2/24/13

5K #10 February 24: Virginia, Williamsburg

State #10

34th Annual Sentara Colonial Half Marathon & 5K at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia



A wonderful pre-run dinner at Doraldo Ristorante Italiano in Williamsburg.


53rd overall out of 277, but 1st place in my 5K age group division -- 25 minutes and 25 seconds



The event began with the runners walking about 3/4 of a mile behind a fife and drum trio from the registration site to the starting line.


It is a beautiful day - sunny, about 50 degrees, and just a little wind


After the singing of the National Anthem, the starting guns were shot by these three musketeers.



and we are off...


The 5K route was primarily around the William and Mary Campus


And the finish line was at the registration site, Kaplan Arena.



This event was extremely well organized and tons of fun, and we want to return to Williamsburg for a much longer visit.



Runs Completed (blue). Scheduled for March and April (red).


2/22/13

5K #9, February 23: North Carolina, Chapel Hill

State #9

20th Annual Shamrock "N" Run 5K. Sponsored by the Kappa Delta Sorority at North Carolina University


Jeannie took me to DFW airport at 6:30 this morning (Friday), so I could fly to Norfolk, Virginia to drive to a Saturday 5K in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and a Sunday 5K in Williamsburg, Virginia. Jeannie is flying into Norfolk on Saturday afternoon, and I will pick her up on the way to Williamsburg.

I think I chose a great 5K for my North Carolina run. It will start and finish near the front of the Kappa Delta House on the North Carolina University campus. Over 1300 runners are signed up.
Tonight (Friday), the KDs hosted a chili and sweet potato dinner at their sorority house. Delicious!
These are some luminaries whom I was fortunate to meet.


The two girls (ladies or young ladies or even Tar Heels) on your left, both seniors, are two of the head honchos in charge of the events. I predict Blair on the far left (although her politics are on the right) will be the first female Republican President and that Becky, next to Blair, will be a CEO of something like Google.
I had my chili dinner at a table with the lady in the middle, Betsy, her Tar Heel freshman daughter Ann--on my left, along with Betsy's husband Bill, son Will, and maybe future daughter in law Beth. I predict Ann (on my left) will be the head reporter at ESPN some day. My prediction for the mom is at the end of this post.
It is now Saturday morning blog time, and it is about 38 degrees, and normally, nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning, but look at this...


A steady downpour--too wet to take pictures until after the race.
Fortunately, I found Betsy. She told me everything we would see on the route, and we ran side by side for most of the 5K and got drenched.


Guess who was the faster.
It was Betsy by about 10 seconds. Her daughter, Ann, cheered us on during the run.


This is the delightful HKDIC (Head Kappa Delta in Charge) Blair who I met the night before.


Blair is calling out raffle numbers and the first place winners in each age division. No awards except for first
I finished 2nd by about 7 seconds in my 60-69 group and staged my own award ceremony.


It was a terrific trip to Chapel Hill. The KDs are wonderful, and they put on a first class 5K. I was also fortunate to meet The family of Bill, Will, Beth, Betsy, and Ann as they made me feel welcome to North Carolina.
After the 5K, I drove to Norfolk, VA to pick up Jeannie at the airport. We are now in Williamsburg getting ready for the Sunday's big 34th Annual Sentara Colonial Half Marathon & 5K.
Runs Completed (blue). Scheduled for February and March (red).

February 24: Virginia, Williamsburg. 34th Annual Sentara Colonial Half Marathon & 5K
March 3: Oklahoma, Ardmore. A2A Arbuckles to Ardmore Race for Mercy Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K
March 16: Nevada, Las Vegas. 12th Annual Run Away with Cirque du Soleil 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk at the Springs Preserve
The mom, Betsy, is running the 5K on Saturday. I asked her if she had a time goal, and she said 27 minutes. Thinking she was in her 40s, I said, "You will probably medal in your age group if you do that." Then she said that she was 55 (scroll back up to that picture and see if that seems right). So my prediction is that Betsy will win her age group.
Donald Trump just called, and he wants to see her birth certificate.
It is after the run now. Betsy finished third in her 50-59 age division. Usually, there would be a 55-59 division which Betsy would have won, but today she had to compete against the spry 50-54 year old women, but Betsy still takes home the bronze.

2/9/13

5K #8, February 9, 2013: Arkansas, Hope

State # 8


5K #8: Fruit Loop 2nd Annual 5K & Kid's Run (There is a lot of fruit and you run a loop.)
Up at 4:00 a.m. to drive to the boyhood home of Bill Clinton in Hope Arkansas for the...



My favorite part of the above picture is his shoes.


And we are off...



I ran the first mile in 7:55, was comfortable, and felt like I could maintain that pace for a 5K time of under 25 minutes.
But a quarter of a mile later -- trouble with my lower right calf muscle.
It became so painful that I walked the next quarter of a mile. As more and more people passed me, very depressing, I became more reluctant to walk all the way to the finish line, about 1.5 miles. So I hobbled as fast as I could to finish the 5K in about 30 minutes.



This was good enough for 3rd place in the senior men's division (56 and older), but there may have been just 3 seniors running.

And now I am a professional as my prize was $10 cash money.


This is one of the organizers presenting at the awards ceremony.


After the 5K Jeannie and I went to eat at a terrific local hamburger restaurant, Tailgaters.



If we are ever again in Hope, we will definitely go back. You should too.
The next scheduled run is in Chapel Hill, NC in 14 days. I hope my leg is okay by then.
Runs Completed (blue). Scheduled for February and March (red).
February 23: North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 20th Annual Shamrock "N" Run 5K

February 24: Virginia, Williamsburg. 34th Annual Sentara Colonial Half Marathon & 5K
March 3: Oklahoma, Ardmore. A2A Arbuckles to Ardmore Race for Mercy Marathom, Half Marathon, and 5K
March 16: Nevada, Las Vegas. 12th Annual Run Away with Cirque du Soleil 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk at the Springs Preserve

2/3/13

5K #7, February 3, 2013: New Mexico, Albuquerque

State # 7
5K #7: SUPER BOWL RUN -- "TOUCHDOWN FOR THE HOMELESS" 10k, 5k, and Kids K

It is Super Bowl Sunday and a 5K in Albuquerque, NM in the neighborhood around Griegos Elementary School?

These Albuquerque ladies and the Super Bowl MVP have something in common...

They are going to Disney World, but the ladies are going to run a 5K or maybe a half marathon.
Lining up at the starting line, I am the only Texan of 247 running.

And we are off (taken by me while running). I did pass the itty bitty kid on the right, but none of the rest of them.
Sore from yesterday, I still ran a good first mile in about 8 minutes.
But by the finish...
My Achilles (plural) were killing me but not as much as the 4800 foot Albuquerque altitude.
I know -- excuses are for losers...
Which I was because I finished 4th in my age group (75th out of 247) with a 27:29 -- no soup (or medal) for me.
But I did enjoy the goodies after the run.

And, I found another ballerina, Gabriella (see Run #3 at Gulf Shores).
The next scheduled run is in Chapel Hill, NC in 20 days.
Runs Completed (blue). Scheduled for February and March (red).

February 23: North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 20th Annual Shamrock "N" Run 5K
February 24: Virginia, Williamsburg. 34th Annual Sentara Colonial Half Marathon & 5K
March 3: Oklahoma, Ardmore. A2A Arbuckles to Ardmore Race for Mercy Marathom, Half Marathon, and 5K
March 16: Nevada, Las Vegas. 12th Annual Run Away with Cirque du Soleil 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk at the Springs Preserve

2/2/13

5K #6, February 2, 2013: Arizona, Surprise (close to Phoenix) and spring training home of the Texas Rangers

State #6
Sunrise in the desert near Phoenix, Arizona. It's the Desert Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K.
Checking in
The marathoners and half marathoners line up to start at 7 a.m. (sunrise is at 7:20)

26 or 13 miles to go for these runners.
At 7:20, the 5K starts. I am without Jeannie on this trip, so I ran with my iPhone.
This is a picture taken while running -- about 1/2 mile into the run.
About 20 ahead of me and 100 behind me. I passed the lady in the yellow and ran ahead of her for about a mile where she passed me and slowly pulled away.
Heading to the finish line.


Time: 25:28
21st out of 130 who ran and 3rd in my age group. Good enough for the bronze medal.
Snacks after the run.
The course was about 4 miles from the ball park in Surprise, Arizona where the Texas Rangers have spring training.
The Rangers will be here in about a week.
On Sunday, the 7th 5K state, New Mexico. It is the The Superbowl Run in Albuquerque.
Runs Completed (blue). Scheduled for February (red).
February 3: New Mexico, Albuquerque. The Superbowl Run
February 23: North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 20th Annual Shamrock "N" Run 5K
February 24: Virginia, Williamsburg. 34th Annual Sentara Colonial Half Marathon & 5K