Fort Smith (Ark.) Half Marathon Race Report

Here's the problem with putting on a new race in 2015:  You're judged against the best races out there -- and each and every participant's own best race experience.

There's little or no room for error.  It's pretty daunting.

I ran the inaugural Fort Smith (Ark.) Half Marathon today.  I've had this on the radar since it was announced - not from a performance standpoint, but because it is where my good friend, Kevin Taylor, has been a sportswriter at the local newspaper for the last 16 years.

I booked a hotel room when it was announced in August - which turned out to be a good move (finding out there was a Juniors volleyball tournament at the Fort Smith Convention Center next door to the Marriott Courtyard) and waited until the last day, December 31, to pay before the price went up.

The race received a significant amount of pre-race publicity from the local newspaper and television stations.

And before I go where I'm going to go, the community support, volunteers and individuals working traffic control for Sunday's race where incredible.

Some of the absolute best -- in spite of what race management threw them into.

More on that later, first the half marathon course.

I rarely check out a course map before I go race anywhere for the simple fact that I'm not going to have to worry about not being able to follow someone and get lost.

I noticed that both the marathon and half marathon courses were advertised as certified courses, but when I went to check the USATF website, only the marathon course had been.

It had been measured in mid-October.  And the half marathon course used a good bit of the marathon course, except for a portion that went through one of the local golf courses and country clubs.

I inquired with a post to the race's Facebook page on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Monday evening, registered half marathon participants had the following in their mailboxes:

I just wanted to make you aware of a clarification and important correction to our website regarding the half-marathon course.  Until this morning, the half-marathon description noted that the course is “USATF certified”.  While this is true for the marathon course, certification for the half-marathon course has not been completed.  Based on extensive planning, we do believe the distance you will travel to be a reliable 13.1 miles, but final certification is pending an additional measure.  I apologize for the oversight, and want you to feel free to contact me if this causes you serious concern.

The certifier had 74 courses certified in the state of Arkansas on the USATF website, where they are housed.

I pushed back pretty hard and this was the response that I received:

I appreciate your comments Jon. The error is purely mine, not Bill's. When we placed the descriptions on the website, it was just a few weeks before Bill was coming to certify both courses. The marathon course proved pretty challenging and wound up taking the whole day we had reserved for certifying. The intention was obviously for Bill to come back for the half which we were never able to coordinate. He was not aware it was listed as such on the website. In the interim, I didn't remember either and so the site was never edited. Completely my fault. I feel good about the distance but am embarrassed for the oversight as you can imagine.

I gave the race director a pass until I ran the course on Sunday.

This past week, I had been consulted by a race director about a local entity that may be looking to potentially move some races in their community off the roads.

The question came up as to whether or not a competitive "marathon" had to be on a paved surface.

What I learned (or reinforced what I already knew) is that to qualify for Boston, you must run on a certified course.

What can get certified is completely covered in the USATF's Course Measurement and Certification Manual.

I've always been told that you can't certify a course that's on a trail, but there is some discussion in the manual that you can.  It generally requires using a steel tape to cover those areas where you can't ride a bike with a counter attached to it.

So you certify courses for one of four reasons:

1.)  If it is a marathon, to provide a course that allows a runner to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

2.)  If an American or World record is set on it, whether it is an age-group or a single-age mark.

3.)  Give confidence to a runner that they are going to run the exact distance that the race advertises that they are going to run.

4.)  As marketing, to set yourself from the races that won't invest in the money to certify their course.

So when we made it past mile 5 and on to the cart path of the Hardscrabble Country Club and we covered a trail portion to get to it and to see the incredible terrain that we were running on, I have come to believe that there was never any real intent to cerify the half marathon course.

Why?  Because there was going to be nobody that was going to be able to set any record of any kind on that course.

Additionally, as we finished, you could see the certifier's markings on the asphalt as to where the mile markers were.  However, there were none for the half marathon.

Therefore, it was an extra expense that was unnecessary.

I get that, but to me it is disingenous to promote the race as being run on a certified course when it isn't.

Since the Chevron Houston Marathon added its half marathon 12-13 years ago, I've said that it is where the money is made because in our world of endurance sports it is the most popular distance in running right now.

So not to treat it with all of the same care as a marathon by the race director doesn't sit well with me.

And my post to the Fort Smith Marathon page that got it all started?  It was deleted.

Putting on a race is an incredible financial risk as well.

I've taken it a couple of times, but not to this event's magnitude.

While I understand that there are participants who run for the medal, personally, even though I'm not fast, it is about me pushing myself that day first and foremost.

Therefore, 99% of the medals that I've ever received for finishing a race have meant that much to me.

And while it was a nice medal, especially for a first-year event, all finishers -- marathon, half marathon and marathon relay -- received the same medal, but with just a different ribbon to go around your neck.

Couple of other things - when you're being compared to other events:

There was no invocation.  I understand the reasons for not having one in that you don't want to offend certain faiths or non-believers.

There was also no National Anthem.  You mean to tell me that you couldn't find a high schooler in the two-state area that would have loved the exposure for themselves and their school?

The biggest issue, though, that was kind of serious -- was that the first three to four water stations had either run out of (the very first stop) or were running out of cups.  All of the 5-hour and longer marathons, at those stations, were behind me.

The first station that seemed to be able handle things was the one coming off of the Hardscrabble Country Club grounds.  They had fluid and cups.

The station around the mile 10 marker was low as half marathoners were coming in, but the aid station across from Northside HS on the run to the finish line seemed to be restocked.

"So, Jon, what about the running part?" you ask?

Tough course.  228-foot climb in the first 8.75 miles, according to the map on the race's web site.

And given the fact that the race didn't start until 9 a.m. (actually, 9:05 a.m, because the lead vehicles confirmed my suspicion that the course wasn't buttoned up), it got a little warm as the temperature rose into the mid-60's with a very clear sky.

I ran 2:25:33.  On a hilly course, however, that was 15-20 degrees warmer than last week's half in Minden, I'll take it.

It was my 56th best time out of 104 career half marathons.

It was a race in my 119th city or town outside of Texas and 223rd North American city or town.

The fourth half in 15 days is also the shortest time period to have recorded four half marathons, even though it includes the eighth time that I've done a half on back-to-back days.

My splits were as follows:

Mile 1 - 9:55.96
Mile 2 - 10:30.98
Mile 3 - 11:09.72
Mile 4 - 11:11.65 (had about a 120-foot elevation gain)
Mile 5 - 11:35.64
Mile 6-8 - 34:09.34 (those mile markers didn't exist on the golf course)
Mile 9 - 11:44.82
Mile 10 - 10:23.94 (got back the climb from mile 4)
Mile 11 - 11:08.52
Mile 12 - 11:17.84
Mile 13 - 11:24.59
Last .1 - 1:00.57

Finished 271st out of 510 half marathon finishers.

The only person that I saw there that I knew was San Antonio's Larry Macon, who has run over 1,400 marathons.  I probably saw Larry before we made it the mile one (1) marker.

My friend, Angela Tortorice, from Dallas was there to run it, I found out looking at the post-race results, but she started early to make a 2:30 p.m. flight out of Fort Smith.

Best part of the trip, though, was that I got to see my good friend, Kevin Taylor, who has been in Fort Smith now for about 16 years.

Kevin was the one that gave me the opportunity to string for the Conroe Courier in the late 1980s as well as do high school football radio reports on AM 880 KIKR.

Also got to meet his two sons, Landon and Logan, at the University of Central Oklahoma vs. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith NCAA Division II baseball game after the race.

That is why I made the trip and it was completely worthwhile.

I may have another return trip to Arkansas on Saturday, April 11 to take part in the 2nd annual RussVegas Half Marathon in Russellvile, which is about an hour east of Fort Smith, but word that I received today may change that.

Minden Run For St. Jude Half Marathon Race Report

I've decided in 2015 that I'm going to run a bunch of half marathons, especially here in the spring.

When I've done a lot of announcing, my running will sometimes go to pot because of the time I spend preparing for a race to be at the top of my game in that aspect.

A week after the Chevron Houston Marathon (which is now three weeks ago), I did a pair of half marathons in Benbrook and Waco.  I'll go back and recap all three of these races at some point.

Last Saturday, January 31, I made a trip to Minden, Louisiana for the Minden Run For St. Jude (Children's Hospital).

Not even sure how I first saw the race, but the price certainly caught my eye - $45 for a half.  Reminded me a lot of the Huntsville Half Marathon produced by the Seven Hills Running Club.

I won't go into my thoughts of what I think is an exhorbitant amount for a half marathon.

The other thing that I noticed when I checked out the race's web page is that Mike Hutcheson with No Limits Timing in Louisiana, who times the Texas 10 Series for Willie Fowlkes, was working this event.

He said that he was timing it for the first time in the event's now 7-year history.

I drove up to thre Shreveport area late Friday afternoon and got in town early enough to go see a Red River Athletic Conference men's college basketball game between Huston-Tillotson and LSU-Shreveport.

I love to mix running and other sports up when I put a weekend full of activity together.

I'm not one that loves getting to a race site super early - especially after doing so with all of the events that I announce (and work), but this one paid off by being no more than 100 yards from the start / finish line.

There's something about running a race in a smaller town which has over 1,000 participants.

It is large enough to not be running in a new place totally alone, but enough for the event to have a little buzz to it.

After finding out where our packets were, I sought out and found Hutch.  He as busy, of course, but we enjoyed seeing the other.  I love working with Mike.

When I announce, I help timers at the finish line because I'll notice men that are wearing bibs for females or vice versa.  So it is a win-win situation and I know that Mike appreciates what assistance that I provide him and he puts together a solid reader mat solution for me to really provide the participant a great finish line call.

The biggest thing that surprised me was his finish line setup with a nice inflatable and chute.

Since the races I work with him at doesn't need his equipment, I never have gotten to see his first-class stuff.  And I expected nothing less from Hutch.

With a race start time of 7:30, I noticed that there was no activity going on.  The race day operations part of me was wondering how this was going to come down.

I saw the woman who I believed to be the race director and I told her that if she needed a finish line announcer for next year that I would get Hutch my information.  She responded, "You can announce this year if you'd like."  I told her that I was running it!

However, I did, at 7:15 a.m., grab the microphone and did my normal pre-race announcements - like I can do in my sleep sometimes - and we started to get people queued up in the corral.

Good stuff.

The race got started on-time and I remember in my communications with Mike that the first four miles going out were a little hilly.

I told him as I crossed the start line to not "mess up my time".

The temperature was perfect for me -- in the 42- to 48-degrees range.  That means I can breathe!

At Benbrook the Saturday before, I ran with Ken Johnson from Huntsville the entire way and then Waco the next day at Miracle Match, I didn't run quite as well.  Therefore, I really didn't know what to expect.

The first mile came through at 9:51.79.

A little faster than what I like for a half marathon, but I felt good.  The first water stop was coming up in mile 2 -- and it would be the only one until mile 5.  This was one of the things that I pointed out after the race via Facebook that they needed to correct -- was with a stop in the middle, even if it was a self-service aid station.

Volunteers were incredibly friendly and helpful.

Even given the inclines - as they weren't really hills, but they kept coming, the next two miles checked in at 19:47.07 for a total time of 29:38.86.

I wasn't registering that it was under 10 minutes a mile at that time.

And as you can imagine, I didn't see the mile 2 marker as they weren't really existent.

Past mile 5, we made a right-hand turn on to a road that wasn't closed to traffic as I noticed later that it was the only real east-to-west connecting street on the north part of the community.  Therefore, it would have been tough - in hindsight - to close it completey.

My recommendation was to keep runners in one lane and allow cars to pass in the other with construction zone traffic control.

It was an area that was dangerous to runners as cars drove up the middle of runners that were running to the outsides of their lanes coming and going.

We crossed a major north-south intersection going out without much problem on our way to the turnaround spot.

Without mile markers, I made it from mile three to presumably the 6.55-mile mark in 36:10.75 to bring my time at the half way point to 1:05:49.61.

Since my offset time was 28.75 seconds, it showed as 1:06 on my watch.

I doubled that time and added a minute or two and realized that I could have a pretty good race, just two weeks removed from my first marathon in approximately 14 months.

When we came back through that north-south intersection, the road guard to the right, who wasn't a certified peace officer (or wasn't dressed like one), let a pickup with a trailer through just as I was coming through and he didn't look to see.

I said something that I shouldn't.  And while wearing my Liberty top, it certainly didn't conform to the Liberty Way.

I tried to tank up at the mile 8 aid station because I knew that it was going to be a little bit before I saw another one.  Additionally, they only had water the whole way.  No electrolyte replacement.

The next mile marker I saw was one that indicated it was three miles to the finish.  So from 6.55 to 10.1, my time was 37:10.94 to bring my total time to 1:43:00.55.

Since I knew that we would get a net downhill going back from this point forward, I tried to push as hard on the downhills that I could and then walk the uphills for a breather.

The next two miles were 20:24.94 -- that's a 10:12 per mile late in the race.  Wow.  (Total time - 2:03:25.49.)

And the final mile to the finish, which was setup fairly well even though we were coming in with the back of the 10K and 5K pack, was 9:54.94.

I don't even remember what I saw on the final time clock, but the accumulated time would be 2:13:20.43.

Mike had me down for 2:13:17 so I put that on my ledger (with a 2:13:21 as a note at the end).

Either way, it was my sixth best half marathon time ever -- 28 seconds faster than the half that I ran a year earlier which was on a completely flat course in Mobile.

It was half marathon finish #103 in my 118th city or town outside of Texas.

And with age-grading, it made it my best-ever race at age 48 with an age grade time of 1:59:53.

Now the goal is to try and get down to under two hours.

My PR is 2:09:45, but that's 2:08:45 running time as I stopped to urinate for a minute early in the race in Wisconsin in September 2010.

Houston 12K's of Christmas Race Report

When you pay full rate for a race (more on that later), you expect certain things.

Or at least the things that I strive to deliver working as part of an event production team.

They are what Pete Magill wrote about in Running Times about an earlier time in the sport of running.

They are:  1.) start a race on-time, 2.) make sure the course distance is accurate and 3.) get the results right.

So how did the 12K's of Christmas, produced by RA Sports Management, do this morning, according to that standard?

The 12K race, set for 7:45 a.m., started five minutes late.

(Not that big of a deal to me this morning, but annoying as I hate being in a situation - as a race announcer - when I have to communicate a delay.  And there are many things that can impact a start, especially out on the course that is out of an event producer's control.)

Course distance?  Who knows for sure.  Should have checked, but it is not a certified course (as I just glanced at the USATF web site).

The mile markers were definitely whacked.  The first two seemed spot on as well as the 5K, but the mile 4 marker was long as well as mile 5.  Miles 6 and 7?  They didn't exist.

If two loops - or two out-and-backs - equal 12K, that means it is 3K out, 3K back and so on.  So the 8K or 5-mile marker should have been before the turn around, right?  It wasn't.

My watch shows that Waverly and I did the last 4K in 20:38.  No way.

Results?  I don't know yet, but I keep my time on my watch.  Therefore, if the timer matches, then it is a good day.

And I think it did.

For those unfamiliar with this race (I was until this year), this is a double-and-out and back on Memorial Drive from the Wortham Center to approximately Spotts Park.

We were a ways back in the corral.

We came over to the start line at about 7:35 p.m. -- 10 minutes before the scheduled start.

You really couldn't hear pre-race announcements.

We could tell that there was an invocation.

After a few minutes pause and without an introduction that you could hear, the National Anthem was sung -- the loudest voice of them all.

We were 24 seconds from crossing the start line (24.61).

Here were our splits and this is how I could tell that the mile markers were totally whacked.

Mile 1 -- 10:28.29
Mile 2 -- 10:18.09  (Thought these were spot on)
5K -- 11:03.05 (As well as this one as this was before the turnaround)
Mile 4 -- 11:34.62
Mile 5 -- 10:08.21
Last 2.5? -- 20:38.71

Total time -- 1:14:30.97 less 24.61 offset = 1:14:06.36

Gary had Waverly's gun time at 1:14:34.9 and chip time at 1:14:11.3 and mine at 1:14:33.1 and 1:14:10.0.

We raced well, I think.  If the distance was correct (which I open to thinking that it could have been off), then we ran just under 10 minutes a mile.  1:14:11 is 9:57 per mile for 12 kilometers.

We practiced a little bit with me leading because at Kingwood on New Year's Day, the trails will be such that you really shouldn't be running side-by-side.

So some of this is just event production pickiness -- some of which that I should just shut off.

However, when I spent $50 for an entry -- the day before the event producer starts using an $8 (per entry) off code, I think it is reasonable to expect to get the race portion of it spot-on (as I honestly don't partake in nor care about the "event" part of things).

Did I have some post-race food?  Yes.  We both grabbed a bottle of water at the finish line (plenty of smiling and friendly volunteers), a bagel and the one bakery place was loading up stuff as much as they could get into people's hands.

This, of course, is a sign that more runners were expected.

I'm guessing that the Santa Hustle race in Galveston tomorrow, which is put on by a Chicago-based firm (and was seeking volunteers one year without disclosing that they were a for-profit entity), snagged some runners.  Only know if results are compared from year-to-year.

Bartendeex Oropeza said that there were many more at this race last year and he was right.

Last year, the event had 702 timed finishers in the 12K and another 116 in the 6K.

This year, the numbers were 349 in the 12K (with an additional 22 DQ's - assuming a single loop only) and 81 in the 6K.

Great to see Walt and Lisa Yarrow, Greg Witherow, Sean Robertson and Kevin Lang out there.  The latter two run a lot of Robby Sabban's races.  Kevin - from League City - does a ton of half marathons.  Also had a great conversation with Suzy Seeley post-race too.

She's always been so excited about Waverly and was sharing with us about being a grandmother for the first time.

Great stuff.

We also talked to a few Cypress Running Club members and thanked them for their participation in the Texas 10 Series.

And, of course, the official race photographer:  RaceShots.Net and three quarters of the Phegley family.  (There will be a picture of me mimicking Ben Harvie running behind Roger Boak).

Overall, Graham Schooley and Lauren Smith do a great job.

These are fixable things that I mentioned above, but they're important.

Graham and I had a chance to talk at length at The Woodlands Marathon Expo after a little bit of some engaging conversation about participants and finishers.

The only thing that "maybe" was missing today (and it can be dependent upon the number of available volunteers) was a smaller water stop in the middle of the course -- equidistant from the start and the turnaround.

And I'm glad that I didn't run fast because the leaders had to run through the crowd on the second loop.  Yet that's knowledgeable when you sign up for a race with that kind of course.

Otherwise ... a great morning.

Kinsel Ford 2-Mile All-Time Top 20 Times

Men

11:38 - Mark Segura, Bridge City, 2013, 1st overall
12:09 - Ramiro Sanchez, Beaumont, 2014, 1st overall
13:24 - Ramiro Sanchez, Beaumont, 2012, 1st overall
14:29 - Lionel Brigg, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd overall
14:54 - Nathan Vincent, Beaumont, 2013, 3rd overall
15:00 - Jonathan Stogner, 2014, 2nd overall
15:29 - Anthony Maybit, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 15-19
15:57 - Joshua Stogner, 2014, 3rd overall
16:01 - Landen Die, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 11-19
16:02 - Tyler Spikes, Groves, 2013, 1st 20-24
16:08 - Jonathan Snipes, Bridge City, 2012, 2nd overall
16:18 - Corey Richard, Port Arthur, 2014, 1st 11-14
17:03 - Gus Becker, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 25-29
17:15 - Abel Chapa, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 1-10
17:19 - Roberto Diaz, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 35-39
17:25 - Keenan De La O, Bridge City, 2013, 2nd 1-10
17:44 - Jackson Gibbs, Port Arthur, 2014, 1st 1-10
17:49 - Larry Chatagnier, Groves, 2013, 1st 40-44
17:51 - Zachary Ramer, Lafayette, LA, 2013, 2nd 11-19
17:53 - Hoa Luu, Port Arthur, 2014, 2nd 1-10

Women

13:44 - Christina Segura, Bridge City, 2013, 1st overall
15:54 - Amber Olesky, Port Neches, 2014, 1st overall
15:58 - Kristen Hoffpauir, Beaumont, 2014, 2nd overall
16:30 - Brittney O'pry, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd overall
16:38 - Teri Wilson, Port Neches, 2013, 3rd overall
17:14 - Taryn Chatagnier, Groves, 2014, 3rd overall
17:18 - Victoria Gonzalez, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 1-10
17:48 - Taryn Chatagnier, Groves, 2013, 2nd 1-10
17:52 - Evelyn Hilario, Port Arthur, 2014, 1st 1-10
18:10 - Brittany Clanan, Port Arthur, 2014, 1st 11-14
18:11 - Monica Brannen, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 50-54
18:12 - Keli Hendon, Lumberton, 2014, 1st 25-29
19:21 - Alyssa Ybarra, Beaumont, 2014, 2nd 11-14
19:34 - Evelyn Hilario, Port Arthur, 2013, 3rd 1-10
19:43 - Anna Oxner, Port Arthur, 2013, 1st 15-19
19:52 - Kayleigh Ritchey, Groves, 2014, 3rd 11-14
19:54 - Brooke Denison, Lumberton, 2013, 4th 1-10
20:08 - Molly Lahaye, Grapevine, 2013, 1st 45-49
20:48 - Gale Daigle, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 50-54
21:06 - Camryn Carreon, 2014, 4th 11-14

The Kinsel Ford 2-Miler is part of the Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon in Port Arthur, Texas, which is produced by the Sports Society for American Health.

Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon All-Time Top 20 Times

Men

1:17:12 - Ryan Kelly, Bridge City, 2013, 1st overall
1:23:38 - Brian Clark, Orange, 2014, 1st overall
1:23:41 - Elijah Allen, Houston, 2013, 2nd overall
1:23:43 - Iram Leon, Austin, 2013, 3rd overall
1:25:53 - Joe Melanson, Orange, 2013, 1st 55-59
1:26:06 - Daniel Villarreal, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 25-29
1:26:49 - Dan Smith, Sulphur, LA, 2014, 2nd overall
1:28:11 - Geoff Landry, Lake Charles, LA, 2014, 3rd overall
1:29:06 - Jonathan Owens, Beaumont, 2012, 1st overall
1:29:24 - Harrison Fowler, Beaumont, 2014, 1st 15-19
1:29:52 - Dezrick McDowell, Beaumont, 2014, 2nd 15-19
1:29:54 - Daniel Villarreal, Beaumont, 2014, 1st 30-34
1:30:45 - Joe Melanson, Orange, 2012, 2nd overall
1:31:44 - Michael Sanchez, Port Neches, 2013, 1st 30-34
1:32:12 - Nicholas Marcotte, Bridge City, 2013, 1st 15-19
1:32:29 - Sam Steffen, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd 25-29
1:32:35 - Laurin Dugas, Lafayette, LA, 2013, 1st 35-39
1:33:11 - Chris McDermand, Nome, 2012, 3rd overall
1:34:15 - Williard Hochstrasser, Groves, 2013, 1st 40-44
1:35:13 - Jeremiah Brammer, Lumberton, 2014, 1st 40-44

Women

1:26:02 - Stephanie Bonk, Pittsburgh, PA, 2013, 1st overall
1:31:26 - Angela Laborde, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd overall
1:34:39 - Nora-Beth Saunders, Beaumont, 2013, 3rd overall
1:35:07 - Kate Gurfein, Austin, 2013, 1st 30-34
1:40:36 - Vicky Moye, Baytown, 2012, 1st overall
1:45:07 - Christie Johnsen, Silsbee, 2013, 1st 40-44
1:47:37 - Jane Angel, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 45-49
1:48:30 - Christie Johnsen, Silsbee, 2014, 1st overall
1:48:39 - Pam Guidry, Bridge City, 2014, 2nd overall
1:48:52 - Michelle Wier, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 25-29
1:48:54 - Ivonne Landon, Montgomery, 2012, 2nd overall
1:48:57 - Susan Taylor, Eire, CO, 2013, 1st 35-39
1:49:05 - Victoria Dai, Beaumont, 2014, 3rd overall
1:49:24 - Jennifer White, League City, 2012, 3rd overall
1:49:33 - Kellie Fowler, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd 40-44
1:49:40 - Nichola Gerland, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd 35-39
1:49:51 - Dana Andrae, Austin, 2012, 1st 40-44
1:50:24 - Rachel Babson, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd 25-29
1:50:30 - Haley Spell, Nederland, 2012, 1st 30-34
1:52:30 - Nichola Gerland, Beaumont, 2012, 1st 35-39

The Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon in Port Arthur, Texas is produced by the Sports Society for American Health

Moore For Kids 10K All-Time Top 20 Times

Men

35:32 - David Tate, Taylor Lake Village, 2013, 1st overall
35:41 - Julian Perez, Beaumont, 2014, 1st overall
37:06 - Iram Leon, Austin, 2014, 2nd overall
38:51 - Dustin McAlpine, Nederland, 2014, 3rd overall
40:06 - David Tate, Taylor Lake Village, 2012, 1st overall
40:22 - Justin Gibbons, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd overall
41:47 - Jonatan Sevilla, Port Arthur, 2013, 3rd overall
41:50 - Ramiro Sanchez, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 25-29
41:50 - James Urban, Beaumont, 2014, 1st 20-24
42:13 - Mark Montebello, Lumberton, 2013, 2nd 25-29
42:43 - Jonatan Sevilla, Port Arthur, 2014, 1st 25-29
42:50 - Williard Hochstrasser, Port Neches, 2014, 1st 40-44
42:52 - Brian Bauer, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 45-49
42:57 - Stephen O'Neil, Beaumont, 2012, 2nd overall
43:24 - Stephen O'Neil, Beaumont, 2014, 1st 50-54
43:25 - Mark Segura, Bridge City, 2014, 1st 30-34
43:41 - Eric Laing, Beaumont, 2014, 1st 35-39
43:46 - Jeremy Franks, Vidor, 2014, 2nd 30-34
43:47 - John Myers, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 20-24
44:13 - Brian Franklin, Port Arthur, 2013, 3rd 25-29

Women

46:38 - Christina Segura, Bridge City, 2014, 1st overall
46:57 - Megan Wilkinson, Lumberton, 2013, 1st overall
47:24 - Kara Louvier, Nederland, 2013, 2nd overall
47:51 - Sarah Wion, Orange, 2013, 3rd overall
48:18 - Kristin Gilley, Liberty, 2013, 1st 35-39
49:29 - Kellie Fowler, Beaumont, 2014, 2nd overall
49:36 - Melanie Holland, Nome, 2013, 1st 50-54
49:45 - Maria Jaimes, Galveston, 2014, 3rd overall
49:53 - Colleen Bauer, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 20-24
50:00 - Bonnie Landry, Beaumont, 2013, 1st 30-34
50:41 - Hailey Stogner, Vidor, 2013, 1st 15-19
51:00 - Ana Christensen, Beaumont, 2014, 1st 50-54
51:40 - Melanie Aldrich Holland, Nome, 2014, 2nd 50-54
51:46 - Bonnie Landry, Beaumont, 2012, 1st overall
52:11 - Kacy Ellis, Silsbee, 2013, 1st 25-29
52:16 - Fay Guillory, Beaumont, 2012, 2nd overall
53:23 - Melanie Holland, Nome, 2012, 3rd overall
53:37 - Jennifer Glover, Vidor, 2014, 3rd 50-54
53:45 - Marsha Reed, Silsbee, 2014, 1st 40-44
53:46 - Catherine Wu, Beaumont, 2013, 2nd 20-24

The Moore For Kids 10K is part of the Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon in Port Arthur, Texas, which is produced by the Sports Society for American Health.

Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon, 10K and 2-Mile Legacy Runners

- A -
Abel, Iva, Lumberton, 2012-2014 (10K)
Aldrich-Holland, Melanie, Nome, 2012-2014 (10K)
Alexander, Scott, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (Half)

- B -
Barry, Rick, Nederland, 2012-2014 (Half)
Bean, Cody, Beaumont, 2012 (Half), 2013 (10K), 2014 (Half)
Benson, Tracy, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (10K)
Bowling, Richard, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (Half)
Brack, John, Beaumont, 2012 (10K), 2013 (Half), 2014 (10K)
Brough, Theresa, Nederland, 2012 (Half), 2013 (10K), 2014 (Half)
Burris, Dawn, Beaumont, 2012 (10K), 2013 (2M), 2014 (Half)

- C -
Carlson, Julie, Lafayette, LA, 2012-2013 (Half), 2014 (10K)
Carlson, Randy, Lafayette, LA, 2012-2013 (Half), 2014 (2M)
Chambers, Lisa, Beaumont, 2012 (10K), 2013-2014 (Half)
Chatagnier, Taryn, Groves, 2012-2014 (2M)
Christensen, Ana, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (10K)
Christensen, Eric, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (10K)
Conley, Angie, Port Arthur, 2012 (Half), 2013 (2M), 2014 (10K)

- D -
Decuir, Judy, Nederland, 2012-2014 (10K)
Die, Jr., David, Nederland, 2012-2014 (10K)

- F -
Fowler, Kellie, Beaumont, 2012-2013 (Half), 2014 (10K)

- G -
Gillis, Angela, Beaumont, 2012-2013 (Half)
Gilman, Karen, Beaumont, 2012 (10K), 2013 (Half), 2014 (10K)
Granger, Daryl, Orange, 2012 (10K), 2013 (Half), 2014 (10K)
Grant, Beulah, Kountze, 2012-2014 (10K)

- H -
Haynes, Brian, Groves, 2012-2014 (Half)
Hochstrasser, Williard, Port Neches, 2012 (10K), 2013 (Half), 2014 (10K)
Howlett, Buddy, Vidor, 2012-2014 (10K)
Hudson, Keshia, Port Arthur, 2012-2014 (10K)

- I -
Ingram, Greg, Nedeerland, 2012-2014 (10K)
Istre, Jeannie, Orange, 2012 (Half), 2013-2014 (10K)

- J -
Johnsen, Christie, Silsbee, 2012-2014 (Half)
Johnson, Craig, Port Arthur, 2012-2014 (10K)
Johnson, Michelle, Bridge City, 2012-2014 (10K)
Jones, Morgan, Port Neches, 2012-2014 (Half)
Jordan, Mattie, Groves, 2012-2014 (10K)

- L -
Lieby, Aimee, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (10K)

- M -
Mauldin, Luke, Nederland, 2012 (10K), 2013-2014 (Half)
McMullen, Robert, Port Arthur, 2012-2014 (10K)
McWherter, Melinda, Vidor, 2012-2014 (10K)
Miles, Lindsay, Houston, 2012 (Half), 2013 (10K), 2014 (Half)

- R -
Russell, Cary, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (Half)

- S -
Sanchez, Ramiro, Beaumont, 2012 (2M), 2013 (10K), 2014 (2M)
Sevilla, Jonatan, Port Arthur, 2012 (Half), 2013-2014 (10K)
Stogner, Tara, Vidor, 2012-2014 (Half)
Sykes, Damien, Beaumont, 2012 (10K), 2013-2014 (Half)
Sykes, Jesica, Beaumont, 2012-2014 (Half)

- T -
Thigpen, Van, Port Neches, 2012 (Half), 2013-2014 (10K)
Tippett, Jennifer, Orange, 2012 (Half), 2013-2014 (10K)

- W -
Wilson, Pat, Nederland, 2012-2013 (10K), 2014 (Half)

I May Be Slow ...

... but I can honestly say that the only material thing that I've ever run for was to get the sweatshirt that the then-hp Houston Marathon was gave away as a finishing item.

I think I was running the 2004 Bridgefest 5K in Kingwood when I saw the finishing sweatshirt - tells you in 10 years how "old school" I am -- for the race a few weeks before.

Mind you, I had finished my second half, but I wanted to wear that accomplishment.

Just the same when I was seeking a training race for my first half marathon in November 2003 and Seven Hills Running Club's Ken Johnson told me via e-mail that if I didn't think that I could finish their half in a certain time that I shouldn't run it.

I wanted to prove Ken wrong -- and I did.  (But, I should note that, we're very good friends today.)

So what drives me to the point of writing?

I'm an administrator on The Woodlands Marathon's Facebook page as its media relations coordinator.  Therefore, with notifications on, I get e-mailed on most messages and comments.

I wasn't able to be at last night's Course and Medal Review at Fleet Feet Sports in Shenandoah, but there was one comment that drove me to here.

It was, "The half finisher medals were very disappointing".

The individual is registered for the half marathon.  I have a copy of the database (so I could format some data so Willie could wish everybody registered to date Happy Birthday in the Constant Contact mailing.)

I'd almost like to give the person their money back out of my own pocket.

Is that we run for today?

Medals and material things are the most important?

If they are, that's such a shame that you have to rest your laurels on those.

There's so much more to our sport -- sport(s) for my multisport friends.

I really felt bad for Willie - as well as anybody associated in producing the Marathon - because apparently for this one person ... it is all about the bling.

Nothing anybody  else does -- seemingly (and a bit tongue in cheek too) -- really seems to matter.

I have a race to announce Sunday -- and a bridge to cross there myself.

We had a challenge with our shuttle bus strategy at the Toughest 10K Galveston a couple of weeks ago.

We believed that we had enough vehicles to transport runners, but because of a long light - and one other issue, they weren't able to make the return trips as fast as we anticipated.

One runner who is participating in the three-race Series posted in a comment on Facebook -- after we profusely apologized (including walking through a return line to board a bus back to the parking lot and looking this individual right in the eye and saying that we would get it taken care of) -- that it was a "total failure".

All I would say is that total would mean that we were negligent in all things.

That simply wasn't the case.

However, on the Facebook page of the last race of the Series, here they were -- shortly after the "total failure" comment -- posting pictures that they are a "bling whore" and couldn't wait for the next race.

Really?

They'll be running on Sunday -- in another Series that I announce for.

I've declined to announce a race because of people participating before.  (I rarely see two of the people and by happenstance bumped into the third a month ago.)

It won't happen on Sunday nor in two weeks, but it is people like this who - and they don't realize it -- are an encouragement to me to do something else with my time.

I love what I get a chance to do.  I take great pride in it.

As you've seen me say many times, my job is make sure people have the information they need on race morning, that we get people lined up and get the race started on-time -- and it is done professionally.

Everything else is gravy -- well, and edification of the participant's performance that day.

Ironman World Championship Well-Wishes

On Saturday, some 2,200 Ironman athletes will enter the water just off the pier in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii to compete in the Ironman World Championship.

Through some crazy events over the last ten years, I'll actually know many of those competing -- and some that are there to offer moral support too.

I can only count one professional (that will be competing) as a Facebook friend -- Pennsylvanian Kim Schwabenbauer.  Proud that she'll not only be representing the Commonwealth, but also Penn State.

Corpus Christi's Ed Cheatham will be there as a race official with his wife, Candy.

Competing in the men's 50-54 age group will be Finish Strong Sports and Conroe Triathletes' Kent Morris.  There's not too many classier - and humble - gentlemen around than Kent.  So glad to see him get this opportunity.

In the men's 45-49 division is Houston's Greg Colvin.  I met the former James Madison defensive lineman for the first time on the plane home from Ironman Lake Placid in July 2010.  It was the very first Ironman that I ever covered.

Houston's Matthew Chauvin and The Woodlands' Michael Young are both in the 40-44 age group.

Both Greg and Matthew I've gotten to know through my friendship with Walt and Lisa Yarrow.

This is Michael's second straight trip to the World Championship.  He and a triathlete from Japan are the only two to win lottery spots the last two years.

Not sure about the other guy, but of course, Michael wouldn't be disappointed if good fortune came his way a third time.

The final lottery spot from the area went to Spring's Eric Fontaine, who has done somewhere between 15 and 20 Ironmans.

He just had some very recent surgery - having read a post on OutRival Racing's wall -- but he'll figure out a way to make it across the finish line.

Then in the women's 45-49 division, there are two women that I hope finish in the top 10 and it wouldn't disappoint if they went 1-2.

Those two talented ladies are The Woodlands' Karen Ponette-Maldonado and Peggy Yetman, who now calls Fort McMurry, Alberta, Canada.

Peggy has finished on the podium three times at Kona in the 40-45 age division -- one each at first, second and third.

Karen has the fastest time of all qualifiers in their division with her 9:45 at Ironman Cozumel.

Peggy made it to Kona by winning her age group at Ironman New Zealand early this year.

Other than families, there are friends and others that I know who are there from The Woodlands to cheer these great athletes on, including Greg and Maureen Gibbons, Balazs Csoke and Tim Floyd.

One of these days, I'll make it out there to cover the last of the three endurance granddaddy races - having been already to the Boston Marathon and the Western States 100 before.

Best wishes to all tomorrow!

Fall 2014 Race Announcing Schedule

A lot of people will ask me "Are you announcing such-and-such race?" or "What's coming up next for you?"  Honestly, I'm glad - and flattered - that people care.

I was pretty busy this past spring and the fall is shaping up to be much of the same.

I'm very thankful that I get to do what I do to in helping race directors communicate effectively, get events started on-time and orderly and celebrating athlete's achievements at the finish line and - in some cases - during post-race awards.

Two new things that I'll get to do this fall are to announce 1.) an out-of-state race [Florida10 Lakeland] and 2.) a Marathon Warm-Up Series race [the Finish Line Sports Sugar Land 30K].

And there's one more major event - to me - that I'm hoping that will come to fruition.

In the meantime, though, here's where I'm going to be this fall:

 9/ 6 (Sat.) - Galveston Sand Crab 10K and 5K (Bill Gardner)
 9/20 (Sat.) - Toughest 10K Kemah (Robby Sabban)
10/ 3 (Fri.) - Nike South Cross Country, The Woodlands (Juris Green)
10/ 4 (Sat.) - Nike South Cross Country, The Woodlands (Juris Green)
10/11 (Sat.) - Methodist Mansfield Run With Heart Half Marathon (Raul and Meghan Najera)
10/12 (Sun.) - Texas10 Fort Worth (Willie Fowlkes)
10/18 (Sat.) - Toughest 10K Galveston (Robby Sabban)
10/19 (Sun.) - Florida10 Lakeland (Willie Fowlkes)
11/ 2 (Sun.) - Texas10 Katy (Willie Fowlkes)
11/ 8 (Sat.) - Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon, 10K and 2M, Port Arthur (Richard and Amie James)
11/16 (Sun.) - La Porte By The Bay Half Marathon (Robby Sabban)
11/22 (Sat.) - Nike Cross Regionals Cross Country, The Woodlands (Juris Green)
12/ 7 (Sun.) - Texas10 Conroe (Willie Fowlkes)
12/14 (Sun.) - Finish Line Sports Sugar Land 30K (Andy Stewart)

I certainly hope that I get to see many of you at one or more of these races the remainder of 2014.

January-March 2015 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar

1/ 1 (Thu.) - Texas Marathon and Half Marathon (Kingwood)
1/18 (Sun.) - Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon
2/ 1 (Sun.) - Galveston Marathon and Half Marathon
2/ 1 (Sun.) - USA Fit Marathon and Half Marathon (Sugar Land)
2/ 7 (Sat.) - Katy Half Marathon
2/14 (Sat.) - Love. Run. Marathon. and Half Marathon (Huntsville)
2/14 (Sat.) - Jail Break Run Half Marathon (Baytown)
2/15 (Sun.) - Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon (Houston)
2/15 (Sun.) - Austin Marathon and Half Marathon (Austin)
2/15 (Sun.) - Sugar & Spice Half Marathon (Clear Lake)
2/21 (Sat.) - Surfside Beach Marathon and Half Marathon
2/28 (Sat.) - The Woodlands Marathon and Half Marathon
3/ 1 (Sun.) - Cowtown Marathon and Half Marathon (Fort Worth)
3/ 1 (Sun.) - Armadillo Dash Half Marathon (College Station)
3/ 7 (Sat.) - The Gusher Marathon and Half Marathon (Beaumont)
3/14 (Sat.) - Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon
3/15 (Sun.) - Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon and Half Marathon
3/22 (Sun.) - Memorial Herman Sugar Land Half Marathon
3/29 (Sun.) - Angie's Half Crazy! Half Marathon (Clear Lake)

2014 Top Triathlons in Greater Houston

2,196 - Ironman Texas, The Woodlands, May 17

2,187 - Ironman 70.3 Galveston, April 6 (2,136 individual, 51 relay)

1,928 - Kids Tri Houston, April 13
1,196 - Kids Tri Houston - Junior
   732 - Kids Tri Houston - Senior (22 one-loop bike not included)

1,512 - Kemah Triathlon, April 26-27
   735 - Kemah Sprint Triathlon (714 AG, 21 relay)
   643 - Kemah Olympic Triathlon (627 AG, 16 relay)
   134 - Kemah Kids Triathlon (132 AG, 2 relay)

1,046 - CB&I Sprint Triathlon, The Woodlands, May 3 (885 AG, 96 relay, 48 weight, 17 elite)

   547 - Shadow Creek Ranch Triathlon, Pearland, July 13 (472 AG, 16 relay, 25 pro, 34 weight)

   518 - Tejas Triathlon, Sugar Land, June 1 (467 AG, 20 weight, 31 relay)

   478 - Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Triathlon, June 22 (451 AG, 27 relay)

   453 - TriGirl Super Sprint Duathlon and Triathlon, Houston, May 11
   304 - TriGirl Super Sprint Triathlon (287 AG, 17 relay)
   149 - TriGirl Super Sprint Duathlon

   431 - Y Freedom Triathlon, Pearland, June 29 (368 AG, 41 weight, 21 relay, 1 pc)

   396 - Sylvan Beach Kids Tri, Duathlon and Triathlon, La Porte, June 14-15
   246 - Sylvan Beach Triathlon (225 AG, 13 weight, 6 relay, 2 pro)
   104 - Sylvan Beach Duathlon (101 AG, 3 relay)
     46 - Sylvan Beach Kids Triathlon

   357 - No Label Triathlon, Katy, March 30

   356 - Du The Polar Bear Duathlon, Houston, February 9 (335 AG, 11 relay, 10 weight)

   276 - Springs Back Sprint and Olympic Triathlon, Fulshear, May 4
   159 - Springs Back Sprint Triathlon (150 AG, 6 weight, 3 relay)
   117 - Springs Back Olympic Triathlon (117 AG, 3 weight, 1 relay)

   209 - Silverlake Sprint and Olympic Triathlon, Pearland, May 25
   123 - Silverlake Sprint Triathlon (119 AG, 4 relay)
     86 - Silverlake Olympic Triathlon (82 AG, 4 relay)

   187 - Conroe YMCA Tri For Fun Sprint and Youth Triathlon, March 30
     90 - Conroe YMCA Tri For Fun Sprint Triathlon (85 age group, 5 relay)
     87 - Conroe YMCA Tri For Fun Youth Triathlon

   161 - Texas Kid's Triathlon, Houston, May 17

   141 - TriColor Super Sprint Triathlon, Fulshear, April 19 (139 AG, 2 relay)

   136 - Texas Star Sprint Triathlon, Montgomery, July 13

   108 - Tri Kids Camps Houston's Family Triathlon, May 3

     88 - Lake Tejas Triathlon and Duathlon, Colmesneil, April 12
     69 - Lake Tejas Triathlon
     19 - Lake Tejas Duathlon

     76 - Kiwanis Kids Triathlon - Stude Park, Houston, July 12

Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Triathlon Winners (2001-2014)

Female - Overall
2001 - Anne Smith, 49:45
2002 - Lynnie Terry, 40, 52:01
2003 - Terra Castro, 22, 50:17
2004 - Autumn Ray, 24, 49:57
2005 - Autumn Ray, 25, 50:22
2008 - Ann Smith, 41, 50:49.5
2009 - Julie Mosier-Crosno, 38, 51:54.9
2010 - Ann Smith, 43, 53:14.2
2011 - Liz Baugher, 33, 50:53.5
2012 - Kassie Harris, 26, 52:40.2
2013 - Michelle LeBlanc, 38, 48:15.0
2014 - Grace Benes, 31, 51:11.2

Female - Masters
2001 - Cindy McCasker, 55:58
2002 - Ellen Happe Phillips, 57:02
2003 - Lynnie Terry, 41, 52:14
2004 - Lynnie Terry, 42, 54:15
2005 - Ann Morris, 41, 54:36
2008 - Ann Morris, 44, 54:53.8
2009 - Ann Smith, 42, 52:59.0
2010 - Melanie Sun, 40, 56:41.6
2011 - Ann Smith, 44, 52:03.4
2012 - Shannon Crowe, 42, 53:32.5
2013 - Ann Smith, 46, 51:34.5
2014 - Ann Smith, 47, 52:21.7

Male - Overall
2009 - Bradley Pigage, 25, 45:15.5
2010 - Bradley Pigage, 26, 46:24.1
2011 - Grant Glauser, 27, 44:22.7
2012 - Andy Borremans, 16, 46:46.9
2013 - Scott Wilkinson, 23, 42:42.9
2014 - Scott Wilkinson, 24, 42:39.5

Male - Masters
2009 - Brett Cole, 42, 50:56.4
2010 - Shawn Smith, 45, 49:29.8
2011 - Brett Cole, 44, 50:02.8
2012 - Dave Depinet, 49, 50:51.7
2013 - Cort Prois, 40, 46:23.1
2014 - Shawn Smith, 49, 49:38.8

Keeping Boilerplate Race Marketing Out of My Facebook E-Mail

I just received a reminder to register for a race about three hours ago.

It wasn't personalized like, "Hey, Jon, even though I know that you normally don't do triathlons, I thought you might be interested in knowing ..."

But, of course, why would a race director make that kind of effort for somebody like me when they have a big race to fill or "sell out"?  [Hmm. Maybe numbers aren't where they hoped they would be.]

Yet it didn't come in to my regular, personal e-mail, which would be expected.

We all opt in to race's Constant Contact (or similar) mailing lists.  It is part of the territory.

It came in my personal Facebook e-mail, but not from the race's official Facebook page (or account).

Again, that would have been fair game, in my mind.

No, it came from the race director's personal Facebook account.

Now wait, if I'm that race director's - at a minimum - Facebook friend, don't I know when all of their races are, what their event production's website is and when registration deadlines might be?

Probably.

This information, in my news feed, as a status update - to me - is also fair game.

So instead of taking the time to unclick me (which would be pretty good personalization, if you ask me) when you send that mass e-mail to all of your Facebook friends, just go ahead - even though I didn't understand it was part and parcel of being your Facebook friend - and send me your standard boilerplate marketing material - to my Facebook e-mail.

So, unfortunately, it didn't earn you a registration.  It just got you blocked.

Current Price of All Texas Marathons (June 10, 2014)

$60
Overnite Software Surfside Beach Marathon, February 21, 2015 (No indication of price increase)

$65
Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon, February 22, 2015 ($75 on September 1)

$70
McAllen Marathon, December 14 (No indication of price increase)

$70 (Registrants 451-700)
New Year's Eve Marathon, Allen, December 31 ($75 for Registrants 701-950, combined with half)
New Year's Day Marathon, Allen, January 1, 2015 ($75 for Registrants 701-950, combined with half)

$75
The Army Marathon, Killeen to Temple, March 1, 2015 ($85 on October 1)
Fiesta Marathon, Edinburg, November 16 ($85 on October 13)
Frankenthon Monster Marathon, Cedar Park, October 18 ($85 on August 1)
GE Irving Marathon, April 4, 2015 ($85 on November 1)
HITS Running Festival Marathon, Austin, December 14 ($100 on November 14)

$80
Tyler Rose Marathon, October 5 ($90 on August 2)

$85
Galveston Marathon, February 1, 2015 ($95 on December 21)
Metal Sawing Technology Texas Marathon, January 1, 2015 (Until race day or sellout)

$87
Exygon and Baptist Hospitals Gusher Marathon, Beaumont, March 7, 2015 (No indication of price increase)

$90
Baylor Scott & White BCS Marathon, Bryan-College Station, December 14 ($100 on September 1)
Big-D Marathon, Dallas, April 12, 2015 ($105 on January 12)
Cowtown Marathon, Fort Worth, March 1, 2015 ($100 on September 2 per e-mail)
Hill Country Marathon, Marble Falls, October 19 ($100 on September 22)
Marathon 2 Marathon, October 25 ($100 on October 2)
Miracle Match Marathon, Waco, January 25, 2015 ($110 on January 1)

$95
Chosen Marathon for Adoption, New Braunfels, October 25 ($105 on July 1)
Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon, February 28, 2015 ($105 on August 1)
Memorial Hermann USA Fit Marathon, Sugar Land, February 1, 2015 (No indication of price increase)

$100
Fort Worth Marathon, November 9 ($110 on September 1)
MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, December 14 ($110 on July 1)

$105 (for the first 1,000)
Freescale Austin Marathon, February 15, 2015 ($115 until August 6, then $125)

$110
Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon, December 7 ($120 on July 1)

$125
Chevron Houston Marathon, January 18, 2015 (Lottery registration through June 19)

Not Open
West Texas Crossroads Marathon, Odessa, October 4, 2014
Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, March 15, 2015
Davy Crockett Bear Chase, Groveton, April 2015

Road to 2,000 - 5/23/14 to 5/22/15

Pretty ambitious goal for me because I've never, ever logged miles (i.e. wrote them down).
I've tracked race miles before, but that's completely different.
So here goes to see if I can run 100 miles for every year of Waverly's life in the coming year.

5/23/14 - Idle
5/24/14 - 6.77 miles (6.77 total; 1,993.23 to go)
5/25/14 - 7.1 miles (13.87 total; 1,986.13 to go)
5/26/14 - 3.1 miles (16.97 total; 1,983.03 to go)
5/27/14 - Idle
5/28/14 - 6 miles (22.97 total; 1,977.03 to go)
5/29/14 - 6 miles (28.97 total; 1,971.03 to go)
5/30/14 - Idle
5/31/14 - 3.1 miles (32.07 total; 1967.93 to go)
6/1-4/14 - Idle
6/5/14 - 6 miles (38.07 total; 1961.93 to go)
6/6/14 - Idle

Run 1 - 3.1 miles, road/trail mixed (Heroes and Hope 5K, Sugar Land, TX), 5/24/14
Run 2 - 3.67 miles, treadmill (32:40), 5/24/14
Run 3 - 3.1 miles, paved park trail (Run For Wellness 5K, West Houston, TX), 5/25/14
Run 4 - 4 miles, treadmill, 5/25/14
Run 5 - 3.1 miles, paved road (Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX), 5/26/14
Run 6 - 6 miles, treadmill, 5/28/14
Run 7 - 6 miles, treadmill, 5/29/14
Run 8 - 3.1 miles, paved road (Bryant High School Hurricane 5K, Irvington, AL), 5/31/14
Run 9 - 6 miles, treadmill, 6/5/14

More From Behind The Microphone

I got a lot of nice compliments from announcing the 11th annual CB&I TRI - The Woodlands Triathlon on Saturday - and I appreciate every single one, but one stood out.

And that wasn't just because Lars Finanger won.

It was no more than about 10 words at the Pavillion in Northshore Park during the awards ceremony.

But knowing a little of Lars' background and where in the sports of triathlon and cycling that he's been, it spoke volumes.  (Google Lars and you'll find out.)

Again, if you don't know me, you're thinking, "Well, he'll probably let something like that get to his head."

No, not really.

I mean, you have to have a little bit of an ego to do this, but it is more out of confidence than being a braggard.

I've said often that I don't have a classically strong voice, but I just know how to use it well.

It is always nice to be asked.

Sometimes, however, you need a break, especially when you had worked seven events in the previous seven weeks.

Volte Endurance Training's Brian Jackson asked me to announce for the 8th annual BMI 5K in Conroe, which was held on Saturday, April 26th -- a race that I had one time race directed a couple of years.

It had nothing to do with the size of the event.

I just needed to get my running kind of kick-started again -- and needed to get out of town to do so.

And since I wasn't going to be around, Brian used my speaker system for the event.

Other times, you have a schedule conflict.

One race that I've announced before -- and one that I left voluntarily -- reached back out to me this week that they were considering other options.

If they moved their race to another date, which isn't necessarily an option for them, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

New opportunities are great too.

Texas 10 Series race director Willie Fowlkes and his race management team have and are giving me the opportunity to announce in new markets.

Texas 10 Boerne put me in the San Antonio market for the first time.  Really, Mark Purnell can't be everywhere!  (As I said in the Night Trail Run 15K race report, Mark does a really nice job out there announcing.)

I'll announce in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on Saturday for the first time at Texas10 Plano - and will again later this year at Texas10 Fort Worth.

Florida will be new in mid-October with Florida10 Lakeland on Sunday, October 19.

It will be the first race that I fly to to announce for - kind of like Mike Reilly - as I'll work the Toughest 10K Galveston on Saturday, October 18, which is the second race of the Texas Bridge Series.

And sometimes a schedule conflict creates a new opportunity.

The second race of the 2014 Florida 10 Series was going to be on Sunday, December 14, which would have made my trip to get Waverly home from the Fall semester interesting.

Not sure how much she would have liked to have gone to Florida before making it home for Winter Break.

However, Florida10 Sarasota is now going to happen on Saturday, December 7 -- the same day as Texas10 Conroe.  That decision - for my time - will come later.

It will allow for me to do for the first time -- a Marathon Warm-Up Series race, the Finish Line Sports Sugar Land 30K on the 14th.

Jana Landry has always wanted me to do the USA Space City 10-Miler, which is typically held on the second Sunday in October.  However, I've always had a conflict -- or I've liked to run that race myself.

The Space City 10-Miler is a HARRA Fall Series race, but not in the Marathon Warm-Up Series.

I really appreciate Andy Stewart for giving me the opportunity to announce the 30K.

I'll work with Andy for the first time next month at the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Triathlon on Sunday, June 22.

Andy has been putting on road races and triathlons in the greater Houston area since the early 1980s, if not before that.

There is disappointment too in what I do - aside from having scheduling conflicts.

I don't attempt to go out and drum up business because this isn't what I do for a living.

I prefer to let my work speak for itself.  If people think I do a good job, I figure that they'll tell somebody when they know that an event is looking for an announcer.

I have a rate card (as I was advised to do this by one race director) and I share it when asked, "What do you charge?"

One event that I did last year I haven't heard back from, but I don't think it is from a lack of a quality performance.

I think that it is either that they've forgot or that their numbers aren't where it fits in their budget.

That's one disappointment.

Another is when somebody does reach out to you at the recommendation of somebody you've worked with.  You respond immediately when they ask if you'd be willing to meet with them, but they don't reach back out to you.

In either case above, knowing something is better than not knowing anything.

Actually, this works for personal friendships and relationships too.

Finally, sometimes it isn't fun to get a participant list ahead of time -- even though I need it to prepare.

Why?  I'm not friends with everybody and there are those out there who don't like me.

A few, yes, hate me.  (And they are very good friends of people who I like.  It makes those interactions a challenge because I've wondered what they've said about me - and how much the person that I like has believed it.)

It is the most rough part of what I do.

Two years ago, I got the participant list for CB&I and there were two names that I just couldn't see myself announcing their names as enthusiatically as I did everyone else.

(I saw both of those individuals last Saturday at Northshore Park.  They weren't racing, but it was a challenge to be in the same area as them.)

I've gotten better at it, but it still isn't fun.

The best medicine?  Hope that you're both working (or running in) a bigger event.

So what motivated this post?

It was Kate Looney's comment this morning - after an initial one of praise - on the CBI post from Saturday which said, "Universal Sports needs to hire you to do the live commentating on the elite marathon races. Chicago and London were awful."

When they start putting marathons on radio, maybe then.  As I don't have the face for television.  :-)

Aside from The Woodlands' Nora Wilson always putting me in the same class as Reilly (which I don't think that I deserve), my favorite comment has come from Karen Ponette-Maldonado.

"Just wanted to tell you that at Ironman Cozumel I thought of you when crossing the finish line.  LOL," she said.  "The guy there didn't say anything but "You are an Ironman" and I thought to myself, they need to hire Jon Walk!  Really!"

Now that's fun -- and puts a smile on my face.

See you at the races.

BCS Marathon Race Series Night Trail Run 15K Race Report

After being at Northshore Park Friday night and Saturday morning (and a little bit of a nap Saturday afternoon), a little "me time" was in order for Saturday night.

So what's somebody like me do?  Go run a race, if there's one available.

And the BCS Marathon Race Series fit the bill with its "Night Trail Run 15K" at Royalty Pecan Farms off Highway 21 just east of Caldwell and west of Bryan.

They had hosted a 5K there earlier in the morning and were producing a 10K and 15K that night.

In a sense, it kind of makes you think of what Robby Sabban started - locally - with the Saturday Half Marathon at the Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon in 2007.

From a numbers perspective, there were 120 finishers in the 5K and another 276 in both the 10K and the 15K.  That distribution was a 2:1 split (185:91).

The one thing that Series founder Chris Field has done very well with his events is leverage the trend in our sport to bring women to the start line.

In the 5K yesterday morning, there were 83 female finishers and 37 men.

In the 10K, 131 women and 54 men finished.  Even in the 15K, 57 ladies crossed the finish line while 34 men.

This trend is pretty prevalent throughout, with the exception of the 26.2-mile distance.

2011 BCS Half Marathon - 902 overall.  581 women, 381 men.
2011 BCS Marathon - 408 overall.  173 women, 235 men.

2012 BCS Half Marathon - 2,089 overall.  1,310 women, 779 men.
2012 BCS Marathon - 614 overall.  262 women, 352 men.

2013 Girls Just Want to Have Fun 5K - 209 women.
2013 Night Trail Run 5K - 185 overall.  133 women, 52 men.
2013 Night Trail Run 10K - 146 overall.  102 women, 44 men.
2013 Night Trail Run 15K - 71 overall.  35 women, 36 men.
2013 BCS 5K - 193 overall.  128 women, 65 men.
2013 BCS 10K - 334 overall.  218 women, 116 men.
2013 BCS 5 And Dime 5-Miler - 116 overall.  73 women, 43 men.
2013 BCS 5 And Dime 10-Miler - 244 overall.  172 women, 72 men.
2013 Brazos Running Company Turkey Trot 5K - 769 overall.  420 women, 349 men.
2013 BCS Half Marathon - 2,052 overall.  1,348 women, 704 men.
2013 BCS Marathon - 944 overall.  419 women, 525 men.
2013 BCS Marathon Relay - 39 finishing teams.  No gender information available.

2014 Girls Just Want To Have Fun 5K - 260 overall.

When I attend a race, I typically am watching for race operations issues to see if there's anything that I can do better or the event that I'm working with.  Some might say that it is "stealing", but when you get to a group of top event producers, you really don't see too much different.

Really, it boils down to different styles and flavors.

No different than me and the events that I work with, this event (and the entire Series) has a really good public address announcer, Mark Purnell, out of San Antonio.  (In fact, his sister was working with the team on Saturday that was timing CB&I.  I also think I ran a 10K in Bandera in late March that she was the race director for when we talking a little bit.)

The trail race was running on the dirt roads that were in the pecan groves.

They had a 5K loop marked off that you ran twice if you were doing the 10K and a third time for the 15K.

The College Station Running Club served as water station volunteers for the two that were on each loop -- one on the far northwest corner of the course (just before the 2-mile mark supposedly) and another at the end of the loop.

Before you even hit the grounds, the entrance to the property was well-marked with BCS Race Series teardrop flags.  Volunteers helped people lineup parking to maximize space and minimize damage to the grounds.

Packet pickup didn't take too long, but the person that was helping with the 15K was struggling with the setup that she was given.  I had arrived in plenty of time; therefore, it wasn't an issue.

We received a race t-shirt and a pecan sample - and was welcome to go through a box that had leftover BCS Race Series technical shirts.  (Like I need another shirt.)

I had plenty of time to go back to the car and put on bug spray, relax and get my head lamp ready.

The race started on time at 8:17 p.m. and off we went.  I had positioned myself pretty far back and with almost 300 hundred runners, it took me 30 seconds to cross the start line.

We made a hard right after passing underneath the inflatable arch and crossing a "bridge" that was made even with a series of thick plywood sheets.

Afterward, there was a quick left to start a loop that was much like a retangular box standing on its end.

The paths between the pecan groves were wide and this race can hold many, many more people.

The majority of the surface was dirt, but wasn't so loose that you felt like you were running in sand or on the beach the entire time.

And with the exception of a stretch that ran north and south across both stretches that went out and back, there was a spot were it was built up and you had to pick your feet up like you were going over a large speed bump.

It was still a little humid, but not too warm as we were on the first loop.

I hit the first mile marker in 10:44 (10:43.98) and then completed the first loop in 34:38.36.

The second loop, which I finished in 35:58.64, was still pretty easy to run as you had more people doing the 10K to run near (and with), but the third loop got pretty lonely out there.

I passed a couple of people at the water stop to end loop two and then I'm not sure that I passed anybody else until after I got past the other water stop.

During the second and third loops, I took my light off of my head and carried it.  (During the last loop, the strap actually broke free from the light.)

Footing was pretty stable as this wasn't a technical trail by any means.  And by holding the light, it simply became easier to run.

Actually felt stronger the last loop as it got a little bit more cooler.  I was able to pass a few people in the last mile or so as I covered it in 35:39.42.

So, that gave me a time of 1:45:36.

The timer had me at 1:45:43.  That means he started the clock seven (7) seconds before the announcer said to go.  (Not an issue, by the way.)

No sooner had I crossed the finish line and got some water came Texas 10 Series participant Stephen Griffin of The Woodlands.  It was good to see him there as well.

I was going to run this morning one of the Houston Wellness Project 5Ks - actually the newest one that they started near the Heights.  I was beat and wiped out from last night.  Therefore, it was a "no go".

So work one, run one kind of weekend it was.

In case you were wondering, Caldwell was not a new city for me.  I had done the Kolache Krunch 5K there in 2007.  It was the last new city that I added that year to get me to 44!  :-)

Race Announcing The 11th Annual CB&I TRI - The Woodlands Triathlon

It is always a lot of fun to announce at the annual CB&I TRI - The Woodlands Triathlon.

Many, many thanks to co-race directors Kelly Dietrich and Angel Nicks and their management, Chris Nunes and John Powers, for allowing me to represent The Woodlands Township at their events, which include the annual Muddy Trails Bash each April.

It is a great community race that has the best of the best involved, including Finish Strong Coaching's Dana Lyons, TxTri's Sandra Sutherland and Team Strive's Kimberly Mac Namee (yes, I know Kim is on Dana's staff now, but she'll always be Team Strive to me) and top USAT officials (including Andrea Chan), coming together.

I covered the race for a couple of years while I was writing weekly running and triathlon columns for The Courier and then got the chance to do finish line announcing in 2010 while Willie Fowlkes was the race director.

I didn't announce in 2012 (nor attend the event) because of some personal issues involving a few competitors, but drew the bead in 2013 - for all announcing - when the event's regular race announcer was unable to make it.

This year, it appeared as if he wasn't going to be able make it again, but by mid-Monday I knew that I would be at the finish line -- and doing the awards.

The way that North Shore Park and the finish line is setup -- and the hour that it takes to go through all 13 waves -- two race announcers have become necessary to 1.) get athletes to the swim start, into the water and waves started and 2.) try to appropriately recognize a great effort at the conclusion of the race.

Without having to worry about making announcements at 6:00 a.m. -- which is my one hour before race start rule of thumb, I was able to spend the time mentally preparing on how to be at the top of my game at the bottom of the bridge.

At CB&I, I normally start talking as soon as the first elite runner hits the westbound lane of traffic on Lake Woodlands Drive.  I had some notes on every elite athlete in the field -- and was able to speak to a little what they've all done here recently.  (Many of them had competed a month ago at Ironman 70.3 Texas and I had their times there.)

The only thing that I ended up fretting is that when Lars Finanger, the winner, came down the bridge to the finish is that I didn't identify him correctly on the way out as he was in the lead from the get go.

I've known of Lars, but have never seem him compete.

He was in our elite half marathon field at The Woodlands Marathon, but his number "7" looked more like Benjamin Baxter's #1.  Oops!

I did get the ladies identified correctly, including his wife, Emily's incredibly impressive background.  (What I recall now in a post-race report is that I didn't see eventual winner Sarah Hankla, who is coming back from an injury that sidelined her late in the 2013 season.)

So as all of the elite racers begin making their way to the finish, I started to realize that the timer's reader mat -- wasn't reading.  Nice.

Luckily I did have a printed backup -- with 1,200 racer's names (and not the relay teams), but I chose not to laminate them all (six double-sided) because I had seen this timer do well at some races in the central Texas area, which is where they're based out of.

Note to self:  With a race this large and with this timer, laminate them.

It is easy to get many of the names right when you're trying to identify them old school -- and they're all in the same wave start, but when athletes from multiple waves become mixed it really was a challenge to try and catch everyone.

After a little bit of complaining on my part, the owner finally did something to make it read.  However, there was a catch.

It only displayed FIRST names.

I could imagine me saying, "Way to go, BOB!"  Would that be "Bob from Accounttemps" then?

I wasn't acting prima-donna -- because anybody that knows me knows that I don't have a big ego when I do this, but athletes enjoy having their name called out to cap off a great race or effort, depending on how their day went.

And when things aren't working as you expect, it is hard to try and get the crowd engaged today more than what they normally are when you're also trying to make sure that you're thanking the sponsors and volunteers continuously when there aren't runners heading down the bridge.

At about 9:20 a.m., the regular race announcer, who's done the event since its inception, took over for me at the finish line so that I could handle the awards.

So why wouldn't you let him handle the awards?

Two reasons.

I know (or know of) many of the athletes in the area - and am armed with information about them, but I also am available to vet the awards because I've been at the finish line watching the athletes cross.

We had a couple of issues today.

The first print didn't have the age groups in the last wave, which included 20-24 and 25-29 females.

Also, the overall amateur male had a ridiculous and impossible time of 38 minutes and change.  Well, this belonged to a chip that the timer was using as a test.

Once they were removed, it adjusted the men's results as the fastest non-elite male was in the 15-19 age group.

We also didn't have the one competitor in the women's 65-and-over category, 50 States Marathon finisher Geri Henry.

Robby Sabban will tell you that I've saved a day or two in these situations, even though he has a very good and meticulous timer in Richard Campbell.

Because the Woodlands Township is a public entity, certain services that they contract for have to go out to public bid.  Race timing is one of them.

The firm that won the bid this year was the first that we've worked with them.

I warned them when I did a 10K on a Saturday in Bandera that they had Muddy Trails to get the kinks worked out with this size of an event before CB&I.

From a timing perspective, I thought they did a pretty good job.

I think when you try and get fancy with printing results from a kiosk, etc., and wireless and all, while technologically cool, you run the risk of taking away from your core goal -- getting an accurate and properly recorded time.

This timer did that, but I heard a rumble or two about the whiz-bang things that they were doing.

It is part of the unique skill-set that I've been blessed enough to be given - and to continue to work on and develop (thanks to race directors that have engaged my services).

I want things to be the best for the athletes involved (who have dropped their disposable income on) -- and for the event to be presented in the most-positive light.

Each and every compliment is well-received and appreciated, but it isn't why I do what I do.

The moral of the story on a day like today -- when the reader/announcer mat situation didn't work the way that it normally does (or I expect it to) -- though is:  it pays to know the announcer (to get your name called at the finish).

Looking forward to working Texas10 Plano next Saturday and then I have some decisions to make.

Thanks for all of your support.  I really appreciate it.

Calling Someone A Quitter: You Have No Right

Very rarely do I get so fired up to write something publicly and if I lose any announcing assignment as a result of it, so be it.

I strongly believe in what I am about to write.

Over the last few years, I’ve done my best – in a totally volunteer capacity – to promote the endurance athletes of Montgomery County and Spring – a place where I live and socialize the most.

I have a trivia question:  How many people who call or have called Montgomery County home have finished both an Ironman and a 100-mile endurance run?

The list is pretty short.

These are ones that live in the County and have recently (both in the last five years):

Karen Felicidario  (Ladies first, of course)

Curtis Hooper

Dan Jordan

I’m not certain if Allen Wrinkle lives in the area anymore.  I know that he used to.  (I just checked.  His Facebook still says “Spring, Texas”.)  Allen has completed some nasty 100-milers as well as Ironman Florida and Arizona.

Yep, count Allen too.

And, of course, there’s the legend:  The Woodlands’ Jim Braden.

Two Western States 100 and (at least) 11 Ironman finishes, including seven straight in Kona, in his 50s.

If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know.  (I looked at all of the guys and gals in the area who have finished 100-milers – John Powers, Troy Pfeiferling, Rick Cook, Patrick Shannon, Les Ellsworth, Bill Dwyer, Lynnor Matheney, Matt Zmolek, Bill Cox – and they haven’t finished an Ironman.  Yet.)

So if any one of these five decides to call any event of any distance a day before they cross the finish line, who has the right to say anything?

Or, heaven forbid, call them – *gasp* – a quitter?

The way I see it:  ONLY the other four (or anybody else who has accomplished both of those feats) can.

I don’t care if they boasted that they could break the Guinness record in some athletic endeavor – even when they didn’t have a chance of doing so or their effort, training or preparation suggested otherwise.

Sure, it may make them look foolish, but it certainly doesn’t justify somebody who hasn’t completed the feats that they’ve already accomplished to either outright call them a quitter or imply it in some other form or fashion.

If you think it does, you’re certainly taking these sports – and yourself – way too seriously.