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.