Tag Archives: Michigan

Holiday Hustle 5K – 2009 Dexter Michigan

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This weekend was the Dexter Michigan “Holiday Hustle” put on by Running Fit. (The local running supplies store here in Ann Arbor.) A nice brisk day of 28 degrees greeted the runners and kept everyone from getting overheated. Starting right in the  center of downtown at the gazebo the couse then winds through some of the nearby housing additions and loops back on itself to the finish line. A few short but steep hills on the way, but they are short enough as to not present that much of a challenge.

This year the race had over 1200 entries, (and finishers) while last years results list only 658 finishers, so it is rapidly growing in popularity. I got out pretty strong and avoided the real crush of traffic and managed an 8 minute first mile. (Way to fast for me, but since it was only a 5K managed to hang on to the end anyway.) The overall time of 26:32 is a new PR by about 16 seconds over the 2009 spring race. May have to start doing a little more (some, any) speed training if I want to keep getting PR’s at this distance.

Lots of people dressed up for the event, including Santa’s, Mrs Santa’s, lots of reindeer and one very complete Christmas tree! The race did sort of go to the dogs, since there hey were more people running with their pets than any other race I remember. Maybe since it is shorter and also was very cool they thought the dogs could handle it better. The pets didn’t cause any problems that I saw anyway, unlike the runner who stopped short right at the starting line to retrieve a glove she dropped causing a lot of evasive maneuvering on the part of the people behind her trying to break out of the starting gate!

The usual photography team accompanied me to the race and took a lot of excellent photos before, during and after the race.

“The Holiday Hustle 5K 2009 Photo Album is complete!”

The official bib number.
The Holiday Hustle 5K 2009 bib.

The start of the race, off like a herd of turtles!

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The race almost doubled in size since last year, with over 1200 runners.

…. and I made it to the finish.
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Some results, sixth out of 18 in my age group.

The official final stats.

The official final stats.

    • …. and this breaks down into these numbers for the race:

 

    • a) 5 kilometers = 3.1 Miles

 

    • b) finished 402 out of 1237 overall in the 5K. (Top 32.5%)

 

    • c) finished 6 out of 18 in my age group – M60-64. (33.3%)

 

    • d) finished 249 out of 483 men. (51.5%)

 

    • e) had a 8:30 pace, 26:23 total chip time.

 

    • 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!

Until “The Hustle” becomes a Waltz,

George

The Legend 2009, a 10 Mile Trail Race

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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!

The Legend Publicity Flyer

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 Start of The Legend

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

The Start of The Legend

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 Final Results

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

The Legend Tee Shirt

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

Dexter to Ann Arbor Half Marathon

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

The AATC

The Team ToeJammer Bib.

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“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.

 The racers all get a shiny medal for their mettle.

The official final stats.

    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

Road Ends 5 Mile – 2009 Running

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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.

The Team Toe-Jammer Bib #145.

The start line before and after!

    • 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

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

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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