I'm always looking for running buddies.
If you live in the Rockville/Olney area
(near Lake Needwood) and don't mind a twelveeleven
10-11 min pace, drop me a line.
I'm currently doing 4.6
mile runs most evenings, longer runs on the weekends.
"I take running seriously, although I am
a way back of the packer. But, you know what? I am way ahead of
all those folks who aren't out there at all. I have great admiration
for the coaches and the accomplished runners in the MCRRC but equally,
I am inspired by all those out there trying, no matter their size,
speed or age."
-Kathleen Musallam, MCRRC Listserv 7/11/01
2007 Races - Upcoming
10/7/07: Army 10-Miler. Becky talked me into doing what will be her
first 10-miler and my third. I've never done the Army 10-Miler, but my sister-in-law ran it last
year and said "the energy was awesome." My brother Ed plans to run this one with us, and it'll
be his first Army 10-Miler too (he usually does the Annapolis 10-Miler). Runner's World has a pretty good
beginner's training
schedule that I've modified to accommodate our regular training runs. As Becky
noted, the schedule leaves us plenty of time to "eat bon bons until August." :)
2007 Races
2/4/07: Penguin Pace 5k.
Lyda, Bob and their son Scott (right) and Becky, my brother Ed, and I (left)
all ran the Penguin Pace this year.
This was my fourth Penguin. They've all been very cold, but this one broke the race's
record at 20 degrees. Brrrrrr.
2006 Races
11/23/06:
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club Turkey Chase 10k.
To the left, that's my good friend and running buddy, Becky, crossing the finish line at the
Turkey Chase 10k - go Becky! (I was right behind her, though mercifully out of
camera range. ;)
2005 Races
4/3/05:
Cherry Blossom 10 Miler.
Many thanks to my running buddy Angi (above right) for getting me into shape for my first Cherry Blossom 10 Miler.
~*~*~
2004 Races
4/25/04:
Pike's Peek 10k.
This was Ed's first Pike's Peek and my second. We had great running weather -
nice and cool. Ed was really pleased with his time, which was 4 minutes better than the
Clyde's 10k he ran the previous Sunday
(Clyde's is a tough race - very hilly). Go Ed!
My time was a minute slower than when I ran Pike's Peek in 2000, but since I haven't
been training as hard in recent years I was still pleased.
2003 Races
Penguin Pace 5k.
2/03/03. Whew. I'd forgotten about the killer hills on this course, which winds through a neighborhood near
Columbia Mall. We had perfect running weather - cool but not bitter cold as it was during the 2000 race. Still, my light running schedule over the past
year took its toll, and my finishing time was about 2 minutes longer than 5k's from years gone by.
Ed decided to run this one with me, at my slow pace, and actually let me finish before him (normally
he's cheering me on at the finish line, having gotten there a good 5 minutes before). Thus
this was the first race I've ever run side-by-side with someone. hmmm. Is blurting out to your partner, "Where's the damned finish
line?" during the last half mile poor running etiquette?
The awards ceremony following the race
began with a moment of silence for the seven astronauts
lost the day before when the shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry.
God bless our fallen heroes.
~*~*~
2/01/03. My brother and
I are scheduled to run this year's Penguin
Pace 5k, put on by the Howard
County Striders in Ellicott City. It'll be my first race in over a year (2002 was devoted to night school and finishing my degree, which didn't leave much time for training runs).
2001 Races
7/21/01: Rockville
Rotary Twilighter 8k. You couldn't have asked for finer
weather: clear skies, relatively cool temps. Janis and I ran the
first two or so miles together, and she commented on how this year's
turn out seemed better than last year's. She was right: 2633 finishers
as opposed to 2182 last year. Last year I didn't pace myself quite
right and ended up walking several lengths of the course, but not
this year - ran the whole thing. As one of the course marshals around
mile three wisely called out, "Find a rhythm and stick with
it!" More helpful words could not have been uttered, and I
broke my previous record for this race by almost one minute. Ah,
life is good.
The Ellicott City contingent was represented
by my brother Ed, two of his NASA colleagues, and his neighbor George.
It was wonderful to see everyone! I wasn't sure Ed was going to
run this one due to a bad experience last year. He attended a picnic
the afternoon of the 2000 race and consumed a number of hot dogs
which haunted him throughout the run. This year, however, he limited
himself to a little rice several hours beforehand, and finished
the 8k feeling great.
The spectators were also well respresented.
Jen (who couldn't run this one due to an injury) was at the finish
line to cheer us on, along with Chris with his 6-old son. And somewhere
around miles one and two, I heard Steph, who was course marshaling,
root us on. That was an unexpected and much appreciated boost. :-)
~*~*~
6/24/01: Damien's
5k Run for Recovery. The Three Musketeers (Jen, my brother
Ed, and yours truly) teamed up again to run this one for the second
year in a row. Each of us broke a PR, shaving a clean 2 minutes
off last year's times! In contrast to the heat and humidity of the
2000 race, this year's weather was perfect: clear blue skies and
relatively cool temps. Along with the flatness of the course, the
after-race party makes this our favorite 5k. The food is always
bountiful (all the bananas, pizza, sandwiches, oranges, bagels,
fruit juices and bottled waters you can consume), and there's live
music (a jazz band this year) and a massage therapist or two to
boot.
Omnium
Gatherum
The awards ceremony following the race
began with a moment of silence for the seven astronauts
lost the day before when the shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry.
God bless our fallen heroes.