beat or cheat

This weekend, I became a victim of circumstances; on saturday, it was beat but sunday was cheat.

Saturday agenda-Lakes of the meadow

This event was put on by Frankie Ruiz, with ING Miami marathon & featured a 5k and 10k. I was signed up for the former, but was convinced by a friend to do the latter. Twas a wise move. For about 2 miles, I was allowed to lead until the runner who should've been in front all the while, stepped up & paced me till mile 5. At this point, he maintained & increased his pace while I was dying (slowing down). I managed to finish in under 40 minutes & set a new pr for this millinium. In the race, I got BEATen, fair & square.

Sunday agenda-tribute to the military 5k

I decided to racewalk upon signing up but wished I had run. The race director allowed people, who were signed up as runners, walk. Although I was actually top overall racewalker, the results have me as 4th & in an age group. The top 2 cheaters were female & 'beat' all the guys. I was better off in my run age group, where I would've been second plus get a finisher's medal. The saving grace of this event was the amenities.

AB(C)2

I barely survived the AB(C)2 challenge, created by none other than yours truly. The was the formula designed to test a frequent multi sport/event athlete. What is this? It stands for Awesome Bell Coastal Challenge because 3 races were completed yesterday on Florida's west coast & the marathon today. Total race mileage: 41.7! This challenge transcended both the PT cruiser challenge, now renamed Michelob ultra due to sponsor change & disney's Goofy challenge. Why? Since I ran both the Gasparilla 15k & 5k, Edison festival of lights 5k & the A1A marathon, I exceeded the PT cruiser challenge & I previously mentioned that the PT cruiser challenge is more difficult than the Goofy in that one must be fast enough to finish the 15k just to be able to start the 5k, otherwise the challenge could not be completed.

FYI:

Goofy's total weekend mileage=39.3, PT cruiser's total weekend mileage=38.6. The AB(C)2 was not planned but came to fruition due to circumstances as follows: I signed up for the A1A last year & planned on doing only a local tune up race. In January, I discovered that Gasparilla was celebrating its 30th year of running & were going to give out special spinning finisher's medals in all events. Last week, Premier running, soccer & tri formed a team with the minimum 3 persons required & I would be needed to complete the team;I originally turned them down when I discovered that that race & Gasparilla fell on same weekend as A1A. I later decided to test myself & not turn down history.

Saturday agenda, race 1- Gasparilla 15k

I chose to run this race because it was the 30th anniversary. This event was held in downtown Tampa. The temperature dropped to below the freezing point of water! it was somewhat windy but it was dry. I chose to run this comfortably because the real race was at night. While that decision was wise in terms of performance conservation, it cost me the top 10 percent (of age group) winner's cup.

Saturday agenda, race 2- Gasparilla 5k

It continued to be cold but warmed up somewhat. Because of the following factors, I got to the start late & could not start near the beginning: I had to search for my lost glove (got it), could not put on my number because my hands were frozen & weak & the race began while still fighting to get near starting line. I took nearly 2 1/2 minutes to get to the starting line from where I was positioned. The 1st mile read ten minutes y pico;the sad thing was that I was not racewalking! 2nd mile showed 17, and by deduction, one may calculate my true pace. Although my finish time was unacceptable, it was sufficient to make the top ten percent!

Saturday agenda, race 3- Edison festival of lights 5k

This race was held in fort Myers, home of the famous inventor, Thomas Edison. It was warm up until about 45 minutes to the start, then it started to cool down. This was the one time I doubted myself. Somehow, I had to shed over a minute a mile off my fastest morning pace, just to have a chance to place in this event;it draws the best of the best & always has a fast field. After the long drive from Tampa, I was feeling really tight. I had to ask God for help & he delivered. The Lord had me work out the afflicted areas & a few striders until I felt somewhat comfortable with the feel. Oh, I almost forgot. The pressure was on for me to break 19 not just for me, but for the team (premier racing team). Through the grace of God, I did just such plus was the 2nd fastest on the team & the highest placer (2nd in age group). Our team didn't win but we gave a valiant effort. I had to leave without the trophy due to time constraints so that I could get back to the east coast of Florida for the main event.

Sunday agenda, final race - A1A marathon

This was the weekend's main event & was held in fort Lauderdale. I expected a poor performance due to the lack of sleep, tightness from the prior races & the amount of driving required to compete in all these races, but not the disaster the turned out. When I got back to Miami at night, it was much warmer but by morning, that went out the door. Although the temperature was warmer, it was still colder & with the much higher wind, it felt colder! I finished half of the race with a respectable 1:46:xx but after about 2 hours, the sky released a deluge of rain & I got soaked. Along with the aforementioned, this soaked caused my body temperature to drop so bad, I was suffering from hypothermia symptoms. I had the choice of quitting, a word not found the Bell dictionary or struggling to succeed. Despite the advice of event staff, other runners & medical staff, I chose the latter & began walking. I appreciated the concern from all the cops, runners, & staff but my will to complete my own challenge & my faith in God was just to strong to permit me to fail. Yes, fail. If I don't finish, I fail to complete both the marathon & the AB(C)2. I'd rather finish slow than to be fast & fallen (come back unconscious or incoherent on a stretcher). Although I did stop in the race to go in an ambulance to appease the medical staff, it was to warm up a bit as they recommended. However, I made it clear that I intended to continue the remaining 8 miles, and not go back in the vehicle or even sit on the stretcher like they wanted me to do. They seemed perplexed that I'd go back to those horrible conditions (cold, wet & windy) but they don't me; I am Jasper! I regained my composure at about mile 24 & ran all the way to the finish but intentionally dropped to the ground & crawled through the finish line to make a point- I would rather crawl like a baby than quit, plus it represented how I felt. This year was a 360 degree turnaround for this event. Most notably, the weather, they still had medals when I came in, water throughout although some stations unmanned, & post race refreshments.

Happy president's day everyone.

Twist of fate

I chose that title because this weekend exemplified the statement, "God works in mysterious ways".

Saturday agenda- race for what matters 5k

This event mimics the a1a marathon by the following:
1. uses a portion of the actual course
2. 2nd annual event
3. all finishers received medals

The weather was nice, making for good external conditions, but unfortunately, the internal conditions weren't ideal. This was a major league race that drew top runners, including Ronnie Hollasie & the race winner, Mike Korir. What concerned me was the master field. The master winner was Brian Keno again, while the only one visible was 3rd. I got beat by 2 guys I have been beating on the regular but with a sub-par performance, they got by me by the middle of the race. Despite that, by a twist of fate (God), I still placed first my age group because those guys were in the next group! Unless I ran a PR and beat the 3rd master, that was the best position I would've gotten.

The good: finisher's medal,amenities, raffle, placed, saw Sammy
The bad:I got passed by a woman with whom I could've beaten.
The ugly: ego hurt because of woman & the two runners I also should've beaten. I didn't win in the raffle & Sammy left quick

Sunday agenda- S. Fl. duathlon series opener

I received bad new from my cyclist that she fell & got hurt while training on Thursday & could not perform. I scrambled for days trying to find a runner or cyclist willing to pay & participate. All either said they had other plans or were non committal. A friend (Michael) I was able to convince to do another duathlon came through with a friend of his that is a superb cyclist, in fact, a former professional. By a twist of fate (God), just yesterday when all seemed bleak, even after my race, the bike position was filled. Although he said he was not at his best & we received a 2 minute penalty, we still made the top ten, were first relay & only relay under an hour! I was happy today because my average pace was under 6 minutes, unlike yesterday. Even better, I had a negative split in the anchor leg. This likely occurs because Kevin (the replacement) brought the team from 14th overall (I was tied with Mike) to 6th, putting me in line with the elites. By the grace of God, I managed to pass somebody in the first mile & also in the last. We finished fourth overall but were cut to 10th after a drafting penalty was accessed against the cyclist. Fortunately , our lead was insurmountable & we could've gotten another penalty & still be under an hour! Poor amenities but good organization.

Honorable mention

Teammate success! Chris got 2nd, only to Jon Williams in the 5k & Mike got 2nd in the tough du class. Sammy finished the 5k while Luis finished the du.

Super weekend

This was super bowl XLI weekend & probably was a blast for most football fans, especially those of the Colts. It was one the marked history and it couldn't be at a better time-black history month. 2 African-American coaches lead their teams to the 'big dance' but unfortunately, somebody has to lose. It was a day full of turnovers due to the weather (rainy) & maybe nervousness or lack of concentration. The weather affected all outdoor activities, including my races. While all the hoopla over the final NFL game was great, it was just the close of my super weekend!

Saturday agenda- Maroone marti gras 5k

Last year, this was a flash (race that has lots of amenities & thus attract many non-avid runners) and fast race;this year was just the latter. Apparently, many sponsors did not return, so this one was much smaller. However, it still had a pancake breakfast & some giveaways. This was a tough course that goes over a bridge twice & is also featured at another flash race- riverwalk. In terms of speed, it was so fast that even with breaking 19, I could not place in my age group. Most of the heavy weights showed out. In fact, I got passed by the overall female & lost to her by 2 seconds! I didn't like the fact that I had to pay for parking that wasn't all that close, so I left as quickly as I lost before I get a parking ticket. Through the grapevine, I heard the awards stunk;it didn't matter to me because I didn't win anyway. This day I felt like the Chicago Bears, defeated!

Sunday agenda- butterfly 5k

This year, this face was better than the marti gras in regards to amenities. Although no pancakes, they had so much other things going on. Luckily, the weather was cooler, the rain held off & the course was flat. I thought I could ride easy on this one, since few runners return the next day to race again. Well, not only did my friend Mike show but many of the master runners from the marti gras 5k. Upon sight of this, I knew I would have to step it up a notch. Even though I beat Walthon's time of marti gras 5k by 2 seconds, he too improved & therefore I lost to him twice. This race was so quick that the top 3 overall females were all girls under 20 years old! All three were in front of me by mile one & I ran that in 5:4x! After 2 miles, I had to battle against a preteen girl, but fortunately, I succeeded in passing her, avoiding a consecutive loss to the overall female;this is BIG to the male ego. In my age group, I lost first by 3 seconds but still pulled a great time (sub 18:30) & got a trophy. The master title & first in any age group got a crystal-like plaque but I avoided the medal given to third. However, at the marti gras 5k, that medal would have sufficed! On this day, I felt like the Indianapolis Colts, a winner!

Super weekend agenda:

1. Met with a great friend, Sammy Cooper, while visiting Premier running, soccer & tri, home of the racing team, in which I am a part of. I met her dog Tazz, who had the energy I needed at the marti gras 5k. She has a new book that I hope does not apply to me; the title of the book, " I killed my best friend". Ha, ha!

2. While I the store, spoke with the owners & now Boston qualified runners, Gary & Adreinne Silver. Also spoke to Alan Harding, the timing guy. With she, brief hello but with him, longer conversation, along with customers;normally, it's the other way around.

3. I watched friend Mike play soccer for first time then met with him and his family & friends for the super bowl; they were quite hospitable. After the game, we had a long conversation about this & that, then I was time to rest up.

Today, mother nature (really, god) was kind & withheld the rain while I rode my bike. However, the wind was still relentless, especially the gusts.