Waverly's Best Picture from Cowtown Today

Waverly got this pretty good picture of the women's half marathon winner Laurie Shea of Prosper.

Cowtown Half Marathon Race Report

Just really a half marathon race report, but an event synopsis for the time that I was there.

I've been needing to get a little mojo back and the way to do that - for me - is a race. I knew that this wasn't going to be close to my 2:14 in Mobile in January, but I was OK with that.

After a long week in Jackson (worked 50+ hours in four days) before a short morning in the office on Friday, a flight home and some additional work before getting some sleep at about 5 p.m. I'd estimate it at three hours (I slept well Thursday night), and I couldn't get back to sleep.

Waverly was up at about 1:30 a.m. and we were out the door by about 1:50 a.m. She slept most of the way - typical 13-year-old :) - and we pulled into the parking garage in Sundance Square (in downtown Fort Worth) at around 5:50 a.m.

It was cold. Temperature? 37. Winds? 15-20 mph gusts. Race day registration for the half? $75. A little pricey, but I understood. (More on that later.) Priceless? No, just plain stupid.

I saw Cheryl Lowe in the Expo Tent as I was getting ready to register for the half marathon. We had a good visit, got caught up on a few things and then it was time to get back to the truck and try to get a little more sleep. It didn't work.

The start line area was one of the worst controlled situations that I've ever seen in a large marathon. Granted, a lot of it had to do with inconsiderate, rude and just plain selfish runners.

The 10K started a block over. These people felt entitled that they could just climb over a fence and run between the timing mats and where the leaders were queued up. It was chaos and the Fort Worth Police Department was doing nothing to stop anyone. Race management just kept talking into the public address system (probably horrified).

People were still pushing, shoving and climbing over this metal fence while the National Anthem was being sung. This is a REALLY big thing with me. It is our country, people! Stop for two (2) minutes of your life and respect our country's anthem. Your race doesn't mean that much.

The course had some character with a lot of long, slight inclines all the way through past mile 8. You picked a little bit back up in miles 9 and 10 going down 7th Street, but you were running on cobblestone the entire distance before a little climb past the Trinity River back into downtown.

The one welcome sight? A street sign that read "Penn St." Yes, I know it means Street but it meant State as far as I was concerned.

The course is good. Volunteers were absolutely overwhelmed though. The FW Star-Telegram race-day article touted 4,000 volunteers. There's no way!

Thank goodness for Houston's closed course. I can't speak to what Dallas does for White Rock, but knowing that - for the most part - you don't have to run along side a car or have one cut in front of you is a huge deal. Austin the course isn't completely closed and San Antonio I've wanted to forget. :)

There was one lane of traffic open going down the finishing stretch in the last .2 of a mile! Insane.

I saw Keith Pierce, the three-time defending champion now out of Krum, finish near me and he was running strong as he cranked out a 2:25 as Texas' top marathoner under the age of 30. (Yes, a future column in RTN.)

Here's the damage:

Mile 1 -- 9:42.33 (downhill into a headwind; how's that for pain and no pleasure)
Mile 2 -- 10:19.92
Mile 3 -- 10:22.11
Mile 4 -- 10:12.61 (thought to myself ... hmmm, maybe)
Mile 5/6 -- 21:15.04 (I saw Claude Hicks of Fort Worth and Troy Grimes of College Station in this stretch; they were both doing the Ultra and Claude had done a 100-miler in Florida last week.)
Mile 7 -- 11:17.78 (I even pushed a half marathon wheeler a little bit in this mile ... people took turns helping this lady with a hand cycle navigate the hilly course. Very inspiring.)
Mile 8 -- 11:07.20
Mile 9 -- 10:59.87
Mile 10 -- 11:10.88 (1:46:27; was doing the math and thought again ... maybe)
Mile 11 -- 11:28.09
Mile 12 -- 12:03.12
Mile 13 -- 12:06.58
Last .1 -- 59.14

Just didn't have enough in me at the end, but I was just doing this to get my legs loose for next week and do this course for the first time. But really they weren't loose. A couple of times in the last two miles, I stopped to massage my left leg, which was beginning to cramp. As I was driving away from downtown Fort Worth, talking to Edwin on the phone, it really, really cramped then. No Tylenol before the race so I was (and am) really banged up until I get to sleep (after ingesting three 8-Hour Tylenol).

If I hadn't been cramping, I might have been under 2:20, which would have been something for not really having done much since the Chevron Houston Marathon.

2:23:05 was the official chip time. Locally, I beat Spring's Mike Bard, 37, in the Big Person division by 2:42 seconds (he's a Clydesdale winner at many triathlons in the area), but was 131 of 194 big guys overall.

I'll take it for having run once since February 14.

Some more thoughts about Cowtown:

+ They really need to think about people flow. It was chaotic. I almost wouldn't go back just because of that.
+ The course - again - was pretty good. I can do better on it.
+ They have a cool medal concept. Basically my metal will fit into a large Texas star with four other pieces if I finish one of their events the next four years. Great way to keep you coming back.
+ The other thing that was odd is that there was no timing mat on the farthest point out of the half. Why? There were a couple of places people could cut the course.

All in all, the experience was pretty good. They definitely have some things to work on.

Omar Sesay said it best, "We are spoiled in Houston."

The Information Is In ...

I traded e-mails with Sabra Harvey that she is indeed 59. She was born on March 2, 1949.

However, the separation between the start and the finish is more than 30% of the distance of the race, which may remove it from record consideration.

This is the same reason that the Boston and New York City Marathon courses are not considered record eligible.

There were some other issues that Tom McBrayer e-mailed me about that may play some factors in the record being able to be certified; however, I need to e-mail Andy Carr to see if the "more than 30%" issue will immediately disqualify it from record consideration.

A shame indeed, if so.

The Waiting Game

After sending an e-mail to Andy Carr with the Atlanta Track Club, who is the record verifier for USA Track and Field, I'm waiting to confirm whether Sabra Harvey is really 59 or 60.

Today's results had her listed as 60.

My HARRA membership database information, pulled by our president for me awhile back, says she doesn't turn 60 until March 2.

It is a big difference.

If 59, she set a U.S. single age mark at the 5-mile distance.

If 60, she not only set a U.S. single age mark, but also a new 60-64 age group record and the world's second fastest time - by a second - ever for a woman in that age group.

I never thought it would be an issue. I had sent an e-mail to Anna a few months back to see if Sabra was going to run the Bayou City Classic 10K as her first race as a 60-year-old. I thought about using reward miles to see about flying Kathryn Martin from New York - the top 55-59 age grouper in the county - to race her.

Bally's Workout / Park to Park Run

I could have run Park to Park Run and probably should have (but I needed a break.)

I did, however, get more practice shooting a race with my camera. I think I got some pretty good stuff. I put a little of it up on Facebook. I think I took over 500 pictures!

Talked to John Hedengren, Peggy Yetman, Sabra Harvey (she may have set a new single age mark for 5 miles today and she turns 60 before the Bayou City Classic 10K), Wilmer Bustillos and John Yoder at length.

Saw one of my TIR teammates, Becky Spaulding, and talked with another, Jeremy Webb. The big day is two weeks away!

Waverly and I found the mile 1 marker, stayed there until the lead runners came through and I shot some pictures for a minute. We then ran to the truck, saw the lead runners go through mile 2 and then went and parked at Jackson and Ewing before running to the finish line.

I was in plenty of time to see Luis Armenteros being followed by Colin Carroll and Hedengren.

TWRC was well represented by Stephen Smith, Nancy Prejean, Evan Guy, Pam Meaux, Ron Longtin, Geri Henry and Lynette Pebernat.

We got out of there and had breakfast at Egg and I in The Woodlands, and then I ended up - around 3 p.m. - at Bally's to run an hour on the treadmill and put another 40 minutes on the stationary bike.

If I were a smart man, I'd start writing some things, including my Courier column for Monday, but it is my weekend to relax, right? :)

Why What I Wrote About Spring Fever 5K is Important

Spin.

I believe that the media has an obligation to ferret it out and to set it straight.

See this article from last week - link - in The Woodlands Villager, specifically this statement:

“This event has traditionally attracted over 500 participants and we are hoping to attract more this year,” Fowlkes said.

Not true, at least for 2008. And I'll be very surprised if they do in 2009.

In 2007, there were 362 timed finishers in the 5K and there was a good turnout for the kids 1-mile run that year. Waverly and I was there in person before we flew that afternoon to Georgia for the Alpharetta Marathon.

Last year, they had 207 timed finishers in the 5K and another 40 in the kids' 1-mile.

And the article above wasn't written by the Sports Editor, which should tell you something right there. Basically it is a fluff piece.

And race day registration? $30 for a 5K! Welcome to The Woodlands!

A Round With The Community Associations Of The Woodlands

I'm putting together my column for the Courier on Monday afternoon.

Thinking that the Spring Fever 5K - an event that the Community Associations of The Woodlands took over from the folks in the Grogan's Point section of The Woodlands - might be taking an attendance hit because of all of the events happening on Saturday, March 7, I dropped a quick, innocent e-mail to Willie Fowlkes.

It read, "I'm putting together my column for tomorrow. How are things looking for Spring Fever?"

His response is, "Any specific questions for publicity need to be filtered through our Community Relations department. I will be glad to help you out once I receive permission from them."

As you can imagine, I was pissed to no end.

A multitude of potential responses were written but always deleted. Of course, I have a number of constituencies to protect and represent. I just thought that it was totally bullshit that I can pick up the phone and call Steve Karpas, Marcus Grunwald or John Conley at three of the biggest marathons in Texas, and I have to jump through this hoop for these guys?

I put in a communication to my Friends of the Running Community partner to potentially discuss pulling our water station support of Ten For Texas if the detente continued.

The bottom line would be this: Their events wouldn't get a sniff of a mention from me in any publication that I wrote for whether it be the Courier, Inside Texas Running or Runner Triathlete News.

After stewing on it for a day, I sent the following message to Willie (which was copied to Mary Connell, Chris Nunes and Kelly Dietrich):

Willie,

Thanks for the note. It is always good to hear from you.

I'll take the policy under advisement and apply it accordingly to my coverage considerations.

In the meantime, best wishes - as always - to you for all of your 2009 events.

Jon

Now if you can read between the lines, it meant what I said above: "I'm not mentioning or covering your events."

In 20 minutes, I had this response from Mary Connell:

Willie/Jon,

Sorry I didn’t get back with you yesterday. This is an internal policy—not external.

Willie, just let me know the info you would like to provide Jon, and /or let me know you have provided it to him.

Jon, please feel free to contact Willie or me about the race events.

Mary

Now I don't know if Courier publisher - and good friend and supporter - Jim Fredricks placed a phone call to Mary or not as I had forwarded Willie's e-mail to him in disbelief on Monday

What they were doing was stupid. If I write something anywhere, it is free publicity -- especially for the Spring Fever 5K and the Muddy Trails 5K. Honestly, they don't need it for CB&I or Ten For Texas.

The only thing that I write that is one bit negative is here because I use this to vent and it isn't a public forum anymore. It is the second thing in three weeks that has consumed precious mental energy, which I don't have a lot to give! :)

Why I Have The Best TIR Teams in the World

Since we added the second TIR team and registered by October 31, The Battling Bloggers of The Texas Republic have had to go to the well eight (8) times to replace a runner on our squads - one-third of our roster.

And while I was writing this, I've gotten word of a potential ninth! Ugh! LOL

I must say though that I'm blessed with great friends who have great friends and even though we lost another early this week, we've plugged in another.

In review, here is who we've lost:

Nick Bellnoski (hip injury)
Niki Bellnoski (Luke's Locker is making her work at the Katy store that weekend)
Keith Kelleher (continued graduate school work)
Joe Carey (achilles followed by a broken collarbone from a bike accident)
Erin Foley (injury setback after a fine Aramco Half Marathon performance)
Barbara Boone (family issues)
Karen Felicidario (family issues)
Christy Gonzales (husband surprising her with a trip to Vegas; family issues!)

We've been able to plug in, as follows:

Gary Kunkel
Jill Boston
Jakeb Stunz
Wes Heinlein
Allyson York
Patrick Morein
Kori Estrada
Natali Davis

Now the story gets better.

After Adrienne rattled off a 3:05:24 marathon less than a month ago at Chevron Houston Marathon, she was propositioned - in a good way, of course - by a multitude of The Woodlands Running Club teams at the club post-Marathon social at Goose's Acre.

She was unmoved.

This week, much in the same fashion that we've endured setbacks, last year's champion, "The Road Killers", lost two of their female runners. Their captain e-mailed and asked, "Any chance we can draft Adrienne?"

I e-mailed Adrienne with the following:

"I wouldn't want to hold you back if you wanted to make a switch, but I think that there would be a lot of bummed out people on our two teams. Your personality means a lot more - I think - than your speed even though it was very beneficial to us beating Bill's team last year."

I also made reference that we've been able to rock right along.

Adrienne's response?

"Well, rock on we shall! I love my team and wouldn't change! It is definitely a flattering note, especially since I know of an actual Andrea (Bookout) who's faster. Anyhow hope all's going well with you and talk to you soon."

There you have it! Again I'm blessed to have the teams that I have participating.

We may, though, be looking for one more runner. Anything can happen in the last three weeks!

Long Week; Kicked My Butt

It's late Thursday night here in Spring. Yes indeed, I'm home on a Thursday.

Since I'm now the new interim Director of Revenue Cycle Integrity (in charge of billing, cash and our coder in the business office), I'll be spending more Friday mornings in Jackson than I will Houston. Comes with the territory.

This week, I worked until at least 8 p.m. every night, including 9:45 p.m. last night. And all three days, I was so busy that I didn't get a chance to stop and eat lunch.

So it will come as a major surprise that I actually ran some this evening. (I saw that Bill had on his Facebook status that he was going to the Twin Creeks Middle School track. Got to keep up.)

I logged 40 minutes on the treadmill and another 20 on the stationary bike.

Our TIR teams are in good shape. We're back at 24 strong again. Had a little bit of a van scare when CAPPS called me and said that they're moving the reservation to the Shepherd/Little York site because they are closing The Woodlands/Spring location.

Unless Bill picks up a couple of aces in the hole - like we did with Adrienne last year, we should beat his team. Especially when he says that they're running for fun, but Bill tries to pull my leg too.

I'm looking forward to when all three of the teams make it to Gonzales.

Our motto, once again, will be: Run Hard. Have Fun.

We're not fast. We're projected for finishes of 31 hours, 30 minutes and 32 hours.

I'm hoping though that this will get us approximately 7:30 a.m. starts, which would mean that I would like to be in the parking lot from between 6 to 6:30 a.m.

Of the 24 runners that we have, 12 are new to the event and 14 are new to our team. We lost Karen Felicidario, Joe Carey and Keith Kelleher, but Manny Mondragon - one of our two drivers last year - will run this year.

Hope to see a few of you in Surfside on Saturday.

And if you're planning on running near the front of the Austin Marathon, I'll see you too. I'll be riding the press truck. :)

Rocky Raccoon Race Reports (E-Mails)

A number of us from The Woodlands Running Club and the Seven Hills Running Club supported runners that were participating in this past weekend's Rocky Raccoon 50- and 100-Milers.

I'm posting these not because they mention me, but rather to just give you perspectives from three (3) first time 50-milers -- a place where I was just a year ago.

They are from Misty Graham-Baugh, Robin Kaitschuck and Najat Shayib.

(From Misty)

I too would like to thank you all for coming out and supporting all of us that ran the 50/100 miler this weekend. It was truly an amazing experience, one that I will say I highly recommend to anyone that has not done this before. For me this taught me that you can do anything you put your heart and mind into. Another thing this race taught me is that I am border line lunatic but hey that's ok.

I am blessed to have experience this race with two very courageous, strong women who I know are great friends and always will be. Robin and Najat thank you for the encouragement and friendship, even though we got separated I thought of both of you the whole time. I was so happy to get updates from Bill on how you were doing.

Jon and Russell, seeing you guys at mile 20 at the aid station was amazing. I had been running alone since I was told to get out of the aid station at the 1st turn around. I wanted to cry because I was so happy to see my friends. Kyle and Lauren and family, thank you for coming out and meeting us at mile 28. It was great to see you guys. Sorry I missed the sign at first but it was awesome to see "Asphalt Assault Rules". You guys rock! I was a little delirious at that point and not real sure what all I told you - hopefully nothing to offensive came up or out. Just before six (p.m.), I believe at mile 43-ish, the ball of my left foot was in horrible pain so I asked a really nice man at the aid station to take a look at it,. He cleaned my feet and put duct tape on my blisters, which helped a lot. It still amazes me that anyone would do this other than my husband or my mother - defiantly. I did not expect this of a stranger. At 6:15, it was pitch dark and that is when it really got rough, and I really wanted to quit. I met up with this girl Janeen and she kept me going but she told I was not allowed to complain. This is where I say it went to my head was at dark - trees seemed to move differently. I could not put clear thoughts together and talking did not make alot of sense. All of a sudden out of the pitch dark, I can hear voices saying "That sounds like Misty." So I said, "It is. Who's there?" because I am wondering if I am hallucinating. At mile 47, it was Debbie, Bill, Jon, George and Russell. Bill when you hugged me and told I was done, again I wanted to cry and say take me back.

I, like Robin, had the worst night sleep, after I got back to camp. I almost passed out when I got up to clean me feet, and had to be put to bed stank-ass dirty. I was sweaty cold all night and I woke up Sunday morning wrapped in sheets, blankets and towels. Walking was almost impossible on Sunday, but I took care of some blisters, got lots of rest and I am moving much better than yesterday. In recovery mode for this week, but I can not wait to get out for an easy run soon. You all made it possible for me to finish in some shape or fashion. Thanks for all of you being there through out the race and at the finish, you are all truly great friends and I will cherish you always.

P.S. I remember saying at the finish line that I would never do a 50 M again but now that is has been a day and a half. I will do it again. This time I will try really hard to finish before dark.

(From Robin)

Thank you so much ALL OF YOU for coming out to support us on Saturday. That was quite a race. I learned quite a lot about myself, some of it even good. I was humbled and overwhelmed, and I can't wait to do it again. I'm not sure I can be ready for a hundred in a year, but I want to train for it anyway. To be perfectly honest, trying to sleep after the race was almost as painful as the race itself. Really, I am not exaggerating that one. And the weird sweaty shivering? What was that all about? I have never had a worse night's sleep. I had to pick my right leg up with my hands to move it every time I needed to switch positions, which seemed like about a hundred and thirty-three times, at least. I know Najat and Misty felt the same. I kept opening my eyes hoping it was morning already. I'm thinking it might have been better to just keep walking/running for another 50. Unfortunately, at the rate I went, I would have DNF'd due to time limits. But I have high hopes for the next one.

Lauren and Kyle and the whole family! Thank you for finding us all! And the sign was the coolest. Najat rolled it up and carried it from mile 45.6 to 50. I offered to carry it at one point, but she said it gave her something to sqeeze to block out the pain. You guys rock. I wish I had spent a little more time with you guys, but I think I was starting to feel a little out of it again at that point. About a mile after I left Anne at the park road aid station I thought, "hey wait, I just left and I probably won't see them again. Did I even say goodbye? Did I swear in front of Lauren's children?"

Bill, the flashlight lasted the whole last loop and was way better than my headlamp. Thank you. I still can't believe I brought a tail light for back-up. (Hey, that kind of makes sense, a tail light for "back-up"! Yeah, I'm still not sleeping well.) I tripped a lot but never fell. Unbelievable. Seeing you and Debbie and Russell and George and Jon was really moving. And the fact that you guys anticipated our needs, assumed we'd never quit, and pushed us back on our way when we just wanted to stay and chat shows what amazing friends you are.

Jon Walk, I don't have your email address, so I am banking on someone forwarding this to you. Seeing you standing in the dark on the trail at mile 47 was surreal. I hardly knew you before this race, and yet you walked us in for the last 3 miles, at a good pace I might add. It was almost midnight. I kept asking myself what you were doing out there, and then when you stayed with us I realized you were out there for us. That was really cool. You are really cool. It really started to hit me then that what we were doing was pretty darn amazing, even if it did take a heck of a lot longer than I expected. Sorry about all the crazy hysterical crying at the end. Seriously, I do NOT want to see any pictures of that ugliness.

You all are the most amazing people I have ever met. Thank you.

P.S. Just a few things I learned while running my first 50 miler:

1. Blisters hurt less if you pop them yourself. Unfortunately I learned this almost 24 hours after the run ended.
2. Your friends (and crazy volunteers) will hug you even though you smell like a cross between roadkill, armpit and bad cheese.
3. It is possible to gag on your own stench.
4. A tortilla with a big glob a mayo on it is NOT yummy and also engages the gag reflex.
5. Pretty much everything else IS yummy on the trail, even if you drop it in dirt and lots of other dirty people touch it before you eat it.
6. I can take a lot more advil than I thought.
7. Volunteers who don't know you (and friends who do) will physically push you out of an aid station.
8. Najat can make me laugh so hard I almost wet my pants.
9. I can hold my pee for almost 16.75 miles.
10. My husband and son can locate me on a dark trail by my laugh.
11. Labor, no less painful, took less time and quit hurting when it was over.
12. Nauseated, blistered, and close to tears, I was still envious of the runners attempting 100.

(From Najat)

There's not much more that I can say that has not been said already. You guys truly are the most amazing group of people anyone could ever ask to have in her life. I am blessed and am grateful every day that I have each and every one of you to count on and be there by my side (even though I'm crazy--hehehe).

Lauren and Kyle-- you have no idea how happy I was to see you guys. I had tripped and fallen not two minutes before I saw you guys up that hill. That was the hardest loop for me to do, since most of it I did alone. Seeing you two up there, encouraging me (and Kyle, teling me to run out of the woods to the aide station) was just the boost I needed.

Bill, Debbie, Russell, Jon and George: there are just no words to describe my gratitude for your support and kind words. At a time when I thought that all was lost, there you guys were to cheer us on to the finish. And Jon, especially thank you for kicking me in the ass (verbally) to run in the last bit w/Robin.

You guys are truly amazing, and again I'm grateful every day that I have met you. I couldn't have gotten this far in less than a year without any of you!!!!

It's Always Somebody

Last weekend was pretty good, I worked hard with part of a team to put on the Bill Crews Remission Run 5K. On pretty much all accounts, it was a major success. We put on a race, but it was about the cause. There were almost 10 cancer survivors that participated in the 5K itself and there was one cute young lady, a 7-year-old cancer survivor, that helped Bill's wife, Dana Sue, hand out awards for the kids.

We, however, had one village idiot.

An individual e-mailed Bill Dwyer four times in the span of three hours asking why his time was off two minutes. He sends one within that span to the organizer, Dana-Sue, and while we were taking time to research it, feeling like he was getting the cold shoulder and that there was a cover-up going on, he then posts a public message to his Facebook account asking if the event was mis-timed?

I responded, but he thinks that I accused him of cutting the course (which I didn't). It was actually an incomplete thought. I needed to post something in the public domain, since he took it there, to ensure that the all wasn't lost on the good day that we had.

A serious of e-mails were traded in the next two days that didn't produce healthy results.

It was really just stupid in that he could have been patient before going out and starting to slam an event that will probably make at least a $5,000 donation to cancer research. Not bad from an event that had 28 registrants on December 30. (306 in both events was the number after registations on packet pickup day and race-day registration.)

But it robbed me of the joy that came from doing something that I didn't need one bit of credit on.

First, it was a Steve who lied.

Next, it was a Steve who I don't know what their issue really was at the time. Jealous of recognition that I got? I don't know. The bottom line is that I still don't trust him, and probably never will. That individual's e-mail is blocked and so is my Facebook information from him.

And, now it's an Ed.

I didn't produce an eDeerTracks for The Woodlands Running Club last week because as soon as I stepped off a plane from Jackson, Mississippi last Friday I was on my way to Conroe to make final preparations at Carl Barton, Jr. Park.

But I won't this week or any other. (So Joe, no more War and Peace documents from me; however, thank you for the compliments. They were flattering and appreciated. And your efforts inspired me.)

Most people had no clue that I did it. They thought Bill did, which was perfectly OK with me because I enjoy "flying under the radar". The two of us got some good chuckles out of it.

I also had a call from somebody this week about a business in our sports that did something that was just absolutely unimaginable. It attempted to go back on its word very late in the game.

Why? My thought to the individual who shared it with me was jealousy.

I'm tired. I've done a lot, but I honestly don't want an ounce of credit. I prefer that people don't know what or all that I do. My joy and satisfaction comes from knowing that people have enjoyed something that I've been a part of, even if the only tangible benefit is intrinsic.

I also believe in treating people right. I think that has paid off in the number of true friends that I have.

I probably won't be out at Rocky Raccoon this weekend so my best wishes go out to Karen, Pete, Misty, Russell, Robin and others who will be attempting their first 50-miler. If I can cover the distance (I didn't necessarily say how), you can too! Kudos to you for even signing up and trying something that others don't have the balls or guts to.

That's all for now. Have a great weekend.

Oh, so nobody worries, my focus is completely towards the Texas Independence Relay weekend even though I have Surfside to run and I will be writing the Austin Marathon story for Inside Texas Running. I'm pretty excited about that.

How Bill Crews Remission Run 5K Stacks Up?

I'll comment more later on how Saturday's Bill Crews Remission Run 5K was on a global basis, but the early comments are that it was a smashing success!

For those of you who have access to this blog and if you came out, thank you!

I hope that you had a very good time, understood and appreciated the cause and recognized that we set out to do something completely different. I feel like the team succeeded.

Being a numbers guy though, this is how I often measure success.

It isn't the only way, but it is often one of them:

362 - Spring Fever 5K, The Woodlands, 2007 (1st year; Roger and Anne Gilmore Smith were RD's)
272 - YMCA Trail Run 5K, Conroe, 2008 (3rd Year; Hard to outdo Roxanne Davis)
224 - Muddy Trails 5K, The Woodlands, 2008 (Debut)
207 - Spring Fever 5K, The Woodlands, 2008 (2nd Year; New RD's; CATW Parks and Rec takes over this year)
204 - YMCA Trail Run 5K, Conroe, 2007 (2nd Year)
195 - Bill Crews Remission Run 5K, Conroe, 2009 (Debut) ... we actually had 204 times, but didn't have more tags listed ... so we're good for 195!
175 - David's Dream Run 5K, The Woodlands, 2008
167 - David's Dream Run 5K, The Woodlands, 2007
74 - BMI Fun Run 5K, Conroe, 2008 (1st Year after a year layoff from '06 cross country; no finishing numbers from that year ... Bill Dwyer ran this one fairly well; the '06 version)
71 - City of Conroe Turkey Trot 5K, Conroe, 2007 (3rd Year)
65 - City of Conroe Turkey Trot 5K, Conroe, 2008 (4th Year)
65 - Willis Wildkat 5K, Willis, 2008 (3rd Year)
48 - Willis Wildkat 5K, Willis, 2007 (2nd Year)
42 - Willis Wildkat 5K, Willis, 2006 (Debut)

Bigger than all but one Run The Woodlands 5K - the November '06 Run For Hans RTW that Beth Whitehead spearheaded.

Frost Bike 50 / Ride to the Rescue

I'm behind in my blogging. Please forgive me.

I've entered the world of long distance cycling to get ready for the MS150 coming up this April - the 18th and 19th to be exact.

Last weekend, I completed about 13 miles on Saturday morning and then followed it up with 41.24 miles at the Frost Bike 50 out in Cypress. While there, I saw TWRC members Gena and Greg Alvarez, Tomball's Dee Akers and Spring's Chris Gause. They all did the 45-miler that was a little short, according to Gena's Garmin.

Today, I pushed my long distance cycling PR to 50 miles at the Ride to the Rescue, which was in parts of three counties - Harris, Brazoria and Fort Bend. Cassie and Manny Monrdagon, my TIR teammates, were there and Cassie nailed her fastest long distance ride of her athletic career. She kicked butt.

I'm pleased with both rides. Last Sunday, of course, was much colder and today it started to warm up a little. (Dressed the same for both!)

I lost a lot of salt today - like running a marathon - and the last 7 or so miles I was really, really cramping on the tops of my quads just above the knees. And yes, my butt hurt from time to time.

Start to Rest Stop #1 (11 miles) -- 43:52.02 (15.04 mph)
In Rest Stop #1 -- 9:08.22 (waited for Cassie and Manny to get there)
Rest Stop #1 to Rest Stop #2 (11 miles) -- 48:01.62 (13.74 mph; headwind)
In Rest Stop #2 -- 6:53.30 (they blew this one off)
Rest Stop #2 to Rest Stop #3 (9.3 miles) -- 40:59.70 (13.61 mph)
In Rest Stop #3 -- 5:24.58 (saw them there and rode out with them)
Rest Stop #3 to Rest Stop #4 (11.8 miles) -- 41:28.68 (17.06 mph; it was a long straightaway)
In Rest Stop #4 -- 4:19.38
Rest Stop #4 to Finish (7 miles) -- 30:12.76 (13.90 mph)

Total Time (50.1 miles) -- 3:24:34.78 (14.69 mph)

And Manny had 50.6 on his Garmin so I could count it ... but I'll stick with the 50.1 miles since it seems to be right on.

Not sure how much riding I'll get done this coming weekend as my good friend, Rob Jones, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, is coming down to run the Rocky Raccoon 50. Jonesy hasn't run in Houston in about eight years, if my memory is correct. There's a chance that it may even be nine.

If I were a smart man, I'd take my bike with me to Huntsville and ride during his first loop of the course ... but be back in case he needed me for something.

Therefore, that catches you up with my biking!