Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I had a bad day at the 'office' by running horribly and not making the podium but I have to dig deep to find something positive. I am thankful to be alive and able to complete the race plus received a medal along with all the other finishers. Just about every major town had at least 1 race, usually a turkey trot. Below are the ones I considered:

1. run for the pies 4 miler
2. JCC turkey trot
3. tamarac turkey trot
4. ft Lauderdale turkey trot
5. jungle island turkey trot
6. Baptist turkey trot 5k/10k

Clint Eastwood synopsis:

The good: finishers medal, cool
The bad: windy, zipper broke on tights
The ugly: didn't place, parking fee

Pre thanksgiving weekend

Pre thanksgiving weekend is upon us!

Saturday agenda-race!

Here's what I found for the day of the full moon:

1. race for education 5k
2. race for recovery 5k
3. delray turkey trot
4. steps for healing 5k

Can you believe I couldn't find any notable races out of the local area? Well, I got lazy and did the latter because it was closest in proximity. I didn't care for the start time (8 am) but luckily, the cloud cover kept down some of the heat. However, not the humidity. I did what I could and when the dust cleared (especially the timing issues), I made the top ten and won my age group. Unfortunately, I got just a generic medal and sadly, didn't break 21. Happy to be on the podium.

Sunday agenda-race!

1. Philadelphia marathon
2. fall classic half/5k
3. inspiration 5k
4. girls on the run

You can automatically rule out the former (out of FL). I did the opposite today, and of the remaining, picked the furthest, eliminating the last 2. I did the 5k for speed work and the half course as training and for mileage. That tack on workout was a very long cool down at an easy pace. The task on hand was the 5k and here's my take, clint style:

The good: podium! mug award
The bad: course (2 loop)
The ugly: can't get 5k results yet (may have come & gone while I was training)

Post veteran's day weekend

Post veteran's day weekend is upon us. I decided to pick events with new courses, rather than tried and true.

Saturday agenda-race!

Here's what I found for today:

1. Spartan race MA
2. swamp buggy
3. fantasy of lights
4. st Augustine 5k/10k
5. heroes for education 5k
6. light the night walk 5k
7. mariners hospital 5k

You can automatically rule out the former (out of FL). With enough local races, I didn't need #2 nor 4. I had the opportunity for a double header with either #3 or #6 but decided to pass on the that in lieu of rest. The latter was closest in proximity but been there, done that, leaving the remainder.

I am going to break this down clint eastwood style:

The good: podium, broke 21
The bad: 2 ag, medal, travel
The ugly: would've been 1 ag if top 3 given

Sunday agenda-race!

Here's what I found for this day:

1. big sur half marathon
2. rnr las vegas marathon
3. the biggest loser off road MA
4. st Augustine marathon
5. jolly be good 5k
6. 5 guys MDA 5k
7. coconut 5k
8. be a hero, run for a kid
9. iRun 5k/10k
10. zoorun5k

You can automatically rule out the first 3 (out of FL). With enough local races, I didn't need #4 nor 5. Amazingly, there were 2 in Miami, #9=sold out but the latter, I was just there last week; I passed on both. I never did #7 but did do #6 earlier this year with success, so I picked that one; bad move in hindsight. Although the number showed I had the best chance, the fact is I didn't, based on who showed up and with only 1 master slot.

I made my decision based on last year's stats and categories but to my dismay, I turned down a race I could've placed in for the one I picked. Check out the clint synopsis:

The good: broke 21 (2 in a row), trophies to those who placed
The bad: travel, more humid, the course
The ugly: didn't place (all under 20)

Veteran's day

Veteran's day is upon us! Allow me to thank all those who served honorably because as I always remind people, freedom is not free. Let me honor those also who paid the ultimate price so we can enjoy our freedoms.

I completed a rare weeknight race in honor of veteran's day. The course was challenging, with 2 bridges, twice. Luckily, weather was nice. It was a high quality, high quantity race. By the grace of God, I made the podium, taking the last age slot.

Pre veteran's day/full moon weekend

Pre veteran's day/full moon weekend is upon us!

Friday agenda-Waterford 5k

It is a rare weekday race but I had to pass on it due to the following:

1. bad history-got ripped off a position at time of awards ceremony (never posted as called)
2. bad categories-only top overall then fall to age
3. racewalk was eliminated
4. time of race- I cant get from near zoo to that location, couldn't take any time off work
5. external conditions-parking, usually hot weather

Saturday agenda-race!

I found a good number of events for today:

1. Spartan race MS
2. biggest loser off road
3. rnr savannah marathon and half
4. Disney wine and dine half
5. walk to cure arthritis
6. sallarulos race 4 champs
7. 5k walk/run for hunger
8. light the night walk
9. steps for sos 5k
10 key Biscayne lighthouse run 5/10
11. olde naples 5k
12. key largo bridge run 5/10/half
13. Miami wild 5k

You can automatically rule out the first 3 (out of FL). I pass on #5 and 8 (night event) since they are not really races (no awards). I actually had the chance to do a double header (and did so back in the day) since #4 is a night race but now I wont follow up another half with barely 6 hours between since I am no spring chicken. This time I went with closest in proximity and chose the latter.

I am going to jump right into the clint eastwood synopsis:

The good: top age (actually top master), top ten
The bad: start time, late, hot & humid, generic medal
The ugly: no overall, no master, strange age categories (worst being 51+)

Sunday agenda-race?

Not so many events this day:

1. 6 flags discovery 5k
2. 13.1 marathon/5k
3. zoe loren make a difference 5k
4. Miami man tri/du

You can automatically rule out the former (out of FL). Without a swimmer, I passed on the latter tri. Since I need to do more distance training, I chose #2. I accomplished my goal to break 2 hours despite the delay waiting for the train and weather.

I am going to use the clint eastwood synopsis:

The good: completed half within self imposed time limit. heavy finishers medal
The bad: course, generic medal
The ugly: weather (wet & humid), no award, train delay

Daylight savings weekend

Daylight savings weekend is upon us! Luckily, we fall back, giving an extra hour of sleep!

Saturday agenda-race?

Not much for the first Saturday of the month:

1. Spartan race TX, WI
2. 5k race for awareness

You can automatically rule out the former (out of FL). Can you guess which one I did?

Nowadays, it is rare to get a race that offers awards for walking; that is a plus. The minus was that both the run & walk only offered awards to the top 3 overall. Now its time for the clint synopsis:

The good: overall racewalker, weather
The bad: start time, generic medals
The ugly: cross country course, only 3 overall

This was my first ever cross country racewalk.

Sunday agenda-race!

This was a great day for external conditions sans the wind; cool with no humidity nor rain.

Heres what I found for the first Sunday of the month:

1. Spartan race TX
2. NYC marathon
3. 6 flags great adventure
4. sun capital half/5k
5. purple stride 5k
6. 5k park fest
7. Miami shores 5k
8. miracle walk and 5k

You can automatically rule out the first 3 (out of FL). I like #4 but been there, done that, along with the latter. Between the 2 remaining races that I don't remember ever doing, I picked the closest in proximity (#7).

The good: cold, 1 ag, top ten
The bad: wind, time
The ugly: 2 loop course (not announced), beat by 2 women, needed 2 jump car after race.

Pre Halloween (last in October) weekend

Pre Halloween (last in October) weekend is upon us! Most events seem to be themed toward that holiday.

Saturday agenda-race!

Here's what I have found for the last Saturday of the month:

1. Spartan race CA, SC
2. the biggest loser off road race CA, SC
3. right to fright costume 5k
4. every boob counts 5k
5. monster dash 5k
6. Halloween half & freaky 4 miler

You can automatically rule out the first 2 (out of FL). I passed on the latter, even though closest in proximity, due to the running distance. Although still far (near boca), #5 was the next closest in proximity. Except for the wind, external conditions were good (cool, not so humid). Despite that, somehow I struggled (tired prior and during). Im gonna sum it up, clint style:

The good: podium (1 ag), top ten, finisher medal
The bad: wind, ag medal
The ugly: missed the master title by 26 secs, beat by 2 women, still not under 21

Sunday agenda-race!

Here's what I have found for the last Sunday of the month:

1. Spartan race CA, SC
2. marine corps marathon
3. rnr LA half
4. ironman 70.3 Miami
5. run for life 5k
6. flanigans rockin' rib run 10k
7. fau homecoming 5k

You can automatically rule out the first 3 (out of FL). With no swimmer, strike out #5. By the grace of God, I was able to do the last 2, getting in my last double header of the month.

Morning agenda-flanigans rockin' rib run 10k

I remember the inaugural last year and that field was fast enough, so I knew I really didn't have a chance. What pissed me off is that I felt tightness and some injury prior to and during the race, forcing me to a marathon shuffle just to finish. Praise the Lord, I did finish, unlike an elite runner I saw coming back on the side. It was my worst 10k ever but I was more concerned with whether or not I could complete my double header mission, so I didn't worry too much about my pace. Sadly, I couldn't blame anything on the weather because it was nearly ideal.

Evening agenda-fau homecoming 5k

The good: podium, time better than first race
The bad: 2 ag, hot afternoon race, course, not top dozen
The ugly: beat by 2 women, still not under 21

The trick was internal condition that affected my time and placement. However, despite that, my treat from the heavenly father above was complete 3 races over this weekend and leave with some kind of hardware (includes finisher medals) in each event