eagan +

36 - Cornerstone Lakes

35 - Eastern Trail +

32 - Canton Lower Rouge Trail

29 - Aspen

25 - Hamlet Park #

24 - ITC Community Sports

22 - Kingston Park +

20 - Lackawanna Rail Trail

19 - Riverside

10 - Mary S. Young

01 - Brecksville Reservation

Spindle Tree parkrun #100 5K and Saturday Ramblings; December 16, 2023

Have a little time here on Saturday afternoon to write:  a favorite opportunity of mine to document life and keep my writing skills sharp.

At times, I tell people that I'm grateful that I don't feel my age, but there are other times where my body reminds me what the number is.

Yesterday to today is one of those times.

I thought about going to Hammond last night to see a game at Southeastern Louisiana University and then - on the way back home - to LSU-Eunice today at noon to check off two more college basketball gyms in Louisiana.

However, I wanted to be "rested" to drive to McKinney this morning to see the NCAA Division II national football championship at McKinney ISD Stadium - which would have been a new one for me - between Harding University and Colorado School of Mines.  

And then maybe to AT&T to see the last UIL 11-man game.

I was up at 6 a.m., but today was not that day.

But then, I had another decision to make:  do I go and run parkrun.

I was too slow on the trigger last Saturday before going to Beaumont for Waverly's graduation from Lamar University, and I went to the gym for my normal 33-minute elliptical and back home to row for about 20 minutes.

Showered and out the door by 6:55 a.m., I made it just before 7:25 a.m., but I often forget that the eight that I've been to now at Spindle Tree - few have started right on-time at 7:30 a.m.

And, that's OK.  It is put on by volunteers and it doesn't cost a dime.

Some of it was the perfect 50 degrees temperatures, but the rest of my good race this morning was from my exercise and diet work.  I wouldn't call it "hard work", but hard enough to keep making progress.

30:28.42 was my time.  Three loops of 9:46.96 - 10:01.88 - 10:04.47 and then the last bit at 35.11.

I always wonder if it isn't a tad short, but the thing is is that it is a time trial course - like the old Run The Woodlands 5K - in that it never changes so you have performances to benchmark yourself against.

This event lives and breathes due to volunteers.  I need to get out there to return the favor.  I haven't yet.

I've talked the event up as well as many others - especially as I've always been upset that The Township denied the race going back to The Waterway (yet now a for-profit entity is using it to put on a regular race).

Lots of people that are always good to see included:  Ken Johnson, Vincent Attanucci, Randall Ivins, Alan Hedengren, Kevin Baker, Katerina Savelieva and the Park family, Jerritt, Kristi and Riley.

I was surprised I stayed ahead of Vincent, but he runs every single day - and is coming off of the Dallas Marathon, and I was grateful that Jerritt didn't lap me.  

That was a win, even though I know he probably could have if he wanted.

He said it was my Christmas present!  Thanks, Jerritt!

I then moved over to Hughes Landing to hold court will one of my best friends, Bill Dwyer.

He's got a lot of people heading to his group as a result of some turmoil in some parts of the local running community.  

Bill is the antithesis to drama in as much as that he's had some in his group over the years that he hadn't taken action on - with two exceptions.  (I always told him that there were a few others that he could have with.)

Bill's like a pastor that doesn't ever want to take anybody off of the church's membership rolls, even though they haven't sat in a pew for five years.  

That pastor still believes that they need to be shepherded.

That's not narcissism on the clergy's part, it is just part of their mission to serve others and give the glory to God.

Bill's always available to help, if people desire the assistance and direction in their training.  If not, he'll tell everybody "Good job" - usually something more specific, actually - and to keep at it!

Alright, I went to the gym just a few ago - and am getting ready for a basketball doubleheader.

I will be going to Stafford Municipal School District Gymnasium to see Texas College vs. North American University.  It will be the 91st gymnasium in Texas to see a college basketball game.

Then I'll make my way to Houston Christian University - will always be HBU - at 7 p.m. to see the Huskies host Champion Christian College, out of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  The Huskies are 1-7 while Champion Christian enters tonight's game at 6-6.

BCS Marathon Race Series Finishers

BCS Half Marathon
2011 - 902 (581 women / 381 men)
2012 - 2,089 (1,310 women / 779 men)
2013 - 2,052 (1,348 women / 704 men)
2014 - 2,573 (1,728 women / 845 men)
2015 - 1,957 (1,237 women / 720 men)
2016 - 1,895 (1,224 women / 671 men)
2017 - 1,627 (984 women / 641 men / 2 relay)
2018 - 1,544 (978 women / 566 men)
2019 - 1,566 (948 women / 618 men)
2021 - 1,858 (1,125 women / 730 men / 3 non-binary)
2022 - 1,551 (890 women / 659 men / 2 non-binary)
2023 - 1,770 (1,034 women / 735 men / 1 non-binary)

BCS Marathon
2011 - 408 (173 women / 235 men)
2012 - 614 (262 women / 352 men)
2013 - 944 (419 women / 525 men) + 39 relay
2014 - 956 (450 women / 506 men) + 51 relay
2015 - 641 (294 women / 347 men) + unknown relay
2016 - 659 (294 women / 332 men) + 33 relay
2017 - 503 (210 women / 267 men) + 26 relay
2018 - 513 (199 women / 301 men) + 13 relay
2019 - 541 (195 women / 322 men) + 22 relay + 2 wheels
2021 - 617 (245 women / 372 men)
2022 - 547 (190 women / 333 men) + 24 relay
2023 - 565 (167 women / 377 men) + 21 relay

Brazos Running Company Turkey Trot 5K
2013 - 769 (420 women / 349 men)
2014 - 1,086 (632 women / 454 men)
2015 - 869 (460 women / 409 men)
2016 - 1,053 (589 women / 464 men)
2017 - Not timed.

Nutrabolt Half Marathon 
2015 - 346 (214 women, 132 men)
2016 - 641 (392 women, 249 men) - 773 in database (17.07% no-show)
2017 - Cancelled.

Nutrabolt 10K
2015 - 271 (178 women, 93 men)
2016 - 558 (384 women, 174 men) - 668 in database (16.46% no-show)
2017 - Cancelled.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun 5K
2013 - 209 women
2014 - 260 women
2015 - 146 women
2016 - 138 women
2017 - 425 women

Scott and White BCS Trail Race 25K (Formerly Millican Ultra Run 25K)
2015 - 127 (67 women, 60 men)
2016 - 103 (55 women, 47 men, 1 unknown)
2017 - 39 (16 women, 23 men)

Scott and White BCS Trail Race 10K (Formerly Millican Ultra Run 10K)
2015 - 145 (90 women, 55 men)
2016 - 164 (90 women, 74 men)
2017 - 124 (71 women, 53 men)

Scott and White BCS Trail Race 5K2017 - 71 (48 women, 23 men)

BCS 10K (Defunct)
2013 - 334 (218 women, 116 men)
2014 - 411 (307 women, 104 men)

BCS 5K (Defunct)
2013 - 193 (128 women, 65 men)
2014 - 119 (70 women, 49 men)

Night Trail Run 15K (Defunct)
2013 - 71 (35 women, 36 men)
2014 - 101 (56 women, 45 men)

Night Trail Run 10K (Defunct)
2013 - 146 (102 women, 44 men)
2014 - 183 (130 women, 53 men)

Night Trail Run 5K (Defunct)
2013 - 185 (133 women, 52 men)

BCS 5 and Dime 10-Miler (Defunct)
2013 - 244 (172 women, 72 men)

BCS 5 and Dime 5-Miler (Defunct)
2013 - 116 (73 women, 43 men)

Millican Ultra Run 50M (Defunct)
2015 - 14 (4 women, 10 men)

Millican Ultra Run 50K (Defunct)
2015 - 35 (13 women, 22 men)
2016 - 26 (5 women, 21 men)

Baylor Scott and White BCS Marathon and Half Marathon Top 25 All-Time Times (2012-2023)

Marathon - Men

2:22:11 - Benjamin Metto, 2014

2:24:20 - Mario Macias, 2015

2:25:42 - David Chepkwony, 2015

2:26:17 - Elliott Farris, 2018
2:29:07 - Joshua Segura, 2023

2:31:41 - Edward Kiptum, 2014

2:38:51 - Justin Lange, 2019

2:38:55 - Craig Ottman, 2013

2:38:59 - Abraham Rutto, 2013

2:39:20 - Jacob Rotich, 2012

2:40:31 - Robert Newton, 2018
2:41:44 - Mark Amann, 2023

2:41:47 - Robert Newton, 2019

2:42:01 - Collin Bohne, 2019

2:42:26 - Gustavo Roman, Jr., 2023

2:43:50 - Cameron Brown, 2021

2:44:07 - Alex Moore, 2014

2:44:09 - Benny Rodriguez, 2013

2:45:08 - Daniel Ray, 2017

2:45:35 - Dominic Ricci, 2021

2:45:48 - Chris McClung, 2013
2:45:54 - Justin Lange, 2022

2:46:05 - Craig Ottman, 2014

2:46:20 - Abraham Rutto, 2015

2:47:00 - Matthew McCurdy, 2012

Marathon - Women

2:45:48 - Laura Huning, 2022, Durham, NC
2:47:49 - Hellen Rotich, 2012

2:54:34 - Nora Colligan, 2013

2:57:15 - Jane Rotich, 2015

2:58:24 - Leslie Canter, 2013

2:58:56 - Meggan Franks, 2015

2:59:06 - Laura Huning, 2019

2:59:36 - Randi Burnett, 2015

2:59:41 - Baili Rhodes, 2019

3:00:58 - Leah Jabbour, 2013

3:01:14 - Hannah Steffen, 2014

3:02:18 - Sarah Waraniak, 2019

3:03:49 - Melissa Hopper, 2016

3:04:23 - Melissa Hopper, 2014

3:05:10 - Melissa Hopper, 2015

3:05:31 - Brooke Renee Bible, 2013

3:05:50 - Kayla Campasino, 2013

3:06:00 - Cassie Towne, 2022, Frisco, TX

3:07:16 - Heather Hamilton, 2016

3:07:23 - Baili Rhodes, 2021
3:07:32 - Glenda Escobar, 2023

3:08:46 - Anna Gitter, 2021

3:08:50 - Jena Kincaid, 2014

3:08:55 - Chaiss Matthews, 2016
3:10:00 - Baili Rhodes, 2022

Half Marathon - Men

1:06:48 - Henry Lelei, 2015

1:07:11 - Eliud Ngetich, 2015
1:07:31 - Kyle Johnson, 2022

1:07:39 - Will Nation, 2015

1:07:45 - Abraham Rutto, 2014

1:07:52 - Kyle Johnson, 2021

1:08:08 - Peter Chebii, 2015

1:08:17 - Henry Lelei, 2013

1:08:19 - Erik Stanley, 2014
1:08:48 - Cooper Cawthra, 2022

1:09:13 - Evans Tuitoek, 2016

1:09:34 - John Baker, 2021

1:09:38 - Jacob Perry, 2018

1:09:40 - Ryan Miller, 2017

1:09:50 - Adam Wldrum, 2017

1:10:06 - Jacob Perry, 2017

1:10:34 - Henry Lelei, 2014

1:10:42 - Al Escalera, 2015

1:11:31 - Jeremy Daum, 2013

1:12:44 - J.P. Machemehl, 2021

1:12:56 - Nathanael Pineda, 2015
1:13:14 - Joseph Benn, 2022

1:13:28 - Scott Kimbrell, 2013

1:14:12 - Colin McCatharn, 2015

1:15:17 - Colin McCatharn, 2013

Half Marathon - Women

1:12:56 - Hillary Montgomery, 2015

1:17:30 - Hillary Montgomery, 2014

1:17:31 - Allison Macsas, 2015

1:17:59 - Ariana Hilborn, 2014

1:18:17 - Megan Saloom, 2015

1:20:33 - Robin Galloso, 2016

1:20:51 - Florence Ngetich, 2015

1:21:42 - Jess (Jessica) Draskau Petersson, 2015

1:21:49 - Rachel Brewer, 2015

1:22:15 - Natosha Rogers, 2013

1:22:33 - Hannah Steffan, 2013

1:22:38 - Kelsey Persyn, 2017

1:23:13 - Florence Ngetich, 2013

1:24:09 - Kaitlin Tanner, 2018

1:24:19 - Laura Huning, 2018

1:24:21 - Allison Macsas, 2012

1:24:55 - Jessica Walker, 2019
1:25:01 - Rachel Sanchez, 2022

1:25:23 - Jennifer Harney, 2014

1:25:29 - Carissa Fleskes, 2013

1:25:37 - Robin Galloso, 2021
1:25:44 - Abbey Santoro, 2023
1:25:44 - Julie Abell, 2023

1:25:58 - Cheryl Bridgens, 2013

1:26:27 - Christi Berenz, 2021

1:26:46 - Tiffanie Marley, 2017

Sources:  All Sports Timing and BCS Marathon

Baylor Scott and White BCS Marathon and Half Marathon All-Time Winners (2012-2023)

Marathon - Men

2012 - 2:39:20, Jacob Rotich

2013 - 2:38:55, Craig Ottman

2014 - 2:22:11, Benjamin Metto

2015 - 2:24:20, Mario Macias

2016 - 2:47:28, Connor Roche

2017 - 2:45:08, Daniel Ray

2018 - 2:26:17, Elliott Farris

2019 - 2:38:51, Justin Lange

2021 - 2:43:50, Cameron Brown
2022 - 2:45:54, Justin Lange, College Station
2023 - 2:29:17, Joshua Segura, College Station

Marathon - Women

2012 - 2:47:49, Hellen Rotich

2013 - 2:54:34, Nora Colligan

2014 - 3:01:14, Hannah Steffan

2015 - 2:57:15, Jane Rotich

2016 - 3:03:49, Melissa Hopper

2017 - 3:13:29, Pam Hess

2018 - 3:10:29, Katlyn Phillips

2019 - 2:59:06, Laura Huning

2021 - 3:07:23, Baili Rhodes
2022 - 2:45:48, Laura Huning, Durham, NC
2023 - 3:07:32, Glenda Escobar, Houston, TX

Marathon - Wheelchair - Men

2019 - 1:54:54, Kyle Grant

Marathon - Wheelchair - Women

2019 - 2:16:04, Adessa Ellis

Marathon Relay

2013 - 3:24:35, Wonder BRA

2014 - 3:07:41, Team Teammac

2015 - Unknown

2016 - 3:03:51, Grease Lightening

2017 - 3:27:03, Team B4B 2.0

2018 - 2:58:29, Team Bloody Cross Warmup

2019 - 3:26:41, Team BRC Super Foods
2022 - 3:00:28, Team Anderson Run 4 Fun
2023 - 3:01:38, Team Runners Who Try (3:06:17 Gun Time)

Half Marathon - Men

2012 - 1:16:08, Jonathan Lejeune

2013 - 1:08:17, Henry Lelei

2014 - 1:07:45, Abraham Rutto

2015 - 1:06:48, Henry Lelei

2016 - 1:09:13, Evans Tuitoek

2017 - 1:09:40, Ryan Miller

2018 - 1:09:38, Jacob Perry

2019 - 1:18:02, Dillon Morse

2021 - 1:07:52, Kyle Johnson
2022 - 1:07:31, Kyle Johnson, Corinth
2023 - 1:15:56, Noah Benn, College Station

Half Marathon - Women

2012 - 1:24:41, Allison Macsas

2013 - 1:22:15, Natosha Rogers

2014 - 1:17:30, Hillary Montgomery

2015 - 1:12:56, Hillary Montgomery

2016 - 1:20:33, Robin Galloso

2017 - 1:22:38, Kelsey Persyn

2018 - 1:24:09, Kaitlin Tanner

2019 - 1:24:55, Jessica Walker

2021 - 1:25:37, Robin Galloso
2022 - 1:25:01, Rachel Sanchez, McKinney
2023 - 1:25:44, Abbey Santoro, College Station

Sources:  All Sports Timing and BCS Marathon

Regular Brisk Walk along The Waterway; December 7, 2023

Love to write, but just never seem to have the time as I stay busy in so many different areas.

So over the last six months, I've been working to not only maintain my activity level but count calories.

I think it has paid off, but I still have more that I'd like to accomplish.  Just overall fitness, not necessarily race times.

Just got back from walking right at 4.2 miles along The Woodlands Waterway.

I start down at Barry Blanton's former run aid station for Ironman Texas and go all the way to Northshore Park and come back, staying on the north side of the Waterway.

Clipped it off today in 1:03:32 - right at 15:10 per mile - while listening to a couple of podcasts.

One fun note from today is that I wore this thermal top that I've had for some time.

One of my nine Chevron Houston Marathon finishes I had trained the right way - one of few, for sure - and had done a Yasso 800 session that I was in the 4:30-range.

I wore the same shirt, covered by the New York Marathon race jacket that I had bought a few years before, expecting a cold front to blow threw mid-race.

The thing is:  the front didn't come through (which meant that it stayed humid the entire race) and I wasn't comfortable enough running in just the shirt because it hugged my body in an unforgiving way.

Today?  Fits pretty good and wasn't bothered to wear it only.

So a lot of progress.

I don't know if I'll make it there, but one is to be able to run a race without a shirt one time.

Hope to get in my regular elliptical work at 24-Hour Fitness (33-minute, weight loss routine) and I've recently tried to up my rowing to 20-25 minutes regularly.

Next race?  Depending on the weather, Spindle Tree parkrun 5K on Saturday morning.