Life is a Journey

Cupid's Cup 5K

2012-02-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

49er Gold Rush 5K

2012-02-04T10:00:00.005-05:00

Some seriously sadistic soul re-routed this course...

LOTS OF HILLS... basically 2.5 miles of hills...

and I don't mean inclines... I mean... LONG... STEEP... HILLS...

WARNING: This course is a workout not a campus stroll!

*evil laughter erupts from somewhere on campus*

On the flip side...

Cheers for LOTS of enthusiastic volunteers who were worth their weight in gold today! They cheered their hearts out on a cold, rainy, overcast day and it was greatly appreciated by one and all! And needless to say, college kids know how to have a good time! Lots of energy at this event!

Race directors have taken the feedback from previous events and truly made an effort to make this 5K more successful.The changes have all been positive ones which makes it well worth attending. On that note, several volunteers took post race surveys at the event to gather feedback specifically for this purpose. Kudos to UNCC for making the extra effort and working towards a top notch running event!

The course redesign translates to quite a few hill challenges covering 2-2.5 miles of the course. The redesign may be temporary though, as it was done to accommodate the construction of the new football stadium which has been a long time coming. Many students, alumni and local fans are anticipating the stadium's completion and are quite excited about the future!

If I were to offer any suggestions at all, it would once again be directed at incoming campus traffic. I don't believe it is the race director's fault that drivers cannot comprehend pedestrians right of way, but several vehicles tailed runners/walkers by less than a foot this morning. The course either needs cones to keep runners in a fixed path separate from cars or single lane traffic to avoid frustrating both runner and driver.

One young runner who was only inches from a moving car actually bent down into the window and waved a HUGE HELLO to the driver (smiles included) to get the point across... (the point being - if you're gonna get that close, let's get to know each other). Point well made!

I am not a rainy weather runner but made the exception this morning. So glad I did. I have been a non-fan of UNCC races for several years due to the needed improvements of prior events. My status has changed to full support after this morning's race.

...Any race that can leave me feeling glad I went.. IN THE RAIN.. has done an outstanding job!

Looking forward to next year!

CHIPTIME: 47:27

CRC Winter Classic 8K

2012-01-28T10:00:00.004-05:00

The Inaugural Winter Classic 8k is presented by the Charlotte Running Club. The course will follow the standard McAlpine 8k route. The course features a flat gravel path with one steep hill sandwiched in the middle of the race. It is designed to showcase the trails that many local runners visit every day (taken from race website ~ CRC Winter Classic 8K).

This is a perfect description for a perfect race! CRC had a excellent turnout and exemplary 'winter' weather - sunny and COLD (35° early morning)!

The course was predominantly flat with the one hill challenge that was truly steep. Lots of support for today's event and club members truly expect this race to grow in participation.

The McAlpine Greenway parking lot was full at 7:30 am Saturday morning - proof of a good turnout and our favorite cheerperson, Aaron Linz, greeted one and all with smiles and support... lots and lots of LOUD support! *chuckle* Aaron is one of 10 Board Members for the Charlotte Running Club that are responsible for the success of the club, its members and its events.

The pre-race registration / packet pickup went very smoothly. Runners received bibs, chips, car decals and heavy nylon backsacks for their entries. The standard club backsack (for sale on the CRC website) is black. A special blue version 'gear bag' with race logo was distributed at today's event in place of the standard t-shirts that most races utilize.

Race costs for entrants are nominal, $15 for club members and $25 for non-members prior to race day (add $5 for race day registrants). Annual membership is only $20 for individuals / $30 for family to join CRC.

Post race amenities were an abundance of water and bananas followed by an award ceremony at 9:30 AM. Winners received medals for placing in the event and categories included the standard Age Groups, Masters, and Overall categories.

What an outstanding job by CRC for an inaugural race! Looking forward to 2013!!

CHIP TIME: 48:06

I was there. It was cold. I had fun.

(center runner with black/blue jacket)

Clearwater Halfathon

2012-01-22T12:02:00.002-05:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

St Pete Beach Classic Duo 5K & 10K

2012-01-14T11:30:00.002-05:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Manatee River 5 Mile Run

2011-12-31T16:00:00.007-05:00

For a final race of 2011, this was all a race should be! Loved the warm temps, hung around for the awards/brunch afterwards and then headed to the beach for the afternoon. Very relaxing way to end the year! As described, this is a scenic adventure on hard shell packed winding trails through a variety of native ecosystems including beaches, lagoons, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, tropical hardwood hammocks, coastal strands and finished on a paved 1.5 mile roadway to the finish and great post race party.

Flattest course I've ever run and it's through a Preserve called Emerson Point at Snead Island. The amenities were ample post race and a much larger turnout than I expected (631 runners posted). The t-shirts were Tech Shirts with the waffle weave material, both male (crew neck) and female (v-neck) shirts available. I would highly recommend this event to anyone and as an added note - GET THERE EARLY on race day! The START line is .75 miles from Parking and the packet pickup on race day is heavier than usual due to the race's location and the holiday!

I logged in a total of 7 miles at this event, 5 for the race and two commuting by foot to registration, parking and the start/stop lines. Fantastic job by organizers and Volunteers! This is definitely a 5 Star Event all around and a race I hope to repeat in 2012!

CHIP TIME: 1:17:40

Last Gasp 5K

2011-12-26T16:00:00.001-05:00

Holiday Halfathon

2011-12-11T12:02:00.002-05:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

St Pete Women's Half Marathon

2011-11-20T11:30:00.003-05:00

Official Time: 2:48:11

I spent the morning of December 13th sifting through races looking for a year end 5K, hoping to meet a New Year's Resolution that I have been carrying since 2008. I realized while sifting that I had not posted my thoughts about this race - the St Pete Women's Half - an event I truly enjoy and have participated in two years in a row.

The reason for my hesitation...?....

I contracted a nasty stomach virus at this race. Lasted 5 days. Could not eat solid food and was limited to only Powerade as a fluid (stomach would not hold water, believe it or not). The nausea, cramps, fever, etc were intense and needless to say, this impacted my view of the race. When I hit mile 7 I doubled over with cramps, found a restroom (for the third time) and stumbled back on to the course only to encounter several other ladies suffering from the exact same malady. Without hesitation each said they got sick after drinking the Gatorade at the earlier water stops. One poor lady was sitting on a curb, youth runner in tow, unable to get to her feet. My heart goes out to them. Little did we know at the time that our suffering was only beginning.

I can now put this on my "Been there, done that" list and move on...

It isn't an uncommon experience for runners and I have no idea why it is tied to the Gatorade but I don't intend to repeat the performance *chuckle* once was more than enough. Three of us were picked up by the trailing vehicle at Mile 7 and transported to a turning point slightly further in the race. We were asked by the Race Director NOT to complete the event. The turning point was a split between the finish line and a four mile section that included Tropicana Field. Very disappointing. The community of St Pete (Vinoy to be specific) does not like the road closures on Sunday morning so the time limits have to be enforced. I get it, I do, but that doesn't make me happy with the turn of events since Tropicana is one of the highlights of the course. I didn't complain though, I hurt far too much to even contemplate that section much less finish it, so I headed for the finish line and was awarded a medal by a beautiful young lady in military uniform. Go USA!

My total distance covered (via Garmin) was 9.2 miles, start to finish. My official time was 2:48:11 which included three lengthy port-a-john stops (lines) and one slow ride in an SUV. I am not listing this as a PR but am grateful we were allowed to finish and post times for the event.

This race is well managed and mapped on a gorgeous course. I would never discourage anyone from participation and cannot place blame of the contaminated Gatorade on WRM, after all, the water stops are managed by volunteers. It is what it is and I'm sure it was not intentional.

I will however make a mental note to provide my own water/fluids during a half in the future. Sealed bottles pre and post race are safe but the powdered mixtures served from reused milk containers or sports coolers do not guarantee cleanliness or adequate temperature requirements. Water should be a different story, depending, of course, on whether it comes from new distilled gallons or tap water stored in containers. Thanks to this race, I will be paying attention going forward.

Happy Trails to all !

Halloween Halfathon

2011-10-30T12:01:00.002-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Runway 5K

2011-10-29T10:00:00.001-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Weather conditions did not allow for participation.

Congratulations to all those that persevered through

unpleasant climate forecasts for the 5th annual event.

Ace of Hearts 15K

2011-10-16T09:00:00.011-04:00

**OPEN LETTER to OWNER of Premier Racing Institute**

This is a reposting of an email I sent to the race management group responsible for today's race. I will mention, the situation described below is recurring. Reviews of several recent races all indicate the exact same scenario at events within the local community.

__________________________________________________________________

Chris,

Per our conversation Sunday morning, please mail my race refund for the Ace of hearts 15K to:

Tracy XXXXX

POB XXXXX

Tampa FL XXXXX

I was at the race site at 7:22am – was told there were no shirts – only a Youth Large, regardless of pre-registration.

Talked with three different staff members at the various registration tables and was directed to “Breena” since she was the “manager”. Breena not only yelled at me (because SHE was out of shirts) she failed to realize I still wanted to race even without a shirt. When I asked for a bib, she proceeded to yell at the staff members around her as though somehow it was their fault. The race had already begun at this point and I did not drive that far (from Charlotte NC) to be insulted for showing up.

Breena alone made this a very unpleasant experience.

She does not take ownership of a situation, she lacks any empathy with her customers, and does not work towards resolution. Instead she chooses to disassociate herself from simple questions by responding with hostility.

The world won’t stop turning because too few t-shirts were ordered but a company will fail with continual abuse to its client base.

__________________________________________________________________

To my readers - I rarely escalate a complaint to this level but when multiple runners are affected and solutions are not present, I feel it is in the best interest of the overall running community to convey a message. I will state that the company owner responded without hesitation to refund the race cost and of his own volition expressed his intent to converse with his manager.

It is my sincere wish that Chris is able to improve the operation of his crew and that future participants will not be made to endure such provocation at their own expense.

** Registered Non-Participant**

NOTE: As of today's date, November 12, 2011, owner Chris Corbo has failed to follow through on his initial response. He found someone who reiterated Breena's behavior and thus continues to promote fraudulent interactions within the running community. His group is both abrasive and unprofessional. Failure to meet the predetermined objectives of a paid-for event without recourse or atonement constitutes fraud.

I DO NOT SUPPORT PREMIER RACING INSTITUTE

and would openly encourage others to boycott.

There are too many honest, worthy, causes

and event groups in the Tampa area to allow

this type of inflammatory behavior to exist.

Tampa Police Memorial 5K

2011-10-08T11:00:00.003-04:00

Gorgeous day in Tampa Bay! A cool early morning breeze made the weather perfect for this fundraising event. Several times over during the course of the morning I was told "this race supports a good cause". The community truly comes out in force to stand with the local Tampa Police Department.

Today's route was a walk for me, just enjoying the crowds, the sights and getting away from my desk for a few hours. I was in/out in an hour and five minutes. Several of us parked blocks away and walked up within seconds of the Start gun which was easily accessible from any metered parking spot in downtown Tampa. I had a trip planned after the race so I was thankful for the convenient location.

The post race amenities were plentiful, the door prizes had tremendous drawing power for the crowd and the actual course was flat, with the exception of one bridge/hill that was steep but quite short. Race Place (website) ranks this race quite well and deservedly so. Definitely on my repeat list.

CHIP TIME: 47:13

Susan G Komen 5K

2011-10-01T10:00:00.009-04:00

Always an honor to support the Susan G Komen Foundation

in their efforts to raise awareness and promote research for

Breast Cancer. This was the Tampa/St Pete race and

an absolutely gorgeous 70° day!

The energy was palpable at today's race. Far more participants

than the race results depict. Many came out as walkers

making the event, once again, a huge success!

This was my first race since July 15th. I have missed several outings for various reasons and it felt good to be outdoors in a massive crowd once again. The course was completely flat and ran around Vinoy Park. Police officers did an excellent job with coning off all traffic and keeping a safe environment for all.

I started at the rear pace sections and attempted to take the sidewalks, like many others, and run around the 20:00 min paced crowd, but to no avail. Overall though, after many stops and starts I finished with a less than 15 min per mile pace which I am more than happy with. I really enjoy the social aspect of events like this and am thrilled to be part of the support system around this tremendous cause.

If you've never attended a Susan G Komen race event, by all means, add it to your to do list. It's a heartwarming experience to see the survivors, those currently being treated and those who run for loved ones lost.

OFFICIAL TIME: 46:55

Ace of Clubs 10K

2011-09-11T10:00:00.002-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

St Pete Beach Summer 5K Series

2011-08-26T22:00:00.002-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

2011-08-12T22:00:00.001-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

St Pete Beach Summer 5K Series

2011-07-29T22:00:00.001-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

I actually left home early in anticipation of this race. Two hours early to be precise. Tired of being late for the Friday night races. I was elated when I had gotten through traffic, parked and was actually in the registration area 30 minutes before start time. This was a first, imagine my excitement, a realistic run time!!

I was at the wrong race...

After three Friday night runs at Clearwater Beach, my brain had a default... drove straight to Clearwater.. and did not realize the error until ten minutes before start time... as my blonde brain wondered "Where is everyone?"... it finally kicked in... the race was at ST PETE BEACH!

Oh well... there's always next month.

Run Thru Hell 5K

2011-07-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

I so totally hate registering for a race and not being able to participate. The only exception is really bad weather. I have zero conscience drama when the weather is bad. I can sit on my duff and be glad of it. This was not the case Sunday morning.

I had picked up the shirt on Saturday, nieces in tow, loved the bright red un-commercialized shirt and expressed my excitement about the upcoming event. My nieces had been forewarned there would be NO sleeping in on Sunday even though they were on vacation with their favorite aunt. So naturally, I get up, get dressed while continuing to bellow "Let's roll, Ladies!" to no avail. The thought of forcing them up occurred to me but it would be an empty victory. Watching two kids under 10 sleep on a park bench for an hour borders abuse... so I undressed *groan* and forsook my early morning race.

My nieces were ecstatic.

Bah. Humbug.

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

2011-07-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

The West Florida Y Runners Club (WFYRC) puts on a wonderful summer series at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, FL. The series is beachfront, out and back, very well managed, and complete fun for anyone at any pace. The sponsoring group is very friendly and does an outstanding job at making everyone welcome!

I would recommend the group or the series to anyone. Bear in mind though, it is on sand, it is manually timed and sponsor participation on race day is limited (usually only Red Bull shows up) but then that's the beauty of community races. It's all about friends, family and fun. Not to mention the glorious view on a Friday evening.

This was Race #3 in the series and one I was determined to be on time for, having been late to the previous two races. My nieces and I hit the 60W at 6pm. We arrived at Pier 60 at 7:15pm very, very disappointed as this should have been a maximum 30 min drive. I asked if I could start that late and was told to go ahead. A family of four actually started after I did. Seems I was not the only runner sitting on the 60 in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Several runners got there just before I did and turned away, not wanting an off time (manual timing does not allow or adjust for late starts) and uncertain if the route markers would still be in place for the whole course. This I was told by one of the registration workers.

I ran with the family of four (a father and three sons) and they finished a few minutes ahead of me. The turn around point had been moved early (most races allow an hour before take-down and this would have been approximately 45 min from the original start time) and one of the young sons ran an additional mile past the turn around point without realizing it. Poor kid. The five of us were the last to finish and we had to ask for timing cards (manual method of entering finish times) in order to get credit for participation. The family finished at around 8:03pm, I was 8:08pm and the entire course had been removed. It took 5 minutes to locate the blank timing cards so that my run time would be registered on the website result listings.

While I do not blame WFYRC for the traffic, nor do I expect them to halt a start time every Friday night when it's known that traffic hindered several runners, nor is it reasonable to ask volunteers to stay longer than they initially expected, nonetheless, it would have been nice to have some form of alternative or back up plan for situations like this. I know it can't be unusual, Clearwater is quite busy every summer. I almost wonder if it wouldn't be better to bump the start time to 7:30 solely for this purpose. But again, for the locals, it would not be in their best interest and I'm sure WFYRC has heard this suggestion before. Outside of two dedicated club members - one standing at the turn around and one at the finish line for an hour and a half - there's not much else that could be done.

The short version of the point I'm making is that while I dearly enjoy this series, it isn't realistic for anyone that lives or vacations outside of the Clearwater area, North or East, to attend. Traffic has consistently precluded a decent drive or arrival time and the race does not accommodate late arrivals.

I filled out the timing card with the actual start and finish times and was still given the unadjusted numbers. I'm not complaining, for an $8 race on a Friday night, this is probably as good as it gets. Kudos to WFYRC for persevering against the odds to keep this series in motion.

OFFICIAL TIME: 1:05:00 (manual and unadjusted)

ACTUAL TIME: 49:00 (using Start Clock and watch)

St Pete Beach Summer 5K Series

2011-06-24T22:00:00.005-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Thunderstorm activity throughout the entire day kept many runners from competing at Race #1 of this series. To the 154 runners who chose to persevere, congratulations are extended as well as relief that the weather during the evening hours allowed for safe participation.

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

2011-06-17T22:00:00.004-04:00

What a week! This is a race I should have skipped and didn't. I'm glad I was out there and getting exercise but my efforts were by no means noteworthy. I had caught the flu virus the week before and was suffering through the worst of it days prior to the race. I showed up anyway. Something to be said for perseverance. For those of you that have caught the flu bug (v. 2.0, the non-winter, late spring, early summer version) my heart goes out to you. Nasty stuff. For those of you that can run record times with flu symptoms, more power to you. I am not yet that empowered.

Having been a late starter to the first event, I left earlier for this race, to no avail. A traffic accident on I-275 cost me over a half hour delay so I was once again late. This time much later than the first time, I could no longer see the runners when I headed out for the start. I did however take my Garmin and timed myself. Garmin gave me 53:19 which is not good compared to my usual times but not bad considering it was the first time I'd been outside my front door since arriving home Tuesday. I did overtake the last place runner who, bless her heart, still managed to finish in under an hour but chose not to turn her results card in (manual timing). She was glad to have finished but I suspect was not a fan of running on the sand, especially not for a first 5K.

This is a wonderful series with a great support group to manage it. I would recommend the series to anyone with the caution of Friday evening drive times, parking at Clearwater Beach, and the challenge of running on sand (yes, it is hard, sand is pliable and there is usually uneven terrain all the way through due to changing tides) but for $8 a race, its an extremely good workout in great company! The reggae bands are wonderful and the awards ceremony takes place on the same pavilion as the band. There is also an inflatable slide / bounce mobile for kids and the usual beach attractions in the area. Not too shabby for a Friday night!

OFFICIAL TIME: 57:35 (full walk)

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

2011-06-03T22:00:00.006-04:00

After eight days of non-stop travel and a hectic schedule, I was very much ready to unwind with a strong 5K. This was a perfect ending to a wonderful week of friends, family and tourism. The race begins underneath Pier 60 and is a simple out and back directly on the sand next to the waterfront. I kicked my shoes off before the first mile was done! There is nothing quite like a beachfront run through a well maintained area with lots of vacationers. We passed two weddings in progress along the water, both brides in full wedding gowns, one groom in a tuxedo, the other in the ever so romantic European linen khaki trousers and un-tucked white linen shirt. Wedding parties and photographers were present! Runners were told at the start that all beach-goers have the right of way, so the race had a unique challenge of dodging and/or pausing for others en route.

It's amazing being last in any race. People know you're not going to win it so they don't mind stopping you to ask questions or comment. "How far do you have to run?" "What kind of race is this?" "How far do you have to run?" "How many times will you have to do it?" "How far do you have to run?" Lots of New Yorkers in Clearwater, FL. They're easy to spot... one, they're proud of their home state (shirts, bags, etc) and two, they're the ones in black, standing at the water's edge, talking on their cell phones.

My timing was unimportant and not in sync with my usual scores. I arrived on time but due to parking unavailability, I hadn't picked up my bib in time to start with the group. I actually started 7-8 minutes after the official start gun went off. I was truly standing at the start line for the kickoff but wasn't wearing my bib, and in this type of race, I needed it so that the course wouldn't shut down prematurely thinking all runners were in. To my amazement, I caught up with the tail end of the group. I passed the last two runners to finish 278th out of 280 total.

I drove from Tampa to Clearwater in about 45-50 minutes. Not a bad drive at all on a Friday evening and was 20 min early for the 7pm race start. Parking in this area is very limited and can be costly. A motel lot next to Pier 60 charged $10 per vehicle regardless of length of stay. The metered parking and street parking were completely full. This leaves seeking out parking at venues not on the oceanfront. Needless to say, I will be much earlier for race #2. I found a friendly motel several blocks down and walked back up to the race start.

For an $8 race, I'll have to say, I was most pleasantly surprised. The sponsors and hosts for this event are spectacular! Runners and Hosts alike were most friendly and encouraging throughout the entire event. It is manually timed but with a digital clock at the finish. Time cards are given out when a finisher crosses over and are turned in to the registrar for awards presentations. The t-shirts are white tech shirts with the logo just as you see above and are quite lovely. The entire series (4 races over the summer) was only $35 - a complete bargain for which I have zero complaints.

Very much looking forward to Race #2 in two weeks!

OFFICIAL TIME: 54:59

Results: Sunsets at Pier 60 #1

Resolutions

2011-05-17T17:22:00.008-04:00

For those of you that have read my "About Me" post you already know I have a few challenges that I'd like to get behind me. For those of you that haven't read it, no worries, the goal remains the same. This year, 2011, I intend to complete two, at least two, of my recurring New Year's Resolutions. In 2008 I set three goals (Resolutions for 2008) for myself, I registered for and ran (mostly walked) my very first 5K as a result . They were/are:

1. To complete a 5K walk/run event
2. To run the entire 5K event
3. To have a 5K run finish time under 30 minutes.

I completed the first goal the day I began blogging. On New Years of 2009 I updated my Resolutions and combined the 'run entire 5K/finish <30 min' into one resolution and added several others. One of the added goals was to return to my pre-Arizona (2001) weight. I set the goal for 140 lbs. I have renewed both of those goals in 2010 and 2011 as I continued forward. My running has been tremendous in keeping me healthy overall (healthy as a horse, in a manner of speaking) but it has not moved the weight one iota.

I intend to mark off those two resolutions during 2011.

The weight obstacle is tied to the effects of dehydration thus I will approach that goal with a pro-hydrating diet. The race goal is tied to weight so basically I am taking out two birds with one stone. My summer race schedule includes two race series that are not chip timed (less expensive) but will be manually timed for scoring purposes. At less than $9 per event, I will be spending June, July and August working on my speed and endurance. One series is on sand, that's going to be quite a challenge. The other is with my local running club which will be both challenging and entertaining.

Today marks the end of 'who I am not', the beginning of 'who I should be' and the return of 'who I am'.

May 14, 2011 - 213.0 lbs

Happy Trails to all !!

*Writer heads out door, iPod attached, compression gear in place, Garmin ready*

St Pete Police Appreciation Run 5K

2011-05-15T11:00:00.003-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Glad to be a part of the support for our civil servants.
Those dedicated to serving others are deserving of our respect and appreciation.

Also a big THANK YOU to Chris Lauber, Florida Road Race Director,
whose expertise made this event a huge success!

857 Posted Finish Times

345 Runners for the 10K

512 Runners for the 5K

Results Posted Here

Divas & Dudes 5K

2011-05-14T11:00:00.003-04:00

My timing sucked. Out loud! However, that is the only thing about this race that wasn't absolutely perfect! The course was held in downtown Sarasota, FL at Payne Park. The route covered gravel, concrete sidewalks and grassy fields. It was a double loop and supporters could see runners at nearly every turn of the course from the main auditorium (outdoor).

The park was immaculate with very easy access. Post race refreshments were plentiful, a DJ was present, goody bags were loaded (cashews, Bio-Freeze, chapstick, letter opener, free Chick-Fil-A coupon, free Jimmy Johns coupon, etc) and race results were calculated within 10 minutes of the final runners completion.

Overall, a beautiful day to be in Sarasota :)

A special recognition should be given to the race organizers and volunteers of this run. They did an outstanding job managing the event and making each and every runner feel both welcome and supported! This race will definitely be on my 2012 calendar!

OFFICIAL TIME: 46:57

123 Finishers

1st Male Overall 17:51

1st Female Overall 24:24

I Love "Mothers" Day 5K

2011-05-08T11:00:00.016-04:00

PRE-BLOG NOTE: Happy Mother's Day to my Mother and all the other hard working, under appreciated Mom's today! My Mother's Day family plans will take place in a few weeks as a combined Mother's/Father's Day event in a different state, so until then ~ Lots of love to Mom, Dad and the Fam!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever ran a race where you knew before it started that this would be your first and last? Ever finished that same race with an uncertainty as to whether you liked the event or not but still knew you had no desire to repeat it? This was one of those. The mixed emotions are not necessarily the result of a poor event but rather the hodge podge of particulars related to the race overall.

+ The location is fantastic. John Chestnut Park had ample parking, lovely scenery and a wide asphalt trail for the course. Easy to locate in Palm Harbor with even easier access in and out of the park.

- The course was an oddity. Out, back, out again but further and then back for the finish. Mile markers, yes, course volunteers en route, no. One water station with tepid "Nestle" flavored water. (Those that truly can taste the difference between Nestle, Dasani and Aquafina know what I mean.)

+ Flat. Totally flat. No complaints whatsoever.

- Manually timed. I mean seriously manual. A volunteer stood at the finish corral to hand out notecards (764 to be exact) at the finish line, in numerical sequence, with instructions to add your name and your finish time and turn in to Registrar. This particular aspect was actually my biggest disappointment and the source of my 'no return' verdict.

+ Saucony Technical Shirts. Major positive aspect. Logo was really cute, pink Superman emblem with Mom across it. Impressed. Newton running socks were free and given out to all who crossed the finish line.

- Post Race amenities. While they were more than enough and an ample selection (doughnuts, cookies, bananas, chips, water, Coca Cola products, MIX protein drinks, etc) the coordinators (one in particular) actually yelled at a family for allowing their small children to eat a banana pre-race. Get real. Ever have kids lady??

+ Family event. 100%. All ages present, and a kids fun run. Lots of walkers for this race and since it was a park, there was a playground (large) for the kids to be entertained while the adults finished their event.

- Sponsors. This has limited sponsorship. To the best of my memory I only saw two or three vendors present. For family style community events, this is the norm and often preferred. It is a matter of preference for runners. Vendors are twofold for many of us. One side of the coin - they are sales oriented quite often. Other side of the coin - they bring tremendous support and encouragement to the running community as well as those life saving magnetic chip bag thingeys.

+ Photographer. This event did have a local photography company present. Cards were handed out liberally telling runners which website to use for photos taken at today's event.

- Shirt Sizing. For those that pre-registered and listed their shirt sizes, adult XL was all that was available for pickup on Sunday morning (line lasted until race start) before the race. While the site guaranteed all pre-registrants a tech shirt, they somehow failed to have kept appropriate sizes for the pre-registered. Walk up registrants were given tech shirts until the allotted amount was exhausted, leaving sufficient shirts for the pre-registered but in the wrong sizes until that supply was diminished. Many pre-registered runners did not receive their shirt, their socks or the sunglasses (as promised in the race promotion) and were quite disgruntled with the coordinator's response. As always, if you're a fan of "I got the shirt" then early packet pickup is a must.

+ Cost. This race is only $17 if you pre-register, 20% less if you register as a family of 3 or more. For many, this is/was the deciding factor, especially given it is a flat race. It is also no doubt part of the reason for a successful turnout.

- This is a FOR PROFIT race. Failure to meet expectations is unacceptable. The event was hosted by Premier Racing Institute and does not encourage participation in their other events.

+/- Digital clock apparatus. There was one. Only one. It was at the Finish Line. For a race with a turnout over 500 people, this and the lack of chip timing is, again, a disappointment.

+/- Awards presentation. Actual trophies are given to "Mother" categories only. The amount of time taken to calculate those handwritten, manual finish time cards was excessive. Many runners, myself included, simply left. Some of the elite runners, who would have also won for their finish times, also left early, directly after crossing the finish line. It's not that we aren't a patient group, its that we've been to events where this is a non-issue.

+/- START Line. Baby strollers were not given specific entry points, nor were walkers and in this instance, if you're at the rear of the start off, you hear the horn and wait, wait some more, walk, walk some more and then walk across the start line and wait for the crowd to thin so you can actually run. Since it is geared as a family event, some have genuine appreciation for this. Others would rather see organization.

For those that read my posts, I've missed four races in a row recently due to traveling and scheduling conflicts so this was a sigh of relief to have broken my streak. I did walk the majority of the course and ruled out a PR early on due to the crowd, small children on the course and the loss of time at the START (manual timing rarely allocates for varied start times).

I would never discourage anyone from participating in this race, I would simply state "cool shirts and good exercise"

OFFICIAL TIME: 43:58

Race Results Click Here

764 Result Cards were handed out at the Finish Line

513 Cards were turned in for scoring to Registrar

360 Females posted

153 Males posted

Charlotte Skyline 5K

2011-04-30T12:30:00.003-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

Yes. This is the fourth in a row for me, not a streak I am proud of. I registered for this one last minute hoping my visit to NC would cover it but it did not. I returned as scheduled at the beginning of the week and did not make the drive back up from Florida to NC for the race, not worth the expense even though this race has sentimental value for me. This was my inaugural 5K in 2008 and I truly hope to place in it one year. Not this year though. I collected the "memorabilia" and am very much looking forward to next year's run!

Congrats to all those that participated and much love to the Queen City!

Blue Ridge Half Marathon

2011-04-16T14:00:00.005-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

What a weekend... 425 mile drive to VA... Bike Ride on Friday... Race on Saturday morning... 125 miles to Wedding Saturday afternoon... 350 mile return drive with two nieces under 10 for Spring Break at Disney!

I seem to be on a streak here. The bike ride date was moved to Thursday since some of the group believed it would rain on Friday. It did not. Overcast, yes, Rain, no. But to their advantage, Thursday was a gorgeous sunny day, perfect for a ride down the VA Creeper Trail. I had local commitments so I was unable to make the schedule change.

After driving 425 miles to Roanoke VA for the race, I arrived late to a... hmmm... Bio-Hazard is the nicest way to put it. I checked in and out of a motel in approximately 15 minutes, drove to another hotel much more suitable and went to bed around 3AM. At 6:45 I got up and went to the race site. Pouring down rain, less than half the registrants showed, weather channel predicted thunderstorms during the day so I collected my t-shirt, bib and left. My buddy that chose to persevere for the marathon made it to Mile 20 and was pulled off the course by the Race Director due to lightning. Those that attempted and had to be halted were given free registration for next year's event. Kudos to Blue Ridge for making it right!

Made it to the wedding... started thirty minutes late but nonetheless a lovely, heartwarming ceremony. Drove to the border of GA that night and called it a day. My nieces were ecstatic because for some reason, hotels are a grand adventure!

This is the third race in a row that I have been unable to participate in... and the fourth is not looking good.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a PR in the future as I should have enough pent-up energy for something awesome!

Beach to Bayou 5K

2011-04-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

The race was held at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Runners should have been inside the park by 7:30 a.m. as the roads were closed to traffic at that time. The event is a 30 year tradition with a beautiful flat, fast, out & back course. It also benefits health services and is funded by the Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital Foundation.

I personally missed this race due to a scheduling conflict but I trust all who participated ran well!

Robinson Preserve Twilight 5K

2011-03-25T20:00:00.004-04:00

~ Registered Non-Participant ~

I found myself in North GA the morning of Race Day and with planned stops and unexpected traffic delays, I did not make the official START time . I did however pick up the tech shirt and walk through the post race festivities as finishers were still coming in from the course. This is a well planned and well managed event with a solid turnout. The shirts were Nike Dri-FIT in both male and female styles and are definitely keepers. I was able to see the beginning and end of the route and the general area for the run as well as exhibits and sponsors that were present.

It is no doubt an excellent course (based on registration) but after making the drive down from north of Bradenton, it is a difficult start time based on Friday 5 o'clock traffic. For those unfamiliar, this is a twilight race that is hosted on a Friday evening with a start time of 6:30 pm in Bradenton FL. If you do not live or stay (hotel) in Sarasota or near Bradenton, the drive from Orlando, Tampa, or St Petersburg will involve I-4 and/or I-75 in rush hour traffic which is basically an interstate parking lot which doubles your drive time. For locals (Sarasota, Bradenton), it is a non-issue.

Strong event nonetheless and definitely enjoyable for those nearby!

Florida Beach 5K

2011-03-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

This race took place in Ft. DeSoto Park on the Gulf of Mexico in St. Petersburg, Florida. For those that have never visited the park, it is ranked #1 in the nation. It has seven miles of powder white sand beaches, more than a thousand unspoiled acres, year-round sunshine and all the amenities a beach lover could imagine.

The park also has a paved trail open to walkers, runners, bikes, roller blades and skateboards. It was on this trail that most of the Half Marathon route was covered and portions of the 5K.

The race began at 7:05 AM for the Half and 7:20 AM for the 5K. The early start was in an effort to avoid the heat. On this particular day, the temperatures were perfect and the heat was not a concern. The Sunrise was in its early stages as we crossed the start line and the route was as flat as any I'd ever run. Absolutely perfect for a run!

There were 684 runners in the Half and 322 in the 5K and more than enough parking for all. This race is ran in March (for Spring) and again in October (for Halloween) as part of the Florida Gulf Beaches Road Races.

All runners received Tech Shirts and chips. Timing was ranked on Gun Time but Chip Time was included in the overall results. Post race amenities were appropriate for a race this size in this type location. Lots of water, soda, beer, pasta, bagels, bananas, cookies, etc and a few vendors with race appropriate merchandise. The park is also kid friendly with swings, sliding boards and play sets. Parents that brought their children for the event also had ample entertainment for the little ones.

Definitely on my list of "Best Race Ever" courses!

CHIP TIME: 47:03

Gasparilla 5K

2011-02-26T12:00:00.007-05:00

Absolutely gorgeous day on the Tampa Bay! The Gasparilla Distance Classic is rated one of the best races in Florida and that title is well deserved. Even with a huge turnout (10,828 crossed the Finish Line for the 5K) race results were accurate and posted quickly, disposable chips attached to bibs for easy setup. Medals for all runners, water, fruit, soda, 5 Hr Energy, and convenient parking access. Temps were mid 70's and the view across the water made for a very enjoyable run!

The Expo that precedes race events is also worth mentioning. Several excellent exhibitors and lots of bargains for all. Publix does an outstanding job as a sponsor for several Florida races and this was no exception. The "Pirate" shirts available from Sports Authority are definitely a wardrobe collectible!

CHIP TIME: 43:26

Finishers: 10,828

Event: 5K

Min. Time: 14:53

Avg Time: 38:48

Max Time: 10:25:15

Females 45-49: 564

Min Time: 19:24

Avg Time: 42:46

Max Time: 3:14:48

Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run 5K

2011-01-08T14:00:00.004-05:00

This was my second year running this race, temps were high 30's, low 40's at the race start and I thoroughly enjoyed the improvement (wind chill was 10° last year)! Absolutely fantastic race! If you’re looking for all the bells and whistles (sponsor giveaways, timing chips, etc) this race doesn’t have that – but for a good reason.

Funds go to support a local church that feeds families in need in the Shallotte NC area. The race is timed using barcodes on the bibs which are scanned as you cross the finish line. What makes this race spectacular is the comraderie! You won’t enjoy meeting a group of runners any more than you will this group – and they come from all over – Raleigh, Eden, Wilmington, Charlotte, Calabash, Lexington, as well as SC, NJ, PA, TN, etc. and they greet each other like long lost friends.

The route runs over an inlet bridge (OIB) which is not too steep for even the most amateur runner – and the view from the top is breathtaking. You can see for miles, both the community and the ocean. The remainder of the route (for both 5K and Half Marathon) is predominantly flat.

174 runners turned out on Saturday morning for the 5K. I will make mention here that this is the second race in a row that I have noticed a new trend. The number of walkers turning out has increased, for this event alone there were approximately fifty. Kudos to those who have taken the initiative to improve their health and well-being. Health is wealth!

Scores were 18:41 (M) and 20:38 (F). Both winners were 36 years of age and finished 1st and 5th respectively, proof that running isn't always about youth. 6th place overall was a 60 year old Male with a time of 21:22. Hoo-yah!!

This event hosts a half marathon also and 232 runners turned out. Top Scores were 1:13:34 (M) and 1:27:46 (F). The male winner was 27 years old, female winner was 36 years old. Lucky day for several 36 year olds! January and February host very few local races thus this is definitely a must-do for the avid runner in the Carolinas. Wishing continued success to the race directors of OIB Bridge Run events!

CHIPTIME: 49:13 (walk)

5K Gator Bowl Run

2010-12-31T13:00:00.001-05:00

Warm, sunny day in Jacksonville, Florida and the city is excited for today's Gator Bowl game. This race is run along the Gator Bowl parade route which includes crossing and returning over the Main Street bridge at Jackson Landing. Lots of spectators and over 1200 participants in today's event. Largest group of walkers I've seen in some time, partly due to the day's activities and the scenic view available on this course.

Race day registration was higher than anticipated and t-shirts were gone before the race start. Kudos to 1st Place Sports for realizing that pre-registered runners were entitled to shirts and when told that the stock was depleted, 1st Place immediately informed runners that more shirts would be available in about a week at the local store and for those driving in from out of town (such as myself), shirts would be mailed free of charge as soon as available - the operative word being "pre-registered".

The START and FINISH lines were on opposite sides of Jackson Landing thus vendors were scattered in several places and parking was ample yet not central to either point of entry or exit. This was not a bad thing, just an unusual arrangement for a downtown area. Chips were standard plastic chips that are typically threaded through shoestrings. These had 4 inch strips of velcro threaded thru the chip slots which made for really easy attachment - creative idea.

I had a change of plans last week and gave serious thought to opting out of this race. As always, I am glad I persevered even if it was a walking exercise for me. JAX is a joy to visit and this race was well organized and easily maneuvered. Good luck to Florida in today's game!!

CHIPTIME: 47:16

Cold Winter's Day 5K

2010-12-26T22:00:00.004-05:00

There is a first for everything...

I ran in the snow...

Not just snow on the ground but an actual snowfall that continued through most of the race...

Temps in Columbia SC were actually high 30's and low 40's causing the snow to melt quickly but nonetheless, 260 dedicated athletes showed up to run the final race of the Palmetto Grand Prix series in South Carolina. This was a small event, locally organized and well managed. Medals were awarded to all winners of each age group category and the "Palmetto Grand Prix" patch was also given out to winners.

Course was not flat as described nor was it an out and back as described (which is what I was anticipating for this particular race). The track was very hilly and a complete circle (loop) through a residential area behind the START / FINISH line with no repeated sections along the course and very few volunteers.

Race Directors realized that weather conditions may cause a cancellation, delay or reschedule for this event and did not send out any information relative to this possibility. Runners had to reach out to possible contacts or other known members of the local group to discover if in fact the race would run as scheduled.

Local Police made the decision at 1:30 pm (race start was 3:00 pm as scheduled). Participants driving in from non-local areas should have been given a courtesy email or phone call with contact information in advance of race day. M.C. for this event made several "jokes" regarding a similar situation that happened at Myrtle Beach earlier this year (snide remarks regarding the cancellation which took place at last minute) and while the Palmetto group was allowed to continue, their efforts were no better than Myrtle Beach in regards to notifying the public. The comments were inappropriate, all things considered.

This group (sponsored by Strictly Running) also does a very 'economical' version of race shirts, or at least they did for this race. All shirts were technical tees, all had identical logos which promoted Strictly Running on the front side and "See ya!" on the back. The shirts varied from short sleeve, long sleeve, male, female, and every color under the sun. Participants that picked up goody bags before race day were allowed to pick their own shirts from boxes of available sizes. Those picking up packets on race day, were given the listed gender/size shirt in whatever color available.

No vendors were listed on the shirts and no specific race logo other than the timing company, "Strictly Running". While this is positive in that it's a technical tee without multiple sponsors, it's negative in that it does not commemorate the particular event. Anyone who had just run his or her first race would not have the usual "I got the t-shirt" experience. It's a minor issue but it's out of sync with the majority of race events.

I delayed writing this post as I honestly could go either way in my view of this race. I would not register for another race in the Palmetto Series for reasons listed above but at the same time I would not discourage someone else. The race overall is slightly below average and gives me a renewed appreciation for Run For Your Life and Event Marketing Services (www.runforyourlife.com) and all that they do for the Charlotte NC running community. I think my disappointment lies more in the fact that I've lived in a large city most of my life and much of the amenities available are taken for granted.

This was perhaps a timely experience for me and a reminder that there are privileges to living in either environment - city or rural - there were no strangers in that running group and lots of family present. Race directors searched out young people whose results were impacted by lost chips or incomplete applications and appropriate awards were presented same day during the ceremony. That is truly going the extra mile and very much a rarity in a larger network.

Sincere wishes to the Palmetto Grand Prix group's success in 2011.

CHIPTIME: 45:47

Mt Mourne VFD Elf Run 5K

2010-12-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

2010 was the first year that I have ran this particular race, although I suspect I may have registered for it in previous years and failed to show up due to cold or rainy weather (it's a December / January race). In setting out to blog about today's course, I noticed a significant decline in attendance over the last four years and I am not sure why. The management, course, pre/post amenities and support were tremendous! This is a rare event that actually gives out trophies to winners in each age category and also has a huge selection of door prizes (provided by sponsors). I'm about to brag here so realize I very much enjoyed this 5K!

The firehouse was full of hustle and bustle this morning even though temperatures were in the low 30's. Runners were allowed to stay inside the building right up until the Race Start which was nice. We were provided with Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Biscuitville (sausage and ham), fruit and water both before and after the race! Vendors were allowed to set up tables inside the firehouse (Fire Trucks were outside and/or on the course itself) and Run For Your Life was present although not the timing company for this race.

I was impressed! The only thing not present were sport drinks which, due to cost, many local races with less than 1000 turnout have stopped providing (I hope someone from Coca-Cola or Gatorade reads this!) and due to the economic downturn, sponsorships from the various distributors have ceased. The alternative is to buy the powdered drink mix and make a water cooler or two for post race. Irregardless, the race did not lack without it.

The course was an out and back with mild hills. Only one volunteer was on the course, other than the police cars and fire trucks at pivotal intersections. The single volunteer had paper cup duty at the half way point (water station) and he was doing a mighty fine job! Course monitors weren't really needed on a loop route, so again, this event lacked for nothing.

Goody bags held coupons, two water bottles and a 100% cotton t-shirt and no registered participant left without a shirt. Parking was easy to find and the VFD is just off of I-77. I would truly love to see attendance increase for this race as it is an excellent venue and one of the few local events for December!

GUNTIME: 42:36

Thunder Road Marathon - VOLUNTEER

2010-12-11T15:00:00.013-05:00

Tis the season...

This weekend was a wonderful opportunity to give back. Run For Your Life (local athletic store and event organizer in Charlotte NC) does an outstanding job in our community with managing race events, none of which would be possible without the help of volunteers. I've enjoyed the support and enthusiasm of volunteers throughout the years and, on occasion, am more than glad to do my part in keeping the wheel in motion. This is my 5th volunteer event for 2010 and it is also the largest local racing event in Charlotte. Susan G. Komen has a larger turnout for breast cancer awareness but it is national, not local. Thunder Road has three races combined - a marathon, a half marathon and a 5K. This is the first year that the 5K will be a non-timed event thus I am not a participant this year.

My volunteer efforts included Friday afternoon t-shirt distribution (a two day Expo is part of the event, Thursday and Friday) and Saturday morning course monitoring (in NoDa - North Davidson Street area), 4 plus hours for each session and let it be known that as of Monday, there were over 180 volunteers (many doing double shifts like myself) and still more needed. Did I mention this was a large event?

If you've never attended a marathon event, or if you've never laced up your shoes to race or run, volunteering is an excellent means to get a close-up perspective of the running community and how these activities are conducted. There is almost always a free t-shirt for volunteering and loads of good fun!

Major Thank You's to all that contributed to make the race a success!

Girls On The Run 5K

2010-12-04T15:00:00.005-05:00

This was an untimed event sponsored by New Balance, Goody and Girls On The Run. Sixty-six teams from 38 schools were represented with over 900 young girls in participation. This does not count the sponsors and coaches that ran with each girl or the local residents that registered and ran in support of the event. For those not entering with a child, timing was completely out of the question. At no point did we ever pass the starting group or run in small sections with very few people. The crowd was too large and the route too narrow for such an attempt and if you know how energetic children run, you also know adult runners spent a great deal of time making unexpected pauses, stops or sharp turns. *smile* A digital clock was positioned at the finish line so that all runners had an approximate time of completion. I personally wore my Garmin Forerunner but walked the majority of the 5K due to the constant crowd en route.

UNOFFICIAL TIME: 46:40

The t-shirts for this race were long sleeve, 100% cotton, burgundy with the GOTR logo on the front and sponsors on the back. The entry fee was only $15 and it supports a wonderful cause, therefore, even without a clear route and chip timing, I would still recommend this event. Lots of family fun and good exercise on a Saturday morning!

This route was also predominantly uphill - a very unexpected choice for a kid's run. Had the exact same route been run in reverse, it would have been predominantly downhill which would seem a far better choice, but then, it would have also been less of a challenge. Each child received a bib with the #1 on it and all #1 runners received a medal at the end of the race (standard neck style, white ribbon, pink/green GOTR logo medal) and they earned it, they truly earned it!

Congrats to GOTR for another fantastic event and best wishes for next year.

My Mantra

2010-11-30T12:50:00.000-05:00

http://www.cafepress.com/16elements

Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K

2010-11-25T10:28:00.008-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

This was a last minute decision for me, I literally registered late Wednesday afternoon. I had no idea that I would be "pain-free" after my half marathon and I had zero runs on my calendar as a result. As it turns out, signing up and showing up may have given me a new PR in the 5K category (waiting on final results to post).

This is the 5th year for the Lake Norman Turkey Trot and the event is growing larger than anticipated. A new location for the course was introduced and it's a keeper. The START/FINISH was held at Gold's Gym in Cornelius which also allowed ample parking and much easier access / directions. The registrars had over 1300 signed up by Wednesday afternoon which is 500 more than 2009. Fantastic growth for the Buttar event and a energetic crowd for the runners.

TO BE CONTINUED WHEN RESULTS ARE POSTED 10:29AM 11-25-10

CONTINUATION 4:36PM 11-26-10

Apparently I live in a bubble... I seem to be the only attendee that actually enjoyed myself. Please read here --> REVIEWS & REVIEWS and you will obtain a more accurate or perhaps a more common opinion of the event.

Results were posted today, I personally emailed Buttar.com, Epic Sports Marketing and Zahid Buttar to find the results. Seems Buttar was bought by Epic and Zahid Buttar was the one responsible for posting the results. He delayed postings for accuracy. The timing may be accurate but according to professional runners, the distances are not. The half marathon was short by over 2 miles, the 10K was 6.1 mi and the 5K was 2.8 mi all depending on whether or not you followed the designated route or the people around you as a majority of complaints centered around a lack of volunteers and proper signage for the course.

Buttar.com is part of the Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research and has also been the recipient of a recent Medical Board investigation here in NC: --> Dr. Rashid Buttar Article so some of the comments will be quite critical.

Back to my bubble...

I am still glad I attended. This was an easy location, an energetic crowd and, in my humble opinion, an improvement access-wise over previous years. I can only hope that Buttar will take all the feedback from this year's event to heart and make some drastic improvements to the course set up, volunteer arrangements, packet pick-up and t-shirt design (truly the ugliest race shirt I own!). Failure to do so will hinder turnout for future events. Due to the current number of registered runners - over 1300 registered, 1149 posted results - Buttar needs to consider hiring a Race Director like RFYL or Queen City Timing to manage this process or at least educate them on the areas where improvement is needed.

While other attendees believed this to be the "worst race ever", I have attended much worse than this so I wasn't as displeased. 2009 UNCC and 2010 James K Polk hold that record on my list in a very close tie. I am open-minded towards improvements by both organizers but I have nothing positive to say about either at this point. So, I can say in clear conscience, I enjoyed this race even though it was short by .3 mi and I sincerely hope it improves for 2011.

GUNTIME: 42:00

RESULTS: Epic Sports Marketing

And yes, I will count this as a new PR as chip time was not given and all timings were "adjusted" by Buttar for accuracy. The actual clock time when I crossed the finish line was 41:38 and I started from the rear (behind 600+ others) meaning the 41:38 would have been reduced to allow the group ahead of me to cross the START line first. The timing will not have perfect accuracy but it is improved based on distance feedback (increased) and that is acceptable, all things considered.

St Pete Women's Half Marathon

2010-11-21T10:00:00.004-05:00

St Petersburg FL 2010

CHIPTIME: 3:24:53

4756 finishers

Largest Age Group: 35-39 (842)

My Age Group: 45-49 (556/633)

Oldest Runner: 76 (3:22:26)

Youngest Runners: 12, 13, 14

This is a superb event! Well managed, well sponsored (many, many kudos to Publix) and as runner friendly as any event could possibly be.

I signed up for this race several months ago with the intention of training prior to race day. Several unforeseen events prevented me from training thus my choices were to forgo the event or walk it. I chose to walk (all but 1.5 miles) and never regretted a minute of it. At present, I'm not in it to compete, I'm in it to complete. The course was open and monitored (cordoned off) for 4.5 hours. Runners passed through Demens Landing Park, Vinoy Park, The Pier, Snell Isle, Crisp Park, around part of Tampa Bay, around Mirror Lake, inside Tropicana Field, and START / FINISH in front of Mahaffey Theater.

Even though this is listed as an all women's event, men do register and run it. Last year 138 men posted results and this year is about the same. It was actually not a noticeable occurrence, with all the volunteers, security and race staff, the genders present were fairly equal everywhere except the track itself. I truly enjoyed the fact that is was predominantly women as it produces a far less competitiveness and LOTS of PINK!!

On that note, I will mention the marathons (half and full) are all about the "bling" and WRM did not skimp on this aspect. Ladies received designer goodie bags, v-neck hot pink tech tees, Publix running towels and hot pink banded, palm tree laden, oval charm included, medals!!

Looking forward to future races with Women's Running Magazine!

Thin Blue Line 5K

2010-11-13T10:00:00.007-05:00

As always, CMPD puts on a fantastic event! This was the second year for this event and it was as much fun as the first year! Lots of energy with these guys and gals and a fantastic course (challenging) for runners! The race supports a scholarship fund for high school students choosing to pursue a career in law enforcement and it is in honor of fallen officers of the CMPD, with special regard to those who lost their lives on 4/1/07.

Back of Cotton Shirts sold at Fundraiser during race

COURSE:

Ashpalt, Trail, Grass, Gravel, Asphalt, Stairs, Grass, Trail, Asphalt, Stairs, Gun Range Weave, Stairs, Asphalt and then BUBBA... Bubba is one big bad hill... so help me I believe it is a 90 degree + angle up that hill and when you reach the top... there is 'cruel and unusual punishment'... Cops in full uniform holding out boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts... *laugh*

If you are planning your 2011 calendar, this is a "must add" for the Charlotte area.

This year's event included technical tees for all registered participants (we know it's all about the shirt!).

FRONT

BACK

The fundraiser also included (for sale) dog tags, cotton t-shirts and raffle tickets. Post race refreshments were phenomenal - water, two vitamin waters, bagels, cookies, oranges, apples, crackers, bananas and DON'T FORGET the doughnuts!! Looking forward to next year!

GUNTIME: 48:36 Race Results

RACE NAME: Thin Blue Line 5K              
LOCATION:  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Academy
DATE:      11/13/2010
TOTALS ENTRANTS:  321
FINISHERS:     126 MALE  129 FEMALE (255)

Dowd YMCA 5K

2010-11-06T10:00:00.004-04:00

~~Registered Non-Participant~~

Hated to miss another race but circumstances

beyond my control prevented me from participating.

Runway 5K

2010-10-30T10:00:00.004-04:00

~~Registered Non-Participant~~

Letter to Runway Race Director:

I'm sure you all will hear a great deal about this but something truly needs to be done about the parking/traffic situation for this race...

Hundreds of us arrived in ample time for the race start but were sitting in a traffic halt on Billy Graham, then West Blvd, then Yorkmont, and then once entering into the parking lots the designated spaces were erratic and a lot of time was lost waiting for cars to "back in" to available spaces.

I personally spent an hour after getting on Billy Graham before I could actually walk across the road to the start line. And then of course the race was in its final stages since the start was only delayed by 15 minutes... even if they allowed late entry for the run, those arriving after the start did not know this because the announcer simply stated "The Start Line will close in 2 minutes". At any other event that means 'get off the track, finishers are coming through', which of course, they were. I personally chatted with several registered runners that could not get in due to this and the impact was not a positive one. We all love the novelty of the track and of course the flat route but the inability to park in a timely manner leaves an overwhelming frustration to a great many.

For folks that paid the entrance fee, arrived in ample time for the race start but could NOT get in due to the parking/traffic... there should be some means of atonement. This is inexcusable on the Race Directors part, especially when it is the second year in a row that it has occurred AND since the start time was not altered to accommodate the traffic overflow, of which all were aware (due to walkie talkie access for all traffic control staff). This is not rocket science and given it is an international airport - the ability to manage a few thousand cars/traffic should be well within the scope of airport staffing abilities.

One Dissatisfied Runner,

Tracy D Rabon

GPX Lung Strong 15K

2010-10-16T10:00:00.003-04:00

*** Registered Non-Participant***

Aquesta 5K

2010-10-09T10:00:00.006-04:00

This 5K race is staged in beautiful Robbins Preserve at Robbins Park in Cornelius, NC . The course begins on a packed dirt access road and travels along a paved greenway path along McDowell Creek. The race is in honor of a prominent business person in the community who suffers from ALS. - Dennis Coogle - who was present to greet the runners at the START line this morning. The proceeds from the event will benefit ALS Research.

Awards were presented to the Top 1st Overall Male and Female, no other awards were given.

The course is an out-and-back lollipop that allows runners to circle the Birkdale movie theater at the halfway point before returning to the greenway. Hills were rare and moderate, the dirt packed portion is actually about a quarter mile stretch of large gravel and dust so those not familiar with trail running should be advised. The greenway portion was scenic as promised, complete with a large trailing creek with ducks and a residential wooden bridge that runners passed under during the event.

Goodie bags contained 100% cotton t-shirts, coozies, ink pens and two runner snacks (trail bar, goo) as well as a brochure from the local sponsor, Aquesta Bank. Post race refreshments included bottled water, bagels (with cream cheese) and bananas. This is a small but well managed race that I would recommend to anyone or any family - provided of course that you aren't expecting a timing award.

Best of Luck to the Aquesta group in their fundraising efforts!

CHIPTIME: 47:23 (60 runners total - 44 F / 16 M)

Race for the Cure 5K

2010-10-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

Fantastic day for an outdoor event. Temps were in the low 60's, the sun was shining and this is Charlotte's largest 5K running event. I personally made a last minute decision to enter this 5K with a friend. It was her first 5K and she is more of a walker than a runner so we walked almost the entire course and truly enjoyed watching the tremendous outpouring of support for this cause.

We were both members of the Williams Warriors team and earned our black #34 jerseys by reaching individual donation goals. This year's event did not have as many Williams Warriors showcasing as last year, nor did DiAngelo's team reach its fund-raising goal. Something to be said for the late entry by his team and the economy we are currently facing.

I also noticed the long lines from previous year's events were not present. Much less of a crowd after the run than last year. Not sure if it was the temperature or the multiple sponsor areas or the multiple personalities with loudspeakers broadcasting from various blocks. Overall the event seemed much more disorganized and with lower attendance post race than in years prior. It is also interesting to note that this years competitive 5K had a start time of 7:15am. That also makes a difference with a crowd this size and family involvement.

According to the Charlotte Observer:

A crowd of 16,000 showed one way to fight breast cancer in the early-morning chill along Tryon Street. Wearing pink wigs, pink tutus and a few pink sombreros, they ran or walked to raise $1.6million in pledges and other donations during the 14th annual race. That's up from last year's total of $1.2 million.

Seventy-five percent of the money stays in the Charlotte area to pay for early detection, education and treatment, said Gloria Scienski, executive director of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Charlotte Affiliate, which serves Mecklenburg and eight surrounding counties. The other 25 percent goes to national breast cancer research.

GPX Hit the Brixx 10K

2010-09-25T10:00:00.005-04:00

I set a new PR for the 10K!

Having said that, I must also state this is only my second 10K and both were logged this year.

The unofficial time is: 1:26:11 (Overall results not yet posted)

CHIPTIME: 1:26:12

This is one of the most popular races in Charlotte and it earns that spot for several reasons. 1) Two races, a 10K and a 5K are offered back to back so for distance runners this is a great event to log 9+ miles on a Saturday morning 2) Free Pizza and Beer 3) Because there are two events at this race, parents can split childcare duties and both are able to participate in a race on the same day / same event.

I ran with a friend from the Hickory, NC area and she posted somewhere in the neighborhood of 1:02:10, this is also a favorite race for her even though she has to drive a distance to attend. Weather was warm but stayed below 90° and it was perfectly sunny. We were blessed with lots of friendly volunteers and police officers to cheer us along the way.

The 10K awards ceremony actually took place during the 5K for time's sake and the crowd stayed for the majority of the presentation. The GPX series is known for its stellar awards and door prizes so runners do tend to stay and cheer for the winners! Downtown Charlotte was very active today as there was also a Heart Walk that took place a mile or so west of the Hit The Brixx event. The Heart Walk is a dedicated fund raiser and truly a walk, no runners present, so for those of us leaving the 10K, we sat at stoplights and very politely waited for the walkers to press forward. Quite a large turnout for that event also, which goes to prove that 2010 has truly seen a major increase in the number of active runners at local events.

While my pace for this event showed progress (all 6 miles each had a pace less than 14 min per mile) it is still 30% above my target pace, 50% above competitive pace, and I intend to meet that target goal before year end. I have four races lined up for October and three in November with a fourth race in pending status. My goal will be met this year and 2011 shall see a more fit version of me!

Apple Festival 8K

2010-09-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

Pardee Hospital Apple Festival 8K is a small, unsophisticated, yet pleasant run through the hills of Hendersonville NC. Weather was absolutely perfect for this run. Temps in the low 60s Saturday morning and runners were rearing to go! All packet pickups were done Saturday morning and the t-shirts were royal blue tech shirts with the Festival logo, quite nice!

325 participants came out, most of which were seasoned runners, proof of which lies in the fact that only 24 runners had a finish time above one hour (See: Results ). The awards ceremony was held off until the final runner crossed the line, and yes, she was the only person behind me... *laugh*

I knew she was back there because I chatted with her for about the first three quarters of a mile and then didn't see her again after about a mile and a half. The first two miles we were trailed by an ambulance (that's how I knew she was still back there, the driver was NOT riding my back but hers...), we then ran through a cemetery and the ambulance returned to the hospital. As I left the cemetery, I crossed a major intersection with two police cars and they made plans to open the intersection as I crossed. I did tell them there was one other runner... but at that point the only one that knew for sure was the ambulance driver and he/she had returned back to the hospital.

The two policeman and their respective cars now became the race trailing vehicles and they followed me for the remaining two miles believing I was the final runner. The final finisher was 20 min behind me and a spotter (on bicycle) picked her up about five minutes after I crossed the finish line. Made for an interesting perspective.

I am often one of the final four so to speak so I had no idea that an entire crowd could be sitting there wishing the final runner would hurry it on up... but then I usually don't run the longer distances. I do know and firmly practice the one hour rule at 5Ks as most timing companies consider that an appropriate cutoff time, thus I have never finished a 5K in over an hour.

I walked the last three quarters of a mile with a group of teenage cheerleaders that were volunteers for the event and since all of them were wearing flip flops I did them the courtesy of not attempting to run anymore as it would have been too much for them. They had to walk back to the post race area after the police told them I was the last one so they chose to walk and cheer for me from that point forward. Grand group of young ladies indeed!!

Also makes me wonder what my time might have been had they chose to walk on their own. I set a new PR for the 8K distance in this race by over 7 minutes and could have possibly came closer to a 9 minute difference had I not chosen to 'hang' with my new friends, but then, that wouldn't be me *smile*. I am quite content with the new PR and intend on setting a few more new PRs before this year closes out.

The Apple Festival is a long standing event in the town of Hendersonville and with the advent of Hurricane Earl during this celebration many Labor Day beach vacations were changed to mountain vacations and the festival itself was jam packed... literally! The race was over and done before Saturday's festival events began so runners had ample time to shower and return for the bluegrass/bbq/apple cider/street preachers/crafts/etc that lined Main Street for the week!

CHIPTIME: 1:13:57

GPX Greek Festival 5K

2010-08-28T10:00:00.007-04:00

900 Runners crossed the Finish Line early this morning before the timers logged off and once again the Greek Festival 5K proved to be one of Charlotte's best races - the flattest and fastest - which is evidenced by the top scores; M 15:20, F 16:35.

The actual Greek Festival will be two weeks from now with fabulous food and lots of activities.

CHIPTIME: 43:55

Soldier's Reunion 5K

2010-08-21T10:00:00.003-04:00

Newton, North Carolina is a small town off of Hwy 16, southwest of Hickory NC. The 2000 Census recorded a population of 12,560 and it is the county seat of Catawba County. The city has a total area of 13.0 square miles. Yep. Drive slow or you'll miss it completely. Newton NC is also the birthplace of NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett. It's an old mill town for those of you familiar with the phrase.

What is astounding about this small community is that it hosts an annual Soldiers Reunion Event that celebrated its 121st year. This is a 10 day long activity that includes; Gospel Concert, Parade, Bike (motorcycle) Ride, Cruisin' & Car Show, Beach Music, Baby Parade (decorated wagons), Softball Game, 5K, crafts, food, and many other fun things to do for all ages. It began in 1892 as a tribute to veterans of the Civil War and has expanded to include veterans of all wars. The American Legion hosts a free fish fry for all local veterans during the event.

The 5K celebrated its 20th Annual run this year with a record-breaking 407 runners participating and I can say without hesitation it was managed with the best of the best. All amenities were present - water, bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, watermelon, door prizes, restrooms, actual trophies for winners and several large groups of teams present to show their support.

I was privileged to run with a group of friends that live in this area and we truly enjoyed ourselves. Temps were high 70's followed by an even higher humidity and a most welcome breeze. The course ran through downtown Newton and was for the most part quite flat. Several local school track teams showed up to participate and it made for a great run all around.

T-shirts/packets were given out the morning of the race; cotton, top quality, great logo. Packet included coupons and a water bottle. Amazingly, this race's entry fee was only $15 which is a great value all things considered.

I hope to run this route again in the future as I firmly believe our Soldiers deserve our Support!

God Bless Our Troops

GUNTIME: 44:14

Rock 'N Run 5K

2010-08-14T10:00:00.004-04:00

This was a STELLAR event!!

Anyone that reads my blog regularly knows I don't dish out hefty compliments without justifiable cause. I am practical, plain spoken and will give very honest feedback regarding racing events in the Charlotte area. I can say without hesitation that this race was spectacular in all aspects, especially given it was the inaugural race! It was humid today, temps were in the 70's , a wonderful overcast breezy morning which made for a perfect run.

Parking was ample/good fit, directions were easy to understand, cones lined the way to the registration/parking/event areas, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police were on top of their game in full force (at least a dozen present at intervals throughout the course), signage/cones gave excellent markers/route designations, post race amenities were perfect (bananas, oranges, crackers, Dunkin Donuts doughnuts/coffee), Dasani Water and Powerade at Finish Line (more than enough for crowd), ample volunteers (SUPERSTARS of the event!), post race games and freebies (cups, t-shirts, water bottles, frisbees, stress balls, pens, etc), a live band in sponsor area, a marching band at start line and halfway mark, approximately 10 booth sponsors post race, very family oriented!

Most importantly - for those from the Charlotte area - this was a SAFE and FRIENDLY environment!

Regardless of any past preconceptions about the North End, I was in no way or by no means alarmed to be running in this area. Half of the course ran through the local subdivisions off of Dalton Ave. The locals woke up to the sound of the Marching Band and came out to cheer us on. Some of the friendliest spectators you'll ever meet as they sat on their porches or out in their front yards watching the running community breeze by their respective homes. The subdivisions are well kept and our course was an out-and-back through the neighborhoods.

The sections of our route that covered the industrial areas were clean, well directed and police monitors were posted throughout. I can honestly say I would recommend this race, hands down, no questions, to anyone young or old.

Run For Your Life did the timing and digital apparatus (chip timed) and as usual put forth their best effort. This particular event though did not lack for sponsor involvement. Many races are managed by the timing companies which is why we give so much praise when a job is well done (lots of hard work from a small crew of people), but in this case, the timing company was simply one of many actively involved parties that made this an enjoyable experience in every aspect, and that in and of itself is both unusual and gratifying!

If you plan your race calendar in advance for 2011 - you most definitely want to add this race to your late summer runs!

GUNTIME: 45:26

GPX Blue Points / Panthers 5K

2010-08-07T10:00:00.001-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

It's my birthday... what more needs to be said...

GPX RFYL 4 Miler

2010-07-24T10:00:00.003-04:00

Almost 700 runners showed up in the midst of an unprecedented heat wave to do this 4 mile run today. Great turnout, great run! Run For Your Life once again did an outstanding job with this event and quite a few sponsors were present for the post race ceremonies offering information regarding their products as well as Vitamin Water, Great Harvest Bread, Lemonade, Beer, Water and lots of mutual support!

My only goal for this run was to finish in less than an hour and I accomplished that. Officially, 10 runners were behind me although I only saw about three of them. One runner collapsed on the course today and was taken out by ambulance somewhere around the 3.5 mile marker. Medics believed he would be fine but took him to assure his safety.

Heat and Humidity are obstacles that cannot be ignored in running Most of today's runners are the elite from the Charlotte area which is a given when reviewing the top scores. Male - 20:26 Female - 23:09 and they are well aware of the risks associated with running in high temperatures and humidity. For those running this summer, just a friendly reminder to stay hydrated and be safe. Better a lower running score and a healthier you!

CHIPTIME: 59:48

Are You A Race-A-Holic ?

2010-07-15T16:41:00.002-04:00

How to score for each trip you've made in 2010~

25 points for each race that required a passport;

20 for each race that required air travel;
15 for races that required at least one night in a hotel;
5 for each race that you slept at home.

My Score: 130 pts (7/15/10)

Feel free to leave comments.

James K Polk 5K

2010-07-10T10:00:00.006-04:00

I was on time! I WAS!! Arrrgghhh!!!

This was one of those races where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, at least for me. I arrived ten minutes early for what is considered a small race (250 runners total) on secondary streets in a rural small town area but the entrance roads were both blocked off. I had to park 7/10 of a mile away from registration and had to ask volunteers which secondary roads to take to walk to the start line which kept me from starting on time. Several others ran into the same situation, I did see vehicles simply leave because of the blocks and the realization that time wouldn't allow for a solid start.

Understand, I realize had I been there 30 minutes early this would have been a non-issue, I also realize had I been familiar with the downtown Pineville area, again it would have been a non-issue. I realized belatedly that I could have driven around Town Hall (where I parked) and drove through the secondary roads to park right at the start line. But then, that would require actual SIGNS for parking or the EVENT itself of which there were NONE.

Okay, so I need the exercise, I venture forward and forgo the possibility of not being the last finisher. I am here to complete not to compete (for now). As I pass the start line on the way to pick up my chip at registration, the timer is already being moved... runners are only 45 secs into the race. No favors for late arrivals. Chip attached, back to the start line which forces you to cross the finish line before arriving at the start line, thus the ladies said yes, my chip had now registered, I would be timed. Off I go.

Cones were set up for both the 5K and the 1 mile race. The 1 mile started only a few minutes after the 5K and the first split was manned by several volunteers. They were too busy chatting to realize they weren't giving directions... I took a wrong turn (2/10 mile) and had to back track thanks the the positive encouragement of the 2nd set of volunteers on the course.

I'm ten minutes late, took a wrong turn have already logged a mile at this point and it is HOT! Yes, I'm whining today but believe it or not, I was glad I went, solely for the exercise though. Twice during this run volunteers had no idea where to tell me to go (race course, of course) so as I STOOD on the route waiting for them to configure, I got further behind. The course I will mention just now, is a hodge podge of turns in neighborhoods and includes a few out and backs in cul-de-sacs. I skipped one of them (3/10 mile) in order to catch up with the tail end of the runners and register a time under one hour (as they shut off the timers at one hour).

This put me in a group of about 10 final finishers, five of which I passed as we went along. All to no avail. Yes, you heard me right, to no avail. The timers were shut off at 55 min regardless of the final dozen or so that were still headed in. And the timers KNEW there were still runners on the field as they had a most wonderful trailing biker who kept watch on those at the end (Kudos to RFYL for great volunteers!!). Picking up my chip then was useless, I could have simply stepped in with the runners at the start line as I was only 20 ft from them when the gun went off.

All in all, I did a total of 4.05 miles at this race. My Garmin timed me at 52:35 for 3.35 miles which included three stops to get directions from volunteers. I do not have an official time nor does my name show in the results due to the timer cutoff. The race went fairly smoothly for most other participants. The use of the community center was a big help. There was plenty of water after the race. No post race bananas, oranges or bagels. One of the sponsors brought pretzels, cheese crackers and animal cookies. I'm glad for the indoor plumbing and the AC as we were all drenched from the humidity but for some reason they chose to give the award presentation outdoors in the parking lot. Most runners had left, about half of the winners were present and some winners simply had friends pick the awards up for them.

At the beginning of the awards presentation the remaining crowd (100+/-) were told there would be great door prizes given out after the awards. The award ceremony was stop and go, so people kept leaving. When the final age category was announced there were maybe 30-40 people still standing. The registrars were answering questions for about 10 minutes or so, such that about a dozen people remained milling around wondering if there actually would be door prizes.

Amazingly enough, I won one. A very nice massage gift certificate I will add. I "won" it though because I was one of the few left standing when they were given out. All of us that waited it out were extremely grateful. I do not blame RFYL for the lag or early departures. That was due to the heat and the overall lack of enthusiasm at this race. RFYL did an outstanding job for this event, even with what appeared to be very little support from the actual race organizers. Although they did shut off the timers 5 minutes early, I have no doubt it had to do with the heat and folks wanting to leave as soon as possible, and nothing whatsoever to do with failing to give credit to the final runners as they left the digital apparatus in place and running so the times could be seen as they crossed the finish line.

I've said all that to say this. This is not a race I would run again.

I love the shirt and it's design, I'm grateful for the door prize and the superb job by volunteers and RFYL. My overall opinion though is that the race is poorly organized and lacks critical elements for the larger running community. I've run smaller races that were much more well organized and I've run larger ones that were in far worse shape but this race left you with the feeling that the community could care less, and by community I mean either those who originally created and planned the event and the town that profits from the participation. Nine residents from Pineville participated today (that's 3.6%), all other runners were from other areas in North and South Carolina. That alone expresses my view perfectly.

My personal late arrival would not have altered my review, as I said, I was glad I went even if for no other reason than the quality exercise in good company but I do not, at this time, anticipate repeating this one unless improvements motivate it to be more of an event and less of an endurance.

UNOFFICIAL TIME: 48:16
OFFICIAL TIME: 48:17 (added at my request by Registrar)

Rabun Ramble 5K

2010-07-03T13:32:00.000-04:00

62° at 7:00 AM Saturday morning made for a perfect day and a perfect race. If you have never been to scenic Lake Rabun in Georgia, you're missing a well kept secret for mountain and lake lovers alike.

(photo courtesy of T.D. Rabon)

A hazy overcast day with cooler temps in a surprisingly upscale lakeside community of Georgia surrounded by gorgeous mountain scenery just makes a soul at peace. This race was not what one would expect if having never visited the area. Yes, it was a small mountain community but it was NOT a redneck, hillbilly environment, easily ascertained upon arrival as the parking areas were filled with Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo and the shiniest 4 Wheel Drive toys a man could desire or woman for that matter. We too can appreciate the feel of the ride from a high powered road warrior.

The race course was out and back on a typical snake path of a mountain road, complete with hills, albeit none were elongated. The top finishers times prove the course was not amateur, 19:25 male, 24:08 female. This race is also an annual community event so many of the summer residents that own or rent houses on the lake show up for the socializing. A very large number of walkers were present as well as the top notch dedicated runners utilizing the 10K as a qualifier for the nearby Peachtree 10K.

Timing is manual with a digital clock at the Start/Finish line. Route is very straightforward, no street turns, just one single road out and back. Same route is used for both races and the turning point for the 5K was well marked with a volunteer present to 'suggest' that runners were more than welcome to continue on for the 10K if they were up for it. 119 runners made that effort - kudos to them!

My time was in line with all my previous races, something I intend to change this summer (lowering the PR for good!) but I was by no means in the "Final Four" so to speak. Something I confess I rather enjoyed. In the 5K division, 517 runners posted times of which I was 362nd overall which puts me in the 70th percentile (not recordbreaking, but definitely in the right direction!).

OFFICIAL TIME: 47:09

After the race and a very cozy breakfast in Clayton GA, I headed to Tallulah Falls Gorge for some hiking, or in this case, some very intense stair climbing. *laugh* The views were worth the effort in each case.

(photo courtesy of T. D. Rabon)

Georgia is renowned for its well maintained State Parks and this was no exception. After a very pleasant yet very short trip, I could easily see myself planning a 4 day retreat at a local Bed & Breakfast in Rabun County with close company for a very enjoyable hiatus, after all...

~~The Mountains are for Lovers~~

(photo courtesy of T. D. Rabon)

Summer Breeze 5K

2010-06-19T10:00:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'm going to go all girlie here and confess that entering this race was purely conceived out of jealousy.

I think the confession is supposed to make me feel better...?...or at least a little guilty of registering for reasons other than racing or exercising.... NOT !

I loved this race, really loved this race and was so glad I drug myself out of bed to head down to Freedom Park to see what all the fuss was about. Freedom Park was my childhood playground and while I have fond memories of monkey bars, trains, planes, and water fountains, the park is nothing like my memory. I should have done this years ago.

The course is truly predominately flat, although not completely flat. Flyers promoting the race should have mentioned that there are three entrances now to the park and parking is suggested at the Main entrance since it was closest to registration. Anyone who Googled or Mapquest'ed their destination would have arrived to an empty area, such as I did upon arriving at the ball field entrance in Dilworth but no worries, neighbors are friendly around there and directions are simple.

The race is broken into two separate start times for male and female. The Ladies got a headstart at 7:30am and the Gentlemen followed suit at 8:00am. Needless to say, my arrival at the empty ball field caused me to miss the female start time by five minutes so I was forced... ohhh the agony... to start with the male running group. LOL! Yeah, me and at least 25 other ladies, some accidentally, some on purpose as their running partners were male.

This had both advantages and disadvantages. I won't embark on the advantages, I will simply smile as I type away. The disadvantage though is that due to permit restrictions for race events (length of time roads can be blocked off and police officers paid based on specific time allotments) the latter runners could not afford to fall behind the Trailing vehicle. In this case it was a pick up truck and a young teenager was collecting all the cones, markers, and signage as they trailed the runners. Any runners who lagged too far behind would have no direction, no police protection and no water as stands were being removed.

I kept the truck in view until the last half mile and gave the police officers a heads up to the three runners I was aware of that were still behind me. Twenty persons had finish times after mine, all but one were female so they actually crossed the finish line before I did which supports the organizers methods. Technically, all but one male runner finished prior to the Trailing vehicle making it "all good" in the end and a great way to break up the start line crowd for a good run.

Results were chip timed but with the exception of all second starters not having an electronic start time so the the measuring apparatus could be moved over for the ladies that were crossing the finish line before the males began their run. Results for the latter group simply had their start times deducted by a specific number of minutes for the adjustment.

GUNTIME: 44:38

As for my jealousy... what..?...you thought I somehow lost my train of thought? Nope. I'm still here. My jealousy was stirred when I saw a now retired runner sporting last year's t-shirt. Golden yellow with a bright glaring Sun Logo. I just had to have one - it's a Leo thing. We are creatures of the Sun, born under a Fire Sign and this shirt stirred my inner animal to seek out this attire to compliment my flowing mane. Don't laugh, Leos are all about passion and fortunately we find sunshine in the most inexplicable places. This was a 100% cotton version of radiant light for my day!!

This particular day was also a full class schedule for me - NRA class to be specific. A Ladies Only Gun Range course which began at 9:00am thus entering the race was adding a bit much to my morning's activities. I'm quite glad I did as the race was an excellent way to start out the day's events followed by some serious target shooting. Oh, how I love my Glock!! A wonderful day, t-shirt earned and targets nailed! Out with a Bang!

GPX King Tiger 5K

2010-06-05T10:00:00.006-04:00

This was my third year running this particular race, I've run it every year since it's inception in 2008 and I must say this year was by far the best!

Lots of post race amenities, including a King Tiger booth with a "Spin The Wheel" contest. All participants received a nylon back sack with the King Tiger academy logo as well as whatever prize was spun on the wheel - in my case, I won a ticket to the premier of the latest Karate Kid movie starring Jackie Chan.

The course was altered for 2010 and in my opinion, the change was a good one. Runners were routed off the main road of Mallard Creek and into the nearby subdivisions which made for easier traffic control and less vehicles attempting to bypass the event. Some area homeowners were apparently unaware of the event and/or it's schedule and were agitated at the short wait necessary before exiting the subdivision but I trust the organizers will send out homeowner notices for next year's event so as not to discourage anyone from supporting such a fantastic community event.

King Tiger 5K is part of the GPX series with Run For Your Life and it is commonly spoken of as one of the "T-Shirt favorite" races in Charlotte. Definitely ranks in the Top 3 overall in the area for it's college logo type design. This year's shirt was black with red lettering, a very strong color selection yet again. Congrats to King Tiger for a most reputable means of public advertisement! The 2009 shirt was royal blue, and my personal favorite, the 2008 was burgandy. It's all about the shirt, people, all about the shirt!

616 runners logged their respective times for 2010 which is another record turnout for the University 5K. Expecting 2011 to exceed all previous records as it is set to continue it's positive trend once again.

Chip Time: 47:26

GPX Great Harvest Bread 5K

2010-05-22T10:00:00.004-04:00

Tough course! Started out on a hill and was up and down throughout the entire route. This was the first time this race has been part of the GPX series and the turnout reflected that change. Over 670 entrants logged their time for this event, while the race itself had over 800 registered. The course went through the Piper Glen subdivision and police officers were highly visible to ensure safety. Kudos to Charlotte Mecklenburg's finest!

The only disappointment at today's event was the lack of bottled water and/or Powerade/Gatorade at the finish line. Diamond Springs offered the water stands with lukewarm self-serve water which didn't quite hit the spot in today's heat. The last GPX race actually ran out of bottled water/power drinks long before the race ended. I can only trust that Run For Your Life can negotiate a strong show of support from some of our favorite sports drink vendors. It is appreciated!

Parking was the top concern for the new course and it turned out much better than anticipated. Runners had a choice of shuttle locations or two park & walk sites. As is almost always the case, many runners "improvised", myself being one of them. Some parked at Stonecrest, others at Calvary church and a couple dozen of us actually parked at the apartment complex next door to the shopping center which made for a very short walk. I did see the largest group of park & walk participants at the South Regional Library. Easy walk to the start line from there. The shuttle pick-up and drop-off location for the race site was inside Piper Glen just a few hundred yards past the start line. Again, an easy walk for those that utilized it. The only oddity was that buses began shuttling back to the parking areas while the race was still in motion. The group I was with actually ran between the buses and the rider tent before reaching the finish line. Police were present to manage the process so it was hassle free - just unusual to see runners getting their ride home while others had not yet reached the finish line.

Bravo once again to Run For Your Life for sponsoring another excellent race!

CHIP TIME: 48:11

GPX Twilight 5K

2010-05-07T21:00:00.005-04:00

Always enjoy watching the police cadets run in cadence for this race. They were drilled into formation this time by two female leaders and they "sang" (military style) for the entire course. For those folks who somehow managed NOT to read their self explanatory shirts, many assumed that the army was running with us for this event. That in itself cracked me up! Oh how I love (NOT!) deliberate stupidity! Royal blue shorts, gray shirts with CMPD on the front... yeah, those guys!

Crowd turnout was, as usual, quite large. Lots of kids. Charlotte has had a 'Girls On The Run' program for years to encourage female youth. There is now a male youth equivalent named 'Let Me Run' and a large number of those energetic young men were present and accounted for. In listening to some of the adult coaches... I can see why there is a need for separate groupings by gender. The female coaches simply inspire and encourage, they understand not all young girls want to be athletes. They push when needed and allow for 'meltdowns' as applicable. The male coaches on the other hand... "he just wasn't willing to try hard enough" "no spirit in him" "plays too much, lacks the focus" etc, etc. The expectations are slightly different, something I find rather disappointing. In a generation where obesity is at an all time high and our youth are plagued with technological fascinations, wouldn't we be better suited to encourage the physical exercise to the best of one's ability as opposed to discouraging a young person from an activity that their generation has precious little of? My .02

This is the only event I attend where medals are typically given to all runners, partly because it is a designated youth event. I now have two medals and like many of my adult friends, proud to add it to my collection. This run supports youth at risk and encourages a sense of belonging and peer support that not only builds self-esteem but is a proven deterrent from gang activity and juvenile delinquency. RMFY club members are taught the importance of social tolerance through involvement with clubs consisting of culturally diverse students.

Great event and excellent program in need of support!

CHIP TIME: 45:35

Run Like a Girl 8K

2010-05-01T10:00:00.005-04:00

My first visit to the US National Whitewater Center was a doozy! I had heard lots of good things about the running trails at USNWC but had never been before. I read posts from prior runners of this race and was a bit daunted as to what I should expect. As always, the runner posts were exactly correct but before I go there, let me brag on Run Like a Girl and their efforts overall.

The support staff before and after the race (even though there were less than 5 sponsors present) was fantastic. Lots of water, Powerade and bananas, and AWARDS in abundance. No one who stayed for the awards presentation left empty-handed. If nothing else, each girl got a free 'bandie' with the RLAG 8K logo while many others won prizes from random drawings as well as the age group prizes. Photos of all runners and winners were also part of the proceedings. They also added one water station at mile 2 on the course, great addition from last year.

Now... for the rest of the story...

The trails were not "easy" as indicated and the course itself was not well marked. Lots of wrong turns for several runners, meaning the 5K'ers ran longer and the 8K'ers ran shorter thus skewing overall times. This event is also set up on a manual timing system with runners starting in "waves" and if a bib number higher than 125 started out in the first or second group, they may have gotten a 2 or 4 minute break in their overall score. While this isn't a big deal to me (at this time) I realize it would be discouraging to some runners who sought a competitive time.

USNWC also let bikers out on the course at about 9:30am (race started at 9am) and we actually had to derail to allow them to pass us as the track is not wide enough to allow two of anything - biker or runner. The biggest caution though, other than misdirected signage was the lack of course monitors. There were one or two monitors over the first mile, but the remaining 4 miles had nothing or no one other than arrows, most of which were not much help at crucial turns (splits in the trail).

I would also mention that since the trail is narrow and largely in a wooded area, there are tree roots everywhere. Injury is a strong possibility if you're not familiar with wooded trail running and... there will be snakes. We saw one (newborn) that someone had stepped on and were careful to watch for others. Other than that though, the shade of the trees was a wonderful relief and mosquitoes were almost non-existent.

This is a race that I would run again, albeit, as a more prepared runner. This is a tough 5 miles and you will feel it after the race, especially if you haven't run something similar previously. The last leg is uphill to the finish so if you want to place be prepared to 'finish strong'. Great cause to support and really neat to run a women's only trail race. Looking forward to 2011!

TIME: 1:21:28

GPX CPCC Skyline Run

2010-04-24T10:00:00.001-04:00

I amaze myself sometimes. I went to bed at 3:30am this morning, got back up before 7:00am to run in the CPCC Skyline 5K. With less than an hour and a half sleep, I still chose to show up and complete the course, which is listed as relatively flat. It isn't flat, but the hills are mild to moderate so that made for a good workout/morning walk.

Temps were perfect and it drizzled the entire time which did not stop 820 runners from crossing that finish line in less than an hour. Kudos to RFYL for another fabulous GPX event and congrats to CPCC for a great turnout!

CHIP TIME: 45:53

Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon & 10K

2010-04-10T18:55:00.003-04:00

***Volunteer Only***

In running over the last 24 months, I have very much enjoyed the efforts of the volunteers along the way, thus I decided to "give back" once again. I chose to volunteer at an event I would not have otherwise attended as the distance is above my present capacity. I have showed up for a few packet pick-up sessions but this was the actual event. I elected to be a course monitor for the half and really enjoyed watching the 1500+ runners hit the asphalt.

In volunteering, I discovered several friends that were participating, three of which were running their very first Half-Marathon and 10K. Kudos to Linda, Fatima and Johnella for stellar runs today!

I also realized this is not a half I would actually be a big fan of even though it's one of the largest locally and hosts some of the very best prizes for all awardees. The route covers portions of two main roads in south Charlotte, neither of which is closed off for the event due to the heavy traffic at any given time of day. Single lanes were coned off and the police efforts were stellar but nonetheless, runners were in congested traffic on major roadways for lengthy sections of this race and drivers were quite frustrated with road blockages that began around 6:30am and lasted until 11am. While it is a great area to run as far as the scenery and space, without full road closure it is also a risk and requires defensive running skills. The city actually asked the race organizers to move the time back a half hour this year specifically to help with traffic congestion that results.

Still a great event if you are a runner that is comfortable running in heavier traffic and the fan turnout is huge too. Lots of folks waiting at the finish line to encourage their favorite runner across the line. There is a 3 hour cutoff time and it is mandatory, again, for safety reasons so the attraction is also based on initiative to meet the minimum timeline for a half marathon.

Great day for a race!

Black Mountain Greenway 5K

2010-04-03T21:34:00.005-04:00

This run was one of those last minute decisions that turns into a wonderful surprise. I wanted to take a trip for Easter weekend, aiming for the beaches but instead re-routed to the mountains, the NC mountains to be exact and since it was Easter weekend, I didn't know what to expect in the way of 5K events.

Pisgah Brewing Company is the host for this event and it is held in Black Mountain NC, just two hours (or less) outside of Charlotte, wonderful ride near the Blue Ridge Parkway and perfect temps for an outdoor event. Every aspect of this trip turned out most pleasant; a motel room with a jacuzzi, a motel that backs up to a secluded park yet is less than 5 min from any desirable shopping or restaurant venue, thus I got to shop, shop, shop, enjoy fine dining, run through the picturesque Black Mountains, and soak in epsom salt jet infused waters! Ahhhhh... and yes, I love the mountains but admit I have a whole lot of city girl in me which leads me to another pleasant surprise.

Pisgah Brewing directions (the start and finish point of the race) stated the company is located in a business park thus as a city girl I was looking for a brick building with multiple glass doors evenly spaced one from the other, paved parking, light poles and a huge sign with a directory of businesses housed within the park. Yeah. I'm from the city and I'm blonde on top of that...

The location is actually a renovated former Drexel site. The building was altered to allow "units" for lease and the signage only states "Eastside Business Park". Yeah, I drove right by it. I have learned my lesson... won't be doing that again! *chuckle*

The race itself was a challenge, lots of hills and and two routes - one for the 5K, the other for the 10K. The two events begin and end as a group on the same sections of road but veer off for the majority of the mapped courses. 10K runners are given a 50-100 ft forward start line yet all runners start with the same gunshot.

I will add a girlie note here. This is the first event (including the Susan G. Komen) where t-shirts are not unisex. Hooray for Pisgah Brewery! The ladies t-shirt had shorter more feminine sleeves and a slimmer cut yet the logo design and color was identical for both. Kudos to Pisgah for taking the extra step :-)

I would highly recommend this event to anyone looking for a true challenge, a pleasant escape to the mountains and a smaller community oriented race. It is family friendly even though there is not a fun run as part of the proceedings.

CHIP TIME: 48:05

Cooper River Bridge Run 10K

2010-03-27T10:00:00.003-04:00

MASSIVE!

33rd Annual

One of the Top Three 10K Races in the U.S.

33,042 Finishers

1st Place 27:49

33,042nd Place 2:58:50

Average Finish 1:14:58

This race is people watching at it's very best. I am quite tempted to dedicate my blog to "Things I Saw at CRBR" but without pics, words would not do justice to the sights. Even if you only go once, it's worth it. The race results alone, with all the various representations of global citizens, is proof that this is an event worth seeing. The spectator / fan turnout is higher here than any other running event I've been to and it's easy to see why. Lots of group / team participation including a pastel pink-shirted group named "Running With The Bride". Lots of seniors in khakis, capris and jeans (tells you that its not about the finish time) and a huge number of lively souls that participate under the terms of a "dare"... oh, the pictures I should have taken. *laugh*

CRBR is a one way route and in all honesty, if they chose to loop the route it would no longer be a 10K (6.2 mi) but most likely a half marathon. Runners cross the bridge once beginning in Mt. Pleasant SC and ending in Downtown Charleston SC. Bus rides are provided by CRBR - if you are on the Charleston side of the bridge, buses will start at 5:45am race day to deliver runners to the start line on the Mt. Pleasant side. The bridge itself is shut down to all traffic at 7am so runners must be boarded and transported before that time - Registration asks that all riders be in line by 6am. Boat rides are also available from the Charleston side to the Mt. Pleasant side, drop-off point is two miles from the start line.

If you are on the Mt. Pleasant side (as I was) the start line was about a mile from my motel, easy walk. The CRBR bus brought us back after the race but *WARNING* the bus drop-off point is NOT the start line, it is north of the start line at Sullivan's Island meaning at least a 3 mile walk back to the various hotels. There is a shuttle service provided on the Mt Pleasant side that picks up and drops off (for a fee) at the Holiday Inn and the Days Inn. Unless you are a distance runner / walker, this is an excellent option for those not parking their cars on the Charleston side overnight.

I will also mention that race day is an all day event. There is a Pre-Race Expo on Thursday and Friday and a Post-Race sponsor area afterwards. Participants wear their shirts with pride and can easily be seen long after the race boasting that same shirt with a sense of accomplishment!

I can now say "I Got Over It" and hope to one day return again, if not to run, to watch!

GUN TIME: 1:51:47
CHIP TIME: 1:40:19

GPX Shamrock 4 Miler

2010-03-20T10:00:00.002-04:00

Excellent turnout for the first event of the 2010 GPX race series and, once again, Run For Your Life (RFYL) was on top of their game.!

917 avid enthusiasts turned out for the four miles, with the eldest being an 86 yr old female with a finish time of 50:22 - outstanding! The youngest was a 7 yr old with a finish time of 1:01:04 followed by an 8 yr old with an impressive 36:13, proving that this sport is truly for all ages and all abilities.

RFYL hosts an awards ceremony like no other for these GPX races and this morning's prizes were no exception. Door prizes included tickets to "The Last Song", a Miley Cyrus movie premier, gift certificates to RFYL and a variety of other items to folks who wore green in support of the St. Patrick's Day holiday.

My personal time was not record breaking simply because I chose to walk this event AND (leave it to me to do this...) I was late. I was parking as the start gun sounded and still had to walk over to pick up my chip before heading to the start line. I actually passed the folks carrying the disengaged timing apparatus as they were crossing over to setup for the finish line. They have to do this quickly because there are truly some top notch runners on board for these races (1st place time was 20:04 - that's a per mile pace of 5:01). Nonetheless, we are only in competition with ourselves so it matters most that we show up and participate and I can truly say I did my part heartily!

Very much looking forward to the next GPX race on April 24 - see you there!

GUN TIME: 1:01:32

ACTUAL TIME: 56:32 (subtracting 5 min for missing chip start time)

Shamrock Shuffle 5K

2010-03-13T11:30:00.001-05:00

I got the t-shirt.

Walked the entire course, excellent route on secondary streets and around the Winthrop Coliseum. Supports Pilgrim's Inn - an outreach program for homeless women and children. Organizers sold glasses (Shamrock Shuffle 5K / Pilgrim's Inn logo) and race t-shirts for $5 each after the event to raise additional funds for the shelter, which is a wonderful idea for a cause such as this. Best wishes to Pilgrim's Inn for their compassionate efforts in their community.

CLOCK TIME: 47:53
POSTED TIME: 48:05 (manual timing at event)

Run TOO Overcome 5K

2010-03-06T15:40:00.001-05:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

I was up and prepared to go for this race but suffered a
strong bout of lightheadedness that I could not shake.
It was either something I ate or something I didn't eat
but I had to pass on this race. Best wishes for all who ran.

UNCC Homecoming 5K

2010-02-20T14:31:00.005-05:00

This is the second event I've signed up for with UNCC. I am still not impressed.

Parking was better but still no signs to point towards event and no volunteers this time to give directions and yet this was their Homecoming Day. I dislike beginning a blog with the negative but honestly that's what is foremost on my mind.

It being a day full of activities, the race route, while better than last, actually held up incoming traffic at several points as it wasn't designed to accommodate those showing up early for Homecoming Events later in the day.

Cars literally sat in line for 10-30 minutes until students directing traffic gave them access to continue. Most drivers were patient but after a half hour, several actually left the premises in frustration. The traffic delays were not main roadways but campus streets. There were more students directing traffic than policemen, which on campus may be allowable, but I am certain that trained police officers could have improved the situation.

The turnout also reflected the school's handling of the event. Smallest local event (well publicized) in a long time. 371 runners total while Cupid's Cup 5K, which had been postponed due to snow on 2/13 and rescheduled for today, had 1003 runners.

I still believe the school needs marked improvements if they want a greater turnout but other than the mismanagement, all else made for a good race.

I walked with a group of friends in celebration of one's birthday. Miss Johnella turned 45 today and we all wore bibs on our backs to celebrate the occasion. Wonderful lady! The group really enjoyed themselves and gave no thought to any misdirects at the event. To be honest they were probably glad the crowd was smaller as it made it easier to locate friends as they crossed the finish line.

I will give kudos to those that managed the packet pick up, beverage/fruit tent, chip distribution/collection, two water stations and to an outstanding group called THE EDGE! All of these volunteers were very friendly and efficient. The Edge group actually gave away free t-shirts, and to promote their cause they not only distributed freely from the booth but also walked amongst the crowd handing out free items liberally. A real day brightener and very well organized.

Overall the school's efforts were improved from their last 5K (4.Niner) and my hope is that at some near point in the future they will be THE race to run in Charlotte, as I am a big fan of our local state college! Go Niners!!

TIME: 47:55

Rock Hill Hunger Run 5K **

2010-02-06T14:19:00.000-05:00

Running with Miss Daisy.

I did indeed. And thanks to her expressive self, I won 3rd place in my age group.

"I'm 64 years old. You think you can't do this? Think again. I'm 64 years old. You don't have any excuse." *she is running with another lady possibly 5 yrs her junior*

"Yes ma'am." *I saw the movie, I know better than to attempt to argue with Miss Daisy!*

"You see that fence post? Pay attention! See that fence post? We're going to run when we get there and we're not going to stop running until we reach the end of the fence! I don't want to hear any complaints. I'm 64 and I can do this!" Let's go."

"Yes ma'am."

"Now wasn't that easy? We're going to do it again as soon as we get over this hill. Hey you! Catch up with us! Don't be dragging behind! You can do this! I'm 64 and I know you can keep up with me!" *another runner now joins us, albeit a bit taken aback by her new personal trainer*

"Are we the last ones?"

"DOES IT MATTER???? It matters that you finish! Stop thinking about that. We're going to run right up here and it's a straight line. Think about that!"

"Yes ma'am."

Believe it or not, this lady was quite an encouragement to many runners. Vocally, she had the energy of a teenager. Physically, she did win an award for her age group and was quite elated not only for herself but for me when I stepped up very sheepishly to claim mine.

This race takes place beginning at the Winthrop University Dinkins Center and runs through a very lovely, upscale (perhaps historic) district of Rock Hill SC. The houses were immaculate and the scenery was quite relaxing. Hills were minimal, no steep inclines. Most of the route was either flat or downhill.

Many of the registered participants did now show. Temps were in the upper 30's to low 40's and it misted, or drizzled if you're from the south, throughout the entire event. Registrars estimated about 100 people at the start line. I would have guessed somewhere between 80-90 which is also how I managed to win 3rd place for my age group. There were only a few of us in that bracket. I'm sure of this because there was only one runner behind me that I could visually see and she looked to be at least 10 years younger than myself. Originally there were over a dozen behind us but it appears that the walkers dropped out before the first mile. Many did not appear to be avid walkers/runners and showed up in jeans and casual shoes and others just weren't fans of the weather.

While my personal time is definitely NOT a PR I am still motivated at having placed. It means I got out of bed, showed up, and competed. What more can any athlete do?

This is a small but good run and I would run it again. It is sponsored by a local eye clinic and funds go to support local 'food for the hungry' programs.

Gun Time: 47:00
Actual Time: 46:45
**3rd Place F Age 45-49

UPDATE: Official race results were posted. There were three runners/walkers behind me. The one I was aware of was 30 yrs old. The final finisher was a 45 yr old Female, so there were four runners in my age group and exactly 100 timed participants.

Matanzas 5K

2010-01-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

It was a most gorgeous day to be out running along the waterfront. Temps were perfect around 50° and with a crowd of 1669 finishers it was quite an event! This is literally the flattest race I have ever run and with a very soothing scenic route. We ran along the waterway and through a residential district located on an inlet, quite the view!

I must also admit this is the first time I've showed up for a race and...

...forgot my running shoes.

Yes, I did.

Everybody does it once.

So there, I admitted it. Hi, my name is Tracy. I am a forgetaholic.

Actually, I tried really hard this time to pack lightly, something that is not very easy for my female self. I achieved this goal and was quite proud of myself as I left home Friday afternoon. Yet at 6:45 AM Saturday morning I realized, from 431 miles away, that I had no running shoes! Talk about wanting to kick yourself! So I lay in bed wondering where shoes could be bought at 7am on a Saturday morning prior to race kickoff...

Yes, I went to Wally World. Good old Wal-Mart had a pair of $20 Danskin running shoes and that would just have to suffice if I intended to run. They worked exceedingly well and are now a permanent staple in the cargo area of my SUV! Right next to the windshield de-icer and the road maps!

I love to look at race stats (when available) and the results of this one proved to be truly interesting. 807 M, 862 F runners. 94 of these female runners were in my age group (45-49) and they are tough ladies! I was 74th in that group and 731st out of all female runners. The majority of runners, regardless of gender fall in the 25-39 age brackets. The finish times for my age group ranged from 20:11 to 55:44 - quite a variance, and quite a PR to set if I am ever to win for my age group. Just goes to prove, life begins at 40!

The male stats for my same age group are just as impressive. 77 male runners aged 45-49 with finish times ranging from 16:23 to 49:02. Nothing to smirk about! The oldest male runner was 90 years old, his finish time was 22:22, followed by an 85 yr old that finished 50:52. The oldest female runner was 81 and she finished at 59:26 followed by an 80 yr old at 41:18. This sport truly is for everyone.

If you're ever in St. Augustine Florida during January, this is a race to check out!

CHIP TIME: 42:36

Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run 5K

2010-01-09T20:19:00.001-05:00

What was I thinking?? 26° F with a wind chill factor of 10° F

This was my first year running this race, the wind was bitter cold at the race but I would not have missed it for anything! Absolutely fantastic race! If you're looking for all the bells and whistles (sponsor giveaways, timing chips, etc) this race doesn't have that but for a good reason. Funds go to support a local church organization that feeds families in need in the Shallotte NC area. What makes this race spectacular is the comraderie! You won't enjoy meeting a group of runners any more than you will this group and they come from all over - Raleigh, Eden, Wilmington, Charlotte, Calabash, Lexington, etc. and they greet each other like long lost friends.

The race is timed using barcodes on the bibs which are scanned as you cross the finish line. The route runs over an inlet bridge (OIB) which is not too steep for even the most amateur runner and the view from the top is breathtaking. You can see for miles, both the community and the ocean. The remainder of the route (for both 5K and Half Marathon) is predominantly flat.

Definitely on my list for 2011 although I will be paying very close attention to the weather forecast! Typical temperatures are 55-65° so this was an unusually cold day for OIB, but worth every shiver!

Manual Time: 46:15

NOTE: I was 76th out of 103 runners in the 5K, there were 168 runners in the Half Marathon.

Thunder Rd / Presby Jingle Jog 5K

2009-12-12T16:22:00.004-05:00

30° F

Did ya hear me? 30° F this morning!

Didn't stop over 1460 runners plus nearly 1000 'Girls On The Run' from racing in Charlotte's second most prominent running event. Thunder Road hosts a full marathon, a half marathon and a 5K. The full marathon is certified and a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, so it goes without saying that the turnout is huge and the challenges are race worthy.

The 5K had a start time of 8:20am to allow the other two races room to progress without the advent of less experienced athletes. The gender statistics for these races are intriguing. The marathon was predominantly male runners, the other two races had a higher percentage of female runners. Either us ladies don't like the cold or Charlotte and surrounding areas hold a male majority for the 26.2 miles.

Marathon 26.2 mi - 1409: 975 M 434 F
Half Marathon 13.1 mi - 2992: 1451 M 1541 F
5K 3.1 mi - 1460: 589 M 871 F

This event includes an Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center of which I toured on Friday evening. Lots of fabulous running gear bargains from local vendors as well as t-shirt pick up for each of the races. This was my second year of participation and my two favorite vendors had much in store this year. 4:13 Apparel (named after Philippians 4:13) had an incredible selection of christian running apparel and, as always, Run For Your Life displayed the bestest and mostest for every athlete, no matter the age or ability.

Definitely a race to put on your calendar for 2010 !

CHIP TIME: 43:07

Thin Blue Line 5K

2009-11-21T10:05:00.011-05:00

This was a fantastic run! Very friendly, very family oriented, very fun and ONLY $10 !!

We ran at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police/Fire Training academy - asphalt, trails, stairs, gravel, track, weaving/bobbing around barricades on a shooting range with lights and sirens blaring and the "drill" instructor over the vehicle loudspeaker shouting "You call that weaving??", bagpipes present, and Bubba - one big bad hill, and most importantly, lots and lots of police officers shouting out full support for each and every participant.

I must give commendations here - the cops were superb for this event... at the end of Bubba (literally the steepest hill I have ever run) the officers stood up there in full uniform holding out boxes of doughnuts (hilarious parody!) and we still weren't at the finish line!!

This is definitely a repeat event and for a good cause - Charlotte’s Finest Legacy Foundation is providing scholarships to those deserving high school seniors who are seeking a career in law enforcement as well as in honor of Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton who were tragically killed in the line of duty on April 1st, 2007.

Mark your calendars for 2010 - this is a race you don't want to miss!

OFFICIAL TIME: 45:00

Runway 5K

2009-10-31T21:53:00.001-04:00

Fantastic event and just as the name implies, we ran on the tarmac while planes were landing and taking off! The turnout was far above and beyond the organizers expectations, over 1300 persons posted times for this race! There was a 30+ minute delayed start time because many runners were held up in traffic entering the parking area - overflow parking resulted and attendees had quite a walk to get to the Start Line.

I had the privilege of running with three of my RFYL University classmates and truly enjoyed seeing them again. I was also accompanied by a good friend and quite a few of her coworkers who have chosen running as a means of promoting their own health and wellness. As always, each of them is an inspiration to me!

Charlotte Running Company managed the event and Queen City Timing oversaw the race results. For those of you that follow my blogs, I will insert here "Run For Your Life RULES!!" when it comes to race events.

Charlotte Running Company ran out of t-shirts quite early and works on a first come, first serve basis, thus early registration does not guarantee anything - no replacements or additional shirt printings were offered. The response was quite blunt - first come, first serve, meaning an individual could register the day of and get a tshirt provided they got there as soon as registration opened and yet someone who registered three months in advance would NOT have a shirt reserved for them, irregardless of the fact that they truly were "first". I'm venting but it's legit and it's not for me - I always pick up my shirts prior to the event when possible (I'm not a morning person) but some of my classmates who registered shortly after the online registered opened, were turned away and for their sake, this is being blogged.

Queen City Timing only posts guntime results which poses the question "What's the point?" Their (QC and CRC) one consistent quality is that they each continually make RFYL look world class in comparison! I can state this with ease and without guilt because I have attended 5Ks held by churches or community organizations that were timed much better than this (manually), yet we were given disposable digital timing chips by Queen City Timing, and the chips worked as they should, still QC couldn't provide actual chip time.

For the record, it can be done, and done correctly. Technology does not replace quality workmanship, it only enhances what must already be present.

Because of the location, onsite sponsors/booths were very limited. A huge THANK YOU should go to the groups providing water/Gatorade/bananas/muffins - someone in that group had the foresight to realize around 7am that they were understocked due to the higher turnout and they managed to provide MORE than enough for all participants long before the race ended! Well done, folks, well done!

This event benefits LifeSpan's Community Activity and Employment Transition Program (CAET), a worthy cause; they were present at the finish line to thank each and every runner for his/her support. Best in Show Award belongs to them!

While I may state a "needs to improve" for Queen City Timing and Charlotte Running Company, I have nothing but praise for all other aspects - patrol officers, guards, volunteers, airport employees, Sir Purr, 107.9, US Airways, participants, and sponsors for this event! It's a grand opportuning to race on a runway at an airport the size of Charlotte Douglas International and everyone felt safe while running, and of course, THIS is THE flattest run in the city of Charlotte!! Wooo Doggies!!!

Looking forward to next year's race!!

Guntime Results posted:
TIME: 43:42
PACE: 14:04

Lung Strong 5K

2009-10-17T17:25:00.002-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

4.Niner K

2009-10-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***
*I was present prior to the start time but chose NOT to run*

For the record, I would NOT recommend this race. It does support a good cause, the post activities are comparable but on a smaller scale and that is all that can be said to the positive.

Race is very poorly organized by the school - multiple web pages to disclose details, location, and registration; course is not runner friendly; volunteers received quality bright yellow t-shirts for the event while paid registrants received tan colored t-shirts that did not even so much as reflect the schools colors (yellow/green/white). The route was not cordoned off and while runners were made aware that there "may be traffic", the course map included running on one way roads that were part of the schools main entrance without any sign or traffic warning whatsoever to runner or driver- that is NOT acceptable for safety reasons. Entrance onto the campus grounds had absolutely no signage whatsover for the location of the event or even that it was taking place, and, to reflect the poor organization, this was an all day event which was to have been supported by alumni.

I realize my comments are most candid and reflect my overall disappointment yet I do hope that future community events can be improved upon and that my readers understand that is what motivates me to convey my views.

On to better days!

Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure 5K

2009-10-03T09:27:00.006-04:00

As always, the Race For The Cure is one of the finest events held in Charlotte. It's an outstanding fundraiser for a worthy cause and the turnout is just tremendous. If you have never been - even if you don't walk/run - I would strongly suggest supporting and participating in their annual event. You'll be amazed at the show of support and the enthusiasm felt by one and all. Breast cancer is real - it effects so many of us in today's society, so do yourself a favor and go see what all the hub bub is about, you'll be glad you did.

TIME: 44:00
PACE: 14:11

Hit The Brixx

2009-09-26T15:24:00.001-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

Hog Jog 5K

2009-09-12T15:01:00.004-04:00

I drug myself out of bed at 6:45 am this morning. I was tired from a 17 mile bike ride through VA - a trek that began at 5:30am the day before with over 7 hours on the road, very enjoyable I might add, but nonetheless taking a physical toll. I debated sleeping in, lost the debate to my more committed self and headed out to Tryon & 3rd to see what all was going on...

I was overwhelmed - this was, by far, the best event I have yet attended for a RFYL sponsored and managed 5K ! The new route was excellent - the mascots (at least six) were there to cheer us on, the Marine recruits volunteered to give direction for all route turns and one lively group of Marine volunteers actually cheered for the runners! Hog Jog is part of the Blues, Brews & BBQ event which is what made it so enjoyable. Carnival rides, games, contests, live music, and LOTS of excellent food!

A hearty thank you to the RFYL sponsors that were on the field today - Jim & Nick's BBQ gave out free sandwiches, Bruegger's gave out free fresh bagels in every variety; PowerAde, Dasani and Vitamin Water deserve a round of applause, and most of all - RFYL for hosting such a family friendly event!

I personally chose to run with a birthday girl named Veronica. Today was her 11th birthday and her mom was unable to run with her because of a case of chest congestion, thus me and my buddy ran in sprints for the entire 3.1 miles. Veronica was limited somewhat in distance running because she is new to running, but she's getting her training through Girls On The Run and totally loving the sport!

Results showed 727 posted times and only posted Guntime. My personal time read as "Guntime: 46:56 Pace: 15:07". I started behind the baby joggers so I'm sure my chip time is slightly less than this, but no worries. I very much enjoyed my new friend and am glad she was able to participate ♥

★★ Chiptime posted - TIME: 45:51 PACE: 14:46

I fully expect next year's event to be equal to or better than this years. If you're in the Charlotte area, this is one you don't want to miss!

Yiasou Greek Festival 5K

2009-08-29T23:01:00.003-04:00

Saturday's event included almost 1300 runners and several hundred fans. Course was relatively flat with the exception of one gradual incline almost a half mile long which appeared about two thirds the way into the run. Most dedicated runners are able to set new PRs at this race because of its flatness and many did - congrats to those who posted stellar times!

I ran this race as part of my RFYL 5K training class (which began Aug 4). We run as a class on Tuesday and Thursday nights (University area) in intervals. This week's intervals were RUN 2.5 min WALK 3 min. We are required to run three times a week so my third run was the Yiasou 5K. I did intervals two thirds the way through the race until I hit the incline. Completed the race as a walk.

Excellent class by RFYL - $85 covers nine weeks of training and builds up running distances to the point of three miles by end of session. I signed up at the University location. RFYL also teaches this class at Stonecrest and Dilworth, prices may vary as Dilworth also gives students a technical shirt as part of the class materials. Next session begins in October.

TIME: 44:12
PACE: 14:13

Miles of Mooresville 5K

2009-08-21T22:58:00.006-04:00

Last minute decision to participate. Event was held in historic district of downtown Mooresville. It was the third installation of a Tri-Series and it was an evening run event - rare in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte area). Three races at event; 1 Mile, 2 Mile and 3 mile. Runners can do all three or choose a distance that works best for them. Walkers chose the 1 mile event. Distance runners ran all three events. Those still in training or concerning about the pending thunderstorm ran the 2 mile. 5K fans ran the 3 mile.

Race Records for each event:
1 Mile: 1st 5:26 101st 16:27
2 Mile: 1st 6:03 80th 27:59
3 Mile: 1st 5:49 68th 42:06

My results for the 2 Mile:
TIME: 27:59
PACE: 14:00

Excellent community event. Races are constructed around a one mile loop of downtown Mooresville, lots of police officers and cheering volunteers. Would highly recommend for any runner or for a family looking for a comfortable outing. Kudos to Mooresville for promoting good health and community spirit!

Panthers Blue Points 5K

2009-08-08T16:18:00.003-04:00

This race was remapped at the eleventh hour due to construction in downtown Charlotte. As a result, it was basically two thirds uphill, with the last 1.3 miles being directly non-stop uphill.

Having said that, this was a great race for me!

I began a 5K class this past week and in just two sessions I have learned a lot. I've learned that my breathing challenges are perhaps twofold. One being that I trained my body and didn't train my lungs for this type of event. The other is possibly Exercise Induced Asthma that may be causing the shortness of breath early on. I will be tested for the latter next week, but in the mean time I have done some research and discovered that an inhaler is actually the last resort, there are other treatments to be considered first, one of which is exercise itself.

The 5K class is providing just such exercise. It forces me / my body to workout in a routine manner and on a fixed pace. The first week we ran 1 minute, walked 1.5 mins and repeated for 30 minutes. The running increments will increase while the walking increments decrease. By the end of nine weeks, I should be able to run 5 min, walk 30 sec run again, etc - or more.

As a result of my week's worth of training, I spent the first 15 min of this race running at the class pace and it improved my overall time. I average 48 - 49 min on a 5K so I shaved off nearly five minutes for my results.

The class is a real joy, taught by Run For Your Life at the University store, although it is also offered at the two other Charlotte locations. Cost is $85 (@ University) for the 9 weeks and is well worth the investment.

The Panthers 5K had almost 1300 runners which is a large crowd for a course like this and the Fan Fest event followed after the race. Good summer fun for local fans of the Carolina Panthers football team.

TIME: 43:27
PACE: 13:59

Run For Your Cause 4 Miler

2009-07-13T13:03:00.002-04:00

I am bummed.

Totally bummed.

Very much looked forward to this race, was under the impression it started at 8:00am. Race started at 7:30am and I was 20 min too late for start time. Completely my own fault but that's alright, I'll get there much earlier next time!

Congrats to the 689 runners that posted times for this race! It was a 4 mile run and the best time was 20:38.

AWESOME!

King Tiger 5K

2009-06-06T14:32:00.004-04:00

Beautiful morning for a run!

This race started bright and early at 7:30 am. Quite a turnout, I must say. The route was changed from last year and it is a certified course, thus we were challenged with lots of uphill segments. Several of my friends were at this event which always makes my day - Go Linda, Go Fatima, Go Deborah, Go Johnella!! We were suprised to see young men running this race BAREFOOT! I had overheard some older participants pointing them out and we had to ask... yes, they were running barefoot, it was no hoax, thus I am continually amazed at the dedication of true runners!

RFYL once again did an excellent job sponsoring and timing this event. There were moonwalks for the kids, radio station booths, starbucks, LOTS of food, music, powerade and local retail booths AND best of all - King Tiger does the COOLEST t-shirts! The Unversity 5K looks to be a top contender for all future 5Ks in Charlotte!

TIME: 46:35
PACE: 15:02

Twilight 5K

2009-05-08T22:39:00.004-04:00

Excellent race! A crowd of 1700 showed up to run in spite of the weather. It did not rain, but the breeze spoke to a pending storm yet made for a very comfortable outing.

Although this race was for kids, the youth turnout was far less this year than last. The weather may have been a factor or the conditions of last year's event. Many parents had been concerned over the constant publicity of alcohol related entertainment after the race. I can say with delight, that did NOT occur this year. Parents need not be anxious over the influence presented during this event and we can only trust these measures will continue in the future. Much improved in that regard.

This was my second year attending this function and I look forward to 2010 and more RFYL sponsored events.

Time: 47:38
Pace: 15:20

CPCC Skyline 5K

2009-04-27T12:19:00.003-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

Shamrock 4 Miler - GPX

2009-03-29T16:28:00.004-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

This is the first of nine races known as the Grand Prix Series, (GPX) sponsored by Run For Your Life (RFYL) and it was a four mile run. There are two such races held during the event, the other four miler is in July with all remaining races being standard 5Ks. Although I did not participate in this first race I do plan to run in as many of the remaining eight as possible and am preregistered for all nine events.

As a huge fan of RFYL, I would openly recommend this running series to anyone - young or old - looking for fun, fitness and fellowship in the Charlotte area. RFYL is the very best host of these events and all activities are family oriented. Races are held once monthly with the final race scheduled for October 17, leaving lots of room for the Thunder Road event in December!

If you're in Charlotte, looking for a good run, check out the listings on the RFYL website. Happy Trails!

Run For Your Life

Frosty 5K

2009-03-29T16:24:00.003-04:00

***Registered Non-Participant***

(this race was scheduled on the same date
as the beginning race for the GPX series kickoff)

Stoked ! 03-09-09

2009-03-10T00:15:00.004-04:00

Today I set a personal record. Call it 'runners high' or a broken digital timer... but... I'm just as excited!! 2 miles on an elliptical in 10 min 40 secs. Sorry... but that's just stellar for me!! and somewhat out of the norm. But then, all of the readings were non-typical. Top heart rate was 162... I rarely ever hit 142... my pace was in the 160 + range, again, higher than usual. I have changed my diet the last two weeks and am altering some of my weight training. I guess the stamina is there, I just haven't been pushing it or stretching out beforehand in the best manner, but the ability was there and it FELT GOOD to hit it!!

NOTE - MAR 29, 2009: I did check the timing on the elliptical - it was accurate! Only the second time I've hit that "runners high" but I can attest - - IT IS AWESOME!!

Frosty 5K

2009-02-28T20:32:00.004-05:00

***Registered Non-Participant due to RAIN***

Congratulations to the 218 people that chose to run in spite of the weather!

Cupid's Cup 5K

2009-02-16T08:16:00.006-05:00

This was a fun day! Ran as part of a team and our scores ranged from 31 min to 48 min finish time. I joined a very lively and very encouraging group, and for the first time ever, I actually completed a run in the rain - ugghh - but was glad I did. Of the 1500 plus registrants, 898 showed up in spite of the weather to support CMC's fundraiser. Each group had a minimum fundraising goal of $150. Our group, Cupid's Contenders, raised a total of $178.

Cupid's Contenders Team Page

I was honored to run with such a wonderful group of people and to be a part of an action aimed at supporting cardio health and wellness.

Personal Time: 48:38
Pace: 15:41

Frosty 5K McMullen Creek

2009-01-19T11:46:00.008-05:00

This event was a pleasant surprise. The trail was part gravel (more mud), part wooden bridges and part asphalt. It was also fairly level. Excellent family event and no surprises regarding the direction of the route. Timing was manual, and as is normal for manual scoring, the results were slightly higher for all. The top male score was 18:03, top female was 20:40. Appears to be a 2.5 to 3 min time difference, but still a fantastic run.

My personal time was 47:53 (I walked, price of a big dinner the night before) while my nephew shaved two minutes off of his previous score. He completed in 29:15. He is definitely on the road to more competitive timing.

I would recommend this series to anyone, especially 5K beginners. It's family friendly and a rather less complex challenge. A heartfelt thanks to CHF Magazine for sponsoring and managing the events.

Frosty 5K Walk / Run Series

Frostbite 5K

2008-12-13T12:01:00.000-05:00

Delightful day for a run. Temperatures were perfect, 60 degrees, overcast, lots of fresh air. The Kannapolis YMCA did a great job with this event and much to their own surprise, had a far greater turnout than expected. The run had a later than usual start time of 10 AM and many participants arrived at the last minute to join in. The Y has a wonderful location in a residential area of Kannapolis along with a grand park for families and children.

The route was not as flat as described in the brochure, it was quite hilly and entirely on asphalt, but, it was well directed and proved to be an excellent challenge. The police officers did an outstanding job with traffic control and with following the runners for safety measures. I am very much looking forward to future runs at the Cannon YMCA. Kannapolis has much to be proud of!

Posted Guntime: 46:34

Thunder Road / Presby Jingle Jog 5K

2008-12-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

I must say, of all the 5Ks I've participated in this year, the Thunder Road event was by far the most enjoyable. Over 6000 runners total for the three races. The courses included a full marathon, a half marathon and a 5K. Run For Your Life was in top form. Digital timers at each mile marker, well marked routes, excellent traffic control and LOADS OF FUN!!

The "Girls On The Run", a local youth organization had an enormous turnout and they were most encouraging to both watch and trail alongside. Each young lady had a mentor. Mentors were parents, friends, relatives and volunteers and each child was coached and supported throughout the entire race. They ALL ran supremely well and as one brilliant young athlete stated "We made it and we're not dead!" They met the challenge and should be most proud of themselves.

As for me personally, I have discovered what shin splints are, or at least what they can be, took me 3 or 4 races to realize it wasn't the cold weather, it was something more. Did you know a pair of running shoes averages only about 300-400 miles. Mine exceeded their odometer about a month ago and I failed to realize it, I simply thought I was growing steel beams in my lower front legs, chuckle! A new pair of Saucony's for me and I'll be good as new next race!

Personal Time: 45:34
Nephew's Personal Time: 31:12
(and it's only his second 5K!)

GO MITCH !!

Turkey Trot 5K

2008-11-27T15:58:00.007-05:00

Fabulous run! Absolutely fabulous! It had a considerable number of participants and a fantastic timing set up (velcro ankle bracelet chips). The participants were a lively, versatile group, ranging through all ages and a great many out of state residents. There were two police officers as a courtesy but due to the excellent location of the route, they were representational at best. Cones weren't used, but simple signs at each turning point. Track went through a quiet business area surrounded by distant subdivisions. Perfect for a running course. This particular excursion included a 5K, 10K and half marathon.

I must say, of all the 5Ks I've ran this year, this was the safest, most congenial route of all, and since it IS ABOUT the RUNNING, the management of the entire running element was SUPERB! I would recommend this race for anyone - family, individual, group, pro or novice - and trust that their supporters will continue to multiply at future promotions as they had very few sponsors, none of which appeared to be present for the ceremony but certainly contributed to a worthy cause.

Best wishes to Buttar.com and I look forward to more of their hosted events.

OFFICIAL TIME: 49:47

Fall Harvest Run 5K

2008-11-08T17:30:00.007-05:00

I did not run. I walked. With ATTITUDE.

My and my walking mate, I. Pod, really wanted to enlighten a few motorists.

"EVER SEEN A PEDESTRIAN BEFORE??"

Apparently, some of the local Huntersville police officers had never covered a 5K / 10K event before and they chose to allow vehicles to continue on route with runners traveling the same street. In doing so, they failed to encourage the motorists to use the opposite lane for passing - as it was clearly marked. Having a dump truck two feet behind you in the same lane, while on foot, is not the most enjoyable sporting event. While traveling uphill, through a curve and under a train trestle makes it even less appealing. It appeared that only two of the officers did not realize the importance of redirecting traffic, the others had evidently managed traffic at some time previous during their prestigious careers in the bustling metropolis of Huntersville.

This was my second run in Huntersville. The previous event was held July 4th and the route was directed very well. Not sure what went awry at this event but I trust it will be managed more appropriately in the future. My experience was minimal compared to those participating in the 10K. The longer runners had many more obstacles to overcome on this route.

There were less sponsors at this event, although it was still managed well. Realizing it was also scheduled in November, a time when many dedicated runners drop back to indoor sports as temperatures lower for the fall and winter seasons.

OFFICIAL GUNTIME: 46:56

Dowd YMCA 5K

2008-11-01T23:22:00.005-04:00

Very cool morning for a run. Trail circled Latta Park in downtown Charlotte. Course could have possibly been longer than 3.1 miles, as best scores were slightly higher than average. Still a good run. Not my personal best, hadn't run since Oct 4th Race For The Cure and the score reflected my detour into the world of mountain biking.

Time 43:40 Pace: 14:10.

Life is a Journey

Cupid's Cup 5K

49er Gold Rush 5K

CRC Winter Classic 8K

Clearwater Halfathon

St Pete Beach Classic Duo 5K & 10K

Manatee River 5 Mile Run

Last Gasp 5K

Holiday Halfathon

St Pete Women's Half Marathon

Halloween Halfathon

Runway 5K

Ace of Hearts 15K

Tampa Police Memorial 5K

Susan G Komen 5K

Ace of Clubs 10K

St Pete Beach Summer 5K Series

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

St Pete Beach Summer 5K Series

Run Thru Hell 5K

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

St Pete Beach Summer 5K Series

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

Sunsets at Pier 60 5K Series

Resolutions

St Pete Police Appreciation Run 5K

Divas & Dudes 5K

I Love "Mothers" Day 5K

Charlotte Skyline 5K

Blue Ridge Half Marathon

Beach to Bayou 5K

Robinson Preserve Twilight 5K

Florida Beach 5K

Gasparilla 5K

Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run 5K

5K Gator Bowl Run

Cold Winter's Day 5K

Mt Mourne VFD Elf Run 5K

Thunder Road Marathon - VOLUNTEER

Girls On The Run 5K

My Mantra

Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K

St Pete Women's Half Marathon

Thin Blue Line 5K

Dowd YMCA 5K

Runway 5K

GPX Lung Strong 15K

Aquesta 5K

Race for the Cure 5K

GPX Hit the Brixx 10K

Apple Festival 8K

GPX Greek Festival 5K

Soldier's Reunion 5K

Rock 'N Run 5K

GPX Blue Points / Panthers 5K

GPX RFYL 4 Miler

Are You A Race-A-Holic ?

How to score for each trip you've made in 2010~

25 points for each race that required a passport;

20 for each race that required air travel;

15 for races that required at least one night in a hotel;

5 for each race that you slept at home.

James K Polk 5K

Rabun Ramble 5K

Summer Breeze 5K

GPX King Tiger 5K

GPX Great Harvest Bread 5K

GPX Twilight 5K

Run Like a Girl 8K

GPX CPCC Skyline Run

Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon & 10K

Black Mountain Greenway 5K

Cooper River Bridge Run 10K

GPX Shamrock 4 Miler

Shamrock Shuffle 5K

Run TOO Overcome 5K

UNCC Homecoming 5K

Rock Hill Hunger Run 5K **

Matanzas 5K

Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run 5K