2022 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon Women's Single-Age Race Preview

The last four years, The Woodlands High School freshman Stoya Laydevant has run the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Sunday she's gearing up for her fifth trip of the course.

2017 - 10 - 2:24:18 (11th)

2018 - 11 - 1:55:07 (3rd)

2019 - 12 - 1:51:08 (2nd)

2020 - 13 - 1:45:29 (4th)

And when she runs on Sunday, she'll be aiming to see where she stands against the best of the 15-year-olds who have ever run the event.

1.  1:21:20, Lauren Smith, Lake Jackson (Clute Brazoswood), 2007

2.  1:22:08, Nichole Jones, Houston (Spring Westfield), 2005

3.  1:24:39, Avery Clover, Humble (Humble Atascosita), 2019

4.  1:27:48, Janessa Dunn, San Antonio (San Antonio FEAST), 2008

5.  1:28:14, Emily Dunn, San Antonio (San Antonio FEAST), 2008

6.  1:33:04, Emily Jensen, The Woodlands (The Woodlands College Park), 2009

7.  1:33:06, Abbie Harrelson, Pearland (Pearland Dawson), 2015

8.  1:35:22, Katie Jensen, The Woodlands (The Woodlands College Park), 2011

9.  1:36:38, Alyssa Crocker (Cy-Falls), Houston, 2006

10.  1:36:58, Kassandra Blatter, York, NE, 2008

Tulsa, Oklahoma's Terri Cassel, a physical therapist with a deep running and triathlon background, is registered to run the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and the 60-year-old age group mark could be ripe for the taking.

Cassel, who has run the Aramco Houston Half Marathon four of its last five runnings, has three single age marks -- 54, 55, and 58 - with times of 1:29:58, 1:32:51 and 1:29:34.

The top 60-year-old mark to date was by Houston's Joann Peeks in 2012 with a time of 1:39:58.

In 2018, Cassel had run the distance in 1:28:38 and held the 56-year-old single age mark, but Phoenix, Arizona's Susan Loken obliterated that mark with a 1:23:02 in 2020.

Speaking of Loken, who is running the marathon on Sunday in her second ever appearance here, she could easily grab the 58-year-old single age mark in the marathon.

Loken ran here in Houston in 2012 during the United States Olympic Marathon Team Trials, the last of the three times that she qualified.  She finished in 3:05:11.

According to marathonguide.com, her last two marathons were in 2019 where she ran 2:55:20 and 2:25:09 in the City of Los Angeles Marathon and Grandma's Marathon, respectively.

The 58-year-old single age best?  Beaumont's Joyce Gaskin ran 3:32:06 in 1996 with some great local names in the list behind her:  Pam Butler (2nd), Ann Erickson (3rd), Plano's Marylyn Patrick (4th), Suzy Seeley (6th) and Barbara Stoll (7th).

It is also very possible that Katy's Lynn Malloy gives the 61-year-old single age mark in the half marathon a test.

Two years ago, Lynn set the single age mark in the 59-year-old category with a time of 1:38:02.

Colleyville's Debbie Clark ran 1:37:29 in 2014, breaking the 1:38:00 mark of Ann Erickson's that had stood since 2004.

Lynn's progression as a runner at the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon has actually been quite impressive.  According to houstonresults.com, here are those times:

2011 - 50 - 4:51:29 - marathon

2012 - 51 - 3:54:52 - marathon

2013 - 52 - 3:41:01 - marathon (10 AG)

2014 - 53 - 3:52:57 - marathon

2015 - 54 - 4:00:31 - marathon

2016 - 55 - 3:23:57 - marathon (1 AG; 6th all-time single age)

2018 - 57 - 1:38:09 - half marathon (2 AG; 2nd all-time single age)

2019 - 58 - 1:35:55 - half marathon (1 AG; 2nd all-time single age)

2020 - 59 - 1:38:02 - half marathon (5 AG; 1st all-time single age)

Spring's Peggy Yetman is entered in the marathon.

The last time she ran it was in 2020 when she set a single-age best for 51-year-old women with a time of 2:58:07, shattering the previous best of Newington, Connecticut's Josephine Marchetti, who ran 3:06:18 in 1995.

Sunday will be her fifth appearance in the marathon to go with three in the half marathon.

2007 - 38 - 3:06:05 - marathon (5 AG)

2008 - 39 - 2:52:18 - marathon (3 AG; 17th all-time single age)

2009 - 40 - 1:18:43 - half marathon (2 AG; 3rd all-time single age; 12th all-time 40-44 age group)

2011 - 42 - 3:01:19 - marathon (3 AG; 8th all-time single age)

2018 - 49 - 1:22:21 - half marathon (2 AG; 1st all-time single age; 9th all-time 45-49 age group)

2019 - 50 - 1:26:26 - half marathon (1 AG; 2nd all-time single age; 3rd all-time 50-54 age group)

2020 - 51 - 2:58:07 - marathon (2 AG; 1st all-time single age; 5th all-time 50-54 age group)

It's solid to say that Peggy will at least move into second in the 53-year-old single age mark for the marathon as Barbara Stoll's time from 2015 in 3:15:30.

The 53-year-old record holder is Leon, Mexico's Regina Yamin, who ran 2:57:42 in 2018.

Just this past October, she won the 55-59 age group at the London Marathon in a time of 2:57:56!

Houston's Ute Eisele is registered for the half marathon at the age of 78.  

She has finished 12 Chevron Houston Marathons, the last one coming in 2017 when she posted the best 73-year-old women's mark of 5:25:58.  The only time that she ran the half in Houston as in 2006 when she finished in 2:04:38 at age 62.

To date, there's only been six women - Pamela Willmon (2018), Marsha Smith (2014), Adeline "Addie" Kephart (2007), Marcie McCaskill (2003), Rosie Elgueta (2017) and Betsy Chapman (2020) - to have finished the half marathon at the age of 78.

Willmon, who last Saturday ran the Texas Marathon as an 82-year-old, holds the best time in the single age division in 2:46:36.

It is uncertain if Willmon is for sure registered for the half marathon on Sunday.  There's an entry in the Chevron Houston Marathon app for a "Pame Willmon".

She ran the marathon in 1996 and has run the half marathon six times, not counting the 2021 virtual time that is in the Chevron Houston Marathon's results database.  

She would record a finish in her fourth different decade on Sunday.

Speaking of Kingwood's Chapman, she is registered for her 12th half marathon, with her first one coming in 2008 at the age of 66.  The last nine have come in consecutive years, 2012-2020.

Likewise, when Chapman finishes, she will be just the seventh female to record a finish at the age of 80 in the half marathon.

Inaugural Vintage Park New Year's Day Classic A Success

2022's the year Ron Stitt is becoming his own man.

He always was in the physical sense, of course, but from the event producer perspective, the Vintage Park New Year’s Day Classic 5K and 10K was the first where the buck stopped with him.

After having left the company that acquired the Run Houston Race Series and the Bayou City Half Marathon Series, as expected, Stitt’s first event under his new HTX Events brand was a smashing success.

Prior to the pandemic on New Year’s Day, Stitt was the caretaker of the Run Houston! Sam Houston Race Park event, which debuted with 823 finishers in 2015, hit a high of 1,700 in 2017 and had settled in with 1,110 in 2020 (352 in the 10K, 722 in the 5K and 36 in a Kids 1K/1M).

Observers were waiting to see how many Stitt would be able to carry with him to his new company – and, apparently, nearly half, even though it still seems that those who raced regularly before the pandemic haven’t completely returned to live racing.

The brand-new Vintage Park New Year’s Day Classic saw 156 cross the finish in the 5K, including four in the wheelchair division, 255 in the 10K and another 19 in the Kids’ 1K.

Spring’s Tyler Blackburn, 27, and Cypress’ Martina Dujic, 37, were the initial winners of the 10K with respective winning times of 36:12 and 42:59.

A pair of master’s runners – Spring’s Patrick Wills, 41, and Tomball’s Brian Gray, 55 – rounded out the men’s top three as they followed in times of 37:45 and 39:10.

The ladies followed suit as Houston’s Tuongvi Cao, 46, and Katy’s Yan Liu, 51, were second and third overall for the women in 45:10 and 47:30, respectively.

In the 5K, Hockley’s John Brown, 24, and Houston’s Daniela Castillo Sabido, 21, captured victories wih efforts of 18:17 and 19:36.

Brown held off 43-year-old Cypress native Curtis Hale by 15 seconds as he crossed in 18:32 followed seven seconds later by Tomball’s Mark Coalmer, 51, in 18:39.

Sabido, who finished fifth among all competitors, was never challenged by the rest of the women in the field.

Second place overall went to former Cypress Creek HS athlete Rachel Goebel, 19, from Houston, who finished in 22:43 – 15 seconds in front of former Houston Cougar Erika Sampson, 48, who stopped the clock in 22:58.

Michael Saldivar, 24, of Houston and Spring’s Chelsea Stein, 18, won the wheelchair division of the 5K in times of 19:30 and 35:34, respectively.

Enzo Nunez, 9, and Houston’s Launa Flore, 10, were first in the kids’ 1K in 3:46 and 4:11.

HTX Events’ next event will be on Sunday, April 10, 2022 with the Vintage Park 13.1 Half Marathon. 

Texas Marathon and Half Marathon Overall Winners and Finishers (2000-2022)

Marathon
Men - Overall
2000 - Pat Shannon, 3:16:36
2001 - Robert King, 3:24:07
2002 - Robert King, 3:04:27
2003 - Bill Schroeder, 2:57:35
2004 - Carlos Ibarra, 2:59:52
2005 - John Yoder, 3:01:11
2006 - Chuck Engle, 2:52:44
2007 - Terry Garrett, 2:56:17
2008 - Daniel Lawton, 2:46:50
2009 - Kurt Klewin, 2:42:31
2010 - Gerry Hogg, 2:47:47
2011 - Daniel Lawton, 2:44:39
2012 - Jacob Gautreaux, 3:10:57
2013 - Mark Lawton, 3:03:29
2014 - Daniel Bucci, 3:00:44
2015 - John Hill, 2:42:59
2016 - Daniel Bucci, 2:55:28
2017 - Ramesh Kanjilimadom, 3:10:31
2018 - Tim Heitzwebel, 3:16:27
2019 - Christopher Rodriguez, 2:52:28
2020 - Collin Wills, 2:56:13
2021 - Josh Heimbach, 2:35:06
2022 - Daniel Lawton, 2:52:13

Women - Overall
2000 - Jacqueline O'Brien-Nolen, 3:36:00
2001 - Suzy Seeley, 3:49:06
2002 - Jacqueline O'Brien-Nolen, 3:36:41
2003 - Jacqueline O'Brien-Nolen, 3:45:12
2004 - Theresa Woosley, 3:36:31
2005 - Julianna Keogh, 3:32:24
2006 - Kimberly Simmons, 3:29:27
2007 - Christine Agnew, 3:06:12
2008 - Shannon Shoelen, 3:21:40
2009 - Jessica Jackson, 3:16:49
2010 - Melissa Keith, 3:24:40
2011 - Jacqueline O'Brien-Nolen, 3:35:10
2012 - Vicky Cook, 3:13:23
2013 - Suzy Seeley, 3:34:06
2014 - Jacqueline O'Brien-Nolen, 3:25:02
2015 - Jacqueline O'Brien-Nolen, 3:25:15
2016 - Stefanie Bernosky, 3:29:43
2017 - Erin Dawson, 3:20:15 (first out-of-stater since Jackson)
2018 - Ana Trevino, 3:23:13 (Golden, CO)
2019 - Becky Stanford, 3:27:03
2020 - Samantha Feldman, 3:39:20
2021 - Selena Pasadyn, 2:54:57 (Hinckley, OH)
2022 - C. Stephenson-Lake, 3:44:59

Wheelchair
2008 - Chris McDonald, 3:11:15

Total Number of Finishers
2000 - 16 (9 men / 7 women)
2001 - 14 (9 men / 5 women)
2002 - 36 (29 men / 7 women)
2003 - 68 (42 men / 26 women)
2004 - 129 (82 men / 47 women)
2005 - 114 (73 men / 41 women)
2006 - 124 (89 men / 35 women)
2007 - 176 (123 men / 53 women)
2008 - 245 (144 men / 101 women)
2009 - 264 (152 men / 112 women)
2010 - 245 (153 men / 92 women)
2011 - 318 (196 men / 122 women)
2012 - 224 (134 men / 90 women)
2013 - 247 (151 men / 96 women)
2014 - 305 (175 men / 130 women)
2015 - 298 (169 men / 129 women)
2016 - 331 (173 men / 158 women)
2017 - 312 (164 men / 148 women)
2018 - 254 (138 men / 116 women)
2019 - 253 (145 men / 108 women)
2020 - 203

2022 - 155

Half Marathon
Men
2009 - Jason Garcia, 1:16:49
2010 - Brock Babin, 1:27:39
2011 - Kerry Lee, 1:24:44
2012 - Kerry Lee, 1:18:38
2013 - Jacob Lefler, 1:19:37
2014 - Logan Terry, 1:14:53
2015 - Walt Yarrow, 1:32:45
2016 - Benjamin Parva, 1:21:55
2017 - Trent Nolen, 1:22:07
2018 - Trent Nolen, 1:21:07
2019 - Trent Nolen, 1:25:11
2020 - Kevin McGuire, 1:18:47
2021 - Seth Kaplan, 1:20:25

2022 - Seth Kaplan, 1:21:32

Women
2009 - Julie Mosier-Crosno, 1:30:26
2010 - Adrian Harkey, 1:32:22
2011 - Susan Sullivan, 1:31:03
2012 - Kathryn Nolen, 1:34:40
2013 - Jennica Barrow, 1:31:35
2014 - Emily Potts, 1:36:06
2015 - Jennifer Laughlin, 1:38:19
2016 - Callie Yarbrough, 1:35:45
2017 - Gabrielle Hoekstra, 1:36:53
2018 - Rylie Knight, 1:44:25
2019 - Caroline Frenzel, 1:31:01
2020 - Donna Baldetti, 1:40:25
2021 - Kelli Tomlinson, 1:36:28
2022 - Anastasia Small, 1:40:58

Total Number of Finishers
2009 - 158 (56 men / 102 women)
2010 - 203 (61 men / 142 women)
2011 - 300 (106 men / 194 women)
2012 - 343 (140 men / 203 women)
2013 - 259 (105 men / 154 women)
2014 - 317 (128 men / 189 women)
2015 - 290 (110 men / 180 women)
2016 - 276 (105 men / 171 women)
2017 - 294 (122 men / 172 women)
2018 - 203 (92 men / 111 women)
2019 - 246 (102 men / 144 women)
2020 - 314, including 22 that dropped down from the marathon.

2021 - 202, including 19 that dropped down from the marathon.

2022 - 281, including 22 that dropped down from the marathon.

Texas Marathon and Half Marathon Combined Total Number of Finishers
2000 - 16 (9 men / 7 women)
2001 - 14 (9 men / 5 women)
2002 - 36 (29 men / 7 women)
2003 - 68 (42 men / 26 women)
2004 - 129 (82 men / 47 women)
2005 - 114 (73 men / 41 women)
2006 - 124 (89 men / 35 women)
2007 - 176 (123 men / 53 women)
2008 - 245 (144 men / 101 women)
2009 - 422 (208 men / 214 women)
2010 - 448 (214 men / 234 women)
2011 - 618 (302 men / 316 women)
2012 - 567 (274 men / 293 women)
2013 - 506 (256 men / 250 women)
2014 - 622 (303 men / 319 women)
2015 - 588 (279 men / 309 women)
2016 - 607 (278 men / 329 women)
2017 - 606 (286 men / 320 women)
2018 - 457 (230 men / 227 women)
2019 - 499 (247 men / 252 women)
2020 - 517

2021 - 405

2022 - 436

Tuesday Night Track; December 21, 2021

You hear that as you get older that it takes longer to recover from a race.

I think generally that's true, but it doesn't help when you egg it on by just jumping in and running the distance.

Monday evening, I didn't get a chance to get out and walk or run.  The top outside parts of my quads were pretty sore so I rode my Air Assault bike for a half hour (9.9 miles).

Last night I went out to Volte Endurance Training's track night - the first of two - and simply brisk-walked with the goal, of course, to break a sweat (no leisurely stroll).

Lane 5 - 4:08.76, 4:05.30, 4:04.87, 4:04.56 = 16:23.49 (1.061 miles)

Lane 5 - 4:03.57, 4:04.04, 4:02.25, 4:02.22 = 16:11.88 (1.061 miles)

Lane 5 - 4:02.89, 4:02.03 = 8:04.92 (0.53 miles)

2.652 miles in total in 32:35.31 for a 15:20 pace.

After my daughter, who was able to come out to the track and run, was finished, we went to Jason's Deli for dinner and then I got on my rower, which I need to do more of, and the bike.

I shared my list of half marathons - 154, in total - on Facebook last night with the number that I've done and the average time.  (The one year I did Leadville, I took that out of the average.  That was actually 14-plus miles at 10,000 feet elevation.  An outlier for sure.)

I had told Waverly that I maybe wanted to get to 200 and then call it a day at that distance, but a little bit of an uptick of weight after messing my left knee up some and COVID slowing me down had thrown a curve into me only doing four half marathons this year, including three before May 15.

So, I went 11 minutes on the rower for 2,015 meters and then 10.5 miles on the Air Assault bike for 31:42.

Will head out for four plus miles tonight, Wednesday, and then help my daughter wrap up Christmas shopping.

I think we're going to run our four-mile route Friday morning after she does her Camp Gladiator workout and then we'll host Run The Woodlands 5K for Fleet Feet on Saturday morning.

Seeba, Brothers spirited away HM wins in Galveston at Santa Hustle

Just under 2,000 finishers made their way to the Island for the 9th running of the Santa Hustle Half Marathon and 5K on Sunday, December 19, 2021.

While cooler temperatures delighted runners and walkers of all kinds, the brutal winds - some reporting gusts up to 40 miles per hour at times - also challenged runners heading south down Seawall Boulevard, especially in miles seven and eight.

Galveston's Garrett Seeba, 39, who finished fourth two weeks ago at the Brazos Bend 50 Miler in Needville, held off a closing Andrew Hayes, 32, of Houston, to win the half marathon in a time of 1:24:35.

Hayes was second in 1:25:27 while Houston's Konstantin Loguinov, fresh off a 1:20:55 performance at the BMW Dallas Half Marathon a week earlier, was third in 1:26:29.

Chasing the 44-year-old Loguinov was League City's Michael Robbins, 16, who wasn't able to close the gap and finished in fourth in 1:27:21.

With Loguinov cracking the top three, the top masters' time went to Cypress' Michael Prejean in 1:31:53.

In the women's race, youth was served as St. Edward's University junior cross country athlete and middle distance specialist Faith Brothers, 21, held of Cambridge, Massachusetts' Ani Zotti, 30, by less than 17 seconds to take home the win in 1:28:33.

Brothers, who qualified for and competed at the 2018 UIL 5A state cross country meet for Friendswood High School, ran the entire way with fellow Class of 2019 Mustang grad Brandon Lantau, who currently runs for Lamar University.

The race for third was hotly contested as well.

Having jumped into the race to run with friends after a long 15-mile plus training run on Saturday, Houston's Erika Park, 46, found another gear to take third place by just three seconds in a time of 1:35:05.

Somewhere around mile nine, Houston's Sung Im Kim-Vences, 35, started to pull away from a pack that included four or five men and Park.

"For two miles I was on her heels," said Park.  "She kept looking back but I had myself placed to where she couldn't tell if it was me or the pack she was with because I figured all she would see is red.  The pack was in red and so was I."

Meanwhile, Park said she was battling those racing demons in her head.

"I thought, OK, do I pass her?  When is too soon?  Will she re-pass me?  Will she finish stronger?" she said she went on and on telling herself that "I'm not good at being in the lead, pacing hard making sure she doesn't pass me back."

But finally Park said she stepped out of her comfort zone and took off at mile 11.

"I made her work for it," she added.  "I beat her.  She was ahead of me the whole race so I had to cover and make up a lot of ground."

That included progressively faster splits such as 6:51 (8-9), 7 (10) 6:52 (11) 6:48 (12) and 6:28 (13) from Park.

All of that handed the masters' title to Galveston's Karen Jobe, 46, who finished less than a minute ahead of Houston's Nicole Desai in 1:40:45.  Desai stopped the clock in 1:41:38.

In the 5K, Pearland High School junior Josh (Joshua) Estes, 16, beat a pair of Islanders, Marco Antonio Munoz and Mauricio Serrano, to grab the men's division in 18:47.

Munoz, 46, and Serrano, 35, both from Galveston, finished in 18:53 and 18:58, respectively.

Kingwood High School senior Om Gawankar, 17, had the fastest time of the day in 18:42, but he had started nearly two minutes back in the pack at the start of the race.

Youth was also served as Houston Strake Jesuit's Zachariah Wrobel, 16, and Humble Kingwood's Logan Beach, 16, were fifth and sixth overall in 19:02 and 19:04, resoectively.

For the women, Pearland High School senior Sarah Maddux-Hensley, 17, of Rosharon was the women's overall winner in 21:21.

Syracuse, New York native and former Le Moyne University lacrosse player Anna Daucher, 28, was second in 22:24 while Friendswood High School junior Isabella Palermo, 17, was third in 23:04.

There were 487 finishers in the half marathon and another 1,469 finishers in the 5K.

Sources:  Santa Hustle and Negative Split Productions.

Santa Hustle Half Marathon Event/Race Report

2021 has been tough, but I've learned a lot and am continuing to ask myself what I want the next season in life to look like.

One of the realizations that came to the forefront during today's race is that I want to write more in 2022.

I've shed some races from an announcing standpoint for this next year, with more to come.  

And there will be a few shockers.

I have recommitted to finish line announce the 2022 Hot Chocolate 15K and 5K on Saturday, January 29, 2022.  That is one thing that I can publicly share that was finalized this week.

But back to writing.  

People either haven't known me long enough or maybe have forgotten about how I came to be more involved in the sport.

I started running in very late 2002 and ran my first race - a 4-miler - at an event associated with the Houston Marathon in January 2003.

Since then, I've done a lot.

Some of which only matters to me, and doesn't register on the greatest feats of some in the community.  But, I don't care.

I believe what I've accomplished and contributed has been significant and I'm thankful to have had all of the opportunities that I was given and to do them professionally, ethically and with a healthy bit of enthusiasm for an introvert.

However, I used to have a website where I tracked every race, etc. and so on, and two people recognized it as unique at that time - Roberta McInnis with the Houston Chronicle and Lance Phegley with then Inside Texas Running.

I was profiled in one of Roberta's columns and was asked by Lance to contribute to the magazine, as well as Runner Triathlete News.

That led to announcing, and so on.

Earlier this year, while trying to complete the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, I went too many miles (80% walking and 20% running) on shoes that wore down on the front part of the shoe causing me issues with my left knee underneath the front of the kneecap.

And then I had a slight case of COVID in late July, with recovery going to mid-August.  I was and am thankful it wasn't any more severe than the mild case that I had.

The knee has just gotten to a place that I could begin running again and my motivator over the years has been to race.

Because I work from home 45-plus hours a week, I'm always looking to get out of the house in the evenings and, especially, on the weekends.

I usually check runningintheusa.com, dfwraces.com and even put the date, such as "December 18, 2021", 5K and Texas in a browser and see if I can find a race that isn't in one of the lists.

I'm always looking for a race in Texas in a town that I've never been to before, or a county.  The one this week that looked good was a 5K in Gainesville in Cooke County.

I usually then look to combine it with a sporting event, preferably at a location I've never been to before.

The wildcard this week was the weather.

I didn't want to race in the rain, nor did I want to drive east on I-10 in the rain as I considered going to Mobile, Alabama to see Liberty play Eastern Michigan in a bowl game or see two basketball games at Nicholls State and University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

And then once they cancelled the Terry Hershey parkrun 5K because the forecast was going to have thunderstorms at the 9 a.m. scheduled star time, I resigned myself to riding my Air Assault bike for 20 miles while I contemplated what I was going to do.

I decided to see Sam Houston State host Hardin-Simmons University in men's basketball at 2 p.m., run the Santa Hustle Half Marathon in Galveston on Sunday morning (I wasn't going to pay their price for the 5K) and then see Rice University host the University of St. Thomas in men's basketball at 2 p.m. afterward.

I drove down last Saturday afternoon and stayed at the Hampton Inn, which was about a mile from the start of the race - just outside of the San Luis Resort.

After driving to the race site to pick my packet up, where I saw Hiroshi Hamada, David Leach and Sharon Morin, I went back to my car, which was on a side street behind the Resort, but I felt nature starting to call and I decided to go back to the Hampton.

When I got back to the hotel, I couldn't get back in to my room, even after having my keys reset.

I walked the little more than a mile to the start.  I saw Konstantin Loguinov on the start line and chatted with him for a minute or two before the National Anthem was played.

I then moved myself back to the 10 minute per mile area where I saw an opening in the white fencing and no sooner had I started to look for people I knew, up came former Houston Strider and long-time friend Whitney La Rocca.

And after chit-chatting for about a minute or so, the race started and we started moving forward towards Seawall Blvd. where the race would traverse.

Within the first mile, I started to see people that I knew.

First up was Seven Hills Running Club member David Keithley, who I came up from behind on (but just briefly), and then shortly after another Club member, Bridgette Collins, did the same to me.

She was telling me that she was running her fifth half marathon since the Huntsville Half Marathon in mid-October.

As we ran for a little bit, I could see Norman Langwell, Jr. ahead of me and I asked if she knew Norman and she said she didn't, but I started to share with her Norman's running story.

Mile 1 - 10:27.57

I caught up with Norman and we ran together to the turnaround and then some more.

In all of that time, I saw one of my great friends, Erika Park, heading south and hollered at her loudly to catch her attention as she can tend to be a bit focused on her race, even though I learned later that she was supposed to be running this race after running 15-plus on Saturday.

In the mix of all of that, Whitney would catch up and so the three of us are were changing positions back and forth.

Mile 2 - 10:38.09 (21:05.66)

Near that mile marker I saw David's wife, Velvia, as she was running the 5K.  They are both great people and loyal Seven Hills Running Club members.

Norman and I kept rolling along, running together, before I needed to take a break other than a water stop.

Mile 3 - 11:03.57 (32:09.23)

Around that area, Richard Broussard, a gentleman that I've been Facebook friends with for awhile, but hadn't really conversed much with, came up along side of me and we had some really good conversations.

He was sharing with me that he's 69 and that as recently as five or so years ago he weighed 380 pounds.  

Even though he said that he didn't get started running half marathons until about five years ago, the Santa Hustle Half Marathon was his 81st as his goal is to make it to 100.

Mile 4 - 10:59.08 (43:08.31)

So it turned out that there was now four of us that were running about the same pace.

Since I hadn't run a half since Blue Bell in April and Vintage Park in early May, and just my left knee allowing me to run again, I knew that I was going to be three parts run and one part walk the rest of the way.

Mile 5 - 11:15.67 (54:23.98)

Mile 6 - 11:08.85 (1:05:32.83)

Around this time the leaders were making their way north.  Konstantin was running third or fourth overall and being chased by Michael Robbins, the younger of the two Robbins brothers.

Three females had gone by and then there was a group of about six or seven, all guys and two females.

One of those two females was my friend Erika Park.

If you're a good friend, I will go all in for you.  

I got close enough to tell her that the other female runner - who had just made a charge out of the group at that time - was fourth and she was fifth - and to go get her!  (It turned out that she did!)

Mile 7 - 11:18.73 (1:16:51.56)

A little further down I saw David Leach coming at me.  He's a Penn State alum and a Bay Area Running Club member.  I had actually given him a #WeAre on the way to the first turnaround, but cheered him on again.  He had a guy in a purple Northwestern shirt chasing him, who he held off to the finish.

So we're approaching the turnaround, and the wind was getting even more brutal.  I also knew that Norman, Whitney and Richard were behind.  They were my friendly motivation today.

But I decided to walk a little bit more to try and conserve some energy going into the wind.

I passed the mile 8 flag twice, not sure which was really the marker, but I think it was after the turnaround.

Mile 8 - 12:03.60 and 1:49.68 (1:30:44.84)

From here all the way in, I tried to walk about 70 steps and then run as many as I could, and then repeat.  My next few miles looked like this:

Mile 9 - 10:44.82

Mile 10 - 10:59.84

Mile 11 - 11:09.70

Mile 12 - 11:46.90

Mile 13 - 11:27.07

During this stretch, the only other person that I saw that I recognized or knew was Susan Bell.

The last .1 mile was likely short as I clocked it in 38.78 seconds.

Total time was 2:27:31.95.

Of the 154 half marathons I've completed, it was my 93rd fastest time.  And it was the slowest of the three Santa Hustle half marathons that I've completed.

It was good to know that I can go and finish the distance on little to nothing (not to say that it is the wisest ... just that I can.)  Plus, it was just a jumpstart to get me back motivated again and to push the envelope more.

The 231 days since the last half marathon is the longest gap that I've ever experienced not related to COVID.

After I finished, I saw Graham Schooley, his wife Randi and timer Tony Sapp behind the San Luis Resort building while they all were waiting for the race to finish.

All in all, a good day, other than the Rice vs. St. Thomas game being cancelled because the Owls had COVID-19 issues within their men's and women's basketball programs.

Next one?  Maybe Kingwood on New Year's Day.  We'll see.

Addendum:  Two people that I missed in the report -- Matthew Chauvin and Candace Caesar.  My apologies.

Sullivan, Sorensen win 2021 edition of Houston's 12K of Christmas

Katy's Michael Sullivan, 36, won Houston's 12K of Christmas Saturday morning in downtown Houston in a time of 44:09, beating a pair of Houstonians, 32-year-old Ryan Levine and 39-year-old Brian Trent to the finish line.  

Irvine finished in 44:51 while Trent followed in 45:07.

The women were led by 24-year-old Meredith Sorensen from Houston in 47:59 while sisters Cynthia and Kathryn Brake were second and third in 48:57 and 51:13, respectively.  

Kathryn held off 31-year-old Elyse Landry by just nine seconds for third.

Sorensen ran collegiately for the University of Houston Cougars and hails originally from Alpena, Michigan.

Dean Digamon, 40, and Becca Weigand, 41, were easily the top masters finishers with advantages of more than a minute each to win in times of 50:27 and 52:53.

360 runners and walkers finished the 12K distance.

In the 6K, which featured another 335 finishers, Pasadena's Jayden Turrubiates, 17, and Summerville, South Carolina's Sarah Harriman, 38, crushed their respective fields with marks of 20:06 and 24:35.

Turrubiates, a senior at Deer Park High School, was ninth overall at the UIL Region III meet in Huntsville in late October where he covered the 5K in 16:11.1 to qualify for the UIL 6A State meet.

Meanwhile, Harriman is Fleet Feet's assistant manager at their Summerville, South Carolina location.  She ran 3:34:38 in October at the Boston Marathon.

Source:  Negative Split Productions

Texas 10 Series All-Time 10-Mile Winners

MEN

9 - Mark Amann

7 - Ryan Miller

5 - Jason Garcia

4 - Mark Greene

3 - Joseph Whelan

2 - Chris Layman

2 - Lane Boyer

1 - 26 different individuals (most recent Lu Bouanga and Oscar Garcia)

WOMEN

7 - Amanda Jenkins

6 - Cali Roper Werner

5 - Heather Oliva

3 - Samantha McClellan

3 - Tricia Terry

2 - Bree Schrader

2 - Dawn Grunnagle

2 - Kristine Burciaga

2 - Stefanie Slekis

1 - 26 different individuals

The Latest; December 16, 2021

Keeping busy.

Instead of heading out of town, I attended Andy Stewart's "Celebraton of Life" service in Sugar Land Saturday afternoon before heading north to support Bill Dwyer's athletes at the BCS Marathon on Sunday.

But before that I ran the Terry Hershey parkrun 5K on SATURDAY morning.

There was a race in The Woodlands, but I wasn't going to pay to run on The Woodlands Waterway.

So I didn't have to drive back and forth from Spring to Houston and back and then to Sugar Land, I just got a hotel room Friday night near the race location.

I did OK.

Mile 1 - 9:51.04

To the turnaround - 5:38.56

To Mile 2 - 4:44.21 (10:22.77)

Mile 3 - 10:18.30 

Last .1 - 1:06.36

Total time = 31:38.47

That course is certified so I know it is accurate, but Strava had it as 3.16 miles.

It was my 13th career parkrun 5K, including my sixth finish at Terry Hershey.  

All in all, I've completed a parkrun at seven other locations, including both of the other Texas locations - The Woodlands Waterway and (Keller) Bear Creek Greenbelt.

SUNDAY night, I went out and walked The Woodlands Waterway.

Fleet Feet to Barry Blanton's Aid Station (south) - 32:55.04

Back (north) - 29:58.07

Total time - 1:02:33.11 (15:38 pace)

I did it again MONDAY evening, with the following results:

Fleet Feet to Barry Blanton's Aid Station (south) - 32:23.51

Back (north) - 29:48.86

Total time - 1:02:12.37 (15:33 pace)

TUESDAY night, I went to Knox Junior High and ran there at the track where Bill's Volte Endurance Training group meets.

Lane 5 - 2:54.87, 2:56.66, 2:54.64, 2:47.77 (11:33.94) 1.061 miles (10:54)

Lane 4 - 2:45.74, 2:48.06, 2:44.26, 2:44.57 (11:02.63) 1.044 miles (10:35)

Lane 3 - 2:41.43, 2:46.65, 2:43.61, 2:40.95 (10:52.64) 1.028 miles (10:35)

3.133 miles (33:39.21) 10:44 pace

And then WEDNESDAY night, I did the same, but walked four miles instead of running three.

Lane 4 - 4:13.12, 4:08.59, 4:05.94, 4:04.90 (16:32.55) 1.044 miles (15:51)

Lane 4 - 4:06.21, 4:05.52, 4:05.87, 4:03.59 (16:21.19) 1.044 miles (15:40)

Lane 4 - 4:04.47, 4:04.52, 4:03.47, 4:02.98 (16:15.44) 1.044 miles (15:34)

Lane 4 - 4:03.69, 4:03.89, 4:02.47, 4:02.20 (16:12.25) 1.044 miles (15:31)

4.176 miles (1:05:21.43) 15:39 pace

Feel good about getting back to a consistent level of activity.

2021-2022 Texas 10 Series - 5-Miler Single-Age Bests

Through the first four races of the 2021-2022 Texas 10 Series, which includes Sienna, Cypress, Katy and Conroe, these are the single age bests for both men and women:

Women

11 - 1:04:38, Jenna Boullion, Friendswood (Sienna)

20 - 0:54:28, Karla Batz, Houston (Katy)

21 - 1:00:29, Graysen King, Missouri City (Katy)

22 - 0:48:40, Kristen McGee, Zachary (Katy)

23 - 0:54:00, Kirsten Ough, Spring (Cypress)

26 - 0:51:40, Madalyn Crowley, Houston (Sienna)

27 - 1:12:11, Morica Vincent, Houston (Cypress)

28 - 0:41:18, Tabitha Jones, Conroe (Cypress)

30 - 0:46:30, Maria Demarest, Katy (Katy)

31 - 0:58:09, Anita Munoz, Houston (Cypress)

32 - 0:36:24, Guadalupe De Paz, Houston (Sienna)

33 - 0:40:18, Danielle Fairhurst, Spring (Sienna)

34 - 0:43:21, Ivana Almand, Cypress (Katy)

36 - 0:41:41, Claire Sticht, Spring (Conroe)

37 - 0:53:57, Kelly Robinson, Houston (Sienna)

38 - 0:42:59, Brandy Navarro, Cypress (Katy)

39 - 0:41:29, Kellye Kaspar, Cypress (Conroe)

40 - 0:50:37, Kara Voorhies, Katy (Katy)

41 - 0:37:02, Ellen Combrink, Katy (Katy)

42 - 0:37:22, Heydi Alejandra Parra Trejo, Mexico (Cypress)

43 - 0:51:24, Gretchen Dixon, Montgomery (Sienna)

44 - 0:38:39, Sonia Dhodapkar, Katy (Conroe)

45 - 0:49:16, Tanci Foster, Conroe (Conroe)

46 - 0:44:43, Charlotte French, Houston (Katy)

47 - 0:40:43, Margot Katz, Houston (Katy)

48 - 0:51:30, Becky Wildman, Conroe (Sienna)

49 - 0:35:58, Dawn English, Spring (Conroe)

50 - 0:53:42, Jia Boullion, Friendswood (Sienna)

51 - 0:50:33, Maria Matias, Houston (Conroe)

52 - 0:53:52, Melisa Molina, Katy (Katy)

53 - 0:40:37, Tammy Grado, The Woodlands (Conroe)

54 - 0:44:46, Helle Sinz, Katy (Katy)

55 - 0:47:01, Patricia Pedraza, Cypress (Sienna)

57 - 0:42:41, Jill Robey, Houston (Sienna)

58 - 0:51:31, Kara Stockton, Montgomery (Sienna)

59 - 0:44:24, Darlene Goode, Spring (Sienna)

60 - 1:07:48, Nancy Martch, Houston (Sienna)

61 - 0:46:15, Terrylynn Toon, Missouri City (Sienna)

62 - 1:04:03, Mary Sorgenfrei, Sugar Land (Sienna)

67 - 1:11:31, Jo Sawyer, San Antonio (Conroe)

69 - 1:08:15, Barbara House, Cypress (Cypress)

70 - 1:09:04, Sandra Torsey, The Woodlands (Conroe)

73 - 1:12:41, Barbara Barnhart, Houston (Sienna)

77 - 1:02:34, Barbara Glenn, Houston (Cypress)

Men

10 - 0:56:33, Abraham Longoria Jr, Elgin (Cypress)

11 - 0:57:12, Henry Friedman, Houston (Sienna)

12 - 0:53:05, Tanner Hudson, Conroe (Conroe)

13 - 1:01:09, Jordan Boullion, Friendswood (Sienna)

14 - 0:31:57, Brayden Park, Spring (Conroe)

15 - 0:39:05, Derek Kneen, Tomball (Cypress)

16 - 0:30:25, Daniel Alejandr Hernandez Parra, Ciudad De Mexico (Cypress)

17 - 0:32:06, Ben Guidry, Spring (Katy)

18 - 0:29:45, Caleb Bigler, Spring (Conroe)

20 - 0:39:20, Samuel Kneitz, Katy (Katy)

22 - 0:44:26, Tyler Thompson, Missouri City (Sienna)

23 - 0:38:30, Bryan Foster, Conroe (Conroe)

24 - 0:46:22, Jared Muncy, Midland (Cypress)

25 - 0:41:06, Billy McGee, Zachary (Katy)

28 - 0:44:08, Hugh Keller, Houston (Cypress)

29 - 0:41:17, Michael Jones, Conroe (Cypress)

30 - 0:46:30, Jaron Meyer, Lake Jackson (Sienna)

31 - 0:40:34, Anthony Hopkins, Conroe (Katy)

32 - 0:50:42, Murat Uralkan, Houston (Sienna)

34 - 0:36:55, Jonathan Ziegler, Conroe (Conroe)

36 - 0:31:22, Derius Brown, Galveston (Katy)

37 - 0:47:26, Brooks Huse, Spring (Conroe)

38 - 0:32:53, Alejandro Phillips, Fulshear (Sienna)

39 - 1:01:27, John Reyes, Houston (Sienna)

40 - 0:31:34, Robert King, Conroe (Conroe)

41 - 0:48:18, Alvaro Trejo, Houston (Sienna)

42 - 0:43:47, Armando Garcia, Conroe (Sienna)

43 - 0:42:37, Joseph Cabriana, Spring (Conroe)

45 - 0:46:04, Chad Swim, Cypress (Katy)

46 - 0:46:32, Gustavo Roque, Houston (Katy)

47 - 0:39:33, Mark Dornak, Katy (Katy)

48 - 0:39:44, Mark Dornak, Katy (Conroe)

49 - 0:29:06, Ted Zderic, Missouri City (Sienna)

50 - 0:37:00, Paolo Biagi, Spring (Conroe)

51 - 0:34:05, Adam Eiler, Houston (Katy)

52 - 0:45:11, Glenn Frable, Cypress (Conroe)

53 - 0:49:17, Milan Villavicencio, Houston (Sienna)

55 - 0:49:10, Keith Muncy, Montgomery (Katy)

56 - 0:40:20, Patrick Lewis, Huntsville (Katy)

57 - 0:44:28, Richard Cooper, Spring (Conroe)

58 - 0:39:10, Ralph Perez, San Antonio (Katy)

59 - 0:34:01, David Wigle, Houston (Katy)

60 - 0:42:04, Mick Klein, Missouri City (Sienna)

61 - 0:49:54, Gary Henderson, Houston (Katy)

62 - 0:51:02, Lloyd Dragoo, Huntsville (Conroe)

64 - 0:40:42, Dale Kohn, Friendswood (Sienna)

68 - 0:42:57, Francisco Balbuena, Katy (Katy)

69 - 0:45:49, Michael Brewer, Houston (Conroe)

70 - 0:40:51, Victor Aguirre, Katy (Katy)

72 - 0:49:20, George Rux, Spring (Conroe)

73 - 0:49:08, Ronnie Harris, Spring (Katy)

74 - 0:57:02, Ray Sarno, Huntsville (Katy)

80 - 1:13:22, Ken Johnson, Huntsville (Sienna)

Sources:  Texas 10 Series and RunFAR Racing Services

2021-2022 Texas 10 Series -- 10-Miler Single-Age Bests

Through the first four races of the 2021-2022 Texas 10 Series, which includes Sienna, Cypress, Katy and Conroe, these are the single age bests for both men and women:

Women

11 - 1:27:58, Haley Roth, Beaumont (Cypress)

13 - 1:29:20, Cheyenne Smith, Franklin (Sienna)

20 - 1:25:02, Maria Sanchez, Spring (Cypress)

24 - 1:26:26, Alexandra Skrocki, College Station (Katy)

25 - 2:03:59, Kirsten Woznicki, Katy (Sienna)

26 - 1:57:36, Rebekah Kolb, Willis (Conroe)

27 - 1:00:23, Cali Werner, Houston (Sienna)

28 - 1:00:07, Cali Werner, Houston (Katy)

29 - 1:17:11, Morgan Jozwiak, Katy (Sienna)

30 - 1:36:29, Jessica Meyer, Lake Jackson (Sienna)

31 - 1:19:04, Ana Escobar, Sugar Land (Katy)

32 - 1:21:56, Erin Wollard, Missouri City (Katy)

33 - 1:07:23, Megan Saloom, Houston (Sienna)

34 - 1:03:32, Tiffany Moran, Spring (Conroe)

35 - 1:17:58, Alana McKee, Sugar Land (Sienna)

36 - 1:07:54, Emma(awatif) Elhalaby, Sugar Land (Sienna)

37 - 1:08:53, Emma(awatif) Elhalaby, Sugar Land (Cypress)

38 - 1:16:27, Sonia Gonzalez Burch, College Station (Katy)

39 - 1:12:28, Maureen Meredith, Spring (Conroe)

40 - 1:11:04, Janet Cheung, Katy (Katy)

41 - 1:17:27, Judith Albarran, Spring (Conroe)

42 - 1:18:04, Lindsay Cameron, Houston (Conroe)

43 - 1:14:17, Kristin Ohmes, Spring (Sienna)

44 - 1:15:45, Natalia Dominguez, Pearland (Sienna)

45 - 1:18:40, Akiko Forman, Katy (Katy)

46 - 1:30:23, Bobbie Petersen, Conroe (Conroe)

47 - 1:14:31, C Stephenson-Lake, Cypress (Katy)

48 - 1:16:03, Erika Sampson, Houston (Katy)

49 - 1:18:31, Sandra Ruiz, Houston (Conroe)

50 - 1:23:13, Debbie Staton, Spring (Conroe)

51 - 1:32:47, Lisa Bourett, Montgomery (Conroe)

52 - 1:31:41, Rocio Mesia, Spring (Conroe)

53 - 1:26:55, Wendy Kirby, Houston (Conroe)

54 - 1:28:19, Lisa Icke, Missouri City (Sienna)

55 - 1:26:16, Robin Holcomb, Montgomery (Conroe)

56 - 1:12:06, Eugenia Carter, Pasadena (Katy)

57 - 1:19:52, Eugenia Carter, Pasadena (Conroe)

58 - 1:45:48, Lolis Acosta, Houston (Sienna)

59 - 1:21:34, Jennifer Tinsley, Missouri City (Sienna)

61 - 1:36:45, Sheri Hare, Pearland (Conroe)

62 - 1:20:39, Suzy Seeley, Houston (Sienna)

63 - 1:34:37, Mary Pegg, Katy (Katy)

64 - 1:40:42, Marta Mixa, Conroe (Conroe)

65 - 1:58:17, Eglantina Salas, Humble (Sienna)

72 - 2:17:20, Cathy Harris, Katy (Katy)

Men

12 - 1:18:44, Jayden Roth, Beaumont (Katy)

14 - 1:25:43, Kaden Moreno Kojima, Spring (Conroe)

16 - 1:08:58, Morghen Vawter, Conroe (Conroe)

17 - 1:23:38, Jack Wiebe, Willis (Conroe)

18 - 1:20:08, Pablo Martinez, Katy (Conroe)

19 - 1:46:32, Irving Alejandre, Conroe (Conroe)

23 - 0:56:26, Lu Bouanga, Houston (Conroe)

25 - 1:17:42, Justin Dubose, The Woodlands (Cypress)

26 - 0:54:44, Oscar Garcia, Houston (Conroe)

27 - 1:25:38, Brian Bronson, Katy (Sienna)

28 - 1:19:35, Jacob Ready, Tomball (Conroe)

29 - 1:39:04, Alex Perez, Katy (Katy)

30 - 1:30:42, Nicholas Williams, Cypress (Cypress)

31 - 1:10:59, Sergio Leal, Pearland (Conroe)

32 - 0:56:01, Mark Amann, Conroe (Sienna)

33 - 1:12:33, Kyle Gilliland, Richmond (Sienna)

34 - 1:07:44, Enrique Perez, Houston (Katy)

35 - 1:07:31, Obehi Akojie, Houston (Cypress)

36 - 1:03:21, Gary Tashima, Houston (Katy)

37 - 1:08:37, Terri Zaremba, Spring (Cypress)

38 - 1:49:28, Michael Abner, Houston (Conroe)

39 - 1:19:12, Josh Gordon, Katy (Katy)

40 - 1:14:04, David Ruiz, Cypress (Cypress)

41 - 1:06:25, Oscar Piedrasanta, Houston (Katy)

42 - 1:10:51, Paul Blutt, Spring (Cypress)

43 - 1:20:58, Jeremy Sabio, Sugar Land (Katy)

44 - 1:02:57, Konstantin Loguinov, Houston (Conroe)

45 - 1:01:38, Paul Chapman, Katy (Sienna)

46 - 1:02:38, Darren Hadden, The Woodlands (Sienna)

47 - 1:08:59, Jeremy O'Brien, Katy (Katy)

48 - 1:27:52, Angel Rivera, Spring (Sienna)

49 - 1:19:34, Steve Allen, Huntsville (Katy)

50 - 1:10:53, Josh Rivas, Houston (Katy)

51 - 1:27:55, Alex Bunch, Spring (Conroe)

52 - 1:04:01, Mark Speets, Houston (Conroe)

53 - 1:02:05, Steve Sievert, Tomball (Katy)

54 - 1:12:45, Raphael Villavicencio, Zionsville, IN (Sienna)

55 - 1:09:18, Rip Reynolds, The Woodlands (Conroe)

56 - 1:25:18, Rob Task, Houston (Sienna)

57 - 1:17:28, Rodger Denison, Cypress (Sienna)

58 - 1:15:04, Rodger Denison, Cypress (Conroe)

59 - 1:14:22, Guillermo Chutrau, Houston (Katy)

60 - 1:17:25, Harry Brill, Cypress (Katy)

61 - 1:08:52, Stephen Oneil, Beaumont (Katy)

62 - 1:17:32, Jim Chiodi, Montgomery (Conroe)

63 - 1:10:33, Willie James, Nacogdoches (Katy)

64 - 1:08:50, Rich Fredrich, Katy (Katy)

65 - 1:13:25, Francisco Arriola, Missouri City (Sienna)

66 - 1:24:36, John Slate, Conroe (Conroe)

68 - 1:26:11, James Griffis, The Woodlands (Conroe)

69 - 1:24:08, Joel Barr, Spring (Sienna)

73 - 1:42:37, Dave Stadnick, Katy (Katy)

Sources:  Texas 10 Series and RunFAR Racing Services

Couple of Races and a Workout

Over the weekend I traveled to Louisiana and got in a pair of races.

I really haven't felt like I've been able to run here until recently without any pain in my left knee.

So what better way to test things out was with two races?!

I participated in the Dasher Dancer Prancer 5K in Carencro, which is just north of Lafayette.

I didn't register ahead of time because I didn't know I was headed to Louisiana for a good bit of the weekend until Friday at about 5 p.m.

Pretty good atmosphere.  They had a Country Christmas Fair going on at the same time so vendors were starting to arrive too and setup.

It was basically a single-loop course that was gun-timed.  Honestly, I'm not even sure if it was actually timed at all!

My splits looked like this:

Mile 1 - 9:59.87

Mile 2 - 10:24.69

Last 1.23 - 12:34.76

Total - 32:59.42 (3.23 miles)

Course had to be long.  Felt like the first and second mile markers were pretty accurate based on how I felt running, but while I don't know that I slowed down that much the distance is what my Strava app recorded.

I've experienced a lot of variance with Strava, for example, along The Woodlands Waterway to Fleet Feet Sports where you pass by some tall buildings.

So a 10:12/mile pace is basically a 31:41 5K.

I'll take it.  Not where I want to be, but given that I hadn't run much since July it is all a "W" in my books.

I also went to see the Sun Belt Conference football championship at Cajun Field in Lafayette where Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Appalchian State for the title.

Before checking out of my hotel to go to the football game, I registered for the Tiger 10K, which was to start outside of Tiger Stadium and finish crossing the 50-yard line.

Sunday morning around the entire Baton Rouge area, including the Stadium, was very foggy.

Didn't take too long to get my packet and the race got underway right on time at 8 a.m.

Streets were a little slick in spots and a good bit of the course was where the old Baton Rouge Beach Marathon used to be held.  Later Sunday evening at the Sunday Night 5K, Ken Johnson was telling me that the current Baton Rouge Marathon goes by the park that we passed by coming and going near the Stadium.

Offset - 2:35.50 (they institute some "human corrals" to spread folks out around the course)

Mile 1 - 10:19.13

Mile 2 - 10:37.42

Mile 3 - 10:52.90

To the 5K - 1:09.58 (32:59.03)

Mile 4 - 9:42.01 (10:51.59 / 42:41.04)

Mile 5 - 10:03.77 (52:44.81)

Mile 6 - 10:59.12 (1:03:43.93)

Last .2 - 4:00.72 (1:07:44.65)

Really think this was a little long.  My Strava app showed 6.34 miles, which put it at a 10:39 pace (1:07:35 moving time).

This would have been a 1:06:24 minute 5K at a 10:41 per mile pace.

Finishing on the football field at LSU was a pretty neat experience.  It was still real foggy inside the Stadium 

I had previously finished on the field at Penn State and Illinois.  I've run down the sideline at Notre Dame and, of course, where the benches would be at Kyle Field.

I've also announced race from the floors of Rice Stadium and Bowers Stadium in Huntsville.

Had a good trip back and made it for the last The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5Ks, but I didn't run.

I didn't stay real long either.  I won't go into a lot of detail because the crowd was small, but I left so the situation at hand - and one that I didn't create - would not have been uncomfortable for the youngest participant who was there.

It concluded the 13th year of Sunday Night 5Ks going back to 2009, when they were every week during summer time.

I rode the Air Assault bike on Monday and didn't do much on Tuesday because I met somebody new for dinner (which didn't work out).

But Wednesday, I was at Knox Junior High to get a few miles in.

Lane 5 - 2:57.91, 2:48.55, 2:55.20, 2:52.19 (1.044 miles) 11:33.85 / 11:05

Lane 4 - 2:45.04, 2:50.20, 2:50.65, 2:49.89 (1.028 miles) 11:25.76 / 11:07

Lane 3 - 2:49.26, 2:46.73, 2:44.25, 2:46.76 (1.011 miles) 11:10.00 / 11:03

Lane 3 - 2:40.76 (0.253 miles) / 10:36

Total of 3.336 miles.  Better than nothing.

I did learn my weight is a little up when I got dressed to meet somebody Tuesday night so I need to work on trying to drop a couple, but I also know that it is affecting my times (even though I don't have the miles under my legs that I had in the spring when I put down some good times at the Texas 10 races).

Nothing in the books for Thursday.

We'll see how the rest of today Friday and the weekend goes.

2021-2022 Texas 10 Series - First Four Races

These 84 runners have completed a timed distance at all four races so far in the 2021-2022 Texas 10 Series season, including Sienna, Cypress, Katy and Conroe.

5K (12)

Claudia Flores, Houston

Douglas Green, Cypress

Jessica Green, Cypress

Jude Churchwell, Missouri City

Kim Kneen, Tomball

Malcolm Kneen, Tomball

Marcela Ortega, Houston

Melissa Scott, Houston

Sadie Dornak, Katy

Stacy Fellers, Magnolia

Tammy Guidry, Spring

Tessa Dornak, Katy

5M (19)

Adam Eiler, Houston

Armando Guillen, Houston

Bradley Huggins, Franklin

Courtney Dunham, Spring

Derek Kneen, Tomball

Dianna Sarno, Huntsville

Guadalupe De Paz, Houston

Gustavo Roque, Houston

Kara Stockton, Montgomery

Kellye Kaspar, Cypress

Ken Johnson, Huntsville

Maria Matias, Houston

Mark Dornak, Katy

Mary Meaux, Conroe

Patricia Pedraza, Cypress

Patrick Lewis, Huntsville

Ray Sarno, Huntsville

Sara Huggins, Franklin

Tabitha Jones, Conroe

10M (45)

Alexandra Skrocki, College Station

Anette Bonifas, The Woodlands

Angel Rivera, Spring

Bobbie Petersen, Conroe

Cali Werner, Houston

Christopher Stewart, Tomball

Daniel Marmolejo, Houston

David Keithley, Huntsville

Edward Montana, Katy

Erin Gowton, Montgomery

Erin Wollard, Missouri City

Eugenia Carter, Pasadena

Evie Fanos, Houston

Guillermo Chutrau, Houston

Hector Martinez, Katy

Hiroshi Hamada, Houston

Ionut Sorin MacOvei, Conroe

Jerritt Park, Spring

Jim Chiodi, Montgomery

Jimmie Gowton, Montgomery

Joel Barr, Spring

Kirk Myers, Houston

Leanne Barry, Centerville

Linda Holmes, Pearland

Lu Bouanga, Houston

Lyn Denison, Cypress

Mayra Alvarado, Missouri City

Michele Stanley, Houston

Nicholas Williams, Cypress

Nicolas Meza, Houston

Olivia Garcia, Houston

Pablo Martinez, Katy

Patrick Scott, Houston

Rafael Marmolejo, Houston

Rick Whitehead, The Woodlands

Robert Gay, Magnolia

Rodger Denison, Cypress

Samuel Keen, Houston

Sonia Whitten, Conroe

Steve Allen, Huntsville

Steve Bickford, Huntsville

Steve Fanos, Houston

Theresa Goudeau, Houston

Willie James, Nacogdoches

Yanna Williams, Kingwood

All (8) - Combination of 5M and 10M

Ana Sanchez, Houston

Brandy Navarro, Cypress

Maria Demarest, Katy

Michael Murphy, Conroe

Pamela Wills Strout Eddlema, Humble

Randy Bradley, Spring

Rene Garza, Pasadena

Ruxandra Tihon, Conroe

Sources:  Texas 10 Series and RunFAR Racing Services

Little Walking and a Little Running

Well, it was time last night (Wednesday) to test out the knee more fully and run.

I actually miss it.

But what I don't miss is the hyper-importance some people place on it.  

In that, it seems like it is everything for them.

Nonetheless, I walked Tuesday night and ran last night at Knox Junior High track.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Knox Junior High

Lane 4 - 2:59.81, 3:00.27, 2:59.34, 2:54.42 = 10:53.84 (1.044/10:26)

Lane 3 - 2:53.82, 5:46.09, 2:49.24 = 11:29.15 (1.028/11:10)

Lane 2 - 2:45.27, 2:45.36, 2:44.78, 2:45.59 = 11:01.00 (1.011/10:54)

Lane 1 - 2:36.40, 2:38.30, 2:36.74 = 7:51.44 (0.746/10:31)

Lane 2 - 2:38.19, 2:40.16 = 5:18.35 (0.505/10:30)

Running - 4.334 miles / 46:33.78 / 10:45 per mile (I'll take this after not having more than four miles since July.)

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Knox Junior High

Lane 4 - 4:06.84, 4:01.47, 3:57.18, 3:58.05 (16:03.54)

Lane 4 - 4:00.07, 4:00.17, 4:00.81, 4:01.88 (16:02.91)

Lane 4 - 4:01.79, 4:03.00, 4:04.59, 4:02.63 (16:12.01)

Lane 4 - 4:08.84, 4:04.84, 4:05.45, 4:05.82 (16:24.95)

Lane 4 - 4:05.84, 4:06.88, 4:05.56, 4:04.85 (16:23.13)

Lane 4 - 4:06.91, 4:05.23 (8:13.14)

Walking - 5.742 miles / 1:29:19.68 / 15:33 per mile

The walking just isn't getting it done, health-wise, for me so it is to start putting more feet to the pavement.  And to get me there I need to get back racing (well, just running for me).

There's lots going on.

Biggest challenge is trying to figure out what I enjoy the most in life.  It is really hard at times deciding what I want to do.

I'll try to be a little bit more diligent here sharing.

Thanks for reading and your support.

Tuesday and Wednesday Evening 4-Mile Walks at Track

Have been bad at blogging, but here are my last two efforts:

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Knox Junior High, The Woodlands, TX

Lane 5

4:07.29, 4:07.60, 4:06.14, 4:06.35 = 16:27.38 / 15:30

4:06.15, 4:05.83, 4:06.43, 4:06.02 = 16:24.43 / 15:27

4:06.75, 4:06.68, 4:06.59, 4:07.22 = 16:27.34 / 15:30

4:06.63, 4:07.69, 4:05.31, 4:06.56 = 16:26.19 / 15:29

1:05:45.34 / 4.244 miles / 15:29

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Knox Junior High, The Woodlands, TX

Lane 2

3:59.78, 3:54.75, 3:54.40, 3:53.97 = 15:43.00 / 15:33

3:52.92, 3:53.19, 3:53.91, 3:55.37 = 15:35.39 / 15:25

3:53.72, 3:52.47, 3:55.84, 3:54.97 = 15:37.00 / 15:27

3:54.56, 3:52.14, 3:53.95, 3:54.80 = 15:35.45 / 15:25

1:02:30.84 / 4.044 miles / 15:28

Pretty consistent.

Wednesday Evening Track; October 6, 2021

 

Always trying to at least stay moving these days.

Went to the track - where I enjoy getting a chance to visit and catch up with Volte's Bill Dwyer - and got another four miles in.

Well, being in lane 5 the entire way really made it 4.244 miles.

Mile 1 - 4:11.77, 4:06.15, 4:06.56, 4:04.57 = 16:29.05 (15:32)

Mile 2 - 4:03.32, 4:04:39, 4:03.42, 4:00.48 = 16:11.60 (15:16)

Mile 3 - 4:03.49, 4:04.43, 4:05.37, 4:04.62 = 16:17.91 (15:22)

Mile 4 - 4:04.53, 4:05.74, 4:06.43, 4:08.61 = 16:25.31 (15:28)

4.244 miles = 1:05:23.87 (15:25 pace)

I really haven't tried running too much because of my left knee.

Sure, walking takes a little longer and doesn't burn as much, but I enjoy just doing something.

Last Thursday night, I got in a little more than five and a quarter on the Spring Creek Greenway Trail.  May head back out there tonight.

I was able to listen to two complete Sports Spectrum podcasts while doing so.

Saturday, I'll be out at Ironman Texas and Sunday will be at Cypress 10.

Hope you have a great Thursday if you're reading this!

Tuesday Evening Track; October 5, 2021

Still just rocking along or shall I say, walking along.

I'm getting out there and trying to get something done every day.

Nothing spectacular but from between September 25 - October 24, I have the following:

0.0 miles running

29.033 miles walking

21.627 miles walking (Apple Health) "on my feet"

21.5 miles cycling (Air Assault bike)

929 meters rowing

Last night, I went to the track where Bill Dwyer's Volte group gathers.

Mile 1 - 4:09.71, 4:05.00, 4:07.52, 4:06.39 = 16:28.62 (15:47)

Mile 2 - 4:03.81, 4:04.45, 4:01.22, 4:01.38 = 16:10.86 (15:30)

Mile 3 - 4:04.06, 4:05.62, 4:05.41, 4:05.78 = 16:20.47 (15:39)

Mile 4 - 4:05.95, 4:07.43, 4:07.10, 4:08.02 = 16:28.50 (15:47)

All of the miles were in Lane 4 to account for 4.176 miles in total in 1:05:28.45 for a 15:41 pace.

I'll head back out there tonight.

I hope you all are doing well.

Quick Wednesday Evening Post; September 8, 2021

Went to the Knox Junior High track after meeting with some folks from Chase Bank late this afternoon, but couldn't get on the track for awhile because there were a pair of football games going on.

Once I was able to, I only got 1.7226 miles in 27:10.11 for a pace of 15:46.  

I wasn't pushing it, obviously.

All laps were in lane 4.

3:18.30

3:17.71

80% of 0.522 miles

4:08.06

4:08.27

4:05.33

4:05.80

1.044 miles

4:06.64

0.261 miles

I also then got in 10.3 miles on the Air Assault bike in 30 minutes and 42 seconds.

Got a chance to talk a good bit with Bill Dwyer this evening while we waited.  

None of his runners showed up as the majority of his crew is going to run the Tunnel Light Marathon in Washington state on Sunday.

New Update; September 7, 2021

I haven't blogged in awhile, but I'll try to get back into the swing of things.

So I ran a race a few days after the last time, I blogged.  It went OK; however, the next day I was likely exposed to the virus and shortly thereafter I tested positive for COVID-19.

Thankfully, I had a mild case and recovered fairly quick.

As I pointed out before, a knee issue slowed down my quest to get the miles needed for the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee and even though I walked some, COVID slowed it down even further.

I ended my July 25 - August 24 reporting period with 41.76 miles walking, another 22.81 miles on my feet and 40.6 miles cycling - a total of 105.17.

May 25 to June 24 was 343.13 miles combined.

June 25 to July 24 was still 274.8 miles.

This is what I've done since August 25:

August 25 - September 24 - 0.0 miles - 33.584 miles walking - 20.802 miles walking (Apple Health) - 28 miles cycling - 0 meters rowing

August 25 (Wednesday) - 4.308 miles walking at Knox Junior High (1:06:11) - 1.992 miles walking (Apple Health)

August 26 (Thursday) - 1.8 miles walking (Apple Health)

August 27 (Friday) - 1.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

August 28 (Saturday) - 10.9 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (32:24) - 2.2 miles walking (Apple Health)

August 29 (Sunday) - 10.1 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:01) - 0.41 miles walking (Apple Health)

August 30 (Monday) - 5.97 miles walking in Springwoods Village (1:30:45) - 0.33 miles walking (Apple Health)

August 31 (Tuesday) - 1.4 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 1 (Wednesday) - 7 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (20:38) - 2.01 miles walking in Hannover Forest subdivision (31:02) - 0.39 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 2 (Thursday) - 3.89 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (57:46) - 1.01 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 3 (Friday) - 2 miles walking at Cypress Christian School - 3.4 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 4 (Saturday) - 3.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 5 (Sunday) - 3.13 miles walking the Run The Woodlands 5K course (46:18) - 1.77 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 6 (Monday) - 8.1 miles walking in Springwoods Village and on Spring Creek Greenway Trail (2:04:00) - 0.9 miles walking (Apple Health)

September 7 (Tuesday) - 4.176 miles walking at Knox Junior High (1:04:21.87)

Running races no longer a big priority of mine, and with my cross country announcing season coming quickly I will less and less time to run them.

I haven't run since July 25, and that's OK.  When I walk, I walk to break a sweat - or be soaked actually.

I'd been out to the track on Wednesday night a couple of times.  

That's different because I used to go regularly, but I needed to take a break from Bill's group for about three months.

I was out there this evening - on a Tuesday - for the first time since early May.

I covered 4.176 miles - 16 laps in lane 4 - at Knox Junior High in 1:04:21.87 - a 15:25 pace.

4:11.85

4:06.75

4:07.72

4:05.95

4:03.91

4:03.47

4:06.14

3:38.34

3:47.90

3:58.14

4:01.60

4:00.81

4:01.99

4:02.17

4:02.51

4:02.62

So pretty consistent.

Those laps in the middle included a little running with Mike Kuykendahl, while catching up a little bit.  Good stuff.

Will probably be back out at the track tomorrow evening.

Have a great Wednesday.

Caught Up A Second Time; July 21, 2021

Wait, I'm still having troubles blogging.  Yes indeed.

And apparently walking or running too.

That's because I started to develop some significant pain in my left knee.  

I think it is largely walking a lot of miles on shoes whose tread had worn out on the fronts of the shoes - and in the effort to maintain speed, I fear that my "racewalking like" gait might even had hyperextended things.

I don't know.  I just know that it hurt and it forced me to take a break.

It was that Monday, the 5th, where I really started to feel things pretty bad.

And then after putting down 44.04 miles from July 10 to July 16, I was toast.

Plus I wanted to spend Saturday morning July 17 watching Waverly compete in the Camp Gladiator Games at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball.

She did great.  I was really impressed with her effort and fortitude.

It is tough watching your child complete in something that seemed more difficult to her than her running either of the two marathons that she did.

Nevertheless, I shut things down completely last Saturday.

And then I cycled for three days before getting back out and walking Tuesday night at a "just barely count it pace" of 15:55 - per the Strava app.

I will still log miles against the GVRAT, but my goal is not necessarily to finish it.

I rowed some today and felt nothing at all.  In fact, the 10 minutes went by pretty quick.  I was surprised.

I plan to walk again tonight and then I may run a race over the weekend.

I'm actually happy not having a plan at all.

Here's the last seven days' worth of activities:

July 15 (Thursday) - 5.16 miles walking in Hannover Forest subdivision (1:18:34) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:05) - 0.54 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 16 (Friday) - 4.98 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway and Hughes Landing (1:19:34) - 1.32 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 17 (Saturday) - 2.2 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 18 (Sunday) - 10.9 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (33:33) - 0.73 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 19 (Monday) - 10.6 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (31:36) - 0.56 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 20 (Tuesday) - 3.69 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (58:22) - 14.7 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (43:41) - 0.61 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 21 (Wednesday) - 1,894 meters rowing (10:00) - 10.4 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:42)

Again, the "miles walking (Apple Health)" is just time on my feet where my phone is on my body in some way.

If you're reading, thanks.  I appreciate your time and interest.

Getting Caught Up; July 14, 2021

Well, my vacation was altered by a dropped phone at the Hampton Inn in Lake Charles Friday night, July 2 and then Tropical Storm and/or Hurricane Elsa that was to make its way to Florida, stopping my run with Robert "Raven" Kraft.

Actually, what changed the course the most was the fact that I had to go to Baton Rouge to get my phone fixed on Sunday, July 4.  It got resolved, but I just decided to stay there Sunday night and begin to move west to my other planned location, San Antonio on Thursday and Friday, for a convention.

So if you see "miles walking (Apple Health)", that's just a result of me being moving with my phone less any time running or walking briskly while having the phone on my person.

It is what I call "Light Walking" to add into a total "Time on My Feet".

My last "reporting period", I had 167.10 miles running and walking and 36.53 miles "light walking" for 203.63 "miles on my feet" - a record.

July 2 (Friday) - 3.04 miles walking in Hannover Forest subdivision (45:15) - 1.46 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 3 (Saturday) - 4 miles at LAR's 4 on the Fourth, Lake Charles, LA (40:50.98) - 0.82 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 4 (Sunday) - 3.1 miles at The SHARK Run 5K, Orange Beach, AL (31:17.09) - 0.89 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 5 (Monday) - 4.42 miles in three Louisiana cities (46:53) - 1.51 miles walking in one Louisiana city (22:23) - 1.77 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 6 (Tuesday) - 3.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 7 (Wednesday) - 7 miles walking along or near The Woodlands Waterway (1:45:27) - 0.5 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 8 (Thursday) - 2.9 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 9 (Friday) - 1.5 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 10 (Saturday) - 5.91 and 5.00 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:26:10 and 1:15:19) - 0.59 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 11 (Sunday) - 5.18 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:16:22) - 1.32 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 12 (Monday) - 6.1 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:31:05) - 0.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

July 13 (Tuesday) - 2.01 mile walking in Hannover Forest subdivision (29:55) plus 4.09 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:01:24) - 10.2 miles of cycling on Air Assault bike (30:33) - 0.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

So these were my activities to get things caught up.

I had three zero running or walking days, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

It puts a little bit of pressure on me for the GVRAT, but I'll figure it out.

Through July 13, 2021, there had been 74 days for 380.171 miles running and walking, an average of 5.14 per day.

There's 49 days left and 262.729 miles to go for an average of 5.36 miles per day.

A little daunting, but I've come this far as long as my left knee doesn't stop me.

Spring Creek Greenway Trail Thursday; July 2, 2021

Friday morning here and on the cusp of vacation that is going to be "make it up as I go".

I have to be in San Antonio on Thursday and Friday.

I have signed up for races in Lake Charles (Saturday), Orange Beach, Alabama (Sunday) and Orlando (Monday).

I cancelled my hotel in Orlando for Sunday night.

I think I will wait and see how things are on Sunday morning after I finish the 5K in Alabama and then decide from there.

My goal for the second half of the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee is to run more miles than I walk.  We'll see.

Tried to start that late Thursday afternoon when I went to Dennis Johnston Park to run on the Spring Creek Greenway Trail.

While it was hot (88-89) and humid (so much so that steam was rising off the trail as it had rained recently before), my challenges were two-fold:  1.) trying to maintain a 5K pace of like 9:45 in those conditions (impossible) and 2.) trying to get my legs used to running more than brisk/power walking (for a workout).

I covered 4.48 miles in 50:19.12 - 24:32.35 out to the mile 11.0 marker and 25:46.77 back.

And after I was done, I was wiped out.

Had dinner at Cotton Patch Cafe afterwards, but fell asleep soon after once I got home.

Could have been the comfort food, but think it was more the draining conditions.

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (30) GVRAT miles = 154.25

July (1) GVRAT miles = 4.48

Total GVRAT miles - 328.811

Ahead of pace at 62 days = 315.60 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 62 days = 326.72 based on 642.9 miles 

Have a great Friday!

Wednesday Work Done; July 1, 2021

Blogging here on Thursday afternoon about Wednesday's efforts.

During the morning, I pushed away from the desk twice to record 1.01 miles in 15:13 and 15:06, respectively.  Both of these were before noon.

I then posted 11.3 miles on my Air Assault bike in 33:25 before I eventually ended up, after getting a bite to eat at Mod Pizza, up on The Woodlands Waterway.

I needed to get a couple of miles to put more than the halfway point of the GVRAT so I got four miles exactly in 1:00:12.

Felt like I might have been moving a little bit quicker, but it wasn't to be.

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (30) GVRAT miles = 154.25

Total GVRAT miles - 324.331

Ahead of pace at 61 days = 310.15 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 61 days = 321.15 based on 642.9 miles 

Based on the development of Tropical Storm (and could be Hurricane) Elsa and its making its way to Florida on Monday at some point, I will not be running the 5K in the Orlando area that I've already paid for as well as running eight miles with Robert "Raven" Kraft.

I went ahead and cancelled by hotel for Maitland, Florida, near the race site, for Sunday night.

Therefore, I'll probably head back west after running the 5K in Orange Beach, Alabama on Sunday morning.

Changes.  They're inevitable.

Congratulations today to Jerritt Park's son, Brayden, for finishing second in the 3,000 meters at the AAU Region 17 National Qualifier in Webster earlier this morning, finishing in 11:34.83.  

He will advance to the National Junior Olympics meet to be held in Humble on August 2 - 7, 2021.  

Brayden will also compete in the 1,500 meters on Saturday.  He is the fastest qualifier of the field that is currently registered.

Heading into Vacation; June 29, 2021

Still tracking towards vacation.  Just hope that I make the most of, but sure wish there was somebody to enjoy it with.  Oh well.

Two more nights on the Waterway for my miles.

Monday evening, I stayed pretty contained on The Waterway, but tonight I went over and back the bridge near North Shore Park twice as well as an out and back to Hughes Landing.

6.06 and 6.24 miles each of the last two.

I was telling my daughter, Waverly, this evening that I'm not even sure what the impetus was for me to sign up for the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee this year.  

I have one theory, but I'm not sure how valid that it really was.

As long as I don't run into an injury, I'm still going strong and should be able to complete the mileage by the end of August.

Here's how things long right now:

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (29) GVRAT miles = 148.23

Total GVRAT miles - 318.311

Ahead of pace at 60 days = 305.41 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Barely ahead of pace at 60 days = 316.18 based on 642.9 miles 

Again, Monday afternoon, I hope to be on South Miami Beach to run eight miles with Robert "Raven" Kraft.

Everybody that finishes the eight miles gets a nickname.  I have hope for a certain one.  We'll see.

Robert said in a Facebook comment on a post from Monday that he's given out 3,443 to date.

Could be one of the craziest things that I've ever done other than ... 1.) three races in a day, 2.) three races in three states in three days (AR, LA, TX) and who knows what else.

On-Call Weekend; June 27, 2021

So I haven't blogged in a couple of days now.  

Let it be known that I dislike the weekends I have to take call for work.  I feel so grounded.

Friday evening, I had to stay close here to the house.  

I started to get out and walk and nature called twice.  

Therefore, my effort for the evening was broken into three separate times.

1.59 miles in 24:14.

1.87 miles in 28:06.

2.00 miles in 30:16.

A total of 5.46 miles in an hour, 22 minutes and 36 seconds.

Saturday, I tempted fate and went to go do Run The Woodlands 5K at Barbara Bush Elementary.

I was able to make it to the race site too far in advance really, but the race got started on time at 8 a.m., I got the race in and then headed back.

Always good to see Vincent Attanucci and Ken Johnson.  David Keithley from the Seven Hills Running Club was also there and looked to have run pretty well.

First mile was pretty normal, 9:44.36, and then it went downhill from there.

I ran 22:06.06 in the remaining 2.1 miles for a total time of 31:50.42.

Sure, it was humid, but I felt like I was moving a little bit better than what the time reflected.

I stopped and got breakfast at Whataburger before I made it home and then once I did get back here, I watched the online stream of Lauren Stroud competing at DekaFit Jacksonville.  Fascinating to see.

Lauren is such a class act.  Great to see her perform on that level playing field and have fun doing it.

Saturday evening, I thought about getting back out and putting some more feet to the pavement, knowing I need 5.25 a day, but decided not to.

Instead, I rode 10.4 miles on the Air Assault bike in 30 minutes, 49 seconds.

And then, this afternoon, I went out again in my subdivision to get some miles in and rain took over my plans.

I got 3.0 miles even on the Strava app in 43:52, but I had to get at least another 0.6 miles to run home for a total time of 51:43.60 on my watch.

I will go with that on my mileage for #GVRAT.

If I don't add any more today, this is where I stand.

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (27) GVRAT miles = 135.93

Total GVRAT miles - 306.011

Ahead of pace at 58 days = 295.23 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Barely ahead of pace at 58 days = 305.64 based on 642.9 miles 

All good.  I'm happy.  It is just for me and nobody else.  And am getting excited about vacation.

Thursday Moves on The Waterway; June 24, 2021

Hit the Woodlands Waterway again Thursday night as it will become off-limits for a couple of days while I'm on call.  Will be able to get back out there on Monday evening.

Basically, I go there so I can at least see people while I'm walking.

It was good to see Dan Jordan and Susan Rouse and I think it was Jim and Susan Griffis with them, but am not totally sure as it was just past turning dark.  

I saw some other folks shortly after I got started, but I was down on the sidewalk and they were up on the Trolley pathway.  Probably just as good that they didn't see me.  Three of the four I knew - and they're all training for Ironman Texas - and have no issue with, but it was just better nothing was said.

Hadn't had a good breakfast in awhile so I went to Denny's in Shenandoah before hand.

I've been moving through this book that Waverly got me for Father's Day called The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Star Conversations About God.

Easy, yet fascinating read.  Basically a Dallas-area pastor put together a small team of people to ride their bikes from coast-to-coast to have engaging conversations about God despite the divisiveness of our nation today.

Parked my car again near the Riva Row Boat House primarily because it gives me some distance options, and I knew that early on I would have to hit the restroom - which I did less than a mile and a half in.

Basically, I walked 4.33 miles in 1:03:32 for a pace of 14:40 per mile.  

I felt like I was moving at a pretty brisk pace.

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (24) GVRAT miles = 123.77

Total GVRAT miles - 293.851

Ahead of pace at 55 days = 279.96 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 55 days = 289.83 based on 642.9 miles 

As of almost 12 noon on Friday, June 25, 2021, I'm in 2,262nd place among 5,198 participants.  :-)

I ended my May 25 to June 24 reporting period with 167.10 miles, 41.02 running and the rest walking to break a sweat.

Pretty happy about that.  Also 139.5 miles on the bike.  Really need to increase that.  It is so easy to do, plus I get to read a lot.

I signed up for my races on Saturday (Lake Charles, Louisiana), Sunday (Orange Beach, Alabama) and Monday (Orlando, Florida).

I'm looking forward to meeting my friends Keith and Rebecca Bell Saturday evening in Fairhope, Alabama for dinner.  

It was also really great yesterday to get an unsolicited e-mail, just checking in on me, from TAPPS Executive Director Bryan Bunselmeyer.  

Thankful that God keeps putting people in my path to remind me that my most recent challenge isn't how everybody sees or deals with me.  Pretty thankful for that.  Actually, very thankful.

Wednesday Miles; June 23, 2021

Twice today I decided to push away from my work desk and go walk a mile in the subdivision I live in.

That got me 2.01 miles, right at 15 minutes per mile.  

It was hot out, especially the second mile, which came at around 4:15 p.m.

I then went to The Woodlands Waterway at around 7'ish and added another 3.91 miles in 56:32.  

I wasn't going to do the four-mile route that I always used to do because it would force me to cross Lake Woodlands and slow me down a little.

Plus, with all that's happened since last Thanksgiving, the spot by Fleet Feet is nothing but a bad memory anymore.

So I either go over the bridge and back to and from North Shore Park or I walk around to Hughes Landing, but never get into that intersection that has Fleet Feet, Starbucks, etc.  

Again, a few bad triggers.

I went basically to the intersection - where The Waterway finishes by Whole Foods - then turned around and came back.

On the way out there, and as I approached where the finish line for The Woodlands Marathon is, I saw a gait that I clearly recognized.  

It was Waverly walking towards me.

She was just out taking a more leisurely stroll.  I would have walked with her, but we had different missions tonight -- and that's perfectly fine.

Here's where my numbers are for the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee:

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (23) GVRAT miles = 119.44

Total GVRAT miles - 289.521

Ahead of pace at 54 days = 274.87 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 54 days = 284.56 based on 642.9 miles 

My 25th to 24th reporting period closes tomorrow.  I right now, since the 25th of May, have run 41.02 miles and brisk walked another 121.75 for 162.77 miles total.

It broke my record from the previous reporting period of 147.11.

Add in another 35 miles of light walking, I'll have over 200 miles on my feet -- also a new high.

I didn't cycle as much as I wanted.  Unless I hop on the bike tomorrow, I will have 122.70, but my high is 173.90.

However, I rowed a record 23,383 meters, but I could have done a lot more.

Friday, though, is the start of a new reporting period.

I have a spreadsheet that I developed to kind of motivate me a little bit.  Helps me keep things in perspective I suppose.

Just trying to be happy, even though there are some things that I'm a little sad about right now.

If you're reading and you communicate regularly with me, thank you.  

I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  People think I have it all put together.  

I pretty much do, but it isn't all necessarily a bed of roses either. 

Tuesday on the Waterway; June 22, 2021

5.99 miles.

No, I didn't go just a little farther to get to six miles even.

I was done.  Simple as that.

Interesting that the Strava app said I went slower tonight, but still just under 15 minutes a mile, than on late Sunday morning and Monday evening.

Actually felt pretty good.  Covered it in 1:28:12.

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (22) GVRAT miles = 113.52

Total GVRAT miles - 283.601

Ahead of pace at 53 days = 269.78 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 53 days = 279.29 based on 642.9 miles 

Need to start dialing in on my vacation calendar.  Here's the tentative calendar:

Friday, July 2:  Pick up rental car and drive to Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Saturday, July 3:  LAR's 4 for the Fourth, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Drive to Fairhope and Mobile Bay, Alabama.

Stop at Buc-ee's in Robertsdale, Alabama.

Sunday, July 4:  The Shark Run 5K, Orange Beach, Alabama.

Drive to Orlando, Florida.

Monday, July 5:  AdventHealth Watermelon 5K, Winter Park, Florida

Drive to Miami, Florida.

Run 8 miles with Robert "Raven" Kraft at South Miami Beach, Florida

Begin to drive north.

Tuesday, July 6:  Visit Buc-ee's at Daytona Beach and San Augustine, Florida

Possibly Charlotte at Jacksonville minor league baseball game.

Wednesday, July 7:  Drive back to Texas.

Thursday, July 8:  TAPPSCON, San Antonio, Texas.

Friday, July 9:  TAPPSCON, San Antonio, Texas.

Saturday, July 10:  Toughest 10K in Texas, Lampasas, Texas

Sunday, July 11:  XTERRA Magnolia Hill Trail Run, Navasota, Texas

Monday on The Waterway; June 21, 2021

After work Monday evening I went and got in my brisk walk along The Woodlands Waterway.

With rain threatening, I parked near the Riva Row Boat House, in the middle of the Waterway, in case I needed to bail fairly quick.

I carried one of my lightweight The Woodlands Marathon jackets with me in case it rained, but it never did.

I was aiming for an hour and a half, which should have given me six miles, but the where I walked and where I was as I got close to returning to my car, I stopped a bit short of that.

But not by too much.

I covered 5.86 miles in 1:22:33.  It moves me to the following numbers for the last two months:

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (21) GVRAT miles = 107.53

Total GVRAT miles - 277.611

Ahead of pace at 52 days = 264.69 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Slightly ahead of pace at 52 days = 274.02 based on 642.9 miles 

Seventy (70) days to go and I need to continue to put a few miles in the bank, but am happy with the progress.

I'm sure there's a few people out there who don't think I can do it, but they can go fly a kite.

Great to see the progress of our friend Curtis Barton of The Woodlands and the Seven Hills Running Club.

He just passed the five-day mark of the Heart of the South road race, a 322-mile journey from Gaffney, South Carolina to Castle Rock, Georgia, at 314 miles with another 18 to go to finish.

Overnight, he moved up from fourth to second place.

He's going to have some stories to tell, for sure, when he gets back.

Well done, Curtis.

Little Longer On The Waterway; June 20, 2021

I've alluded to having a long distance goal before the end of 2021, but I'm not willing to disclose exactly what it is yet.  (And will never discuss the motivation.)

However, it is incumbent upon me to get an increasing amount of time on my feet each week.

Last Sunday, I wanted to go two hours, but lasted just under 1:47.  1:46:59, to be exact, for 7.33 miles according to the Strava app.

Today, my goal was two hours and 15 minutes on my feet - and to do so in the heat, even though my race might not be.

I'm still out of pocket regarding my church attendance, especially without a church home.  

It is something that I need to work on more.

I'm thankful to God for giving me an avenue, this year's Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, to try and focus on something to maintain and improve my health.  

Just need to get the quality of what I eat in line.

However, I did try on my green "L" polo shirt and it is at a point where I'm able to wear it again.

Therefore, I'm back to where I had been about two years ago.  I had added a little weight after the initial three months of the pandemic, but after 271 miles in May and so far in June things are looking better.

Now, if my speed would come more into line, that would be amazing.

I started from Town Green Park at around 10:30 a.m. this morning and put 8.73 miles down in 2:06:24. 

May (31) GVRAT miles = 170.081

June (20) GVRAT miles = 101.67

Total GVRAT miles - 271.751

Ahead of pace at 51 days = 259.60 based on 621 miles (6.2 miles = 10K; 1000K)

Right on pace at 51 days = 268.75 based on 642.9 miles 

I ended up going all the way over the bridge and into North Shore Park and back, over to Hughes Landing and then over and back the bridge a second time before returning to The Waterway.

Got real close to my 2:15 goal, but once I got close to where I had parked my car -- across from the Riva Row Boat House -- I wasn't going to go and do an eight-minute out and back to get there.

I was happy to make the progress that I did today.

Pretty much enjoyed my Father's Day today.  

Took my parents out to eat last night to the Cheesecake Factory.  They wanted to go somewhere different than the Olive Garden.  Trust me that I was OK with that!

Had breakfast this morning - before going out to walk - and continue to make headway in the latest book that I've been reading, "Two Hours:  The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon."

After returning home from walking - and gathering some information for tomorrow's LSCSN (Lone Star Christian Sports Network) News and Notes, I got cleaned up and went to Star Cinema Grill in Springwoods Village for my 52nd movie of the year, "Peter Rabbit 2 The Runaway."  

It was good.  Felt like a little bit of a kid again.  No harm in that, right?

Worked on a few more things - including finishing up my 30th book of the year, then Waverly and I went to Woodson's Local Tap + Kitchen just off of the Grand Parkway near the new Regal Benders Landing theater.

Great meal and then she gave me a card, with a gift certificate to Fleet Feet and a new book, "The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God".  

Have already worked through the first 32 pages and it's pretty good.

Have a great Monday if you're reading.