Masterless

During the last weekend prior to the leap day, I attempted another triple header.

Saturday morning agenda-lakes of meadow

This event offered the 5k and the 10k. The latter was chosen by my fellow teammates. This one is known to be an inexpensive race. Due to the weather (hot), I did not switch from the 5k to the 10k as I did last year. Good move, as I struggled to finish still suffering from remnants of that illness. With the poor time I posted, I was fortunate to win my age group. Unless you were in the top 3 overall or master, the best you can get were medals. They had decent post race refreshments.

Saturday afternoon agenda-rock, walk & run 5k

Jon convinced me to do this one. It was located in Winterhaven, so time was of the essence. I met with him later than planned due to various circumstances, with traffic being #1. We headed up via the turnpike & Jon made up the time lost. The course had rolling hills & it drizzled a bit during the race. This time, I expected to struggle;it came to fruition. However, technically, I did improve over the morning race, although by merely a few seconds. My overall race position (11th) was exactly the same but my age group position slipped to second. Luckily for the both of us, all that placed, including overall, got the same item. It was unique in that it appeared to be a CD and was the 1st time I got something like that ever. There was a lot more to drink than eat, in terms of free refreshments. This event offered a dog run & a booth with free stuff for pets! Disappointing was that all the good food was being sold, even the pizza by one of the race sponsors. If you will were willing to pay, it was a 5 star event.

Sunday agenda-run through central park 5k

This race was put on by my new team, Runner's depot. I told Jon the previous night that I was lucky to get by with those dismal times but that won't cut it for this event; I was 'spot on'. In all 3 races, mile one was about 6:05 and mile 2 around 12:30. With that in mind, there was no real hope there would be any light at the end of the tunnel. However, with the cloudy sky, the temperature was not bad & I felt a bit better. Aware of the competition amongst me, I paced & pushed as hard as possible, especially once I got on the track. It turned out to be a wise move as I edged out the age group victory by a mere second. The slowest placing time was faster than what I've been doing since after the overall win, indicating that I escaped leaving without hardware. I did better & felt better, leaving me with a sense of hope regarding my recovery. Good post race refreshments but bogus raffle. The best of all of them because they gave out trophies. Scary, but I darn near left without one, based on the finishing times.

Why the title, masterless? That title eluded me in all 3 races. Looking at the winning times, I would've, could've, and should've, but didn't, thanks to this horrible illness. However, unlike the previous week, I placed in all events I entered this weekend.

Post race victory celebration

Sammy completes yet another race, despite injury. She always asks if I celebrate after a win & I reply that the award is my reward. However, because I have struggled much like the Miami Heat since I got sick, this time I took her advice & invitation. Wow! I only hope she had as much fun as I did. Being with her in itself is a reward, but any time we spend together just adds to that winning feeling. Thanx.

Honorable mention

* Jon gets an award in all 3 of his events (we met only in one).
* Jonathan edges out friend Mike for 3rd overall
* Mike wins his age group, despite illness
* Fred finishes
* Silvia W placed 2nd for the 1st time in years

Sick & tired

That's how I felt all weekend. 2 weeks down, no racing or quality training & I could feel that.

Saturday morning agenda-race for what matters 5k

I wanted to do this one for the following reasons:
1. finisher's medals given out (no pressure race)
2. team competition available
3. trophies on all levels.

This qualified as flash race with a few giveaways but the raffle was poorly done;I, among others, didn't get a ticket, therefore no chance to win. They botched the award ceremony also by announcing winners in one area then sent the winner to where the awards were but the person there refused to give them out, stating she didn't have the list. I felt a terrible strain & congestion in my chest area due to my illness, & therefore performed miserably (failed to break 19 by a large margin). It cost me the master title. Although I allowed Humberto to beat me for the 1st time since, woooooooo, my time held for the last slot. I could've gotten the biggest trophy in my age group by allowing a grandmaster to beat me for the last master position but dating back to the dilema I had in the past, I chose honor over award size. My new team, Runner's Depot won & I brought it over to Renee at the marathon expo.

Saturday evening agenda-Edison festival of light 5k

I knew I'd probably not place, just based on my performance earlier but I could not let my team down via forfeit by not showing up. So, I made the long drive, did what I could (time was even worse) and once I saw the result, I got outta dodge because I knew I had a big event the next day. This is normally a flash race but I left before the awards were given out, so I can't confirm this year. Ronnie got 3rd overall & his team won. I was told our team was 4th.

Sunday agenda-A1A

ESM offers both a full & half marathon. I did the 1st two fulls & plan on another half marathon next year for bragging rights. The amenities qualified it as a 5 star flash. The pizza company was great & all else were donations. I decided to treat this as a training run due to my internal condition. I set the goal to break 2 hours, thinking I'd barely make it;I was off by only 2 minutes from Disney. I was happy to finish without incident.

Honorable mention

* My dad finished the half (placed in the full, ha)
* Sammy showed up & made the day!

Horror weekend

I've been sick since the last blog, with barely any training & worse, no racing! I've been forced to miss the following:

Gasparilla 5k, 15k & my intended marathon relay, my friend Mike's 5k, in which I could've been 2nd overall to him, the Sallarulo 5k, in which I could've been top master, multirace du/tri. There were many non competitive events as well.

Honorable mention

The only good news is in this section.
* Mike wins his own race.
* Sammy breaks 40 min

Super weekend

This past weekend was super for both good & bad reasons. Naturally, you all know it's the super bowl weekend. For many, the only encounter with sports.

Saturday agenda-Maroone 5k

I originally intended to skip this one this year due to a 2 year drought on success but because my ladyfriend (Sammy) had informed me that she already signed up for it, I had a different motivation to attend. Thanks to her, the losing streak was broken. Not so super was that my time was worse than last year, I allowed the overall female to win with about that time I had last year & did not win neither the master nor the age group title. Super was that I at least placed with the less than stellar time. Sammy herself finished with her better times. I was disappointed with medals instead of trophies that issued over 2 years ago. Also, I officially signed on with Runner's Depot.

Sunday agenda-I care, I cure, I run 5k

I normally do the butterfly 5k but I invoked the 'been there, done that' rule & gave this one a try. It also supported a good cause (Joe Dimaggio childrens hospital). I came in with expectations of a small race. Boy, was I wrong! Over a grand finished. Not so super was the late start & the fact that my illness was increasing since Saturday. This was my debut as a Runner's Depot teammate, so I felt some pressure to represent. When the gun went off, I was in the top ten & for a about a mile, Jeffery, the kid wonder, was leading, while I struggled to keep him & Allan in sight. After that, he suffered from sickness & dropped way back. In the final mile, I was basically me & Allan. By the grace of god, I edged him out for my long overdue overall victory! Total surprise, considering I was under the weather. Because of the sheer number of ammenities (goodies, food & drink), this qualified as a 5 star flash race, even without a hot meal.

Honorable mention

* Sammy completed her 1st back to back by competing Sunday as well.
* Sammy's mom finishes her 1st 5k & almost placed!
* Both of the above helped try to recover from illness