Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Texas Multisports Facebook Follower Rankings - 8/7/12
This is an initial, but by no means exhaustive list of Texas-based races, organizations, retail stores and event production and timing companies with Facebook pages or groups and their numbers of likes, friends or members.
Any surprises? Who are some of the big ones that we're missing on this first pass? (The number of likes were measured this morning, August 7th.) Let me know!
17,207 - Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop (Austin) - Retail Store
14,422 - RunTex (Austin) - Retail Store
14,313 - Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon - Road Race
12,364 - Austin Marathon & Half Marathon - Road Race
12,293 - Chevron Houston Marathon - Road Race
10,934 - Dallas White Rock Marathon - Road Race
9,285 - Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon - Road Race
9,249 - Luke's Locker - Retail Store
6,960 - Run On! Texas - Retail Store
6,253 - The Cowtown Marathon (Fort Worth) - Road Race
-10-
6,070 - Marathon Kids (Austin) - Organization
4,706 - Rogue Running (Austin) - Training - Running
4,330 - Jack and Adam's Bicycles (Austin) - Retail Store
4,088 - Austin 10/20 - Road Race
3,932 - Heels and Hills (Irving) - Event Production Company
3,580 - 3M Half Marathon (Austin) - Road Race
3,438 - Dallas Running Club - Running Club
3,312 - Scott & White Healthcare BCS Marathon - Road Race
3,008 - Tejas Trails - Event Production Company
2,981 - The Texas Independence Relay - Road Race
-20-
2,774 - The Gusher Marathon (Beaumont) - Road Race
2,560 - CapTexTri (Austin) - Triathlon
2,461 - Bike Barn (Houston) - Retail Store
2,314 - The Woodlands Marathon - Road Race
1,967 - Run In Texas (Garden Ridge) - Event Production Company
1,954 - Redemption Race Productions (San Antonio) - Event Production Company
1,853 - El Paso Marathon - Road Race
1,794 - OnUrMark Productions (Houston) - Event Production Company
1,750 - Team In Training - North Texas Chapter - Training - Multisports
1,699 - Tyler Rose Marathon - Road Race
-30-
1,689 - San Antonio RoadRunners - Running Club
1,686 - Ironman Texas (The Woodlands) - Triathlon
1,576 - New Year's Double (Allen) - Road Race
1,532 - Big D Texas Marathon - Road Race
1,513 - Brazos Running Company - Retail Store
1,490 - Sea Rim Striders (Beaumont) - Running Club
1,438 - Fort Worth Running Company - Retail Store
1,384 - Dallas Marathon - Road Race
1,381 - Texas Round-Up (Austin) - Road Race
1,365 - Fort Worth Runners Club - Running Club
-40-
1,232 - Capital to Coast Relay - Road Race
1,212 - Austin Runners Club - Running Club
1,153 - Mellew Production Events (Dallas) - Event Production Company
1,152 - In Flight Running (Houston) - Training - Running
1,135 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon - Road Race
1,120 - Fit Tri Run (Galveston) - Retail Store
1,102 - OnUrLeft Sports Coaching (Houston) - Training - Multisports
1,019 - Armadillo Dash (College Station) - Road Race
1,008 - Texas Running Company - Retail Store
973 - Texas Runner & Triathlete - Magazine
-50-
964 - Soler's Sports (San Antonio) - Retail Store
962 - Colonel's Bicycles (Fort Worth) - Retail Store
953 - Ironhead Race Productions (Euless) - Event Production Company
953 - Houston Racing Triathlon Club - Multisport Club
922 - OutRival Racing - Training - Multisports
905 - Corpus Christi Roadrunners - Running Club
880 - RunFAR Racing Services, Inc. (Mansfield) - Timing Company
868 - Houston Area Road Runners Association - Organization
860 - Houston Fit - Training - Running
855 - Finish Line Sports (Sugar Land) - Retail Store
-60-
835 - IAAP Racing (San Antonio) - Event Production Company
794 - Kyle Field Ramp Romp (College Station) - Road Race
724 - Houston Triathlon - Triathlon
719 - Bayou City Classic 10K - Road Race
708 - TRI Aggieland - Triathlon
693 - The Bill Crews Remission Run (Conroe) - Road Race
638 - Tri Team Transport (Austin) - Retail Service
619 - North Texas Runners - Running Club
615 - Too Hot To Handle (Dallas) - Road Race
600 - The Showdown Half Marathon (Fairview) - Road Race
-70-
597 - La Porte By The Bay Half Marathon - Road Race
592 - USA Fit Marathon (Sugar Land) - Road Race
588 - Pleasure Island Bridge Half Marathon (Port Arthur) - Road Race
585 - USA Fit San Antonio - Training - Running
580 - Bridgeland Triathlon (Houston) - Triathlon
571 - Tri On The Run Fitness Center (Houston) - Retail Service
570 - The Austin Triathlon - Triathlon
527 - North Texas Trail Runners - Trail Running Club
518 - Tri On The Run (Houston) - Retail Store
507 - Burning Pine 5K & 10K (Bastrop) - Road Race
-80-
495 - Kemah Triathlon - Triathlon
458 - The Rookie Triathlon (Austin) - Triathlon
444 - Plano Pacers Running Club - Running Club
422 - Miracle Match Marathon (Waco) - Road Race
419 - Lonestar Multisport (The Woodlands) - Multisport Club
417 - The Hottest Half (Dallas) - Road Race
415 - Houston Striders - Running Club
412 - The Woodlands Running Club - Running Club
410 - Houston Trail Runners Extreme (HTRex) - Trail Running Club
374 - Abilene Runner's Club - Running Club
-90-
370 - Alamo Series (San Antonio) - Road Race Series
370 - The Texas Bicycle Racing Association - Organization
353 - Too Cold To Hold 5M/10M - Road Race
347 - Bay Area Running Club - Running Club
331 - Fiesta Marathon (McAllen) - Road Race
329 - The Tyler Azalea 10K - Road Race
326 - Bayou City Road Runners - Running Club
318 - Waco Triathlon Club - Triathlon
318 - GE Run Thru The Woods (The Woodlands) - Road Race
312 - The Toughest 10K Galveston - Road Race
-100-
309 - Jack's Generic Triathlon (New Braunfels) - Triathlon
297 - TriWaco Olympic & Sprint Triathlon - Triathlon
276 - Revolution Multisport (Fort Worth) - Training - Multisports
272 - Run For Wellness 5K Series (Houston) - Road Race Series
268 - Couples Triathlon (Austin) - Triathlon
268 - Cross Timbers Trail Runs - Trail Race
265 - College Station Running Club - Running Club
263 - Snapping Tortuga (Willis) - Event Production Company
263 - Trinity 5000 Summer Series (Fort Worth) - Road Race Series
256 - Skeese Greets Women's Tri (New Braunfels) - Triathlon
-110-
253 - Panhandle Marathon (Lubbock) - Road Race
238 - Golden Triangle Strutters (Beaumont) - Running Club
227 - Cox Racing Services (Fort Worth) - Event Production Company
226 - Melon Dash 5K (McKinney) - Road Race
215 - Lufkin Area Pacesetters (LAPS) - Running Club
214 - CC Southside Cycling (Corpus Christi) - Cycling Club
212 - Baytown Bud Heatwave - Road Race
203 - Fort Worth Cycling & Fitness Center - Retail Store
202 - Outloud! Productions (Houston) - Event Production Company
195 - The Woodlands Cycling Club - Cycling Club
-120-
175 - Frankenthon Monster Marathon (Cedar Park) - Road Race
165 - No Limits Run (Fort Worth) - Road Race
152 - El Scorcho Run (Fort Worth) - Trail Race
151 - Finish Strong Coaching (The Woodlands) - Training - Multisports
149 - Galveston Revival Race 5K/10K - Road Race
148 - Texas 10 Series - Road Race Series
147 - Riverstone Community Heart and Sole 5K (Missouri City) - Road Race
141 - Seven Hills Running Club (Huntsville) - Running Club
138 - Coach Trent Triathlon Coaching (Houston) - Training - Multisports
133 - Austin Subaru Doggie Du Dash - Duathlon
-130-
127 - Bikeland (The Woodlands) - Retail Store
127 - Galveston Island TRI Sports - Multisport Club
122 - Launch Multisport (The Woodlands) - Event Production Company
116 - The Republic of Texas Triathlon (Austin) - Triathlon
104 - Finish Strong Coaching (The Woodlands) - Training - Multisports
94 - CrossRoads Marathon (Odessa) - Road Race
75 - RRCA Texas - Organization
75 - Lone Star Timing (Austin) - Timing Company
66 - OutSwim Cancer (The Woodlands) - Swim Event
61 - Tornados Running Club Cinco de Mayo 5K (Houston) - Road Race
-140-
51 - BCS Triathlon Club (Bryan-College Station) - Multisport Club
50 - Blues Capital of Texas 5K (Navasota) - Road Race
49 - Strike Force Racing (The Woodlands) - Training - Multisports
43 - Houston Fit Triathlon - Training - Triathlon
25 - Waco Striders Running Club - Running Club
23 - Carrollton Runners Club - Running Club
23 - Dallas Pride Run 5K - Road Race
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon Race Report
Riding the bus back to Mailbox Road, I was sure glad that this race started at midnight and that we couldn't see the course until the sun came up.
If I had had to have constantly stared at the elevation that we were going to run up, I'm thinking that I might have been discouraged - even though the temperatures were perfect for a middle-of-the-night run.
I had wanted to run the Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon either last year or the year before, but couldn't pull the timing off with work. Probably last year when I was working in California.
As I've mentioned before about chasing a marathon finish in every state, I take what the calendar gives me. Many times, and this race was the same way, I won't even look at the course map, elevation profile, etc. too much.
To me, it is about the following questions: Can I get there, can I get my packet picked up in time and can I make it home in time without it affecting my full-time career?
This race definitely fit the bill.
I landed in Las Vegas Saturday afternoon, picked my packet up at the Convention Center connected to the Hard Rock Cafe (just off the Strip) and made it to the hotel by 5:30 p.m. The race started at midnight and it would be at least a two-hour drive. Therefore, I needed to leave the hotel in North Las Vegas by 8:30 p.m.
Even though I really didn't eat what I wanted at about 1:30 p.m. Central time at Houston's Intercontinental Airport, I knew I needed to get something else in me -- and hope to get maybe a little sleep. I ate, but no sleep.
Well, at least, not until I got my car parked on Mailbox Road, just 20 miles south of Rachel, Nevada.
On the way, I stopped to get a couple of bottles of water to carry with me during the race and then made a final stop on the way in Alamo to top off with gas. It wasn't plentiful on the route to Rachel.
The alarm was set for 11:40 p.m. I woke up, affixed my timing chip and car key to my shoe (yes, better than the episode in Sioux Falls, South Dakota last September when I lost it) and made it to the edge of the road where pre-race instructions were going on.
I knew he was going to be there, but Dave Mari from Chicago was taking pictures. (Yes, he ran too.) He started the year at the Texas Marathon in Kingwood - where I do finish line announcing and help out Steve and Paula Boone -- and he said to me, "Weren't you in Springfield, Missouri last weekend?" Indeed I was. That's the way it is with people chasing states: you see many folks around the country at many of the same races.
We got started right about on-time and it was just surreal to see all of these people running 26.2 miles - or some that were doing 51K -- in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere.
Mile 1 -- 9:36.00
Mile 2 -- 11:53.79
Mile 3 -- 12:04.06
Mile 4 -- 12:34.98
It was in here after I got some fluids at the water station that -- (Heed sucks, by the way, but I forced it down to get the electrolytes in me) -- I started thinking about the first TIR where Bill Dwyer and I had a team and I came up behind and passed him on leg 23. However, it was a night leg where I had turned my lamp off to not let him know that I was coming up on him. I thought back to that moment -- a very good, fun memory.
The aid stations were spaced about every four (4) miles. I never really went to the water bottles until mile 17 or 18 because I didn't want to dehyrdate and cramp late in the race.
The other thing that I did around this time was to begin to process the miles - given that I had been up all day except for sleeping on the flight and racing early the previous morning - was to think of them as mile 64, mile 65, mile 66 for Rocky Raccoon 100 in February.
Mile 5 -- 12:34.86
Mile 6 -- 13:11.73
Mile 7 -- 14:19.80
Mile 8 -- 12:12.94
Mile 9 -- 14:06.81
Mile 10 -- 14:10.83
2:06 at mile 10. It was here where I started to do the math -- 16 miles times 16 minutes per mile equals 256 minutes or 4:16. 2:06 and 4:16 makes 6:22. And I rationalized to myself, "I can accept this. I'm running my second marathon in eight days."
But that was at sea level and here we started at 4,523 feet and hit the high point at mile 12.8 - according to course certification map -- which was 5,617 feet. The total course elevation gain was 1,225 feet.
Mile 11 -- 13:20.11
Mile 12 -- 14:18.45
Mile 13 -- 15:01.58
Mile 14 -- 14:35.78
Somewhere after the mile 14 mark and coming out of the aid station near there, I saw Clear Lake Fitness Club's Susan Bell. An experienced ultrarunner, Susan is like a metronome when she runs. She just metes the miles out nice and steady with a short, quick foot turnover.
I tried to run with her a little bit, but her turnover made it hard to stay with her for long. I let her go.
Sometime later, around mile 17, Susan must have stepped off the road because I had caught up with her, but not for long. Everyone, including the runners doing the 51 kilometers, had an 8-hour cutoff.
Mile 15 -- 12:08.14
Mile 16 -- 11:42.58
Mile 17 -- 12:10.74
Mile 18 -- 11:57.78
Mile 19 -- 12:24.80
Mile 20 -- 13:11.70
By here, the equation said that I could power walk it and finish in 5:53. And I decided to follow suit.
The trick here, though, is that this was a 5K out-and-back past the finish line.
You could see off into the horizon where the police car was flashing its lights at the 51K turnaround and on this morning, I'm thankful that I wasn't tackling that distance.
Mile 21 -- 16:42.33
Mile 22 -- 16:23.16
Mile 23 -- 16:23.38
Mile 24 -- 16:50.29
I pretty much kept to the pattern until I realized that I might be able to run a little more. On the way back to the finish, I saw San Antonio's Larry Macon. I realized that things had gotten better for me recently with the work that I've been doing. In Kansas, where I tried to do a marathon on nothing (after Rocky Raccoon two months before), Larry beat me, I think, for the first time. Not today. Larry has crossed off the states, though, 14 times and has run over a 100 marathons in a year two or three times. Incredible.
Mile 25 -- 14:05.60
Mile 26 -- 13:22.88
Last .2 -- 2:35.05
All in all, I'll take the 5:54. It isn't sexy, but it is a finish. Sea level one Saturday; at altitude, the following Sunday. It is something that I'm really happy with - especially with my non-standard training, which included 80 minutes on the bike Thursday night, an hour on the treadmill early Friday evening and a 5K race on Saturday morning.
One final note: When I updated my master list, this race is the sixth worst of my 43 marathon finishes. Yet I feel good about it. The five below it I had no business of doing, which includes finishes in four different states, but I'm content with my effort knowing where my fitness level is and the course difficulty.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Outrigger's 5K Race Report
My friend, Bill Dwyer, calls me an outlier. I would qualify that. I might be an "average" outlier.
Somebody like Michael Wardian would be a real, big-time outlier.
"Outlier" is a scientific term to describe things or phenomena that lie outside normal experience.
I thought having fun was normal.
It is about 2 p.m. and I'm at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. I'm waiting to get on a plane to Las Vegas to run tomorrow morning's (at midnight) Extraterrestrial Midnight Half Moon Marathon.
If I'm successful, it will be a marathon finish in my 28th state of our great country.
So, sure, the normal thing to do would be to run a 5K. Right?
Alright, I guess "outlier" might be appropriate.
Especially when you bring your time - in an effort to get back into better running shape and get ready for February's Rocky Raccoon 100 -- in the distance down to its lowest in the last 60 days.
I made the drive down to Seabrook for this morning's Outrigger's 5K.
It is one of those runner's races. Just a simple out-and-back. Two aid stations. In my friend Bill's days, there might have only been one at the half way point. (Disclaimer: Bill is only 10 years older than me.) I just wasn't running before 2003.
Ten-year age groups. Otherwise, it is come out, run hard, drink beer, have some pizza and cookies, spend time with your friends and go home.
Of course, I ran the King Salmon Marathon in Cordova, Alaska last Saturday. So a week later, I was toeing the line of a 5K, but I've actually done traditionally well the Saturday after a marathon in the past.
It is Texas. It was warm and humid.
I hit the mile one marker in 9 minutes even. That keeps coming down, which is a nice thing to see. I just need to sustain it. If I can, it gets me under 28, which I've done once - in August 2010.
The next two miles were almost equal - 9:48 and 9:49. Sheesh, I actually walked a little in both of these miles. That's what gives you the incentive to keep working hard -- and then work harder to stay there once the goal race comes about.
But I've made some pretty decent changes in diet -- cut out 98% of the sugary drinks and have increased my workout output.
So it was a 29:26 5K. I'm happy. Seriously, can't wait for it to get cooler as I love running in cool weather.
Nonetheless, I enjoy racing my way back into "shape" - for me.
I'm signed up for a 5K next Saturday and a pair of 10K's before wrapping up the month.
The next marathon beyond Sunday will probably come the first weekend after Labor Day. Hopefully, it will be a little cooler in Bozeman, Montana, which is where I hope to run my next one for another new state.
The roll call of people is always fun to go through. It is why I go to races. I get to spend time - and talk to and with great people.
The Running Alliance Sport race crew was there: Robby Sabban, Vicki Davis, Jay Lee, timer Richard Campbell and David Stockton. Bay Area Running Club's Dennis Malloy and Veronica Hoge were manning the halfway aid station.
Always fun to talk with Suzy Seeley, who was pushed by Sabra Harvey. The elder stateswoman of the two, in the 60-64 age group, sat on Suzy and passed her at the end, but it dragged Suzy under 21 minutes.
Alfonso Torres, June Harris and Michelle Bitterly were some of the other BARC regulars that were there. Chatted a little with Buddy Brown, who frequents many of Robby's races.
Ken Johnson made the drive down from Huntsville.
Also had fun hanging out and talking with one of Karen Thibodeaux's photographers, Rhonda.
All in all a good morning. Let's hope tomorrow morning is just as good. I just don't know if to expect another 5:06 so soon. This one might be a little bit more challenging, but it will be another state on the road to 50!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
King Salmon Marathon (Cordova, AK) Race Report
It's Saturday morning and threatening rain, but that's normal as you later learn that you're in a community that gets the most snow of any town at sea level. (This past winter, the total was 30 feet of the white stuff.)
The school bus you ride with another 15 or so of your newest friends from across the country and Alaska looks like it came straight off the set of the Partridge Family. (If you're younger than 30, you might want to Google that.)
One of the five comments on MarathonGuide.com states that they assigned a car to every runner to ensure that you didn't get chased on the course by a bear or a moose. (Obviously, an attack hasn't materialized; therefore, the 1:1 vehicle to runner ratio wasn't in play in 2012.)
You know it is a point to point course and you know that part of it will be on gravel; however, after you get off of the pavement, where the Merle "Mudhole" Smith Airport is, you realize that it isn't the halfway point. It is at about mile 15 and the majority of your race will be on gravel.
The bus keeps getting farther and farther away from town and you surely think that the bus driver is adding extra miles and turning it into an ultra.
But you get to a point where the gravel becomes kind of sandy, the road goes no further (as the only way you can get to this town is by ferry and by air) and first of almost 30-plus orange cones that you'll run by marks the starting line.
All of the runners get off, find a bush, and within five (5) minutes, the start of the King Salmon Marathon in Cordova, Alaska begins - with everyone ON the starting line. Needless to say with just 15 runners - down from the past two years - everyone gets to toe the line like an elite.
I don't know how other runners who are trying to run a marathon in all 50 states target their races, but for me, it is: if the schedule fits and I can get there (without bankrupting me), I'm there.
I found the race on MarathonGuide.com and then started to see if I could make the logistics work while I took Waverly on vacation to Alaska. And this adventure turned out not to be cheap, but in about 13 months, I would be able to have checked off two of the hardest states to get to: Hawaii and Alaska.
And while running the Gold Discovery Run in Fairbanks the Sunday before did I realize that I could realistically count that 16.3-mile trail run as my half marathon for Alaska too.
So even though Alaska was the 49th state to be granted statehood to the United States of America, it was 47, 37 and then 27 for me.
When I finished the Alaska Men's Run in Anchorage on Saturday - a 5-miler - that made the 47th state that I had finished a race in, leaving Michigan, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The Gold Discovery Run gave me a half marathon in 37 states.
And finishing the King Salmon Marathon in 5:06:03 -- my 7th best time in 42 marathon finishes -- would make a marathon in 27 states.
Yes, the adventure has been fun. On the bus to nowhere, there were the following:
+ A husband and wife, daughter and boyfriend from Wasila, Alaska. Yes, the home of Todd and Sarah Palin, who were in The Woodlands the day before for a political rally for Ted Cruz.
+ A young man, who ended up finishing third and running 3:22, from New Jersey who was running his second marathon ever and running for the Challenged Athletes Foundation in New York City this coming November.
+ A woman from North Dakota, who I learned had run the Extraterrestrial Midnight Half Moon Marathon in Rachel, Nevada twice. This is the site of my next marathon -- a week away!
+ A woman who had run the Texas Marathon in Kingwood in January 1, 2011. Small, small world.
+ A woman from the Missouri area who was at the Run For the Ranch Marathon in Springfield, Missouri this past December. I had run the marathon there and she had run the half.
+ Another woman was running her first marathon -- and she and I would battle each other for the last couple of miles.
When we were on the line, we were already late. So there was no gun to fire, no timing system to make sure that was ready and no pretty red head to sing the National Anthem.
My only worry was: not to finish last.
By the time that the first mile was over, I knew that was safe as there appeared to be a walker in the group.
A gentleman from Soldotna, Alaska started behind me, but by mile two he was ahead of me and would stay that way, finishing just under five hours (as I would later find out at the evening dinner).
He told me later that when he had to go to the airport, off the course at mile 15, to go to the restroom, he was worried that I would have gotten in front of him.
The woman from North Dakota was stopping to take pictures.
The woman from Wasila was doing a run/walk and it took me to mile three to get ahead of her.
The lady who was doing her first marathon stayed close for the first few miles, but I wouldn't see her again until the self service aid station at mile 12.
This is where nature called and I'm glad that there was a port-a-john. I had seen a state park restroom on the way out, but couldn't find it while we were running back in.
As stated earlier, the pre-race material stated that the half-way point was at the airport. Well, not exactly.
Once I hit the pavement, I was really good to go. With the exception of stopping at an aid station (near 16 and near 20), I was still running and clicking off sub 12-minute miles.
With six miles to go, I had caught the woman who had done Kingwood in 2011 and shortly thereafter, I passed a man who - I found out later - was doing the half marathon. I couldn't place him on our bus, but I figured it was possible that I could have missed him.
I was still running fairly strong - surprising even myself, but fatigue started to set in in the third to last mile and at the sign that said, "Two miles to go", the woman who was running her first marathon was on my heels.
Plus, her husband had biked out to see where she was and my biggest concern was that she was going to use that assistance to pass me. Perfectly OK, of course, but aren't we all a little competitive?
There was a water stop right before the last mile so I gulped down a cup and resolved myself not to get passed in the last mile. My only words to her was that I was going to do my best to keep it under 5:10 -- and I was at 4:55 at that point.
Waverly, of course, was waiting at the finish line, which was in the parking lot of the Cordova Community Hospital. She could see runners on the main road as they cleared some trees and even she said later on that she didn't want the woman to beat me.
She didn't. I held on by about 30 seconds to post a 5:06:03 -- my 7th best marathon time in 42 finishes.
Waverly had run the Humpy 5K, which started at 10:45 a.m., and did so in 38:46.
A very different, but positive experience. The race director, Kristin Carpenter, went out of her way to take care of everyone and continued to do so at the Awards Presentation that evening.
My splits are listed below (as you can see the mileage signs told you how many you had left to go, which actually was a good motivator):
First 1.2 - 12:53.56
25 to go - 10:48.15
24 to go - 10:53.57
23 to go - 10:53.59
22 to go - 11:33.62 (included self serve water stop)
21 to go - 11:10.04
20 to go - 11:02.01
19 to go - 11:05.64
18 to go - 12:46.78 (included self serve water stop)
17 to go - 10:59.59
16 to go - 10:02.20
15 to go - 11:51.49
14 to go - 16:12.94 (included self serve water stop and port-a-john)
59.19
13 to go - 10:57.00
12 to go - 11:06.79
11 to go - 10:53.38
10 to go - 13:18.65 (included water stop and GU)
9 to go - 11:43.19
8 to go - 11:44.89
7 to go - 10:19.17
1:49.08
6 to go - 11:41.39
5 to go - 11:20.55
4 to go - 11:33.57
3 to go - 12:38.24
2 to go - 11:55.54 (included water stop)
1 to go - 11:49.77
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Sealy 5 Alarm 5K Race Report
I am thankful that I get a chance to do a lot of neat things.
My very good friend Bill Dwyer shared something in this week's note to his group of runners. The quote from Chrisopher McDougall was, "The reason we race isn't so much to beat each other, but to be with each other."
I can't tell you how many races I've done since January 2003, but I enjoy getting out, being around people, putting myself out there, making new friends and further developing the quality friendships that I already have.
I have some goals, but they aren't end-all, be-all goals. However, I must get ready for them, and because there's a certain level of discipline that I lack, I race often to facilitate training.
Plus, racing is a frequent benchmark of where I stand.
The challenge is to not do too much of it so where it inhibits you from reaching your goal.
I probably shouldn't have run 14 marathons leading up to Rocky Raccoon this past February, but I did and I learned from it. Come mid-November, my body had taken a beating for the great month of racing I experienced in October.
I ran with Waverly at the Astros Race For The Pennant 5K for the two of us to enjoy a race together.
As I mentioned, I know that those days - with her planning on going to Liberty University for college - will be fewer and fewer.
The following week, I ran the Heights 5K Fun Run for me. And, man, was it an eye opener. 32 minutes, 31 seconds. Yikes! I hadn't seen that time since my first year of running and racing.
But I've changed my diet some and have increased my workout load, and the results have started to come.
My original plans was to race the 5-Alarm 5K in Sealy Friday night, drive to Austin, get up, drive into Lampasas, run the Toughest 10K in Texas and then drive to Tulsa and do a long duathlon today.
While there were some questions about being able to make it to Tulsa in time to pick my packet up on Saturday evening, those plans were shuttled once I learned that our church's Youth Department was going to lead today's church service to share how Christ worked in their lives at youth camp two weeks before.
I didn't go to Lampasas, instead running 10 Saturday morning with friends from The Woodlands Running Club, but I did keep the 5K in Sealy on the schedule.
The race called for a 10 p.m. start as part of the city's Sealybration. I arrived well before 8 p.m. - after misgauging the time necessary to drive to Sealy from Spring, but got to see and visit with Greg Zarate, who timed the BMI 5K race for us in Conroe, from Run Houston Timing.
The good news for the 5 Alarm 5K? They had a bigger turnout than they expected.
The course ran through the streets of Sealy, although they weren't the most-lighted ones - at all. At some points, the race was just downright unsafe because you couldn't see in the middle of some streets where you were planting your feet!
Nonetheless, I ran pretty well. (This gave me a race in my 71st Texas city or town.)
I had picked up two new pair of shoes earlier in the day from Fleet Feet Sports in Shenandoah. One a pair of Cumulus and the other a pair of Nimbus. I normally run in Asics' Fortitudes, but when I went to first inquire about another two pair Asics had backordered my 12 EEEE until the early fall.
I chose to run in the Cumulus Friday night and they are perhaps the lighest shoe that I've worn after starting out in the Brooks Beast back in 2003.
My "chip" time was 30:11, but some of the elite runners that were there felt like the course was 100 meters long. If so, that represented 34 seconds based on the my 800s from Wednesday night's track session - or an equivalent 29:37.
And that is almost a three-minute improvement in six weeks.
I'm happy with my effort lately.
I made a new friend in Sealy's Mary Ann Ramirez, who was the interface between the fire department and the timing company. She had just finished the Bear Lake double in Idaho and Utah last weekend. (I had done the Bear Lake Half two years ago - a week after doing a half in Montana.)
I also saw and spoke to Leno Rios and his girlfriend (whose name I didn't catch), Annie Hadow, Stacy Holden, Gordon Christie (who is looking to qualify for The Woodlands Marathon as an elite runner this year as opposed to one of the pacers) and Susan Walters.
I also talked to a gentleman, who was new to racing, that had been at the 5K in Crosby two Saturdays before, and Dallas' Karol Curran, who travels far and wide to racewalk races of all distance across the Lone Star state.
All good stuff -- and like Bill said, it is why I like to "race".
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
2012 RRCA Texas State Championship Races
With tomorrow's Baytown Bud Heat Wave less than 24 hours away, I reached out to RRCA South Texas state representative Lee Greb to reconfirm all of this year's RRCA Texas State Championship races.
Including tomorrow's Heat Wave, they are as follows (including those that have already been completed):
Saturday, March 10 -- Bayou City Classic 10K, Houston
Sunday, March 18 -- Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, Seabrook
Saturday, March 31 -- Bellaire Trolley Run 5K, Bellaire
Saturday, June 9 -- Run In The Sun 8K, San Angelo
Wednesday, July 4 -- Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5-Mile, Baytown
Sunday, November 4 -- Dallas Running Club Half Marathon, Dallas
Saturday, November 17 -- Ultracentric 24-Hour Run, Grapevine
Texas will also play host to two RRCA Southern Region championships, both taking place on Sunday, October 28.
They are the Run For Water 10-Miler in Austin and the Houston Half Marathon.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
BARC Pay Your Dues 5K Race Report
Early in the week, I ditched the idea of traveling to San Antonio to participate in the Carrabba's Classic Half Marathon. Not that I couldn't have benefitted from running another warm weather half (well make that scorching), but I just wasn't ready to make the drive. Plus there was some other news in the early part of the week that also squelched those plans.
So an event that I haven't had a chance to do came into clear view: the Bay Area Running Club (BARC) Pay Your Dues 5K at Sylvan Rodriguez Park in Clear Lake City.
BARC is one of three clubs that I have a membership, including the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) and The Woodlands Running Club (TWRC). When I started to get involved in the running community, Jay Lee and Veronica Hoge were two of many individuals - and BARC members -- that welcomed me and treated me well.
To show my support, I became a member of the Bay Area Running Club a few years ago.
My original plan was to get up and run two miles with Leeann Rosser and Mary Carter from TWRC, run the two miles back and then get up and drive to Clear Lake City.
However, after an hour on the stationary bike at the gym from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., I didn't get to bed until 2:30 a.m. and then I couldn't get to sleep until around 4 a.m. I dropped those plans, but I still got up at 6:10 a.m., showered, grabbed something to eat and then headed quickly to the south side of the greater Houston area for the second straight Saturday.
The Pay Your Dues 5K was one that you had to predict your time -- and then not wear any type of timing device. The course was a sweet one much like Run The Woodlands 5K -- completely off any road, but also a simple out and back. BARC, with their partnership with the Clear Lake Fitness Club, manned a water stop at about the 1.1-mile mark on the way out. A very, very nice setup.
I had predicted earlier in the week, when I filled in my registration form, a 31:42 time.
I ran the 10K in Texas City at a 10:17 pace the Saturday before; therefore, I thought that I could carve a little bit off of that and went with the prediction that I did.
However, I ran pretty comfortably and posted a 31:19 -- still a long ways off of a could weather 28-minute 5K PR, but I'm starting to run - and race - my way back into some semblance of shape.
The 23-second separation gave me a top 20 finish out of about 40-50 runners and earned me a BARC water bottle.
The one thing that makes BARC such a great club is its people. This is one club without any prima donas from a personality standpoint -- and that, I think, is why I feel like I fit in so well.
When I got there, Alfonso Torres and Jay Lee (On The Run co-owner) were working the registration table. In no time, I saw race director extraordinaire Robby Sabban and Joe Carey, the new HARRA president. And then the hit parade of people included Stephen Milford, Ben Harvie, Robert Lott, Guy Rozas, Vicki Davis and so many more. Even though I don't get the opportunity to attend many club socials, BARC - and Clear Lake Fitness Club for that matter -- really, really treat people how they want to be treated.
This morning was well worth the drive, my time and effort. Hopefully, this year's BARC Pub Crawl will work into my schedule.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sylvan Beach Duathlon Race Report
I think the one thing that I walked away from today's Sylvan Beach Duathlon is that there is a group of people out there in our sports that could care less about how you do.
They're genuinely glad that you're there.
Other than the people today, I find that I actually enjoy the duathlon - for something different.
That is, well, other than the first mile off the bike on a warm day.
Today there were 17 more finishers than last year (96 to 79), and while I'm not concerned about it, I slipped a little bit from 2:24:16 a year ago to 2:29:38 today.
Almost exactly the same on the bike, but a little slower on the run. Probably up a couple of pounds since the same time last year, but not too much.
The bottom line, though, is that I had fun. Can't beat that, especially since I couldn't quite beat today's heat.
I actually thought last year was hotter, but I was 53:54 in the last five-mile section last year compared to 58:47 today.
Then again, I probably didn't run 95 minutes on Friday and a 10K on Saturday a year ago.
I took a page from Rocky Raccoon earlier this year and took two S-caps before the race and another two as I exited T-2. Therefore, no cramping whatsoever.
Oh, the drafting penalty. Seriously. Me? Riding a Cannondale road bike, with the original pedals and with my running shoes. Drafting?
It was in the first three to four miles of the 30-kilometer bike course. There was a woman in front of me, but I didn't think that I was that close for that long (which is what the official said).
Actually, I had started to make the pass and moved to the left to start going around her and had another rider come up on the side of me and kind of thwart that move. And right as that happened, the official came up on the left and I could see her writing my number down.
Oh well, an extra three sentences for this report!
Two-mile run was 20:30.68 - my 10K pace exactly from yesterday.
T1 and T2 - 1:11:06 and 1:39.13 - a little better than last year. Was deliberate. There was nobody for me to beat.
30-kilometer bike was 1:07:32. It was less belabored than last year and I didn't look at my watch until after we crossed 146 to head back to Sylvan Beach on Fairmont Parkway.
The five miles on the run looked like this: 11:38.36, 11:25.21, 10:59.06, 12:36.50 and 12:06.81. I thought that three might have been short as there were multiple markings for it - and four long, but therein lies that runner mentality.
It was my fourth duathlon ever - and the second year in a row for Sylvan Beach. Love the events that Kevin and Jana Landry put on and, of course, I look forward to finish line announcing their Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon in January 2013 after a year's absence while I attempted the Rocky Raccoon 100 last February.
I used the words "low key" and "no frills" in a Facebook commment, but that would imply less quality. And that's certainly not the case.
They just put on good races -- for the sake of good racing. And that's a great thing.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Making Some Progress
While I have professionally enjoyed the challenges of the year-long assignment in California that I'm three weeks away from wrapping up, it - as well as some other issues in my life - have really sapped my motivation to run and workout regularly.
1/ 7/12 - Mississippi Blues Marathon (Jackson, MS) - 5:38:12
1/15/12 - Chevron Houston Marathon (Houston, TX) - 5:42:37
When I finished my seventh Houston Marathon, I was physically broken down. I swore off marathons, but with two weeks until the gun went off in Huntsville State Park I figured that it wouldn't have been wise to waste a $100 entry fee.
2/ 2/12 - Rocky Raccoon 100 (Huntsville, TX) - 52-54 miles; DNF
I made a pretty good effort at #RR100, especially given that I didn't run a step between January 15 and February 2. I could have gotten to 80 and missed the 24-hour cutoff, but that really wouldn't have proven anything. It was best to save it for another day.
4/21/12 - Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz (Olathe, KS) - 5:54:49
4/28/12 - Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon (Louisville, KY) - DNF
I thought that I could just turn it on like I have in the past and put down a back-to-back and get to state no. 27. Well, no. 26 happened, and technically it was better than starting from scratch last summer when I went plus-6 in Kona, but it wasn't really satisfying.
Greenville, South Carolina last October and getting back under 5 hours? THAT was satisfying.
In Louisville, I was emotionally beat down (personal and family), hit the marathon/half marathon split at mile 9 and decide to walk it to mile 12.5 and straight to the car -- and subsequently, the hotel.
5/12/12 - El Chupacabra de Houston 10K (New Caney, TX) - 1:16:58
I needed to make another effort to overcome some personal hurdles and this was a start. I knew that a couple of friends were going to be there so I went just to socialize with them because I knew that they would provide a pick-me-up. It worked a little bit.
The trail wasn't that challenging, but I wasn't there yet. Certainly trail races are going to be a little bit slower, but I didn't expect it to be THAT much.
5/26/12 - Astros Race for the Pennant 5K (Houston, TX) - 38:50.3 (with Waverly)
Waverly and I had signed up for this a couple of weeks before and it was just for the two of us to do something. I had started to come out of this "personal fog" that I had been in, but most importantly I just enjoyed running - and spending time - with my daughter.
5/28/12 - Patriot Half Marathon (Rockwall, TX) - 2:35:23
Heat. Hills. Well, rollers. And a little bit of a long drive on short sleep. I figure that all of those will pay off in some way down the road a little bit. Long way from a cool weather 2:08:45 PR, but it is a benchmark for improvement throughout 2012.
6/ 2/12 - Heights 5K (Houston, TX) - 32:31.7 (10:29/M)
Boy o boy, this was a wakeup call. It has been a long, long time since I've seen a 32-minute 5K, but that was the impetus this past week to start to push a little bit -- and knowing that I was also going to be doing a duathlon on Sunday.
6/ 9/12 - Funfest By The Bay 10K (Texas City, TX) - 1:03:55.6 (10:19/M)
My 10K PR is 58-and low change. Long, long time ago. As you can see, I'm more focused on working on events instead of working on my running as well as I do the former. But it isn't life and death. When I pass away, there isn't going to be anybody that is going to remember how many marathons that I finished or what my times were. Of course, they're going to remember who I was as a person.
Actually, for where I'm at right now (and for running 45 minutes Friday morning in California and another 50 minutes last evening here in town), this was actually pretty good. Notice the 10-second per mile improvement over double the distance. Plus, from the one marked turnaround, I passed four more runners than those who passed me.
So, we'll see where things will go from here. In the meantime, I'm just going to try to have some fun - and as one runner said today, "Work on getting their mojo back".
And, here's the tentative marathon schedule for the fall:
9/1/12 - Marquette (Michigan) Marathon
9/23/12 - Jackson Hole (Wyoming) Marathon
10/7/12 - Towpath (Ohio) Marathon
10/28/12 - Cape Cod (Massachusetts) Marathon
11/17/12 - Mesquite (Nevada) Marathon
12/8/12 - Rehoboth Beach (Delaware) Marathon
1/13/13 - Chevron Houston Marathon
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Learning
I've learned a lot recently.
Some things aren't fun, but you eventually will get through them.
It isn't about choosing sides, but it is finding about who will stand by you when you really need them to.
Not everything happens the way you expect them to, nor do people play according to your rules.
I was never naive to that train of thought, but I didn't realize how challenging - and for how long - it was to have some of that meted out against me.
Even after you make mistakes and you own up to what is yours, no matter how painful the truth really is, and you have a core set of principles to come back to, it gets easier to sleep at night when you believe you did the right things.
Things may appear one way, but until you sit down and find out the reason why - if complete, honest and open communication truly exists - you'll never know for sure.
And people don't really know the complete story about anything until they ask.
Yes, I'm somebody that wears my emotions on my sleeve.
I've been mocked and ridiculed for that, and that's OK. It isn't going to change who I am. I have a heart and I intend to use it.
And if I can't use it, then it is still OK to exercise it and not be made to feel wrong about it no matter the accusation.
I'm not mad anymore. Disappointed? Sure. Absolutely. Things that happened didn't have to.
I still believe in giving credit where credit is due. If you recognize an accomplishment, praise it. Those individuals earned it and should be noted for it. I've always operated that way and always will. It is a core principle of mine - even in the face of legal threats.
I'm glad for the perspective yesterday and the opportunity to learn a few things. At 2 p.m. Friday, I was still looking at throwing that away.
It was good to continue to do many of the things that I enjoy and am good at. Even though I don't have to do them.
I've proven that I can play at the highest levels and succeed, as it is all about building, creating, cultivating and maintaining positive, work together relationships - and friendships.
I'll never be the social animals that some people are. It just isn't me. And it never will be.
But again, I'd rather have people respect me than to like me.
And yes, there are people that do both!
So, yesterday was a good day. I intend to build on it, even if I don't venture too far from the proverbial front porch.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz Race Report
Since I've decided to almost stop completely all of my promotional activites for our local sports (running and triathlons), I'll go back a little bit and blog for me. Just because it is relaxing, and there's a couple of you that enjoy reading. Those of you who do? Thanks.
I signed up for the Oz Marathon in Olathe, Kansas in late February. The idea was to start a little earlier in my prep for next year's Rocky Raccoon 100. (Yes, another attempt. It is completely a challenging, yet doable task.) And, of course, chase states again.
Today was a marathon finish in my 26th state. I got in under the six-hour barrier at 5:54:52, according to my watch.
If I was forced to not count states that had six hour finishes or greater, I'd have to toss out Hawaii, Idaho and Utah. Two of those three, I was nowhere near ready for. (Utah was at altitude without being able to acclimate.)
And today was about the same; however, that wasn't the original plan. I had signed up for the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Half Marathon, which was held on Sunday, March 25, but just a couple of days before (Tuesday, to be exact), I had a bout with a 162/92 high blood pressure reading. Therefore, I decided not to push the envelope.
Plus, I had just ended a four-week stint of handling media for The Woodlands Marathon, finish line announcing for both the Gusher Marathon and the Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon and race directing the sixth annual BMI 5K in Conroe. Additionally, I was trying to keep my weekly workouts up, but the flying back and forth to California and the long hours while I was at the client site didn't give me enough time to cut a little weight, which helps.
The weather for today's race was almost perfect. The sun was out pretty strong at the end, even though the temperature was 64 degrees.
The first 11.5 miles were on city streets while the remaining almost 14.5 were on a nice paved trail. This course reminded me a lot of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The race started and finished at the world headquarters of Garmin International.
I could tell from the get go, even with the cooler temperatures, that it was going to be a challenging day. But the one thing that I learned in getting ready for Rocky Raccoon was not to let things frustrate me. Do as much as possible as often as possible and then figure out what it takes to make sure that I get in under six hours.
Mile 1 -- 10:23.96
Mile 2 -- 11:40.79
Mile 3 -- 11:03.47
Mile 4 -- 11:40.31
Mile 5 -- 11:42.40
Mile 6 -- 11:02.29
Mile 7 -- 11:46.50
Mile 8 -- 13:11.81
Mile 9 -- 11:42.88
Mile 10 -- 12:06.59
Mile 11 -- 12:25.31
Mile 12 -- 12:00.31
You can see that this is where I did the math of 2:20 plus 14 times 16, which is 3:44, and would be a 6:04 marathon at that point.
However, my plan is - when I enter a marathon that I'm not really ready for - to power walk the first 10 minutes and then beginning running as much as I can to the mile marker and repeat. The sooner I get there, the more I put "time in the bank" against that original number.
Mile 13 -- 14:26.81
Mile 14 -- 13:53.25
Mile 15 -- 15:06.73
Mile 16 -- 14:21.19
Mile 17 -- 14:59.54
Mile 18 -- 14:26.10
Mile 19 -- 15:04.71
Mile 20 -- 14:46.05
Mile 21 -- 13:38.22
Mile 22 -- 16:44.31
These two mile markers above were clearly not set right.
Mile 23 -- 14:44.07
Mile 24 -- 15:59.90
Mile 25 -- 16:23.20
Mile 26 -- 16:15.94
Last .2 -- 3:15.89
Overall -- 5:54:52
Not my worst day. Not my finest either.
Runner's World Bart Yasso was in Olathe today, but he was also at the Little Rock Marathon in 2006. I was running the fourth marathon in five weeks (Mardi Gras, Austin, Surfside and then Little Rock). And he said in a presentation that he did there with his wife Laura in attendance with him that "you can train for a marathon the right way or you can go about like some of the 50 States marathoners do and also have a really good time".
I've trained right for a few marathons and did well. Today was the first time that I think that I had run outside since ... February at Rocky Raccoon. No, I wouldn't recommend it, but it is something that I figured - push come to shove - I could do.
Some notes: I saw and chatted quite a bit on the course with San Antonio's Larry Macon, 14-time 50-state finisher. Nice guy. I told him that I had never asked anybody nor him, but I found out that he doesn't have his own plane. He makes his weekly back-to-back marathons around the USA on commercial flights. Wow! ..... Somewhere on the trail, I saw a guy with a Penn State shirt. I met him with a loud "We Are" and he responded with a "Penn State" ..... Dallas' Libby Jones had a great race with an 11-minute PR, according to her Facebook status. She caught me somewhere around mile 12 or so and then I saw her close to the turnaround, which was just beyond mile 18. She led an entourage of approximately 20 women from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to Kansas.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Rocky Raccoon Race Report - Part 1
I had started a race report for Rocky Raccoon the Monday after it transpired, but it got lost in the fast pace of my life.
Working out the last day or two, the notion of writing a few words about the day and the total experience began to resurface in my mind.
It is necessary therapy for me to work through some other issues in my world.
And it allows for me combat some of the negativity and self-doubt that has come through some challenging - for me - times.
The world would say that I wasn't a success because I dropped at mile 52.2 fifteen hours into the race, but it really truly was a great day.
Why? Well, my closest friends were involved.
What more could you ask for in a crew besides my lovely daughter, Waverly, and my best friend, Bill Dwyer. If you were going to do something challenging, they're two of the best people to have on your team.
I had two pacers - John Laskowski (for miles 60 to 80) and Michael Young (for miles 80 to 100) -- lined up with the type of temperment that was necessary to push through a feat like that.
Neither would be offended to hear me say that they weren't my initial choices when I first signed up in May or June of last year, but life presents changes for all of us.
I had calls from and communications to a couple of good friends in Rebecca Massie and Kim Hager. The call from the former was a total, but welcomed surprise at about mile 40, if my memory serves me correct, and reaching out to the latter was simply a sign of respect to someone who has respected me as a friend over the years.
After I dropped in the middle of the evening, Mary Carter (her daughter, Faith, had been there earlier in the day), John's step-daughter Jackie Graves and Leeann Rosser and her husband, Jim, were there to support me in friendship. Something I really appreciated and meant a lot to me.
Although the one moment that I hope I'll never ever forget was in the middle of the second lap as I crossed the main park road, near Interstate 45. There, of course, was Bill and Waverly, but more importantly, at that moment, was Jim Braden of The Woodlands.
My friends are my friends for different reasons and some of them, like Kim, have had the chance to do some pretty neat things athletically, let alone in life. Kim, for example, competed in the 2004 United States Olympic Marathon Trials in St. Louis, Missouri.
What Jim once did is something few people, I'm sure, have ever done.
In 1990, he not only finished the Western States Endurance Run - a 100-mile journey from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California that represents itself to this day as the granddaddy of ultrarunning, but also won his age group at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
He often jokes that he's a "has been who never was", but to have somebody of Jim's stature and credibility make the drive up the Interstate to cheer you on and support you is something I hope that I never forget.
A few days before Rocky, Jim had e-mailed Bill to see if I was still planning on toeing the line. Bill had told him that indeed I was.
Although it almost didn't happen.
Immediately after the Chevron Houston Marathon, my 7th overall, which came a week after finishing the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson, Mississippi, I had said, "No more."
The 14 marathons had taken their toll on my body. Too much.
But sometime the following Saturday, the emotional tide had started to change.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Continually Bewildered
I decided early last week to go and cover Ironman 70.3 Texas in Galveston yesterday. Not because of Lance. But, rather, doing so would keep my options open, so to speak, to cover May's Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas.
I'm glad I did. I did my normal thing: did what I had to to cover the race (i.e. the professionals) to write a story for Texas Runner and Triathlete magazine, but then went back out on the course and cheered on and supported a plethora of friends that I'm fortunate enough to have.
I'm continually amazed - and thankful, of course - at those who consider me a friend.
Why? Well, it is because many are "friends", depending on the definition, I guess, of someone who accused me of stalking and harrassment. It is the farthest thing from the truth, especially when you can count the number of times that I actually spoke to that individual in person over the preceding three years on both hands.
And why would I do anything as stupid as put my livelihood on the line and affect the support of my daughter over somebody who used my goodwill without offering much in return - as far as friendship.
When the accusation was levelled at me, the Monday after Thanksgiving, I naturally sought out the law to see if anything would have met the legal definition in the state of Texas. It didn't. I consulted a friend who has been in law enforcement and is currently a private investigator and he provided some pretty good, solid advice.
One of the things that I researched is that when you believe that someone is stalking you is that you tell all of your friends to stay away from that individual.
So when you have people that you believe to be friends with the accuser continue to reach out and approach you, it makes you wonder, which I'm sure that person intended.
If that's how they get their jollies, so be it.
It is pathetic and sickening, to be quite honest.
I tried repeatedly to distance myself first from that individual many times, after realizing that they couldn't or wouldn't ever meet the standard set forth by my very best friends - or even my simplest friend.
However, they kept making attempts at reaching out, for whatever reason.
Why? Because I was a nice, genuine, honest individual who would help pretty much anybody that I thought needed it. Maybe? Maybe not? Who knows for sure? Only they do. They never shared that with me.
So when I'm out at a race - which I go to less and less because of all of this - where I come in contact with people who I believe to be friends with that individual, I am forced to be guarded in my communications because I have to ask myself, "What do they know, if anything?"
And when they are pretty friendly and open, and I begin to extend trust to those individuals again, I tell myself, "Must be nothing."
Honestly, it's a horrible way to live. All because I was on the receiving end of information, that I didn't seek out, from one person, who basically created havoc in the already strained communications with the person that accused me of stalking.
They offered up information that wasn't necessarily shocking, but some of which questioned that person's actions toward me as being something as less than genuine.
Things first came to a head the day after the Fourth of July.
After a dust-up in mid-June, there were some communications while I took my daughter on vacation to Kona and Honolulu. In between, I had offered a race entry to a Fourth of July race that I did finish line announcing for. The person told me that they would have to check their schedule and get back with me.
They never did. I didn't push the issue, but I was a little burned up on race day that they didn't take the courtesy to at least tell me, "Thanks for offering up the entry, but I ran on Saturday and I need to get in a ride this extended weekend."
After receiving a pretty lame e-mail that afternoon that they just realized that they had forgot to communicate, I learned through the evil world of Facebook that they had decided to go for a ride that morning. No big deal, in a sense. I got it, but it would have been common courtesy to have stated from the beginning that they had no intention of ever really accepting the race entry.
When I boldly challenged them, I got taken to task for how I felt over them having taken me for granted months and months before. Where and how I did so, I assume, got communicated to them from the individual that "offered up information".
Twice in the fall, before the stalking accusation, and twice in late February/early March involving activities surrounding The Woodlands Marathon, I received communications from the person who "offered up information".
It was startling, to me. They knew this stuff. So why even attempt to reach out to me? They had already caused enough strain and stress in my world. Why create more?
So after ignoring them and not responding to texts (their e-mail had already been blocked as well as Facebook), why didn't they just realize that I really have no desire to communicate with them - at all?
Still on Saturday and Sunday in Galveston, they tried on multiple times to initiate contact; however, I know that they could tell that I really didn't want to have anything to do with them. When I arrived on Saturday, that person and another individual were crossing where I a was and there was no way to avoid them.
My question is: Why can't they be like their friend and a former acquaintance of mine and just go away?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Getting Back in The Saddle
Writing has always been a release for me. And it's always surprising on the individuals who enjoy the read.
In the grand scheme of things I'm a nobody, but I'm a nobody that gets to do a lot of neat things and meet a lot of fun, interesting people.
Over the weekend, a good friend of mine made a comment on Facebook about being out of town this weekend (starting spring break vacation), looking to see if there was a race nearby and was going to go before the spouse put the "does everything have to revolve around running?" breaks on it.
I replied that those were some of my best stories. Doing the crazy things that nobody else would ever do.
Seriously, if you aren't going to be in a position to win something, then you might as well have fun.
And if there was nobody around to do something with, I might as well enjoy myself while I was alone.
There are too many stories to remember. I've done half marathons on back-to-back days in two different states enough that it has almost become normal.
Perhaps the craziest multi-day state thing that I ever did was to run a 10K on a Saturday morning in New Jersey. (This was after a meeting in suburban Philadelphia all day Friday.)
After the race was over, I visited my grandparents in central Pennsylvania. Getting there at about 2 p.m. or so.
The next morning, my grandfather made the drive with me to Akron, Ohio where I ran a half marathon.
I mean, "Why not?"
I don't do that too much anymore, but I will when the chance - naturally - presents itself.
Fourteen marathons, though, last year was crazy enough in trying to get ready for Rocky Raccoon. It almost worked. I'll try a different approach for the 2013 race.
And that approach starts in earnest now.
Put 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes on the elliptical. And at the end of a long travel day from Houston to California.
But as Chuck Engle, the Marathon Junkie says, I need to run more!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
I Have A Half Marathon In 13 Days? Yikes!
Yikes! I have a half marathon in less than two weeks - the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Half Marathon on Sunday, March 25 - and a marathon in about five weeks or so -- the Oz Marathon in Olathe, Kansas the next-to-last weekend of the month.
Today was the first time that I've actually run since Rocky Raccoon and it wasn't pretty.
Normally, I can knock out an hour on the treadmill. Easy. I lasted 15 minutes. It hurt. I'll figure it out, of course, but it might take adding minutes every day to get back.
It is almost as if I had an injury.
The cardio, of course, is fine. I did 30 miles on the road bike during The Woodlands Marathon, including about 13 of those in somewhat of an interval mode. That, and while hollering, "Lead runner, please move to the right. Thank you!"
So tonight it was a simple 15 minutes on the treadmill, 50 minutes on the elliptical and a solid 30 minutes on the stationary bike before I hop off to California in the morning.
Speaking of marathons, I'd love to do the Delaware Marathon on the second Sunday in May; however, I don't quite think my Mom would appreciate it. I was gone one other time during Mother's Day and that was inadvertent. It was in 2004 and I was working in Youngstown, Ohio, but I stayed over to do the Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis, Indiana. 30,000 runners including a lap on the Speedway.
Hot and fun, but something I try not to be out of town for anymore.
Never know how much longer that we'll have our parents. Therefore, I at least try to keep Mother's Day and Father's Day away from any athletic interferences.
Jeanne-Claire White wins the 3rd annual Gusher Marathon
Lake Charles (La.) St. Catholic graduate Jeanne-Claire White, 23, won the third annual Exygon and Baptist Hospitals Gusher Marathon yesterday in Beaumont, Texas
No, she didn't just win the women's race.
She won the whole thing. Guys and the girls.
Courtesy of marathonguide.com, here is White's career marathon history:
4/26/08 - 3:23:55, Country Music Marathon, 19
1/11/09 - 3:18:20, Disney World Marathon, 19
4/25/09 - 3:37:18, Country Music Marathon, 20
10/25/09 - 3:24:38, Marine Corps Marathon, 20
2/28/10 - 3:21:26, New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon, 21
5/2/10 - 3:13:37, Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon, 21
10/30/10 - 2:53:28, Ridge to Bridge Marathon (NC), 21
3/10/12 - 2:59:59, Exygon and Baptist Hospitals Gusher Marathon, 23
No More Mr. Nice Guy
I shared this title with a few friends and I'm sure that they wondered, "Uh oh."
Nearly 20 years or so ago, my Pastor actually told me, in regards to getting more people to get involved in helping run a church softball league, "Jon, you need to almost become arrogant."
Yes, my Pastor said that.
Almost immediately, though, he added, "But I know that you're pretty much not capable of doing that."
That pretty much still holds true today. Especially when it comes in dealing with people.
For some people, it is easy for them to just say, "Flake off (or some other off-color version)," and move on with their life.
Unfortunately, I'm a nice guy, and yes, I've let myself be taken advantage of. And I'm not the first and certainly won't be the last.
At 45, I need to change. There's one or two that will say that I already have and that's their perogative to believe that. So be it. See, the change is easy. Is it really?
Well, not really, but it'll take time. It really is unnatural to me. I know more of what to guard against now than what I did before.
I think if you want a great friendship or relationship you have to invest a lot in it. If you don't, then nothing will ever really come of it.
It is basically the verse in the Bible that says, "To have friends you must show yourself friendly."
I've also always thought the next part of that is: "Don't, then, let it go to your head either."
I helped put together a community event a couple of falls ago for a few friends who had achieved some significant accomplishments athletically. Somebody made the comment to me privately, "Most of the people that are here are because of you."
And my thought was, then and now, "Yeah, so. No big deal."
It is because I had showed myself friendly in the community - and still do. But it wasn't anything that I needed a medal for or had a right to beat my chest over.
Last weekend's marathon kind of level set things for me after some tumultous personal dealings. I was able to get back to doing things that I truly loved to do to get away from the day-to-day work week, which has been pretty stressful lately, but I realized that those activities now come with more physical and emotional limits.
And I need to be more realistic about and cognizant of them.
Charlie Sheen might call this winning. I call it learning.
So does still make me, "Mr. Nice Guy"? That's for you to decide.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
2011 Texas Bridge Series Finishers
The Texas Bridge Series consisted of three races -- the Toughest 10K Kemah, the Toughest 10K Galveston and the La Porte By The Bay Half Marathon.
236 runners and walkers completed all three to become inaugural Texas Bridge Series finishers.
-A-
Dora Aguilar-Bloomer, F, League City
Laura Aguilar-Ramirez, F, League City
Melissa Akin, F, League City
Rudy Alvarez, M, Houston
Bud Arnold, M, Humble
-B-
Jack Barfoot, M, La Porte
Jenny Beattie, F, La Porte
Britt Bell, M, Kemah
Susan Bell, F, Kemah
Pam Bennett, F, League City
Joey Berry, M, Missouri City
Wendy Berthiaume, F, Houston
Kirsten Beyer, F, Kemah
Dana Biedrzycki, F, Crosby
Jonathan Blankenheim, M, League City
Robert Botto, M, Baytown
Mark Braddock, M, Seabrook
Gilbert Brillon, M, Spring
Rosalie Brillon, F, Spring
Alison Brown, F, Houston
Buddy Brown, M, Houston
Damian Brum, M, Baytown
Misty Bryan, F, Houston
Amy Brzezinski, F, Houston
Grant Bue, M, Houston
Roland Burciaga, M, Pearland
Christa Burgett, F, Houston
Eliza Burton, F, Houston
Melanie Butler, F, Katy
-C-
Brenda Cantu, F, Spring
Gabriela Cantu, F, Houston
Jesus Cantu, M, Houston
Patricia Carreon, F, Houston
Leonardo Casanova, M
Marisol Chavez, F, Houston
Valerie Christian, F, Humble
Dawn Clements, F, Houston
Eileen Constancio, F
M. Melissa Cooper, F, League City
Stephen Cooper, M, Houston
Migel Cruz, M, Pearland
Gail Culp, F, Houston
-D-
Nasser Dabbas, M, Houston
Lisa Danielson, F, Houston
Shelia Davidson, F, Houston
Ami Davis, F, Baytown
Abigail De Los Reyes, F, Houston
Lori Diaz, F, League City
Trish Dillon, F, Houston
Hoang Do, M, Houston
Steve Dollinger, M, Manvel
Jennifer Duarte, F, Richmond
-E-
Kristin Echerd, F, League City
Lee Echerd, M, League City
Carly Erwin, F, Galveston
Eddie Espinosa, M, Houston
Zully Espinosa, F, Houston
Paul Estrada, M, Houston
Sharona Everett, F, Deer Park
-F-
George Z Felan, M, Houston
Priscilla Fierro, F, Dickinson
John Fife, M, Pasadena
Kelli Fife, F, Pasadena
Yvonne Flores, F, Katy
Bryan Ford, M, Cypress
Rachel Forrest, F, League City
Alison Fowler, F, Houston
Bonnie Frankum, F, Houston
-G-
Betty Garcia, F, Seabrook
John Paul Garcia, M, Friendswood
Penny Garcia, F, Friendswood
Lucia Gentry, F, Dickinson
Hillary Gerhart, F, Katy
Robert Godinez, M, La Porte
Bruce Greer, M, Houston
Laura Greivenkamp, F, Seabrook
Megan Griffiths, F, Sugar Land
Seth Guerin, M, Pearland
Jaime Gutierrez, M, Friendswood
-H-
Lisa Hagler, F, Houston
Floyd Hamilton, M, League City
Laura Hanson, F, League City
Leo Henny, M, Lake Charles, LA
Maria Hernandez, F, Houston
Santos Hernandez, M, Katy
Kellie Hill, F
Rob Hill, M, Houston
Gloria Hinton, F, Dickinson
Sara Holder, F, Houston
Kelly Holland, F, Baytown
Karen Hollen, F, Houston
Bryant Holley, M, Houston
Kim Holt, F, Seabrook
Diana Houston, F, Baytown
Dennis Hudgens, M, Willis
Tom Hutson, M, Houston
-J-
Charlotte Jam, F, Houston
Phillis Jefferson, F, Richmond
Bobby Jennings, M, Magnolia
Mary Jennings, F, League City
Carey Jensen, M, Houston
Jesus Jijon, M, Houston
Pamela Johnson, F, Tomball
Dee Jones, F, Dickinson
Janet Jones, F, Houston
Carol Jordan, F, Dickinson
-K-
Tiffany Kamp, F, Richmond
Kenneth Karam, M, Houston
Mark Kenney, M, Pearland
Stephen Kerlegon, M, League City
John Kirwin, M, Galveston
Mark Knox, M, League City
Lindsay Koller, F, League City
James Koon, M, Pearland
Mike Kovich, M, League City
-L-
Holly Lamb, F, Crosby
Scott Lamon, M, Houston
Sofia Lamon, F, Houston
Kevin Lampley, M, Spring
Dave Lang, M, Galveston
Kevin Lang, M, League City
Mitzi Laughlin, F, Pearland
Tammy Lawrence-May, F, Deer Park
Tony Le Cara, M, Houston
Glyssel Lee, F, Dickinson
Crystal Leutwyler, F, Richmond
Paul Love, M, Spring
Anna Luckenbach, F, Houston
-M-
Lynn Malloy, F, Katy
Janene Martinec, F, Houston
Patricia Martinez, F, Houston
Michael Mateja, M, Houston
Missy Maxwell, F, Friendswood
Deanna McCollough, F, Katy
Fred McCulloch, M, League City
Sandy McKinney, F, Houston
Greg Melching, M
Priscilla Meraz, F, Galveston
Mary Mercado, F, Houston
Ken Merenda, M, Seabrook
Reyna Merritt, F, Houston
Isaias Mesa, M, Houston
Cynthia Meyn, F, Friendswood
Cathy Modaro, F, League City
Andres Monterrubio, M, League City
Mariana Monterrubio, F, League City
Paul Morken, M
Natalie Moya, F, Pearland
Martha Myers, F, Baytown
-N-
John Najera, M, Houston
Ashley Niess, F, Pasadena
Geri Niess, F, Deer Park
Nathan Nieswiadomy, M
Timothy Nolan, M, Houston
-O-
Chase Ocanas, M, League City
Ovidio Ocanas, M, League City
Donovan O'Connor, M, La Porte
-P-
Lynn Palmer, F, Houston
Don Peck, M, Houston
Robin Peck, F, Houston
Anita Pena, F, Houston
Mike Perales, M, League City
Chris Perry, M, Dickinson
Theresa Perry, F, Dickinson
Paul Peters, M, Dickinson
Rachelle Pinard, F, Willis
Diane Pinkston, F, Houston
-R-
Laura Rachita, F, Friendswood
Jerry Rasmussen, M, Houston
Michele Rawson, F, Houston
Keith Reed, M, Houston
Melanie Renault, F, Katy
Esteban Reyes, M, La Marque
Meglyn Rickerl, F, Houston
Debora Riley, F, Houston
Steve Ritter, M, League City
Linda Riviera, F, League City
Christie Roberts, F, Baytown
Lanny Roberts, M, League City
Staci Rogge, F, Humble
Jose Ruiz, M, Houston
Susy Ruiz, F, Houston
Stephanie Russell, F, League City
-S-
Michael Sangl, M, Spring
Pam Sangl, F, Spring
Michael Sapp, M, League City
Eric Schaefer, M, League City
Debbie Schallock, F, Friendswood
Kristie Schmidt, F, Seabrook
Keith Schreiter, M, Houston
Mark Schultze, M, Houston
Sam Scott, M, Friendswood
Stacy Scranton, M, Cypress
Diane Sevilla, F, College Station
Rakesh Shah, M, Webster
Bernice Shaver, F, Houston
Matt Shawhan, M, Galveston
Angela G. Smith, F, Seabrook
Bruce Smith, M, Clute
Lillian Sockwell, F, Baytown
Eric Sonny, M, Webster
Robert Sorge, M, Deer Park
Chris St Jean, M, Seabrook
Cindy Stipe, F, Baytown
Matt Strohmayer, M
Russell Swanson, M, Deer Park
-T-
Brian Talley, M, Seabrook
Michael Terry, M, Houston
Johnny Tobin, M, Baytown
Gracie Trejo, F, Pasadena
Mary Trenolone, F, League City
Alicia Trussell, F, League City
-V-
Albert Valle, M, Sugar Land
Flavia Valle, F, Sugar Land
Marla Vasquez, F, Pearland
Donna Villarreal, F, Sugar Land
Terry Villarreal, M, Sugar Land
-W-
Susan Walden, F, Houston
Brett Walker, M, Baytown
Andre Warren, M, Houston
T. Philip Washington, M, League City
Jennifer Wells, F, Houston
Christopher Westerlund, M, Seabrook
Lisa Whitten, F, Deer Park
Kristi Wiley, F, Houston
Meagan Williams, F, Houston
Philip Wingert, M, Houston
Paul Winton, M, League City
Omer Womack, M, Deer Park
Trevor Woodhouse, M, Alvin
Lee Woods, F, Houston
Trisha Wooten, F, Jamaica Beach
Amy Wright, F, Friendswood
-Y-
Samantha Yarberry, F, Houston
Pam Yenetchi, F, Houston
-Z-
Carlos Zepeda, M, Rosharon
236 runners and walkers completed all three to become inaugural Texas Bridge Series finishers.
-A-
Dora Aguilar-Bloomer, F, League City
Laura Aguilar-Ramirez, F, League City
Melissa Akin, F, League City
Rudy Alvarez, M, Houston
Bud Arnold, M, Humble
-B-
Jack Barfoot, M, La Porte
Jenny Beattie, F, La Porte
Britt Bell, M, Kemah
Susan Bell, F, Kemah
Pam Bennett, F, League City
Joey Berry, M, Missouri City
Wendy Berthiaume, F, Houston
Kirsten Beyer, F, Kemah
Dana Biedrzycki, F, Crosby
Jonathan Blankenheim, M, League City
Robert Botto, M, Baytown
Mark Braddock, M, Seabrook
Gilbert Brillon, M, Spring
Rosalie Brillon, F, Spring
Alison Brown, F, Houston
Buddy Brown, M, Houston
Damian Brum, M, Baytown
Misty Bryan, F, Houston
Amy Brzezinski, F, Houston
Grant Bue, M, Houston
Roland Burciaga, M, Pearland
Christa Burgett, F, Houston
Eliza Burton, F, Houston
Melanie Butler, F, Katy
-C-
Brenda Cantu, F, Spring
Gabriela Cantu, F, Houston
Jesus Cantu, M, Houston
Patricia Carreon, F, Houston
Leonardo Casanova, M
Marisol Chavez, F, Houston
Valerie Christian, F, Humble
Dawn Clements, F, Houston
Eileen Constancio, F
M. Melissa Cooper, F, League City
Stephen Cooper, M, Houston
Migel Cruz, M, Pearland
Gail Culp, F, Houston
-D-
Nasser Dabbas, M, Houston
Lisa Danielson, F, Houston
Shelia Davidson, F, Houston
Ami Davis, F, Baytown
Abigail De Los Reyes, F, Houston
Lori Diaz, F, League City
Trish Dillon, F, Houston
Hoang Do, M, Houston
Steve Dollinger, M, Manvel
Jennifer Duarte, F, Richmond
-E-
Kristin Echerd, F, League City
Lee Echerd, M, League City
Carly Erwin, F, Galveston
Eddie Espinosa, M, Houston
Zully Espinosa, F, Houston
Paul Estrada, M, Houston
Sharona Everett, F, Deer Park
-F-
George Z Felan, M, Houston
Priscilla Fierro, F, Dickinson
John Fife, M, Pasadena
Kelli Fife, F, Pasadena
Yvonne Flores, F, Katy
Bryan Ford, M, Cypress
Rachel Forrest, F, League City
Alison Fowler, F, Houston
Bonnie Frankum, F, Houston
-G-
Betty Garcia, F, Seabrook
John Paul Garcia, M, Friendswood
Penny Garcia, F, Friendswood
Lucia Gentry, F, Dickinson
Hillary Gerhart, F, Katy
Robert Godinez, M, La Porte
Bruce Greer, M, Houston
Laura Greivenkamp, F, Seabrook
Megan Griffiths, F, Sugar Land
Seth Guerin, M, Pearland
Jaime Gutierrez, M, Friendswood
-H-
Lisa Hagler, F, Houston
Floyd Hamilton, M, League City
Laura Hanson, F, League City
Leo Henny, M, Lake Charles, LA
Maria Hernandez, F, Houston
Santos Hernandez, M, Katy
Kellie Hill, F
Rob Hill, M, Houston
Gloria Hinton, F, Dickinson
Sara Holder, F, Houston
Kelly Holland, F, Baytown
Karen Hollen, F, Houston
Bryant Holley, M, Houston
Kim Holt, F, Seabrook
Diana Houston, F, Baytown
Dennis Hudgens, M, Willis
Tom Hutson, M, Houston
-J-
Charlotte Jam, F, Houston
Phillis Jefferson, F, Richmond
Bobby Jennings, M, Magnolia
Mary Jennings, F, League City
Carey Jensen, M, Houston
Jesus Jijon, M, Houston
Pamela Johnson, F, Tomball
Dee Jones, F, Dickinson
Janet Jones, F, Houston
Carol Jordan, F, Dickinson
-K-
Tiffany Kamp, F, Richmond
Kenneth Karam, M, Houston
Mark Kenney, M, Pearland
Stephen Kerlegon, M, League City
John Kirwin, M, Galveston
Mark Knox, M, League City
Lindsay Koller, F, League City
James Koon, M, Pearland
Mike Kovich, M, League City
-L-
Holly Lamb, F, Crosby
Scott Lamon, M, Houston
Sofia Lamon, F, Houston
Kevin Lampley, M, Spring
Dave Lang, M, Galveston
Kevin Lang, M, League City
Mitzi Laughlin, F, Pearland
Tammy Lawrence-May, F, Deer Park
Tony Le Cara, M, Houston
Glyssel Lee, F, Dickinson
Crystal Leutwyler, F, Richmond
Paul Love, M, Spring
Anna Luckenbach, F, Houston
-M-
Lynn Malloy, F, Katy
Janene Martinec, F, Houston
Patricia Martinez, F, Houston
Michael Mateja, M, Houston
Missy Maxwell, F, Friendswood
Deanna McCollough, F, Katy
Fred McCulloch, M, League City
Sandy McKinney, F, Houston
Greg Melching, M
Priscilla Meraz, F, Galveston
Mary Mercado, F, Houston
Ken Merenda, M, Seabrook
Reyna Merritt, F, Houston
Isaias Mesa, M, Houston
Cynthia Meyn, F, Friendswood
Cathy Modaro, F, League City
Andres Monterrubio, M, League City
Mariana Monterrubio, F, League City
Paul Morken, M
Natalie Moya, F, Pearland
Martha Myers, F, Baytown
-N-
John Najera, M, Houston
Ashley Niess, F, Pasadena
Geri Niess, F, Deer Park
Nathan Nieswiadomy, M
Timothy Nolan, M, Houston
-O-
Chase Ocanas, M, League City
Ovidio Ocanas, M, League City
Donovan O'Connor, M, La Porte
-P-
Lynn Palmer, F, Houston
Don Peck, M, Houston
Robin Peck, F, Houston
Anita Pena, F, Houston
Mike Perales, M, League City
Chris Perry, M, Dickinson
Theresa Perry, F, Dickinson
Paul Peters, M, Dickinson
Rachelle Pinard, F, Willis
Diane Pinkston, F, Houston
-R-
Laura Rachita, F, Friendswood
Jerry Rasmussen, M, Houston
Michele Rawson, F, Houston
Keith Reed, M, Houston
Melanie Renault, F, Katy
Esteban Reyes, M, La Marque
Meglyn Rickerl, F, Houston
Debora Riley, F, Houston
Steve Ritter, M, League City
Linda Riviera, F, League City
Christie Roberts, F, Baytown
Lanny Roberts, M, League City
Staci Rogge, F, Humble
Jose Ruiz, M, Houston
Susy Ruiz, F, Houston
Stephanie Russell, F, League City
-S-
Michael Sangl, M, Spring
Pam Sangl, F, Spring
Michael Sapp, M, League City
Eric Schaefer, M, League City
Debbie Schallock, F, Friendswood
Kristie Schmidt, F, Seabrook
Keith Schreiter, M, Houston
Mark Schultze, M, Houston
Sam Scott, M, Friendswood
Stacy Scranton, M, Cypress
Diane Sevilla, F, College Station
Rakesh Shah, M, Webster
Bernice Shaver, F, Houston
Matt Shawhan, M, Galveston
Angela G. Smith, F, Seabrook
Bruce Smith, M, Clute
Lillian Sockwell, F, Baytown
Eric Sonny, M, Webster
Robert Sorge, M, Deer Park
Chris St Jean, M, Seabrook
Cindy Stipe, F, Baytown
Matt Strohmayer, M
Russell Swanson, M, Deer Park
-T-
Brian Talley, M, Seabrook
Michael Terry, M, Houston
Johnny Tobin, M, Baytown
Gracie Trejo, F, Pasadena
Mary Trenolone, F, League City
Alicia Trussell, F, League City
-V-
Albert Valle, M, Sugar Land
Flavia Valle, F, Sugar Land
Marla Vasquez, F, Pearland
Donna Villarreal, F, Sugar Land
Terry Villarreal, M, Sugar Land
-W-
Susan Walden, F, Houston
Brett Walker, M, Baytown
Andre Warren, M, Houston
T. Philip Washington, M, League City
Jennifer Wells, F, Houston
Christopher Westerlund, M, Seabrook
Lisa Whitten, F, Deer Park
Kristi Wiley, F, Houston
Meagan Williams, F, Houston
Philip Wingert, M, Houston
Paul Winton, M, League City
Omer Womack, M, Deer Park
Trevor Woodhouse, M, Alvin
Lee Woods, F, Houston
Trisha Wooten, F, Jamaica Beach
Amy Wright, F, Friendswood
-Y-
Samantha Yarberry, F, Houston
Pam Yenetchi, F, Houston
-Z-
Carlos Zepeda, M, Rosharon
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Run For The Ranch Marathon Race Report
Yesterday in Springfield, Missouri, I finished my 38th marathon and one in a 24th different state.
It was also my 13th of 2011 and 12th since late June. All of this, of course, is part of the buildup for February's Rocky Raccoon 100 mile endurance run.
However, I'm more than a little concerned about my ability to finish it. Regardless of the challenges that my job has put in front of me (with its travel to the left coast), I'll give it my best shot and see how things pan out.
I love to express myself.
I have been given some incredible opportunities in life to do some very neat things that may only be neat to me.
I had a chance this weekend to share another incredible trip with my daughter. It isn't that we did anything spectacular, so to speak, but most importantly, we spent some quality time together.
We flew into Kansas City Saturday morning and drove south to Springfield.
Our first visit was so Waverly could see the grounds of Baptist Bible College -- one of the many colleges that she is considering to pursue a career in elementary education.
It is a very small college. There seemed to be more dorm buildings than classroom buildings; however, the school has been turning out Christian leaders for well over fifty years.
After taking in the grounds and all of its surroundings, we ventured to the original Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. I've never been to a Bass Pro Shop and I quickly could see why I wouldn't spend a lot of time there. I figured, though, if I was going to go in one that I might as well make it the biggest and the original one!
We then ventured to the campus of Missouri State University where Sunday's Run For The Ranch Marathon would take place.
There was a panel discussion that was to include Chuck "Marathon Junkie" Engle and 2012 Olympic Trails Marathon qualifier Camille Herron from Oklahoma.
While Engle was a no show, I met Herron - the 2010 White Rock Marathon winner - for the first time after simply being a Facebook friend. Speak about somebody with energy to spare for three people. Wow!
Her story is really incredible - coming back from a double hernia repair and having to start out walking again - and I think that you'll hear a lot more of Herron's name as she plans to try and win a marathon in all 50 states.
Herron has completed seven (7) marathons in the Olympic Trails qualifying period - all under 2:44. Incredible. Only California's Mary Akor has completed as many, but faster.
We also met Shannon Hays from the greater Atlanta area. She is aiming to become just the third runner to finish all 50 states in under four hours. She has 38 states down and 24 in 2011 alone.
After the panel discussion, Waverly and I went and got a bite to eat at the Springfield Pasta Company and called it a night with an early bed time of approximately 9:30 a.m.
What's different about the Run For The Ranch Marathon is that it is a 1 p.m. start time. Really unique.
This allowed us to attend Sunday morning services at High Street Baptist Church.
We got up and had a hearty breakfast at the Doubletree where we were staying and then we went for the 8:30 a.m. "traditional" morning worship service. It was an excellent service by Pastor Eddie Lyons.
Waverly stayed and attended Sunday School class while I went and got online at McDonald's and checked up on a few things. Really proud of her for stepping up and taking that adventure to meet new people.
We went back to the hotel and I got changed before getting ready to run.
I didn't see Herron or Engle, but I talked to Justin Gillette - another MarathonGuide.com-sponsored runner – who is from Indiana. I had talked to him (and Camille the night before) about the prize money being offered up by The Woodlands Marathon.
The race didn’t go as planned. My weight is up in my mid-section and I'm not getting mid-week work done.
I ended up with a time of 5:50:39 after eight, equidistant loops. The loops had a mile 1, 2 and a 3 marker, but I didn’t try to keep up with those splits, but rather just for the loop itself.
They went as follows: 34:47.47, 37:05.66, 38:12.34, 38:33.24, 48:14.57, 50:04.22, 50:24.31 and 53:18.11. So it was 2:28:38.71 on the front half, and 3:22 on the back half. Not real good.
Shouldn’t have done it, but Waverly and I enjoyed Andy’s Frozen Custard after the race.
We got a little bit of sleep and were up and on the road at 12:15 a.m.
We took I-44 over to Joplin and then Highway 71 up to Kansas City. We were at the terminal by 4:15 a.m. for a 6 a.m. departure. Luckily, we both got upgraded to first class on the small regional jet and I pretty much slept the entire way – including my flight from Houston to Bakersfield, California for work.
And a trip like this makes up for some of the crappy stuff that took place in 2011.
It was also my 13th of 2011 and 12th since late June. All of this, of course, is part of the buildup for February's Rocky Raccoon 100 mile endurance run.
However, I'm more than a little concerned about my ability to finish it. Regardless of the challenges that my job has put in front of me (with its travel to the left coast), I'll give it my best shot and see how things pan out.
I love to express myself.
I have been given some incredible opportunities in life to do some very neat things that may only be neat to me.
I had a chance this weekend to share another incredible trip with my daughter. It isn't that we did anything spectacular, so to speak, but most importantly, we spent some quality time together.
We flew into Kansas City Saturday morning and drove south to Springfield.
Our first visit was so Waverly could see the grounds of Baptist Bible College -- one of the many colleges that she is considering to pursue a career in elementary education.
It is a very small college. There seemed to be more dorm buildings than classroom buildings; however, the school has been turning out Christian leaders for well over fifty years.
After taking in the grounds and all of its surroundings, we ventured to the original Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. I've never been to a Bass Pro Shop and I quickly could see why I wouldn't spend a lot of time there. I figured, though, if I was going to go in one that I might as well make it the biggest and the original one!
We then ventured to the campus of Missouri State University where Sunday's Run For The Ranch Marathon would take place.
There was a panel discussion that was to include Chuck "Marathon Junkie" Engle and 2012 Olympic Trails Marathon qualifier Camille Herron from Oklahoma.
While Engle was a no show, I met Herron - the 2010 White Rock Marathon winner - for the first time after simply being a Facebook friend. Speak about somebody with energy to spare for three people. Wow!
Her story is really incredible - coming back from a double hernia repair and having to start out walking again - and I think that you'll hear a lot more of Herron's name as she plans to try and win a marathon in all 50 states.
Herron has completed seven (7) marathons in the Olympic Trails qualifying period - all under 2:44. Incredible. Only California's Mary Akor has completed as many, but faster.
We also met Shannon Hays from the greater Atlanta area. She is aiming to become just the third runner to finish all 50 states in under four hours. She has 38 states down and 24 in 2011 alone.
After the panel discussion, Waverly and I went and got a bite to eat at the Springfield Pasta Company and called it a night with an early bed time of approximately 9:30 a.m.
What's different about the Run For The Ranch Marathon is that it is a 1 p.m. start time. Really unique.
This allowed us to attend Sunday morning services at High Street Baptist Church.
We got up and had a hearty breakfast at the Doubletree where we were staying and then we went for the 8:30 a.m. "traditional" morning worship service. It was an excellent service by Pastor Eddie Lyons.
Waverly stayed and attended Sunday School class while I went and got online at McDonald's and checked up on a few things. Really proud of her for stepping up and taking that adventure to meet new people.
We went back to the hotel and I got changed before getting ready to run.
I didn't see Herron or Engle, but I talked to Justin Gillette - another MarathonGuide.com-sponsored runner – who is from Indiana. I had talked to him (and Camille the night before) about the prize money being offered up by The Woodlands Marathon.
The race didn’t go as planned. My weight is up in my mid-section and I'm not getting mid-week work done.
I ended up with a time of 5:50:39 after eight, equidistant loops. The loops had a mile 1, 2 and a 3 marker, but I didn’t try to keep up with those splits, but rather just for the loop itself.
They went as follows: 34:47.47, 37:05.66, 38:12.34, 38:33.24, 48:14.57, 50:04.22, 50:24.31 and 53:18.11. So it was 2:28:38.71 on the front half, and 3:22 on the back half. Not real good.
Shouldn’t have done it, but Waverly and I enjoyed Andy’s Frozen Custard after the race.
We got a little bit of sleep and were up and on the road at 12:15 a.m.
We took I-44 over to Joplin and then Highway 71 up to Kansas City. We were at the terminal by 4:15 a.m. for a 6 a.m. departure. Luckily, we both got upgraded to first class on the small regional jet and I pretty much slept the entire way – including my flight from Houston to Bakersfield, California for work.
And a trip like this makes up for some of the crappy stuff that took place in 2011.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Race Reports: From Sioux Falls to Indianapolis
Sunday, September 11
Sioux Falls Marathon (Sioux Falls, SD)
Time: 5:20:42
Grade: C
Weather: Clear skies; Sunny. Cool at the start, but warmed up after about mile 17-18. Course: Relatively easy course. Roads for the first 8-9 miles before reverting to a paved trail system that we followed to the finish with the excpetion of an excursion to the streets to pass through the city's central business district.
From home to SD: At approximately mile 17 in downtown Sioux Falls, somebody hollered, "Jon Walk. Are you Jon Walk?" Nervously, I responded, "Yes", and waved. I had to laugh, thinking, "Gee, somebody knows me everywhere. Scary." It turned out to be Bijou Chacko from Friendswood who found out from John Moyer that I was going to be in Sioux Falls.
Future marathon story: At the start of the race, I had the bright idea that I could separate the rental car key FOB from the key to the ignition and tie it to my shoelace. About 15 minutes before the start at Howard Wood Field, I put the ignition key under the passenger side floor mat, locked the door and smiled that I would have to carry it 26 miles. (I don't trust gear checks with keys.) Inside the stadium, I knelt down and tied it on just above my chip. I figured that I could always see it on my foot as I ran. After talking with Chevron Houston Marathon veteran Charlie Viers of Natchitoches, Louisiana just before the National Anthem and about five minutes until the start, I looked down and ... no key FOB! I was frantic. I searched all over the football field, on the track, went back to the rental car to look on the ground in the glow of the stadium lights ... nothing! The gun goes off. This race I was going to be starting last by necessity. I crossed the line, hit my watch and saw the timer from All Sports Central that I've seen at other events that they've worked. I told him what happened, he tore a number off my bib and promised to relay it to the race director. As I ran I began to strategize what my options were. I said to myself, "I have a 6:30 p.m. flight out of Omaha. I have to be checked out of the hotel by 2 p.m. If I finish at this time, I have this amount of time to find a locksmith." Not fun, but I surprised myself that I maintained my cool. At mile 16 just as we got into downtown Sioux Falls, I asked a police officer if they were going to have anybody back at the Stadium (as this was a point-to-point race), and he said, "No." After I crossed the finish line, I asked for the race director. I shared with him what had transpired and he said that there had been a cell phone, a set of keys and a key FOB turned in. It was mine! Crisis averted!
Sunday, September 25
Quad Cities Marathon (Moline, IL)
Time: 5:17:54
Grade: C
Weather: Overcast skies. Cooler at the start, but later doused in a downpour from mile 15 to 19.5.
Course: Unique in that you passed through all four towns (Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa), and to do so you crossed the Mississippi River twice. The only hilly area of the course was in Bettendorf. Otherwise, it was pretty flat and was 80% roads and 20% trails (along the Mississippi between the two Iowa cities.) About four and a half miles were in and through the Rock Island Arsenal, passing an old confederate cemetery, before hitting a final three mile out and back stretch, which surprisingly wasn't that mentally taxing.
From home to IL: I knew prior to traveling to Iowa that Spring's Nicole Richardson was going to be in attendance. I hadn't met her before so I waited near the start line (she's a 3:05 marathoner) to also watch race day operations while I waited to meet her. I saw Bart Yasso get down from the dignitaries' platform and I spoke with him for a little bit when I noticed Houston's Heidy Lozano. The 48-year-old former masters winner of the Boston Marathon a couple of years ago told me that she had dropped from the marathon to the half, but I had a chance to introduce her to Bart. When I told Bart that Heidy was 48, he said, "No way." I get to do neat things!
Saturday, October 1
New Hampshire Half Marathon (Bristol, NH)
Time: 2:14:05
Grade: A- (Really happy with this effort. 7th best half marathon ever.)
Weather: Near-perfect: Cold with a little bit of a mist of rain at the start.
Course: Semi-hilly, especially the first five miles. All of the race was run along country roads which weren't too heavily travelled. That was just about perfect too. I had seen enough trails in the first half of my marathons of 2011 to suit me for awhile.
From home to NH: On the bus on the way out to the start of the point-to-point race, I saw a female runner in the seat to the right of me tearing up. She had an Ironman 70.3 finisher's visor on so I knew that she wasn't in tears as a result of being nervous. I thought about saying something, but I figured that I should just mind my business. After arriving at the start, there was a semi-long line for two port-a-potties. Two young women were talking about relays and I piped in about the Texas Independence Relay to which the women on the bus (who was from Dallas) talked about the weather variation at that time of year. She was standing in front of me in the port-a-john line when I heard her ask the woman in front of me if there was bus service from the next town south. An odd question I surmised. As we waited for the start (~30 minutes), I struck up a conversation and found out that she flew north to meet a man who was more into her than she was into him. His reaction to her assessment the evening and night before scared her and how he might respond when the race was finished (he was running the marathon) when she was to tell him that she wanted to go home immediately. Honestly, she intimated that she feared for her safety. I was to be driving over to Portland, Maine after the race. I told her that I had time that if she needed a ride to the Manchester, New Hampshire airport that I would be happy to take her. She had her iPhone so I gave her my name and I had already told her that I wrote for Texas Runner and Triathlete magazine. (This was so if she wanted to check on me to confirm that I wasn't as crazy as the man she had met.) Nothing else was said. During the race, I passed her around mile 8, but I was running pretty well so I didn't stop to talk. After crossing the finish and getting some food and fluids, she crossed later - a surprise because her half marathon PR was about 7 minutes faster than mine - and as soon as she saw me she asked if my offer was still good. It turned out that the reason that I passed her, she had called to speak to a friend who had booked her a ticket on a Southwest flight to go home after the race. She got in my car and I drove her to the bed and breakfast that they had stayed where she proceeded to explain the situation to the front desk clerk who allowed her to go get her things and leave. As we drove out of town, we actually passed him on the course. I dropped her off at the airport and then went on to Maine. And, yes, she later that week added me as a friend on Facebook.
Sunday, October 2
Maine Half Marathon (Portland, ME)
Time: 2:21:12
Grade: B- (This one hurt a little bit after a strong effort on a tougher course the day before.)
Weather: Cold and rainy. At times, the rain, especially in the middle part of the race, came in the form of a downpour.
Course: Some rollers on a four-mile, out-and-back section between miles 5 and 8, but otherwise flat. And all on the roads.
From home to ME: Many people were using the New Hampshire and Maine races to do a marathon double for their 50 states quest. For me they were states 35 and 36 in my half marathon 50 states journey. I saw Steve and Paula Boone from Humble at both races and I knew that Houston's Yong Collins and Pearland's Rhonda Emerson (who I saw in Wisconsin) were both there. TWRC's own Susan Rouse, who I didn't see, was adding state #40 with a marathon finish that day.
Sunday, October 9
Gulf Coast Half Marathon (Mandeville, LA)
Time: 2:15:49
Grade: B+ (Wasn't expecting to post my 11th best half time ever after a back-to-back half weekend.)
Weather: A crisp cool in the air at the start with winds coming off Lake Ponchatrain near miles 7 and 8 that kept it cool until the temperatures started to pick up in the last three miles.
Course: Fast and flat. The first 10 miles were on the roads and streets of Mandeville before entering a very straight trail system for the last three miles to the finish.
From home to LA: This was a special trip. Bill Dwyer ran his first half marathon in approximately four years. (I ran the first almost 9 miles in Austin with him that year in 2008, but I would leave the pacing duties to Leeann Rosser, George Roffe and Leeann's best friend, Surona Cousins, for Bill's return to the half marathon distance.) Adrienne Langelier made the drive over with Bill and I where we also met up with Randy Smith and his three children, George and Trudy Regnier, and Rebecca Massie from Alabama, her boyfriend, Keith, and a few of their running friends from Alabama. Second best road trip of the year!
Sunday, October 16
IMT Des Moines Marathon (Des Moines, IA)
Time: 5:04:07
Grade: B+ (Really happy with my 5th best marathon time ever to date.)
Weather: Weather couldn't have been better for this race. Cool the whole way to the finish.
Course: Fairly hilly until we hit a two-mile trail system at approximately mile 17. We passed the mile 12 marker on the track of the home of the Drake Relays. (For fun, I crouched down in a sprinter's stance on the track for the Brightroom photographer. It hurt my neck getting back up. However, I got a round of applause from a half dozen spectators in the stadium's bleachers.)
From home to IA: The closest thing to a hometown in-person encounter was seeing San Antonio's Gary Brimmer at the Expo. Evan Guy introduced me to Gary and one of his runners, Donna Palisca, at the very last Sunmart in Huntsville a few years ago. Gary sells "The Stick" and is at many expos (he's always at Houston if you want to buy the product at the Expo) and he told me that Donna would be shooting for a Trials time at the Philadelphia Marathon towards the end of November.
Saturday, October 29
Spinx Run Fest Marathon (Greenville, SC)
Time: 4:58:30
Grade: A- (Really good race. First time under 5 hours since last November. Lost nearly four minutes in the port-a-john.)
Weather: Cool once again, but just a tad bit windy.
Course: Hilly for the first four miles on city streets until we hit a trail system that we stayed on until approximately mile 10. We left the trail for a seven-mile, clockwise loop that brought us back through the Furman University campus and then back on the trail system near mile 20. The last mile and a half is back on the streets with a finish in the minor league baseball park near home plate.
From home to SC: Through a couple of Facebook photos, I knew that Penn State grad Dane Rauschenberg as well as Steve and Paula Boone were going to be there. I never saw Dane, but I did see Steve before the race as we tried to stay warm inside the ballpark. Stopping by to talk for a little: former Olympian Jeff Galloway.
Saturday, November 5
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (Indianapolis, IN)
Time: 5:25:41
Grade: C (Had a 4:48 pace through mile 18, but shut it down by mile 19 and settled for a finish.)
Weather: Nothing to complain about. Maybe even a little too cool at the start, but really felt good in the front half. A light to mild wind kept things chilly until the finish. Course: Pretty flat, especially the first half of the course.
From home to IN: No close encounters of the Texas kind, but I did find out later that The Woodlands' John Slate - a member of the Seven Hills Running Club had been there as well.
Sioux Falls Marathon (Sioux Falls, SD)
Time: 5:20:42
Grade: C
Weather: Clear skies; Sunny. Cool at the start, but warmed up after about mile 17-18. Course: Relatively easy course. Roads for the first 8-9 miles before reverting to a paved trail system that we followed to the finish with the excpetion of an excursion to the streets to pass through the city's central business district.
From home to SD: At approximately mile 17 in downtown Sioux Falls, somebody hollered, "Jon Walk. Are you Jon Walk?" Nervously, I responded, "Yes", and waved. I had to laugh, thinking, "Gee, somebody knows me everywhere. Scary." It turned out to be Bijou Chacko from Friendswood who found out from John Moyer that I was going to be in Sioux Falls.
Future marathon story: At the start of the race, I had the bright idea that I could separate the rental car key FOB from the key to the ignition and tie it to my shoelace. About 15 minutes before the start at Howard Wood Field, I put the ignition key under the passenger side floor mat, locked the door and smiled that I would have to carry it 26 miles. (I don't trust gear checks with keys.) Inside the stadium, I knelt down and tied it on just above my chip. I figured that I could always see it on my foot as I ran. After talking with Chevron Houston Marathon veteran Charlie Viers of Natchitoches, Louisiana just before the National Anthem and about five minutes until the start, I looked down and ... no key FOB! I was frantic. I searched all over the football field, on the track, went back to the rental car to look on the ground in the glow of the stadium lights ... nothing! The gun goes off. This race I was going to be starting last by necessity. I crossed the line, hit my watch and saw the timer from All Sports Central that I've seen at other events that they've worked. I told him what happened, he tore a number off my bib and promised to relay it to the race director. As I ran I began to strategize what my options were. I said to myself, "I have a 6:30 p.m. flight out of Omaha. I have to be checked out of the hotel by 2 p.m. If I finish at this time, I have this amount of time to find a locksmith." Not fun, but I surprised myself that I maintained my cool. At mile 16 just as we got into downtown Sioux Falls, I asked a police officer if they were going to have anybody back at the Stadium (as this was a point-to-point race), and he said, "No." After I crossed the finish line, I asked for the race director. I shared with him what had transpired and he said that there had been a cell phone, a set of keys and a key FOB turned in. It was mine! Crisis averted!
Sunday, September 25
Quad Cities Marathon (Moline, IL)
Time: 5:17:54
Grade: C
Weather: Overcast skies. Cooler at the start, but later doused in a downpour from mile 15 to 19.5.
Course: Unique in that you passed through all four towns (Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa), and to do so you crossed the Mississippi River twice. The only hilly area of the course was in Bettendorf. Otherwise, it was pretty flat and was 80% roads and 20% trails (along the Mississippi between the two Iowa cities.) About four and a half miles were in and through the Rock Island Arsenal, passing an old confederate cemetery, before hitting a final three mile out and back stretch, which surprisingly wasn't that mentally taxing.
From home to IL: I knew prior to traveling to Iowa that Spring's Nicole Richardson was going to be in attendance. I hadn't met her before so I waited near the start line (she's a 3:05 marathoner) to also watch race day operations while I waited to meet her. I saw Bart Yasso get down from the dignitaries' platform and I spoke with him for a little bit when I noticed Houston's Heidy Lozano. The 48-year-old former masters winner of the Boston Marathon a couple of years ago told me that she had dropped from the marathon to the half, but I had a chance to introduce her to Bart. When I told Bart that Heidy was 48, he said, "No way." I get to do neat things!
Saturday, October 1
New Hampshire Half Marathon (Bristol, NH)
Time: 2:14:05
Grade: A- (Really happy with this effort. 7th best half marathon ever.)
Weather: Near-perfect: Cold with a little bit of a mist of rain at the start.
Course: Semi-hilly, especially the first five miles. All of the race was run along country roads which weren't too heavily travelled. That was just about perfect too. I had seen enough trails in the first half of my marathons of 2011 to suit me for awhile.
From home to NH: On the bus on the way out to the start of the point-to-point race, I saw a female runner in the seat to the right of me tearing up. She had an Ironman 70.3 finisher's visor on so I knew that she wasn't in tears as a result of being nervous. I thought about saying something, but I figured that I should just mind my business. After arriving at the start, there was a semi-long line for two port-a-potties. Two young women were talking about relays and I piped in about the Texas Independence Relay to which the women on the bus (who was from Dallas) talked about the weather variation at that time of year. She was standing in front of me in the port-a-john line when I heard her ask the woman in front of me if there was bus service from the next town south. An odd question I surmised. As we waited for the start (~30 minutes), I struck up a conversation and found out that she flew north to meet a man who was more into her than she was into him. His reaction to her assessment the evening and night before scared her and how he might respond when the race was finished (he was running the marathon) when she was to tell him that she wanted to go home immediately. Honestly, she intimated that she feared for her safety. I was to be driving over to Portland, Maine after the race. I told her that I had time that if she needed a ride to the Manchester, New Hampshire airport that I would be happy to take her. She had her iPhone so I gave her my name and I had already told her that I wrote for Texas Runner and Triathlete magazine. (This was so if she wanted to check on me to confirm that I wasn't as crazy as the man she had met.) Nothing else was said. During the race, I passed her around mile 8, but I was running pretty well so I didn't stop to talk. After crossing the finish and getting some food and fluids, she crossed later - a surprise because her half marathon PR was about 7 minutes faster than mine - and as soon as she saw me she asked if my offer was still good. It turned out that the reason that I passed her, she had called to speak to a friend who had booked her a ticket on a Southwest flight to go home after the race. She got in my car and I drove her to the bed and breakfast that they had stayed where she proceeded to explain the situation to the front desk clerk who allowed her to go get her things and leave. As we drove out of town, we actually passed him on the course. I dropped her off at the airport and then went on to Maine. And, yes, she later that week added me as a friend on Facebook.
Sunday, October 2
Maine Half Marathon (Portland, ME)
Time: 2:21:12
Grade: B- (This one hurt a little bit after a strong effort on a tougher course the day before.)
Weather: Cold and rainy. At times, the rain, especially in the middle part of the race, came in the form of a downpour.
Course: Some rollers on a four-mile, out-and-back section between miles 5 and 8, but otherwise flat. And all on the roads.
From home to ME: Many people were using the New Hampshire and Maine races to do a marathon double for their 50 states quest. For me they were states 35 and 36 in my half marathon 50 states journey. I saw Steve and Paula Boone from Humble at both races and I knew that Houston's Yong Collins and Pearland's Rhonda Emerson (who I saw in Wisconsin) were both there. TWRC's own Susan Rouse, who I didn't see, was adding state #40 with a marathon finish that day.
Sunday, October 9
Gulf Coast Half Marathon (Mandeville, LA)
Time: 2:15:49
Grade: B+ (Wasn't expecting to post my 11th best half time ever after a back-to-back half weekend.)
Weather: A crisp cool in the air at the start with winds coming off Lake Ponchatrain near miles 7 and 8 that kept it cool until the temperatures started to pick up in the last three miles.
Course: Fast and flat. The first 10 miles were on the roads and streets of Mandeville before entering a very straight trail system for the last three miles to the finish.
From home to LA: This was a special trip. Bill Dwyer ran his first half marathon in approximately four years. (I ran the first almost 9 miles in Austin with him that year in 2008, but I would leave the pacing duties to Leeann Rosser, George Roffe and Leeann's best friend, Surona Cousins, for Bill's return to the half marathon distance.) Adrienne Langelier made the drive over with Bill and I where we also met up with Randy Smith and his three children, George and Trudy Regnier, and Rebecca Massie from Alabama, her boyfriend, Keith, and a few of their running friends from Alabama. Second best road trip of the year!
Sunday, October 16
IMT Des Moines Marathon (Des Moines, IA)
Time: 5:04:07
Grade: B+ (Really happy with my 5th best marathon time ever to date.)
Weather: Weather couldn't have been better for this race. Cool the whole way to the finish.
Course: Fairly hilly until we hit a two-mile trail system at approximately mile 17. We passed the mile 12 marker on the track of the home of the Drake Relays. (For fun, I crouched down in a sprinter's stance on the track for the Brightroom photographer. It hurt my neck getting back up. However, I got a round of applause from a half dozen spectators in the stadium's bleachers.)
From home to IA: The closest thing to a hometown in-person encounter was seeing San Antonio's Gary Brimmer at the Expo. Evan Guy introduced me to Gary and one of his runners, Donna Palisca, at the very last Sunmart in Huntsville a few years ago. Gary sells "The Stick" and is at many expos (he's always at Houston if you want to buy the product at the Expo) and he told me that Donna would be shooting for a Trials time at the Philadelphia Marathon towards the end of November.
Saturday, October 29
Spinx Run Fest Marathon (Greenville, SC)
Time: 4:58:30
Grade: A- (Really good race. First time under 5 hours since last November. Lost nearly four minutes in the port-a-john.)
Weather: Cool once again, but just a tad bit windy.
Course: Hilly for the first four miles on city streets until we hit a trail system that we stayed on until approximately mile 10. We left the trail for a seven-mile, clockwise loop that brought us back through the Furman University campus and then back on the trail system near mile 20. The last mile and a half is back on the streets with a finish in the minor league baseball park near home plate.
From home to SC: Through a couple of Facebook photos, I knew that Penn State grad Dane Rauschenberg as well as Steve and Paula Boone were going to be there. I never saw Dane, but I did see Steve before the race as we tried to stay warm inside the ballpark. Stopping by to talk for a little: former Olympian Jeff Galloway.
Saturday, November 5
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (Indianapolis, IN)
Time: 5:25:41
Grade: C (Had a 4:48 pace through mile 18, but shut it down by mile 19 and settled for a finish.)
Weather: Nothing to complain about. Maybe even a little too cool at the start, but really felt good in the front half. A light to mild wind kept things chilly until the finish. Course: Pretty flat, especially the first half of the course.
From home to IN: No close encounters of the Texas kind, but I did find out later that The Woodlands' John Slate - a member of the Seven Hills Running Club had been there as well.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Race Report
First of all, Rebecca Massie: This race has your name all over it! Just put it on your calendar now!
Bill Dwyer has told me that I'll learn a lot about myself during the course of a 100-miler. Heck, I'm learning a lot about myself now in trying to get ready for it!
The first thing is: Unless your Dick Beardsley, you can't expect to go out and beat your time marathon after marathon. Especially when you're doing them so close together. My fifth best marathon ever was three weeks ago. The fourth best last Saturday. To think that I might be able to get under 4:58 again, even with cool weather, was a little bit of a reach. If it happened, great. If not, it would turn out to be a long, paid and supported training run.
That's called Plan A to Plan B. And that's what transpired around miles 17 and 18 at today's Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.
The original plan was to go out and try to run as steady as possible for as long as I could and see what happened. If I was in striking distance of five hours again, fine. If not, then my plan was to shut it down and save myself a little bit to try and get some revenge in the City of Brotherly Love in two weeks. (That statement seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it?)
While I was sitting in a warm car in a parking garage just a block or two from the starting line, I talked to Bill and told him that my head really wasn't in this one. It wasn't a negative thing. It might have just been because the travel and all was catching up with me. He said to go out and approach it as if I was getting ready to start the fourth loop of the Rocky Raccoon 100 and that I had just done 60 miles and didn't feel like running another step. As I got out on the course, I was appreciative that I had a friend who knew me pretty well and how to motivate me - without being phony and rah-rah. That's something that I truly appreciate.
At about 7:40 a.m. (Indiana is Eastern time), I made my way to the start area. I lined up in the 11-12 minute per mile area and at 8 a.m., we were off. It took almost six minutes for me to get across the line and the fact that we serenpentined through the city for the first six miles, I felt like I didn't get off to a blazing fast start even though my watch was suggesting it a little.
Mile 1 - 10:41.63
Mile 2 - 10:22.94 (21:04.57)
Mile 3 - 10:30.16 (31:34.73)
Mile 4 - 10:19.87 (41:54.60)
Mile 5 - 11:02.22 (52:56.82)
Mile 6 - 10:09.10 (1:03:05.92)
Fortunately, this is one of these races that I don't remember a lot of specific details. Except for Pacer Jim. Oh my goodness. This guy was leading the 4:40 pace group and telling jokes, which were bad. And every once in awhile he'd say, "And we're still on pace!" Narcissism must have been his major in college.1:1 I understand that there's a little rah-rah in leading a pace group, but this guy's next gig was going to be to put on a wig and certain attire and go be a Colts cheerleader.
Mile 7 - 10:43.56 (1:13:49.48)
Mile 8 - 10:46.82 (1:24:36.30)
Mile 9 - 10:48.80 (1:35:25.10)
Mile 10 - 10:57.64 (1:46:22.74)
Around this area, I talked with a young lady who was working on her first marathon. It is always encouraging to see the excitement and passion of others for them to be enjoying something so much.
Mile 11 - 11:17.18 (1:57:39.92)
Mile 12 - 11:09.77 (2:08:49.69)
Mile 13 - 11:16.47 (2:20:06.16)
I remember getting to the halfway point and I could start to feel that I was getting gassed a little. Not from an oxygen debt standpoint, but just my overall body. As I made my way towards the mile 14 marker, I had heard on the medical crew's bicycle radio that somebody on the course had been hit by a car.
Mile 14 - 11:12.95 (2:31:19.11)
Mile 15 - 11:36.00 (2:42:55.11)
Even though I was still on a 4:48 marathon (11-minute per mile) pace, my body was hurting - specifically my midsection - by the time I got to the mile 18 mile marker. It was then that I started to do the math -- 16 times eight equal was 2:08. Add that to the 3:20 and I was happy with that finishing time. I know that sounds like I was giving up, but my goal is to run a 100-miler ... not a PR every time out. And that is where my focus has changed a little bit.
Mile 16 - 12:13.63 (2:55:08.74)
Mile 17 - 12:43.25 (3:07:51.99)
Mile 18 - 12:57.23 (3:20:49.22)
I ran some in mile 19, specifically a downhill even, but you couldn't tell if I had.
Mile 19 - 14:48.35 (3:35:37.57)
Mile 20 - 15:02.72 (3:50:40.29)
Mile 21 - 15:34.44 (4:06:14.73)
Mile 22 - 16:27.15 (4:22:41.88)
In mile 23, it took me the entire mile to eat all of pretzels out of a dixie cup and before and after, I had a bite sized Snickers bar. I figured that I'm going to have to eat real food - and not just gels - in the 100-miler so I might as well start practicing.
Mile 23 - 15:59.23 (4:38:40.11)
Mile 24 - 15:45.49 (4:54:25.60)
Mile 25 - 15:28.47 (5:09:54.07)
Mile 26 - 13:40.09 (5:23:34.16)
Last .2 - 2:08.00 (5:25:42.16)
The one thing that has changed for me in this journey to attempting the Rocky Raccoon 100 in February is that my frame of mind on the course is 200% better than it has ever been and I'm thankful for that.
Even this last week, I was finally able to completely - and hopefully once and for all - set aside something that has dominated my emotions since March 2010.
A year ago, I had made the trip to Panama City Beach, Florida with my good friend John Laskowski to see more than 20 local athletes complete Ironman Florida. I was in pain much of the trip. Early the month before, physical pain in my lower back revealed two protruding discs. Three months later, I would make the realization that it came from stress in the body that caused for the nerve root endings to become inflamed.
Even though I'll always be sad with everything that came about for me to finally be able to set things aside, I'm thankful that in my post-race phone conversation with Bill Dwyer that I came away from today's race with many things that I can take away and learn from -- without a negative thought.
I had had the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on my schedule for quite some time; however, when I found out that I could add another marathon in Greenville, South Carolina the week before, I did so and it may have compromised a better performance.
Now the goal for the next two weeks is to do enough cardio work to maybe drop a couple of pounds, but to get my legs and lower back ready to go for the rematch with the Philadelphia Marathon course. And the two best things from it is that I'll get to travel with Waverly to a race and then go see my grandparents in central Pennsylvania before Thanksgiving.
All in all, I'm still pleased. To go out and finish a third one in four weeks after you have put down your fourth and fifth best performances ever is nice. BUT it is time for a little bit of a break. The remainder of preparation will continue to be challenging.
Bill Dwyer has told me that I'll learn a lot about myself during the course of a 100-miler. Heck, I'm learning a lot about myself now in trying to get ready for it!
The first thing is: Unless your Dick Beardsley, you can't expect to go out and beat your time marathon after marathon. Especially when you're doing them so close together. My fifth best marathon ever was three weeks ago. The fourth best last Saturday. To think that I might be able to get under 4:58 again, even with cool weather, was a little bit of a reach. If it happened, great. If not, it would turn out to be a long, paid and supported training run.
That's called Plan A to Plan B. And that's what transpired around miles 17 and 18 at today's Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.
The original plan was to go out and try to run as steady as possible for as long as I could and see what happened. If I was in striking distance of five hours again, fine. If not, then my plan was to shut it down and save myself a little bit to try and get some revenge in the City of Brotherly Love in two weeks. (That statement seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it?)
While I was sitting in a warm car in a parking garage just a block or two from the starting line, I talked to Bill and told him that my head really wasn't in this one. It wasn't a negative thing. It might have just been because the travel and all was catching up with me. He said to go out and approach it as if I was getting ready to start the fourth loop of the Rocky Raccoon 100 and that I had just done 60 miles and didn't feel like running another step. As I got out on the course, I was appreciative that I had a friend who knew me pretty well and how to motivate me - without being phony and rah-rah. That's something that I truly appreciate.
At about 7:40 a.m. (Indiana is Eastern time), I made my way to the start area. I lined up in the 11-12 minute per mile area and at 8 a.m., we were off. It took almost six minutes for me to get across the line and the fact that we serenpentined through the city for the first six miles, I felt like I didn't get off to a blazing fast start even though my watch was suggesting it a little.
Mile 1 - 10:41.63
Mile 2 - 10:22.94 (21:04.57)
Mile 3 - 10:30.16 (31:34.73)
Mile 4 - 10:19.87 (41:54.60)
Mile 5 - 11:02.22 (52:56.82)
Mile 6 - 10:09.10 (1:03:05.92)
Fortunately, this is one of these races that I don't remember a lot of specific details. Except for Pacer Jim. Oh my goodness. This guy was leading the 4:40 pace group and telling jokes, which were bad. And every once in awhile he'd say, "And we're still on pace!" Narcissism must have been his major in college.1:1 I understand that there's a little rah-rah in leading a pace group, but this guy's next gig was going to be to put on a wig and certain attire and go be a Colts cheerleader.
Mile 7 - 10:43.56 (1:13:49.48)
Mile 8 - 10:46.82 (1:24:36.30)
Mile 9 - 10:48.80 (1:35:25.10)
Mile 10 - 10:57.64 (1:46:22.74)
Around this area, I talked with a young lady who was working on her first marathon. It is always encouraging to see the excitement and passion of others for them to be enjoying something so much.
Mile 11 - 11:17.18 (1:57:39.92)
Mile 12 - 11:09.77 (2:08:49.69)
Mile 13 - 11:16.47 (2:20:06.16)
I remember getting to the halfway point and I could start to feel that I was getting gassed a little. Not from an oxygen debt standpoint, but just my overall body. As I made my way towards the mile 14 marker, I had heard on the medical crew's bicycle radio that somebody on the course had been hit by a car.
Mile 14 - 11:12.95 (2:31:19.11)
Mile 15 - 11:36.00 (2:42:55.11)
Even though I was still on a 4:48 marathon (11-minute per mile) pace, my body was hurting - specifically my midsection - by the time I got to the mile 18 mile marker. It was then that I started to do the math -- 16 times eight equal was 2:08. Add that to the 3:20 and I was happy with that finishing time. I know that sounds like I was giving up, but my goal is to run a 100-miler ... not a PR every time out. And that is where my focus has changed a little bit.
Mile 16 - 12:13.63 (2:55:08.74)
Mile 17 - 12:43.25 (3:07:51.99)
Mile 18 - 12:57.23 (3:20:49.22)
I ran some in mile 19, specifically a downhill even, but you couldn't tell if I had.
Mile 19 - 14:48.35 (3:35:37.57)
Mile 20 - 15:02.72 (3:50:40.29)
Mile 21 - 15:34.44 (4:06:14.73)
Mile 22 - 16:27.15 (4:22:41.88)
In mile 23, it took me the entire mile to eat all of pretzels out of a dixie cup and before and after, I had a bite sized Snickers bar. I figured that I'm going to have to eat real food - and not just gels - in the 100-miler so I might as well start practicing.
Mile 23 - 15:59.23 (4:38:40.11)
Mile 24 - 15:45.49 (4:54:25.60)
Mile 25 - 15:28.47 (5:09:54.07)
Mile 26 - 13:40.09 (5:23:34.16)
Last .2 - 2:08.00 (5:25:42.16)
The one thing that has changed for me in this journey to attempting the Rocky Raccoon 100 in February is that my frame of mind on the course is 200% better than it has ever been and I'm thankful for that.
Even this last week, I was finally able to completely - and hopefully once and for all - set aside something that has dominated my emotions since March 2010.
A year ago, I had made the trip to Panama City Beach, Florida with my good friend John Laskowski to see more than 20 local athletes complete Ironman Florida. I was in pain much of the trip. Early the month before, physical pain in my lower back revealed two protruding discs. Three months later, I would make the realization that it came from stress in the body that caused for the nerve root endings to become inflamed.
Even though I'll always be sad with everything that came about for me to finally be able to set things aside, I'm thankful that in my post-race phone conversation with Bill Dwyer that I came away from today's race with many things that I can take away and learn from -- without a negative thought.
I had had the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on my schedule for quite some time; however, when I found out that I could add another marathon in Greenville, South Carolina the week before, I did so and it may have compromised a better performance.
Now the goal for the next two weeks is to do enough cardio work to maybe drop a couple of pounds, but to get my legs and lower back ready to go for the rematch with the Philadelphia Marathon course. And the two best things from it is that I'll get to travel with Waverly to a race and then go see my grandparents in central Pennsylvania before Thanksgiving.
All in all, I'm still pleased. To go out and finish a third one in four weeks after you have put down your fourth and fifth best performances ever is nice. BUT it is time for a little bit of a break. The remainder of preparation will continue to be challenging.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Cheapest Marathons in Texas as of 11/1/11?
Given each remaining marathon to be held in the state of Texas through April of 2012 and its current price on the race's website, here is a list in low-to-high order:
Marathon - Half - Date - Event (Through Date)
$ 55 - $ 55 - 4/14/12 - Davy Crockett Bear Chase Marathon, Groveton (until 1/31)
$ 60 - $ 60 - 2/18/12 - OverNite Software Surfside Beach Marathon (unknown)
$ 60 - $ 60 - 12/31/11 - New Year's Eve Marathon, Allen (until 11/30)
$ 60 - $ 60 - 1/ 1/12 - New Year's Day Marathon, Allen (until 11/30)
$ 65 - $ 45 - 12/11/11 - Fiesta Marathon, McAllen (until Expo)
$ 70 - $ 50 - 2/ 5/12 - Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon (until 12/31)
$ 70 - $ 50 - 2/11/12 - Orphan Hope Trail Run Marathon, Huntsville (until 12/31)
$ 70 - $ 60 - 3/10/12 - Exygon and Baptist Hospitals The Gusher Marathon, Beaumont (until 11/30)
$ 75 - $ 75 - 3/18/12 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon (until 12/25)
$ 80 - $ 65 - 4/15/12 - Big-D Texas Marathon, Dallas (until 1/15)
$ 85 - $ 65 - 12/11/11 - Double Decker Marathon, Austin (until 12/1)
$ 85 - $ 65 - 2/ 5/12 - Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon (until 12/6)
$ 95 - $ 65 - 2/26/12 - Cowtown Marathon, Fort Worth (until 11/15)
$100 - $ 80 - 11/13/11 - Fort Worth Marathon (Until 11/10)
$100 - $ 85 - 1/29/12 - Waco Professional Firefighters Assoc. Miracle Match Marathon (until 1/21)
$110 - $ 85 - 1/29/12 - USA Fit Marathon, Sugar Land (until 12/14)
$115 - $ 85 - 3/ 3/12 - My Fit Foods The Woodlands Marathon (until 1/31)
$120 - $100 - 11/13/11 - Rock 'N Roll San Antonio Marathon (until 11/6)
$125 - $100 - 12/ 4/11 - metroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon (until 11/25)
$130 - $ 95 - 2/19/12 - Livestrong Austin Marathon (until sellout)
Closed - 11/19/11 - Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathons of America
Sold Out - 12/11/11 - Atkinson Toyota Bryan/College Station Marathon
Sold Out - 1/ 1/12 - Texas Marathon, Kingwood
Sold Out - 1/15/12 - Chevron Houston Marathon
Marathon - Half - Date - Event (Through Date)
$ 55 - $ 55 - 4/14/12 - Davy Crockett Bear Chase Marathon, Groveton (until 1/31)
$ 60 - $ 60 - 2/18/12 - OverNite Software Surfside Beach Marathon (unknown)
$ 60 - $ 60 - 12/31/11 - New Year's Eve Marathon, Allen (until 11/30)
$ 60 - $ 60 - 1/ 1/12 - New Year's Day Marathon, Allen (until 11/30)
$ 65 - $ 45 - 12/11/11 - Fiesta Marathon, McAllen (until Expo)
$ 70 - $ 50 - 2/ 5/12 - Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon (until 12/31)
$ 70 - $ 50 - 2/11/12 - Orphan Hope Trail Run Marathon, Huntsville (until 12/31)
$ 70 - $ 60 - 3/10/12 - Exygon and Baptist Hospitals The Gusher Marathon, Beaumont (until 11/30)
$ 75 - $ 75 - 3/18/12 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon (until 12/25)
$ 80 - $ 65 - 4/15/12 - Big-D Texas Marathon, Dallas (until 1/15)
$ 85 - $ 65 - 12/11/11 - Double Decker Marathon, Austin (until 12/1)
$ 85 - $ 65 - 2/ 5/12 - Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon (until 12/6)
$ 95 - $ 65 - 2/26/12 - Cowtown Marathon, Fort Worth (until 11/15)
$100 - $ 80 - 11/13/11 - Fort Worth Marathon (Until 11/10)
$100 - $ 85 - 1/29/12 - Waco Professional Firefighters Assoc. Miracle Match Marathon (until 1/21)
$110 - $ 85 - 1/29/12 - USA Fit Marathon, Sugar Land (until 12/14)
$115 - $ 85 - 3/ 3/12 - My Fit Foods The Woodlands Marathon (until 1/31)
$120 - $100 - 11/13/11 - Rock 'N Roll San Antonio Marathon (until 11/6)
$125 - $100 - 12/ 4/11 - metroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon (until 11/25)
$130 - $ 95 - 2/19/12 - Livestrong Austin Marathon (until sellout)
Closed - 11/19/11 - Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathons of America
Sold Out - 12/11/11 - Atkinson Toyota Bryan/College Station Marathon
Sold Out - 1/ 1/12 - Texas Marathon, Kingwood
Sold Out - 1/15/12 - Chevron Houston Marathon
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