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This was a dream weekend- a double header followed by a distance run!

Saturday morning agenda-united way 5k

I was the lone representative for Runners Depot at this one. I managed to capture 3rd overall, beating out someone in my age group. However, he got the last laugh, as his award was bigger than mine! Yep, the organizers foolishly made 3 different sizes according to position, acceptable for age group, but did not reward the 3 fastest in a better way. Therefore, my 3rd overall was like 3rd in an age group & likewise, 1st in an age group was the same as the top person! On top of that, before we got to run, the park (birch) in which the start line was located refused to let the athletes park within. We had to walk about a quarter mile to get there! Also, the course was not accurate, in fact, short. The ultimate low was no clock & no results posted. In fact, they weren't available even online throughout the weekend. Now I know why attendance was poor.

Saturday evening agenda-Edison festival of lights 5k

This was the complete opposite of the morning race. It featured a high attendance of top class runners. Awards (& prize money for overall & master winners) way were better. The post race, virtually non existent in the prior, was plentiful but strict (need food ticket). Although the weather was better earlier, this race was better organized, allowing for a better time. Once the fast guys got pulled out (Paul & Jon), I moved up to top in my age group!

This year, we had the ultimate team to represent Runners Depot. I was the wild card, while the others counted toward the victory. Mike K was 2nd overall, Jon W was 3rd master, Jeffrey T got 3rd in his group. I advanced to top age group. Later, I found out that we won!

Sunday agenda-a1a

ESM offered both the full & the half. I chose the latter, especially since I did 2 marathons & 3 halves. Due to the prior events, I woke up a bit tight. Throughout the event, I kept thinking that all I have to do is keep running & eventually finish. Praise father (God), I finished it. I wound up treating this as a training run, but with a reward- the finisher medal. The post race party was great!

Love is in the air

The title is fitting for the turn of events these few days. Niketown night-Tuesday-meant more to my buddy Jonathan, as it was his birthday; gotta love that. Thursday, President Obama recognized Abraham Lincoln, his 'idol' & he loves to associated himself with him. Friday, the 13th- a day few love but by the love of God, no major incidents. For me, a good day, as I spent some time with friends that are like family. They are the parents of my fallen she-ro, Jolie. I loved her tenacity & loved to have her as a partner; we've had many a victory in the multisport world.

Saturday agenda-loop around the lake 6k

First of all, happy Valentine's day, especially to the ladies. It is the commercial holiday to represent love between 2 (or more) people, usually lovers. For all those who know me, there are different levels of love & I hope to exude that every day, not just the one. Unfortunate to most, it will be intangible.

Normally, I'd skip this due to the distance but you know how I love to exercise the been there, done that rule if there was a race conflict. This time, no conflict but I wanted the new experience. I disappointed that I never really got to see the lake & that there were no mile marker clocks, not even at the 5k point. Amazingly, competition was stiff, so I had to settle for 2nd in my age group.

Sunday agenda-race!

For all you NASCAR fans, I know you loved the Daytona 500 but the ending to me was disappointing.

1st agenda-run through central park 5k

This race was put on by Runner's Depot, the store in which I am on their racing team. Therefore, this was a must do, eliminating the surfside 5k, Sarasota half & full marathons, & Marco bridge run as options. The racing team came out in force. The Kenyan, Mike, won the event, Jon got 3rd overall; Renee loves that. There was a battle among Runner's Depot teammates for the master title. Unfortunately, I lost that battle by mere seconds but won my age group with a time I don't remember having for over a year! He had the edge being, not only well rested, but that this was his only event of the weekend. He wound up doubled over upon completion, proving that he got a run for his money. I had to chalk that up to experience, dust myself off & prepare for the next one. In fact, I had no idea how I did until well after the next event.

2nd agenda-Sarullos race for the champions 5k

Since Jon W is faster, he got a head start to prepare for the double header. I'm glad he did, because although supposedly informed, the head lady seemed to be clueless. When I got there, I got treatment much like Laurie of footworks, terrible. In a nasty manner, she had I had to wait at the back of the line even though she was aware I had little time to get ready to run again. Reluctantly, after someone in front was not totally ready, she issued me a number but decided to punish me by giving me 666. Often associated with the devil, fellow Florida fleet elite teammate Jonathan informed me that it was a code dating way by back Caesar. Jon got the master title in this one, forcing me to age group. I failed to break 19 but this time it was not my fault. Prior to the start, we were secretly notified that the course was long due to organizer who placed the pyro-technics in front of the old start line from the past instead of the correct start, despite being briefed the day prior. So I wound up in the high 19's because of that (3.24 miles) and the timing chip snafu in which the times failed to record, requiring estimations. Those errors alone justified by bib number, but not my overall result. Unlike the prior race, winners got medals. Overall titles got black ribbons, the others, a slightly smaller medal with a red ribbons. Everybody loved the finisher medals, a rarity in 5ks. Thankfully, Jon brought the trophy to me after going back to the central park 5k & returning to this one;I looked up the results at my dad's house hours later.

The external conditions were great- cool & overcast for both races. As the day progressed, it got hot. Performance results good internal conditions as well.

Monday-presidents day

Like Barack, I have more respect for the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, who, like him, had to take over during one of America's toughest times-the civil war. This observed day is used to celebrate Washington's birthday, along with Lincoln. Somebody had to be first & he was the lucky one. For those who have off, gotta love that.

Honorable mention

* Jeffrey Tait wins the surfside 5k
* Fred Franklin takes 3rd master
* Berta won her age group
* Jon W places high in all 3 events I attended
* Jonathan wins the race for the champions
* Felipe got 3rd overall in the race for the champions
* Jon W got the master title at the race for the champions
* High Runner's depot attendance at run through central park
* Louis M wins age group at an obscure 5k
* George M wins age group at the race for the champions
* Louis B wins age group at run through central park
**sad news- I just found out that Colin Ansine passed away about a month ago; my condolences.

Fresh

Utilizing the been there, done that rule, I got a 'fresh' start at going to races I have never done.

Saturday agenda-run for your heart 5k

Great cause, especially since I have high blood pressure. I passed up on the Maroone 5k & race for faith 5k using the afforementioned rule. Although I have never done the latter race, I have raced in Palm beach county. For a 'fresh' race, I went to a county I never raced in-Stuart. Despite cold weather, I had a dismal performance but fortunately, it was sufficient for the age group title. All award winners got trophies but the overall & master got the tall ones;the winner did it well under the time I have been doing, even on a good day. They had a raffle geared for the locals; yeah it was rigged, but at least they can say they held one. I like the tech-tee.

Sunday agenda-race

This was racing heaven day. I forewent SoBefit 5k, tribute to the military 5k, wishing well 5k , hearts & soles 5k & the multirace season opener to do the inaugural melbourne half (they hosted a full & 5k, as well).
1. SoBefit 5k-also an inaugural but I've been to south beach.
2.tribute to the military 5k-I did this race in the past.
3. wishing well 5k-1st time race but I committed to a distance race
4. hearts & soles 5k-skipped because it is a fun run
5. multirace season opener-a. did the half & b. antagonistic relay rules

Much like the 5k previous to this, my time was sub-standard. They had a clock at mile 6 & the finish. At the former, the time read as if I were on record pace but the latter revealed that I was just too relaxed with my mp3 sunglasses & still tight from the ING & training woes from being sick. I have 2 more scheduled so I'd better get my act together.

Kudos to my teammates on their respective victories. Jon W, Jeffrey T,Jonathan, George, Louis M, Joel & many others.

Bitter sweet

Obviously, this weekend is super because of the superbowl, but actually this blog is about more than that. Last year, I basically missed the superbowl (bitter) because of illness (bitter). Guess what? I got sick again but not as severe. Unfortunately, it was enough, combined with the marathon of last sun, to curtail my training. What was sweet last year was, #1. My debut as a member of Runner's Depot, #2 my overall victory in the race, despite feeling sick and #3 Sammy especially & her mom's assist to my eventual recovery. The positives made it a super weekend.

Saturday agenda-race

Well, that was my original plan but that was stalled because I was still under the weather. I had to forfeit my chance to race in Delray (run for miracles 5k) or travel for a 6k, with possibility for a rare afternoon race (a double header). However, illness is not an acceptable excuse for me to escape all training. Instead, decreased intensity & distance was in order; 2 miles easy. What a bitter way to close out the month.

Sunday agenda-race

The 'rest' was necessary to set up for a sweet start of this month, February. Although the shortest month, it begins black history month. On a personal note, today marks my 1 year anniversary joining the Runner's Depot racing team. I cure, I cure, I run 5k was my inaugural race as a member of the team, so this was a must do for me. I forwent a duathlon/triathlon in which I probably could have won (George was 2nd overall!) and skipped on on a race for the cure up in Palm beach because this was important to me. Ya'll know I'm a conditional runner. The external conditions were sweet, great-cool to cold but the internal conditions were not, in fact bitter. I had been sick since Niketown and was compelled to light duty as far as training was concerned. On top of that, I had not fully recovered. Last year, by the grace of God, I won the entire race despite sickness. This year, the event was advertised, drawing more people. I saw a segment on channel 6 the day before, that coupled with the fact that Jon said he was going, I knew last year's sweet victory was not possible this time. When the dust cleared, I was still blessed enough to win my age group (sweet) but cursed in the sense that I could of, should of, would of won the master title had it not been for this adversity. The fact that I didn't left me 'bitter'.