United States Air Force (Half) Marathon

Posted on September 22, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

The United States Air Force in Dayton Ohio held the 13th annual Marathon weekend September 19, 2009.

This was the first time I ever ran the race. I debated for awhile whether to run in this race or the Fort For Fitness the following weekend. Dayton appeared to be a fairly flat course and I was unsure about the Fort4Fitness course. The other reason was they had pace teams for the half marathon that you could join. Since my goal was to try and get under two hours I elected to try Dayton and go with a pace team. Main reason I wanted under a two hour time was to try and get a better starting position in an upcoming race.

At the start I was pretty fresh, and ready to roll and hung with the 9:10 pace for about 4.5 miles, then I gave out. It was just a little to ambitious I guess.

It didn’t take to long to discover that I wasn’t ready to maintain this pace for the distance. Dropped down the pace a bit, but it was to late, the legs had already gone south. I kept hobbling on to the end, but not all that happy with the time. Out of the three half’s I have run this was the slowest.

Still, it was fun. A night at the top of the line Super 8 hotel only about two miles from the race. My photographer learned how to use the “continuous” mode on the camera so got a good series of the finish line, including the good shot with the finishing time showing.

They gave out a really nice finishers medal, some day going to have to do something with them other than toss them into the shoe box.

Some stats for the race:

a) 13.1 Miles
b) finished 2132 out of 3839 overall
c) finished 61 out of 114 in my age group.
d) finished 1347 out of 1930 men.
e) had a 10:26 pace, 2:16:29 total. (Definitely not a PR.)
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!

You can view all the photos if you are tired of watching the grass grow.

Until the Sky’s of blue are no more,

George

The Legend 2009, a 10 Mile Trail Race

Posted on August 9, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

The final race in the “Serious Series” is “The Legend” a ten mile trail race North of Lansing Michigan in Laingsburg. A challenging course, and at ten miles not necessarily a short one!

This is my second running of the race, but the first time I did the ten mile race. Last year I did the 5 mile, and what a difference that makes… well I guess it is twice the distance.

At the start I was pretty fresh, and ready to roll.

The smug look of knowing you are going to eat up the rest of the field… again, before the race.

But when it is all over the results don’t reflect what the plan was. Was a little disappointed in the results, but still I had a good time. I did compare my split time to the 5 Mile results.. I would have placed much higher in the five mile… apparently (as is usual) the people that can really run enter the longer races, so my finish place falls rapidly.

The back of the race tee shirt. And if you click on it you will see the front.

Some stats for the race:

a) 10 Miles
b) finished 330 out of 415 overall
c) finished 11out of 13 in my age group.
d) finished 214 out of 241men.
e) had a 10:52 pace, 1:48:43 total. (I guess it was still a pr for this distance… only because it is the first 10 mile distance.)
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!

You can view all the photos if is it a boring afternoon.

Until the legend is debunked on Snopes,

George

Solstice 10K Race in Northfield Michigan June 27, 2009

Posted on August 9, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

The Northville Road Runners sponsor the “Solstice Race” which has both a 5K and a 10K road race. The feature this year is the start of the race in a lap of Northville Downs a sulky racing horse track.

I entered the 10K (6 miles) race just because it sounded like a good idea at the time.

The course starts with a lap around the horse track, and that is just about the only flat place on the course! It goes through a couple residential neighborhoods, and then through downtown Northville and into Ford Field a local park. Using the data created by my Garmin FR305, downloaded into Sports Tracks, then saved as a jpg file, shows the course winding around from the track, through the neighborhoods and then back through town.

An elevation map, not the biggest hills ever, but enough to let you know they are there.

The final results.

You can see the full details on the running stats web page.

Some photos of the race and Northville Michigan.

Until the final nag in in the stable at the end of the race,
George

Flirt with Dirt – 2009 Running

Posted on June 23, 2009July 31, 2022 by GeorgeK

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!

You can see the full details on the running stats web page.

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. ???? 21

Until the final muddy trail is run,
George

Dexter to Ann Arbor Half Marathon

Posted on June 10, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

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.

You can see the full details on the running stats web page.

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

The “Flying Pig” Marathon – Cincinnati Ohio

Posted on May 6, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

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.

You can see the full details on the running stats web page.

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