Memorial day weekend

Memorial day weekend is upon us! While most are out enjoying themselves at a beach or party, such as urban beach weekend, many have paid the ultimate price to protect our freedom. A moment of silence. I give props to the troop and hope you do the same. Remember, freedom isn't free!

Saturday agenda-race?

Nothing local but found these events:

1. Sammy's run 5k (Sarasota)
2. run & water safety day (Melbourne)

To mitigate damages, I passed on those and decided to crosstrain. I pulled out my inlines & rolled for 12 miles, followed by a couple of striders.

Sunday agenda-race?
I actually found a local race with 3 events, 5k, 10k and a half but it's the off road variety. I cant risk further injury, plus I was with someone so I passed on that and opted for more training. I did a mid day ride. I remembered why I don't start training really late (noon) after feeling so exhausted from the external conditions (heat, humidity & wind). It didn't help that I was kind of tired as well.

Monday agenda-race!

Many races today but I only considered 2:

a. memorial day 5k (boca)
b. weston memorial 5k

I usually do the latter (major league) but since I never did the former, this is the year to give it a shot. Praise the Lord, I made the right decision. I struggled as expected with both internal & external conditions and blessed enough to place 2nd in my age group despite these issues. I wouldn't have had a rats chance with that dismal time in the other one. Decent post race & I like the plate as opposed to a generic medal.

I complete the weekend and month with roll, ride & run!

May flowers?

May flowers? Still suffering from April showers!

Saturday agenda-race!

A whole lot to choose from but could only pick 1:

1. Fargo marathon
2. covenant house 5k
3. sienas steps 5k
4. tour of gables 5k
5. keys 100

You can rule out #1, out of FL. I wasn't invited on any team, so the latter is gone as well. I have been to all the rest but am forced to pick only 1. #4 has the worst categories so I pass on that. It seems I got a message from God and picked the middle one. I did that last year & had some measure of success. However, I was faster back then.

It was hot & humid plus my internal conditions were poor (miss some workout due to circumstances beyond my control, including my treadmill breaking). I had a rocky start but when the dust cleared, I actually improved by a position despite the dismal time. Praise the Lord, as I got a plaque for being 2nd to the race winner!

Sunday agenda-race!

Not as many to choose from but still only can pick 1:

1. rnr Portland half
2. hallandale 5k/10k
3. mr tri Miami
4. race for relief 5k

You can rule out #1, out of FL. The rest are doable and I like them but can only do 1. I picked the latter based on proximity. The heat & humidity I expected but not what I went through. My time & position were much worse. With no master title, I could only get an age group title. Praise the Lord I got that but only a generic medal.

Mother's day weekend

Mother's day weekend is upon us! Thanx to JW, my race weekend began on Friday night. I cant make those races because I work but by the grace of God, my boss let me have the day off.

It was hot & humid (external conditions), kinda as expected. The course added to my misery, as it featured 2 loops in the cross country section (mostly sand and gravel) and 2/3 the course. On top of that, I wasn't at my best. Thankfully, despite a dismal time, I won my age group (40-49), barely making the baker's dozen. JW got a plaque as the master winner and we both needed to leave to prepare for the next day.

Saturday agenda-race!

Everybody crammed races this day to avoid Sunday. These were up for consideration:

1. Santa Barbara wine country half marathon
2. run for love 5k
3. the 5k race and power walk
4. run for the roses 5k
5. Lou Gehrig's disease 5k/10k

You can automatically rule out #1 (out of FL). I passed on 2 & 3 (palm beach). Although #5 is closest in proximity, #4 offers my best chance to place based on my current condition.

It was still hot & humid (external conditions), plus a bit windy. The course had lots of twists and turns but worse for us fellas, the women were given a 5 minute head start! That means we had to fight through the slow stragglers & walkers to get to the finish. I still failed to break 20 but made improvements from the previous day, including now in the dirty dozen. Prior to the race, I put Emily as a teammate for the open team division. She won her age group, I got 2nd master and we both scored 3rd place as a team (1,2,3 punch). We came out with much bling (2 medals).

Sunday agenda-happy mother's day!

I saw 1 tri somewhere far in FL, but with no swimmer, it was out. Instead, I cross trained on my inlines for 12 miles before taking out my mom for lunch.

Cinco de Mayo weekend!

Cinco de Mayo weekend is upon us ! Don't drink & drive!

Saturday agenda-race!

Here's what's on my schedule:

1. Santa Barbara wine country half
2. ft desoto tri
3. big cardio
4. make a wish 5k

You may automatically rule out #1;out of state. #2 was cancelled; strike 2. I passed on the the latter so #3 it is.
I like the 7 am scheduled start but unfortunately, it was delayed over 15 minutes. Its a great event for families because so many post activities were scheduled, like basketball & soccer. I stuck to my passion, the run!

I got sick during the week on top of the injury I sustained from the half last Sunday (re-aggravated an old ankle injury). If I felt like I did on Monday, I would not have been able to race. God is good, as I recovered enough to attempt to race. When the horn went off, I was barely in the top 30. Despite internal (aforementioned) and external (heat & humidity) conditions, I made the top 5 even with a dismal time and captured the master title with the help of the Lord. That distinction earned me (& a female) the only plaques to be awarded. The top 3 and age groupers got medals; strange, huh? Post race was great, lots of activities.

Sunday agenda-race!

Here's what's on my schedule:
a. madd dash 5k
b. down & dirty 5k/10k
c. inspiration 5k

I took the closest to my house & ran with it. I have never been to this venue (Gulliver prep) but yet it's listed as the 13th annual. It began there, went through the 'hood & back, finishing on the football field. I didn't make it to the top ten until about a mile. By the grace of God, I held my position despite declining speed, plus the internal & external conditions similar to yesterday. Runners depot were 2nd and 3rd respectively, with me the latter. Disappointed I got a generic medal even though I was 3rd overall. The cause was for special Olympics.