Running Fit sponsors the “Serious Series” of three trail races every year. The second race in the series is the “Flirt with Dirt” held in Novi Michigan’s Lake Shore Park. This is a nice 10K run though the woods, with some hills, but no killers like the Roads End held earlier this year!

“A few photos from the race.” The Chief Photographer got a few long range photos as I made the first loop around

the area then got in place for the struggle up the hill to the finish line!

Some stats for the race:
a) 6.1 Miles
b) finished 200 out of 600 overall
c) finished 6 out of 8 in my age group.
d) finished xx out of 130 men.
e) had a 9:44 pace, 1:00:31 total. (Not a pr for this distance… but the hills, the hills…)
f) You can see the full details on the running stats web page.
h) had a great time - which is always the goal right?… Right!

The course starts with a nice downhill for 50 yards, loops the soccer field, through the parking lot and then into the woods. In the woods a lot of the trail is definately single track

where passing is very difficult. People get impatient with slower people, but finally get around to pass… me I’m normally happy coasting along until there is enough trail width for me

to sort of slowly creep by the slower person. Doesn’t happen to often though.

Until the final muddy trail is run,
George

Every year the Ann Arbor Track Club holds the “The Dexter to Ann Arbor Half Marathon” race from Dexter Michigan to Ann Arbor.

The Team ToeJammer Bib.

“A few photos from the race.” The photo crew had to hustle from the drop off in Dexter back to Ann Arbor to get set up for finish line photos. The good news is that with my speed they did not have to rush to fast…. actually had time to do some shopping before I got there!

They present the finishers with a nice medal.

Some stats for the race:
a) 13.1 Miles
b) finished 1738 out of 2424 overall
c) finished 51 out of 88 in my age group.
d) finished 111 (? this can’t be correct) out of 1378 men.
e) had a 9:33 pace, 2:05:20 total.
f) You can see the full details on the running stats web page.
h) had a great time - which is always the goal right?… Right!

The course starts at high school in Dexter winds through town, then runs along the river until you get to Ann Arbor. Mostly gently rolling hills, until you get to A2 and the final hill leading to the finish line.

Until I breeze up hills like they weren’t there,
George

Down near the bottom of Ohio, in Cincinnati they have a spring marathon every year. “The Flying Pig Marathon” also billed as “The funnest marathon in North America!” race in Cincinnati Ohio. This year I ran the Flying Pig half marathon for the first time.

Some scenes from the race.

With almost 9,000 people it is crowded at the start, they were lined up far behind me…..

…. and I was not close to the starting line! Far off in the distance ahead of me was the starting line.

“At the end of the race everyone got their finishers medal, which you can see in the photo album”, and then an insulating blanket to keep the chill off while you were cooling down. I disposed of mine to early! A 3/4 mile walk back to the car from the finish line while I was still sweaty did get a little cool, but not all that bad either.

I am not sure why everyone else lined up to get their sneakers shined after the race, but I started to bypass this activity, then noticed they were also cutting off the timing chip. I decided I would go ahead and let them do it so I would not have to chew it off with my teeth later.

Some stats for the race:
a) 13.35 Miles, not just 13.1 (see text)
b) finished 3002 out of 8577 overall
c) finished 58 out of 162 in my age group.
d) finished 1674 out of 3120 men.
e) had a 9:56 pace, 2:09:57 total.
f) had a split time (6.8 mile mark) of 1:08:50 so did a “negative split”.
g) You can see the full details on the running stats web page.
h) had a great time - which is always the goal right?… is spite of the legs of lead at the end

During a race I periodically check the distance and pace on my Garmin FR 305. Several miles into the race I noticed an “error” show up between the signs on the race course and the distance shown on the watch. Every mile was marked with a digital timer beside the road, and ever mile on the half mile were the water tables. Suddenly the watch started showing the mile half way between the water stop and the digital timer. I couldn’t figure out what happened, but assumed the watch someone added some distance. After I noticed the change it stayed very consistent through the remaining miles. When I returned home and was looking for the results I found the following announcement!

Mystery solved, the accuracy of the Garmin remains unquestioned.

The course starts at the stadium in Cincinnati, crosses a bridge into Kentucky, then back into Ohio before winding around the local streets.. The “hills” are bridges and overpasses, except the one street which seems to grind on and on for a mile or more before there is a long down hill relief.

Until the final “Never ending Grade” is conquered,
George

Every year the local Running Fit stores hold what is called “The Road Ends 5 Mile Trail Race” also billed as “No Wimps Allowed!” race in Pinckney Michigan. This is the short version of the Trail Marathon and half marathon held the following day at the same location.

Some stats for the race:
a) 5 Miles, not a 5K
b) finished 325 out of 467
c) finished eight out of eleven in my age group.
d) finished 194 out of 238 men.
e) had a 11:16 pace (56:21) compared to (55:44 last year)
g) had a great time - which is always the goal right?… Right! ….er, of course it is.

The course is at the State Park in Pinckney Michigan. The area is relatively hilly, and the course takes great advantage of that. There are a couple gentle hills to sort of warm up on, and then a couple monster “never ending grades” that make the thighs burn and the lungs ache!

Until the final hill is conquered,
George

My first half marathon is now history and in the books.

The weather was great for a race, cool enough to be comfortable (34), but not so cool as to be frosty either. They said it was a slightly revised course this year, but since I had never run the half before (did the 10K in 2008) it was all new to me except a few parts both races share.

They always play up the Martian UFO angle putting out a lot of advertising like this full size poster.

The shirt is always unique and has won awards for design of running shirts.

The front side shows the hairy alien inside.

While the back has the “friendly” alien coming out.

The finishers get a medal, along with the free sore legs, for their effort.

The official Team ToeJammer Bib.

And the stats associated with the run.

Some stats for the race:
a) 13.1 Miles (Half Marathon)
b) Finished 1053 out of 1762 overall
c) Finished 31 out of 58 in my age group.
d) Had a 9:35 pace (2:05:26.2 total time)
e) Had a great time, even got a new 13.1 M PR (Ok, it had to be a PR!)

Until the final UFO is sighted,
George

The second annual running of the Running Fit “Shamrocks and Shenanigans” race, 2009 edition is now history and in the books.

The weather was great for a race, cool enough to be comfortable, but not so cool as to be frosty either. A new course this year eliminated the previous years four lap race, only two now, much better.

Some stats for the race:
a) 5K
b) Finished 582 out of 1666 overall
c) Finished 9 out of 29 in my age group.
d) Had a 8:38 pace (26:48 total time)
e) Had a great time, even got a new 5K PR.

Until the last Lucky Charm’s box is stolen by the leprechaun,
George