Step 3 Done – Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K

I am sure everyone is waiting to see the final results of the inaugural 5K race, well not so much “race” as a fast trot…..

I guess the good news, I did not stop, I did not walk, I did finish, I did not finish last even! (Sam I am…) I did not have any unpleasant medical issues which is always a nice thing.
There was a total of sixteen runners in my age group, I managed a twelfth place. There were 899 finishers and I made a 696 overall. (It looked like about 1100 entries, so some either never showed up, or quit before they went through the timing gates.) I could whine about the crowded start, being almost two blocks behind before I even crossed the start line, but I’m not gonna. I am going to mark that up to lessons learned and future race strategy. I was hoping they would have a chip timed start but it was not, but rather a “gun start”. That’s okay, just makes it easier to improve in the next race.

The Infamous Purdue University Toe-JammersTM team lives on! After a recent resurgence in activity by the Toe-JammersTM they have worked to regain the old Esprit de corps, coming out of retirement to continue on the proud tradition.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Some other numbers, my average pace was a blistering 10:28/mile (Odd they run all races in metric but always give the times in miles, especially since you have to deal with that little nagging extra “.11 miles” somehow.
Total time was 32:34, which is a new PR! Like I said in the previous post… it is the first 5K I have ever run so it HAS to be a new PR.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.

The official photographer was on hand to capture a number of thrilling action shots which have been posted on the web site.

The motivations for entering this 5K were:

  1. have fun
  2. do something different
  3. see how I compare against other runners
  4. finish – not first, but not last so call it a personal challenge
  5. set a benchmark to gauge future efforts against

I feel good about the goals, and think I met all of them.
Now the big decision. I made the 5K okay by my current standards. Coming up is the Martian Meteor, which is a 10K. I have looked and I think my times will keep me at least within reason, certainly not gonna be first, but think I would not be last either.
Have to try a few more 6.2 mile runs before I commit though.

Okay, I think that is about it, looking at the picture above I think I am gonna head out to the running shop now and pick up some of those man-tights to wear. The old sweats are sorta baggy… they look like they belong in the original Toe-JammersTM locker room.

Until the final event goes into the books,

Step 2 Done – Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K Race

Okay, one step left – go to the race.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Saturday, 22 hours to go…. went and picked up pre-race package which included the official T-Shirt and number. Only thing left is to get there on time tomorrow and pick up the timing chip then get in line.

Step 1 Done – Shamrocks and Shenanigans 5K

Well, if I needed motivation, the entry fee has been sent in.
Have successfully managed to go the 5K (3.1 mile) distance non-stop on a couple of occasions now, so there is hope I can at least finish the race.

It is almost guaranteed that I won’t be in first place at the end

It is almost guaranteed that I won’t be in first place at the end, even in my age group. (Unless of course no one else shows up!) BUT no matter what happens I am guaranteed a “PR” or Personal Record for the event AND all time 5K record pace!

(Only because I have
a) never run this event before
b) have never even run a 5K before!)

Hey, take the motivation where you can find it!

Until the final blister heals,

California ’08

I just returned from a week in California. Not sure what to think of the whole experience.
1. It was 20 degrees F when I left Michigan
2. It was 75 degrees F when I arrived in California
3. It was 75 degrees F when I left California
4. It was 15 degrees F when I arrived back in Michigan with a summer jacket and a car in the far end of the parking area at 6 am.
Verdict: The weather in California is fantastic compared to Michigan.

1. In Michigan I nearly chipped a tooth on the drive to the airport when slamming into a pot hole the size of a Volkswagen.
2. I do not remember a single pot hole the entire time in California.
Verdict: The roads in California far surpass Michigan.

1. I ran 85 MPH all the way down I-94 to the airport in Michigan
2. I only had dreams about going over 40 MPH in California
Verdict: The traffic really sucks in California. Even on 10 lane roads it was really bad within 30 miles of LA.

1. The sun was shinning and bright reflecting off the snow in Michigan
2. The sun was shinning and bright reflecting off the water and sand at the beaches in California
Verdict: No comparison to bright sun on sand and bikinis compared to snow and snowsuits!

1. I can barely pay for gas in Michigan
2. I can even more barely pay for gas in California
Verdict: The cost of living is way to high in California.

Overall: California is the place to be… if you can afford it and have lots of time to get around.

Okay, enough.
It was a great week, accomplished the goals at work, and got to enjoy the town in my down time.

Visited some running stores (Road Runner Sports and A Snails Pace). Road Runner has “Shoe Dog” system where they have a pressure pad to see the sole of your foot (arches, etc.) and then a video camera pointed at a tread mill where they analyze your foot falls while running. Interesting to be able to see your foot “at speed” but in very slow motion. The system then pretty much shows if you are a “pronator” or not, and the flexing in the archilles tendon, etc. Ended up with a new pair of shoes and some “Superfeet” green insoles. Have put about 20 miles on them already and they do seem comfortable. I think the old Adidas with 600+ miles on them are now offically retired to the “wear for household chores” pile.

Also saw a number of educational attractions as well as tourist spots such as Graumans Chinese theater and the Kodak Theatre in downtown Hollywood. A whole story here too! (Basically to me it was all “Hollywood theatrics” since the area is very small and not really much there other than pan-handlers)

Visited “the Getty” and got a years worth of culture, Degas, Monets, Picasso’s and other famous paintings and art work. Actually I was just as impressed by the building. It is pretty amazing and the view of the city equally so.

Got hot dogs at “Pinks” just off La Brea and Jody Maroni’s at Venice Beach. Saw a few muscle heads at Muscle Beach, but mostly I think they were crack heads, and street performers/pan-handlers.

Was a week early for the return of the sparrows to San Juan Capistrano, but enjoyed the mission/museum and just walking in the sun and warm weather.

Got to see Saturns rings through the 12 inch telescope at “Griffith Observatory, a beloved icon of Los Angeles and world leader in public astronomy. Since 1935, the Observatory has given tens of millions of visitors the opportunity to become observers.” The observatory was completely remodeled starting in 2002, costing $93 million, and on November 3, 2006 Building reopened to the public. Very nice indeed.

The final highlight, I visited “Le Brea Tar Pits“. Funny how things stick in your mind. I remembered wayyyy back (1959-1963) to The Dobie Gillis Show, where Maynard G. Krebbs and Dobie were at the tar pits for some reason… meeting Zelda there I assume and something happened to Maynard (later to become Gilligan). At the time I thought they were making the tar pits very small just for the TV stage…. well as it turns out some of the pits are actually very small, as in just a few yards across.

So went the week, caught the “red eye” back to Michigan, leaving at 9 PM, arriving at 6 AM bleary eyed and with a very sore behind! (yeah, the flight is only 4 hours, add three hours for time zone hopping.) Still, it is equivalent to leaving at 1:30 AM Michigan time. Next week heading the other way, into Ontario.

Should be lots of pictures out there before long. And as promissed they are, so you can check them out now.

Until the surf freezes,

George

Optimistic or Realistic – time will tell.

If you have been reading the Kazology posts all along, especially those on some of the trips, you will know I have made comments about being out of shape. For example when I visited Canadas Jasper and Elk Island Parks. I had pretty much the same reactions in Yosemite and Sequoia parks. Feeling really out of shape after these experiences – you know the 82 year old that blew by me hiking in Jasper . . . I started to get a little more exercise. When it seemed like I may stick with it more than two days, I bought a pedometer. As many newer technological devices this one downloads into software on the PC. So I am pretty confident when I say since August 2007 I have logged over 600 miles walking and jogging.  (I do not count regular walking in this, only “exercise” time. ) I could go on about all the aches and pains I went through getting started, but that isn’t why I was writing this. After six months of pretty regular workouts I am thinking about trying a 5K race in March 2008. Ann Arbor has a “Shamrocks and Shenanigans” 5K that may be the inaugural Kazology sponsored race (or leisurely stroll . . . time will tell.)

Until the final blister heals,

Adding a “Teaser” to the Archived Post Listing.

Well, since I could not get the “the_excerpt” function to work properly, apparently there is a conflict with one of my other plugins. I do not want to deactivate any of the others I am using, but it was giving me the full post contents everytime including pictures, etc. so it was creating a HUGE page!

it was giving me the full post contents everytime including pictures, etc. so it was creating a HUGE page

I have now activated the excerpt and added them to the archives page. I think it adds to it, so you can see a little bit about the post rather than just the title the “Teaser” if you will. I would like to get the formatting to not skip a line (using <br>) which would condense it a little further. Also need to add some page breaks. But overall I am happy with the results.

This seems like the best way to let a user browse the old postings without resorting to a search… since they may not know what they are searching for. Hopefully a good excerpt will pique the readers interest enough to go to the post and read it. We’ll see what happens.

Expect an excerpt until the exceptions are resolved,