Halloween

Have a happy one! This is a transition weekend. Today, Saturday is the last day of the month (October) and tomorrow is the first day of the next month (November). On top of that, its daylight savings time. Boo! It is a treat since we fall back & gain an hour. The trick is how will I perform still nursing an injury?

Saturday agenda

A runner's dream, as I had many events to select from. Since I have been lacking in the long run dept (only one since the last season), I must select halves as training runs leading up to the Disney goofy challenge. First, here's what I missed:

1. Spooktackular 5k-had a Halloween theme much like I did today. George got 2nd in his division, a rarity, but was due to his condition
2. Safewalk 5k-Jon wins this one, Trish won & was 2nd only to him. With no master division, I wouldve fallen to age group
3. Walk like MADD 5k- a fun walk/run I wouldve skipped. It was for a good cause.

I did the inaugural Miami Beach Halloween half. I began with my heel still injured, so I knew I would struggle. The challenge was to hop/hobble/jog to complete it and hopefully fast enough to break 2 hours. By the grace of God, it came to fruition. I pray to recover from this ailment because I have so many more events to do but this condition will hamper my speed.

This was my last race of the month & I did the distance in costume (fatigues from head to toe) to honor the troops overseas. I normally do this at the race the troops du/tri but had done another tri instead.

Sunday agenda

On this day runs the New York city marathon. Due to the difficulty of entry & my finances, I will pass on that & remain at home to race. This also applies to a lesser known marathon in North Carolina. My choice now is between to halves-Daytona & Boca Raton. The former, my dad & I did the inaugural last year. In order for him to do that half while I do a 5k, the latter is the answer. I will be going into it aware of the possibility I will leave the same way I came-with nothing- due to my injury & the fact I ran a distance race prior. Unfortunately, my dad could not participate due to an unforeseen incident. Despite a dismal performance, I was blessed by the Lord to win my age group. It was by no means easy. I had to overcome injury & hustle at the end to take that position; the runner up was behind by a mere second.

While this was my first race of the month, it was Linda's first half of the year. She surprised me because the circumstances leading up to this event lead me to believe that, at best, she'd do a 5k, not a distance race. She hung in like a trooper & got that finishers medal. Ironically, we both did a half this Halloween weekend, just not on the same day or even in the same month.

Honorable mention

* George places in 5k on sat
* Jon wins on sat, 3 overall on sun
* Chuck & wife complete the Halloween half

Not pretty

A lot of things were not pretty this weekend. For starters, the weather. It was rainy then hot & humid.

Saturday agenda-5k

I chose to race rather than just run. For those satisfied with the latter, you could've done the human race 10k. Its a world wide event using Ipod for an unofficial 'race'. I did the schott 5k, benefiting challenged artists. I thought I picked an 'easy' race, and judging by the numbers, I seemed to be correct. Although there was a low quantity, to my dismay, of high quality in regards to master athletes. I had to battle to get from 6th to 3rd overall before failing to outkick in the dreaded .1! I dropped a position but won the master title by a mere second. Based on the time, it was not pretty but the job was done. Post race was 5 star with hot pancakes, eggs, hash browns & sausage, in addition to the traditional stuff. Top 3 overall & masters got framed prints designed by various challenged artists. Mine suffers from cerebral palsy & is wheel chair bound. Age groupers got black baseball style caps with race position on back.

After that, the day went downhill. I got stood off twice, kicked out, broken promises, then after dinner, lies & rejection, all from the same person, qualifying for dismissal; I don't need extra stress. Definitely, not pretty. The next day, I was like Trina's last hit, 'single again'.

Sunday agenda-5k

Since races automatically override pleasure events, I missed 2 bike tour rides, one in dade (homestead speedway) & one in broward; the former I did & enjoyed in the past. I was selected by the president of the south florida striders to join his master team in the boca cross country team challenge. He picked me along with fellow teammate Louis Molina, plus 2 other great runners, Billy Canavan & Isaac Izquirdo. Due to this commitment, I had to pass on 2 local races (Judicata & haulover) & 3 distance events: the wellington 10 miler, martin county Halloween half and marine corp half (Jax). I didn't realize how challenging this run would be. Although not hot & sunny (cloudy & foggy) I struggled with the humidity & the course. I barely broke 21 (not pretty) but fortunately, that was sufficient to help the team win the title. Ralph Guijarro, the team captain, kept the team trophy for the club. This was my 3rd event in a row involving team competition in which only 1 trophy was given. Sadly, I don't have any of them! The event was very small but loaded with talented &/or familiar athletes. Boca raton road runners organized it & took all titles except the master.

I'd to commend George for appearing at both events, despite not competing due to injury.

Theft

Whenever I compete, whether as an individual or on a team, I want to 'steal' the show.

Saturday agenda-5k

I runner's paradise. I had to choose between 4 events:

1. race for the cure 5k
2. voice of love 5k
3. steps to independence 5k
4. splash & dash

I passed on the first for 2 reasons: 1. been there, done that & 2. no age group awards
I have been there, done that at steps to independence as well, largely because there are awards.
The last one was an aquathon & I am a land lover.

Although it is stated as the 5th annual events, it was my first time hearing of it. I drew a small field (low quantity) but a good number of high quality athletes. I was hoping for an easy time but that was spoiled when Vieko & Jon W showed, along with other great master runners such as Walthon, Jorge Ramos, Keith Ball. In the final stretch, I edged out the masters to take the title. Jon W won despite wear & tear from the marathon last week. I was 2 seconds from second (overall). A good post race set up, 5 star for meat eaters (hot dogs). Only the top overall got a trophy; all others, including runner up, got medals. I was fortunate to do well because I had a rough week. Worse, I got victimized by an inside job (entire month's cash reserve gone(1st time ever)) followed up by an accident. But God is good, as not only did I win but also broke the 19 barrier for the first time this month.

Sunday agenda-Miami nice tri

A triathletes dream. Multirace held the race the troops du/tri. I used the 'been there, done that' rule & did the inaugural Miami nice tri. It was run well but not done well. Even though we were the top male team, we had to settle for second because, for the first time I can remember, there were no categories in the tri. The top co-ed team posted the fastest time. To add insult to injury, they gave only one 'glass' trophy for the entire the team. With all the money we put in, it felt like we got robbed. I was a bit disappointed with my run, but considering the foot injury, I was lucky. Although she didn't compete, Linda showed up to ease the day.

Championship

I dub this the championship weekend because of the publix series that George & I are in.

Saturday agenda-duathlon championship

Although normally a tri is held along with the du, everybody had to 'du' it. Due to an amoeba that caused 2 deaths in the Polk county area, no one was allowed to swim. The quarter mile swim was replaced with a mile run. However, us who du, not tri, had to run 2 miles, hence why I got passed by at least 2, 1 female first then a male on the final leg. It was hot & humid. By the grace of God, I did win & placed 5th overall. When you check out the splits, you'll see how I almost lost (edged him out by a small margin) as he was tracking me down on the final run; proof positive that every second counts. However, even if I had lost to him, I built up enough points to win the series. That cushion made it easier to race but I still wanted to win. Each race was a battle to win the war (series); mission accomplished. Both George & I won in our respective categories. Linda did her first du (not by choice but by design); I bet she discovered how hard it is.

At packet up, I found out that team psych was holding a team competition. You know I like that so naturally I put on George, and after using the bathroom, got Linda; race day, prior to start, Inga. The team with the highest points wins a team trophy; our team won! With 3 out of 4 placing (George & I=1st, Inga=2nd), we overcame the others. Linda was hugging on that trophy like Michael Jordan did with the Bull's 1st championship. It was 'her' first trophy. The rest of us, who gained the points to win it, will not likely see it again.

Unfortunately, the park was closed, so no fun like last year but the good news was that the awards were given out around noon. This allowed for a return back to our turf during daylight & ample rest for the next day's event.

Sunday agenda-5k

Fresh off of victory, mentally I was ready, but physically, I was not. I was a bit tight & am still nursing an injury. Aptly titled the shark shuffle, many would have tried hard to take me down if they were aware of this. Fortunately, despite my struggles, including the weather, I managed to place 2nd in the masters. It wasn't easy but I did not leave empty handed. Overall & master winners got plaques, age groupers got 3d medals.

Honorable mention

* George wins race & series at championship & in age group at 5k
* Louis M wins age group
* Inga got 2nd in publix tri
* Jon W gets a pr (2:39) at Chicago marathon
* Linda finishes 1st du (race #25)

Fall?

That what I need my times to do as I struggle to come back from various set backs. Certainly, I doesn't appear to be Autumn down here in Miami, even though officially, the season began between Rosh Hahannah & Yom Kippur.

Saturday agenda-5k

There were no local events, other than a fun run. However, there were 4 outside our normal realm. Last year, Jon & I did the pilot 5k. When there are choices, I often exercise the been there, done that rule. I thought about the sunnyside survivor event, which featured both a 5k & 10k, but it was a little distant. Thanks to Jon, we chose to stay on the East coast, where there were 2 races in the same city. One of them was more popular, while the other not; he chose the latter. Joining us was Accuchip's founder, Al Harding. Jon won easily but I was being challenged by a 17 year old kid from teamfast, a inline skate club. Rather than burn myself out, I decided to run tactically, rather than for time, hence my poor finish on the clock. However, the strategy was successful, as I was 2nd overall (won my age group). The prize was cheesy-a gift certificate for a local restaurant & a generic medal. Luckily, it was 3d. The post race, however, was good & had a live band (a family). Al enter a raffle & cleaned up! This, ironically, was put on by Runner's Depot, but in Vero.

Sunday agenda-5k

On this day, there were many races. This is a runners dream but I can't do them all; I have to choose.

1. Dunn's Run (5 mile & 5k)
2. girls wanna run 5k & mens mile (inaugural events)
3. 13.1 atlanta (inaugural event)
4. Race for the cure (Orlando)
5. race for the kids 5k & 10k

#3 & #4 were too far. #5 was close but I knew that one gave out medals & there was supposed to be a team competition at #1. Therefore, I chose the first one as the main event.

I have plenty of distance races coming up so I skipped that & did my favorite. Although I had a great first mile, my finish time was pathetic. Luckily, the turnout was low and I still got my age group and a top 5 finish. Then, I had to rush to do the Jon William challenge. Yep, I credit him for the next event. We had to hustle to get to the girls wanna run 5k, which featured also a men's mile. This was the first time I did a mile race, outside of track & field. The challenge for us was not the event itself but the commute between events. Unlike the previous race, I was satisfied with my time in this one. With just over a 5 & a half minute pace, I got 2nd my age group (40-49) which would have been 1st in the normal 5 year increment. What was funny is that Sonia, a elite female, was allowed to run in the men's mile; she was 2nd oa. Jon was 3 oa male.

Honorable mention

* George wins his age group
* Louis placed in 5 miler
* John G placed in 5 miler