Noggin Roundup 2012 (5k story)

I'm only a week out of Mummers (the most physically taxing and unhealthy time of my year,) but I saw a run and thought I'd take part in it. At Midland College (nice flat, I've run it before,) at 9:30 (almost too late for West Texas,) and only $15 (proceeds benefiting babies' heads.)

I paid my money and was handed a shirt. I asked, "Do I get a number?" and was told, "No, this isn't a timed run." I don't even know what that means.

The start was announced as, "Go down to the road and make a right." So I marched down to the road, asking someone along the way, "Is this the start?" "It is for me," the fellow runner replied. OK then, I guess we're off.

Five minutes in, my pace was just under eight minutes per mile. That's just sad, I do that on my own with no one watching.

I picked up the pace a bit running behind a red-shirt, until he took a stroller from someone along the way and started pushing it along. I passed him and a few others.

The last lap ended with a sprint. When I drove up I noticed a checkered flag at the side of the road. The announcer said something about it being one mile to go, actually I think she said it was the one mile mark. But when I passed it I took off, passing a few more people along the way.

I pulled my phone out to see how far I had to go (via Nike+,) and was informed I had run 3.4 miles. I kept going, even though I didn't see a finish line. I jumped over a low saw horse barrier and tapped my phone again, (I guess I hit the wrong button because a few minutes later the robotic female voice said, "30 minutes...")

I think I did the 3.5 miles in around 26 minutes. I have no idea where I placed, and I'm not even sure if I even finished in the right spot. But it was 60 degrees out, not too tough, and after the race I joked with the red-shirt about, "This guy had time the kidnap a baby along the way."

Not bad for a preseason race. But if they're not going to give us numbers before the race, at least have a finish line at the end with someone saying, "You're 8th, you're 9th, you're 10th..."

40 is Fast! (5k story)

I started this post about a week ago. It was witty and all (something about paying money or giving blood to enter, then something about vampires,) but I didn't save it. I just hit Copy, with thoughts of hitting Paste when I got back to it. I'm back to it now, but hitting Paste just reminds me of a lunch appointment. Let's just skip the witty bits about fast old men being vampires and get right to the numbers.

In the 5k - 300 people
In the 10k - 110 people
And in the 1/2 marathon -138 people

(Those are the people who will be chasing me.)

The race was big and well put on. Chip timing, police blocking traffic, and moist towels along the rout. Only two problems; it was short (according to Nike+ GPS), and they invited a lot of old fast guys (vampires.)

In my age group I finished 4th (the first loser) with a time of 23:31 (first place in the age group just two months younger was 23:30.) But the GPS said I still had 0.3 miles to go, so they took my chip and I took off running across the parking lot for the full 3.1 and another minute. (full 5k results here)

But they fed us well with pizza, rolls, sports drink, and some delicious noodles from The King and I (wish I knew what it was, I'd order it right off their menu.)

So it's, welcome to the new faster league, for me. And if you want to find out how you measure up with your age group, below is a link. My tip, don't turn 40, them vampires are out for blood.
Don,t click this, it will make you sad, (or go faster.)

The Mountain Monster (5k story)

Ran my first race at Big Spring State Park. The official name was Run2Love2Run, a Valentine themed race, including prizes for costumes and top three couples.

It starts at the park headquarters, you run down to the scenic loop, around the loop, and back up to finish at headquarters. It's 3.3 miles, the highest elevation is 2794 feet and the lowest is 2639. So it's no monster of a mountain, but with high winds and the temperature right at 32, the race was still full of challenges.

From the start we run into the wind but quickly make a hairpin right and head downhill. This is great for about three seconds, then I remember, I'll be making this climb at the tail end of the race. The herd spread out and I have some time to enjoy the scenery. There's the big hospital, a water tower, that old hotel, some windmills, looks like a shopping center, and of coarse bushes cacti and rocks. Not bad and not cold.

Mile two is just before the park entrance, the lowest point of the run, it's all uphill from here. By now the cold isn't a problem. I'm quite comfy and warn. When I make the full loop and turn onto the road to headquarters/finish/my car/a place to stop this nonsense, I am burning up. My hands are cooking inside my gloves. My music has stopped. I'm making some sort of animal sounds. And waiting patiently for my return, that last hill. I push my way up with every step fighting the urge to stop, die, or even worse walk. I make the hairpin turn and hear footsteps behind me. Oh no you don't! I have held the same place in this race, with plenty of space ahead of me and plenty behind me, and you're going to creep up on me here at the end and knock me down a position. No! The terror kicks in and I sprint the last 200 feet of the race.

Official result haven't been posted yet. I think I was in the top ten to finish. Nike+ GPS says my 5k time was 25:30 and my race time was 26:58 (that includes the time it takes to remember it's running and hit stop.)

Big Spring is planning five more runs in the park this year, four at night. Bring your own fruit and Gatorade, they only provided water today. But I did get a great long sleeve performance tee and of course, I got my numbers.