The Final Tally

The October numbers are in and the final push for donations was fruitful.  The grand total raised by The 31 Initiative for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research was $2,722.10!

I am humbled by the total and I know every dollar will be put to good use.  Thank you to everyone for their support.  The journey was well worth it.

Although The 31 Initiative has come to an end, you can still support the Endowment both now and in the future.  Go to TCARE.org for details.  Remember, donations are tax deductible.

Fundraising Update and Thanks

At last check, the amount raised for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research was $2,195!  I also know for a fact this amount does not include additional donations received after September 30 so this total will rise.

I am extremely thankful to everyone who has given.  Thank you!  Your support to me and the Endowment is greatly appreciated.

By the way, when the final numbers come in for October, I will update this blog with the grand total.

It's Over But It's Not

It is true.  The 31 Initiative has ended.  I ran my 31st 5K race in 31 weeks yesterday.  The 5K 4 K9s did not have the fastest field but it was exciting as I finished 2nd overall (with a time of 22:36).  It is hard to believe the races are over.  It seems like yesterday when I bundled up for my 1st race back in March.

So what's this about "It's Not"?  The races may be over but I want to make one last push for donations.  The reason why I started this endeavor was to raise money for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research.  I am proud that we have raised over $1,800 so far (the last time I checked - it may be higher now) but I want to see if we can increase this total.  For those of you who have already given, I sincerely thank you.  For those of you that haven't, now is your chance.  I'm guessing some of you were even waiting to see if I could do it - to see if this 31 races in 31 weeks concept was even possible.  Well, I am happy to say it is possible.  Any donation, no matter how small, is appreciated and will be put to good use.  Let's give to this great cause.  Oh, and of course, your donation is tax deductible.  Please see the directions in the top left had corner of my blog page to give.

If you've already given or can't give at this time, another way of helping is spreading the word.  Let's all work together to let our friends know about this.  And let's ask those friends to let their friends know.  Let's post on Facebook or Twitter or send an email out.  I admit I haven't done the best job in letting people know about The 31 Initiative.  Perhaps you can help me.  Let's finish this campaign strong!
       

A Happy Homecoming and Pitch Black

A Happy Homecoming

On September 16th, I ran in the Delphos Canal Days 5K.  This race (#29) was definitely one to remember.  I grew up in Delphos and there were plenty of friends and family either running in the race or cheering the runners on.  The weather was around 70 degrees - a little warm but still very nice.  I ran my 3rd fastest time of the year (20:55) and I know the support I received from everyone helped motivate me.

There were several local media outlets who covered The 31 Initiative story over that weekend and I want to personally thank The Delphos Herald, The Lima News, and WLIO Lima for their respective coverages.  The most important part about this endeavor is getting the word out there about its goal, namely raising money for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research, and the reporting was appreciated.

Pitch Black

Six days later, I ran in the March of Dimes Night Moves.  As the name suggests, this race was run at night.  This is a unique experience and I was happy to fit a night race into The 31 Initiative schedule.  The only negative part is you do have to proceed with caution and watch your footing.  A steady rain didn't help matters although it did cool me off.  I finished with a time of 23:08.  Since my recent times have been hovering in the low to high 21 minute range, this was disappointing.  Despite this, the night run experience made the race worthwhile.

The Final Race

This Saturday, The 31 Initiative ends.  I am running in the 5K for K9s which takes place at Alum Creek State Park just north of Columbus.  It is hard to believe the final race is finally here.

30 races down, 1 to go...

A Close Call and Hello Fall

2 more races are in the books since my last post:

"A Close Call" - on Labor Day, I ran the Leap for the Ligers 5K in Upper Arlington, OH.  As I do with all of my races, I check the race details the night before.  For this race, the website listed the race start time at 9:30am.  Since I had not picked up my race number and t-shirt, I left about 40 minutes prior to the start time.  Interestingly, when I arrived at 8:57am, I overheard someone on the loudspeaker say "the 5K will start in 3 minutes".  That doesn't sound right, I thought.  I picked up my pace and ran to the check in table.  I learned the website INCORRECTLY listed the start time - it was 9:00, NOT 9:30!  I quickly pinned on my race number and ran to the starting line. The horn sounded and I ran the race finishing in 21:21.  I was pretty pleased with this time considering my normal starting routine was thrown out the window.

"Hello Fall" - today, I ran the Dash for Dad 5K in Gahanna, OH.  Fortunately, I did not have any of the previous week drama.  The temperature was perfect (58 degrees) and it felt like a fall race (which I welcome wholeheartedly).  The course was also well laid out (albeit a little hilly).  I ran 21:17.

Next week is a homecoming for me.  I will run in the Delphos Canal Days 5K on Sunday, September 16.  Delphos, OH is the town I grew up in and where my parents, brother, and other relatives and friends still reside.  I can't wait to run in "America's Friendliest City".  Several friends and family members are running in the race as well (including Jay, my brother, and my wife) and I can't wait to root everyone on before and after the race.

28 races down, 3 to go in The 31 Initiative.    

The Final Month

Last Saturday, I ran in the Mount Carmel Up and Away 5K at Beulah Park in Grove City.  Interestingly, the race started on the same track where the horses race.  While this sounds cool, it was actually a little daunting because the track surface was packed sand.  It was tough to get your footing and this contributed to a slower time than the previous week for me (21:40).

The good news is I can now count my remaining races on one hand!  That's right, five to go!  And they are all taking place in September, the final month of The 31 Initiative.

I am going to make one more grand push for donations for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research so be prepared!  Also, I am excited to share my plan soon for The 31 Initiative in 2013 (hint, it could involve you).

Until next time...

7 5K Race Day Tips

Based on my 5K experiences, here are 7 race day tips for the new and experienced runner (in no particular order):

1) Double knot your shoestrings - although you can recover if you have to tie a loose shoestring, you end up losing valuable seconds AND it breaks your rhythm.  

2) Use the valet key - if you attend a race solo, it is easier to tuck this one key into your pocket instead of carrying the entire set of keys which, for most people, is probably both heavy and cumbersome.

3) Tread cautiously at the starting line - there are some runners who start fast and some who start slow.  Trying to weave your way through this can be a challenge.  You don't want to roll an ankle so be careful!

4) Don't worry about the course layout - unless you think you will finish in the top 3, this is unnecessary.  Why?  Because the course is usually fairly well marked PLUS you can do what I do and just follow the runner in front of you.

5) Eat before the race - a granola bar or peanut butter toast and a banana one hour before the race usually works for me.  Since most races are in the morning, you may feel like you can skip breakfast and eat afterwards.  Don't do this.  You need the fuel for your body.

6) Run your race - when other runners take off at the start, you may feel the need to over-exert yourself and keep up.  While it is good to push yourself, just remember that everyone has trained differently and has different goals.  You don't want to run out of gas after 2 miles with a little over 1 mile to go.  Therefore, focus on exceeding the time you trained for.  Remember, each race is a race against your best time (your PR or personal record).  You won't beat your PR every race but it is a nice goal to have.

7) Finally, have fun!  A 5K is a great distance that can be run by both young and old.  It usually benefits a charity and can be achieved in a reasonable time frame.  Training for one may not be the most enjoyable for some folks but once you actually run in the race, I'm betting you will be back for more. 

A 5K Newbie and Dog Power

Let's focus on the big news first.  Someone I personally know is stepping out of his comfort zone and running in (I think) his first 5K.  I could give you the whole scoop but this announcement is definitely better coming from the source.  Please click this link and scroll down to the August 14th post.  I'm proud of you man (for multiple reasons, not just the 5K) and can't wait for Race 29 of The 31 Initiative.

"Dog Power" felt like an appropriate sidebar because of my results in last Sunday's Dog Jog 5K.  I ran my 2nd best time of the year (20:33).  After hovering in the upper 21-minute range in recent races, this time felt great.  I don't know what gave me the extra jolt but it may have been due to the huge number of dogs running in the race with me (my guess, at least 100).  I don't run beside a black lab or gray husky everyday so the presence of these animals definitely added some excitement to the race.

25 races complete, only 6 to go in The 31 Initiative.

The BIG Debrief

It has been awhile folks so this is a big one -

I ran 2 races (#23 and #24) since my last update.  The first, the IGS Energy/Dublin Irish Festival 5K, was run on a hot day and the course had multiple hills.  Even though I ran a 21:46, I was very pleased considering the conditions.  The next race was the Hueston Woods 5K.  It was a cool day so I figured my time would benefit.  Unfortunately, a long climb up a very large hill right at the start threw me off.  I never really recovered (despite coming down this same hill on the way back) and finished with a time of 22:15.  Below are some pictures from the Hueston Woods race (including the first one with my amazing wife).

Tomorrow (Sunday August 19th) I run the Dog Jog 5K in downtown Columbus.  This race benefits the CHA Animal Shelter in Northeast Columbus.  Here is the link to the website of the CHA Animal Shelter if you are interested in learning more.

Finally, if you look to the left at the race calendar, you will see that I've chosen my final 5 races for The 31 Initiative.  I can't believe we are in the home stretch.

Thank you to anyone who has given a recent donation to the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research.  I'll have an update in a couple of weeks to see where we stand on the fundraising.

The 31 Initiative...24 races complete, 7 to go.

A Funny Running Vid

Most of you have probably seen this already but if you haven't, it is worth checking out.  Enjoy!

Mr. Consistency

Over the weekend, I ran 2 races to get back on track after the June 29th storm prevented me from reaching my scheduled race.  Amazingly, despite the fact that the two courses were different, I ran almost the exact same time; hence, this week's title.  On July 28, I ran the SIDS Awareness 5K in 21:48.  I followed that up with a 21:49 the very next day at the Giant Eagle 5K/10K Run.

Tomorrow (Thursday), I complete my 4th race in 14 days trek by competing in the IGS Energy/Dublin Irish Festival 5K.  I can tell my legs were a little tired over the weekend so I'll be glad to resume a more consistent schedule over the final 8 races.

The 31 Initiative...22 races down, 9 to go.

A Golden Pig Within Reach

The World Famous Pig Run 5K was run under cloudy skies but the spirits were high.  With the scent of ribs in the air (from the nearby Jazz and Rib Fest), I finished in 21:07, a positive time as I begin the last 1/3 of The 31 Initiative schedule.  My only regret was not finishing in the Top 3 and receiving one of the highly coveted pig trophies (I am kicking myself for not taking a picture and sharing it with everyone).

I researched some more races in the area and signed up for 3 more which means I am now booked through August.  These races include the Hueston Woods 5K on August 12th, the CHA Dog Jog 5K on August 19th, and the Mount Carmel Up and Away 5K on August 25th.  It is amazing to think that the next race I sign up for will be in September, the last(!) month of this endeavor.

As I near the end, I have been thinking about the future of The 31 Initiative.  I have an idea that will make it even more significant in 2013 and will share this thought in the near future.

20 races down, 11 races to go.

A Busy Stretch

Race 19 is in the books!  The Lifeline of Ohio Dash for Donation race attracted a great crowd (over 4,000) and had the benefit of a cloudy day (which seemed to dull the heat).  I ran a pretty consistent time for me these days (21:47).

The title of this blog "A Busy Stretch" refers to the next 14 days in which I will run 4(!) races.  The action begins tomorrow and the race schedule (as always) is listed on the left hand side of this page.

If you haven't donated yet to the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research, please consider a donation.  The money is going to a great cause.

19 down, 12 to go in The 31 Initiative!

Back On Track!

After the June 29 storm, it was good to get back on the road.  On July 4th, I ran the Clintonville July 4th Celebration 5K.  I ran a 22:01 and was pleased with my time considering the scorching temperature.

This Saturday (July 14th), I will run the Lifeline of Ohio Dash for Donation.  This race promotes organ and tissue donation and honors donor families.  It is a GREAT cause and I look forward to running for it.

I booked 3 more races.  On the weekend of July 28/July 29 I will run 2 races - the SIDS Awareness 5K on July 28 and the Giant Eagle 5K/10K Run on July 29.  This 5K double dose of goodness is due to the previously mentioned storm and my inability to get to the June 30th Defiance race.  The good news is The 31 Initiative will be officially back on track after that weekend.  The bad news is my legs may be a little tired for the race on Sunday.  It will be interesting to see if my time suffers.

The 3rd race I booked will be the IGS Energy/Dublin Irish Festival 5K on August 2.  This is a Thursday race and takes place right before the start of the Dublin Irish Festival, an event definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

The 31 Initiative.  18 races down, 13 to go.

Stopped By Mother Nature...For Now

After 17 consecutive weeks, The 31 Initiative was derailed.  Due to the violent storms that hit Ohio (and other parts of the nation), I couldn't make it to my race in Defiance.  I tried and made it all the way to Oakwood, OH before encountering this - 

Obviously, I was disappointed that I couldn't run.  At the same time, the acts of destruction I witnessed over the weekend kept things in perspective.  

So what do I do now?  Is The 31 Initiative over?  Not by a long shot.  My plan is to run 2 races in one weekend (one on Saturday and one on Sunday).  I haven't chosen the weekend yet but when I do, I'll let you know.

The 31 Initiative Is Now On Facebook!

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I created a Facebook page for The 31 Initiative.  It launched today!  Here is the link to the page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-31-Initiative/130896730382125

Hopefully, this bolsters awareness in this endeavor and brings us closer to our fundraising goal.  Facebookers, start spreading the word!

Speaking of fundraising, I've added some new and improved donation instructions on my blog.

Big Happenings = A Big Post

I'm back!  It has been awhile since I've posted and I have a lot to get to so here we go:

The Past
I've run 2 races since my last post, the Carolinas CARE Partnership 5K on June 16th and the Race for Ellie on June 24th.  The Carolinas CARE race was run in Charlotte, North Carolina on my way to our vacation destination.  The event was held in a beautiful park and even though my legs were a little stiff from the drive, I finished in 21:55.

When I returned home from vacation, I ran the Race for Ellie, which raises money to fight Mitochondrial disease.  I ran a 21:13 but the real highlight was giving Ellie, a little girl stricken with the disease, a high five at the finish line.

The Future
I booked 2 more races.  On July 14, I will run in the Lifeline of Ohio Dash for Donation.  On July 20, I will run the Pig Run 5K, an event coinciding with the Columbus Jazz and RibFest.  Both races are in Columbus, Ohio.  If you are interested in learning more, please click on the names above for a link to the websites.

The Present
I recently learned The 31 Initiative has raised almost $1,000 in donations for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research.  I want to sincerely thank everyone who has donated.  It means a lot and it is the reason I decided to do this endeavor.

At the same time, I realize we are running short of my goal of $3,100.  The Carolinas CARE race was my halfway point so I need to get the word out there.  Your help in doing this will be greatly appreciated.  To assist in this process, I'm going to create a Facebook page (something I probably should have done from the start).  I'll let everyone know when it is ready.  I know there are a lot of Facebook users out there so hopefully this will boost the level of fundraising.

I have rambled on long enough.  17 races down, 14 to go in The 31 Initiative.

A Steady Pace

The heat returned last Saturday during my 15th race, the Lyndsey and Kyle 5K, and caused me to lose ground from the previous week.  I ran a 21:51 and finished 2nd in my age group (35-39).  I realized I  need to try some new pre-race training methods to help lower my times, however.  I keep hovering in the 21 to 23 minute range and have some work to do to try to get to my 20 minute goal.

15 down, 16 to go in The 31 Initiative.

A Welcome Break

After several toasty races, the weather broke last week and I welcomed it with open arms.  I ran the 14th race in The 31 Initiative - the MoveMMORE 5K - and finished in 21:05, my 2nd best time so far.  I actually won a prize for finishing second in my age group (30-39) - a Cold Stone Creamery gift card!  Considering most people run to lose weight, I did find this choice of a prize rather ironic.

I booked two more races (my 18th and 19th by the way).  On June 30, I will run in the 2nd Annual Spook Central 5K in Defiance, OH.  On the following Wednesday, I will celebrate the 4th of July by running in the Clintonville July 4th Celebration 5K in, you guessed it, Clintonville, OH.  If you are interested in learning more, please click on the race names above.

I run my 15th race on Saturday - the Lyndsey and Kyle 5K in Dublin, OH.  I LOVE races close to home.

Close to Home

I ran the 2FGR Race Day for Down Syndrome 5K last Thursday night in Dublin (where we live) and finished with a time of 21:54.  While I was pleased with my time, I was even happier that my family was able to attend.  In fact, my wife took a picture at the event.  Here you go -

 
This was race 13!  18 to go in The 31 Initiative.  June, here I come!

2 More Races Booked

I have booked 2 more races -

Race 16 - on June 16, I will run the Carolinas CARE Partnership 5K.  Race info is here.

Race 17 - on June 24, I will run the Race for Ellie.  Race info is here.

Race 16 is the HALF WAY POINT of The 31 Initiative.  I'll let everyone know how much has been raised when we get to that milestone.

Have a Happy Memorial Day everyone!  Thank you to everyone who is serving or who has served.

The Heat Is On

It had to come sooner or later.  Yes, I'm talking about my arch enemy, the heat.  For those who know me, they know I'm not a big fan.  Considering summer is right around the corner, I guess I better get used to it.

The Little Heroes 5K was the first of many races in which I will have to battle my nemesis head on.  At race time, the temperature was 81 degrees.  I ended up running the race in 22:27 but I can tell it definitely affected the latter part of my 5K.

I haven't booked a race lately but have already identified the races I'm going to enter for my 16th and 17th races.  I'll blog about them soon.

Oh, and this week, my race is on Thursday night in Dublin (it is the 2FGR Race Day for Down Syndrome 5K).

12 down, 19 to go in The 31 Initiative.

An Appreciation

Last Saturday, I ran my 11th race of The 31 Initiative, the JAKESTRONG 5K.  I finished in 22:00, a significant improvement over my previous week's time.  What truly made this race special, however, was the pre-race announcement from Jake's father.  He called up 4 kids who had battled cancer and shared their stories (one little boy was in kindergarten and had a successful bone marrow procedure).  It truly made you appreciate life and put things in perspective.  I've run a lot of races over the years but never started one wiping a tear from my eye until last Saturday.

A Good Run Spoiled

It had to happen sooner or later - my streak of 4 consecutive races with an improvement in my race time ended.  Actually, that is putting it nicely.  To put it bluntly, I crashed and burned.  The Commit To Be Fit 5K started out well - the crowd was energetic and the temperature (64 degrees) was cooler than forecast.  Then I ran a 26:10, over 4 minutes slower than the previous week (ouch!).  What happened?  I won't bore you with the details but I identified multiple factors which contributed to my less than stellar performance.  The good news is that I still have 21 races to go in The 31 Initiative, beginning this week with the JAKESTRONG 5K in Powell, Ohio.

I booked my 15th race today.  On June 9, I will run the Lyndsey and Kyle 5K in Dublin, Ohio.  Race details can be found here.

I'm 1/3(!) of the way through The 31 Initiative.  Thanks again to everyone who has donated to this cause.  I can't express how much it means to me.

Road Race

My 9th race (the Roadrunner Run 5K) was run on the streets of Hilliard, Ohio last weekend.  Overall, I felt it was another step forward.  I knocked 12 seconds off my previous week's time finishing at 21:42.  With the weather warming up, it will be interesting to see if I can continue my downward time trend.

I booked my 14th race today, the MoveMMORE 5K, which takes place on June 2, 2012.  Like the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research (the cause I'm raising money for), it appears this race will benefit cancer research at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital.  More info can be found here.

This Saturday, I run the Commit To Be Fit 5K.  It should be a full crowd since the Capital City Half Marathon and The Patron Quarter Marathon are run as well.  13,000 runners are expected to be in downtown Columbus.  Parking should be fun (sarcasm intended).
 

A Little Faster...One Step At A Time

The Path for Peace 5K was a chilly affair (the low 40's) last Saturday but it was difficult to dampen the spirits of its participants.  Like almost every 5K I've run, a charity or organization benefits from the run.  This race was no different and my wife and I were proud to support it.  How did I do?  Well, I ran a little faster than last week (21:54).  Hopefully, I continue to knock seconds off my time each race.

I booked Race 13, the 2FGR Race Day for Down Syndrome 5K on 5/24/12 (a Thursday night race!) in Dublin, Ohio.  Race details are here.

8 races down, 23 to go in The 31 Initiative.

The Shirt In Action

Here is a pic from the start of the World Race for Hope 5K.  I am in the middle.

Rainy Yet Satisfying

Running in the rain is one of those experiences you either love or hate.  Personally, I love it...at the right temperature.  If the temperature is too cold, then it's just plain miserable.  Last Saturday, I ran the Amy's Fight Against Lymphoma 5K and it was raining.  Luckily, the temperature wasn't bad and the rain was more of a mist than a downpour.  My time was 22:03, an improvement over Race 6.

This week my wife and I are running in the Path for Peace 5K.  Some forecasters are calling for rain again.  Hopefully, the temperature cooperates.

I booked my 12th race, the Little Heroes 5K, which occurs on May 18th (a Friday run!) at 6:00 pm.  The race will be held near The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!).  Here is the website.

The 31 Initiative...still going strong.  Even in the rain.

6th Race Completed / 11th Race Booked!

Last Saturday, I ran the Habitat Home Run 5K at Alum Creek State Park.  It was a beautiful day but I could never obtain a consistent breathing pattern as I ran.  Due to this, I finished the race in 22:18, an OK time but not exactly where I want to be at this point.  The good thing is I still have 25 races to go to keep working on it.

Speaking of future races, I booked my 11th Race, the JAKESTRONG 5K on May 12, 2012.  Here is the website if you'd like additional information.

I'm running in Marysville, OH this weekend which is a short 15-minute drive from home.  I can't believe I'm almost 25% done with The 31 Initiative.  In 3-4 races, I'll update everyone on how much has been raised so far!

A Poster To Savor

This past weekend, the 2nd Annual Bowling For The Boyz took place in Delphos, Ohio.  Like The 31 Initiative, this fundraiser raises money for The Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research.  It was a great success and although final numbers aren't in, I have a feeling the money raised will beat the inaugural Bowling For The Boyz.  At the event, Jay acknowledged The 31 Initiative and presented me with a poster he created.  Here is a picture -

All I can say is, thanks Jay.  It was a very kind gesture and totally unexpected.  Honestly, I feel like I should be doing more.

Road Trip

Last Saturday, I traveled to Dayton for my first out of town 5K, the Project Congo 5K.  While my time didn't match up with the previous week, I was still happy with my 21:58.  Also, I need to thank Google Maps - the directions (and approximate traveling time) were both spot on!

This week, I'm back in the Columbus area for the Habitat Home Run 5K.  I'm looking forward to completing this run and then enjoying a great early-Easter brunch with my family.

I didn't book any races this week.  I'm still a month ahead so I figured I'd take a week off.

The Perfect Storm AND More Races Booked!

Let's begin with a quote from the movie, The Perfect Storm (courtesy of IMDB.com):


Todd Gross, TV Meteorologist: Look, look at this. We got Hurricane Grace moving north off the Atlantic seaboard. Huge... getting massive. Two, this low south of Sable Island, ready to explode. Look at this. Three, a fresh cold front swooping down from Canada. But it's caught a ride on the jet stream... and is motoring hell-bent towards the Atlantic. What if Hurricane Grace runs smack into it? Add to the scenario this baby off Sable Island, scrounging for energy. She'll start feeding off both the Canadian cold front... and Hurricane Grace. You could be a meteorologist all your life... and never see something like this. It would be a disaster of epic proportions. It would be... the perfect storm. 


Why am I posting this quote on this blog?  Well, my official time for the World Race for Hope 5K was 20:17, a time I honestly didn't think I'd reach for another 2 months.  Like the storm in the movie, I can only attribute my time to a series of events all coming together right at the same time (perfect weather conditions, a strong week of training, the course setup, etc.).  I'm not sure if I can duplicate that day but I'll try.

I also booked my 9th and 10th races.  On April 28, I will run The Roadrunner Run 5K in Hilliard, OH (here is the link).  On May 5, my wife and I will both run the Commit To Be Fit 5K in downtown Columbus (here are the details - link).


My first out of town race is this Saturday in Dayton.  I hope I don't get lost driving there.  Until next time...

Race 3 Results AND 8th Race On The Books

After 2 straight race weeks of 32 degree temperatures, Mother Nature took pity on me.  The weather was perfect for the St. Patrick's Day 5K!  I didn't check the temp but it felt like it was in the 50's (it may have been even warmer).  My official time of 23:00 almost matched my first race.  I'm hoping I can break through this week with a better time.

I also booked my 8th race today, the Path for Peace 5K.  This race will take place on April 21, 2012 at Griggs Reservoir here in Columbus.  Here is the link.  This race supports the Solly and Sammy's Foundation for Peace, a non-profit organization committed to supporting community organizations working to prevent child abuse and family violence.  My wife and I personally know the person responsible for starting this foundation so this is a special race for us.

In The News!

The 31 Initiative was featured in Dublin's local community newspaper.  Check out the link here.  Thanks for the article Jennifer!  I appreciate you helping to get the word out there.  My thought is the more we can spread the word, the more money we can raise for the The Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research.

I also registered for my 7th race, Amy's Fight Against Lymphoma 5K.  This race will take place on April 14 in Marysville, Ohio.  If you are interested in learning more, here is a link.

Finally, my official time for the Pi Day 5K was 23:50, 7 seconds faster than my unofficial time.  It's not much but I'll take it.

I run in Dublin, Ohio this Saturday at the St. Patrick's Day 5K.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the race temperature is higher than 32 degrees.

Pi Day 5K Results

Another cold day (32 degrees) and a lingering cold contributed to a drop off in my time today.  The unofficial result was 23:57, almost a minute longer than last week.  Bummer.

Despite this, I'm still upbeat.  The sun was shining and the Pi Day 5K race organizers did a great job putting on their first race.

Next week, The 31 Initiative heads to Dublin, OH.  My wife is running the race too so it should be fun.

2 down, 29 to go...

6th Race Booked!

I've booked the 6th race in The 31 Initiative, the Habitat Home Run 5K.  This event will take place April 7 at Alum Creek State Park in the Columbus metropolitan area.  A link to the site is here.

By the way, I run my 2nd race tomorrow morning, the inaugural Pi Day 5K.  Despite being a little under the weather, I look forward to the event.  The weather is supposed to be nice as well.  I will have a report on how it went after the race.

Official Time and 5th Race Booked!

It appears my unofficial time of 22 minutes 59 seconds in the Arnold 5K is the same as my official time.  Talk about anti-climactic.  OK, moving on...

The bigger news is that I have booked my 5th race, the Project Congo 5K in Dayton, Ohio.  This race (here is the link) will be run on March 31st and is the first race I will run outside of the Columbus area.  Luckily, Dayton is only about a 1-hour drive.

I've changed the presentation of my blog as well.  I've added my 5K races in the left hand column.  To make room for this, I moved the TCARE.org and Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research links to the top of the page where they can be displayed more prominently.

1st Race Down, 30 To Go!

The Arnold 5K is complete.  It was a cold day (32 degrees on my car temperature gauge) but my spirits were high.  Jay even came down to root me on (thanks Jay!).

My unofficial time was 22 minutes 59 seconds.  Honestly, I was hoping to be around 24 minutes so I am thrilled with the result (especially for my first race).

My next race in The 31 Initiative is this Saturday March 10, the Pi Day 5K.

The 31 Initiative 1st Race Is Here!

The moment is finally upon us.  The start of The 31 Initiative begins this Sunday March 4 with my first race, the Arnold 5K.  I'm very excited to finally kick off this endeavor.

In order to remind everyone what this is all about and why I am doing it, it seems appropriate to re-post my first blog entry below.  Again, I want to sincerely thank everyone who has already donated in support of The 31 Initiative.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  I'll be back Sunday with a recap of the race.  And now, a trip down memory lane, my first blog entry...

What is The 31 Initiative? Here is the gist.

But first, a quote:

"They are able because they think they are able."  Virgil

OK, now back to the point of this blog:

• What is The 31 Initiative?  I plan on running 31 races for 31 straight weeks.
• What kind of races are you talking about?  A 5K which is 3.1 miles (get it?).
• Why do this?  I'm trying to raise money for a noble cause, the fight against testicular cancer.
• Why testicular cancer?  A friend of mine was afflicted by this disease.  Rather than sit back, he's paying it forward by starting a website, TCARE.org and an endowment.
• How can I donate money?  This link gives you all the details.
• How much should I give?  I'd love for each person to give at least $31 ($1/race) but no one would complain if you gave more.  Honestly, every dollar helps so ANY donation is appreciated.
• What is your charitable goal?  $3,100 would be appropriate but I'm aiming higher => $5,000.
• When does this Initiative start?  Due to Ohio's frosty January and February, I'll start running in March (I want to make sure there is a race available).  I'll let everyone know the exact date when it gets closer.
• What do you plan to blog about?  The race I participated in, my time (which will hopefully improve over this 31-race stretch), and any other tidbits I find interesting.
• How often will you post information?  At least weekly.
• What if you can't find a race in Ohio?  Then I'll go out of state.
• What makes you think you can do this tough guy?  Please see Virgil quote at the beginning.
• Anything else you want to add?  Yes, please spread the word via email, Facebook, Twitter, and any other form of social media out there.
• Are you finished?  We've only just begun.

4th Race is Booked!

My 4th race will be the World Race for Hope 5K on March 24 in downtown Columbus.  You can learn more about this race by clicking this link.

It has been a very windy day here in Columbus.  It makes me wonder whether all of this great weather we've experienced this winter is going to disappear just as I get ready to start The 31 Initiative.  If winter does show its true face, I'll just have to deal with it.  Blizzard or no blizzard, I will be at the Arnold 5K on March 4 (although I hope I don't have to buy a snow mask).

3rd Race is Booked!

My 3rd race has been booked.  I will be running the St. Patrick's Day 5K at Flannagan's (in Dublin) on March 17, 2012.  I've run this race in the past and it is a lot of fun.  They serve a free pre-race breakfast and you receive an all-day pass to their St. Patrick's Day Party.  Here is the link.

We are now less than 2 weeks away from the start of The 31 Initiative!

My Weekly Advertisement for TCARE.ORG

I just designed (and ordered) the shirt I will run in during The 31 Initiative.  Here it is:

2nd Race Is On The Books!

I have found my 5k for the 2nd weekend in March - it is the 2012 Pi Day 5k!  Here is a link with details of the event which brings attention to mathematics and science education.  This 5k is actually 3.14 miles (get it?) instead of the normal 3.1 miles but since I was struggling to find a race that weekend, I'm not worrying about the extra 4/100 of a mile.

On a personal note, I just purchased new running shoes (Nike of course) and I am currently breaking them in.  The first race in The 31 Initiative is less than 3 weeks away!

Until next time...

Time Goal Is Up!

Since creating The 31 Initiative, I've had numerous people ask if I have a time goal.  Honestly, I never had a time I wanted to achieve.  I just wanted to steadily improve my race times over the 31 weeks.

After thinking about it, I've decided to post a 5k time goal.  I think it is ambitious and probably out of reach BUT it will be a challenge.  The goal: to break the 20 minute mark.  I think this is close to a 6 minute 30 second per mile pace.  I'm estimating I'll start off this endeavor at an 8 minute per mile pace.

I don't think I've broken the 20 minute mark since high school but if there is a time to go after it, I can't think of any better time than now.

The Start of Something Big

I've registered for my first race and it is (drumroll please) the Arnold 5K on Sunday, March 4th!  This race will take place in downtown Columbus and is one of the events put on in conjunction with the Arnold Fitness Expo (here is the link to the Expo).  I've already begun looking for a race on either March 10th or March 11th and will let everyone know when I find it.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated.  Also, I want to thank those getting the word out about The 31 Initiative.  The main goal for this endeavor after all is to raise money and the more people who know about it, the more likely we'll achieve my fundraising goal of $5,000.

2012, the year of The 31 Initiative, is finally here!

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had as wonderful of a holiday season as I did.  I am more excited than ever for 2012 and that excitement is primarily due to The 31 Initiative and the money I hope is raised for the Jay Holdgreve Endowment for Testicular Cancer Research!  Stay tuned for more frequent posts to this blog.

I've started scanning various running sites for March 2012 5k races.  So far, the list is rather sparse.  It is a little disheartening because I'm anxious to figure out my race schedule.  Hopefully, more races will begin to pop up in the next couple of weeks.

I'll leave you with a link to an inspiring YouTube video I recently discovered.  The overall message is perfect for the start of a new year and setting goals.  Oh, and it is accompanied by an awesome song too.  Enjoy!  My 120 Pound Journey