Run #19: May 4, 2013: Florida, Pensacola

State #19, May 4, 2013
39th Annual Pensacola Fiesta 10K and 5K
After picking up the packet Friday afternoon in downtown Pensacola, a seafood pre-run meal -- the house specialty -- shrimp and grits...

at ...

This is a point to point 5K, and the runners rode busses from downtown Pensacola to about 3 miles north around 6 to 6:30 a.m.
On the bus ride, I sat next to Vicki from Mississippi. She said that she might run the 5K in about 23 minutes, over a minute faster than my best time. However I told her that I would try to keep up.
This is Vicki and me after the run.

At the starting line it is about 48 degrees with a 20 mph wind. Very unpleasant, so most leaned against buildings for about an 45 minutes until the 7:30 start. Jeannie, my Texas Tech wife, would be proud of my colors.

Just before the starting horn, they played the National Anthem.

Just before the horn...

And we are off. That is Vicki on the far right. She may be exceeding the speed limit.

We ran through the neighborhood and onto this busy street.

Self-pic while running. Determined steely eyes.

Over I-110

Into historic Pensacola...
There are about 50 ahead of me and 400 behind me.

Approaching the finish line (taken later).

Looking back after finishing. The clock is incorrect -- about a minute slow.
My Garmin showed 23:38, over 30 seconds faster than my previous best 5K time. The wind was at my back, the course had a slight downhill bias, and the temperature for running was perfect. It was like cold beer, shrimp, and grits.

I finished 2nd in my age division and 52nd overall. Vicki won her age division, literally by almost a mile, and she finished 37th overall. Look for Vicki, the pride of Mississippi, at the 2015 Boston Marathon. Those who placed received a silver coffee mug.

Fellow runner Crystal, me and the Pensacola Pelican.

Like, Crystal, the Pensacola Fiesta 5K was super.

19 States Completed (blue).

Scheduled for May (red).

Run #18: April 27, 2013: Minnesota, Minneapolis

State #18, April 27, 2013
and
2013 GrandSlamTrip Baseball Game #1: Rangers at Twins, Saturday, 4-27
The Get in Gear 10K-5K-2K-Half Marathon.
Also, the Texas Rangers play the Twins. Friday night and the plane to Minneapolis was late, and we got to the registration after it closed, but the kind and powerful Race Director Paulette opened back up to find my bib and shirt for me.

And still Friday night, the Rangers just beat the Twins 4-3, and they play again on Saturday and Sunday.

Weighing in Saturday morning about 7 after warming up at the hotel.

About 8000 runners participating in all events, 1840 in the 5K, held at Minnehaha Park.

A perfect day in Minneapolis. That is solid ice to the right of Minnehaha Falls. Some will melt by Sunday when the temperature approaches 80.

The half marathon and 10K runners start first. There are over 6000 more lined up behind these.

About 20 minutes later it is time for the 5K runners to line up.

And we are off -- a pic I took about five minutes into the run.

And after the finish. A time of 24:34, 111th out of 1840, and 4th in my age group out of 28.

Terrific weather, a terrific event, and a terrific companion.

18 States Completed (blue).

Scheduled for May (red).

Run #17: April 21, 2013: Iowa, Council Bluffs

State #17, April 21, 2013
The Gambler Half Marathon and 5K

Crossing the Missouri River into...

I finished 32nd overall with a time of 24:49 out of about 250 runners and received a great plaque for 2nd in my age group.

About 45 degrees when I got to the run site, and I found all of these people in line...

For ...

National Anthem and remembering the casulties at Boston.

The half marathon runners started first.

Then the 5K runners took off.

After about 1/2 mile...

Before the run, I found a ballerina girl, Kelly.

And after about a mile, the course had a turnaround, and I found Kelly coming at me. Kelly says she wears the tutu because she can easily find herself in pictures.

Into the last mile...

Approaching the finish.

This is Roger, a dentist in the area. I spotted him about 300 yards from the finish line, and I thought "He might be in my age group," so we raced to the finish line. Turns out, he is in the next older age group as he is a young 68.

How bout them legs.
We decided that if we both placed in our age group, we would get another picture together. He won his and I finished 2nd in mine

My Iowa run, the Gambler 5k, was a great event, and I am glad I was able to participate.




17 States Completed (blue).

Scheduled for April and May (red).

Run #16, April 20, 2013: Nebraska, Omaha

State #16, April 20, 2013
The Claussen-Leahy 5K Run

Warming up on the hotel treadmill

29 degrees in Omaha as I head for the run.

Checked in-- Bib #304

At the start -- the clock set at 4:09:45, the time on the Boston Marathon clock when the first bomb exploded.

Before the run, remembering those who died and were injured in Boston.
The runner's tribute -- left shoe lace black.

And we are off...

It is an out and back 5K, and I am on the way back.

Cheering on the runners near the finish...
They are amazed that a runner is taking their picture.

My official time: 24 minutes and 7 seconds -- a personal best, and 47th out of 324 who participated. However, my Garmin watch showed 24:16.
No age group awards in this 5K, but my time was faster than all runners older than 50.
A pic looking back at the finish line about 45 seconds after I finished.

After the run...

The event raised over $200,000 for the University of Nebraska at Omaha athletics.

16 States Completed (blue).

Scheduled for April and May (red).