Final weekend of July

Final weekend of July is upon us. Can you believe it? While rain was bountiful, races are not.

Saturday agenda-race?

Here's what I found for the last Saturday:

1. Spartan race CD
2. biggest loser 5k trail DC
3. eagle lakes 5k
4. Hutchinson island tri

You can automatically rule out the first 2 (out of FL/US). Without a swimmer, the latter is eliminated.

I needed this race to rebound from the disastrous weekend last week. Its clint eastwood time:

The good: won age group
The bad: not even in top 20 overall, medal as award, time
The ugly: weather (almost cancel race due to lightning with rain, still humid), beat by 3 women

Sunday agenda-race?

Here's what I found for the last Sunday:

1. san Francisco marathon
2. biggest loser 5k VT
3. Huntington's disease tri

You can automatically rule out the first 2 (out of FL/US). Without a swimmer, the latter is eliminated. Uh oh, nothing left! I trained on my inlines this day.

Who lee oh!

Who lee oh! That's how it sounds to say july in Spanish. And yes, the racing drought continues, just as the rain and/or heat with humidity.

Thursday agenda-run, sweat and beers

Yes, a rare weekday race and at night, basically. Both are disadvantages for me. Let me sum it up, clint eastwood style:

The good: got in a race and was 2nd in normal 5 yr age category
The bad: drive, weather (hot and humid), only 1 master, time
The ugly: didn't place due to 10 yr age group

After party was good for meat eaters (chicken); I dealt with the salad. I had to rush home to get ready for work.

Saturday agenda-race?

I found a couple, both at night:

1. hemingway 5k sunset run
2. dreher park dash

Although both are far, I chose the closest in proximity, the latter.

Last year, I suffered a heat related mishap and unfortunately, reminded of this. The worst insult was by an announcer, who embarrassed me in front of my brother (on rare visit) and friends, and to my dismay, I let that get the best of me, repeating the same misfortune. Sadly, it was worse since I not only didn't place but needed assistance to finish. Thankfully, I'm alive to talk about.

Sunday agenda-race?

I am aware of only 1-trilogy 2. After what just occurred, this was out anyway, therefore no racing and no hardware for this weekend.

Awards? Who me?, no!

Near mid month, still crisis!

Near mid month, still crisis! This weekend is just 3 days shy of the middle of july and already, so much drama. A personal issue began the week. rainy weather all week. The host country brazil gets decimated by Germany, just in the first half alone! No more big 3 in Miami as king james defects back to Cleveland; aka LeGone! This is one of the worst racing drought weekends thus far.

Saturday agenda-race?

This is what I could dig up:

1. Spartan race PA, CD
2. mr ft Desoto series 1
3. strider track meet

You can automatically rule out the former (out of FL/USA). Rather than travel far, I picked the latter. This year, they removed 2 events (200 & 100) & added another (4x400 relay). This decision forced me to race less since there were not enough to form a 2nd team in time. Also, due to the race drought, more competitive people showed up, so this year, I didn't fair as well. 200 fun run was added at last minute. Glass time:

Half full: showed in 400, 800 & completed all events I entered, sub 6 in the mile.
Half empty: aforementioned deleted events, not on a relay, didn't place in mile & way off in keno prediction run.

Sunday agenda-race?

This is what I could muster:

1. Spartan race PA
2. military run 6k

You can automatically rule out the former (out of FL). Found out about the latter after the fact I did a long training run, so therefore, I didn't race.

Independence weekend

Independence weekend is upon us! USA! We broke away from England to create our own madness, uh, destiny.

Friday agenda-race!

Happy independence day! Lots of races today, a dream for me. Now the tough part is which one?

1. crime stoppers july 4 5k
2. freedom 5k (cape coral)
3. firecracker 5k (Melbourne)
4. moe's  firecracker 5k
5. mr independence day du/tri
6. Weston hometown 5k
7. star spangled 5k

I decided to go tried and true, eliminating the first 4. Now what to do? I picked the latter since I will race near there again this weekend.

This is one of the few times I was happy with my finish. The time was better than as of late (low 20) and I was 8 seconds short of claiming the master title. Praise the Lord because I needed a better time this year to win my age group as opposed to last year. I got a coffee mug as an award.

Saturday agenda-race?

Not! Believe it or not, I couldn't find anything within my range but I bet Jon did. I did light training. Happy birthday to my mom this day.

Sunday agenda-race?

Thankfully, I found something but of course, I had to travel. I did this one last year so it was a return visit. I had the misfortune to set up my bike next to the top asshole triathlete who accused me of moving his bike to set mine. That insult in itself was bad but it was the 5 minute expletive ridden tirant, like a bitchy wife, non stop with no chance to respond. Naturally, I remained silent, as he was looking for a fight. He did this prior to and after the race. Thanks to my belief in God, no physical harm occurred, only verbal. Other than that, business as usual. Check it out clint style:

The good: top ten and podium finish
The bad: struggle with bike, travel to event, technical bike course, 2 loop run
The ugly: the incident

Did you know that the youngest of the race organization contemplated disqualifying me based solely on hearsay from the irate, false accuser? What a travesty that would have been. Fortunately, better judgement was exercised. I got a drinking mug as an award. After both events, I have plenty of drinking vessels.