July 25
Make It By Midnight MarathonMacon, GA5:41:00Overall: 5/10(Finisher's Medal & Tiara)Notes: It all started as something of a joke.
I had been reading through the rules of the Marathon Maniacs. One item struck me as interesting. A marathon would be considered legitimate by the Maniacs (and the 50-Staters who use similar rules) if it was publicized a month ahead of time, had at least five starters and three finishers, and had race results published or posted on the web. I was in the middle of search for a summer marathon – there are very few in the South, and a trip to North Dakota did not seem to fit into the family travel plans. I posted the marathon rules on the Macon Tracks online forum and suggested that we could make our own miniature marathon. Then I sat back and waited to be lambasted for my stupid idea.
To my surprise many people seemed taken by the idea. Deb Botkin, a fellow Maniac and infamous marathon/ultra pusher (ahem…encourager), loved the idea and added a great one of her own. One of the worst things about being a slower long-distance runner is arriving at the finish line to find everything packed up, your friends gone, the awards ceremony finished, and only a few weary volunteers waiting for the final runners to come across. What would happen, Deb suggested, if runners in our new marathon started when they wanted with the goal of finishing as close to midnight as possible? She laughingly tossed in a Cinderella theme: runners finishing before midnight would receive a tiara, those arriving late from the ball would get a pumpkin. She also waited to be told that her idea was dumb, but was surprised when I told her I thought it was brilliant. Whoever heard of a race like that? We could be a truly original event.
We decided to go ahead with both of our ideas and the Make It By Midnight Marathon was born. We figured if we begged enough of our friends hard enough we could probably find 3 more people to start the race with us. We’d drag at least one to the finish so it would count. One problem: where to have the race? We could not afford to have roads closed, and we figured we would have very few volunteers to help with aid. The logical solution was a loop course – maybe in a housing development that was not yet finished or another abandoned area. Weeks went by and we still had no course. I finally suggested (once again, largely as a joke) that we should just run the race out of my garage. To my surprise I found myself running around my neighborhood the next day looking for an appropriate course. I found a decent 4-mile loop, planned some finishing loops to make up the remainder of the race distances, and the race had a course.
All of this time people were signing up for our little race. It was posted on the Marathon Maniacs website, and Maniacs from other states were asking to join us. By the time race day rolled around, 13 people had signed up to try the marathon or half-marathon distances. The race itself was more like a yard party. The driveway aid station looked like an ultrarunning buffet with all of the goodies the runners had brought to share. My wonderful wife Janet handled registration and runner support. The family members of the runners provided an army of volunteers. As it got dark, the amusingly militant volunteers (concerned for runner safety on the dark roads) decorated the runners with enough glowing lightstick jewelry to make us look like a running version of the Main Street Electrical Parade.
The runners needed the aid too. The little course around my neighborhood proved to be…well…brutal. The hills were constant, the heat and humidity were fierce, and the darkness made things surreal and difficult. Several of the Maniacs who ran the race rated this among their most difficult marathons.
But the real story of Make It By Midnight was the finish line. Every runner received a warm welcome, a crowning with their tiara (everyone got one whether they finished before midnight or not), and a medal. In keeping with the unusual atmosphere of the race, the medals were Tae Kwon Do awards donated to the race by Melissa Cowart. Considered that we all felt beaten down by the course, they seemed strangely appropriate. The other great joy of the finish line was watching the runners sitting and talking for hours, sharing running war stories, recommending other races, and generally having a wonderful time. The atmosphere was amazing – a party with many new friends that happened to have 26.2 miles in the middle of it.
Fast forward to this year. Despite the painful course, many of the participants were quickly asking if the race would go on again. Deb and I were pleased to tell them that we certainly planned to try it in 2009. We tweaked the course to make it a perfect 4.37 miles (6 laps even for the marathon.) We actually ordered a cool running medal. I found even more ridiculous tiaras and pumpkins. And, thankfully, even more wonderful runners found us.
This year we had runners from as far away as California. David Reid joined us from the West Coast to add Georgia as his 38th marathon state and Make It By Midnight as his 88th marathon. The states of Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, and (of course) Georgia were well represented. A new course record was set by John Nevels, a graduate student at Auburn University, who destroyed the course with a shocking 3:24. Several runners completed their first marathons this year! That is probably the only way to get a marathon PR on this course. Becki Middlebrooks defended her half-marathon title from last year.
There were so many wonderful moments. You would think that running is circles around my own neighborhood would not be so meaningful to me. Yet seeing so many amazing people supporting each other through a hard run and having so much fun really moved me. It was an incredible experience to see the glowing finish line in the distance, hear the cheers, and be so warmly welcomed to the running party. I have run 21 marathons and ultras and a ton of shorter races. No finish line has ever meant as much to me as this one.
The talk and fun went long into the night. The final runners drove off around 2:30 AM. What a fine night!
Thank you so much to everyone who was part of this race. So many friends and family members of the runners became volunteers at the race. This race was successful because of you! Keep an eye out for next year. I have a feeling Make It By Midnight will be back again. I can’t wait.
July 4
Firecracker Road Race 10KWrightsville, GA53:02 PR!Age Group: 2/3Overall: 31/68(Award Hat)Notes: This is my kind of race. Every ingredient needed for a great race (according to Tighurt, anyway) is here:
1. A small town with the race headquartered at the central square.
2. Great race organization.
3. More than one race to run! (and a discount - and special awards - for those running both)
4. Fun course. (and certified too!)
5. Great hydration, course management, and traffic control.
6. Good post-race hydration and snacks.
7. Fun, distinctive awards.
8. An awards ceremony where everyone can see and hear.
Plus, they get bonuses for a food and crafts festival going on at the square too. Nice.
I have been wanting to run this race for a while but was never in town during the 4th of July weekend. This year I planned my trips specifically to be in town for the fun. I'm very glad I did. I'm sort of a "collector" of small towns, so I enjoyed touring another one before, during, and after the races. I was a little rushed before the race, but still managed to get a decent warm-up. I had forgotten to pre-register for the races, so I was not terribly surprised when they did not have a t-shirt in my requested XL. I tried a large and was thrilled that it fit well. Weight loss at work for me again!
My plan for the races was to race the 10K hard and then recover (and hopefully survive) during the 5K. I wanted to go out at a decent, sustainable pace and, well, actually sustain it for a change.
We were blessed with absolutely perfect weather. Low 70s with just enough humidity to actually make it feel the slightest bit cooler. The 7:00 AM starting time protected us from harsh sun. I don't think I've ever been this comfortable during a July race!
I really like the course. There's not much unusual to see, but the hills are not terribly high and most of the climbs are very gradual. The course has a large out and back section, so I could plan for coming back. Police did an amazing job keeping the roads clear. I felt very safe - and very looked after at the water stations. Gatorade and water at every stop - impressive. The race also had a few split callers, but they were calling the splits at unusual locations - largely past the mile markers. I think the split callers were also helping serve as turn monitors, thus the unusual placements.
I was amazed at how consistently I was keeping my desired pace. I am very bad at this usually. Today most of the miles were right around goal. I was amazed during the 6th mile that I actually felt great. I wanted to run faster...so I did. There seemed to be an endless supply of energy for me. I passed several people on the home stretch and almost caught a gentleman who was only a dot in the distance half a mile before. I sprinted into the finish at full speed (a 5:30 mile pace - that's inhuman for me) when I saw that I was going to easily lock up a 10K PR. I almost managed to get under 53 minutes...but not quite. Still, shaving 38 seconds off a 10K PR on a certified course is accomplishment enough for one day. I don't want to start thinking I'm a runner or anything. :-)
When I checked my time I found that I had averaged my goal pace exactly. For me this was a race strategy success story. I made a good plan, followed it, and succeeded. Wow.
Oh, and I took second in my age group and felt that I had earned it. That felt really good. I was hoping I would get one of the awards too. They had a rather eclectic variety of awards for the different age groups, but most of the adult age group winners were given nice embroidered hats: blue for first, red for second, white for third. Quite patriotic and very cool. I will cherish my new red hat as a memento of a great race and a wonderful morning.
Firecracker Road Race 5KWrightsville, GA27:09Age Group: 5/8Overall: 54/140Notes: I treated the 5K race as my own private cool-down for my great effort at the 10K. I actually wound up pushing the pace just a little bit, but ultimately just had a nice pleasant run. It followed the same course as the 10K, just turning around sooner on the out-and-back section. I actually remarked afterward that it was the most relaxing 5K of my life. The race support on the 5K was just as good as the 10K. Great job by all involved in both of these outstanding small town races!
June 27
Helen Keller Festival 5-MilerTuscumbia, AL47:34Age Group: 13/17Overall: 86/206Notes: I have an interesting relationship with this race. It is the first race I have ever run 4 times. I ran it twice when I lived in Mississippi and (counting today) the last two summers. The Helen Keller 5-miler is extremely well-organized. I had registered online and had a friendly e-mail from the organizers asking me my t-shirt size. I was glad they checked on the size since the quality of the shirts at this race is legendary. Sadly, not this year. I don’t know if the economy caused a cheaper shirt design, but what is usually a colored shirt with a beautiful design was this year a white shirt with an underwhelming logo in red. Still, the beautiful courthouse served as the center of registration with good restroom facilities within. I was amused when I received my race number that I was listed as being 18 years old. I wish. The kind folks at the table found a race official who (with much humor) aged me the requisite 20 years. So much for the quick return to my teen years.
I like this course an awful lot, even though I never seem to run it that well. It starts nearly 2/10ths of a mile up Water Street from the courthouse. After the race start we got a nice ovation from the folks at the finish line as we passed through heading for the park at the bottom of the hill. I always enjoy running through this beautiful park and looking at the preparations being made for the festival later in the day. The fast downhill start is always fun. This year I made myself slow down hoping to save some energy for the hills that I knew awaited us later on.
We found the first hill as we left the park and worked our way back into downtown Tuscumbia. After a right turn, we headed through the rolling hills of a residential neighborhood. Even though the pace of my first mile was perfect, I was quickly realizing that this would not be a record-breaking run for me today. The heat was climbing quickly and the humidity was already a force to be reckoned with. I could not seem to process the heat well and was forced to slow down against my will. I realized then that I had made a serious mistake with my clothing choice. I have taken to wearing a navy blue muscle shirt under my Macon Tracks singlet. The combination both looks great and protects me from chafing from the edge of the singlet. Unfortunately, it also puts two layers of fabric around my core. No wonder I couldn’t get cool! Forget fashion the next time!
I managed to maintain the slower pace, appreciated the many water stops, and enjoyed the sprays of water the fire department (and some private citizens) provided. For the first time I got a really good look at the small outdoor theatre where they perform The Miracle Worker right at the spot where the events actually happened. The set was a cut-away 2-story building with smaller building beside it – just like in the famous story. I enjoyed seeing how they had arranged their lighting and seating areas and would have liked to stop for a better view. Unfortunately, the miles ahead beckoned.
I managed to pick up a tiny bit of speed and race the long downhill to the finish line. I came across in a disappointing 2 ½ minutes more than last year. Still, with my poor clothing choice, the intense heat and humidity, and my own struggles with energy during a fairly strict diet I couldn’t be too upset.
No race does hydration as well as the Helen Keller. I had a full 32 oz. bottle of Gatorade, bottles of water, and a Diet Mountain Dew. Now that’s the way to recover after a great race.
June 20
Peach Festival 5KFort Valley, GA25:50Age Group: 9/19Overall: 86/310Notes: I usually look forward to the Peach Festival 5K in Fort Valley each year - yet dread it a little too. This contradiction is due largely to my love of small races - and general dislike of 5Ks with more than 200 people. The Peach Festival 5K has grown so much in the last few years. With the growth comes a crowded feel to the start and tons of competition. Still, Caryl does a great job with the organization. The course is its usual flat self. I'm sure the allure of a PR brings many people to this race. I have set a PR each time I've run this course. My training and strategizing this week were destined to bring me the same thing in 2009.
No such luck.
The morning brought slightly cooler temperatures (mid 70s) and oppresive humidity. I decided to really try to push hard, despite the thick air. I got caught up in the crowd of runners at the start and had to spend a little extra energy to extricate myself from the pack. I have the hardest time deciding where to start in these larger local races. There are lots of people faster than me - but even a greater percentage slower. This time I had to weave to the outside edge and then work my way back to the left to prepare for the turn. I'm sure I earned some bonus mileage doing that little trick.
Lately, I tend to run a great first mile then die a little over the rest of the race. I'm improving. I managed to run nearly 2 good miles...and then died a little over the rest of the race. I was following David Tinkey for the first part of the race, astonished that I was keeping up with him. He found a faster gear just as the humidity was dragging me down. I finished 30 seconds or so slower than last year. It was disappointing, but understandable with the 90% humidity. Everyone was drenched coming across the line.
After I grabbed some Powerade at the finish I started walking back along the course. I enjoyed my walk back last week and decided to go as far as I could to thank the volunteers at the turns (I'm too winded during the race to show much appreciation) and cheer on the other runners. I really enjoyed the chance to talk to the people along the course who make this kind of race possible! Eventually (after 1.5 miles or so) I made it back to the finish line. As always, I enjoyed chatting with the Macon Tracks. No awards for me today. I finished waaaaaaaaaaaaay down in my age group. I did take home a nice t-shirt and good memories of a fun day in the Georgia humidity.
June 13
Salute to Freedom 5KMacon, GA25:30Age Group: 6/10Overall: 56/148Notes: The Salute to Freedom 5K (in downtown Macon) became a favorite race of mine just as I started running again two years ago. In some ways this race and I have grown up together. Thankfully, it still holds on to its wonderfully warm quality and impressive race accoutrement.
The race continues to grow and grow. Apparently word has gotten out about how pleasant a race this is. It starts at 7:30 AM, beating the worst of the heat. The start has changed slightly each year. This year we started by the old train terminal and headed up to Mulberry Street. I enjoyed the brief look at the sleeping town before we headed out for a short trek on Macon's Ocmulgee Trail - better known to many of us as the river walk. This scenic walking trail led us to a brief cross-country section across the grass into Central City Park. A quick run on the entrance roads and we were in the park having a good look at the different recreation facilities - including the huge mile-long dirt oval. The beginning of the race is largely downhill (the race is pretty flat, compared to most) but runners get a bit of a climb after they turn around past the baseball stadium. This incline leads behind the terminal building, through a tunnel under the train tracks. Two trumpet players had set up in the far side of the tunnel, filling the cavernous space with their musical talents. It sounded very cool - if slightly eerie - drifting through the tunnel. After the tunnel, a sharp right turn led us into Macon's museum district to the finish line beside the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. It is really a great course - one of the best in Macon. There's lots to see, a real variety of environments, a few very memorable sections, and a fast course. That's a tough combination to beat!
I ran a good time today - went out too fast as usual, but didn't pay the price I often do. I just didn't have as good a kick at the line as I would have liked. Still, I felt strong. I think the weight loss and increased mileage are beginning to show some results.
Not only does the race have a great course, it also has fine ammenities: nice indoor restrooms at the Sports Hall of Fame, excellent refreshments (including Chick-Fil-A biscuits), ample hydration, and tons of door prizes. Steve Corkery did his usual superb job at the finish line.
The awards do take forever at Salute to Freedom - largely because there are so many door prizes - but the time goes by quickly. There's always someone interesting to listen to at the mic - or talk to in the crowd. We had a lady lead us in a breathing exercise that is very similar to ones I use when I'm teaching acting. Really, a good time. The fact that I won $25 in free barbeque didn't hurt anything either.
I really enjoyed talking to the Macon Tracks after the race - many of whom seemed to run excellent times today. I also had the pleasure of sharing in a former student's (and constant theatre assistant) first 5K. It was fun to watch Joseph Whidby's excitement before the race and run the last part of the race with him. He had a good time for a first 5K - and a great kick at the finish line. I'm proud of him!
This race is highly recommended. Great course, great people, and a warm atmosphere. It just gets better.
June 6
Run for Relief Trail RunConyers, GA31:24Age Group: 4/5Overall: 21/68Notes:
June 5
Daylily Dash 2MGray, GA17:10 PR!Age Group: 4/10Overall: 59/148Notes: This year's Daylily Dash was quite different from last year. Instead of searing temperatures we were greeted with angry storm clouds, thunder, rain, and lightning. The festival was going on in the park next door but seemed a little reserved with the ominous weather. It actually rained pretty hard an hour before the race. It slacked off, and I warmed-up around the Jones County High School track. I hoped the lightning would hold off, but I saw numerous strikes off in the distance. Not a good sign.
This race is a gathering of several different groups of friends for me. I have students, parents, and fellow teachers from FPD, regular running buddies from the Macon Tracks, and the Run & See Georgia points hounds from across the state. I enjoyed visiting before the race. Many of my friends were volunteering, saving their muscles for the Torture Trail 10K in the morning.
At the starting line we were informed that the bad weather might cause the race to be shortened. The course is usually run as a boomerang style course. If the lightning was too bad, we would be led into the finish line when we came back by the school, making the 5K race into a 2-miler. Many of the runners cheered this news at the line. I was not sure how to run the race. Should I go out harder, gambling on the 2-miler? Should I just run my 5K plan and hope for the best? Ultimately I decided to go with the 5K strategy.
The course is pretty non-descript with a few miniscule little rollers just for fun. There's really not much to see. What I did see as the race came back towards the festival was a line of runners up ahead turning into the school. Guess the lightning won out after all. Curses, foiled again! I cruised on into the finish line and set a PR for a 2 mile race. Of course, this is my first 2 mile race...but a PR is a PR!
The storm was brewing up again as I had refreshments at the finish line. Janet, Luke, and Caedmon had come with me to watch the race and enjoy the festival. The storm seemed rather unsafe for the little guys so we loaded up and came home before the awards.
May 30
SweetH2O 50K Trail RaceLithia Springs, GA8:59:29Age Group: 30/31Overall: 200/212(Finisher's Hat)Notes: I ran the SweetH2O Half-Marathon last year as a training race for the Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon. It did nothing to build confidence in me! Instead, I ran my worse half-marathon time ever on a course that I described at the time as “mean spirited”. I fell during the run and cracked a few ribs yet eventually struggled across the finish line. Here’s the funny part: the half-marathon does not even cover the hardest parts of the course. Not even close.
I figured that I had unfinished business with SweetH2O this year. The race organizers decided not to offer the half-marathon option this year. I laughingly suspect they were annoyed by the halfers eating all of the food before the 50K runners finished. For whatever reason, it was just going to be a 50K this year. I remember watching the 50Kers turning in a different direction last year going to a near-mythical place called “Top of the World” and then to a water crossing – across rapids, no less. I envied their abilities and endurance. I hoped to give the 50K a shot myself someday.
Today was the day.
In an interesting reversal, Twisted Ankle wound up being the final major training run for me before the SweetH20 50K. My legs felt great at Twisted Ankle, but the humidity made for a slow race. I hoped that I was recovered and ready for this monster.
SweetH2O is held (largely) in Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, Georgia – not far from Six Flags. The pavilion area was already crowded by the time I got there along with my maniacal carpool buddy Deb. We raced quite a distance to pick up our race number and shirt (a superb dark blue technical shirt with a striking logo that features the rapids crossing) and then raced back to get prepared for the start. This seems to be an event before most 50Ks – the race before the race from a remote parking space to registration.
I managed to get myself together and to the starting line in time. Deb and I chatted with several Marathon Maniacs and numerous members of GUTS (Georgia Ultrarunning and Trailrunning Society.) Around 250 people were ready at 7:30 AM for the start. As usual, being far from the starting line, I did not hear the start. No problem – just follow the crowd. We’re in no hurry!
Yet hurry we did as the first mile or so is all on roads. It was hard not to put on speed and treat this like a standard road race. Save it for the trails, save it for Top of the World, I kept telling myself. It was a relief to see the orange trail markers leading us into the woods.
The first section of the race was marked by many congested areas. A steep downhill crammed us all together again, as did the first of many water crossings. Just like last year, we used ropes to rappel down a concrete bank, run across a spillway with several inches of flowing water, and then drag ourselves up the other side. This was lots of fun and a hint of what evilness awaited us down the trail.
The first section of the race is marked by fairly runner-friendly trails and then the section I just call “the rocks”. The trail becomes a mine field of massive rocks, some with metal cables attached to aid passage. This is quite a test of correct stepping. Most of it I simply could not run, but I rather enjoyed the challenge of trying to cross the rocks as quickly and safely as possible. The rocks would give way occasionally to steep wooden stairs that were just as much fun to run. This whole rock party was along the banks of Sweetwater Creek. The day was beautiful – sunny but with a nice breeze – and the scenery was stunning. The highlight of Sweetwater Creek State Park is the ruins of a Civil War era textile mill. The brick walls still stand several stories high, wrapped with vegetation at the top and the swirling waters of the creek below. Beautiful. I wish I could have stopped and looked more, but there were many more miles ahead.
Around 6-7 miles or so, we crossed a wooden bridge and headed out of the park boundaries. This course led us through several more small water crossings and a rocky section where everything was covered with a dark black sludgy mud. In the middle of this muck was a tree bent into a creepy arch that required some stooping to get under. Signs along the way mentioned that we were heading to TOTW – the dreaded Top of the World.
I spent all of the last year reading online accounts of TOTW. I never got my head around what it was like. I knew it was exposed to the sun and (duh) involved a certain amount of climbing. It’s probably just as well that I didn’t know the details.
Top of the World is one of the more evil climbs in Georgia running. It may not be as steep or sustained as the infamous Becky’s Bluff at Twisted Ankle, but it makes up for it with sheer brutality. The first climb is through a tree-lined section with numerous fallen branches to avoid. Then the trail empties into a clear-cut area – for gas pipelines, I believe. Runners climb up a steep hill only to find an equally steep downhill on the other side. Running either direction is tricky – or impossible, depending on the condition of your lungs and legs. Here’s the evil part – after the downhill you get another steep climb taking you higher…then another downhill…the another steep climb to a higher point…you get the picture. The trail is exposed to the sun during this section, but we were saved by the cool breeze and some unexpected shade from the extreme angle of the sun.
As we neared the aid station near TOTW, I noticed strange orange markings on the trail (hill) ahead. Some wit (sadist) had written “Just think how hard the second time will be” or words to that effect. Ha, ha, ha. We get to do this twice. What fun.
After the aid station we head into the woods and emerge in the most surreal clearing I have ever seen. On satellite maps this area looks like a bald spot on top of the mountain. When you are in it, you see high waving grasses and a view of Atlanta down below. Stunning. You also see a rusted out porch swing with a sign taped to it reminding runners that there’s no time for sitting now. Indeed there’s not for the trail leads to the second most dreaded part of SweetH2O – the Powerlines.
We followed gas lines up and power lines down. This is some maniacal trail salute to basic utilities. Powerlines is like the climb in reverse. Only now the descents are REALLY brutal – some downright dangerous. The sun has joined us. I can only imagine how hot this section will be later in the afternoon. Footing is exceedingly difficult through this section and I spend a lot of time walking. It’s a relief to finally see the trail heading back to the black muck, the rocks, and the arch tree. In a little while, we are back over the bridge, back to the aid station for more fluids and PB&J, and then off in another direction.
The next section has a little of everything: some nice smooth trail, some roads, always another climb…and another climb. Finally I creep up on the 20-mile mark and the piece-de-resistance of this race: the rapids crossing. The downhill leading to the creek was very fun until I turned a corner and saw a long line of people in front of me. As I got closer to the creek, the line seemed endlessly long. Apparently the increase in size of the race had created quite a bottleneck at the crossing. For safety reasons, the swift water rescue personnel who were manning the crossing were only allowing one runner across at a time. I support this decision completely, but the long wait proved very difficult. I checked my time immediately so I could have an idea of how long a wait I would have. I tried to stay standing, moving as much as I could while balancing on the steep banks of the approach to the creek. There were 50 runners waiting in front of me. This was going to take an unbelievably long time.
The only thing good about the wait was the chance to really watch the water crossing. The crew had stretched a rope across the creek, tied around trees with strap-downs coming to boulders near the water. The first half of the crossing was apparently very shallow, then runners would suddenly drop chest deep into the water and really have to fight the current. Some were knocked off their feet by the powerful flow of the water, kept from a quick trip downstream only by their grip on the ropes. The rescue team was ready to save anyone who got swept up in the current.
I love the water, I have walked through many miles of rapids (albeit much calmer than these), and I could not wait for the chance to test the water. The chance finally came – after 55 minutes! I knew my legs would be stiff when I tried to run again, but put those thoughts behind me and stepped into the cool water. It felt great – even if it did mean I would have to deal with very wet shoes on the other side. I went confidently across the shallow section, listened carefully to the directions from the rescue personnel and felt for the drop off. I found it and was surprised at the force of the water. I could immediately see why it knocked many people off of their feet. For once my added bulk helped me, and I made it across without incident. I dragged myself up on the slippery rocks and made it to the bank.
Here I had a “dude, where’s the trail?” moment. Apparently I was supposed to go straight up the bank. So many runners had gone before me that it was a mudslide waiting to happen. I kept going two steps up and slipping three steps back until I found the ropes that were placed there to aid the climb. They were covered in mud, but they were a Godsend. The thorns I found on the way up were not such a blessing. I ripped them off me with many harsh words, forced my way up the bank, and crawled onto the wooden bridge. After some initial confusion I figured out the correct way to go and headed off by the creek – back to the rocks and wooden steps. Oh, joy.
The real fun was coming up to the bridge aid station again – this time at 23 miles or so – and knowing that TOTW was coming up again. I was told that we took a different way up. Good, I thought. Harder, they said. Not good, I thought. I was right.
Basically the thought of the race director was something like this: there must be another hill around here somewhere that we can take them down so we can make them climb it again to warm them up for all of the original TOTW climbs. Great. This was absolutely brutal. Here we are creeping up to the marathon distance and stretching out ahead are the endless climbs and descents and the searing sun. I attacked the hills as hard as I could (not very) and focused on keeping my feet moving, my balance in check, and my wits about me. A person could go mad on that climb, I’m sure. I felt satisfaction in getting back to the taunting orange words at the top and kicking them as I went past. Shockingly, the volunteers at the aid station told us we would not be going up to the clearing, but would take a short passage through the woods to the Powerlines. We wound up covering a little less of the Powerlines too, but it was still a real test of endurance – both physical and mental. I started seeing people falling regularly through this section. Finally, we dragged ourselves back into the woods, back to our favorite aid station.
I refueled for the final push, rubbed ice all over my head and neck, forced myself to eat, and started running down the bank. I was suddenly worried about finishing within the 9-hour cut off. I had lost an hour at the rapids crossing. I had no fear about the time limit before the race, but now I was in a battle with the clock. I figured that the race organizers would probably not penalize us for the bottleneck at the rapids, but I could not be sure. I picked up the pace and zoomed (for me) by the creek. I was making good time and felt confident I would make it.
Apparently I forgot what race I was running. SweetH2O. The mean-spirited race with evil surprises around every corner.
From what I understand from talking to other runners, the next little trick was a surprise to everyone. The race organizers had decided to carve a path from a nearly vertical climb up the side of a steep hill. I could just laugh. Here I was at mile 28 or 29 facing a path that could not be walked, let alone run. The people near me were dragging themselves up the hill by grabbing trees, rocks, anything that would give a momentary grip. I gritted my teeth and forced myself up, trying not to stop to take a breather. I feared if I stopped I would simply roll back down. Finally, with my heart exploding in my chest and my head feeling more than a little woozy, I made it to the top. I told a runner who was just in front of me that we were down to just a few minutes left to make it under the cut-off. We started upping the speed as best we could, finally emerging onto the park road. A short climb, a turn, and there were the stairs leading uphill (of course) to the finish line.
I came across the line at 8:59:29 – the last finisher to make it under 9 hours. Thankfully, the race director allowed those finishing after to be counted as official finishers. Everyone deserved it. Just making it around this course deserved an award.
And an award there was – only we slow folks did not get one. Well, not immediately. I was met at the end of the chute with an apology for the race being out of finisher’s hats and a promise to mail one to me quickly. Considering I did not even know there were hats in the first place, I was fine with this news. I saw the hat later as I walked back to the truck. They are very nice indeed. I’ll be watching my mail eagerly. There was food left at the finish – barbequed chicken with all of the trimmings.
Let me say that while I think this race is undeniably mean-spirited, I also think the race director and crew do an amazing job. The volunteers were amazing and the aid stations were run superbly. Not only were the promised aid stations in place, volunteers had stashed extra water and soda around the park to help us fight off the heat. Dangerous as this race was, I felt that I was being well looked after.
My only criticism is that SweetH2O might have tried to grow too big, too soon. The water crossing and other bottlenecks need some thought. I’m not sure what the solution is, but I can guarantee that I will be back to face Top of the World again.
I was surprisingly healthy at the end of this race: only one small blister on my feet despite the wet shoes, a touch of heat exhaustion, and slightly sore legs. I may actually manage to become a decent ultrarunner one of these days. Until then, I am certainly proud of fighting my way through this fabulous beast of a run.
May 25
Kiwanis Memorial Day 8KCordele, GA43:57Age Group: 3/5Overall: 41/117(Medal)Notes: Gloomy skies and humid weather greeted my first time running a race 3 times in Georgia. Two weeks ago marked the 2-year anniversary of my return to running. I ran a 5K cross-country race at the urging of my students and was immediately "re-hooked". The Kiwanis Memorial Day 8K in Cordele was the next race that I attempted. I enjoyed the race then and look forward to it yearly.
This race gets a lot of things right: excellent facilities, great packet pick-up and pre-race organization, well-organized start, and good course support. The course itself is a little dull - runners spend most of the time on an access road beside I-75 - but does have some rolling hills to keep everyone focused. It is a pure out and back with one water station that is hit twice.
My challenge for myself today was to try to run a consistent pace and not go out too fast. I have been struggling with slower times lately. I need to figure out what my problems are. I think it may be trouble with the high humidity and fast starts. I couldn't do anything about the 95% humidity today, but I could try to run a smarter race.
I hit my goal pace exactly on the first mile. Unfortunately, that was the last time I hit it. I was forced considerably slower by the humidity, but still I felt much better about the way I was running and how I felt doing it. I had an annoying moment on the course when a fellow runner decided to critique my running style and demand that I make immediate improvements. I suspect that she meant well, but this is not the first time I have been blessed with her rather crass "coaching". I am aware of my stride difficulties, I work on them regularly. I really think trying to get someone to change the way they run during a race is dangerous.
Back to the race...I tried a new way to turn around at the cone this time. Instead of making the wide arc around it, I stopped into a lunge, pivoted, and headed back in the opposite direction (like doing a shuttle run.) It worked great and seemed to strain my knees less.
I ran much of the race near Cindy Beck. She and I run a similar pace, so we are always near each other during races. I think we pushed each other at the end of this one. When she would come up beside me, I would match her pace. It was a great help having someone of similar ability pushing me. We took the corner leading to the short uphill to the finish line and I managed to slip in ahead. Really, I was not worried about beating Cindy - I would happily finish after her - but I had been chasing a man for most of the race and saw an opening to finish ahead of him. I passed him on the narrow finishing lane and held on across the line. The effort left me winded for several minutes, but it felt good to push myself a bit. I was about a minute slower than last year, but I felt that I ran a smarter race. Shockingly, my slower time was good enough for a higher finish. I was quite surprised to be called up to receive the 3rd place medal. Very cool - especially since they did not have the finisher's medal this year.
After race liquids, fruit, and pastries were nice. This race gives a ton of awards - including UST&F masters awards and age grading. I entered the age grading competition for the first time, but did not place in the top ten. Results are typically slow at this race (lots to figure out), but they managed to do it a little faster this year. As always, I enjoyed this race greatly and will pencil it in for next year.
May 23
Peach Stand Road Race 5KLocust Grove, GA26:22Age Group: 4/11Overall: 41Notes: I enjoyed this race thoroughly last year so decided to give it another try. The day was rainy and humid, but no lightning thankfully.
Again, the race amenities were quite nice. A great t-shirt - brown with a bold peach, white, and green logo. It really looks sharp. Also, the goody-bags were once again lightweight backpacks. Good stuff! Add in pre-race refreshments, friendly volunteers, and plenty of parking near the start and you have quite a nice race set-up.
The race started this year with a little less fanfare but plenty of efficiency. Volunteers set up a good-looking finish line. They used a gun start which I always appreciate. I like being able to hear the start!
The course is nice too. Not terribly exciting as far as scenery is concerned, but a good no-traffic route with just enough hills to keep you interested.
I started out very well, running a fast pace and feeling good. My legs seemed fully recovered from the marathon last week. Unfortunately, my legs weren't the problem last week as I conveniently forgot. The fast pace I was pushing combined with my not-quite-recovered lungs to literally take the wind out of my sails about halfway through the race. I kept pushing but was not able to match my fast time from last year. I was disappointed about my slow finish, but I am realizing that I need to acclimate to high humidity again before I expect too much out of my times.
I enjoyed talking with Tony Edmondson, the RD of the Hornet Hustle 5K last year. He gave the teenagers a good run at the front of the pack before letting them go on ahead. He still won his age group with ease. I thought I had taken 3rd in my age group. I was listed as 3rd on the results board until an earlier finisher finally got around to turning in his finisher card. Wouldn't you know he would be the winner of my age group and knock me down to 4th? Too bad too - the medals looked outstanding again this year. Still, with my age group being much more competitive this year (11 runners vs. 3 last year) I don't feel too bad. I would have needed to drop down a massive PR to place. That wasn't happening today.
Despite my less than ideal run today, I still think the Peach Stand Road Race is one of the hidden gems in Georgia. It might not be so hidden any more - there was quite a turnout today. That's very impressive for a non-Run & See race.
May 16
Twisted Ankle Trail Run MarathonSummerville, GA6:34:50Age Group: 15/15Overall: 90/104Notes: Write up to come. Let's just say for now it was humid, muddy, and tough as they come. Funny enough, I enjoyed it.
May 9
Madison in May 5KMadison, GA26:21Age Group: 6/11Overall: 52/164Notes: I added the Madison in May races as a quick fill-in for the canceled MSO 5K. I was pleased to get to run two races in one day again and interested in seeing some more of Madison - a beautiful little town. I was disappointed to find that the directions led me to the same parking lot I've parked in for 4 previous races - the Christmas Rush 5Ks and 8Ks from the last two years. Same route - just a little longer for the 10K.
Here's the thing - I don't dislike these courses. They have a few rolling sections but are generally not that hard. The race support is good, amenities and the like are good too. Unfortunately, I have a problem. I absolutely cannot run this course well. I don't know what it is, whether I'm distracted by running two races or what, but I take a step backwards here every time. Maybe, I reasoned, it was just the whole busy December thing. Perhaps running it in May would help.
Nope.
I decided I would kill it on the 5K and then do the 10K at whatever pace my body would allow. What I did was kill myself on the 5K - nearly a minute slower than what I thought my finishing time should be. Honestly, the high humidity was a large part of my problem. I'm still not acclimated to the increasing humidity. The pollen was a bit of an issue too, but the major problem was me. I can't seem to find the right strategy for this race.
I dragged myself over the line in a disappointing time, but was thrilled for my student, Patrick Hague, who won the race overall. He's becoming quite a runner! He told me that I should have kicked more and beaten the teen who finished right before me. He's probably right, but I was trying to keep something for the 10K. For awhile I wasn't sure I would try it, but I was there and the race was paid for...
Madison in May 10KMadison, GA58:59Age Group: 4/4Overall: 63/99Notes: I ran the 10K with no expectations. The goal was to finish, collect my R&SGGP points, and drag myself home. The first mile was painful and slow - to be expected after tightening up for 30 minutes following the 5K despite my constant walking. As my legs loosened up, my pace improved. I felt much more comfortable than the 5K, largely because I was running within my capabilities and not trying to push the envelope. The heat and humidty proved a challenge in the second half of the race. I know this is sad considering the conditions we had today would seem like heaven in July, but it was hard today. Not for just me either. Many other people talked about how hot the sun felt today and how the last few miles were a struggle. I felt pretty strong coming to the line and even managed to sprint the finishing stretch to stay under 59 minutes (by a single second.) Not a great time, but I wasn't trying for a PR. I felt much better about this race than the 5K (just like every Madison race day) even though the times say the 5K was my better race. Maybe I can finally find the right strategy for this course in December. Ugh.
May 2
Run4Missions 5KMacon, GA25:33Age Group: 8/16Overall: 65/239Notes: A well-organized, well-supported race as always. I don't know what Mt. Zion could do to make this race any better! Great shirt, food, support, facilities, and course. I will always try to run this race!
April 25
Taylor County Run for Literacy 5KReynolds, GA25:03Age Group: 4/10Overall: 36/131Notes: Nice and simple rural race. Very flat route, lots of running friends, and the second-fastest time in my current running life. Missed a trophy, but had a great time. This was an especially good run considering the lack of training I am having lately with A Midsummer Night's Dream rehearsals.
April 18
Gator-Go 5KMacon, GA26:34Age Group: 4/8Overall: 38/109Notes: : Race on Mercer's campus held as a fundraising project for a fraternity. This is a young race, only in its second running, and still has some growing pains. Race directions really did not make it clear how do get to the designated building. Several other events were being held at Mercer at the same time, making things a bit more confusing. The fraternity brothers did run a pretty organized race: fair race registration, nice shirt, good food. The course was perfectly measured and included a double-loop through the campus with a small cross-country section near the end (added due to road closures for other events.) The course is fairly challenging - plenty of hills - and the newly warm weather took some getting used to. I ran the first mile really well and felt great. I was not surprised that I did not feel so good on the second mile. Yes, you guessed it, I went out too fast. Again. In my defense, I am supporting those faster speeds better lately. Still, I should be running at least roughly equal splits. I continue to be pleased with my work on hills. I've always been a good downhill runner with my squat build and low center of gravity, but climbing is slowly becoming a strength (or at least not a glaring weakness.) I do seem to pass a lot of runners with similar paces to mine on hills. The finish line was well handled by Steve Corkery. One small complaint about the finish: no water. You had to climb the hill and look for it. On a warm day, I really feel the water should be close. The age groups were odd (35-42 for me) so no awards for me today.
Brentwood Scamper and Scoot 5KSandersville, GA26:16Age Group: 2/4Overall: 32/84(Trophy)Notes:
Brentwood Scamper and Scoot 10KSandersville, GA59:34Age Group: 2/3Overall: 22/39(Trophy)Notes:
April 10
Good Friday Races 5KEatonton, GA27:33Age Group: 1/2Overall: 22/53(Banana Bread/Chocolate Egg)Notes: This was a fun, low-key race presented as a special for all of the R&SG points-hounds. The course looped twice through the 4H complex at Rock Eagle. Lots of hills, a great green shirt with Easter lilies (and a fairly random paragraph about animals in Africa on the bottom), improvised prizes (including homemade banana bread - yum!), wonderful facilities, and about the nicest group of people ever made this race very special. I really enjoyed myself, had a solid run, and managed to out-sprint another participant to the line.
The entry form for the races was one of the best ever. I need to save a copy of it for posterity somewhere...
Good Friday Races 11KEatonton, GA1:07:43 PR!Age Group: 1/1Overall: 20/53(Banana Bread/Chocolate Egg)Notes: : Almost everyone who ran the 5K stuck around to take on the 11K. Besides, who's ever run an 11K before? Instant PR! Basically this race had all the same features af the 5K plus more miles and a LOT more hills. My goodness what a hilly course. I saw some of the mile markers driving in and noticed that I was really having to give my truck extra gas to get up some of the hills. I figured they might be a challenge to run up later. Wow, brilliant deduction. Astoundingly enough, I am becoming a pretty decent hill runner. The group of runners that I usually am in the pack with at these races was far ahead of me. I decided not to push it too hard, but instead try to give a strong consistent effort. Slowly I caught up to and passed most of my usual pack around three miles. I was amazed and set my sights on another runner far ahead. It turned out to be Curt Malone, a regular points leader and former member of my age group. I caught him in a beautiful loop near the 4 mile mark. I have always run downhill well, thanks mainly to my good balance and low center of gravity. I am so pleased that the uphill work is improving too!
That's not to say the hills weren't painful - they were. Yet the race was really fun. I enjoyed the camaraderie amongst the runners. People who run all of the time for fun (and points) are just fun to hang out with. I'm looking forward to another one of these wacky races for the points-hungry.
Incidentally, while this was an 11K PR (my first) it was by no means an 11K. My adjusted Garmin data put the course at over 7 miles. Just another bonus feature of the race...
April 4
Beulah Bobcat 10.5KBeulah, GA58:33Age Group: 4/4Overall: 29/42Notes: First of a 3-race morning. The race was perfectly organized, good facilities within the gym at Beulah High School, and a really laid-back feel. We gave the race director (famous R&SGGP runner Roger Keel) grief at the "start line" which consisted of a crack in the pavement. It may have seemed really casual, but the course was dead-on accurate - as was the 5K.
No real traffic control, but none was needed. Interesting first mile on a hard-packed dirt road. Hilly course, challenging but fair. 2 water stations, just what was needed and nothing more. Screaming downhill finish - lots of fun for bowling balls like me.
I just missed placing in my age group - too bad: the plaques were nice. Really, a great time. Even my private driver (Dad) was in a good mood and took pictures of the race start. Very nice - worth the drive.
Beulah Bobcat 5KBeulah, GA27:06Age Group: 6/7Overall: 25/71Notes: After a 45-minute break the 5K started. It followed the same course as the 10.5K, just turned around before the long out and back. I had another good time on the downhill finish.
Beulah Bobcat 1MBeulah, GA7:49Age Group: 2/2Overall: 17Notes: My first timed 1-mile race ever. What a trip. The front of the race was packed with middle and high school students from Beulah. They had the greatest time visiting before the race started. The few adults trying the short distance started in the back. The race turned out to be something of an obstacle course - dodging the kids as they ran out of gas. I was amazed to finish 17th overall. There's no telling how many teenagers I passed during the race. I really roared by folks on the finishing hill this time. I was pleased to break 8 minutes after all of the earlier miles.
March 29
ING Georgia MarathonAtlanta, GA4:44:26Age Group: 378/343Overall: 1437/2089(Finisher's Medal)Notes: Well, I survived another one: 4:44 at the ING Georgia Marathon. Not even close to a PR but not too bad considering the difficulty of the course. The course, while hilly, is really fun. What a tour of the Metro Atlanta area!
What wasn't fun was the starting line. That was the biggest mess I've ever seen at a large race. Nobody knew where to go or how to get there. I'll go into more detail in a later write-up, but it was miserable. Thank goodness the course management was superb.
March 28
Run for Griffin 5KGriffin, GA27:16Age Group: 4?Overall: No results posted.Notes: Run for Griffin is a small, non-points race held at a Methodist church in Griffin, GA. The rain was already in full swing when I arrived and was predicted to get even worse. This made a usually small race field even smaller. I was amazed how many volunteers braved the bad weather to be at the race. There were plenty of course monitors huddled under umbrellas, split callers, etc. I did not see a water station on the course, but all miles were marked. The course itself is rather hilly including some long gradual ones that become quad burners by the end. I ran a decent race, slowed somewhat by the puddles. The finish line was very informal - a few people standing with umbrellas - but it worked just fine. All post-race activities - including filling out the POF cards - were inside the church. The facilities were nice, great t-shirt, wonderful banana muffins straight out of the oven. I didn't stay for awards so I could make it to the ING Georgia Marathon expo in Atlanta. I think I finished 4th in my age group - 30-39 in this case.
March 21
Cherry Blossom Festival 5KMacon, GA29:15Age Group: 3/13Overall: 52/272Notes: Beautiful, but very hilly course. The course was also painfully mismeasured - or started in the wrong place. There really is no excuse for a course being .25 miles off. So, we got some bonus miles today. Fair shirt, skimpy refreshments - just not quite what I hoped it would be. I only had 2 minutes after the race before the 15K began.
Cherry Blossom Festival 15KMacon, GA1:42:04Age Group: 9/10Overall: 105/123(Trophy)Notes: This was a new record for a course being off - a full mile! The police (or someone!) led us onto the 5K course which added the extra mileage. I wanted to kick over the mileage signs when I saw them. It just wasn't funny. Luckily I hadn't planned to race this one too hard. I tried to lock into marathon pace and get some good preparation for ING Georgia next weekend. The course is quite hilly and, while the police work very hard to keep runners safe, we spent a lot of time dealing with traffic. The weather was beautiful for a run, but the ammenities were very skimpy. Only water by the time I got to refreshments, awards only two places deep, unfair (in my opinion) pricing structure for people doing both races. I was a big supporter of this race being brought into the Macon Tracks race series. I was very disappointed in it. Steve did his usual great job at the finish line and it's not Kevin's fault that we were led the wrong way. The organizers, however, need to step it up a bit for next year.
March 7
GEICO 12KMacon, GA1:06:26Age Group: 4/4Overall: 45/90Notes: GEICO 12K - nice course, good organization, limited finish-line food. The race starter tried to sell us insurance at the start line. That was a hoot. Very enjoyable with some challenging hills. Cindy Beck and I had a nice run together for the last half-mile. I managed to hold her off - barely. We were both finishing faster than we probably should have. Decent run - would have been better if my knee didn't start singing halfway through.
February 28
Cantrell Center 5KWarner Robins, GA26:25Age Group: 10/32Overall: 146/972Notes: Enormous first year race run on largely non-descript backroads. Several noticeable hills. The race itself wasn't bad, the finish line was horrible. Too many people, not enough chute. There were lots of volunteers and lots of organization - maybe too much in some ways. I really didn't enjoy this race because of the size. It was much more about getting out new people to exercise than catering to runners. This is fine (a good thing, actually) but made for a blah race for me.
I did not plan the hills well and paid for it with a slower pace at the end of race.
February 21
Al Toll Memorial 5KMacon, GA25:36Age Group: 3/6Overall: 35/131(Trophy)Notes: I was eager to run the Al Toll this year to see if "the hill" felt the same to me after another year of training. Last year's race was something of an epiphany for me. I realized that I could run a long uphill relatively well and that I could tear up a prolonged downhill.
The Al Toll Memorial 5K is run in Macon starts at the IKON building just off of New Forsyth Road. The 5K is a companion race to the main event: a 15K race for masters runners only. Since I am 2 years away from being able to join the big boys and girls, I settled for the 5K. Too bad too - the 15K was celebrating its 25th running this year.
The 5K course has become somewhat legendary. It has basically one hill...that's a mile or so long. It is not terribly steep, but my Garmin (which is admittedly spotty on elevations) says it climbs more than 100 feet. You reach the top of the hill and get a little recovery time before the turnaround point. The 3rd mile consists of running back down the initial hill. Last year I fought up the hill and reached breakneck speeds (for me) on the way down. My strategy this year was to really attack the hill, recover on the second mile, and pretend to be fast again on the downhill.
The strategy worked rather well. I was about 30 seconds faster up the hill. Last year I had fun chasing Phil Brown up the hill. I looked for a Macon Tracks friend to chase this year and found Amy Tarpley. Amy has passed me near the finish line at several races in the last year. I thought it would be fun to follow her for a change. My pace seemed a bit faster up the hill however and I had to abandon my fun and forge up on my own. I figured I would see her again passing me right before the finish line!
I was really feeling the effort of maintaining a strong pace at the top of the hill. I worried that I might have spent so much energy that no amount of downhill would save me. Luckily, I was able to recover during the second mile. I had hoped to run the middle mile much faster, but the recovery was more important. I skipped the water at the halfway point and raced back to the hill. I am apparently built for downhill running. It's astounding the pace I can maintain when my extra pounds and squat little legs start bowling down an incline. My fastest pace topped out at about 6:39 a mile - a scary speed indeed for this slow gentleman.
The bottom of the hill is a bit of a letdown. You build up all of this speed and then the hill finishes a few tenths away from the finish line. Suddenly I went from being a cheetah to being a slug. Bummer. Still, I made it across the line cheered on by several camera-wielding friends from the Tracks. I managed to shave a couple of minutes from my time at Al Toll last year.
The race always has nice amenities: colorful long-sleeved shirt, great variety of food and beverages, good organization and volunteers. The course was a perfect 3.10! I managed to take 3rd place in my age group again. I like the little trophy with the picture of a shoe flying across a starfield. We'll see if I can figure out how to run this course any better next year!
February 15
Mercedes MarathonBirmingham, AL4:35:36Age Group: 69/89Overall: 520/793(Finisher's Medal & Shirt)Notes: I really like this marathon. The organization was first rate - lots of volunteers, clear signage, great amenities. It had the benefits of a larger race with the friendly size of a medium marathon. The course was hilly, but most were manageable. The worst hill was a long sucker on miles 20-21. (and, since this is a double-loop course, on 13-14 too.)
I have really not run an urban marathon since I DNFed at Detroit. I enjoyed looking at the huge buildings, touring UAB's attractive campus, and seeing the beautiful homes in the Highlands section of town. Lots of people watching and cheering - very supportive city. Live local TV coverage for 4 hours. Tons of gel on the course and 22 fluid stations.
I ran a good race despite my stubborn left knee. It started to hurt after about 50 feet. I was so scared that I was going to have to DNF here too. I figured I would run as far as I could. The stiffness started to loosen after a mile or two. I started to feel really right around mile 11. I managed to run the entire course other than walking two of the aid stations - once to take Vitamin I the other to really take time to hydrate. I realized how close I was to a PR with 2 miles to go, but could not quite muster enough speed to get it done. Still, missing a PR by less then 2 minutes on a hilly course after a race the previous day (and 4 marathons in the past month or so) is not bad at all. This was my smartest marathon, without a doubt.
The finish line amenities were awesome! The great medal that looks like a Mercedes Benz hood ornament with a very detailed ribbon and a finisher's tech shirt were top-notch. There was a party in Boutwell Auditorium with free barbeque, chips, cole slaw, and beverages. They had lots of tables set up so runners could eat and visit in comfort. Nice, nice, nice. This race is highly recommended!
February 14
Sweetheart Run for Sight 12KCenterville, GA1:03:25 (PR)Age Group: 1/6Overall: 45/98(Trophy)Notes: Very humid for winter running. I tried to keep a consistent pace and succeeded! I took 4 minutes off of my 12K PR and won my age group. Well marked course as usual - and it needs it. I am always amazed by the sheer number of loops and out-and-backs that are part of this race. The finishing stretch along a very busy road is the only drawback of this race. One of these days I'm going to get taken out by someone's side rearview mirror.
Beautiful heart trophy, roses for the ladies (and the guys like me who were there at the end), free box of candy with your packet - great fun. As always, there was a good Macon Tracks turnout. I was so glad that this race came into the Tracks race series this year.
February 7
Heart Hustle 5KGriffin, GA25:32Age Group: 2Overall: 20(Heart Plaque)Notes: I enjoyed my second running of the Heart Hustle 5K, held at Futral Road Elementary School in Griffin, Georgia. I have raved before about how much I enjoy races that are organized by schools - particularly elementary schools. The Heart Hustle is one of the finest of these little races: impeccably organized packet pick-up, great volunteers, decent long-sleeved shirt, and lots of refreshments. The course is advertised as rolling - truth in advertising at last! Some might call it hilly. You start off on one side of the school, get a nice .4 mile mostly-downhill start to get you up to speed, and then turn off into some rollers through a residential section. Most of second mile, however, is uphill. The good news is that same uphill is part of the finishing mile - in the downhill direction. The course finishes in the bus drop-off area on the opposite side of the school from the start. The course marshalls were very supportive of the runners and the finish line was as well organized as the pre-race activities. This race uses a card finish which was well handled. A nice bonus of the Heart Hustle is the certificate made for each finisher. I like this touch - it's not a huge expense but gives everyone a tangible reminder of a good run. Refreshments are quite good: Dasani water, Chick-fil-a biscuits (woo hoo!), fruit, and a nice variety of packaged crackers and snacks.
I ran a surprisingly good race after my "Month of Too Many Marathons". I allowed myself a pretty fast first mile (7:47 by my Garmin) expecting to suffer for it later. Amazingly, I really didn't. The uphill mile was slower, but did not feel too painful. The finishing downhill felt great. I had planned to just coast into the finish line, but I heard footsteps behind me with 1/10 to go. I thought someone in my age group was hunting me down so I went into full sprint mode. Wow, I did not think I had that much energy (or speed) in me. My Garmin says I topped out at a sub-5:00 minute mile time at one point. While it was only for a very short time, I have NEVER managed to go that fast before. My uncharacteristic burst of speed allowed me to hold off my challenger (who turned out to be a teenager. I congratulated him on strong finish afterwards. He and I were both having some breathing issues.)
I was thrilled to collect another 2nd plage age group award here. The awards were once again made by the students at the school. I received a beautiful purple and red ceramic heart that I am looking forward to hanging with my other awards. All and all, a great race. The overall winners, incidentally, were young Macon Tracks running sensations Andrew Swicegood and Grace Tinkey. Congratulations to them and the other members of the Tracks for a great race.
January 25
Callaway Gardens MarathonPine Mountain, GA4:50:44Age Group: 10/11Overall: 74/104(Finisher's Medal)Notes: I was surprised how much I liked this race. The 10K I ran here a few years back was pretty but disappointing in some regards. The course was beautiful for the marathon too, but not nearly as hard as everyone makes it out to be. The hills are pretty much constant, true, but they are mostly gentle rollers. I actually think the hills helped my legs - variation of muscle groups being used. An early water station was empty when I got there - thank goodness for my bottle! I even enjoyed running the loop twice. The race shirt was the best ever - quarter zip windshirt with sweet embroidery. Medal was the worst ever. Good run for me today - almost like I hadn't done 3 marathons and a 50K in 4 weeks.
Oh, by the way...I AM NOW IRIDIUM!!!
January 17
Museum of Aviation Foundation MarathonWarner Robins, GA4:59:54Age Group: 13/14Overall: 98/119(Finisher's Medal)Notes: It was as cold this year as it was rainy last year. Brrrrr! I managed a solid run, especially after running the Dopey the previous weekend. I enjoyed seeing Tim become a Maniac and suffered with Matt Jenkins who shredded his feet and valiantly walked for 10+ miles to the finish.
January 11
Disney World MarathonLake Buena Vista, FL4:54:47Age Group: 815/1454Overall: 6442/14940(Finisher's Medals)Notes: Tigger runs again! Tired legs and all, this one was a lot of fun. I am now a Goofy medalist! Unbelievable.
January 10
Disney World Half MarathonLake Buena Vista, FL2:07:37 (PR)Age Group: 336/879Overall: 2773/12435(Finisher's Medal)Notes: The Disney World Half Marathon - all of the fun and less pain than the full. This was a blast. I ran it a little faster than I should have with the full coming up tomorrow, but I couldn't help myself.
January 9
Disney’s Circle of Life 5KLake Buena Vista, FL25:59Age Group: n/aOverall: n/a(Finisher's Medal)Notes: Circle of Life 5K through Animal Kingdom. I met a lot of great DisneyRunning.com folks and saw a lot of bright orange (including on me!) It's weird to run a 5K where I am that much faster than most of the field.
January 4
Atlanta Fat Ass 50KMarietta, GA7:25:54 (PR)Age Group: n/aOverall: 41/45(Finisher's Medal)Notes: Tough 50K course in Kennesaw Mountain Military Park. I was much better prepared for this one! I finished strong on a day when more than half of the runners did not complete the distance. Some SERIOUS rocks here - boulders, actually. Great low-key guerilla style race hosted by GUTS. Cool people, great chili, cold beverages. Nice.
