Northville Road Runners 8K. . . er. . .8K?

The 2008 Northville Road Runner Classic is now in the books. (For information on next years race, go to https://www.northvilleroadrunners.org/nrr/index.html )

The Northville Road Runner 8K

The race was a combination of trail and pavement, maybe 3 miles asphalt and 2 miles trail with an official total of 4.8 miles. (thats what 8K is, right.)

While the hills were nothing like the Road Ends trail race, they were still long and steep enough to get the thighs burning. More hill work on the training schedule!!

The Northville Road Runner 8K - #49

By the numbers:

a) 8K, or 4.8 miles.

b) ran at a 10:03 per mile pace, 49:43 total time (0:45:00 total time pre-race guess)

c) finished 126 out of 165 overall, so finished in the top 76% of all runners. . .

d) finished 5 out of 5 in my age group. It’s tough when the #3 overall finisher is in your age group! Definitely something to aspire to!

e) had a great time, which was the real race goal!

There are a few pictures available which I will get posted sometime.

Until the final hill is conquered,

George

Amazing Discovery made after 58 years!

Perhaps I should not admit to this, but for years I have suffered from “crooked bows”, yes, crooked bows are real and can lead to major embarrassment in social situations! I want to get the word out so that others suffering from this malady may read this, find condolence in knowing they are not alone, and may benefit from my advise on how I have finally conquered it!

Yes, it’s true after 58 long years of suffering from crooked bows I have finally resolved the knotty problem, made adjustments to my life styles, and tied a knot around the problem.

Background: For years my shoelaces have had bows that are perpendicular to normal persons shoelaces. Sad but true, with one bow laying across the laces and the other pointing the way up my leg, under my pants cuff, and in general running amok! While I never outwardly let people know how distraught this made me, inside I would cringe whenever I would notice people eying my shoes. It did not matter the brand of shoe, the type of lace, if I double knotted, or did an extra “safety twist”, the bows pointed to the North and South as surely as the best Boy Scout compass! For awhile I was saved when the popularity of Velcro replacing laces was in vogue. However as most fashion statements, it waned and with it went my self esteem again. Now only my sandals have Velcro, but they too are wearing out after years of faithful service.

The Life Style Change: As you can see from the earlier posts I have begun getting a little exercise, and part of that includes some walking and running. To do this properly I purchased some “real” running shoes. (Neutral – Cushioned as far as shoe type descriptions go. Asics Gel Nimbus 9 and 10 as for exact models.) To make sure I used the shoes to the best of their ability, which far exceeds mine, I used the internet to research some various method of lacing shoes.

The Breakthrough: As I was reviewing the different methods of lacing I tried a couple ways that looked like they were something I thought might add, or subtract actually, time from my running pace. As I was experimenting one time I tied the bow just slightly different than I ever had before, suddenly before my eyes the bows laid down, pointing perfectly due East and West as if they had been doing that for the last 42 years! I was astounded, flabbergasted one might say! How could this be, such a simple change, with such a dramatic effect. To me it measures right up there with Bells first telephone transmission, Marconi’s first wireless transmission, and maybe even Goodyear’s discovery of vulcanization!

How did I achieve this remarkable breakthrough. How has it affected my life by allowing me to mingle in social situations, be accepted by my exercise peers, brought me fortune and fame beyond my wildest dreams? Please visit the Kazology store and order a copy of “How to bilk millions achieve your Dreams”. Only a small annual recurring fee, plus appropriate charges for shipping and handling and you too can become as confident as me in nearly all social situations! If you want to run sub 3 marathons you must Act now! UnLimited copies available at this time. Offer only valid in the continental US, in states which have no Better Business Bureau, or have names beginning with the letter Z.

Caution highly detail photo may be upsetting to some people.  Fame, fortune and sub 3 marathons are within reach with these bows!

The Future: Will I ever revert back to the old bow tying method, will I have a lapse in memory and forget how I achieved this remarkable event so that it remains a mystery to me, as much as why all the Cliff Dwelling Indian’s disappeared? Only time will tell.

I feel so good in having this monkey off my back after so many years, that I felt I must get the word out to other sufferers to let them know there is a cure!

Until the final shoe is properly laced,

George

Firecracker 5K!

Just completed another 5K in downtown Ann Arbor.  This one was sponsored by “the other running store” in town, the “Tortoise and Hare” and the course was close to, but in a different direction from the other 5K course, of course.

The Toe-Jammer Running Team photographers were out in force to capture some pre-race activities as well as racing action shots!

The logo… with the tortoise ahead of the hare… naturally. The previous 5K was the “Shamrocks and Shenanigans” in March.

The official Road Ends participant T-Shirt art work.

The official 4th of July 5K bib number.


Some stats for the race:

a) 5K, or 3.1 miles.

b) ran at a 9:02 pace (28:02 total time.) Compared with March 16th pace of 10:28 (32:34 total time) of just 3.5 months ago.

c) finished 412 out of 690 overall, so finished in the top 60% of all runners.

d) finished 259 out of 353 of all males or 73%… guess this means a lot of fast men and slow women….

e) finished 13 out of 23 in my age group. So about 56% finished ahead of me…. getting better!

f) won a great “consolation prize” for finishing in the top of my age group. Maybe next time!

g) had a great time, which was the real race goal!

The total runner count.

The results of my age group.

An explosive 5K in Ann Arbor!

Until the final firecracker explodes and the final fingers are burned by a hot sparkler,

George

A “Serious Series” Adventure Part 2 of 3.

Part Two of the “Serious Series” which is sponsored by the Running Fit chain of sporting goods stores is now in the books.
The race goes by the name “Flirt with Dirt”. . . not 100% sure of what that means. Since the whole race is on dirt trails it is way more than a little “flirting”I would put it in the full fledged “Love Affair” category!

Back on April 26th ’08 I ran part one of the “Serious Series” called the “Road End’s”… that was the one with monster hills mountains that ground you to a halt and reduced me to a quivering struggling blob attempting to run up them.Well this was the next race in the series. The goal is to enter . . . and finish . . . all three of them. In doing so I may get a certificate “suitable for framing” proving I actually am running these races, not just going to the pool hall on Saturday mornings.


Okay, so I tweaked it a little by cutting in half and stacking it up so it fits better..

The weather did not look to promising as there were heavy thunder-boomers inthe area much of Friday, so I already was anticipating having some soggy feet. . . something I have been getting more of lately. The up side is that it is not thawed slush like it was for several months during the winter. . . that was cold! and is actually somewhat nice to cool down the toes when it is 85+ degrees with 80%+ humidity levels the way it has been lately. The down side is that it seems to make the shoes weigh about five pounds each!

Not only did I get in a great trail run (all 6.2 miles worth) I added another T-Shirt to the small, but growing, collection.

The official


Some stats for the race:
Some Stats for the Race:

a) 10K, or 6.2 miles.

b) ran at a 11:46 pace (1:13:01 total time) Dang, this really sucks!

c) finished 311 out of 374 overall, so finished in the top 80% of all runners. . . and this really sucks worst ever.

d) finished 13 out of 15 in my age group. So about 85% finished ahead of me…. getting better? Not hardly!!

e) had a great time, which was the real race goal!

The course is at Lakeshore Park in Novi Michigan, and while it is definitely in town, it is fairly large and secluded.
I had visited this park a month ago for a “fun run” on my own just to see what it would be like. (Hmmm.. seems like I remember “racing the rain” that day also, getting back to the carjust before the clouds opened up!) Actually I ended up running more than I planned since I could not find my way back out of the park for awhile! I ended up*GASP* asking somepeople walking what was way back to the parking lot! Maybe a good thing I did since I had already passed the branching trail which went back and was heading off into the middle of thepark again! Needless to say there are a lot of closely packed trails, some marked bike only, some walking/hiking/running only, and I swear someone rotated the sign posts by 90 degrees in several places!

It appears to normally be a real hang out for the off road bikers.
They have log bridges to cross ravines with, and lots of narrow twisting paths so they can collide head on with very solid trees get through the course in the least possible time. There are not the monster “never ending grades” that the “Road End’s” race had, fortunately, but still a lot of up’s and down’s to take the wind out of one’s sails, so to speak. One thing I did not anticipate was the mud! Slipping, sliding, weighing the shoes down, oh my.

Now on to train for the third part of the series “The Legend” which actually leaves me a little bewildered, and with a question on my mind. What was “The Legend” called in the early days before it became a legend…. I always thought something became a legend some time after it happened, or it “earned” the title of a legend.
“The Legend” will be run at Laingsford, up near Lansing Michigan on August 2, 2008.

See part one of the three part race series at:

“The Road Ends 5 Mile Trail Race” also billed as “No Wimps Allowed!”
race in Pinckney Michigan.

Until the final hill is conquered,

Mackinaw Bridge 5 Mile Run

Saturday May 24th, at a bright and early 5 am was the Mackinaw bridge 5 mile race.

Mackinaw Bridge Run 2008

Bright and early and 38 degrees out made for a quick race – because I just wanted to get back into a warm bed
and sleep! See some photos of me trying to get to the end and back to bed!

Some stats for the race:

  • a) Start time: 5:38 am
  • b) Start temperature 38 degrees Farenheit
  • c) a 5 mile run
  • d) finished 248 out of 345 male entrants (72% finished ahead of me)
  • e) finished 31 out of 40 in my age group (77.5% finished ahead of me)
  • f) finished 370 out of 611 total finishers. (finished in the top 60% overall)
  • g) had a 9:38 pace (48:12 total time)
  • h) had a great time, and chalked up another new PR for a 5 mile! Hey, five races, five new personal records, what’s so hard about this? ?????? ??????

Some general observations. Based on the numbers above you can tell this is a
community of older people… and apparently fairly fit. The participation in the
older age groups is very high compared to Ann Arbor races. Realizing I am
certainly not the faster runner, I still fared much worse, especially in my age
group, than in prior races! With almost 78% of the men in my division finishing
ahead of me, this may be the lowest finishing place yet! Compare this to the overall
finish where I finished in the top 60% and you can see the difference.

The race was fun, a great workout for the legs and lungs! That long grade to
the crest really made the thighs work.

This was followed by three days of sight seeing in the area where we had a
great time.

Note that within hours of finishing this 5 mile race we were on Mackinaw
Island where we rented bikes and rode around the island, and into the interior
to see some others sites, such as Sugar Loaf mountain hill rock pile, we did not get to see on the carriage ride. So we
figured we rode at least 14 miles, then we also walked for hours around town, up to and through fort, and to various ice cream shops, etc.

Now into “training” for the second part of the “Serious Series” 10K (6.2 mile)
trail run June 14th.!

Until the Mackinaw Bridge comes falling down,

Dart Frog Dash 5K at the Toledo Zoo

Tomorrow isThe other day was the next race, down in Toledo Ohio. The “The Dart Frog Dash” so named (I think) in honor of the new exhibit at the Toledo Zoo – which is the site of the 5K race.” at the Toledo Zoo.

Hopefully I will be able to “jump” right on this and get the results posted.

Dart Frog Dash

The race went well, and I finished within my goal time. But did I set a new PR? That remains to be seen!

Some stats for the race:

  • a) a quick “jump” at the start got me going
  • b) things got really “hopping” at the 2 mile point
  • c) a 5K (3.1 miles)
  • d) finished 206 out of 344 male entrants (60% finished ahead of me)
  • e) finished 11 out of 20 in my age group (55% finished ahead of me)
  • f) finished 326 out of 737 total finishers. (finished in the top 44% overall)
  • g) had a 9:08 pace (28:18 total time)
  • h) had a great time, and chalked up another new PR for a 5K! Hey, four races, four new personal records, what’s so hard about this?

Until the the last person feels “froggy”,