Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving weekend begins today on 'turkey' day!

Thursday agenda-race!

Almost every important county has at least 1 'turkey trot' or Thanksgiving event. Therefore, I will only those of interest to me:

1. Subaru distance classic half & 5k (jax)
2. run 4 the pies
3. JCC turkey trot 5k
4. mr turkey tri/du
5. tamarac turkey trot
6. ft lauderdale turkey trot
7. gobble wobble 5k
8. Miami turkey trot 5k/10k

Eliminate the former since there's plenty of races in tri-county area. In fact, take out #2 & #3 to limit within 2 counties. Using been there, done that rule, I passed on 5 & the latter. Just found out #7 was held last Saturday, so cant run that today. Unfortunately, I cant do both inaugural events (4 & 6) so I had to use the been there, done that rule in regards to type of event; I never did a du on Thanksgiving in my entire career so that won!

Even though he represented the republicans, I still enjoy Clint Eastwood as a person (liked most of those movies he made). Therefore, I'll make your day with this synopsis:

The good: cool weather, 2nd age, 8 overall (including a relay)
The bad: still sick, bike time (barely over 20)
The ugly: transitions (among slowest), was 3rd master but gave out only 1, 5k cancelled

This was an inaugural duathlon & triathlon on thanksgiving so I'm now part of history. I like the fact I was guaranteed hardware, since finishers medals were given. Of course, I want more than that and by the grace of God, I got it. Even though my time was slower than it should have been, the guy who beat me still would've, just a lesser deficit.

Congratulations to all who raced, especially my friends & RD teammates!

Friday agenda-black

This is one of the few years I skipped all the hype & just decided to rest. After all, I had been sick for about 3 weeks! I may missed out on a lot of bargains but then again, I wasn't looking for anything in particular this year.

Saturday agenda-race?

I had a chance for a double header. In the morning was run around the lakes 5k and in the afternoon was beach2bar. Problem with the latter was distance (Stuart) & price so I stuck with the former, which was far enough (boca).

The good: cool weather, 3rd age, 8 overall, lakes
The bad: late and tight start with race on narrow paved trail, small hill & a double loop within.
The ugly: only top overall and age group, therefore no award, basic post race

Sunday agenda-race?

I found 2 of interest:

a. space coast marathon
b. pal half marathon

I been there, done that with the former, so the latter would be my choice if I decided to travel far; I pass. I need to mitigate financial damage for other upcoming events. I opted for crosstraining instead, utilizing my inlines with running. Sadly, I end the month without hardware by no fault of my own.

2

2; that's my number for this weekend!

Saturday agenda-race!

I love that the running season is back! so many to choose from this day:

1. fenway time trial (spartan race MA)
2. delray turkey trot
3. miles for makayla 5k
4. bull run
5. 5k run for hunger
6. pinecrest 5k
7. miracle run

Eliminate the former=out of state. With this many races, I was able to skip palm beach, wiping out 2 and 3. I found out about #6 too late so I wound up doing a double header (2) with the same timing company, accuchip; strike #4.

The first race was #5. Originally, I had about 2 hours between the finish of the first to start of second between 2 counties. However, since it started nearly 40 minutes late, I was afraid my mission might fail. As soon as I finished the 5k, had I to leave without know results nor an award to have a chance at the 2nd race.

The latter (race 2) closed out the day. It was not a 5k (short) so I got a record time. Despite the distance, I had to run to ensure placement, and by the grace of God, I was second (2) only to Jon. I got a generic medal & rushed home for results & rest (sick)

Sunday agenda-race!

Some more to choose from this day:

a. norcal beast (spartan race)
b. usatf-fl jr Olympics regional cc championships (jax)
c. purple stride 5k
d. rnr Latin music half

Eliminate the former=out of state. b=strike 2, for kids & extremely far. Would do c. but need d. since I don't do enough long runs.

I come again as a 2 hour pacer representing runners depot for the 2nd time. I am happy to have done 2 halves within 2 weeks in preparation for the Disney marathon next year. This time, the course was more challenging. Less wind but more heat & humidity (not really bad). I did a better job this time, spot on in terms of the clock. I had to do this still battling illness.

Veteran's weekend

Veteran's weekend is upon us! The day is officially Sunday but let's start honoring all those military, dead or alive, who served admirably to protect and defend because freedom is not free!

Friday agenda-race?

I found 2:

1. light the night 5k
2. waterford 5k

I had to pass on both due to current health condition (sick & out of shape) to prepare for the weekend.

Saturday agenda-race!

This day was stacked with events, too many to name. Therefore, I shall list those that interested me:

1. spartan norcal beast
2. Disney wine & dine half
3. Naples 15k
4. run to restore hope 5k
5. fantasy of lights 5k
6. sallarulos race for champions 5k
7. carbon monoxide awareness 5k
8. S. FL youth developmental championships
9. key biscayne lighthouse run 5k/10k
10. 5k wild walk
11. reason to run 5k
12. key largo bridge run (half/5k)

I had the opportunity to do a double header (#2, and 5=night races) but forced to pass due to more intense, flu-like illness. Needed to rest for endurance event next day. Meanwhile, I still needed a tune up race for that.

#1 automatically eliminated since out of state. With enough races in tri county area, #3 is out. #8 is for kids; gone. # 10 & 11 were good choices I inadvertently missed, along with #7. I like the latter but it is south of where I needed to drop off packet to teammate. My last memory of #9 was disrespect to runners like me because they removed the half hour interval between races (can't pay them more money to run twice) and no award ceremony (stand in line, give name & get frame with certificate in you placed); no go! My original selection was #6 but fell through, so I wound up with the remaining.

Turned out to be a great decision. Although the furthest, it was an inaugural and featured what I like from my original choice, finishers medals! I had a good scare since the top 3 were all faster than me, (one of which was a master), not to mention I am still sick, but by the grace of God, were the only men who beat me, thereby allowing me to win the master title despite my dismal time !

Sunday agenda-race?

Less but still a good selection:

a. trirock clearwater
b. 5k classic (lido key)
c. zoe loren make a difference 5k
d. 13.1 ft Lauderdale (& karhu 5k)
e. Miami man

Since the former would require a swimmer; strike 1. With enough in the tri-county area, b=strike 2. The latter would also require a swimmer for the tri, but the du was possible. I remember struggling through it a couple of years ago healthy; glad I didn't pick that this year. Normally c. would win but with lack of long runs, I needed d.

This was my first official role as a pacer. I selected 2 hours to be comfortable enough to do the distance carrying a sign. It was a race but I didn't really race. Considering I was running sick, it still felt like a race enough the pace was much slower than normal. It didn't help that it was extremely windy nor that I was sick, but the overcast did. I hope to do better next time because I couldn't hold up that sign with all that wind. I forgot that the karhu 5k began 5 minutes prior and was running faster than scheduled. I had to slow down in the last mile to allow anyone who was on pace to catch up. Before the start, anyone asking was told I want to beat 2 hours, just not by a large margin. I finished with 1:59:23. Shot out to Rosa L who I put on a team but got lost and wound up doing 11 miles.

Monday agenda-veteran's day (observed)

fall back!

fall back! It's daylight savings time! We 'gain' an hour so I rest a little more. Need it now since I got sick (caught the bug from co-workers).

Saturday agenda-race!

Most events for the weekend were scheduled today:

1. purple stride 5k (Tampa)
2. wellington community fitness run
3. stepping out to cure scleroderma 5k
4. cell-ebration 5k
5. making democracy run
6. red kettle 5k
7. glow run

With so many available, I passed on the 1st 3 due to distance. Due to illness and previous engagement, I passed on the latter that couldve made this a double header day, not to mention that the race day fee (found out about event last night) was $45 and with no clear answer on age groups, that's a no go! as for #6, first, i didn't like paying to get into that 'dump' last time and #2, under current internal conditions, the course would likely be too challenging. With the remaining, I picked the one I knew how to get to, passing on #5.

The weather (external conditions) was great, cool with little wind, however, internal conditions were bad (sick this day & most of week). I actually lead (reluctantly) about half the race, sometimes pacing with Rachelle, the overall female winner. Then some 29 year old passed me and at one point a large margin. By the grace of God, I caught up to him by 3 mile marker, then the sprint was on! Unfortunately, I couldn't match up with his young legs & shape and forced to settle for runner up. All who placed got medals.

Sunday agenda-race!

All I was aware of was NYC marathon and boca pal half/5k. The former was cancelled at last moment by cowardice mayor due to pressure from non running community & negative newscasters over the event running despite the fact a cat 2 hurricane (sandy) went by causing some damage. On top of that, the NYRRC added insult to injury by only guaranteeing your slots, if you pay the higher entry fee next year. That means you lose ALL your money, not to mention time invested ! Well, I been there, done that so no need to risk entering again. More bad news, but this affected only me. I did the latter event but not the half (got 2 lined up after this weekend). For the first time since I done this events, most of the elite distance runners thought the same as me, which means I lost before the race even started; I saw 5 master runners in my cat faster than me, even on a good day! This, by the way, opened up the path for teammate Jon W to win the entire half. It didn't help that I was feeling sicker and more tired, plus slower than the previous day. What I feared came to pass, but considering the aforementioned, I faired better than expected finishing 4th in age group. Gotta get well and back to the drawing board!