Thanxgiving weekend

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. We runners are a different breed because we will exercise early prior to any pig out! Whenever there is race, I am pleased. I am thankful the Lord allowed the long weekend to be possible & that there were sufficient races to run. I am especially thankful the Lord allowed me to do well in both, despite circumstances.

Thanksgiving day agenda-Blue cross & blue shield turkey trot

This race offered 2 events- 5k & 10k. For those only racing once this holiday weekend, the 10k is the obvious choice; Y'all know I race more frequently. Besides, I perform better in the 5k, so that was my selection. All seemed well until halfway into the 1st mile. Some short kid kept sprinting & then cutting in front. I finally ditched him after mile one. My troubles weren't over. Some one wanted to beat me so bad that as he was passing, he (elbows/feet) were bumping into me, forcing me to counter like a basketball player. Well, he succeeded using that unsportsmanlike technique but did not realize what he stepped into. In essence, he opened the Pandora box. Tapping into my past experience, I deduced that #1, if he felt it necessary to do that, he must be in my age group & #2, he confirmed it when I saw the bald spot as he cut me off. In fact, I dubbed his move as the Kojak kutoff. The Kojak kutoff was the catalyst for my karma plan. I decided to allow him the short term victory of being in front & I used his Kojak kutoff against him by drafting. I followed his every move, meanwhile adjusting to whatever pace he used until I felt the time was right. Once I got on the track (after 3 miles), twas basically a 400 meter dash. I reminded myself of how well I did the last time I was on a track (Bikila track meet). I outsprinted him and placed 1st in age group by 1 second! I'll give him credit for apologizing in the chip area regarding the Kojak kutoff but it was short lived. Out of revenge, he stole my UM sweater as I went for my award. Although I can't be proven, the evidence I have it that he failed to pick up his award because he was too busy taking the sweater. I feel it was worth the sacrifice to teach him a lesson not to execute nasty maneuvers.

Black Friday agenda-bargain hunting

I squeezed out a mini-workout then off I went. I didn't get up early enough to beat the happy campers so I missed out on some deals. I was not willing to be out at midnight to save a few bucks. I worked out a little more after the dust cleared.

Saturday agenda-Jingle down Main Street 5k

This is one of my favorite races. Ever since doing it the first time, I have made it a point to make this race. It is one of many return races that I do. This race required patience & experience. I was passed by 2 known master runner before mile 1 but was on pace. Therefore, I had to rely on my ability to overcome, especially in the final mile. After mile 2, I managed to close the gap & then called upon the Lord to give me the power & speed in the sprint zone to capture the master title. The Lord came through, once again. The other two I beat are both friends & representatives of a rival running store. I was 4 seconds slower but it was enough to get the job done.

Sunday agenda-Nike run remix training

Originally, I was to form a 2 or 4 person relay team but a number of factors prevented it- insufficient time to set up, distance, thanksgiving weekend & prior commitments. So, I decided to travel somewhere to run. I chose this because it will be the 1st & last time I could do one of these on any given weekend prior to the actual event. I was able to complete 5 miles with about 75% of runners well known by me, including one that I beat on Saturday for title. The post race refreshments were not as good as at niketown but I still enjoyed it. I lost (didn't win) in the raffle. I want an Ipod so that I can use the nike plus system, otherwise, I don't really need an MP3 player.

Keep a runnin'!

Cool running

Title refers to the great starting temperature for both races, and also in reference to the race results.

Saturday agenda-Delray beach turkey trot 5k

This was my first time doing this one, so all was up in the air. I found out about it barely a week in advance since no race aps were available. Fortunately, this race (as was the next) was chip timed by split second timing, & therefore, was available online. I ran as fast as I could only to find out that no master title was offered, consequently I fell to 1st in age group. I will accept that consolation knowing I was 5th overall. Amenities were good but only 1 bathroom stall. Good out & back course with only 1 turn around.

Sunday agenda-Wilton Manors 5k

Weather was even better (I wore tights & sleeves) but I was not (onset of illness due to weather change). Two of my best friends made a surprise visit. Lisa Dorfman easily won the female master category & her son won the entire race. I, on the other hand, had some difficulty. Through the grace of God, this race offered top 3 masters & grandmasters as well as overall. This pulled out the 50+ year old who was 6th overall. Top 3 overall were teenagers, so that did not assist me. I edged out a master competitor near the end of the last mile to capture the master title & finished 7th overall. This one was surprisingly good. Excellent in amenities, had many port-a-potties & even a raffle. I liked the announcer they picked. He seemed to love his job & having fun. He said things like "we have thousands of people here" (only 231 finished), "welcome to the historic Wilton manor 5k" even though this was the 2nd annual event (the delray was its 2oth) & "we have the best runners in the world" but the winning time was in the low 17's.

Honorable mention

After this event, I went to multirace's South Florida triathlon series awards ceremony picnic. Here, Triple Teem was officially recognized as the 2006 co-ed relay champions. Yes, repeat champions. Unfortunately for my teammates, they didn't have their plaques. The runner JM didn't show, so no big deal but the swimmer EW did. It was a big disappointment for her & felt like a waste of time but as consolation, she will get to pick the picture for her plaque.

Happy thanksgiving!

V

V stands for veteran's day & victory. First, we must pay homage to those who have served & those currently serving our great nation because 'freedom aint free'.

I have been under the weather the past 2 weeks but now on the tail end of it. Obviously, my training was cut back so I was not as confident about this weekend but always feel the Lord above will find a way for me. Indeed, he did. Although I did not perform as well as I would like or am capable of (under normal conditions), considering I placed, I do not have the right to complain. As one of my favorite gospel songs says, "I won't complain".

Saturday morning agenda-Key Biscayne lighthouse 5k run

Weather was quite good at start but started warming quickly. Internal conditions were acceptable (still some back/neck pain), external was not (got hot quick). Despite some struggle, I still won my age group. I count not win the master division because it wasn't offered. I was 10th overall, 7 positions behind teammate Jonathan.

Saturday evening agenda-Fantasy of lights 5k

Top rated main event race. This one drew the best runners. In fact, over 1100 completed this event! External conditions were acceptable (low humidity, night cool air), internal was not (back/neck increased & tightness from previous race, possibly from resting in my car 2+ hours waiting for race). To get an idea of the caliber of this race, note the following:
1. winning time was 14 & change
2. Mike (kenyan) was beaten & finished second!
3. top female (Sonia) was 4th overall with 16 & change!
4. Even with top 5 masters, I missed that category even though I broke 19 minutes. Slowest time was 18:35.
5. In my age division, top 3 were under 19. I edged out 2nd by 2 secs, 3rd by 3 secs!

I managed to win my age group despite struggling. I believe my .1 sprint was the answer to my dilemma. I was 21st overall & beat all women except that elite one.

Sunday agenda-Miami man triathlon (International)

This race was a testament to my #1 crosstraining activity-cycling. This was the final race of the multi race season & also of the S. Fl. tri series. The team- Triple Teem - entered leading the series & poised to win. We could win just by merely completing the race but the team I have strives for excellence, much like me. Since the original cyclist quit, I assumed his role for the last time this year. My normal swimmer (EW) celebrates her birthday this weekend, asked if she could bow out & the team captain (yours truly) granted her wish. She deserves the vacation because she is my MVP teammate, having lasted 2 seasons with me, the longest of any teammate! I asked the reliable runner who can swim but she preferred not to do it if I can find someone else. The duathon champion cyclist Jollie stepped up to the plate. I was not confident with her swimming but she proved me wrong in a race before & I dared her to do that again. She did. Although she swam well, we (the team) were in the hole by a little over 7 minutes because that team leading after the swim had a former collegiate champion swimmer. Because I set personal best on bike, we managed to keep the deficit because I matched their cyclist, losing only 14 seconds;I possibly lost 15 seconds when my shoe failed to unclip, causing me to fall at the dismount zone. In fact, I was so fast, my teammate was not at his post! He was surprised, as well as I, that I was there already but luckily, he was nearby. Once Jonathan (substituting my favorite position) took over, that was all she wrote. He easily made up that difference and then some! I was hoping not to increase the deficit & my prayers were answered. Our Co-ed team placed 1st, beating ALL relays, plus we were 25th overall.

Kudos to Jonathan Mederos. 2nd overall in morning 5k plus top runner in the Miami man tri. Also, thanx to Jollie for excelling in secondary event, like yours truly.

NYC

Title is in regards to the New York City marathon but actually stands for No Young (spring) Chicken. The nyrrc holds a lottery that I believe is actually biased (based on those actually selected & the fact that the percentage of African-Americans getting selected the first time applying is slim to none, confirmed by an ignored email I sent requesting the data) & not truly random. Their system is a big revenue maker because of the following: (1). you must pay a non-refundable lottery fee. If not picked three times in a row, then you get a guaranteed entry. This amounts to about a quick $30, in addition to the entry fee. (2). If for some reason you can't make it, you may defer to next year only the opportunity to run, not the entry fee, so in essence, you'd pay over double. They don't allow transfers to another person who could run. (3). unfair method of entry. why? the qualifying time for the nyc is much more difficult than the prestigious Boston marathon, plus the lottery is as the race director pleases because the only way to avoid the former reasons is to be a celebrity or have 'mucho dinero' (pay $2500 & up to get in through a charity). Well, needless to say, I am the victim, otherwise referred to as a sore loser (from NY) that didn't get picked, but fortunately, my dad did in the second round (more fair). Come to think of it, maybe I was not selected because I am considered a defector. I was born in New York but live in Miami. Anyway, my dad does not do marathons without me so he was considering forfeiting this year & going next year when I would've fulfilled the 3 rejection rule. I didn't want this to happen, as explained earlier. I told him that I go up there to support him, one way or another. I went to several sources, including the horse's mouth (director hung up on me while pleading my case), to try to get an official entry, but no one came through, despite explaining the circumstances. Fast forward to race day (Nov 5th). We both wanted to complete the nyc marathon & it came to pass. My dad was an official finisher & his results can be verified online. He said he couldn't have done it without me but I feel the opposite. Bottom line, we needed each other. This was his debut to the 2006-07 running season but his 5th marathon this year alone, tying a record I set for myself last year! Can we be sure he is No Young Chicken? Well, he's certainly not chicken, since it takes a bold man to do what he does, especially at his age.

Do or die

The title refers to my weekend experience. I had not fully recovered from illness but yet trained normally throughout the week. I normally scale down my workouts but due to the great weather, I ignored my usual protocol;this proved to be a grave mistake.

Saturday agenda-beat the heat duathlon

The deck was stacked against me. I was not at my best, & worse, I couldn't sleep with the loud music being played my someone a block south celebrating somebody's birthday the night before. People like to ask me how am I going to do prior to a race. This is when conditions come to play. Both the internal (sickness) and external (wind, rain) were antagonists. It was very windy all day & will affect a non-avid cyclist, like me, greatly. As soon as a race official said go, it began to drizzle. First run leg, I was in 7th place but by the transition, the signs of illness began. Midway through the bike leg, I felt dizzy, tired & nausea & wisely stopped to recover somewhat. After approximately a 2 minute delay, I finished that leg then struggled to complete the final run. I was in so much pain, I felt like I was going to die but yet had the desire to do (finish). I started by walking (1st time ever for me) then picked up the pace slowly;I actually passed somebody before finishing the event. I wanted to at least salvage the event since I do not like not finishing what I started. Despite all that, I managed to be the 2nd 40-44 person, who did not place in the top 3 overall, to win. However, since the race directors allow double dipping, I am classified as 3rd &, unfortunatly, my plaque states that too. Can you believe the one who won the race was in my age group? Just my luck.

Sunday agenda-Homestead speedway century ride

Not a race, but still a challenge. I met up Caroline, sole female of the 5k 5 person team that won last year at Palm Beach 5k & member of the 4 person marathon co-ed relay of this year's marathon of the Palm Beaches do to the metric century (62 miles) ride. Also, cyclist of Du Tri Harder (JJ) was there with a cycling buddy; they elected to do the full century (100 miles). We all started & rode together for about 5 miles before those two felt the need for speed. After all that happened to me & the fact that this was not a race, after we crossed US 1, I wished them good luck & stuck to my original plan. We (CM & I) rode, more or less, together to 1st rest stop, where remarkably, I saw JJ. She took off again with partner while I wound up being a windbreaker (lead cyclist while others draft) for caroline & others. When it came time to switch, no one stepped up as promised. On the way to 2nd rest stop, JJ's partner was on the side fixing a flat but she wasnt there. When we reached the stop, I saw her again. She hung out there for him but before I left, I challenged her to catch me before the next stop. On the way, I saw her friend heading toward the stop I just left. Amazingly, I got to the final rest stop without being passed by my teammate. CM & I discovered we already finished 62 miles but yet had not completed the event;it seems the course was not measured correctly. We completed the ride, even though it was 5-6 miles longer, by about mid day. Yall know I was gonna do this despite what happened the prior day;I am crazy like that. Oh, by the way, those two who were gun-ho on the full century wised up & did what we did;you could say they wimped out. We (CM & I) were behind them most of the way but finished in front of them, despite their speed. I knew from the get go that i'd be challenged plenty with those high winds in effect. Had it been a calm & cool day, another 40 miles wouldn't faze me.

Second to one

This weekend featured individual & team competition.

Saturday agenda-steps to independence 5k

I was aware of two races going on. Normally, I would select a race by proximity, which would lead me to select the Komen race for the cure 5k held in downtown Miami. I did it last year & enjoyed it. It is a charity race & the great cause-cure/prevention of breast cancer. I classify this race as a no pressure race since, other than overall, there were no age group categories. Instead, the top 50 males & females were rewarded with a finisher's medal. In such a case, due to my frequent running, I would've slacked, knowing that a 21 would be sufficient to qualify. In order to force myself to compete, I went to Coral Springs to do the independence 5k. In this one, top 3 overall & masters were offered, then the normal 3 deep age groups. I wanted a challenge & I got it. Before the start, I felt comfortable that I could place as a master but by mile one, I was praying I could make at least the age group category. It seemed I was anywhere from 12th to 15th place & 4 known master runners were included! Between 1 and 2, I was last in a master's pack of 3 but by mile two, Gary Bloome overtook us all. DK (teammate of premier) attempted to match his pace while I kept mine till mile 2. Oh, I almost forgot, I was also being challenged by a teenage girl; you know how I feel about that. I thought to myself, "I own the last mile!". Once I passed that mile marker, I picked up the pace, passing both WM & DK while losing the girl. I closed within 7 seconds of Gary but ran out of real estate. I had to settle for 2nd in master's category (second to one). I was in danger as the final winner was only 6 seconds behind me. Oh, my overall position was fifth. I was the 3rd fastest master (one master was so quick, he made 3rd overall) to finish, proving that age is just a number.

Sunday agenda-multirace triathlon (relay)

Waking up still on a high from yesterday, I was excited about today. I, once again, will be tested on my ability, but this time on a bike, my number one cross training activity. Stef, the swimmer, would be competing for the last time this year with Triple Teem relay. She had survived dealing with me for two seasons & has competed with me more than any other teammate I have ever had. What a milestone! The one taking my place on the anchor leg (run) was none other than Jonathan Mederos, winner of 2 running races in the past 2 months & member of Du Tri Harder 2006 duathlon relay champions for the last 2 events. Although we started about a minute behind (a co-ed relay team had a male swimmer that beat our woman), I amazing took out their female cyclist (not taking anything from her since you know we (Du Tri Harder) have a strong female cyclist)) in the first loop, despite the fact that I am not really a cyclist. Note to other teams- with this combination, if I pass you on the bike, you will meet certain doom! Twas time for the anchor to show out. When the dust cleared, we placed first in the co-ed division. His run time was faster than anyone, even the elite finishers (granted, they had 2 disciplines prior). My bike time among all relays was short of being the best by about 33 seconds (second to one), & I set a personal best for that course. As a team, we beat all but an all male relay (second to one), but we were behind by a mere 55 seconds, a deficit that was due to a male swimmer vs our woman. Congratulations to all my fellow teammates.

Honorable mention

I realize I will always be second to one, since God is number one! Thanx for everything.

Ups & downs

This weekend featured a series of ups and downs.

Saturday agenda-AVDA 5k

This was held in Delray beach so this was quite a trip for me (down). This was a charity race & its purpose is Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (Inc). I decided to this one as a tune-up race for the main event (Sunday agenda) so I originally planned to run comfortably & possibly win the master's title. A teammate (DK) asked that we run a 6 minute pace for 2 miles then after that, do whatever I want. My goal is always to break 19, but if I am feeling good & conditions are right, I can go to low to mid 19. I followed the script (mile 1=6:02 & 2=12:05), more or less. The person who ultimately won the race was pacing with me for the 2 miles before he took off. While we were striding together, we passed a pack of 3 young kids. I tried to match his pace but my efforts were futile (down). I then realized I better pace myself to defend the 3rd overall position (Up)! I staved off an attack from a teenager & pulled off the victory; I placed better than planned (up). Unfortunately, they gave out medals (down) instead of trophies. However, they gave out a gift certificate as well (up), rare in most events.

Sunday agenda-Escape to Miami triathlon

The big hype of this event is escape island. Swimmers are ferried to this island then they escape to Miami by swimming back to Margaret pace park. Since I am aquatically challenged (down), another runner (NU) who was able to swim, accepted the task as a favor (up). I went with her up to the ferry but only she could board. Even though she says she is not a good swimmer & does not really like doing it, she completed the swim in the choppy waters, then the cyclist took over. She struggled with internal (injury & lack of sleep) and external (high winds & bridges) conditions and did not perform as fast as usual (down), she stated. As a co-ed relay team, we were considered weak because we had two females; a stronger team only has one. Based on the 3rd place team's times, I began in the hole 22:04 (down). As I told the swimmer, at a nine minute pace (8:57) , the runner would be at approximately the 2.5 mile point of the 10k before I even get to start, an insurmountable lead (down). Remarkably, that team was in danger of losing as my pace (6:47) cut the deficit to only 6 seconds (up), despite taking my first fall as a runner (tripped on something on the way down the bridge(down)) this year! Although we missed placing by 7 seconds (down), we shattered the time set by last year's team (up) by over 40 minutes (up). Much like the Miami Dolphins game this weekend, we mounted an incredible comeback (up) & had a chance to win, but however, ultimately came up short (down). Unlike the Dolphins, we still have a winning record in terms of placing in events. Even though individually, I did well (beat my time of last year by about 5 minutes), like Ricky Williams said after a game he set a Dolphin's team record in rushing, "I did well but apparently not enough because we (the team) did not win".