Skip to main content

Goodfellow Hot Chocolate Run


Hey!  I did a small race today (OK, I started writing this the same day, just publishing it a day later after finishing up).  Well, I didn't exactly race, I but I did go run.  I mean, there was free hot chocolate, so how could I not?  The base sporadically has fun runs and, as leader of the burgeoning "Make Goodfellow Great" Run Club, I should probably be there.  I signed up a few weeks ago and there were already 45 people signed up.  Due to the freezing temperatures... maybe 25 showed up.  We here in San Angelo are not exactly used to temperatures below 50 degrees, so it wasn't a big surprise that there was such a small turnout.

  Most of the runners appeared to be students.  I mean, what better would they have to do on a late Saturday morning?  Anyway, checked in with the Marine PFCs (who were a little surprised that an NCO was actually there running), picked out my complimentary mug, and headed to the starting area for our route and safety briefing.  What is a military-run activity without a safety briefing?  Since I didn't plan on racing, and I hadn't completely finished my 3 mile warm up (ran 2.5 on the treadmill before braving the cold) I hung in the back, planning on starting slowly.  I DID make a rookie mistake by not having my iPod ready to go so this picture happened:



















After that I took off, at an easy pace to do my last tempo workout before the Houston Marathon next weekend.  I was happy to see other Team RWB members out there like Kelly and Mari, although I didn't see Kelly until after the race.  They used the 3.3 mile run as the finish to their 16 mile run.  Again, why not if you get free hot chocolate at the end?
Hey, wait!
After we took off, Mila smartly got back in the truck and kept warm.  Therefore, I don't have any more pics of the race.  I'll have to wait and see if any pop up on Facebook.
The course wound through the base with Marines and Airmen volunteering as road guards for us.  It was a nice little tour of the base with my favorite part being the run past the historic fire fighting equipment.  After finishing my speed bursts I settled in to my marathon pace and cheered on the young soldiers that ended up passing me.  It was nice to comfortably finish without worrying or caring what place I was in or my final time.

After the race, there was lots of hot chocolate to be had.  A young Marine took home (to his dorm room) the 1st place plaque, but I'm not sure who the first place female was.  I did get three more to sign up for the Run Club.  Really, what I'd love to do is have a GAFB race team showing up to local races rocking some team shirts (Huarache Turbo, of course) and supporting each other.  We'll see if we can get enough interest to start that.  All in all, the race was a good time with great volunteers and as nice a course as you can get on base.  I don't know what place I came in, nor do I much care.  It was to get some training in and, you know, free hot chocolate.


As I was looking at the 17 FSS' Facebook, I cam across these pics from their Jingle All the Way 5k (and one from my own Facebook).

One final thing - a video on the joys of running from Youtube personality "Wheezy Waiter" presented by John Green.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fanciness, gardens, and you're a guey

 Day 4 was "supposed" to take place mainly outside. The forecast called for rain most of the day and, well, it looked like we would be running ourselves ragged to make the self-imposed time hacks. So, we made a little adjustment. We still decided to go to a couple different gardens. However, we needed breakfast first (let's be honest, it was second breakfast for this hobbit). We went to Confiteria La Ideal for a fantastic breakfast. I had thought it was a smaller place to grab a coffee and snack and then be on our way. However, we walked in and realized it's not that type of spot. The cafe originally opened in 1912 and was long considered the best example of porteno (coming from Buenos Aires) gastronomy for the best part of the 20th century. They closed their doors in 2016 but reopened in 2022 after a massive restoration project.  We also saw that we were way underdressed. Luckily, we could play the ignorant tourist card and, if need be, I could always speak horrendou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Surprise!

I was sitting in an awards ceremony the other day and one of the "get to know you" questions asked of the awardees was "what is your dream job?" (odd thing to ask at a work awards ceremony, but I  wasn't the one asking) Me being me, I spent the majority of the rest of the ceremony pondering this question. and, of course clapping at the proper intervals. Of course This is also coming as I am closing in on retirement, possibly as early as the summer of 2028. Only three years to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I came up with two possibilities, specific to the caveat that money does not enter into the equation - travel blogger and/or history podcaster. As my 8ish faithful readers can tell you, I'm not the most consistent travel blogger out there. On the other hand, do we really need another millennial dude talking into a microphone and telling everyone he knows "Hey bro, you should listen to my podcast"? So, here's what I'm going t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hot Hot Heat and doing some exploring in San Angelo

As I've posted previously, I started my heart rate zone training on Monday.  For the next few months I will be only doing training in the aerobic zone.  Well, except for next weekend's Beach to Bay Relay 6th leg.  Don't worry guys, I'll still push it for that leg, after doing the 5th leg with Mila.  What I have discovered is how hard it is, at my fitness level, to keep my heart rate in range when the temperature goes up.  Both times I have tried to run 4 or more miles in 90+ heat, it ended up being disastrous.  Tuesday, I had an hour and fifteen minute run in the 93 degree heat.  I expected it to be slow, but I was hoping for six miles.  I ended up with 5 on the nose.  After the third mile, I ended up in a tough spot.  Walking, even as quickly as I could, ended up dropping my heart rate too much.  Conversely, jogging, even as slow as I possibly could (13:30ish), for more than 30 seconds would bump me above my range.  I ended up...
Post a Comment
Read more