Uhhh... Ooops

I ran two races in the last week or so and committed a couple major errors that can be boiled down to the same thing - poor preparation. 

A face only a Mila could love.  One of my lunch time heat runs hoping to get ready for the summer heat

The San Angelo Relay For Life was Friday May 11th at the Spur Arena here in San Angelo.  The Spur Arena looks like where they have rodeo events also.  (Not Mila's thing so I've not gone)  Relay For Life San Angelo was able to raise over $188,000 for cancer research, $8,000 over their goal.  Team RWB hosted the Pia Cullens Memorial 5k race, with Tim Smith heading it up.  Pia was a Team RWB member that unfortunately lost her battle with cancer last year.  I only got to meet her a couple times but she was pleasant to talk to.  Her husband Bill is a retired sports writer for the San Angelo Express Times and it's an honor when he compliments my blog.  He can be seen all over San Angelo every weekend on his bike or at the local trail races even in his 70s!!).  Since they've both meant so much to our local RWB chapter, Tim wanted to dedicate this race to Pia.

 The relay was in full swing when we got there.  The stadium was pretty full and there were all sorts of teams there walking, running, and raising money together.  It was powerful.  I did a warmup lap on the indoor track, realizing that my Garmin wasn't going to be able to capture the start of the race.  Just before the race was to start, Mila asked me to run with her instead of running alone.  The two women that might have come and run with her had both mysteriously come down with headaches.

Ruck Justin, Ruck!

Just before race time, Tim got on the mic to give directions.  I promise that I tried to listen.  I just couldn't hear anything.  I also hadn't taken a look at the course map beforehand.  Can you guess my mistake for this race?  We did a lap on the track then out the door to the parking lots for the rest of the course.  Mila wasn't really shooting for a PR, just to run without stopping, but she started very well.  It was warm, but not too crazy hot.  We got into a groove following the people in front of us but started to notice some irregularities after about a half of a mile.  The kid in front (who will likely be in the top 3 in the upcoming San Angelo 5k rankings) was running against traffic.  This caused me to think that maybe it was an out and back course for a couple minute before realizing that he was alone in his venture.  We came through the finish line (figuring it was a multi loop course and we were still following the crowd) at 1.25 miles with Mila still running pretty strongly.  Tim dashed my dreams when he told me we weren't winning and that Jen was, yet again, kicking my ass.  (When doesn't she though?)  We came through the finish line again at about 2.2 miles and I assumed we were supposed to go out on a 3rd loop.  However, we were detained and told we were done with the race.  Yay?  I mean, Mila was happy with being done because she was getting tired.  She WAS likely to have a better time than her last 5k but she was also OK with cutting it short.  Seconds after we finished, Cary Johansen came flying through the finish line.  We were at 24:27 so I figured that Cary must have found a full 5k to run.  There was some confusion at the finish line as runners tried to figure out where we should have run and who actually ran a 5k.  Most of us had about 2.2 on our GPS watches.  Cary had realized that he went the wrong way and "just ran around the parking lot until my watch beeped for 3 miles."  He was getting his money's worth.  Luckily, it seemed that everyone realized the real reason why we were there and there didn't seem to be much of a scandal.  Tim told me later that the course had been well marked and set up for the glow run later but 1) the wind got hold of his markings and 2) the glow sticks weren't bright enough to catch our attention.
Like I said, we were there to raise money for ACS and have some fun, so mission accomplished.  Plus we somehow, someway got 3rd in our divisions AND some really comfortable race shirts.

Photo Courtesy of Mila Boyce

On Wednesday, 15 May, the San Angelo Crime Stoppers hosted the Running with the Blue 5k as a fundraiser for the San Angelo Police Department.  It was part of the larger police week activities.  Blanca organized it last year so I was there for sure.  This year, she wasn't, and I'd largely forgotten about it.  At the last minute, I saw some ads and decided that since Mila was working that night and I needed to get in some speed work, I might as well.  During the day, forecasts were calling for thunderstorms so I decided to play it by ear.  Getting home from work after 5, the forecast looked good so I decided to head on out over there.

ready?

 It was hot.  Made me think of Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam.  Hot and sticky.  About 90 degrees and, I think, 9,000% humidity.  The storm clouds were threatening but they really looked like it was going to make it rainy during the race, not getting struck in the face by lightning. 

There was a large RWB contingent here and, after registering, we got together to make fun of George being in cargo shorts, not running shorts.  We did forget to take the traditional pre-race pic though.

participants and volunteers getting ready

The lovely and talented Blanca with her flag

The course is a San Angelo favorite, leaving the police station to follow the river walk for a mile and a half.  A simple out and back course. 
When I got to the parking spot, I spent 10 mintues freaking out not being able to find my wallet.  Apparently, it had fallen back behind my seats in the truck and Caesar, my 36 lb chimpanzee head that I keep back there, had rolled on it and covered it.  I registered, said hi to my RWB folks and tried in vain to find a bathroom.  Had to run to a porta potty but not toilet paper.  Now you've probably figured out the mistake I made for this race.  Same problem as I had during the Cowtown Marathon.  I decided to just run the race and hope it went well.  My goal, taking in account the heat and being out of shape   was 23:30. 

Trying to catch Tim (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

wow... that's a good face (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

Chief! (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

I'm flying! (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

Shannon is such a beast (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

The race started well.  I finished the first mile in 7:17, right about on pace.  I was feeling all right and generally happy with my choice to run.  Then, strange things started happening to me.  My stomach started hurting and I had to slow down.  I dropped from 5th place to 7th and had an urgent choice to make.  Did I want to turn back 1/3 of a mile and go to the bathrooms that I knew were open or keep going 1/4 mile and stop at the bathrooms I hoped were open.  I went with option #2 and luckily everything was good.  After coming out of the bathroom I counted (it was an out and back course and I could see most runners) that I was in 25th overall and probably in 5th in the age group.

stud (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

a lot of officers ran like this (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

Alex and her adorable daughter (photo credit: San Angelo Crime Stoppers)

Awards were only given to the top 2 in each age group.  I started trying to make up ground but I went too hard.  After a mile or so, I was flagging and my throat was killing me from sucking in all that hot air.  I struggled to the finish and was able to hold off a late sprint from the guy behind me,

(photo credit: Brenda Batista Tyler)

but it was one of my worst 5ks in a few years.  I finished in 12th overall (watch time 23:58, official time 26:03) out of 84 and 3rd in my age group.  

Tim finished strong, winning his age group and coming in 7th overall (photo credit: Brenda Batista Tyler)

Shannon finished 10th overall.  I could see her, just couldn't catch her (photo credit: Brenda Batista Tyler)

immediately after.  looks great, huh?

The rain held off during the race, but lightning threatened the awards ceremony.  Everyone did their best to get out as early as possible.

finishing together

well, maybe a little competitive at the end

going back for the flag

I feel like these guys raided my running shirt drawer

Ally action shot!

Ally's popular (photo credit: Brenda Batista Tyler)

Blanca racing the Chief to the finish

Just Jennin' around (photo credit: Brenda Batista Tyler)

Our world class supporters, Angie and George (photo credit: Brenda Batista Tyler)

Lessons?  Always be prepared and have fun.  No, these races weren't succesful from a competitive standpoint, but on the first we raised money for a great cause and I enjoyed running with Mila.  On the second race, I had a good time hanging out with Team RWB members.  I mean, just look at these faces - 

(photo credit: Allyson Lowther Roebuck)

All that being said, I'm just about done with my updated 5k rankings.  They'll be out in my next blog and hopefully the middle distance rankings will (finally) be out the week after that.  

I'm not going to try and monetize this for now.  I don't have the traffic and it would just knock down the quality for the readers I do have.  I mean, who needs an ad trying to sell you socks that you literally just bought?