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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.

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