Catching Up: Thursday Night

I don't believe I've blogged anything since Saturday. If so, I apologize for the inactivity.

Jackson, Mississippi is going to get the better of me, but we're doing good work there.

I work in healthcare consulting. We're on what is called a cash acceleration project and it is as simple as it sounds: collect as much cash as possible (but we're also doing process redesign.) Hospital business offices simply don't do a good job on following up on accounts and that's how accounts get paid.

A good business office attempts to collect all of the money it is due: 100% of net revenue. Net revenue is the total charges less any contractual allowances or discounts (things that are written off and can NOT be collected from the patient). For this hospital, we've set their goal at 107% of net revenue for the last two trailing months. So for July, you'd try to collect the revenue that you generated in May and June. (Medicare and Medicaid, if billed properly, can get paid in less than 30 days: easy.) In June, the hospital collected $40 million in cash - an all-time record. The goal this month was $38.9 million and if the Blue Cross check got posted today, they'll make it (the money though is in the bank this month already).

But as far as working out, I need a little bit more intestinal fortitude there. :)

Sunday afternoon before I left, I biked for an hour.

Monday thru Wednesday, I did nothing (although I walked to a couple of places Monday and Wednesday night for dinner.)

Tonight, with an on-time flight home from Mississippi, I made it to the gym and posted the following effort:

+ logged an hour on the treadmill
+ added 15 minutes of recovery time on the stationary bike (to keep from stiffening up)

The hour went by like this: 4.3 mph (10 minutes), 4.5 (10 mins), 4.7 (10 mins), 4.9 (10 mins) and 4.5 (20 mins). Felt good. Never felt pushed. (Surprised me a little bit with a three-day layoff.) Perhaps tomorrow I'll get it into the 5's for as much as I can stand it.

I'm targeting towards The Hottest Half on Sunday, August 24 in Dallas. It will be half marathon No. 51 - and I think it will be the same time that the men's Olympic Marathon will be shown live.

Haven't made my plans completely for Labor Day weekend other than the Labor Day Adventure Race in The Woodlands.

The first marathon of the season is now the West Texas Crossroads Marathon in Odessa on Saturday, October 4. Airfare to Midland/Odessa (MAF) is about $175 right now. I may also then fly out to Marathon 2 Marathon two weeks later.

I also paid $40 for the Texas Marathon in Kingwood on New Year's Day before the price went up to ... $45. (That makes San Antonio, Kingwood, Houston and Surfside paid for.)

Run The Woodlands 5K #205 Race Report ... and more!

Saturday was kind of like old times for me, in a sense.

Back in 2003 when I started to run, I would often hit the alarm at about 7 a.m., get out of bed, shower, and drive to The Woodlands to do a Run The Woodlands 5K. It helped keep me motivated as I got started - and preparing for my first half marathon in January 2004.

This weekend was a little bit of the same.

Waverly and I left the house at about 7:15 a.m., which put us at the race site near 7:35 a.m. It is always a good time seeing all of the people that I've come to know over the years -- Rick Cook and Mick Long were there from Luke's, Vincent Attanucci and his son, Matt, Dick Esselborn, Gary Van Kuiken, Tom McHale and his daughter, Elizabeth. These were just a few of the folks that I had a chance to say "Hello!" to before the race.

It was hot and humid, which isn't unusual for July, and the evening's dinner plus some post-workout beverages were still ever present as I started the race. Nothing too interesting about the race itself. It was pretty much like all of the other RTWs before. The splits tell kind of the same story:

Mile 1 -- 9:22.38
Mile 2 -- 9:52.71 (19:15.09)
Mile 3 -- 10:19.95 (29:35.04)
Last .1 -- 52.14 (30:27.18)

I thought to myself as I hit the mile 2 marker that I still had a chance to break 30 minutes as I needed a 9:40 per minute pace to do so, but it didn't happen. However, I did run better than the 30:56.88 that I had two weeks before in Austin at the 3rd annual Bat Run 5K.

And I'm running these times in hot and humid weather. Therefore, I'm inclined to think that when it gets cold again that I might be able to see 29s in my future. Although I'd love to do so in the hot weather. I'll get more opportunities, I'm sure.

Oh ... I almost forgot. I about had a first at Saturday's race. As I crossed the finish line and was about to tell Waverly what number I was, I almost puked! I could feel it coming on, and even went over in the bushes. However, it didn't happen.

After the race, we went over to Luke's Locker in The Woodlands to find Bill Dwyer to give him a copy of Tuesday's Courier with the headline of TWHS head track and cross country coach Dan Green. When I got there, Bill wasn't there, but his car was and the cooler was sitting outside of the store.

I'm sure that Bill was out getting a couple of miles in. I talked with Susie Schreiber and Cathy Steele for a little bit as the store wasn't technically open yet so I didn't feel like I was impeding on their business.

Mick said he thought that Bill and Dana-Sue Crews were somewhere in Market Street.

Waverly and I headed towards Starbucks. (Of course, there or Chipolte is where we'd find Kim Hager.) We headed straight to another one of Bill's favorite Market Street hangouts, Berryhill's. Sure enough, there was Bill, Dana-Sue, William Banes and George Roffe.

They were there to talk about the Saturday, January 31, 2009 Bill Crews Remission Run 5K. It is something that I'd invite all of you to put on your calendar. It will be to celebrate Bill's fifth year of remission from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but it will also be designed to raise funds for the research that Bill's doctor is doing.

Basically, it turned into the race's first committee meeting. Lots of work ahead, but it will be a joy to be a part of this and make this into reality. We will begin contact with the City of Conroe to be able to host the event at Carl Barton, Jr. Park - the site of the day of Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K.

This will come three weeks after our Montgomery County Endurance Athlete of the Year Awards and two weeks after the Chevron Houston Marathon.

We left Berryhill's to go have breakfast at Egg and I. (No, we didn't eat twice. lol)

As we finished, we saw and talked with Scott Mayer from Bill's "Texian Road Warriors" team for about 10 minutes. Good guy who's getting faster and faster. He'll make TIR '09 a challenge for the Battling Bloggers.

So later on in the evening, since we didn't travel to McCoy to see Rodney Hayden perform at his own Festival Saturday afternoon and evening, I made it back to the gym for the second straight day of "doubles".

I added 50 minutes on the treadmill at the regular 1.0 incline at 4.5 mph. Easy, but two workouts for the day. I slept pretty good last night. :)

Run The Woodlands 5K #205 Results

1. Austin Brown - 19:50
2. Eugene Esselborn - 20:39 (TWRC)
3. Greg Scharer - 20:53 (TWRC)
4. Trenton Meek - 20:59 (Cypress Falls HS)
5. Skip Moschell - 21:13 (TWRC)
6. Donald Goodson - 21:18 (Age 60)
7. Elizabeth McHale - 21:25 (TWRC; Former Oak Ridge HS)
8. Brian Bourgeois - 21:28
9. Shiloh Duvall - 21:35
10. Tim Vibrock - 21:42
11. Brad Thompson - 21:45
12. Rodrigo Arena - 21:59
13. Juan Arena - 22:00
14. Vincent Attanucci - 22:15 (TWRC)
15. Carlos Ortegon - 22:23 (TWRC)
16. Scott Schmucker - 23:01
17. Matt Attanucci - 23:05 (TWRC)
18. Niraj Shah - 23:07
19. Sarah Hershman - 23:17 (Former Sam Houston State women's steeplechase)
20. Brad Graving - 23:18
21. Abby Sampson - 23:26
22. Mitch Byrne - 23:34
23. Evan Guy + Tessie - 23:40 (TWRC)
24. Dick Esselborn - 23:43 (TWRC)
25. Randy Bradley - 23:55 (TWRC)
26. Todd Jordan - 24:03
27. Julian Diaz - 24:06
28. Maria Jose Arena - 24:09
29. D. Folkert - 24:10
30. Connor Sampson - 24:17
31. Seth Kauffman - 24:24
32. Robert Simmons - 24:40
33. Kellee Heffner - 24:47 (TWRC)
34. Kyle Sampson - 24:50
35. Tom McHale - 25:15 (TWRC)
36. Kelly Nolan - 25:25
37. David Carver - 25:30
38. Taylor Harvey - 25:37
39. Kelly Barbalias - 25:39
40. Garen Collins - 25:58
41. Sterling Duvall - 26:21
42. Tracy Colley - 26:40
43. Michael Steeter - 26:46
44. Brian Hayes - 27:01 (TWRC)
45. Jim Klein - 27:23
46. Jacob Jordan - 27:34
47. Carlos Anaya - 28:07
48. Ann Leoni - 28:12 (TWRC; All-time RTW appearances leader)
49. Anna Calderon - 28:26
50. Gary Van Kuiken - 28:47 (TWRC; 50 States Marathon finisher)
51. Robert Myers - 28:54
52. Kristy Harvey - 28:55
53. Dana Ford - 29:07
54. Beatrice Roger - 29:08
55. Lee Bourgeois - 30:21
56. Dan Swift - 30:22
57. Jon Walk - 30:27 (TWRC)
58. Caroline Darragh - 30:37
59. Joe Darragh - 32:24
60. URO - 32:31
61. Alisha Ashton - 33:42
62. Ariana Williams - 33:49
63. Shannon Oeser - 34:55
64. Rich Myers - 35:57
65. Sandra Thompson - 36:05
66. Kelly Sampson - 36:49
67. Paul Cain - 37:00
68. Jack Sampson - 39:39
69. Veronica Jarrah - 39:51
70. Judy Marshall - 40:21

Friday's Double Workout

If you don't see posts during the week, it means I've not conquered the anti-workout forces in Jackson, Mississippi. And a delay of over two hours on my 5:55 p.m. departure squashed my Thursday night gym workout.

So I was at a major deficit for the week.

Earlier this morning, I was at Bally's for the second of my three personal trainer workouts. I'm learning things that I can do to help with strength in my arms as well as hitting all of the core areas. After I do the last of three next Friday, I may go once a week and have him really push me hard for an hour once a week through the start of marathon season in mid-October. But before I do that, I have to start doing some little things during the week.

I'll get there. I had a one-hour core and strength workout followed by a 30-minute run on the treadmill at a 1.5 incline, half-and-half at 4.7 and 4.9 mph.

Because I literally had nothing better to do (after writing a good bit of my column already for Tuesday and a forthcoming blog post about the Houston Marathon walker situation), I went back to the gym this evening and nailed another 50 minutes on the treadmill -- all at the 4.7 mph.

A 2-hour, 20-minute workout day. Not sure completely what tomorrow will hold yet, but I'll figure it out.

Hot In Huntsville

"It's hot out there! While on a recent training ride in Huntsville, I discovered how hot it really is!! Check out this photo! Are we on Mercury?? Venus?? No, just Earth, Houston, Texas style!" -- TWRC member Mary Kerschbaum

Sunday Afternoon Treadmill / Airport Run

More on the El Scorcho 50K/25K trip to Fort Worth later.

After returning my rental, I ran from the IAH Rental Car Facility back to the Parking Cents parking lot to where my truck was parked. Pretty pleased with the results: 10:57.85 for 1.15 miles = 9:32/mile.

Got home, showered, went to Bally's and ran 50 minutes on the treadmill. 4.7 mph for the first 45 minutes and then added .1 mph every 30 seconds to finish at 5.7 mph.

Alright, maybe a little bit of the El Scorcho now!

Saw TIR teammates Nick and Niki Bellnoski of Katy (via Huntsville) and Becky Spaulding of Houston earlier this morning. Niki finished 4th in the 50K for the women one place behind one of the classiest female runners in town, Suzy Seeley. Nick dropped after about 7 to 8 laps. Becky finished the 25K after running 20 miles earlier in the day.

Niki is training for the Cactus Rose 100. Becky isn't. It must be the lawyer in her.

That means in the last two weekends I've seen 7 of my current and new teammates - Jessica, Joe, Sarah, Erin, Niki, Nick and Becky. I've already told Quarles that I'll drive to Lufkin if we need to do a time trial in February to make sure he's ready. (He told me he did six miles on the treadmill yesterday morning.) Speaking of Edwin, he and Donna were in Dallas this weekend and Saturday morning they were taking the girls to Six Flags.

Also seen at the El Scorcho Run -- good friends Steve and Paula Boone, the faces of the 50 States Marathon Club.

(Note: In case you haven't noticed, the times for the Lunar Rendezvous Run are gun times. Why have the starting mats if you aren't going to post chip times? It's perfectly fine for quickly determining age group winners, but 95% of the people - who should be wearing watches and know their times - want to see their chip time posted, not their gun time.)

Yes, I Know I'm Crazy ...

... but don't look at me funny.

When I stepped up to the Enterprise counter at the IAH Rental Car Facility, the young woman looked at me a little strange. "You ran here?" she asked. "Just from the $6 lot," I replied.

She was impressed. To me, of course, it wasn't that big of a deal. (It was only 1.21 miles in 12 minutes with some running in the grass in 94 degrees heat at 5:30 p.m.)

I'm going to the El Scorcho 25K/50K where three of our new TIR teammates will be running. Becky Spaulding will be running the 25K while Niki and Nick Bellnoski will be doing the 50K.

So I parked my gas-guzzling with the big carbon footprint ('eco-friendly words') in the $6 lot and rented a cheap car for the drive.

And, of course, to help pay for our ballparks, the taxes and fees are more than the rental charges itself. It is $28 altogether, I think.

Quick evening. Drive to Fort Worth, stay until 5 a.m. at the latest, drive back in time for the second service where I go to church at.

Have a great evening.

Be Careful What You Ask

Bill Dwyer called me late this morning and asked me what would be bigger news: "If he showed to sign up for a race or if Dan Green did?"

I said, "If you showed up and actually ran one, it would be you!"

He replied, "And who would I call?" (I called him early this morning to let him know that I saw Dan at the registration table.)

And I said "Cook!"

30th annual Lunar Rendezvous Run 5K Race Report

I do races for a multitude of reasons, but primarily for the social aspect. I enjoy seeing and being around my friends.

I've run three races south of FM 1960 this year. They have been the Chevron Houston Marathon, the Resurrection Run 5K and today's 30th annual Lunar Rendezvous Run 5K. (Two of the other three have been to watch two of my TIR teammates do their first triathlon in Galveston and Pearland, respectively, while the third and final other non-running appearance was at the Bayou City Classic 10K.)

Why might that be, other than the price of gas?

Those two races are put on by Jay Lee and are greatly supported by On The Run and the Bay Area Running Club. It makes the drive worth it.

Before the race, I saw Jill Boston, hung out with John DiMarco and his son, Ryan, talked to Erin Foley and Gerardo Mora, and said hello to Brett Riley and On The Run store manager Chris Bittinger.

When I picked up my chip, there was Mr. "Triple Bypass" himself, Joe Carey, and soon on the scene was Ms. Sweden herself, Veronica Hoge. (She said she'd have my Mountain Dew for my third straight appearance at BARC Pub Crawl. I also owe Joe two beers for stealing BARCs eNewsletter technology. It's a good deal. Really.)

Right after I registered and got my chip from last year's most senior member of our TIR team, I turned to my right and who was there -- The Woodlands High School boys track and cross country coach Dan Green. Wow! There was a story. The 1972 Houston Marathon winner returning to competitive road racing at the age of 60! He showed up with Ben Harvie and Ben's son and he told me that he and Ben ran together at the University of Houston. (I learned something today that I didn't know.) Actually, Ben told me that his Dad, who passed away earlier this year, competed athletically for SMU.

Before I got to the starting area, I recognized Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon race director Robby Sabban and spoke with him about the situation that he had with a 50-and-older runner who basically cheated on the second loop of his marathon and used the time to qualify for Boston.

As I got to the starting area, I sought out Sarah. I knew she would be there as she is aiming to complete the BARC Challenge. That is, if her alarm clock didn't fail her as it did in 2005 when I ran the race. She was there talking to her friend, Debbie. (I think I've met her before.)

I joked with Sarah that I was going to stay away from her because we normally end up pushing each other too much. She responded and said that I could run with her as she wasn't going to be running all that fast.

Some days it is more important to stop and run with a friend than it is to try and run a top time and be disappointed with the effort.

So like on the Fourth of July, I ran with Sarah and we carried on a good conversation most of the way. That is, until the last half of a mile and then I kind of pulled Sarah into a strong finish.

I was hoping to get us in under 33 minutes chip time, but I had 33:03.44. [Correction: I forgot to take the 27 or so seconds between the gun and when I hit the line! Sarah pointed this out and I corrected it!] I had 52.56 for the last tenth of a mile. Sarah might have been just a bit longer, but not more than a second or two, which would translate to a 9-minute mile pace down the stretch.

I had our splits as this:

Mile 1 -- 10:14.65
Mile 2 -- 10:42.46 (20:57.11)
Mile 3 -- 10:46.16 (31:43.27)
Last .1 -- 52.56 (32:35.83)

As we were running in the first mile, I recalled about that being the race that I met Jessica Alexander for the first time ever in 2005.

I think I've gotten the most joy over the past four calendar years and very strongly remember running races with my friends.

I did the News and Sentinel Half Marathon in Parkersburg, West Virginia two years ago with Cassie.

Edwin ran the last many miles with me at the 2006 Surfside Beach Marathon.

I ran the first 9.3 miles with Bill in the 2007 AT&T Austin Half Marathon.

I did 20 miles - 19 together - at the Rocky Raccoon 100-Miler with Rick. (By the way, Happy Birthday today to Mr. Dirtrunner!)

So today was one of those days to be thankful for my health, my friends and being able to get back in time to meet Waverly at the church as she made it home for church youth camp today.

Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon Announces "Texas Showdown"

Elite Runners From Throughout the State of Texas Invited To Participate in Distance Championship

San Antonio, TX (July 15, 2008) -- The inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon announced today the inception of the “Texas Showdown,” a statewide competition in which eligible runners will compete for prize money on the 13.1 and 26.2-mile race courses Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Race organizers are seeking Texas athletes who have run marathon times under 2:47 (male) and 3:15 (female) in the marathon distance to submit a resume to compete in the “Texas Showdown.” All submissions must be received no later than September 1st to mturnbull@competitorgroup.com.

“This competition is just another example of the spirit of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, and how our community will be reflected in the eyes of visitors,” said Susan Blackwood, Executive Director of the San Antonio Sports Foundation. “We’re proud to be partnering with Elite Racing on what we know will be a great opportunity to increase tourism and showcase our unique local flavor.”

In addition to the “Texas Showdown,” any male Texas athlete who completes the marathon course under 2:31 and any Texas female under 2:56 will receive a bonus of $350, should they not win any prize money. In the ½ marathon, any Texas male who finishes under 1:08:30, and any Texas female under 1:17, will also receive a $350 bonus should they not qualify for prize money.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio offers athletes from all over Texas the opportunity to compete with, not only the worlds best, but also a group fellow Texans at the same ability level,” said Matt Turnbull, Athlete Coordinator for Elite Racing. “With a separate prize purse for Texas athletes, as well as hotel accommodations, we’ve created a prize package we hope will encourage some really competitive racing.”

To qualify for the Texas Showdown prize purse, runners must have been a permanent resident in the state of Texas as of November 1, 2007. Any athlete who intends to race in the marathon and has bettered times of 2:43 (male) 3:07 (female) in the last 12 months will be offered a complimentary race entry. For the ½ marathon, runners must have bettered 1:13:30 (male) 1:24 (female) in the last 12 months to qualify for a complimentary entry.

"Texas Showdown" Prize Money Breakdown
Texas Resident - Marathon
Male Female
1st $2000 1st $2000
2nd $1000 2nd $1000
3rd $500 3rd $500

Texas Resident - Half Marathon
Male Female
1st $1000 1st $1000
2nd $750 2nd $750
3rd $500 3rd $500

The Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio will be the seventh race in Elite Racing’s national series of musically themed marathons and half-marathons. The 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses will run past many of the city’s attractions and feature live bands and cheerleaders positioned at each mile.

Race weekend will begin with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo where all participants must go to pick up their race number. The expo will also feature more than one hundred running and fitness retailers, exhibits and clinics.

“We are looking forward to hosting the best runners from the State of Texas,” said Lucy Diaz, Event Manager for the event. “This is going to be a world-class race and is sure to attract many athletes and visitors to San Antonio.”

Local bands and high school cheer squads interested in performing along the course may go to http://www.rnrsa.com/ for information about submitting press kits and bios. For more information about the Texas Showdown contact Matt Turnbull at mturnbull@competitorgroup.com or call 858-768-6463, for general race registration or inquiries visit http://www.rnrsa.com/ or call 800.311.1255.

Texas runners and walkers who register for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon or ½ Marathon before July 31st will be eligible to win a VIP package for race weekend.

About Elite Racing Inc. - Based in San Diego, Calif., Elite Racing is a division of The Competitor Group, the leader in endurance sports media, marketing and event management. Its signature Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series began in 1998 with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. Over the past 10 years, the sports marketing and management company has grown to manage a total of seven marathons and half marathons including the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, the Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon in San Antonio, Tex., the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathons in Virginia Beach, Va. and San Jose, Calif., and the ING Philadelphia Distance Run. Events feature live bands on entertainment stages and cheerleaders at every mile along the course and attract between 13,000 and 37,000 registered participants.

For more information about Elite Racing’s events visit http://www.eliteracing.com/.

Contact: Dan Cruz, 858-768-6425 dcruz@competitorgroup.com
Terry McDevitt, 210-822-0066 tmcdevitt@mcdevittmedia.com
Mary Ullmann Japhet, 210-820-2123 mjaphet@sanantoniosports.org

Friday Morning Treadmill

I was supposed to have an hour long core workout with the personal trainer this morning at Bally's - the second of three that I paid for. However, he wasn't to be seen at 8 a.m. (I put myself on the schedule for next Friday morning same time, same place.)

So, it was just another hour on the treadmill. Ran the whole time at 4.6 mph, but put the incline for the first 50 minutes at 1.5, instead of 1.0 like I normally do.

I'll probably go and run the 30th annual Lunar Rendezvous Run 5K in the morning. I'm sure Sarah will make it up in time this year. The only time I ever ran this race, of course, Sarah overslept and it is five minutes from where she lives! It was also the first time that I ever met Jessica in person.

Thursday Evening Treadmill/Bike

Ah, back home. And away from Jackson, Mississippi, the workout-sucking place that is the capital of the nation's fattest state. Enough on that, though. My BMI is still technically obese, but I'm in a far better place than I was from 1994 until 2003.

An hour on the treadmill at 4.5 mph and another 25 minutes on the stationary bike afterwards.

I still owe you a report on the 3rd annual Bat Run 5K in Austin, which I ran in 99 degrees heat! I'm not ever pleased with a 30-minute 5K, but in that heat ... I'll take it.

What are your thoughts about the recent announcement by Elite Racing and the Rock 'N' Roll San Antonio Marathon?

Our TIR Teams at the Chevron Houston Marathon

Who's running the marathon?

Adrienne Langelier, Barbara Boone, Becky Spaulding, Edwin Quarles, Holden Choi, Jessica Alexander, Jon Walk, Karen Felicidario, Katy Lampson

Who's running the half marathon?

Cassie Mondragon, Christy Gonzales, Erin Foley, Jeremy Webb, Joe Carey, John Maloney, Keith Kelleher, Manny Mondragon, Sarah Graybeal, Tommy Stunz

Who's sitting it out for the time being; not even the 5K?

Dave Smart, Ken Johnson, Nick Bellnoski, Niki Bellnoski, Norman Langwell, Jr.

Jessica Alexander Takes On Couples Triathlon

After running the Toughest 10K in Texas in Lampasas Saturday morning, I had the opportunity on Sunday morning to watch one of our original Houston Running Bloggers and '09 TIR teammate Jessica Alexander participate in the Couples Triathlon here in Austin.

Jessica, 28, teamed up with 33-year-old J Matthew Danner, who was competing in his first triathlon ever! Their Friends - Mixed Division team name was "Ain't Scared '08".

No, I don't think anything has ever really scared Jessica athletically - or at least since I've known her. :)

Jessica's time on the 800-meter lake swim, 14-mile bike and 5-kilometer trail run course was 1:42:59.56 -- good for 547th out of 827 finishers. She'll be the first to admit that her weakest discipline of the three is the swim, while the strongest is the run. The results proved that too!

She was 777th in the swim (32:14.11), but 256th on the run (in 25:59.65 for an 8:23/pace).

J Matthew finished today's triathlon in 1:58:35.21. He finished this year's AT&T Austin Marathon in 4:24:28.

Jessica makes the last right hand turn before the uphill going back in to the bike transition area.

Jessica during the first half mile of the 5-kilometer trail run. (The photographer was shooting through a fence.)

Jessica's trademark (post-race) pose!

Toughest 10K in Texas Race Report

I'm a pretty fair judge of the opposite sex,
And I ain't seen nothin that will touch them yet.
They may be from Waco or out in Lampasas,
But one thing about them, They all come from Texas.

If you're a country music fan, you'll recognize that as a verse from the Hank Williams, Jr. classic from the early 1980s, "Texas Women". And yes, there was one out in Lampasas. :)

There was also a tough course in Lampasas, but was it the toughest in Texas?

Hmmm ... I don't know for sure.

What I do know is that it was tougher than both of the Capital 10Ks that I've done (in '04 and '08). It was tougher than the Blue Bell Fun Run in Brenham and it was tougher than any 10K I've ever done in the greater Houston area.

Actually three of the courses from the 2004 HEB Texas 10K Challenge were pretty tough. The Tyler Azalea 10K, the Combat Medic 10K in San Antonio (held on Fort Sam Houston) and the Country Roads 10K in San Marcos.

I would peg the Country Roads 10K as the closest course to Saturday's race in Lampasas.

The race is part of the town's annual Spring Ho Festival. (I wonder if there is a Winter Ho-Ho Festival somewhere. Santa Claus, Indiana?)

The second mile had a good two-stage hill that was pretty tough before the fun ensued over the next two miles. When I got to the mile three marker, there were four (4) folks standing there cheering runners on. I said to them, "We don't have hills like this in Houston." :)

However, since the course started and finished on the Hancock Park Golf Course, what goes up must come down. Right?

I specifically remember coming up over a hill in mile 5, seeing the mile 5 marker and trying to barrel down hill to improve my time split. (I missed a little from getting under a 10-minute mile.)

However, I'm not sure if the course was completely accurate because my last two-tenths of a mile was woefully short on time. If I really moved that fast then I'm missing the boat somewhere else. :)

What's interesting when I do races like this is that the courses all blend together. The first mile, which runs down one of the main streets in Lampasas (heck, it might be the main street), reminded me a little of last year's Lander (Wy.) Half Marathon and partly close to the finish of the Run The Line Half Marathon in Texarkana earlier this spring.

The hills had a feel of the Helotes Half Marathon near San Antonio that I did in October 2004 - before I did my first marathon (Marine Corps Marathon).

Here are the splits:

Mile 1/2 --19:52.31
Mile 3 -- 10:31.99 (30:24.30)
Mile 4 -- 11:19.00 (41:43.30)
Mile 5 -- 10:14.60 (51:57.90)
Mile 6 -- 10:14.52 (1:02:12.42)
Last .2 -- 1:21.76 (1:03:34.18)

And the last thing that I didn't mention is that the temperature was 80 at the start of the race and rose to 85 by the time that I finished. Therefore, I can't complain too much.

The race day cost was $22. The t-shirt actually fit and is pretty good. Post-race fare was water and bananas, but what else do you really need?

Tomorrow? The Bat Run 5K in Austin.

Thursday Evening Treadmill Speed Workout

Nothing on the books for Wednesday after five or six solid days of workouts, but I made it to the gym earlier this evening after flying in from Kansas City (through Love Field).

I did ten (10) simulated 200s at two (2) minutes each (probably should more realistically go 2:15 or 2:30), but I ran hard nonetheless.

First 10 minutes - 4.5 mph
5.3, 4.5, 5.4, 4.5, 5.5, 4.5, 5.6, 4.5, 5.7, 4.5, 5.8, 4.5, 5.9, 4.5, 6.0, 4.5, 6.1, 3.5, 6.2, 3.0

Why the drop off at the end in the recovery? I had a hard time slowing down. I could do the interval. It was just - on the treadmill - hard to get back to 4.5 mph and hold it, so I slowed it down even more.

50 minutes of total running. I need to do this more often, I think. (Waverly got in 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and then 25 minutes on the recumbent bike. She knows that when she gets back from church camp on the 19th that she has to step it up or she will NOT be ready for volleyball tryouts the first week of school. The question is: How bad does she want it?)

For me? Personal trainer workout tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. and then the Toughest 10K in Texas in Lampasas on Saturday morning.

Tuesday Treadmill / Wednesday Airport

I'm pretty fortunate to know quite a few people. When you write about the sport on a regular basis, folks typically get to know who you are (or they've seen me before but don't know me) - and I get learn about them as well.

Last Friday afternoon, while on the stationary bike at Bally's, one of my TIR opponents, Juliee Sparks, walked up after finishing her workout. I think Juliee said that she was halfway - 20 weeks - until she gave birth to her and her husband's second child. She was in great spirits, looked well and it was a pleasure to catch up a little bit.

Later that evening while we were watching Rodney Hayden at Waterway Square in The Woodlands, we saw the individual responsible for the incredibly-successful November 2006 Run For Hans 5K at Run The Woodlands - Beth Whitehead. If she never wears a smile, I'd be surprised because every time I've seen her she's grinning ear to ear about something. I got a nice big hug out of it. :)

Yesterday at Bally's, the local running trifecta was completed when I saw The Woodlands retiree Bill Rowe working out on the treadmill. I've seen Bill often at many events on the north side of town. (He got done while I was in the middle of my run and we chatted for about five minutes.) He was wearing his green CB&I Triathlon shirt from earlier this year and indicated that he's excited about being able to do both the Huntsville Half Marathon and Ten For Texas, which this year are one week apart.

On the treadmill next to the right of me was the former Kory Weaver, who ran the 2006 Huntsville Half Marathon in 2:11:52. (She was in the 35-39 age group.) Since then, she said that she had married, but had commented hearing Bill's conversation with me that the Huntsville Half was a tough marathon. I told her that I had run 50 half marathons - including three in the city built on seven hills - and that it was perhaps the toughest (aside from Leadville) that I've done. And, by the way, she said that she had recognized me from being out at races. How? She said, "Isn't that your daughter?"

I did a little bit of a progression run, but I didn't get the whole way through that I had hoped. I started out at 4.5 mph and upped it .1 mph every five minutes. I got a 60-minute run in, but the mph settings went more like this:

4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8

Still I got sixty (60) minutes in - pretty good and hard!

Now it is Wednesday afternoon. I'm sitting at Hobby Airport, because I have to take Southwest to Kansas City (MCI) tonight due to a $200 cheaper fare than Continental, and we're already late for our 3:40 p.m. departure (it is 3:50 p.m. now) because of lightning in a 3-mile vicinty of the airport. Sooooo, I may not get to go to the Royals-White Sox game at Kaufmann Stadium like I had planned.

Final project presentation tomorrow with our client, home tomorrow evening and then Austin this weekend (for some fun) and back to Jackson, Mississippi next week for work.

Monday Mid-Afternoon Run at Home

You read that right. A mid-afternoon run. It started at 1:45 p.m. -- two hours after the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon sold out.

The route is 4.1 miles (although mapmyrun.com measures it as 4.26 miles) and I covered it in 46:11.51 - a pace of 11:15 per mile (10:50 per if you use the latter measure).

I did the first 1.79 miles in 18:20.91 - for a 10:15 pace and then ... I kind of slowed down in the heat. (The next 1.45 went by in an 11:19 pace.) I'll try to do the same tomorrow afternoon.

Evening update: I tacked on another hour on the stationary bike at Bally's from 9-10 p.m.

Weekend Workouts

Pretty quiet around here. Not too much going on.

I have to get my Courier column written sometime before tomorrow afternoon. I won't be going to Jackson, Mississippi for work this week; however, I will travel to Kansas City on Wednesday for a Thursday presentation to a client that we've been doing some work for.

Friday afternoon: An hour on the stationary bike.
Saturday afternoon: 35 minutes on the treadmill (4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1 - five minutes each) and then 45 minutes on the stationary bike.
Sunday afternoon: 80 minutes on the stationary bike. (Trying to get my butt used to some longer time in the saddle.)

The biggest news is getting Waverly ready to go to church camp in Tennessee next week.

I also spoke with my Pastor about our efforts around me running marathons to raise money for Manna Worldwide. We had a good conversation and things should begin kicking up in about two months. The first marathon to tackle, of course, is Marathon 2 Marathon in Alpine.

More from the Rodney Hayden Concert

It's a little blurry at the end of the show, but I promise: I wasn't drinking. (Actually, I was trying to get it in focus with little light around me.)

Even the little ones were mesmerized by Rodney's performance. (This picture opportunity was just too cute to pass up!)

Ashley and Jesse from Copperfield. Jesse went to high school with Rodney in Pleasanton and didn't know then of Rodney's musical abilities. A really nice, cute couple. (Early in the first set, we recognized that we were ones of the few who knew all the words to his songs.)

During the first set. David Whitbeck playing the guitar on the right had a couple of groupies oogling him during the second set. Rodney has written a lot of songs with David's father, Bill.

Rodney Hayden Rocks The Woodlands!

Nothing more Apple Pie than Rodney Hayden in The Woodlands rocking fireworks watchers with songs from his previous three CDs, five songs from his upcoming CD, "Twelve Ounce World" and a veritable list of covers from Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, Sr. to Dwight Yoakum. (For those that missed him locally, he'll be at Blanco's Thursday night, July 10th.)

Stu's Country Mile 5K Race Report

The "spacey" front of this year's Stu's Country Mile 5K race t-shirt.

You wrote your name on a sheet of paper for your age group, gave race director Denny Payne your $10 and picked up your T-shirt. No such thing as a race packet in Centerville. Even the bib numbers from three years ago (the last time I ran this race) are gone.

Not including Huntsville's John Slate, here are the Seven Hills Running Club members in attendance today. A little on the light side this year. That's Chris Wilson, Ken, True Cousins (behind in the straw hat), Ben Johnson, Tim Johnson, yours truly, Jerry Flanagan and the Spencer family.

***

The Fourth of July is a sacred day. It is a day that, as Americans, we are to celebrate our independence as a country. [And I forgot to thank those that I know who served in the military earlier today for their service.]

But it should also be a day for respecting our elders. And I did just that today. :)

After the first block on the downtown square of Centerville's Stu's Country Mile 5K, I knew - after an hour run on the treadmill last night - that it wasn't going to be my day. Therefore, I decided that I would run with the patriach of the Seven Hills Running Club, Ken Johnson.
It made the $10 race a lot more enjoyable than beating myself up about my time.

We ran close to Barbara Chenette of Crockett most of the way. (Earlier this year, she lost her husband, John.) Our finishing time was 34:01.38.

We talked about a number of things during the race and I remembered how Ken got me motivated to run the Huntsville Half Marathon in 2004. (I don't like the course any more today than I did since the first time I ran it; however, I had a reason to prove to Ken that I could run it in under 2:40.)

Regardless of the time in the race, I had a good time. Our sport is more about the fastest time every time out. Wish there would have been a bigger club turnout including many of my TIR teammates.

One thing's for certain with Ken: he's consistent in his pace. It is pretty steady. As the finish line came in to sight, Ken mentioned something about me going on. I told him that if I "run with you the entire way," I'm not going to go taking off on somebody. (Well, I didn't forget about the last mile of a 20-mile stint at Rocky in '07, but the truth is the unfortunate truth.)

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and prosperous Fourth of July with friends and family.

If you're going to be at the Red, Hot and Blue Festival in The Woodlands' Waterway Square at around 6 p.m., see Rodney Hayden and may find Waverly singing "These Arms" with him again.

Wednesday Morning / Thursday Evening Treadmill

I let Jackson, Mississippi kick me in the butt two days this week.

I ran 25 minutes on the treadmill at the Residence Inn Wednesday morning before work and then I did another 64 minutes this evening at Bally's in The Woodlands.

Why 64? Well, the treadmill typically goes into cooldown at 60 minutes. At about 47 minutes, I looked at my watch and it said, 9:16. So right before it kicked into cooldown, it was 9:29. However, when I moved the magazine away, the time elapsed said "50:00". (Later I figured that there must have been a tiny light out. I'm sure that is what it was.)

But Waverly had done 30 minutes on the treadmill and another 30 on the recumbent bike (and had picked up the pace on both: good for her!), so that kind of confused me.

I decided that I was going to run another 10 minutes just to be safe. Well, at about 4 minutes in, I figured that I really had done 60 minutes ... and stopped!

Going to Centerville, Texas in the morning for Stu's Country Mile 5K. Hoping to see Edwin Quarles driving over from Lufkin, and you know the number if you want a ride - to run or to go and watch. The truck is leaving Spring at about 5:40 a.m.