The Power of E-Mail: Khobar makes the Chronicle

Sept. 28, 2005, 10:45PM
RUNNING NOTEBOOK

Hurricane or no, this was one race that went on as planned
Hardy souls show up to keep event streak intact

By ROBERTA MACINNIS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Maybe if Hurricane Rita had hit the area hard, the 137-race streak would have been broken. I wouldn't have bet on it, though.

The acolytes of the Run the Woodlands 5K, held the second and fourth Saturday of each month — without fail — have raced on Christmas and through Tropical Storm Allison. A breezy morning wasn't going to stop them. The seven-runner field wasn't even the smallest in race history, though 40 to 50 people typically show up.

"We subscribe to the loyalty that was put forth first by (founder) Don Drewniak, who was very, very devoted that the race (be) held religiously despite other obstacles," said Tom McDonough, one of Saturday's runners.

"We want to continue the tradition."

The participants — all regulars — ran at their own risk, since Luke's Locker, which has administered the event since Drewniak moved to Delaware last year, declined to accept responsibility in such uncertain conditions. The runners lobbied Luke's not to announce the race as "canceled" and then waived the $1 entrance fee.

Fortunately, McDonough said, aside from a lot of pine needles and cones and a large branch near the race start, the path was clear.

"It wasn't anything that caused anyone to change their gait, and the head winds weren't bad because the path is surrounded by heavy and thick foliage," he added.

A cold 28 degrees

McDonough, a veteran of 40 RTWs, as regulars call the event, said he'd rate 2004's 28-degree "bone-chilling" Christmas Day race as the one with the worst weather.

"As long as I can remember, in the small window between 8 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on second and fourth Saturdays since this has started, there has not even been a torrential downpour," he said, though it has rained heavily both before and after.

Russell Meyer won Saturday's race in 20 minutes flat, his third victory. Besides being the only participant to finish both first and last in an RTW race, he's the only runner who has been in the races held during Tropical Storm Allison (on June 9, 2001) and Hurricane Rita.

The other participants, in order of finish, were McDonough, Tom Hippe, Jim Braden, Lou Wilson, Debbie Tripp, Tom Pinney and his dog, Khobar.

Finally, victory

Tripp, the only woman to run Saturday, took her first victory in 48 tries. No women ran during the Tropical Storm Allison race, which had the smallest field — five runners.

The streak remains unbroken at 138. So what would it take for a Run The Woodlands race to be canceled?

"The apocalypse," McDonough said. "And I mean that in all seriousness."

I could already tell from the tone in his voice that he hadn't been joking.

Those who stayed

As residents cleared out in anticipation of Hurricane Rita last week, the area became so empty it was eerie. By Friday morning the only people on the streets were those with nowhere to go, people walking their dogs — and runners.

As is wont to happen in stressful times, everyone had either a wave or something to say.

"I see you're evacuating," joked a man as my husband and I ran past him.

"It's faster than driving," my husband joked back.

"That hurricane's got you running," teased another.

Later, as we stood in front of our house debating whether to board our windows or not, Steven Peppel, who lives next door, walked out of his condo and broke into a run.

I'd seen Steven running many mornings, but I hadn't known his name until he said, "Hi, neighbor!" as my husband, son and I walked into the foyer of a Boston restaurant last April, the day before the marathon.

We were surprised to see each other. My husband and I had called him Mr. Fit — one look and you'd know why — but I'd never thought of him as a runner.

"Got to get one more in," Steven said, smiling as he zipped down the street.
Now that's a runner for you.

Roberta MacInnis covers running for the Chronicle. roberta.macinnis@chron.com

Wednesday Night Workout in Bloomington

The plan for tonight here in the former home of Bobby Knight was to push myself: two-hour workout at the gym, get something to eat, rest a little and let my stomach settle and then rattle off a late night two-hour run. 4 hours in total!

I'm going to have to do a 5-hour marathon here shortly ... so why not a similar workout. Well, I got the two-hour workout done and I ate, but the rain has gotten in the way of the late night run. (If I get up in the morning and it has stopped raining ..... lol .... if I report to you that I have, it will even surprise me!)

An hour on the elliptical machine (level 15, random, no hands on the sticks at all, 5.24 miles) and then an hour on the stationery bike (different model than the ones at Bally's in The Woodlands.)

Good workout. Not sure my clothes are going to be dry before I have to pack up in the morning. A good thing, but a bad thing too.

A couple of non-running related notes: Astros win tonight and maintain a two and a half (2.5) game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies ..... Bought Gretchen Wilson's new CD, "All Jacked Up," at Wal-Mart tonight. Good stuff! She gets the legendary Merle Haggard involved on a song called, "Politically Uncorrect" ..... Waverly started back to school today. First 6-weeks report card comes out by the end of the week. There was supposed to be a mandatory parent-teacher conference today, but with the kids missing four (4) days of school, some things get scratched. Yay! No worries in our house though. She's an excellent student and in 4 years plus kindergarten, she has made but 3 B's (all last year). Dad just asks her to do her best - and she does! ..... Get a Chronicle tomorrow and check Roberta MacInnis' running column - although I know you always do.

Challenge for Perry and Huckabee?

Earlier in the year, Texas and Arkansas governors Rick Perry and Mike Huckabee completed their first marathons at the Freescale Austin Marathon and Little Rock Marathon, respectively.

Iowa governor Tom Villsack completed the Quad Cities Marathon on Sunday in 6:09 - his slowest of his four marathons in the last year. But according to the following Quad Cities Times article, Villsack is vowing to run all of his state's marathons before he leaves office.

Wonder if that is a challenge that Perry or Huckabee can aspire to?

-30-

Long week hampers Vilsack's marathon
By Sean Moeller

The long stretch of flat road was wide-open behind Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as he crossed the finish line Sunday afternoon as one of the last finishers of the Quad-Cities Marathon.

Almost all of the Happy Joe’s pizza was digested by the rest of the race entrants, the beer and orange slice supplies were severely depleted. Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton already had thrown four interceptions against the Cincinnati Bengals, in a game that started at noon.

Vilsack, coming off an exhausting week of travel and engagements, had been on the marathon course for 6 hours, 9 minutes when he finally was able to stop running for the day. The first thing the governor, who is attempting to run all of his state’s marathons before he leaves office, did when he crossed the line was apologize.

“Sorry it took me so long,” Vilsack told finish line attendants and race director Joe Moreno with sincerity.

It was Vilsack’s fourth marathon in the last year, but he wasn’t going to give in to the quit that always wants to creep into a marathoner’s thoughts near the end of a race.

“It was fine for the first 18 miles, and then I got cramps. I was worried about that,” he said. “At the halfway point, I was right where I wanted to be, on pace for five hours.

“This wasn’t such a great job. It’s nothing to be proud of.”

A long week of duties, including meetings and press conferences dealing with gasoline prices, economic development efforts, a high school football game and numerous public appearances around the state, with little sleep to fuel him, took its toll.

“When you travel across the country twice in a week, it just kills you,” Vilsack said.

The race turned into the slowest 26.2-mile performance of his short marathoning career.

The longer-than-expected day on the course caused a speech he was set to give in Marshalltown at 3 p.m. to get pushed back to 4 p.m., giving him an extra hour to shower and get to his airplane.

“It won’t be a good speech,” said the governor, who told Moreno that he’d wear the finisher’s medal from this marathon with pride.

Sean Moeller can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or at smoeller@qctimes.com.

Race Director: Idiot or Hero?

Quad Cities Marathon Website Coverage

Marathon disrupted by passing trains, organizer blocks tracks

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Passing freight trains disrupted the 2005 Quad Cities Marathon, prompting a race organizer to drive a pace truck into the path of an approaching locomotive.

After runners were forced to stop and wait as two trains made their way through East Moline on Sunday, Joe Moreno sped over to an intersection near the 22-mile marker and parked his truck on the railroad tracks, blocking a third train from passing.

"I don't know how fast it was coming, but you could hear it coming from a distance. It was blowing its horn," Moreno said Monday.

The train stopped less than a block away from Moreno's truck.

Moreno says he then sat in the vehicle with the doors locked for nearly 1.5 hours as several hundred runners crossed the tracks. A railroad employee tried to get Moreno to move his truck, but it wasn't until police arrived that the former East Moline mayor agreed to move the vehicle.

"With every minute, I was buying time for the runners," Moreno said.

Richard Stoeckly, vice president and chief operating officer of the Iowa Interstate Railroad Co., said the disruptions were the result of a "breakdown in communication" between race organizers and the company.

The disruptions did not affect the marathon's elite runners, Moreno said, adding that a passing train also interrupted the marathon in 1999.

Kenyan Paul Rugut won the 26.2-mile race, which cuts across the Mississippi River and communities in both Illinois and Iowa, with a time of 2:20:27.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

If I'm in Bloomington (IN) Until February 1 ...

This - the Chilly Hilly Stage Race between Martinsville and Mooresville, Indiana (just south of Indianapolis) - might present a different challenge ... a 10K, a 5K and races of 1, 4 and 10 miles within 24 hours!

The registration fee for the January 21-22, 2006 event is $125 and includes: 1 race entry for each of 5 races, overnight lodging in shared (heated!) cabins, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, Sunday lunch, awards, t-shirt. The schedule is as follows:

Saturday
12- 2 pm - Check-in/Cabin Assignments
3 pm - 10K Run
5:30- 7 pm - Dinner
8 pm - 4-Mile Run

Sunday
6-9 am - Continenal Breakfast
7:30 am - 5K Run
9 am - 10-Mile Run
9:30-11 am - Snacks available
11:30 am - 1-Mile Run
12-1:30pm - Lunch/Slide Show
1 pm - Awards Presentation

Towne Place Suites 6.5 Miler (Bloomington, IN)

With just a little over a month to go to get ready for the New York City Marathon, I've kind of been doubting my preparations. Last year, I knew heading into the Marine Corps Marathon (my first) that I didn't really have all of the "long run" miles in that I really needed to and it showed a little bit. My quads cramped in the heat and I was forced to walk a good bit of the last 10K and waste a good 4:02 effort through the first 20 miles.

Last week, I was just not emotionally motivated to do any training (and take advantage of cooler temperatures) and I almost fell victim to that Monday night as I ate dinner late and nearly tried to tell myself that I'd get up in the morning and do it. Yeah right! So at 11:15 p.m., I headed out to hit the roads of Bloomington, Indiana.

I embarked out on the same course that I did a few weeks ago. It was one that I measured using the tool on the HARRA web site to be 6.498 miles (so, let's just call it 6.5 miles). [If you want to see the route, it is listed with the same name as what is in this title.]

What you won't be able to see was that this was a hilly course and when I used the elevation part of the HARRA tool, I found that the front half of the course had apprxomiately a 120-foot elevation drop (867 feet above sea level to 747 feet) while the return had the same net gain.

3.242 miles out - 34:07.84 - 120-foot drop - 10:32/mile
3.256 miles back - 35:43.79 - 120-foot gain - 10:58/mile

(September 26th, Bloomington, IN)
6.498 miles total - 1:09:51.63 - 10:45/mile
(September 17th, San Marcos, TX, Country Roads 10K)
6.2 miles - 1:04:42 - 10:26/mile

I'm not putting a whole heck of a lot of stock in that comparison because one was a race and the other was just getting the miles in (although I did take advantage of it being cooler Monday evening, which should make it easier to run in).

Japan's Noguchi joins sub-2:20 club in Berlin

Japan's Mizuki Noguchi becomes just the 6th woman ever to post a marathon of under 2:20 by winning the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, September 25, 2005.

2:15:24.6 - ( 1) Paula Radcliffe (ENG) - 17 Dec 1973 13 Apr 2003 London ENG
2:17:17.7 - ( 1) Paula Radcliffe (ENG) - 17 Dec 1973 13 Oct 2002 Chicago IL USA
2:18:47 - ( 1) Catherine Ndereba (KEN) - 21 Jul 1972 07 Oct 2001 Chicago IL USA
2:18:56 - ( 1) Paula Radcliffe (ENG) - 17 Dec 1973 14 Apr 2002 London ENG
2:19:12 - ( 1) Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) - 03 Jul 1978 25 Sep 2005 Berlin GER
2:19:26 - ( 2) Catherine Ndereba (KEN) - 21 Jul 1972 13 Oct 2002 Chicago IL USA
2:19:39 - ( 1) Ying-jie Sun (CHN) - 19 Jan 1979 19 Oct 2003 Beijing CHN
2:19:41 - ( 1) Yoko Shibui (JPN) - 14 Mar 1979 26 Sep 2004 Berlin GER
2:19:46 - ( 1) Naoko Takahashi (JPN) - 06 May 1972 30 Sep 2001 Berlin GER
2:19:55 - ( 2) Catherine Ndereba (KEN) - 21 Jul 1972 13 Apr 2003 London ENG

Source: http://www.arrs.net/AL_Mara.htm

Organisers confirm Noguchi's two Berlin World record splits
Monday 26 September 2005

At this morning's post-race press conference it was confirmed by the race organisers that on route to a new Asian record of 2:19:12 in the real Berlin Marathon on Sunday (25), the split times were accurate, and consequently Mizuki Noguchi has broken world records at 25k and 30k. The 27-year-old Athens 2004 Olympic champion passed these marks in 1:22:12 and 1:38:48 hours.

The previous best times were held by fellow Japanese Naoko Takahashi, the Sydney 2000 Olympic champion at the marathon who had also run the records during the 2001 Berlin Marathon 2001. Then Takahashi clocked 1:22:31 for 25k and 1:39:02 for 30k, times which Mizuki improved the by 19 seconds and 14 seconds respectively.

The race referees at 25k and 30k still have to approve the time and of course it has to be ratified by the IAAF. But even if the official split times will be one or a couple of seconds slower, both times will of course still be World records. Britain’s Paula Radcliffe had been faster in the London Marathon 2003 at 30km. But the course is going down more than allowed at that point (1 metre per km).

“I did realise that I broke the 30km record when I passed the mark,” said Noguchi. “I looked at my watch and was happy about it. My personal best for this time had been 1:39:09. But I did not know about the 25km record. That came as a surprise today during the press conference. I know that Paula Radcliffe has been running faster split times in a marathon, but may be I am lucky to have run the Berlin Marathon.”

At a marathon normally there is no full set of judges on the course. But as in 2001 race director Mark Milde was aware of the possibility of two world records, and so judges were placed at 25km and 30km.

“On Sunday I felt like dreaming. It was only today that I realised what I have achieved,” said Noguchi said during the press conference.

Asked about a possible start at the World Championships in Osaka 2007, Noguchi said: “I have not decided yet about this. I will talk to my coach, but it is much to close after the Berlin Marathon now to say anything about it.”

And once more asked about a possible race against Paula Radcliffe before the Olympics in Beijing, the winner replied: “Again I can not say now because I have not planed anything yet. But should I be in a race and Paula will also enter this one, then it would be okay for me. But first of all I am very happy and proud of what I have achieved in Berlin. I will take home all the records as a souvenir.”

30,584 runners and walkers finished the real Berlin Marathon. But this figure might rise a bit since some runners probably did not fix their timing chip properly on their shoes.

New Mexico Marathon Race Report

http://www.barchouston.com/html/land_of_ench.html

Nice read of a race report from Bay Area Running Club's Lou Kneeshaw on the New Mexico Marathon that is held in Albuquerque on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. (The Duke City Marathon is held in Albuquerque on Sunday, October 23, 2005.)

Lou, who finished 4th in his age group (45-49) with a time of 3:35:17.5, was one of 22 Texans who completed the 5th year event.

Hannover Forest 4.5-Miler

Waverly missed her Tuesday slow jog (got home late and had homework to do) and Thursday run (Rita preparations); however, we together got in her 4.5-mile effort this evening. (We were supposed to do it at like 6 a.m., but I didn't feel like getting out of bed or waking her.)

We started this evening at about 8:20 p.m. and did two (2) 2.1-mile loops at a good brisk walk for her while I did a very slow jog.

First 2.1 miles - 30:23.08 - 14:28/mile
(Less than a minute - 55.81 seconds - to get some water/Gatorade)
Second 2.1 miles - 32:14.84 - 15:21/mile
Last .375 miles - 5:23.28 - 14:21/mile ("google map" - .379)

Speaking of measurements, I can't even "google map" our 2.1-mile (measured by Ford) route. Why? The satellite images doesn't include streets that were added after they were taken!

I keep asking her if "she's ready" each time we go out and each time she says she is (which is good). I just want to continually make sure that this is something that SHE wants to do. Not Dad. I'll be looking forward to covering each of the 13.1 miles with her in January. I can already visualize how she might respond to the ebb and flow of that distance and all of the excitement with the event. One thing is for certain: we'll be as prepared as anyone there!

Hmmm ... I just checked some data that I compiled at last year's Aramco Half Marathon. The fastest 10-year-old female's time? 3:48:11 - Erin Benson of Houston.

Run The Woodlands 5K #138 "Official" Race Report

Submitted by "Mr. Woodlands" Thomas McDonough

At 7 A.M. on the first Saturday of year 2000, Don Drewniak stood at the front doors of Barbara Bush Elementary School in The Woodlands, and thus began the Run The Woodlands 5K Series.

Through 137 iterations that saw a tropical storm ("Allison"), Christmas Day (in 2004), freezing temperatures, a giant cat on wheels (the "Meow Mix" race), and other potential impediments, the series has been run without fail on the second and fourth Saturday of every month for over five and one-half years. But this weekend, Hurricane Rita loomed with impending, potentially debilitating force that could have potentially interrupted this streak.

When Mr. Drewniak moved to the shores of Delaware earlier this year, Luke’s Locker graciously accepted the responsibilities of presenting and operating the race, and have done a magnificent job. For RTW #138, however, Luke’s Locker politely declined to stage the logistics. From a corporate liability standpoint, this was exactly the right thing to do.

But the race was never cancelled. Spurred by tradition, a grass-roots movement, and considerably less-than-apocalyptic weather, seven (7) hearty souls materialized (entirely at their own risk), saved their dollar (yes, one dollar), and completed the somewhat-impeded course.

Participants, all RTW “regulars”, included a 70-year-old, a 69-year-old, a runner who drove in from Houston, a female, and a dog. All finished safely. The streak continues.

Russell Meyer, the only participant to ever finish both first and last (and now the only participant to run through both Allison and Rita), notched his third victory, leading from start to finish in a smooth 20 minutes flat. Debbie Tripp, our RTW favorite, got her first victory in 48 tries. She has long deserved it.

Pictures will be posted soon, and the statistics page will be updated early this week.

Conditions: 70’s, light rain, high humidity, “breezy”.

1 Russell Meyer 20:00 M30-39 Houston, TX
2 Tom McDonough 23:36 M30-39 The Woodlands, TX
3 Tom Hippe 23:54 M50-59 The Woodlands, TX
4 Jim Braden 24:39 M70-79 The Woodlands, TX
5 Lou Wilson 29:52 M60-69 The Woodlands, TX
6 Debbie Tripp 31:39 F40-49 The Woodlands, TX
7 Tom Pinney + Khobar 31:58 M50-59 The Woodlands, TX

Starting, Photography, Timing, and Scoring: Mrs. Nora Wilson

Saturday Morning Update

9:15 a.m. -- I was awake at 6:30 a.m. to make an evaluation if I could make it to The Woodlands to join Thomas McDonough in the running of Run The Woodlands 5K Series #138. (Let make state very clearly that it was Tom's insistence to try and run the event which only would take two people to declare a race. The activity was not, if it occured was not sponsored, insured by, condoned or endorsed by Luke's Locker.)

The winds weren't *that* bad, but I saw lightning in the sky and I thought that it might have been indicative of potential tornado activities. Therefore, I came back inside and went to bed.

Currently, the winds are about the same. We are without power, but have phone service. The Chronicle reports that there are 575,000 Reliant customers without service. We have the back door open to let some cool air into the house and I'm going to break it to Gena and Waverly that at noon we should start to put the house back together again. (Actually, we could move out if we needed to right now.)

We were overprepared, but what kind of a husband or a father would I have been if we weren't prepared for the worst. Not as good of one as I could have been.

I put batteries in the radio and tried to get KHOU on the stations that they were supposed to be simulcasting on and nothing! Oh well! I turned it back off to save it in case we didn't have power for an extended time.

Friday Evening Update

11:38 p.m. -- Well, I hadn't made it to bed yet when the power appeared to be going out. It was off for 30 seconds and came back on. I'm assuming it will go off for good at some point. Just read the following in an online story of the Houston Chronicle:

Police rescued four people huddled under an overhang outside the locked downtown civic center in Lake Charles. "There's probably going to be 4 feet of water where they are now," Hines said. "So they need to get out of there."

Thought to myself that I was there last December as the Civic Center is where the start and finish of the Swamp Stomp Half Marathon was.

11:20 p.m. -- Gena and Waverly went to sleep in the living room about 40 minutes ago. It is time that I gave in and went to bed here in the master bedroom. If things get bad, I guess I'll hear it first since the room is in the northeast corner.

I have the alarm clock here set for 6:30 a.m. though. Why? Well, depending on the weather and the situation outside, I may be going to The Woodlands in the morning ..... :)

Have a great evening, stay safe and pray for the folks in Cameron, Louisiana and Sabine River area.

8:00 p.m. -- First significant gust of wind while I was outside.

7:20 p.m. -- First sign of rain in Spring, Texas.

4:25 p.m. -- Channel 11 here in Houston had Matt Musil out along the North Freeway showing a gas truck with 10,000 gallons filling up a Texaco station just north of Tidwell (and south of Little York). As soon as the tanker truck started to fill the tanks, people in line said that the operator changed the price from $2.70-something to $2.99. Do you consider this price gouging? Or do you think that the operator might have had to pay more from the wholesaler to receive the gas? And if so, do you think that the operator should have taken the loss for the goodwill of the people? Just something to think about. (The latter side, of course, wasn't presented in Channel 11's coverage.)

3:40 p.m. -- The winds here in Spring are starting to pick up a little bit.

Have been watching the news conference with Mayor Bill White and other officials. White and County Judge Bob Eckels have been doing a yoeman's job. If I lived in the city of Houston, I'd vote for White if he was up for re-election. (What I don't understand is that, at this moment - late in the game, we had to see Tom DeLay and Sheila Jackson Lee swoop in from Washington and get face time on TV. Ugh! I can just see the footage being used in their next re-election campaign about "being there when their constituents needed them the most.")

I like the sensible, but "have to draw a line somewhere" standpoint of the Sheriff's Department of Harris County. They said, "We'll make one more sweep of all of the freeways and the Toll Road System for people that are stranded at 4 p.m. We encourage you to get on the buses so we can get you to a shelter."

It has also been stated that "don't come to Houston from outlying areas to seek shelter" (i.e. it's too late for that and we can't handle it at this point), plus that "hospitals are not shelters."

1:30 p.m. -- It's been good to hear from everyone. Thanks for dropping in and saying "Hi!" I'll stay connected to the Internet as long as I have power and a phone line. :)

Not much new to report other than the fact that we've had a good hearty bite to eat (fish and macaroni and cheese - needed to use some frozen goods and milk so it won't spoil). However, I'll have work to do to take the pound or two off after it is over.

My wife and daughter have already gotten a shower. I'm not too far from it myself right now. We've got as many things off the floor as possible in case of flooding. We realized that we've got a major clutter issue to try to resolve as we put things back into place once things are finalized here this weekend.

I went outside to take a picture or two and the winds are picking up a little bit, but nothing like we'll see later on.

PLEASE be safe wherever you are at!

Yoder picks up 4th win of 2005 last Saturday

While cleaning things up around the house to get ready for the arrival of Hurricane Rita, I noticed in Thursday's Chronicle that fellow Houston Strider John Yoder notched at least his fourth overall win of the 2005 calendar year.

Yoder held off Junior Mitchell to win the Life Change Institute 5K in north Houston in a time of 17:23. Mitchell was four (4) seconds behind Yoder in 17:27 while Chad Laster finished 3rd in 18:08 and the younger brother of Spring Westfield HS cross country and track star Nicole Jones, Nathaniel, was fourth in a time of 19:44.

Yoder started 2005 off on January 1st with a win at the Texas Marathon in Kingwood before recording wins at the Blue Bell Fun Run 10K in Brenham and the inaugural League Play Grill 5K in Cypress three weeks ago.

Faith Sanders, who is spotted often at races with Nicole and her two brothers, Nathaniel and Jonathan, won the women's division in a time of 21:52 while Houston running veteran Eva Luckey was second in 22:40.

View to the East at 6:00 p.m. Friday

Picture isn't as clear as to what the skies look like in the backyard. However, the wind is picking up a little and gusting some, but nothing serious.

View to the East at 4:30 p.m. Friday

This is looking down Hannover Pines Drive to the east towards Interstate 45 North.

The Walk Command Center

Inside Command Center
Originally uploaded by walksports.

This is the center part of our house here in Spring.

As you look to the right, it is to the south and the west -- away from the direction in which the winds would come from.

(There are about seven (7) other pictures of various places of the house if you'll just click on this picture.)

Strider 20K Packet Stuffing Cancelled for Saturday

Hi Fellow Striders!

Needless to say, the 20k packet stuffing party scheduled tomorrow, Saturday, at my house at 2:00p has been cancelled.

We have rescheduled the packet stuffing for: Saturday, October 1, 2005, 2:00 p.m.

Stay safe and dry and good luck with your hurricane preparedness!

Sandy Wollangk
Houston Striders President

In case you haven't figured it out, Rita has forced us to Stuff Stuff for the 20k on Saturday, October 1 instead. Same time and place. I'll send a reminder next week.

I hope everyone is safe and not stranded anywhere. We figured that all of you had figured out that we're postponing, but I know there are some diehard Striders out there!

Andrea Chan
20K Volunteer Coordinator

Friday Morning Update

It is 3 a.m. and I just woke up after going to bed before 11 p.m. Yes, I know. Not a lot of sleep, but that has how my sleep has been recently. Not more than about 3-4 hours at a time.

Throughout the evening, we continued to get the house ready to go. We could move by now!

We tried to take the basketball goal apart to be able to get it inside house, but to no avail. It is tied down as much as possible to the side gate on the west side of the house. We didn't just want it left out front to become a missile to our neighbors. We also didn't want to just put it in the back yard where tornado-like winds could hurl it through the back window at us inside the house.

We wanted to take care of the basketball goal for the safety of ourselves and our neighbors, plus we also wanted to be able to pull both of our vehicles in the garage. My truck is already backed in and loaded with my other computers in case we are able to get out of here (i.e. if the traffic lightens up somewhere). Although the TV pictures on Channel 11 KHOU (from 4 hours ago on Interstate 45 heading north just north of here) were incredible -- 10 plus lanes of red tail lights!

Gena and Waverly finished getting the second spare bedroom that sits on the east side of the house ready to go. I believe that the closet is packed full. (I didn't open it and look.) Everything is against the western interior wall and as much as possible is above two to three feet in case there is some widespread flooding. We just don't know. (We need to bring the shovels inside in case of snakes. NOT my favorite things to think about, but I remember the reports from three-plus weeks ago re: Katrina. We also put the fire ant stuff up high, but where we could get to it. (Not sure if it could be used once water went down to kill them on the surface --- who knows. I'm not Mr. Fixit or Mr. Outdoors.)

We've got just a little bit of work left to do in the morning to continue to get the house ready and then it is just going to be to sit and ride it out. Not much more that we can do.

The landfall prediction models are holding the same, as of 1 a.m. Central time. No significant turns in any direction. The next update from the National Hurricane Center comes in about 40 minutes or so from now.

One thing that will unfortunately happen post-Rita is that there will be tremendous criticism of local officials about the traffic going out of the city of Houston that forced many people to stay and ride it out who may not have. BUT what can you do? Call for mandatory evacuations every time any storm system comes into the Gulf? As soon as they thought that it might be a major system, they mobilized and thank God that people listened. Perhaps, too many of them listened!

Back for some sleep as the worst will be here in about 24 hours from now.

Thursday Afternoon Update

Over the last five hours, we have been preparing in a number of ways getting ready for Hurricane Rita to make landfall early Saturday morning.

We have plenty of food and water (at least 22 gallons and more Powerade that I can drink) here at the house in the case that we are without electricity and phone service for a number of days -- a real possibility.

I may have made reference that we evaluated where the strongest winds will come from and have done the best job that we can to block the windows in case they were to shatter. In our home in the living room, there are three (3) large windows across the back. We have taken a large armoire, the two high bookcase pieces of an entertainment center and another bookcase and all of them are loaded with books (i.e. a lot of weight).

In the master bedroom, we situated the bed with the high 5-foot-plus headboard in front of the two (2) windows there. These measures have been to just minimize the amount of flying glass.

The rest of the house we've been going through and trying to position things in 1.) either a way that we could get to them (like non-perishable items such as chips on top of the kitchen cabinets) or 2.) off the ground so we could minimize the items that were lost to flooding.

We'll do as much as we can to get both of our vehicles in the garage so that they do not get tossed around in the 70-90 mph winds that we may see here.

And you read this and are wondering why we are staying here?

We can't get out of town.

My sister lives maybe not even 8 miles south of me and she didn't get to the parallel spot with our house on Interstate 45 after being on the freeway for more than 5 hours. She was finally able to turn around and go home. She'll will take her daughters over to our parents if the situation calls for.

We may leave tomorrow if the traffic patterns clear up; however, we doubt it.

We'll be loading up both of the vehicles this evening with clothes and other items that we plan to take in the case that we decide to leave. If there is a good side out of this is that we have the chance to plan on multiple fronts to minimize a lot of things.

What is scary is that everybody REALLY listened regarding Katrina and as soon as people knew that it was a Category 4 in the Gulf (and that was early yesterday morning), they headed out of town. Once we get through this, our state, county and local officials are going to have to figure out how to tweak the evacuation plans to be able to facilitate more people out at one time.

It is just literally amazing watching the pictures on TV that I am sure that all of you are seeing.

Both of our vehicles have at least 3/4ths of a tank of gas and can go approximately 300 miles without having to fill up (that would put us west of the I-35 corridor, if necessary).

Please keep all of the folks on the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coasts in your thoughts and prayers throughout the weekend.

Thursday Personal Update: We're Staying!

11:25 a.m. -- Please do NOT read the exclamation point above as anything that I'm bragging about - at all.

I landed at Intercontinental Airport this morning at about 8:45 a.m., got my bag, got in my truck and headed out. The scene at George Bush was chaos. The longest lines to get out that I've ever seen including the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Before I go any further, my biggest concern at this point is for my sister, Holly, who is heading to Dallas with her two daughters (my nieces) that are 1 and 6 years old. (Interstate 45 North was a parking lot and word hadn't been confirmed that they were going to open up the southbound lanes going north from 1488 to Buffalo.)

My parents are staying in Spring (in the Birnam Wood subdivision) and my brother-in-law is staying at their house. My in-laws may come here or head out to my father-in-law's brother and sister-in-law's house in Waller (if they can get there).

The biggest concern here is the wind. There was 36 inches of rain with Tropical Storm Allison in June of 2001 and we barely had an inch or two in our yard. They've done a lot of building, but they've also done a lot of building of retention ponds going north towards Spring Steubner (for those of you who know the area).

We've done an assessment of how our house sits (in regards to north-south). And knowing that the winds will come from an east-northeast direction onto it, we are doing our best to secure items away from those outer walls that could suffer wind or structural damage.

When I flew over Highway 59 North just south of Humble, it was an 8-lane parking lot going north and radio reports had the fact that people had been on 59 for eight (8) hours with little movement.

With reports that the storm will track to east has taken a little bit of the pressure off, we are getting our house ready to be prepared for anything that may come about. Keep us in your prayers if you read this and we'll do the same for all in the Gulf Coast area, regardless of where they are at.

Hurricane Rita 3rd Most Intense Hurricane Ever

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml
(scroll down for Hurricane Rita information)

HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
650 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

RITA BECOMES THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD

DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AT 623 PM CDT ... 2323Z ... INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO BELOW 899 MB ... OR 26.55 INCHES. THE DROPSONDE INSTRUMENT MEASURED 32 KT/35 MPH WINDS AT THE SURFACE ... WHICH MEANS IT LIKELY DID NOT RECORD THE LOWEST PRESSURE IN THE EYE OF RITA. THE CENTRAL PRESSURE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST AS LOW AS 898 MB...AND PERHAPS EVEN LOWER. FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES ... A PRESSURE OF 898 MB IS ASSUMED ...WHICH NOW MAKES RITA THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SOME ADDITIONAL DEEPENING AND INTENSIFICATION IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO.

RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MBAND THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB.

FORECASTER STEWART

HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
545 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

RITA BECOMES THE FIFTH MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD

DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AT 416 PM CDT ... 2116Z ... INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO 904 MB ... OR 26.69 INCHES. THIS MAKES RITA THE FIFTH MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN.

RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MB (This one missed Houston) ...THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB ... HURRICANE ALLEN IN1980 WITH 899 MB ... AND HURRICANE KATRINA LAST MONTH WITH 902 MB.

FORECASTER STEWART

HURRICANE RITA DISCUSSION NUMBER 17
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 PM EDT WED SEP 21 2005

AND YET ANOTHER CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE THIS SEASON. DATA FROM BOTH NOAA AND AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTERS INDICATE A SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE DROP TODAY AND WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO 145 KNOTS. THIS IS BASED ON A 700 MB WIND OF 161 KNOTS RECENTLY MEASURED BY AN AIR FORCE PLANE AND A RECALIBRATED SFMR SURFACE WIND OF 146 KNOTS. SATELLITE INTENSITY ESTIMATES WERE UNANIMOUSLY 140 KNOTS FROM ALLAGENCIES. BECAUSE RITA WILL BE CROSSING AN AREA OF HIGH HEAT CONTENT DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS ... IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE HURRICANE WILL MAINTAIN ITS STRENGTH. THEREAFTER ... THE OCEAN HEAT CONTENT IS NOT AS HIGH AND THE INTENSITY CHANGES WILL BE CONTROLLED MAINLY BY EYEWALL REPLACEMENT CYCLES AND DECREASING HEAT CONTENT. SOME WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED BUT RITA IS FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL AS A MAJOR HURRICANE ... AT LEAST CATEGORY THREE.

THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE STEERING PATTERN AND RITA IS MOVING WESTWARD OR 275 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS. THE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN FORCING RITA WESTWARD IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN AND SHIFT EASTWARD. THIS WILL ALLOW THE HURRICANE TO TURN GRADUALLY TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AND NORTHWEST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THE CORE OF RITA IS BASICALLY MOVING TOWARD THE TEXAS COAST AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TRACK MODEL CONSENSUS.

THE WIND FIELD ASSOCIATED WITH THE HURRICANE HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ALREADY EXTEND ABOUT 150 N MI IN THE NORTHERN SEMICIRCLE. BECAUSE ADDITIONAL EXPANSION OF THE WINDFIELD IS ANTICIPATED ... A HURRICANE WATCH AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE NORTHWEST GULF COAST.

FORECASTER AVILA

Wednesday Personal Update

6:53 p.m. - I got my wife's cell phone voice mail message leaving the office, but I haven't been able to get a hold of anybody else again, including my sister's land or cell line. I'm thinking once I get home of heading north somewhere, but a AAA report was saying that they were booking people into hotel rooms in Oklahoma. My fear of leaving is not being able to get back into the area.

5:55 p.m. - I spoke with my Mom on her cell phone because I couldn't get through to her land line or the land line at my house. I got "all circuits are busy now" on both of their lines. Things are getting interesting, unfortunately.

5:45 p.m. - I'm currently in Bloomington, Indiana and I'll be heading to Houston in the morning (instead of returning on the regularly scheduled 5:20 p.m. flight.) My daughter, Waverly, is getting a bit anxious of the storm. (I can track her website activity on AOL and the last two days the only site she has gone to is Channel 2's site.)

My wife's brother, who lives in southwest Houston, is flying to Dallas tonight. My in-laws, who live just southeast of Willowbrook Mall, were boarding up their windows this afternoon. My wife reported this morning that prices of plywood were up approximately $8 per sheet. I talked to my parents this morning, who live just northwest of Intercontinental are waiting and seeing.

During Hurricane Alicia in 1983, we had some high winds out there but no real damage. But that was an upper Category 2 / lower Category 3 that came just west of downtown. (I remember the windows being blown off of downtown buildings.)

If you are a runner in the Gulf Coast area who reads this blog, please keep everyone up to date of your whereabouts by posting a comment on this thread or e-mailing me privately.

From reading Sarah's blog, she is heading to The Woodlands (Webster had a mandatory evacuation) and according to Edwin Quarles' comment, his family is in Lufkin now.

Nike South XC Invitational Cancelled

Coach Juris Green of The Woodlands High School e-mailed this morning to indicate that the event, the Nike South Cross Country Invitational, was being cancelled "due to weather concerns."

HBU Husky Hustle Postponed

From the Office of Marketing & Communications
Sara Hawkins, 281-649-3475, shawkins@hbu.edu

(September 21, 2005) - As Hurricane Rita threatens the Gulf Coast, Houston Baptist University has postponed the Husky Hustle 5K Fun Run & Walk scheduled for Saturday, September 24, until Saturday, November 12.

For more information contact Judy Martin at 281-649-3413

Sara Hawkins
Assistant Director
Marketing & Communications
Houston Baptist University
ph. 281-649-3475

Huntsville Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk Entries on Track

Race director and Seven Hills Running Club president Ken Johnson reports that entries for the 27th Annual Huntsville Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk are on the normal track, even though the race is competing with the 20K Houston Marathon warm-up race in Houston the same weekend.

Johnson states that if entries continue to be received at the current rate, over 400 race entries are expected by race time. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Good Shepherd Mission and the SAAFE House in Huntsville, both of which are supporting those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Nearly 100 volunteers are needed to make this race a success. If you want to volunteer or know someone who wants to, contact club vice president Lindsey Tlustos at (936) 435-1950 or lat00@yahoo.com. Those “00”s are zeros.

Committee heads are as follows: Chris Wilson – Course, Jason Hanley – Aid Stations, Kathy Cook – Start/Finish, Valerie Johnson/Lindsey Tlustos – Refreshments, Lindsey Tlustos – Volunteer Coordinator.

Kastor Sets American Half Marathon Record in Phily

Olympic marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor added yet another American record to her resume on Sunday, winning the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run in 1 hour, 7 minutes, 53 seconds. Her time over the half-marathon distance shattered Joan Benoit Samuelson's 21-year-old mark of 1:08:34, set in at the same race in Philadelphia in 1984.

Already the American record holder in the marathon (2:21:16) and the 10,000 meters on the track (30:50.32), Kastor also owns American road bests over 5 km (14:54), 8 km (24:36) and 15 km (47:15).

Her race in Philadelphia was a tune-up of sorts for the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, which Kastor will run October 9.

"I'm ecstatic," Kastor said of her latest history-making run. "I couldn't ask for a better race. It was a little harder than I expected and I knew it was going to hurt a little. I wasn't sure I would run that fast and I was starting to tire at the end."

http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUid=USATF_2005_09_18_14_39_19

HARRA Fall Series Standings

Like my tracking of the HEB Texas 10K Challenge finishers, my calculation of Saturday's HARRA Cross Country Relay results into the first round of the HARRA Fall Series Team and Club Competition standings are unofficial:

Team
Tornados Running Club - 45
Houston Striders - 45
Bayou City Road Runners - 42
Al Lawrence Running Club - 29
Bay Area Running Club - 21
Terlingua Track Club - 21
Houston Harriers - 14
RunSport - 8
Finish Line Sports - 5

Club
Houston Striders - 127 (73 performance points + 54 participation points)
Tornados Running Club - 75 (59 + 14)
Bayou City Road Runners - 73 (57 + 16)
Bay Area Running Club - 36 (28 + 8)
Al Lawrence Running Club - 35 (29 + 6)
Terlingua Track Club - 29 (21 + 8)
Houston Harriers - 18 (14 + 4)
RunSport - 8 (8 + 0)
Houston Masters Sports Association - 8 (0 + 8)
Finish Line Sports - 5 (5 + 0)
PTI - 2 (0 + 2)

The definition of "performance" and "participation" points are purely my own convention. The top seven (7) teams in each of six (6) categories are scored in a 13/10/8/6/5/4/3 format; however, only one team per category can score "team" points.

The Striders had the 5th best team in three (3) categories (Open Male, Masters Male and Open Female), the 6th best team in Veterans Men and the top teams in both the Masters and Veterans Female. Therefore, those totals equal 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 13 + 13 = 45.

However, the club also had the 4th best team in Masters Female, the 6th best team in Open Female and the 3rd, 4th and 5th best teams in Veterans Female. The totals of 6 + 4 + 8 + 6 + 4 = 28 count in the Club Competition. Those two totals (45 + 28 = 73) are what I call "performance points".

The remaining 27 Strider teams account for two (2) club points per team to total 54 points for club point total of 127.

Analysis
The biggest improvement (+19 points, 26 to 45 points) in the Team Competition belonged to the Tornados, who scored wins in the Masters Men, Veterans Men and Open Female categories as well as a 4th place finish in the Open Men.

The Open Female win is no surprise as the club repeated its 2004 win. However, the other three (3) scores were as the Tornados had a 7th place Masters team last year, no Veterans or Open Mens team at all last year.

Sliding in the Team Competition compared to 2004 were Terlingua Track Club (-19), the Houston Striders (-10), Bayou City Road Runners (-7), Houston Masters (-7) and the Houston Harriers (-5) while the climbers included the Bay Area Running Club (+19), RunSport (+8) and Finish Line Sports (+5).

The Striders' Club Competition lead of 62 points far eclipses the 24-point lead over Bayou City at the same point last year.

(As soon as the official standings are released, we'll bring them to your attention here.)

Some Races You Should Know About!

If you aren't going to make it all the way up to The Woodlands on Saturday, September 24th to do Run The Woodlands 5K, there are three (3) Greater Houston area 5K's.

The first is the "Beat The Heat 5K" in Jersey Village which is put on by the cousin of On The Run Racing Team member and blogger Sam Rodriguez. The other two include the "Katy Fall Classic 5K" and the "5th annual HBU Husky Hustle 5K."

A 5K that I was just made aware of this evening by fellow Houston Strider Charlie Rodriguez is the 10th annual Run for the Word hosted by Incarnate Word Academy on Sunday, October 9th. (I'd do this one if the Bear Creek Striders 10K/20K wasn't going to take place the same morning.)

And finally, a 10K that I'd like to do again this year is "The Best Little 10K in Texas" to be held in LaGrange, Texas on Saturday, October 15th at 9:00 a.m. However, it conflicts with the Huntsville Half Marathon that morning. The "Best Little 10K in Texas" features a challenging course that includes crossing over and back the Colorado River. As long as its cool (with the 9 a.m. start), this is really one of my favorite races even though it is the 2nd year for the event in 2005.

Just doing my part to get the word out!

2005 Texas 10K Challenge Finishers

Eight (8) TX 10K Challenge Finalists
Originally uploaded by walksports.

The 2005 HEB Texas 10K Challenge finishers on Saturday morning at the conclusion of the Country Roads 10K in San Marcos. From left to right: Raul Capetillo (42, Pflugerville); Leslie Ann Capetillo (43, Pflugerville), Jesse Keller (44, Kingwood); Karen Nyberg (35, Seabrook); Joy Ezekiel (51, Houston); Mark Ezekiel (51, Houston); Richard Kerr (69, Houston); Eddie Espinosa (42, Houston)

2005 HEB Texas 10K Challenge: My Thoughts

On Saturday morning at San Marcos' Country Roads 10K, there were lots of happy individuals of over the 100 finishers. But eight (8) of the runners were especially thrilled that they had the opportunity to complete something - running five (5) set 10K's around the state.

They had a great time and had gotten to know one another as they kept seeing everyone at various races, especially a handful that weren't as well attended as the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run or the Challenge's first race, the Bayou City Classic 10K. They were also disappointed that two runners from Sugar Land, John and Ryan DiMarco, weren't able to complete the Challenge because of a conflict.

One of the runners, 69-year-old Richard Kerr from Houston, had completed the Challenge in each of the three years of its existence. Some of the runners expressed having a great time seeing some parts of the state that they might not have. Houston-area runner Eddie Espinosa indicated that he and his wife, Julie, would spend a weekend and try to find one of the state's wineries in each location.

Another runner, 51-year-old Mark Ezekiel of Houston, had flown in from Europe on Saturday to do a race on Sunday and then flew back to Europe for work on Monday! (Boys and girls that is even crazier than anything that I've done so far!)

Unlike Roger Soler's Texas Marathon Challenge and Paula Robertson's Love the Half Challenge, the HEB Texas 10K Challenge had a fixed finish. The 5 races, like the original Texas Marathon Challenge, were set. You have to complete all of them and report your results. What do these folks get in appreciation for their efforts? Hmmm .... they don't know for sure.

It would have been nice for somebody involved with the Challenge to have made the drive to San Marcos to congratulate them in person, take a picture and truly thank them for taking part of the Challenge! This instead of a 38-year-old semi-journalist/semi-promoter/semi-publicist driving 2:45 early on a Saturday morning, running the event, telling SMRC president David Alexander what I was doing and asking to make an announcement so that I could get a picture.

In fact, some of the races didn't even know that they were part of the Texas 10K Challenge!

John DiMarco said that the Fort Worth Running Club wasn't aware and I personally spoke with the leadership of the San Marcos Running Club on Saturday and they said that they had stumbled on to it searching via the Internet. Brenham runners Calvin and Joyce Stout said they would have participated in it had they known more about it! (And Calvin and Joyce drive everywhere!)

I had written Pamela Willmon of the Bayou City Classic on December 28, 2004 to see if I could confirm the individuals that had completed the Challenge. Pamela's response the next day was: "Approx. 50 signed up for the Challenge initially but only seven were able to make all races and be classified as "finishers". We are planning to give the event another shot in 2005 and see if it attracts more interest."

Well, 7 last year. Eight (8) this year and almost 10!

This thing will work, but you have to work at it! But if you expect to just post something on the Internet, expect people to flock to it and never do any active promoting, it'll never go anywhere!

Many of the individuals found out about it AFTER running the Bayou City Classic 10K in March.

I should have NEVER had to have written to find out who the finishers were for 2004! The organizers should have had a listing out to every possible media outlet, including Runner Triathlete News and Inside Texas Running. Quite frankly, this isn't rocket science!

BUT I have a passion for the sport and a soft spot (and quite honestly a love) in promoting and recognizing people for their accomplishments!

Since the Bayou City Classic 10K is a HARRA event, HARRA quite frankly should do a better job in promoting this thing ... not just a HARRA member like myself.

The link that I built for the "Unofficial" results (http://www.walksports.com/2005heb10kchallengeresults.htm) should have been being maintained by the organizers through the HARRA website with a prominent link! On the Bayou City Classic 10K web site, the link isn't featured prominently.

Consider this. The Texas Marathon Challenge, which has a fee involved, had 50 or so finishers to run any five (5) Texas marathons or greater. The "Love The Half" Texas Challenge, which also has a fee, had almost 200 runners to run five (5) or more Texas half marathons or greater.

The HEB Texas 10K Challenge, which is free and has five (5) set races, had 8!

It is a great concept. It is just a shame to see it wasted!

Sunday's Late Evening 4.2-Mile Run

I was going to tack this on at the end of the earlier report today of Waverly's 4-mile effort.

However, I don't want to take away from her accomplishment one bit! 4 miles is the longest she's ever gone at once! (Well, that's not counting walking NYC in the summer of 2001. We guessed about 10 miles that day.)

I can gripe, moan and complain about a lot of reasons why I'm not running well, but the bottom line that I have to take responsibility for is my weight. Yes, I know it is hot and humid and yes, I know I logged a lot of miles in the last 48 hours. But my weight is one thing that I can control and honestly, I just haven't been as diligent as I need to be. I'm sabotaging my workouts with cheap calorie hits such as fast food (primarily breakfast on the run) and Mountain Dew. They've got to go and I'm not getting enough water. So I'm going to painfully put that here (and bore some of you), but it might be the only way I can tackle this thing. I can do better!

I have a later flight in the morning (9:05 am) to Indianapolis so it will give me time to get to Bally's early and get on the scales. As painful as that is going to seem. I predict that it will show 240, which will really make the fact that I can get close to the low 29's (6 weeks ago) pretty remarkable. However, I think if I could get down to 200, I could get into the mid-26 range.

Here are the numbers from tonight's run: Loop 1 (22:41.94) and Loop 2 (24:55.98) for a 4.2-mile total of 47:37.52 or a pace of 11:20/mile.

Blog This! Striders Team Picture

From left to right: Jessica Alexander, yours truly, Holden Choi and Jennifer Kim.

(I do NOT look good all wet! In fact, I found exactly where the extra pounds are when I tried to put on the size 36 Dockers shorts that I had been wearing most of the early part of this year.)

The Waverly 4-Miler!

Week 2 on the road to January 15th!

Last week's mileage: 10.8 miles (2.1, 2.1, 5K, and 3.5)
This past week's (Sunday to Monday) mileage: 8.2 miles (2.1, 2.1 and 4)

(Actually this mileage count should not really go more than two (2) 2.1-milers per week plus the gradual half mile a week increase to get her ready for January. She's 10!)

We both got a good night's sleep last night after a very long, yet fun day on Saturday. However, we went out to do four (4) miles at 7:45 a.m. and yes, it was already hot!

She slow jogged just slightly more than first half of the 2.1-mile segment and then just under half of the 1.9-mile segment in our subdivision. (And the objective is to either brisk walk and/or slow job as much as possible. I'm not going to try and have her run 13.1 miles in January. If she does, it will be at her urging and, right now, I don't see that.)

2.1-mile segment: 30:04.69
Water break: 1:30.91 (she grabbed some Gatorade and I took a swig or two of some Powerade)
1.9-mile segment: 30:02.16

Four (4) miles: 1:00:06.85 - Right at 15 minutes a mile in hot weather!

Good job and a distance PR for Waverly!

HARRA Cross Country Relay Race Report

Our Blog This! Striders team (Jennifer Kim, Jessica Alexander and Holden Choi) had a good time (before, during and afterwards) at HARRA's Cross Country Relay that featured 38 Striders teams as we ran close to our marks! (Too bad that the Tornados couldn't do anything about the heat, especially running into the sun heading back to the start!)

I didn't get the split hit after my hand-off to Jennifer Kim, but I had looked at my watch and a little disappointed that I did my first 2-mile leg in 20:48. This means that I had an 11:20 split on the return after posting a decent 9:28.58 run going out to the mile 1 marker.

Jennifer came through and beat her earlier projection of greater than 24 minutes (this came about after running 12 miles Saturday morning with Houston Fit) by posting a 22:45.96 split to put us at 43:33.96.

Jessica and Holden put together two (2) nice legs by posting times of 18:02.54 and 18:13.02, respectively, to give us a 1:19:49.52 finish.

Of the seven (7) Open Mixed teams from the Striders, our 1:19:49.52 finish was 6th and I think that I saw on the "Striders time sheet that went missing" that we had finished 98th overall.

Running coach Steve Shepard reported that the 152 runners, 38 teams, was the largest gathering of Striders at a race in club history. (At the 2002 HARRA Cross Country Relay, the Striders fielded 7 teams -- according to the Stridelines issue!)

As far as the club goes, the Striders had the following teams that placed:

Yong Collins, Marcella Paull, Celeste Habiger and Julie Rutledge won the Vet Womens!

Sandy Parker, Sophie Rydin, Marjorie Marks and Theresa Drago were 3rd in the Vet Womens!

Karen Bowler, Helen Grant, Alison Stewart and Jackie Connelly won the Masters Womens! (What's remarkable here is that Karen is a Veterans runner, but moving her onto the Masters team ensured that the team will pick up the most important 13 points in the team competition for two of the 3 women's categories!)

Rob Keene, Chris Boylan, Julie Norton and Jody Rice were 2nd in the Open Mixed!

I had the chance to meet Gabriel Rodriguez for the first time. (I actually was in the On The Run store in Clear Lake once with my friend, Shelley Stephenson, but hadn't gotten the blog up and online at that point.) Not surprised, his On The Run Racing team nabbed the first overall spot in a sub 42-minute performance. It is the fifth such sub 42-minute performance in the last five years. (That link will be online off of my main page later today!)

He commented that he "heard" me finish (as he ran a later leg) and that "everyone out here knows you as they were hollering Jon!, Jon!" (Some of us slow guys need to get shown the love every once in awhile too!) Seriously though, at any event, it is a challenge to get an opportunity to network with people and to give them the time that they want to spend talking about the sport, the clubs, the people, races, training, etc.

I really had a chance to talk to a lot of people other than our own club members. Some of them included Tom Sherwood and Wayne Rutledge (two Run The Woodlands veterans), Vera Balic of the Bay Area Running Club, Roger Boak of Terlingua Track Club, Leno Rios of Tornados Running Club and HARRA president Tom Stilwell of the Bayou City Road Runners. Ok, it seemed like more than that!

Country Roads 10K Race Report

Full race report will come later!

Mile splits from the third 10K in as many weeks are as follows:

Mile 1 - 9:25.80
Mile 2 - 10:09.43 (19:35.23)
Mile 3 - 10:22.00 (29:57.23)
Mile 4 - 10:18.16 (40:15.39) ... I'm thinking, "To be holding at 10 minutes a mile on a humid morning is OK."
Mile 5 - 11:31.44 (51:46.83) ... Yeah, right! Spoke to soon.
Mile 6 - 11:01.59 (1:02:48.42)
Last .2 - 1:52.63 (1:04:41.05)

Lots to report from here!

Friday Night Update

This week has been a blah! week from a workout standpoint!

I worked out hard at the gym Monday night in Bloomington (an hour on the elliptical machine with the usual settings plus 35 minutes on the stationery bike doing a speed routine), but I didn't run until tonight when I went out for a 2.1-mile get loose jog with Waverly.

We were supposed to do it last night, but some things went awry when I got home from the airport.

She did it in 27:58.92, a 13:20/pace. That equates to a 41:20 5K, which is 10 seconds better than what she did last Saturday at the Klein HS Bearkat Bash. Tomorrow will be a rest day for her and then on Sunday morning, we'll do 4 miles together before going to church and then Astroworld - perhaps for the last time. (We have four free tickets. So we can go twice!)

Busy day on Saturday for me. I think I'm going to still go to San Marcos in the morning and do the Country Roads 10K, get back and shower, go to my niece's first birthday party and then head to Shepherd and Memorial for the HARRA Cross Country Relay.

My expectation for our team is to do this in 1:14 -- Jen and myself in 20 minutes each, Jessica in 18 and Holden in 16. (I'm hoping to do it in a little less.) If you are a blogger and not running, come on out, park at St. Thomas HS, get there by 4 p.m. and meet us all!

2006 HARRA Spring Series Announced

In Tom Stilwell's "President's Lap" column in this month's edition of Inside Texas Running, the 2006 HARRA Spring Series was announced. The six-race series will be as follows:

February 4 - Buffalo Wallow Cross Country 6K
February 11 - Park to Park Five Mile Run
March 11 - Bayou City Classic 10K (RRCA National Championship)
March 25 - HBA Law Week Fun Run 8K
April 8 - Bellaire Trolley Run 5K
April 19 - LP 33 1/3 RUN
April 29 - Bayou Bash Relay

The Iron Foot Award will be given to HARRA members that participate in six (6) races although one can be as a volunteer. (Source: HARRA June 2005 Minutes)

HARRA Cross Country Relays (2002 - 2004)

Some historical pre-race statistics from the last three years of the HARRA Cross Country Relay that I thought many of you might be interested in:

Total # of Teams
55 (2002), 52 (2003), 86 (2004)

By Division
Open Males - 12 (2002), 12 (2003), 20 (2004)
Open Females - 6 (2002), 8 (2003), 16 (2004)
Masters Males - 15 (2002), 12 (2003), 14 (2004)
Masters Females - 8 (2002), 7 (2003), 7 (2004)
Senior Males - 4 (2002), 5 (2003), 10 (2004)
Open Mixed - 5 (2002), 5 (2003), 8 (2004)
Masters Mixed - 3 (2002), 1 (2003), 6 (2004)

By Club
Bayou City Road Runners (53) - 18 (2002), 19 (2003), 16 (2004)
Houston Striders (41) - 4 (2002), 15 (2003), 22 (2004)
BCRR and Striders ----- 94
All Others ---------------- 99
Tornadoes Running Club (27) - 7 (2002), 8 (2003), 12 (2004)
Terlingua Running Club (20) - 8 (2002), 6 (2003), 6 (2004)
Al Lawrence Running Club (14) - 5 (2002), 2 (2003), 7 (2004)
Houston Masters (12) - 5 (2002), 1 (2003), 6 (2004)
Houston Harriers (7) - 4 (2002), 3 (2004)
Independent (4) - 4 (2004)
Bay Area Running Club (2) - 2 (2004)
Finish Line Sports (2) - 2 (2002)
Lee High School (2) - 2 (2004)
On The Run Racing Team (2) - 2 (2004)
Hewitt & Associates (1) - 1 (2004)
Houston Heat (1) - 1 (2002)
HTRex (1) - 1 (2004)
Kenyan Way (1) - 1 (2003)
Power In Motion (1) - 1 (2002)
RunSport (1) - 1 (2004)

Source: Runner Triathlete News

September Issue of Stridelines Online!

At some point in time, the rest of the Houston Striders are going to get tired of hearing about this mid-to-back of the pack runner and tell more stories of their adventures! (Actually, I think one that would be interesting to hear from is John and Ryan DiMarco's quest for the HEB Texas 10K Challenge and their San Francisco Marathon experience - which was Ryan's very first that he ran with his Dad!)

This month's (September) edition of the award-winning Stridelines can be found here.

Included in it are Steve Shepard's summer running journey through the upper Midwest (which I need to be doing more of here in the lower Midwest ... Indiana), a different look at one of John Yoder's morning runs (fast no less), a member profile of one of our own bloggers, Jessica Alexander, as well as all of the news on the upcoming 20K, RRCA National Convention, the Striders' free 10K/20K on October 9th for volunteers of the 20K and all of the other usual Stridelines staples.

2006 Love The Half Challenge

HELLO TEXAS! It is hard to believe, but the FIRST half marathon of the 2006 Love the Half Challenge will be held on October 1, 2005 in Helotes.

The days of training in the summer heat are behind us, September has brought cooler temperatures and it is time to RUN!

The success of the INAUGURAL Love the Half Challenge was amazing as 86% of the 191 participants (including 9 Houston Striders!) completed or exceeded the challenge requirements. Officially, the total number of events completed was 947 or 13,110.80 miles.

The 2005 website was launched with ten events. The 2006 website has been updated and includes FIFTY events.

Register TODAY, http://www.lovethehalf.com/texas.htm, for the 2006 Texas Love the Half Challenge. All participants will receive a wind shirt. All participants finishing at least 6 events will receive a fleece vest and finisher award.

Good Luck,
Paula Robertson
www.lovethehalf.com

Lucky Trails Marathon in Seabrook Gets Website

http://www.seabrookmarathon.org/ is the new official website of the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon that is to be run on Sunday, March 19, 2006 and that is sponsored by the Clear Lake Fitness Club.

It's Official! Waverly's Chip Time is 41:30.9!

Waverly's Great Form
Originally uploaded by walksports.

And check out that stretch to the finish line form! (She caught and passed those two girls too!)

After all my griping, the results were finally posted at Runner Triathlete News sometime Sunday evening!

Her gun time was 41:41.5 (although clock time displayed 41:58 after she crossed the line), but the chip time was 41:30.9! Her second best of ten (10) career 5K's.

My chip time was exactly to my watch -and- on further review, the clock time in the picture matched the gun time for me exactly as well.

Bearkat Bash Results Are Online!

10K - 5K

Juan Arrieta (5K) - 23:54.1 - Houston Striders, second in 35-39 age group
Michael Attanucci (5K) - 24:55.9 - Son of Vincent, runs Run The Woodlands 5K occasionally
Vincent Attanucci (10K) - 42:49.5 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular; 1st in 50-54 age group
Bonnie Jo Barron (10K) - 41:15.9 - Bayou City Road Runners; Overall winner
Ray Boytim (5K) - 30:51.9 - Long-time Houston running veteran; second in 70-74 age group
Craig Calmes (5K) - 18:12.3 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular; Overall winner
Cesar Casarrubias (10K) - 36:58.8 - Conroe Elite team member; 4th overall
Lance Collins (10K) - 38:29.8 - 9th overall; 2nd in 40-44 age group
Robert Duncan (10K) - 39:42.0 - Seven Hills Running Club; 1st in 45-49 age group
Carole Flad (5K) - 25:54.1 - Houston Striders, first in 50-54 age group
Mark Fraser (5K) - 20:06.3 - Bayou City Road Runners, first in 45-49 age group
Chris Gause (10K) - 1:15:27.9 - Ran Run The Woodlands 5K last time; first in 60-64 age group and first 10K ever!
Dave Gentry (5K) - 28:55.8 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular; second in 65-69 age group
Danny Gilbreath (5K) - 23:40.4 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular; 5th in 50-54 age group
Evan Groutage (5K) - 22:03.6 - HMSA veteran, third in 55-59 age group
Jay Hendrickson (5K) - 19:13.9 - Bayou City Road Runners, second in 50-54 age group
Gary Johnson (5K) - 18:29.5 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular; 1st in 50-54 age group
Ken Johnson (10K) - 1:09:09.7 - Seven Hills Running Club; 4th in 60-64 age group
Joe Linke (5K) - 35:54.2 - Houston Striders, 6th in 40-44 age group
Lynlee Linke (5K) - 25:50.7 - Houston Striders, second in 35-39 age group
Kirk Norton (5K) - 18:41.4 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular; first in 35-39 age group
Andrew Perry (10K) - 34:25.7 - Conroe Elite/Run The Woodlands 5K regular; Overall winner
John Phillips (10K) - 52:34.8 - Former HARRA president; 1st in 55-59 age group
Steve Schroeder (10K) - 40:51.2 - first in 35-39 age group
Suzy Seeley (5K) - 22:16.0 - Bayou City Road Runners, Masters winner (No surprise!)
Clint Sherrouse (10K) - 35:35.7 - Conroe Elite/Run The Woodlands 5K regular; 2nd overall
John Soul (10K) - 42:45.3 - Run The Woodlands 5K regular
Lindsey Tlustos (10K) - 44:12.6 - Seven Hills Running Club; first in 20-24 age group
Ben Tucker (10K) - 53:47.3 - fourth in 35-39 age group
Jon Walk (10K) - 1:04:31.4
Waverly Walk (5K) - 41:30.9

38 Strider Teams at HARRA XC Relay

Houston Striders running coach Steve Shepard internally released the teams for Saturday's HARRA Cross Country Relay - the first race of the 2005 HARRA Fall Series - and there will be an all-time high of 38 Strider squads!

Anybody up for Nike South Corporate Challenge 2-Mile XC?

The guys from where I go to church at, North Park Baptist Church, have conflicts on Friday evening, September 23rd (although all of them I'm sure will be at Run The Woodlands 5K #138 the following morning) for the Nike South Corporate Challenge 2-Mile Cross Country Relay.

I'm going to run it as an open runner unless any of you want to come out and do it with me as a team of bloggers (and it doesn't necessarily have to be all Striders). If you are interested, drop me an e-mail at walksports(at)aol.com! [P.S. I need to have registration turned in by end of day, Wednesday.]

Sunday Workout Blues

Well, it started out that way -- as blues! My intentions were to get up very early, drive to Cullen Park, log some miles before 7 a.m. and then join some fellow Houston Striders on an 8-mile trek.

The alarm went off and Jon was back into bed. I slept until around 8:30 a.m. (Yes, I was temporarily wrecked with guilt.) However, I needed the rest. But it put some pressure on me to get my miles in. This past week hadn't been a good preparation week at all; therefore, I needed (and need to continue) to step it up a bit.

I got a late start after church this morning and finally made it to Bally's at about 3:30 p.m. The plan was to run for three (3) hours on the treadmill. I did OK. Well, the bottom line is that I got three (3) hours worth of workouts in.

I started out getting a little loose by doing 10 minutes on the elliptical trainer before making my way to the treadmill. The first hour, I put in 5.75 miles. I set it at 5.5 mph for the first 10 minutes then upped it .1 mph every 10 minutes thereafter. The last 10 minutes was at 6.0 mph.

The second hour, I went the first 30 minutes at 5.5 mph and the goal was to get through the last 30 minutes at 5.6 mph. I made it to 51:55 then hit the "STOP" button as I started to not feel real well in my left foot. (Doing the calculations on the Runner's World pace calculator, 21:55 at 5.6 mph was just under 2.05 miles. Add 2.75 miles for the first 30 minutes and you have 4.8 miles.) Total: 10.55 miles.

I then logged an hour on the stationery bike doing my typical hill workout at level 7 (out of 10).

I just really need to pick my activity level up another notch as I think some of this, as I mentioned, is a weight issue. I could tell at the gym when I went through my third T-shirt that the Bellaire Trolley Run 5K t-shirt was just a bit more snug than when I had been wearing it casually with Dockers shorts. (So my plan for this week is to do some strong cardio tomorrow night, rest Tuesday or 3-4 mile jog, longer run or speedwork on Wednesday, run with her + another 2.1 on Thursday and rest on Friday.)

When I got home after getting a bite to eat, I then took Waverly out for her 3.5-mile brisk walk/jog -- the first leg to January! We only jogged at the very end, especially since she did a 5K yesterday. We have a standard 2.1-mile loop in our subdivision and then I had to create another 1.4-mile stretch (and this part is so new that I don't think it would show up on any of the 'Web maps or satellite images yet). The times looked like this:

First 2.1 miles - 32:40.08 - 15:33/mile
Last 1.4 miles - 21:25.46 - 15:18/mile
Total 3.5 miles - 54:05.54 - 15:27/mile

She's doing super! She didn't know it, but that is actually the longest distance she's gone now! (Other than walking two loops at Memorial Park. When we get to 6 miles, I'll take her there as I'm going to try to mix up the scenery to keep things from getting stagnant.)