Jingle Bell Run - Score one for Team Hill Country Trekkers

Luke even got in the spirit by being in costume!

Our team had 9 members and some interesting "facts".  Our youngest member (Luke Boyle, grandson) was 29 DAYS  old, a less than a month postpartum mom (Stefanie Boyle) who gave birth via c-section, oldest member (though not registered for the race, Virginia Griffin) 84 years old.

Mom and Linda finished a mile!  Mom's first in a few years! Linda pushed mom in a wheel chair !   Mom's legs were tired and Linda's arms were tired after the race!

Mike and his first place Jingle Bell!

Mike Largo (Brother-in-law) finished 1st in his age bracket (60+),

 my daughter Erica Griffin finished last in her age bracket (20-29) and last overall.  I'm sure Erica would like me to explain that she walked with me instead of running her own race, and that she actually beat me, but official timing doesn't show that since I didn't pick up a timing chip! 

 I would like to explain that I walked with my granddaughter  (Abby Boyle, age 7)

Abby's pre-race concentration..
or was she just trying to adjust her  Jingle Bells?

 instead of running my own race!  Finally, I'm sure Abby would like me to explain, that this was her first 5k and it was the "farthestest she has ever walked!"

Mark Boyle took great pictures during the race and kept a good look out for our Ohio Buckeye runner, Lindsay, and he check almost every ravine to see if she had gone off on her own course!

Lindsay stretching prerace.  She ran most of it and did very well! 

I got to add another "interesting sign" see on the race course:

Although it was dark, and we were one of the last to finish.  Finish we did!

After the race we enjoyed the million of lights of the "Light the Way Festival".  

We then headed out over to Mi Tierra's, which is always decorated like it is Christmas time!  We enjoyed the food and got to experience a mariachi band bar with all the whistling and eye-ya-eyeing anyone could ever ask for!

Post Race Meal, at an institution in San Antonio!

We raised almost $400.  We had a great time (Especially Mike!), hopefully I'll do better next year on the recruiting and fund raising!  

Click here to get a '3D flyover' of the course....and a straight line flight from the finish line to Mi Tierra's where I accidently pressed the 'restart' button on my Forerunner Watch!   Flyover! 

(I think you might need Google Earth to see this, but I'm not sure).

Light the Night 5k @ Sea World

Entrance to Sea World - Decorated for Christmas 

Yesterday evening Leta drove me to Sea World from Fredericksburg, we left in drizzle and cold temperatures and ran into fog shortly after we left.  After we came down from the hill country and headed into San Antonio we then ran into ....traffic at the I-10 / 1604 loop interchange.  For a few stressful moments, we thought we might be late for the race.  We did make it ok, and met up with Erica and Tom.  Here they are pre-race

Love Erica's Crown! 

We warmed up by an Olympian Race Walker (who later won his age division in the 5k) and soon the race was started.  We began the race about as expected running through the pathways in the park, and past neat decorations, such as the candy tree forest .

Soon though, we headed out and into the parking lot.  We ran a long way out and back into the parking lot, and then back into the park proper, but not on the same paths.  The course wound around quite a bit and also was a bit hillier than I expected.  Also it seemed to me, that the run around in the parking lot was no where near half way into the race, but rather more like 1/3 of the way, but I assumed it was the halfway point.  So I became a bit demoralized on the way back to the finish line!  But I did finish after 34:14 officially.  This is my second fastest time for a 5k race, with only the Wild Flower run being faster.

After the race, we picked up the goody bags, and headed over to the 'chow line' and picnic area.  The menu include 3 bean salad, potato salad, coleslaw, hot dogs, sausage, pulled pork and cookies!

After dinner, we wandered over to the arena and watched a great show with the "shamu" family of whales.  It was corney and very funny and moving all at the same time!

The race was a fund raiser for the Prevention of Blindness and had over 850 participants (both walkers and runners), Erica's team (UIW) had 89 team members (and they provided the tshirt).  The group that sponcered the race, gave vision screenings/exams to over 5,000 low income/unisured people in Bexar County last year and referred over 500 for follow up care.

Next years race will be  Friday December 7,2012, and I can't wait!

Still smiling after the race, and yes those are live flamingos! 

Freedom Day 4 Miler

Spent the night in San Antonio with Erica, so we wouldn't have to get up a hour earlier to make the drive into San Antonio to the race.  As we closed the door to leave Kerrville, Leta realized we didn't have keys and had just locked ourselves out of the house.  What a great start we were having!  After arriving at Erica's I made her a batch of the No-Bake cookies before we headed for the couch (me) and the chair (Leta) for a short night. We got up about 6 AM and headed towards the race, which was held at The National Shooting Complex.  What a great facility they have there, and what a great local for a race, as the course was about 90% paved roads (inside the complex and with no traffic to contend with).

Erica was flying to Detroit in the afternoon and I had to get to work in Fredericksburg by noon, so we were on a very tight schedule.  We planned on going to the race, staying for awards and door prizes, returning to Erica's apartment, taking quick showers, dropping Erica off and the airport and getting to Fredericksburg before noon.  In the confusion of planning what we needed to pack in the car, and when, I managed to leave the bibs behind in Erica's apartment.  I realized this about half way to race.  So we decided that since this probably wasn't the first time someone had forgotten their bibs after picking them up early, they probably had a solution for this eventuality, or if they didn't, we would "run for the fun of it"(??), that is, with out the official chip timing devices and just keep track of our own times via our watches.  Luckily, they were able to give us new bibs and it was not a problem at all!

Leta found the volunteer coordinator and was put to work cutting up fruit, cookies, and helping with the 1,000 (!) hot dogs they were grilling!  She also helped the lady at registration packing up her boxes.  When she was done, she found a folding chair and the best spot in the pavilion, that is a spot out of the sun, and with a cool breeze blowing in!  Because she volunteered she should get a shirt (they had run out!) and she got us a free entry to a future race!

The only suggestion I have to improve the race is more porta potties near the start, as I got in the line about 20 minutes to the start, and was still in the line as they fired the gun!   With so many people there (in excess of 750) and I being errrr "detained", Erica and I didn't find each and so we weren't able to run together.

They course started off on a long downhill and meandered around alot of the 700 acre complex.  Past MANY trap and skeet ranges.  There were water and gatorade stations at miles 1, 2, and, 3; along with Porta potties on the course.  Water was also placed  in coolers between the mile marker stations at various skeet/trap ranges.

Prior to the race, we were instructed not to leave the roadways, do to the danger of rattlesnakes!  I took this picture along the course and decided that, yes it did make me run faster!  If I would have seen a snake I really would have moved faster!

The course was mostly downhill, for the first half, meaning that it was mostly uphill for the second half!  And the last hill was a killer!  It was hot, even at 7:30 AM and my strategy became one of walk the uphills (although when I saw Erica waiting for me near the finish line to encourage me, I decided I really had to run to the finish line!) and run, on the downhills/and when in shade.

When I finally crossed the finish line an icecold wash cloth was handed to me, and it was wonderful!  There was a lot of food, drinks waiting for us, and we cooled down and snacked.  Prior to the race I saw that beer and hot dogs were provided, and I thought who would want a hot dog at 8:30 AM?.  Well after the race and finding Leta in the best location in the building, I started feeling a bit err "faint" and knowing I was replacing fluids, I thought maybe my blood sugar might be low, and a hot dog with the bun and condiments, with the protein and salt from the hot dog, and the carbs from the bun and condiments might help.  After eating, I did feel much better!  Poor Erica was not only feeling faint but also had "the worst conjunctivitis of my life".

We saw a runner, "the I Beat Cancer, Never Give Up" shirt guy, we both had noticed at races all over the state!  He took a picture of Erica and I after the race and it should be found on his web page, but I haven't been able to locate it yet.  BTW he is an inspiration, as I thought I would use him as my 'rabbit' during the Fredericksburg race, but even though, he is older, and stopped to take lots of pictures, he beat me!

Post race pictures were taken and then we raced (in the car!) back to Erica's, the airport and Fredericksburg, where I punched in at 12:15, one minute later than the company's 'grace period', but after talking to the managers, I don't think I'm in any trouble!

My chip time was  48:12 (12:03/mile) and I was 23rd out of 28 in my age/gender group, 621st overall,  and a PR! (as it was my first 4 mile race).  ;-)

Erica beat my time, as hers was 45:37(11:24/mile) 17th of 24 in her AG, 564 overall,  I also believe this was a PR for her.

The pond we ran by (nary a drop of water in it!)

Even Leta came AND had a good time!

We survived!

This was the 36th annual race was a good one and one we will definitely try to do again!

PS:  Leta did use some of her secret talents and was able to "open" the locked door when she got home!