Post-2007 Maryland-Wide Running Quest

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Harvest Run 5K in Howard County, Maryland

Photo taken from the website of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Highland (Howard County), Maryland, the church that helped put on the First Annual Mission: Mississippi Harvest Run 5K. This photo is from: http:www.mtzionhighland.com

I made it to the First Annual Mission: Mississippi Harvest Run 5K at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City, Maryland this morning. Despite the damp and overcast weather (with little sprinkles of rain), it was fairly warm and great running weather. I was pretty happy about that, because yesterday's forecast was calling for thunder showers around that area this morning. I'm grateful the weather forecasts yesterday morning were apparently not accurate; even now the sun has come out :)

I came there hoping to run maybe in the low 19's/high 18's, because I wanted to budget my energy for other races I have coming up in the near future. I think there were close to around fifty runners that showed up on this cloudy morning for the event, but that was fine because I ended up earning a random door prize award :)

Anyway, the course was pretty much all on bike paths winding through the park, with plenty of hills (noone of which were too long or steep, but it gave me a solid work out). There were plenty of bends, curves, and turns so there wasn't a dull moment. In fact, whent he race started I wasn't sure exactly which direction we would be heading in, but fortunately there were others around me when we started so I didn't get lost there. We went up a small hill, and then a downhill that curved fairly sharply to the left. At the bottom of this hill and after turning left, I made took the lead and extended it over the course of the next six or seven minutes or so. Now this course was pretty much two loops (the first loop being a little longer than the second). During this first loop I ran by a couple of playgrounds and some fields. However, towards the end of this first loop I kept on going straight on this road when I should have hung a right on this path (I heard that there wasn't a course marshall at this point, and I wasn't sure if that was true). I had never run a race in Meadowbrook Park before, so it wasn't exactly obvious to me which way I should go. Needless to say, I ended up back around the finish line area within a minute of passing the path and I knew something was wrong (and I think it was because some of the race workers told me we would not be oming to that area of the park until the very end and I knew I still had a ways to go in the race before finishing). So, I called out "which way?" and as I neared, they were like "I don't know" or something like that, I guess they were only supposed to work the finish line area and not be course marshals, which was understandable as to why they did not know how to help me find my way back to the course.
So in somewhat of an angry sort of panic, I started turning around and around yelling, "hey!" "hey!" "Where do I go?" "Hey!"
Suddenly one of the officials pointed out in the direction I had come from and said something like, "see that person in the red jacket, go to him" And of course I didn't have my glasses on so I could not see very well, and I was like,
"no, not really I can't see!"
Then in frustration I ran back the way I came just a bit and saw someone in a red shirt or jacket, as well as people running up a hill I had run up, but going right onto the paths versus going straight the way I had come. I was ticked that I had blown the lead, over something like going the wrong way, but God helped calm me down and I believe He helped me be resilient and get back on course. So, I ran back the way I had come (I think I had cut a couple of corners briefly to get there) yelling for someone to help me find my way back for a couple of seconds, and then I was able to pick up the pack from where I had made the wrong turn (I made a left here while everyone else who was going th right way was making a right). I ran by the course marshal, feeling tempted to yell at him for not putting some kind of marker or for letting me know I was supposed to turn right, but God helped me focus on the race and realize it was probably an honest mistake. Afterall, this was the first year they were doing it and it has been my experience with inaugural races that there can sometimes be... quirks every now and then, here and there. I prayed that God would give me the strength to continue and to still glorify Him with my race (I think I prayed something like that).

As we ran through the woods and up and down some hills in the fields behind the starting and finish line area, I think I also prayed that God would help me take back the lead if that was His will, and if not, that no matter what I could please Him with this race." I tried to think positively that I was at least seeing some more of the park that I hadn't run in very much in the past, and the word "resilience" (pretty much bouncing back from a disappointment) was in my head (and that's a big quality that we encourage our students with at the Homewood Center where I work). I'm sure at some points here I slowed down, and I'll admit that I was angry, because I was pretty sure I would have been in the lead and much closer to being done had I not slipped up and gone the wrong. Heck, I probably lost about a minute or so doing just that. Though, I think God used that anger to provide me with positive energy and adrenaline to keep on trucking through the hilly course. I tried not to be bitter about it but to just focus on making the best of the situation and remember that I was running to glorifty God and to help benefit a missions trip thing to help with hurricane relief efforts in Mississippi.

Well, when we were going down this steady downhill that switched back a bit, I passed this younger gentleman and was in third place with the first two runners not all that much further in front of me. I thought something like, "well if I maintain this position, at least I might do better than an age-group award and finish in the top three"). Yet, God continued to provide me with enough energy and as we crossed this little wooden bridge to the area with playgrounds again (of course we were now on the second loop of the course), I was closing the gap on the first two runners, and I knew we didn't have much further to go. I caught up with one of them not long after crossing the bridge and the gentleman in first was a little bit further ahead, but I was fortunate enough to be able to have caught him at the top of this small hill as we were going around a bend to the left.

After I passed him and reclaimed the lead, there was a steady downhill and I was able to extend my lead just a bit. I knew this would be trouble some, because running downhills tyipically isn't as much of a strength for me as it is for other runners. Yet I pressed on, figuing that the people behind me would be getting ready to kick and I was feeling quite exhausted after trying to get back in the lead. I kenw there wouuld be a steady uphill just before the finish line too.

Right around the time I came back to cross the wooden bridge I prayed that God would hlep me to maintain the lead, and right aroudn the time I crossed the bridge, I heard one of the marshalls yell, "he's gainin' on you!" I wasn't quite sure if he was talking to me or someone behind me, but at that point I saw the hill ahead of me and I felt confident that if I could just maintain up this hill, the finish line would be easy to get too. And sure enough, God empowered me to reach the top of the hill and still have enough energy to make a couple more turns and run up a small hill, and sharp right turn to finish in about 20:16 :)

YES!!!

I know I had run a 20:16 the last time I ran a race in Howard County (the "Scrubs"/All-Comers Race at the 2A South and 3A North Regional High School Cross Country Championships at Centennial High School in Ellicott City on Thursday, October 30, 2008) and I wasn't that pleased with it, but I was pleased with this 20:16 because I knew I had run at least probably about a minutes's-worth extra and I had still managed to barely pull out a win. I thank God for helping me to not only run strong throughout, but to bless me with an overall win. Even when I thought I had really messed up the race for myself, God still helped me maek the best out of it and run strongly. I think that had I run the course correctly, I probably would have hit low 19's/upper 18's, which was what I was going for anyway. I'd like to think I covered 5 kilometers around that time!

I met a lot of cool people there, one of which actually goes to the church I go to and others knew the same people that I did. It's so funny, I've been doing races in Howard County for over ten years, and I've been a member of hte Howard Coutny Striders, and I did not see anyone I recognized here or who knew me. Pretty much after my first success at running in a running event in eveyr county of Maryland, I don't think I've ever been to a race in Maryland or Delaware where someone doesn't know me or I don't know/recognize someone. Nothing wrong with that, it was terrific to meet some new people and I thought it was just strange because the race occurred near where I grew up in Howard County. My friend David said he was going to do it, but he didn't show up. I know he had run a couple of other 5K's recently at the same venue, so maybe he was Meadowbrooked out, haha :)- I hope he's doin' all right.

That was an excellent race, and if they have it in the future, I think I would look forward to running it again (and hopefully I can run the course properly, haha). Tomorrow morning (Sunday, November 16, 2008), I hope to run the 2nd Annual Cedar Lane Stroll in the Bel Air area of Harford County, MD with my friend Joe (and this race is said to be an uncommon distance somewhere between four-and-five miles). I hear it may be hilly with some adverse terrain, so we'll see what happens. I hope to recover at least a little bit to do well at that one. Then, tomorrow afternooon I might go and do the six-mile run (which will likely be three two-mile laps) at Oakland Mills Middle School in Columbia, MD with the Howard County Striders (it's one of their weekly series races). If I do the six-miler, I hope to run that one fairly easily, sort of as a recovery run.

Then, on Tuesday (November 18), I hope to run a hard mile in this road race near where I live at the Community of College Baltimore County (C.C.B.C.) Catonsville campus in Catonsville (Baltimore County), MD. It's the college's Turkey Trot one-mile run and it's a loop around the campus that includes about one or two uphills and a noticeable downhill. I hope to run well there; 'cause I haven't run a mile race competitively since early July. It's been a while, and God-willing I hope I can run a nice mile time for myself. The hills will throw in some interesting factors for sure and I hear there might be some light snow/freezing rain on Tuesday morning, but I hope they still have the race, because I hope to take a half-day off of work to do it. I actually am taking a history class at this college as well; it'd be great to help support and I like racing the mile as a distance. Of course, the weather forecast seemed off for this morning's weather, and I had seen that forecast for Tuesday yesterday morning, so it could very well have changed.

All right, I hope to get some more up here in the near future. Thank you all for reading and continue to have a nice weekend!

Running Events I have done this year as of Monday, November 3, 2008

(Italicized ones are the ones within my attempt to run a running event in all of Maryland’s counties within a half-a-year period from Saturday, May 3, 2008 – Monday, November 3, 2008)

Maryland

Allegany County

- First Annual Spring is Here! 10K – Sunday, April 6, 2008 – Cumberland, MD – 7th overall (20-29 age-group division winner) – 41:40

- Queen City Junior Striders Meet #2: Paris N. Glendening Park – Tuesday, June 17, 2008 – Frostburg:

- 1-mile cross country race: Winner – 5:52.11

- 2-mile cross country race: 8th overall - 13:13.08

- Andrea’s 5K Memorial Run – Saturday, August 16, 2008 – Barton – 8th overall (3rd in male 20-29 age-group division) – 18:49

Anne Arundel County

-Valentine’s Day 5K Run – Saturday, February 9, 2008 – Kinder Mill Farm Park, Millersville/Severna Park – 10th overall (3rd in male 20-29 age group division) – 17:59.15 (my best time on course J)

- John Wall Mile – Sunday, July 6, 2008 – Severna Park High School Track, Severna Park – 8th overall (fastest heat – 2nd in male 20-29 age-group division) – 5:07

- Annapolis Striders Women’s Distance Festival “Run After the Women” 5K (Men’s race) – Annapolis – 7th overall (25-29 age-group division winner) – 18:50.60 (clock), 18:49 (watch)

- Dog Days 8K Cross Country Run – Sunday, August 3, 2008 – Anne Arundel Community College/Earl Scott Trail, Arnold – 22nd overall – 32:33.04 (clock), 32:30 (watch)

- 22nd Annual BWI 4-Mile Run – Sunday, September 28, 2008 – Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Linthicum – 16th overall – 25:34.6, (clock) 25:33 (watch)

- Down’s Park 5 Mile Run/The Hog Neck Scamper – Saturday, November 1, 2008 – Down’s Park, Pasadena – 14th overall (2nd in 25-29 male age group division) – 31:18.21 (not bad considering I was dressed in a “nerd” costume :)

Baltimore City

- Kelly St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5K – Sunday, March 16, 2008 – Baltimore City – 61st overall (guntime-based) – 18:33 (guntime), 18:28 (chiptime)

- Dreaded Druid Hills 10K – Saturday, June 28, 2008 – Baltimore City – 22nd overall – 43:12.65

Baltimore County

- Baltimore Road Runners Club (BRRC) Grand Prix Series Eight-Mile Run – Sunday, January 13, 2008 – Loch Raven Reservoir – 11th overall – 53:34

- Patapsco State Park Trail Run (5-6 miles) – Sunday, May 11, 2008 – Patapsco State Park Avalon Area, Arbutus/Catonsville area – 41st overall- 1:05:59

- Inaugural TEVA Genessee Valley Trail Run 5K – Saturday, June 21, 2008 – Genessee Valley, Parkton – 5th overall (20-29 age group division winner) – 20:07

- Inaugural Maryland Running Cross Country Trials (5K) – Tuesday, August 26, 2008 – Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville – 12th overall (finished 11th overall, but the gentleman behind me accidentally started late and ran a faster time than I did, so really I ran the 12th fastest time in that race instead of the 11th – I was 9th in age group, awarded for 8th place)) - 19:20.1

Calvert County

- First Annual Southern Maryland Community Network Resolution 5K Run/Walk – Tuesday, January 1, 2008 – Prince Frederick – 4th overall (20-29 age group winner) – 18:47

- 13th Annual North Beach 5K – Saturday, September 27, 2008 – North Beach – 2nd overall – 19:01

Caroline County

- First Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K – Saturday, March 15, 2008 – Denton – 2nd overall (20-29 age group division winner) – 18:58 (clock), 18:55 (watch)

- Caroline Hospice Remembrances Run 5K (first year running a 5K course here instead of a 5-miler) – Saturday, September 20, 2008 – Federalsburg Marina Park, Federalsburg – 3rd overall (20-29 age group division winner) – 19:15

Carroll County

- Winfield Mile – Tuesday, January 1, 2008 – South Carroll High School, Winfield – 6th overall (2nd in 20-29 age group) – 5:11 (clock), 5:10 (watch)

- Kowomu Trail 5K Road Race – Sunday, August 17, 2008 – Westminster – 2nd overall – 20:21

- 5th Annual Labor Day 5K Rogue Race – Monday, September 1, 2008 – Liberty High School, Eldersburg – 5th overall (20-29 age-group division winner) – 18:28 (my personal best time on this course and at this event to-date J)

Cecil County

- Inaugural Run for Reading 4K – Saturday, May 10, 2008 – Bayview Elementary School, North East – Winner – 13:13 (accidentally cut the course a bit short) As of this race, Daniel Williams ran a race in every Maryland County along the Mason-Dixon Line J

- Inaugural Paws for Life/Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue May Day 5K – Sunday, May 18, 2008 – Chesapeake City – 20th overall – 29:18

- St. Roch’s Trail Run 7K – Saturday, July 19, 2008 – Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area (N.R.M.A.), Fair Hill/Elkton – Winner – 51:36 (this was after running a little past the actual finish area J)

- Inaugural Charlestown Riverfest River Run 5K – Sunday, September 14, 2008 – Charlestown – 4th overall (20-29 age group division winner) – 20:13

Charles County

- General Smallwood Sprint Triathlon – Sunday, June 29, 2008 – General Smallwood Park, Indian Head/Ironsides/Silver Hill – 194th overall (112th male finisher) – 1:59:32:

- 750-meter swim – 21:15 (ranked 111th fastest male time at this point)

- 1st transition area – 6:29 (ranked 132nd male time at this point)

- 16-mile bike – 1:10:28 (PR and it was ranked 135th male time at this point :)

- 2nd transition area – 1:18 (ranked 60th fastest male time at this point)

- 5K – 20:03 (ran very evenly or even had negative splits, and it was ranked 4th fastest overall, and 3rd fastest among the males J)

Dorchester County

- North Dorchester High School Eagle Athletics Boosters 5th Annual Eagle 5K Run – Saturday, October 4, 2008 – Hurlock – Winner – 18:49 (as of this race, I ran in a running event in every county of Maryland within 2008; God is Awesome J)

Frederick County

- Inaugural the Great “Deadman’s Hill” Down Hill Mile – Friday, April 4, 2008 – Brunswick, MD – 4th overall – 4:50 (off-track PR for a mile distance J) - They had mistaken me for finishing 8th overall with a time of 4:54

- Frederick Steeplechasers Summer Track Series (Two miles on the track) – Wednesday, June 18, 2008 – Frederick High School, Frederick:

- One mile warmup

- Two miles - 6th overall (13th in age-adjusted time) - 11:47 (I ran negative splits :)

- 3X800-meter relay race – Our team earned 2nd overall – My 800-meter splits were about: 2:53, 2:48ish, and then 2:26 (and I think I ran negative splits on that last one as well as keeping a fairly even pace on the first two J)

Garrett County

- Inaugural TEVA Adventure Games 10K Trail Run – Saturday, July 26, 2008 – A.S.C.I./Wisp Ski Resort, Deep Creek Lake – 6th overall (4th male finisher and 20-29 age group division winner) – 50:24 (I ran negative splits on one of the most hilliest and challenging races I’ve run in so far, and it was great scenery too J)

Harford County

- Leap of Faith Fun Run (7K prediction run – Approximately 4.35 miles) – Sunday, February 17, 2008 – Abington – 3rd/4th overall (8th closest to predicted time) – 27:24 (predicted time: 28:00)

- World No Tobacco Day 5K – Sunday, June 8, 2008 – Liriodrendron Mansion/Ma & Pa Trail, Bel Air -- overall (2nd in 20-29 age-group division) – 19:37

Howard County

- Howard County Striders (H.C.S.) Weekly Series (“Operation Iceberg”) #1: Burleigh Manor Middle School 5-mile run – Sunday, January 6, 2008 – Columbia/Ellicott City area – 7th overall – 32:18

- H.C.S. “Operation Iceberg” #3: Atholton High School 5K Run – Sunday, January 20, 2008 – Columbia – 6th overall – 18:38

- H.C.S. “Operation Iceberg” #5: Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center 15K (first 15K I’ve done as part of the H.C.S. weekly series :) – Sunday, February 10, 2008 – Columbia – 11th overall – 1:10:11

- Road Runners Club of America Ten-Mile Club Challenge – Sunday, February 24, 2008 – Columbia – 122nd overall – 1:07:58.85 (clock), 1:07:52 (watch)

- H.C.S. “Operation Iceberg” #9: Elkhorn 10K – Sunday, March 30, 2008 – Columbia – 13th overall – 43:42 (clock), 43:39 (watch) – Ran negative splits: 21:53 the first half! J

- Mt. Hebron High School Viking Backers Viking 5K – Sunday, April 13, 2008 – Mt. Hebron High School, Ellicott City – 2nd overall – 18:52

- 30th Annual Clyde’s 10K – Sunday, April 20, 2008 (my five-year anniversary of accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior J) – Columbia - - 42:09 (clock), 42:05 (chip)

- H.C.S. “Vernal Velocity” # : Thunder Hill Elementary School 2-miler – Sunday, May 18, 2008 – Columbia – 4th overall – 13:35

- First Annual Friends of the Howard County Library Fun Run/Walk (approximately 2.3 miles) – Saturday, June 7, 2008 – East Columbia Branch Library, Columbia – Winner – 14:25 (I ran a little further past the actual finish area J)

- Damien F. Massella Run for Recovery 5K (new course) – Sunday, June 22, 2008 – Columbia - overall – 18:38

- H.C.S. “Summer Sizzler” #2: Burleigh Manor Middle School 5-miler – Wednesday, June 25 – 6th overall – 32:26

- Police Pace 5K – Sunday, September 7, 2008 – Centennial Park, Ellicott City – 11th overall – 18:17.94 (my personal best time on this course to-date J)

- H.C.S. “Legends of the Fall” #2: Longfellow Elementary School 10K – Sunday, September 21, 2008 – 2nd overall - 44:32 (great pacing, because I went through the first half in about 22:13 J)

- H.C.S. “Legends of the Fall” #3: Atholton High School 5K – Sunday, October 12, 2008 – 11th overall – 20:38 (clock), 20:37 (watch) – I ran with a water bottle J

- H.C.S. “Legends of the Fall” #6: Longfellow Elementary School Two-miler – Sunday, October 19, 2008 – Winner – 11:59.53 (my best time-to-date on this course J)

- Maryland Public Schools 2A South and 3A East High School Cross Country Regional Championships (“Scrubs”/all-comers/junior varsity race) – Thursday, October 30, 2008 – Centennial High School 5K Cross Country Course, Ellicott City – 20:16 (my best time to-date on this revised course J

- First Annual Mission: Mississippi Harvest 5K Run/1-Mile Fun Run/Walk – Saturday, November 15, 2008 – Meadowbrook Park, Ellicott City – Winner (I was also awarded winner of the 25-40 year-old male age group division) – 20:16 (great time considering I ran a little extra by accidentally running the wrong way J)

Kent County

- 32nd Annual Chestertown Tea Party Distance Classic 5K – Saturday, May 24, 2008 – Chestertown – 3rd overall (20-29 age-group division winner) – 19:15 (clock), 19:12 (watch – best time at this event J)

- 27th Annual Rock Hall Flat Five – Friday, July 4, 2008 – Rock Hall – 2nd overall (“Open Men” age group division (20-36) winner) – 32:31 (it probably would have been a bit faster had I not accidentally missed a turn towards the beginning).

- 1st Annual Queen of the Roses 5K – Sunday, October 26, 2008 – Chestertown (same course as the Chestertown Tea Party Distance Classic 5K route) – 3rd overall (2nd in 20-29 age-group division) – 19:03 (my best time on the course to date J)

Montgomery County

- 5th Annual Walnut Hill Ribbon Run 5K – Sunday, February 10, 2008 – Gaithersburg – 2nd overall – 19:51

- Riley’s Rumble Half-Marathon – Sunday, July 27, 2008 – Riley’s Lock, Seneca/Poolesville – 132nd overall (117th male finisher) – 1:48:18 (clock), 1:47:27 (watch) – First half-marathon J

- Sandy Spring Friends School Practice Meet #1 (5K cross country race) – Wednesday, August 20, 2008 – Sandy Spring – 3rd overall (ran unattached) – 19:42 (I really picked it up the third mile J)

Prince George’s (P.G.) County

- Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex Track Showcase (indoor track) – Sunday, January 27, 2008 – Landover:

- 1,500 meter race – 15th overall - 5:04.9

- 800 meter race – 2nd overall –2:17.5

- 3,200 meter race – winner – 11:24 (best indoor track time for that distance by one second, and the 10:43 3,000 meter split I believe was right around an indoor track best time for me as well J)

- Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex Track Showcase (indoor track) – Sunday, February 3, 2008 – Landover:

- 800 meter run – 3rd overall – 2:15

- 3,200 meter run – 2nd overall – Have not gotten time yet, but I’m sure it was close to the 11:24 I hit there last weekend J

- Poker Run (3 laps around the lake at the Buddy Attick Park which is approximately 3.79 miles) – Friday, July 11, 2008 – First finisher (my poker hand did not win anything) – 24:44ish (and I was trying to break 25 minutes J)

- 10th Annual Run for Kathy 5K – Saturday, October 11, 2008 – Allen Pond Park, Bowie – 8th overall (male 20-29 age group division winner) – 18:28 (clock), 18:27 (watch)

Queen Anne’s County

- A Day at the Races – Saturday, March 29, 2008 – Queen Anne’s County High School, Centreville:

- 5K (on the high school cross country course) – Winner – 18:59 (probably a little shorter than a 5K, somewhere between 3 and 3.1 miles)

- 1,600 meter/1-mile track open fun run – 3rd overall – 6:34

- Kent Island Relay for Life – Saturday, June 7, 2008 – Kent Island High School, Stevensville – I ran about or almost four miles worth and I was one of the few joggers/runners at the event.

- Kennard Alumini Association 5K Walk/Run & Family Day (new course this year) - Saturday, June 14, 2008 – Kennard Elementary School, Centreville – Winner – 19:20

Saint Mary’s County

- 27th Annual Chaptico Classic 5K – Saturday, August 30, 2008 – Chaptico – 4th overall (20-29 age-group division winner) – 19:10

Somerset County

- 3rd Annual McCready Health Services Foundation Founder’s Day 8K – Saturday, May 3, 2008 – Crisfield – 2nd overall – 34:51 (clock), 34:27 (watch)

Talbot County

- Talbot Kids Fun Run (advertised as three-miles, but less than that) – Saturday, March 8, 2008 – North Easton Sportsplex (Rails-to-Trails), Easton – Winner – Probably ran low-to-mid 14’s based on the times of other runners (I did not run my watch on this one)

- 7th Annual Fall into St. Michaels 5K Run/Walk – Saturday, October 25, 2008 – St. Michaels Elementary School, St. Michaels – Winner – 18:54 (I accidentally made a wrong turn towards the end of the race, but this is the race where I finished out my half-year endeavor; praise God! J

Washington County

- 27th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five-Mile Run – Saturday, August 23, 2008 – Williamsport - 21st overall – 31:31

Wicomico County

- Mid-Shore Family YMCA Funny Bunny 5K Run – Saturday, March 8, 2008 – Salisbury – 2nd overall (20-29 age-group division winner) – 19:35

- Winter Place Park Summer Cross-Country Series #1 – Saturday, August 2, 2008 – Winter Place Park, Salisbury – 4th overall (won a Chick-Fil-A coupon as a door prize) – 19:01

- Vernon Powell Shoes The Athlete 5K Challenge – Saturday, October 4, 2008 – Salisbury – 5th overall (2nd in 20-29 age-group division; second to Fernando Guerrero, a famous boxer) – 19:08

Worcester County

- Ocean City Factory Outlets 5K – Saturday, April 12, 2008 – Ocean City – 2nd overall – 19:11

- 8th Annual Pink Ribbon Classic 5K – Saturday, October 18, 2008 – Ocean City – Winner – 18:36

Events outside of Maryland

Delaware

(Italicized ones are Delaware counties that I ran in the week of 5-25-to-5-31-2008)

Kent County

- 4th Annual Firefly 5K Run – Wednesday, May 28, 2008 – Smyrna – 6th overall (2nd in male 20-29 age-group division) – 18:53 (clock), 18:52 (watch)

New Castle County

- 7th Annual Friends of Mary Husty 5K – Monday, May 26, 2008 – University of Delaware, Newark – 8th overall (male 19-29 age-group division winner – Now I’ve won my age group in all three counties of Delaware in my lifetime J) – 18:38 (clock), 18:36 (watch)

Sussex County

- 15th Annual Masser Five-Miler – Sunday, May 25, 2008 – Lewes – 12th overall (3rd in male 25-29 age-group division) – 31:47 (clock), 31:45 (watch – My pace got faster later in the race :)

District of Columbia – Washington

- 410th Tidal Basin 3K – Wednesday, March 19, 2008 – Tidal Basin, Washington D.C. – 9th overall – 10:46

- 412th Tidal Basin 3K – Wednesday, June 18, 2008 – Tidal Basin, Washington D.C. - overall – 11:01

Virginia

Accomack County

Arlington County

- Potomac Valley Track Club All-Comers’ Indoor Track & Field Meet – Sunday, February 3, 2008 - Thomas Jefferson Community Center, Arlington:

- 1 mile run – 6th overall – 5:17.0

- 800 meter run – 6th overall – 2:22.5

- 3,000 meter run – 7th overall – 10:59.8

Fairfax County

- 30th Annual Patriot’s Cup 8K – Sunday, May 4, 2008 – George Mason University, Fairfax – 20th overall – 32:27 (clock), 32:23ish (watch)

Northampton County

Friday, November 14, 2008

Back from the Retreat

Hey there everyone, as some of you may know, I went on a retreat last weekend (Friday, November 7 - Sunday, November 9) with my church to Deep Creek (Garrett County), Maryland. We stayed at a hotel at the bottom of the ski slopes of the Wisp resort. We had an excellent time fellowshipping (we mainly discussed Truth found in God and the Bible), and even though it was cloudy and a bit cool, it hardly rained. Great weather for being up in the mountains. We had some nice weather for hiking (I went with a couple of buddies to Swallow Falls State Park right by Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, and it was the first time I had been there). Swallow Falls has a sixty-three foot-tall waterfall right by the Muddy Creek Falls area, and it's the highest waterfall in Maryland. I have some photos and perhaps I'll get some up here on this blog.

Although, I didn't do a race last weekend (which seems quite uncommon for me these days), I did get a couple of nice runs in on Saturday and Sunday mornings around the mountains. These runs involved me running up the grassy and fairly slippery ski slopes (which were much more grueling than they appeared in my opinion). I ran for most of it, even though at some points I felt like I was slowed to having to get on alll fours to get up some of the steeper and more slippery parts of the slopes. I ran to the top of this one slope and ended up at the Adventure Sports Center International (A.S.C.I.), the start and finish area of the inaugural TEVA Adventure Games 10K Trail Run that I ran on Saturday, July 26 this year (and so far has been the only Garrett County running event I've run this year). I knew the site of this race was pretty close to the hotel that we were staying in, but I had no idea it was within a mile or so of it! Talk about a "small world" :) Going down the hill was interesting, and I'm glad I made it down without getting hurt adn the number of times I fell I could county on one hand.Later on Saturday evening, we had a bonfire at the base of the slopes behind hte hotel, and it was pretty cold and dark. Some of us decided to hike up the ski slope (at least to the top of the steepest hill on the slope) in the dark, and I went up with one group of about four or five people and it was fun. I liked it because it helped keep us warm. There was this one gentleman, Jake, who was on crutches and he made the hike up the slope on his crutches. I thought that was inspiring. Of course, going down the slippery hill was quite an adventure (especially for Jake, whose crutches I ended up holding on the way down as we slid/rolled/tumbled down the hill), and I thought that was one of the big highlights of the trip.

So yea, it was a pretty fun trip and retreat. I'm glad I got to revisit the Deep Creek Lake area, and this time it was not for a race. And speaking of races, I'm doing my first race in about two weeks tomorrow (Saturday, November 15) at the Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City (Howard County), MD. This church in Highland (Howard County), MD called Mt. Zion United Methodist Church is putting on the Mission Mississippi Harvest 5K, and I think it's to help benefit an upcoming missions trip to Mississippi to help with hurricane relief efforts. I remember going to Biloxi, Mississippi on a missions trip in the January of 2006 to help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts through Salisbury University's chapter of B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) and Samaritan's Purse, so I am definitely excited about a chance to support this kind of thing by doing something I like to do (running a race). I hoep to wear my Samaritan's Purse t-shirt to the race tomorrow. I'm sure it will be rainy, chilly, and hilly on the course, but I'm hoping that they still have it and that I get through all right. My running has been going pretty nice so far since my last race (the Down's Park/Hog Neck Scamper 5 Mile Run in Anne Arundel County, MD) on Saturday, November 1. We'll see what happens tomorrow with it; God-willing it can be a great race and successful in raising funds for a constructive cause.

All right, thank you all for reading. Have a good night out there!

Monday, November 3, 2008

May 3, 2008 - November 3, 2008 - "Time Limit"

Well today (Monday, November 3, 2008) marks the day when time would have run out on my half-year Maryland-wide running and racing goal had I not completed it in Talbot County, Maryland on Saturday, October 25, 2008 with the 7th Annual Fall into St. Michaels 5K Run/Walk. I had marked the 3rd Annual McCready Health Services Foundation Founders Day 8K in Crisfield (Somerset County), MD on Saturday, May 3, 2008 as my starting point in this half-a-year endeavor to participate in a running event in every Maryland County within a half-a-year's time period. It had come pretty close, but God is good and He helped get this thing done in solid shape. I just figured I'd comment on that and I am very much relieved to have that goal accomplished, and I thank you all once again for your help and your support. I truly do not think I could thank you all enough for that :)

Yesterday I ran the Down's Park Five-Miler/Hog-Neck Scamper in Down's Park in Pasadena (Anne Arundel County), MD. I was not expecting to run that well, probably no stronger than 32 or 33 minutes, especially after last Thursday's hilly cross-country 5K "Scrub Race" at the high school regional championships in Howard County, MD. Plus, I also decided to run the race in my Halloween costume; a nerd (which didn't take too much extra work for me to put together :)- I came to the race in my running shorts, and then a collared striped shirt, with my dad's suspenders and pocket protector that he lent me, as well as my glasses. I even had a coupla pens in my shirt pocket with the pocket protector and one of the two pens actually stayed in my pocket throughout the race!

Well much to my pleasant surprise, I ran a lot better than I expected! I know that this course is mostly flat with great shaded running paths. It's very scenic; a good portion of the course running alongside of the Chesapeake Bay. I hope to have photos of that as well as of me in my nerd costume (and believe me I don't look that much different, haha). I've run this race in the past a couple of times (2005 when I ran it in 32:31ish, and in 2006 when I ran it in 30:01 after they slightly lengthened the course), and both times I've run well for whatever shape I've been in.

The same was true for this time around.

I went through the first mile in about 5:59, which was surprisingly faster than I was expecting and I had already gone out faster on this first mile than on the first mile for the 5K (approximately 3.1-mile) race I had done less than two days prior (and I went through the first mile in that cross country race in about 6:18). I surprisingly kept up all right with the group of runners around me and I went through two miles in about 12:16. Again, faster than I was expecting.

At this point, the course started to go on a fairly steep, but short uphill (pretty much the only noticeable uphill the whole race) to a bridge that went over the road outside of the park and then back down a hill on the other side. At this point, the pack of runners I was hanging onto had pulled away, but I was encouraged by the fact that based on the pace I was going (at about 6:08-per-mile since I went through two miles in 12:16) that I would most definitely beat 20:16 for my 5-kilometer split (and 20:16 was the time I ran at that cross country race on Thursday).

Well, needless to say that definitely happened. As I ran towards the three mile mark, the sunlit Chesapeake Bay was on my left and even though I was huffin' and puffin' a good amount, I still enjoyed the view the few glances that I was able to afford it. I crossed the three-mile mark in about 18:18, and even though myself and probably some of the other runners would agree that that three-mile mark was just a bit short, I still think that it was not that far off and that I probably got through my 5K split on the lower end of 19 minutes, which definitely destroyed the time I ran a couple of days ago on the cross-country course a couple of days before this race. And that's when I was pretty confident that I would run a great time.

I ran through the twisting trails through the fourth mile in about 24:56 (which I do believe has been the only time I have run under 25 minutes for four miles this year). I knew I was in position to break 31:31 for my five-mile finish time (31:31 has been my fastest five-mile time in over a year, and I ran that on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at the 27th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five-Mile Run in Williamsport/Washington County, Maryland). With this in mind, I pushed through the last mile, with one of my buddies on my tail and the pack of runners I had been with just ahead. While I was running, I thought how strange I must look as a "nerd", but that I was probably one strong looking nerd, running well for my level of fitness.

The trails opened up into the roads and I knew I had about a half-mile or so to go from here. I ran down the wide road, passing by the parking lots. I came up close to the parking lot on the left where my car was parked, I knew that I probably had less than an eighth-of-a-mile to go, and with that I kicked it in and finished the five-mile race in 31:18, my fastest five-mile time in over a year :) Praise God! I had run that in a Halloween costume with lower expectations for myself because of a tough race I had run just a couple of days prior. That was terrific! I even found out later at the awards ceremony that I had earned a nice trophy for finishing second in my age-group (the 25-29 year-old male age division). I guess there is hope for us nerdy guys out there, haha :)-

So as always I had a great race for myself at the Down's Park Five-Miler. My pace did not slow all that much throughout the race. I guess with a 31:18, I was averaging about 6:15-per-mile, which isn't too bad considering I was cramping up and I had gone out in 5:59 for the first mile. I don't plan on doing any other races for another coupla weeks; just running and training. Plus, next weekend I'm hoping to go to Deep Creek Lake (Garrett County), MD out in the far western mountainous regions of the state, for a retreat in this church-based ministry that I often attend. I think it will be a great thing for me to go too and I'm hoping to perhaps get a little time to myself to go running up in the mountains.

Before I go, I want to encourage/remind you all to vote tomorrow (Tuesday, November 4, 2008) on Election Day for the United States of America. Whoever you vote for, just know that you are contributing with your freedom to help determine America's next president. I'll be praying about our future as a country for sure! Have a good night out there and thank you for reading!