Another Look Behind The Curtain

I have some time to reflect this morning, which I don't take enough time to do.

I think a lot of times people think I race announce for me.  I don't.  I do it for everybody else.

I have a God-given and family-directed (my grandfather) talent for it, which I'm thankful for, but it really is a way for me to express love - in a friendly sense, obviously - towards other people and what they're doing in their lives.

What's a challenge, though, is the side of event production that people don't see.

There are times that I want to walk away for various reasons - some of which I won't go into because they're truly internal.

Externally, the market for races has gotten a little cut-throat, which is discouraging, and there are producers that I work for who are the target of that negative competition.

How do you respond to that on behalf of the people that you work with?  Well, you work harder, smarter and build alliances that are mutually beneficial.

Even what I do has a little competition.

For the first time this year, I've had somebody else who does what I do "sniff around" about some of the events that I work.

It has put a little pressure on me, even though I've been blessed already with a great professional career.  (Translated:  I don't need to announce to pay the bills.)

And, yesterday, as a result, I stepped up my game - and energy (remembering an RD that i work for now saying that "he liked the energy" that somebody he used to use in a prior position) - working the sixth annual Green 6.2 for RA Sports Management through WinWin Events.

When you work with a new race producer, it is human nature that while you want to do your best for yourself you also want to be pleasing to others with your performance.

Especially when those around may be able to use your talents at other events.

Although, one of the co-owners of RA Sports Management, who I hadn't met before yesterday, commented after the race to me about my professionalism in my work.

That, actually, meant the world to me.

And the other was when I was introduced by a professional peer (and friend) to somebody else on their team as being "a great father".

And that, honestly, is why I keep pushing through the rough spots.  I get to provide for my daughter - and others - through what I do.

In the last two years, I've been asked:  What do you charge?

Initially, it was a tough question to answer because I did what I did as a labor of love.

However, because of the quality of my work, it became just that -- work.

Work that I had to invest the right amount of time to earn that label of being "professional".

I certainly don't want to go into the detail of all of my arrangements with various event producers (because it is different for those that I started working with before I charged for my time and efforts), but from what I earned in 2013-2014, $3,900 was used on various ministry efforts or charitable giving in 2014.

And already I've put down $2,000 towards Waverly making another trip with New Hope Initiative to Kenya and Tanzania in early June -- and return to the slums of Kibera and see a young woman whose education that she sponsored in 2013-2014 and we did jointly (because she wasn't working while going to college) in 2014-2015.

I'm thankful - and fortunate - I'm able to do that.

Yet I still have to perform and I will.  And I also couldn't do what I do without the great support that I receive from others - individually and from the many event production teams that I work with.

The sport(s) of running - and triathlon - have opened many doors and created many friendships and opportunities for me and my daughter.

It is just a daily challenge to figure out what things - in the future - that I want to do in the free time that I have available to me.

Believe me, it changes constantly.

Have a great Sunday and the week to come, especially those that will be participating in next weekend's BP MS150 and the Boston Marathon.

St. Paddy's Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Half Marathon - 4- and 5-Time Finishers

5-Time Finishers
Amberlyn Keller, 35, Houston
Florie Bici, 50, Houston
Gerry Kavanagh, 54, Houston
Gina Buti, 54, Richmond
Guy Lowe, 54, Sugar Land
Joe Lance, 55, Weston Lakes
Kay Duplichan, 78, Rockport
Kelva Kelly, 52, Sugar Land
Kevin Smith, 49, Houston
Krish Ravishankar, 58, Sugar Land
Kristin Thomas, 33, Sugar Land
Mary Sorgenfrei, 55, Sugar Land
Theresa Bueno, 47, Missouri City

4-Time Finishers
Allison Botard, 45, Sugar Land
Amy Villasenor, 50 (2014)
Becky Nesbitt, 44, Hempstead
Bill Sheets, 55, Houston
Brett Cole, 48, Sugar Land
Brian Kleczkowski, 39, Houston
Catherine Svoboda, 41 (2014)
Diana Ibarra (2014)
Dwayne Gassmann, 48, Missouri City
Eric Chi, 28 (2014)
Francisco Arriola Jr, 58, Houston
Fu-Sheng Lee, 53, Sugar Land
Graham Khan, 46, Sugar Land
Jacobo Behar, 46, Sugar Land
Janet Beaver, 54
Jennifer Pao, 43, Sugar Land
Jetola Anderson-Blair, 53, Houston
Joe Downing, 59, Houston
John Mannion, 43, Sugar Land
Jonathan Blankenheim, 38, Sugar Land
Julio Salazar, 48 (2014)
Justin Johns, 32, Houston
Karen Robbins, 55, Sugar Land
Kelly Heintz, 41, Pearland
Kingsley Nzeadibe, 58, Houston
Kumaran Pandourangan, 41, Cypress
Larry Lindeen, 74, Houston
Lisa Royce, 55, Sugar Land
Maria Ibarra, 49 (2014)
Michelle Howard, 50, Sugar Land
Paula Hernandez, 33, Cypress
Peter Lombardi, 44 (2014)
Quynh Wong, 41, Houston
Rachel Sabol, 41 (2014)
Robert Sawchuk, 50, Sugar Land
Rosicela Lara, 33, Houston
Ryan Smith, 29, Houston
Shannon Hutchinson, 44, Stafford
Stacie Ringleb-Krutilek, 41, El Campo
Steve Hurysz, 47, Houston
Steve Wong, 42, Houston
William Botard, 13 (2014)

Doubles at the Gusher and Zydeco!

This past weekend, March 7-8, 2015, the 6th annual Exygon and Baptist Hospitals Gusher Marathon and the 2nd annual Zydeco Marathon were held on consecutive days in Beaumont, Texas and Lafayette, Louisiana, respectively.

Twenty-seven (27) runners completed a half marathon or marathon at both events.

Gusher Marathon / Zydeco Marathon (15)

08:34:06 - Rene Kim, 50, Lafayette, CA (4:13:20/4;20:46)
08:34:08 - Miriam Schuman, 50, New York, NY (4:13:20/4:20:48)
08:45:52 - Susan Craig, 46, Soldotna, AK (3:54:58/4:52:24)
09:25:36 - Natalie Dale, 37, Portage, MI (4:28:56/4:56:40)
09:28:58 - Ken Fattman, 59, Walnut Shade, MO (4:44:10/4:44:48)
09:42:17 - Tim Mullican, 54, Mitchell, SD (4:55:17/4:47:00)
09:56:23 - Karen Austin, 36, St. Louis, MO (4:32:56/5:23:27)
09:56:23 - Martin Cronin, 42, St. Louis, MO (4:32:56/5:23:27)
10:07:17 - Steven Holehan, 49, Schenectady, NY (4:44:18/5:22:59)
10:39:58 - Calix Fattman, 12, Walnut Shade, MO (5:13:08/5:26:50)
10:44:37 - Julia O'Carroll, 37, Sulphur, LA (5:06:39/5:37:58)
10:46:59 - Christelle Douillet, 46, Chapel Hill, NC (5:04:04/5:42:55)
11:28:25 - Vern Patterson, 56, Solon, OH (5:42:15/5:46:10)
11:43:34 - Yen Nguyen, 52, Houston, TX (5:42:33/6:01:01)
11:47:48 - Peter Bennett, 40, Houston, TX (5:46:47/6:01:01)

Gusher Marathon / Zydeco Half Marathon (3)

7:32:01 - Cherry Woodsmall, 43, Beaumont, TX (4:50:08/2:41:53)
7:51:59 - Damon McCarty, 34, Clayton, WI (4:57:13/2:54:26)
8:00:33 - Dawn Burris, 51, Beaumont, TX (5:28:40/2:41:53)

Gusher Half Marathon / Zydeco Marathon (2)

7:04:04 - Woody Barton, 47, Silsbee, TX (2:53:27/4:10:37)
8:23:05 - Donna Dullys, 39, New York, NY (2:28:22/5:54:43)

Gusher Half Marathon / Zydeco Half Marathon (7)

3:54:37 - David Pultz, 49, Baton Rouge, LA (1:58:14/1:56:23)
3:59:38 - William Ostheimer, 37, Carencro, LA (2:04:32/1:55:06)
5:00:41 - Sylvia Gilmore, 61, Beaumont, TX (2:18:47/2:41:54)
5:21:32 - John Danigole, 42, Sulphur, LA (2:35:07/2:46:25)
5:57:15 - Vicki Villarreal, 52, Webster, TX (2:52:09/3:05:06)
7:10:33 - Karen Gilman, 53, Beaumont, TX (3:14:17/3:56:16)
7:10:33 - Lauren Rogers, 34, Beaumont, TX (3:14:17/3:56:16)

Additionally, the voice of the Gusher Marathon, Jon Walk, 48, of Spring, Texas, announced the festivities outside of the Montagne Center on the campus of Lamar University before running the half marathon on Sunday - and with the driving force behind the 50 States Marathon Club, Steve Boone, on his first of two loops in his 600th-plus marathon.

2015 Race Announcing Schedule

Jan. 1 (Thu.) - Texas Marathon, Kingwood, TX

Feb. 1 (Sun.) - Galveston Marathon, Galveston, TX
Feb. 7 (Sat.) - Run For A Nurse 5K, Nassau Bay, TX

Mar. 4 (Wed.) - The Woodlands High School Freshman Boys/JV Track Meet, The Woodlands, TX
Mar. 7 (Sat.) - Exygon and Baptist Hospitals Gusher Marathon, Beaumont, TX
Mar. 12 (Thu.) - The Woodlands High School Varsity Wacky Races, The Woodlands, TX
Mar. 14 (Sat.) - Seabrook Lucky Trails Half Marathon, Seabrook, TX
Mar. 15 (Sun.) - Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon, Seabrook, TX
Mar. 22 (Sun.) - Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Marathon, Sugar Land, TX
Mar. 29 (Sun.) - Texas10 Boerne, Boerne, TX

Apr. 4 (Sat.) - Muddy Trails Bash 10K/5K, The Woodlands, TX
Apr. 18 (Sat.) - Yuri's Night 5K, Nassau Bay, TX
Apr. 19 (Sun.) - Texas10 Plano, Plano, TX

May 2 (Sat.) - CB&I Triathlon, The Woodlands, TX
May 3 (Sun.) - Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Triathlon, Sugar Land, TX
May 30 (Sat.) - El Chupacabra de Houston 10K/5K, New Caney, TX

Jun. 13 (Sat.) - Sylvan Beach Kids Triathlon, La Porte, TX
Jun. 14 (Sun.) - Sylvan Beach Triathlon and Duathlon, La Porte, TX
Jun. 20 (Sat.) - No Label Brewing 1st Street 5K, Katy, TX

Jul. 4 (Sat.) - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M, Baytown, TX

Sep. 5 (Sat.) - Galveston Sand Crab 10K/5K, Galveston, TX (Date tentative)
Sep. 19 (Sat.) - Toughest 10K Kemah, Kemah, TX

Oct. 3 (Sat.) - Nike South Cross Country Invitational, The Woodlands, TX (Date tentative)
Oct. 11 (Sun.) - Texas10 Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
Oct. 17 (Sat.) - Toughest 10K Galveston, Galveston, TX

Nov. 1 (Sun.) - Texas10 Katy, Katy, TX
Nov. 7 (Sat.) - Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon, Port Arthur, TX
Nov. 15 (Sun.) - La Porte By The Bay Half Marathon, La Porte, TX
Nov. 21 (Sat.) - Nike Cross South Regionals, The Woodlands, TX

Dec. 6 (Sun.) - Texas10 Conroe, Conroe, TX or Florida10 Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
Dec. 13 (Sun.) - Finish Line Sports Sugar Land 30K, Sugar Land, TX

Unavailable dates/weekends:  Sat.-Sun., September 26-27 (trip to Liberty) and Thanksgiving Day (Run Thru The Woods with my daughter).

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