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...