So this is the last post I plan to have on this blog in relation to me running in a running event in every Maryland County (including Baltimore City) in 2007 and 2008, as well as the few years following that. It is coming up on 8 months since I have last posted, and I think it is time for me to put the blogging aside (as I mentioned in recent posts from last summer and fall). I feel that I have reached a point where I am turning a corner, ending a chapter and beginning a new chapter, and I think it is an appropriate ending for this blog. However, God-willing I hope to continue running and racing for many many years to come.
So much has happened since that day (Saturday, September 23, 2006) when I ran that Run for the Sun/Son Two-Mile Run at the Old Love Point Park in Stevensville on Kent Island (which is in Queen Anne's County, Maryland). That was my first exposure to the Cross-Island Trail (where the race was held on), which would later become a favorite running spot of mine and play a role in God's story that he had for this interesting running adventure I embarked upon. Some months later, I found out over the Internet that there was this new Race to Impact 10-Kilometer Run on the Cross-Island Trail, and because I knew what the Cross-Island Trial was like, it really inspired me to make the 50-60-minute commute across the Bay Bridge from where I lived in Howard County, Maryland, to do the race (and at the time, that seemed like a fairly lengthy commute :) Hours after running the Race to Impact 10K in about 38:51 (which was and still is one of the fastest times I have run for that distance to date) I was hit by the realization that I had run a race in Queen Anne's County, a county in Maryland that I knew did not have that many races in it as did some of the counties near where I was from, and I thought that if someone were trying to run a race in every county of Maryland within a year, I had just run a race in one of the harder counties to find a running race in. The idea of running a race within the year of 2007 stuck with me, and by God's grace I was able to complete that quest having also run races in all three Delaware Counties, Baltimore City, and Washington D.C., on Saturday, September 15, 2007 in North Beach at the 12th Annual North Beach 5K Run, my first race ever in Calvert County, MD (and my efforts in this running endeavor are chronicled in my former blog at: http://www.runineverymdcounty.blogspot.com).
How was I to know what would happen a little over three years later in a church down the road from the very spot in North Beach, MD where God helped me finish running a race in every county of Maryland within a year...
2008 saw me become very interested in running a race in every county of Maryland again. Between Saturday May 3, 2008 and Monday, November 3, 2008, God got me through this same goal, except within half-a-year and doing many different races than I did in the previous year. I was able to run a race in all 23 of Maryland's counties, all 3 of Delaware's counties, Baltimore City, and Washington D.C. within a half-a-year period in 2008. On Saturday, October 25, 2008, I finished this goal in Talbot County at the Annual Fall into St. Michael's Sports Boosters 5K Run in the scenic St. Michael's (it was part of their "Fall into St. Michael's Fall Festival). I finished up 2008 having run about 112 races that year that included my first and only multi-sport event I have done to date (the annual General Smallwood Sprint Triathlon in Charles County, MD) as well as two half marathons. I also did not include my brief participation in Kent Island's Relay for Life in Queen Anne's County, MD in that total either. I have not come close to racing that many races in a year as I had run in 2008, nad I do not feel obligated to try and top that right now!
I am not trying to brag, but to bring some closure to this series of blogs by reviewing a couple of high points/goals mentioned in this blog.
I remember my first post on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 when I was testing to see if I could post correctly, and then later that day I posted again seeing if I could post a picture correctly on these blogs (fortunately it was a success). Aside from the running, these blogs have seen move a few times, go from being a service clerk at Safeway and a substitute teacher to being a full-time elementary school teacher (and I think no less of any of these jobs in comparison to one-another). These blogs have seen me get sick, get injured, take at least five breaks from running/races, make many new friends, meet and befriend my future wife, and then become engaged and married to her within a few years later. I really want to thank you all for checking out, following, supporting, and sharing this blog with others (even if you glanced at it once). It has been a joy to correspond with you and I hope that we can stay in touch. To all of you runners, as well as my friends and family who check up on this blog, I look forward to seeing you at the races and/or just with hanging out, and I appreciate your patience with me and the sometimes lags that go on for months between posts and updates. If you wish to keep in touch, my e-mail address is: noahwood@juno.com I am also on Facebook.Com as well as Myspace.Com (even though I haven't logged onto my account there in well over a year I don't think)
I hope to get actual wedding photos uploaded on this post in the future. While I do not plan to continue blogging, I will still use this page to put up results of races that I do, as well as eventually all the races I have done in past years, some workouts that standout, as well as personal records (PRs) on some of the routes I have run consistently at different places that I have lived. Now, ever since the summer after the Ninth Grade (the summer of 1999) I started a tradition when I would go with my family on their annual vacation to Rehoboth Beach in Sussex County Delaware. I would run a mile hard down the mile-long boardwalk at least once during the vacation. So far I have ranged anywhere from 6:02 when I started it in 1999 to 5:03 in 2006. I hope to post my times on that on this blog as well. Also, a couple of years ago I started to try and break 15 minutes on the old "Jingle Bell Run"
course (which is a bit shorter than a 5K) on the Cross-Island Trail of Kent Island. Since running that race in December of 2007 (where I hit about 16:29), I ran it again in the summer of 2009 and hit 16:11 which is my best time on the course and I hope to improve on it even though they do not seem to do that Jingle Bell Run there anymore, at least not to my knowledge. My point is, I hope to keep tabs of my attempts on breaking 15 minutes there on this blog, as well as attempts of any other such running goal, just without all of this narration and editorializing. In the future I hope to look for a way to have links to the different features of this blog post, so that you and others can click on the link of interest as opposed to scrolling to the bottom of this lengthy post to see how I did in a race or a workout. Also, if I ever am blessed to write any books and/or finish slideshows about my racing goals in every county of Maryland, I will add information about them on this blogpost.
Suffice it all to say, I am not journaling on this blog anymore, but I will just supply this post with results of how I do at races and other such running endeavors.
OUR WEDDING
In much the same way that I blog about the details of some workouts and races that I have done, I will share some details and memories of Kay's and my wedding time for any who are interested in reading :)
Thursday evening (November 18, 2010) into Friday morning (November 19, 2010), I had not gotten more than about 10 minutes of sleep because I almost stayed up all night doing these detailed lesson plans for the substitute teacher, since I planned to be out from teaching for a couple of days surrounding Kay's and my wedding, scheduled for that Saturday, November 20, 2010. Needless to say, after about 10 minutes of sleep, I still felt pretty out of it, though I wanted to believe that it was better than no sleep at all. Fortunately, that Friday (November 19, 2010) was the first personal day that I had asked off for as a teacher, and then the following Monday (November 22, 2011) would be the second prsonal day that I would ask off for as a teacher. All that aside, even though I almost stayed up all night, I still appreciated the days off surrounding Kay's and my wedding!
So the day before my wedding I took off, and I headed up to Columbia (Howard County), MD to see my family. We had some relatives come in from out of town for our wedding, such as my Aunt Joyce and Uncle Charles from New York, as well as my Uncle Michael and his family from California. My Uncle Michael has been running/working out, and the day before my wedding we took a nice run of about 3 miles give or take around the bike paths surrounding Hammond High School, where I had gone to high school and where I ran many times over the past 12 years. Here I was within about a day of getting married, and I was running around the areas where I used to run for running practice for the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams at Hammond High School, and in the years beyond, and I got to show my uncle around. It was a great time.
That night, we headed south to Calvert County, MD and we had our rehearsal at Grace Brethren Church in Owings (which was within about 10 miles of where I had run the North Beach 5K in 2007 and had finished out my running goal to run in a running event in every Maryland county within a year, and this was a few months before Kay and I met), and then we had our rehearsal dinner at the Mama Lucia's in Dunkirk in Calvert County. It was a great time and we were getting excited about the next day's wedding ceremony and reception.
That night I can not remember how much sleep I got, but it was more than the 10 minutes I had gotten the night before. I woke up on my wedding morning feeling a little tired, but ambitious to get a run in before I did a lot of other things. I went for a brief run around my neighborhood in Prince Frederick (Calvert County), MD and ran for about 13 minutes and 57/58 seconds, if not 14 minutes and 57/58 seconds. I felt nice after that run. I showered, got dressed, and hopped in the car, and headed north to Grace Brethren Church to married my sweetheart, Kay.
When I got there, my dad, brother, and I made sure our tuxes were on properly, and then I hung out with my best men, Derek (my brother) and Brian (one of my best friends whom I became friends with my Junior year of high school), and my friend John read Scripture from the Bible during the ceremony. Kay's two sisters (Debbie and Gayle) were her Matrons of Honor, and she had her friend Heather, sing a beautiful song during the ceremony.
I was grateful that the sanctuary at Grace Brethren Church is as large as it is, because we were blessed with a great turn out on both sides of our families and friends. The ceremony seemed to go by in a quick blur, almost like a sprint (okay that was a somewhat weak comparison, but it's the best I could do for now). At first it seemed like I was there almost all morning, waiting at the altar with my best men before my wife-to-be came out with her dad. The pastors did the ceremony, Heather sang the song, John read Scripture, and before we knew it Kay and I were holding hands and looking each other in the eyes, saying our vows. It almost seemed so surreal in those moments of exchanging our vows, in a sense getting ready to give her my life, and her life to me, as one married flesh before God. I think about all of the things that make up Kay's life as well as mine, including but not limited to all of the growing up, schooling, tests, grades, challenges, successes, joys/fun times, races, friendships, hanging out with friends, family, vacations and trips, adjustments, our faith in God through Jesus Christ, and memories in general of our lives that God had blessed us with up until to that point in our lives when He would join us in holy matrimony...
... And then we had our first kiss and embrace as a married couple, and in a quick array of applause and photos, Kay and I found each other walking hand-in-hand out of the sanctuary while almost everyone else in attendance went to the church's multipurpose room for the reception. After that, we had some photos with our families, matrons of honor, and best men.
Soon after, Kay and I got to go into the multi-purpose room for the reception, and we were seated near the front of the room before the room's stage, with a table to ourselves. Everyone else was seated at tables that each were named by a county in Maryland (hmmm, I wonder why, haha :)- Much like the ceremony, the reception seemed to speed by. I remember eating great food, the combinations and arrangements of which I don't think I have had before, dancing with our parents, and of course, Kay and I having our first official dance as a married couple to Steven Curtis Chapman's ("I Will Be Here"). We also had our slideshow playing (which I may eventually release on here if I can, we will see, and if so, I will post some information about it on this blog post). Of course, we had more photos being taken as well friends and family coming up to our table every now and then. That was very terrific, as Kay and I felt like we hardly had much time to mingle with our guests, though we were glad everyone else seemed to enjoy themselves. Kay's friend, Lindsay, even sang a couple of wonderful love songs at our reception, and we were blessed and grateful that she had the opportunity to showcase her singing ability in such a way. Kay looked radiantly beautiful (which I easily expected), the atmosphere was positive and friendly, the food was terrific, and even though I had barely gotten sleep a couple of nights before our wedding day, I felt pretty energized!
However, the awesome ceremony and reception was nowhere near as terrific as Kay! Just getting to marry Kay and knowing that we were indeed one in God's view, and able to live for Him as such, was and still is a terrific thing!
So as Bebo Norman sang in his song "A Page Is Turned" (one of the three songs Kay and I had playing in our wedding slideshow), I felt that a page (if not more) has turned in our lives when Kay and I got married. I feel it is the "happy ending" these blogs of a good few years deserve. I hope that God preserves these blogs for a great while, and that others can not just see this as me bragging, but to see how God can epically take the weak and humble, and do amazingly things that glorify Him. I used to barely be able to complete a lap around the track, I used to dislike running, and racing even more so. I was an elementary school and middle school student who often found himself in the school nurse's office often complaining about a queasy stomach. I got made fun of in school much when I was younger, and my lack of athletic ability/fitness was probably one of the reasons. I never really had a steady girlfriend until I started dating Kay. I used to struggle to pass tests and earn good grades in school. I just feel that these were some areas in my life that caused frustration and personal difficulty, but yet God had helped (or is helping) me to get through that and He despite being single just about all my life, He brought me Kay. Despite having once been so out of shape, He not only helped get me into shape where I would win a footrace every now and then, but He gave me a heart and a passion to go to every county of Maryland and Delaware, and run a race there, and strengthened that passion in the process. My point is, I hope that people can read from these blogs and learn about how Jesus helped a relatively simple and weak man accomplish some things that he once thought himself, or hard-to-visualize-himself-doing anyways. God wants us to know Him and to live for Him, and the only way to Him is through Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for us and took all of our sin so that we could have our Way to God! I just hope these blogs and the testimonies of how God helped me do well in races as well as in other areas of my life, inspire others to seek after Him and put their hope in Him! He has great plans for each and everyone of you, you were not created as a result of a haphazard accident, but for great purposes.
I wish all who come across this God's blessings, and if you yourself like to run, I hope that you can find enjoyment in it before anything else (i.e. racing, setting personal goals with it). I think God blessing me with a passion for and enjoyment of running has really helped get me through some of the rougher seasons and races involved with running.
Whatever happens to Kay and I, just know that we are in good hands with God, and though her's and my life are positively changed in marriage, God is still the same merciful, compassionate, and loving God and He has good for whatever lies ahead :)
RACES I HAVE RUN IN 2006
Sunday, January 1, 2006 - Howard County Striders’ Annual New Year’s Day Prediction Run – Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center, Columbia (Howard County), MD (Results are below, cut and pasted):
28th Wood, Noah Columbia, MD M 22 234 HCS 2:59:30.47
(HCS Resolution Run 8K - Sunday, 1/1/2006) (Time to hit was 3:00 P.M.)
Sunday, January 8, 2006 - HCS Winter Series #1: Burleigh Manor Middle School 5-Miler - Ellicott City (Howard County), MD - Winner - 30:50 (clock), 30:49 (watch, my best time on this course to-date, and my first half of the race was run in about 15:13 :)
Sunday, January 22, 2006 HCS Winter Series #3: Atholton High School 5K - Columbia (Howard County), MD - 2nd overall - 17:47 (my best time on that course to-date :)
Saturday, February 11, 2006 – Valentine’s Day 5K – Kinder Mill Farm Park, Millersville (Anne Arundel County), MD – 24th overall - 19:06.04 (not bad considering I ran 400-meter repeats at track practice the afternoon before)
Saturday, March 4, 2006 – Salisbury University Seagull Opener Open Track & Field Meet – Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD:
- 1,500 Meter Run – 4:40
- 800 Meter Run – 2nd place I think – 2:12ish
Saturday, March 11, 2006 – St. Patrick’s Day 5K – Salisbury City Park, Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD – 10th overall (20-29 age group division winner (though they accidentally had me in a 70+ age group division )) – 18:47
Sunday, March 19, 2006 – Howard County Striders’ Winter Series: Longfellow Elementary School 2-Miles – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 2nd overall – 12:06 (my best time on the course at the time, and pretty nice considering I was coming down with a fever )
Saturday, March 25, 2006 – Columbia’s Cure 5K Run – Centennial Park, Ellicott City, MD – 2nd in 20-29 male age group division – 18:48
Saturday, April 1, 2006 – Mid-Shore Delmarva YMCA Funny Bunny 5K Run – Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD – Winner – 18:45 (my best time on the course and I had run “ins and outs” with 200 meters at track practice the previous afternoon )
Saturday, April 1, 2006 – 3rd Annual Jerry Daniel Landsman Safe Run 5K – Salisbury University Campus, Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD – 2nd overall – 19:00 (it was a little shorter than a 5K).
Saturday, April 8, 2006 – Outdoor Track & Field Meet in New Jersey:
- 1,500 Meter Run – Last in heat – 4:35/4:36
Saturday, April 15, 2006 – Outdoor Track & Field Invitational at Widener University, Chester (Delaware County), Pennsylvania:
- 1,500 Meter Run – Last place – 4:35/4:36
Saturday, April 22, 2006 – 6th Anniversary of Oxford Day 10K Classic – Oxford (Talbot County), MD – 10th overall (3rd in 20-29 male age-group division) – 42:07 (Not bad considering I had run “ins and outs” with 200 meters the previous afternoon at track practice )
Saturday, April 29, 2006 – Salisbury University’s Spring Olympics XII 3-Mile Run – Salisbury University Campus, Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD – Winner – 18:22
Saturday, May 6, 2006 – Inaugural McCready Health Services Foundation’s Founder’s Day 8K Run (it came to about 4.3 miles) – Crisfield (Somerset County) – Winner – 27:31
Sunday, May 7, 2006 – Annual Governor’s Bay Bridge Run 10K – Stevensville/Kent Island (Queen Anne’s County) – Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis (Anne Arundel County), MD – 133rd (guntime-based finishing position), 52nd (chip-time-based finishing position) – 45:55.45 (guntime), 41:44.80 (chiptime)
Saturday, May 13, 2006 – Annual Southern Delaware School of the Arts Run for the Arts 5K – Selbyville (Sussex County), DE – Winner – 18:25 (first mile was about 5:50, second mile was about 11:31, and I was coming off of a rolled ankle :)
Saturday, May 20, 2006 – Inaugural Hunter’s Mill 5K Run – About 3-loops around the Hunter’s Mill neighborhood, Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD – Winner – 18:52/18:53 (watch time), 18:52/18:51 (clock time)
• I was blessed to have graduated from Salisbury University on Thursday, May 25, 2006 *
Saturday, May 27, 2006 – 30th Annual Chestertown Tea Party Distance Classic 5K Run – Chestertown (Kent County), MD – 5th overall (male 20-24 age group division winner) – 19:21
Monday, May 29, 2006 – Inaugural Carroll County Parkinsons 5K Run/Walk – Started and ended at Liberty High School, Eldersburg (Carroll County), MD – 10th overall (20-29 male age group division winner) – 19:13 (clock), 19:12 (watch)
Friday, June 2, 2006 – Howard County Junior Striders Open Track Meet #2 – Oakland Mills High School outdoor track, Columbia (Howard County), MD:
- 1-mile – Winner – 4:59.9
- 2-mile – 11:55 (I think I ran negative splits, if not it was pretty even-paced )
Friday, June 2, 2006 – Howard County Relay for Life – Hammond High School’s Outdoor Track, Columbia (Howard County), MD – I think I ran 3+ miles-worth on the track in over 22 minutes
Saturday, June 10, 2006 – Inaugural 4 for Familes 4-Mile Run – Loop through the hilly neighborhoods of Wilde Lake, Columbia (Howard County), MD – 4th overall (2nd in 20-29 male age group division) – 25:02
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 – Howard County Striders Summer Series Race: Swansfield Elementary School 1-Mile – Columbia (Howard County), MD – Winner – 5:10 (clock), 5:09 (watch, this is my best time on the course to-date and my goal was to break 5:10 )
Sunday, June 25, 2006 – Damien F. Massella’s Run for Recovery 5K – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 22nd overall - 18:08.26
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 – Centennial Fun Runs (1-Mile) – Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – 5:41/5:42
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 – Howard County Striders Summer Series Race: Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center 2-miles – Columbia (Howard County), MD – Winner – 11:21 (my best time on the course to-date and my first mile was 5:40, so I ran a very even-paced race )
Thursday, June 29, 2006 – 3rd Annual Friends of the Georgetown Library 5K Run – Georgetown (Sussex County), Delaware – Winner – 18:15 (my first mile was about 5:56, and I think my two-mile split was about 11:58, and I ran negative splits at this race )
Saturday, July 1, 2006 – Inaugural Tinia Qade Foundation Run for the Family 5K Run – Centennial Park, Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – 11th overall – 21:13 (I went the wrong way and I ran a little longer, and this happened more than once I think)
Wednesday, July 5, 2006 – Howard County Striders Oakland Mills 5-Mile Relay (2 people on a team, and each run 2.5 miles-worth/10 laps, on an outdoor track) – Oakland Mills High School Outdoor Track, Columbia (Howard County), MD – Our team was 3rd overall – 24:35 (I averaged about 1:12-per 400 meters)
Wednesday, July 19, 2006 – Howard County Striders Meet of Miles – Oakland Mills High School Outdoor Track, Columbia (Howard County), MD – 6th overall (3rd in male 20-29 age group division) – 4:53
Saturday, August 12, 2006 – Howard County Striders Pre-Season Cross Country Race (3K Run, it was the first time they had the 3K option) – Oakland Mills High School, Columbia (Howard County), MD – Winner – 12:07
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 – Howard County Striders Summer Series: Thunder Hill Elementary School 10K Run – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 12th overall – 45:20 (I was hurting around my knee and I stopped to stretch at least once)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 – Howard County Striders’ Summer Series: 5th Annual Celestial 5K Run – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 8th overall – 18:46 (clock), 18:44 (watch – my best time-to-date on the course )
Saturday, September 2, 2006 – National Hard Crab Derby 27th Annual Mike Sterling Run (due to flooding caused by rain on some portions of the course, and impromptu 5K run was held starting and ending at the Depot area of the Crisfield city docks and running out and back Highway 413) – Crisfield (Somerset County), MD – Winner – 29:06
Monday, September 4, 2006 – Eldersburg Labor Day Rogue Race 5K – Started and ended at Liberty High School, Eldersburg (Carroll County), MD – 20th overall – 20:02 (clock), 19:59ish (watch, not bad considering I was feeling sick-to-my stomach the day before and that morning, probably as a result of colder working conditions at work).
Saturday, September 9, 2006 – 2nd Annual Gorman Crossing Elementary School Back to School 5K Run – North Laurel (Howard County), MD – Winner – 18:48
Sunday, September 10, 2006 – Howard County Striders’ Fall Series: Burleigh Manor Middle School 2-Mile Run – Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – Winner – 11:39
Saturday, September 16, 2006 – 6th Annual Habifest 5K Run – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 5th overall (20-29 age group division winner) – 18:03
Sunday, September 17, 2006 – 15th Annual Police Pace 5K – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 21st overall – 18:23.67
Saturday, September 23, 2006 – Inaugural “Run for the Sun/Son” 2-Mile Run – Old Love Point Park/Cross-Island Trail, Stevensville/Kent Island (Queen Anne’s County), MD – Winner – 13:49 (The first mile was about 8:58, and then my second one was about 4:51. God blessed me with a PR in a mile for me off of the track).
Saturday, September 30, 2006 – Catonville Fall into Fitness 5K Run (Matthew’s 1600 Route) – Catonsville (Baltimore County), MD – 7th overall (male 20-24 age group division winner) – 18:18 (I was blessed with running about 9:10 the first half, and then running about 9:08 the second half).
Sunday, October 8, 2006 - Howard County Striders’ Fall Series Race: Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center 10K Run – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 3rd overall – 38:53 (my first 5K split was about 19:06, by far my fastest 5K split on this course, however, not long after, I made a wrong turn when I was still in 3rd place, and raced a little extra to try and make up for the accidental short cut. The distance I covered was probably a little shorter than a 10K if not shorter).
Saturday, October 21, 2006 – Annual Harvest Harrier 5K Run – Rockburn Branch Park, Elkridge (Howard County), MD – 3rd in male 20-29 age-group division – 19:21/19:22 (I ran negative splits here with I think about a 11:50 at my 3-kilometer split )
Sunday, October 29, 2006 – Marine Corps Marathon: 1st Annual 10K Run – District of Columbia/Northern Virginia – 15th overall (3rd in 20-24 male age group division) – 39:59 (gun time), 39:56 (chip time), my 5K split was about 18:40 as I recall
Saturday, November 4, 2006 – Annual Down’s Park Hog Neck Scamper 5-Mile Run – Down’s Park, Pasadena (Anne Arundel County), MD – 5th overall (20-29 male age group division winner) – 30:01.0 (best time on that course, and it was slightly longer than before )
Saturday, November 11, 2006 – 2nd Annual Men In Kilts 5K Run – Timonium Fairgrounds and surrounding neighborhoods, Timonium (Baltimore County), MD – 4th overall (and 4th overall male with a kilt, and first cash prize I was blessed to win for placing in the top 7 men running in kilts, plus I was blessed with a gift certificate to Falls Road Running Store for being the “best dressed” runner with a kilt and Renaissance Faire garb ) – 18:23
Sunday, November 12, 2006 – Annual Herring Run Park 5-Mile Cross-Country Run – Baltimore City, MD - 2nd overall – 30:08 (ran at a much faster pace than the 21:56 5K I ran at this same venue at Herring Run Park in the Autumn of 1998 during my freshman year of high school at the Mergenthaler Vocational Tech (Mervo Tech) Mustang Invitational )
Saturday, November 18, 2006 – 21st Annual Turkey Trot Two-Mile Fun Run – Denton Elementary School, Denton (Caroline County), MD – Winner – 11:06 (best time on that course to date
Sunday, November 19, 2006 - Annual Cold Turkey 10K Run – Edgewater (Anne Arundel County), MD – 6th overall (2nd in male 20-24 age group division) – 38:36 (best time on that course to date
Thursday, November 23, 2006 – Howard County Striders’ Annual Turkey Trot 10K Prediction Run – Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center, Columbia (Howard County), MD -80th finisher –Finished at 10:58:48.94 (goal time was 11:00 A.M. exactly) – I covered the course in about 40:54ish (my best time on this course to date )
Saturday, November 25, 2006 – Tom’s 5th Annual 5K Reindeer Run – Laurel (Prince George’s County), MD – Winner – 18:06 (this may possibly have been the course record at the time, though I am not 100% sure on that )
Sunday, December 3, 2006 – 30th Annual Columbia Metric Marathon – Columbia/Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – 17th overall (2nd in 20-24 age group division) – 1:49:40.68 (clock), 1:49:39ish (watch) PR with negative splits too I think!!!!!
This has been my longest race I have run to-date, and below are the splits that I recall running en route to this time:
1-mile - 6:32/6:33
4 miles – Low 27’s
5 miles – Low 34’s
6 miles – Around 41:04 I think
8 miles – I think a little ways under 55 minutes
10 miles – 1:07:59
11 miles – Under 1 hour and 15 minutes (PR )
12 miles – 1 hour and 21 minutes, and some-odd seconds (PR )
13 miles – 1:27:51 (PR )
14 miles – Low-to-mid 1:34’s (PR )
Sunday, December 17, 2006 – HCS Fall Series Race: Elkhorn-Savage 10K – Columbia/Savage/Jessup (Howard County), MD – 6th overall – 42:04 (best time on that course to date )
Please check out the events I did in 2007:
http://runineverymdcounty.blogspot.com/2007/09/
i-ran-in-running-event-in-all-of.html
Please check out the events I did in 2008:
http://ranineverymdcounty.blogspot.com/2008/12/
not-much-longer-until-2009.html
Please check out the events I did in 2009:
http://ranineverymdcounty.blogspot.com/2009/12/reflection-on-2009.html
Races I Have Done In 2010
1). Friday, January 1, 2010 – 3rd Annual Southern Maryland Community Network Resolution Run 5K – Prince Frederick (Calvert County), MD – 9th overall (2nd in male 20-29 age-group division) – 20:38 (clock time), 20:34 (watch time)
2). Sunday, January 10, 2010 – Mighty Medford Freeway 5K – Medford/Westminster (Carroll County), MD – 8th overall (20-29 male age-group division winner) – 20:25
3). Sunday, March 7, 2010 – Howard County Striders “Operation Iceberg” Winter Series #6: Oakland Mills Middle School 6-Mile Race – 17th overall – 43:55 (ran at an even pace, and ran negative splits )too
4). Saturday, March 13, 2010 – 3rd Annual Pi-Mile (3.14-mile) Run – Patuxent High School, Lusby (Calvert County), MD – 7th overall (20-29 male age group division winner) – 23:29.0
5). Saturday, March 20, 2010 (9:00 A.M.) – Inaugural Francie’s Family 5K – Middletown Park, Middletown (Frederick County), MD – 10th overall (20-29 male age-group division winner) – 2!:07.25
6). Saturday, March 20, 2010 (11:00 A.M.) – 2nd Annual Matt Boles 5K Fun Run – East Middle School, Westminster (Carroll County), MD – 23:54
7). Saturday, March 20, 2010 (1:00 P.M.) – 28th Annual “Forest of Needwood”/”Jennifer Schafer Odom Memorial” 5 Mile Road Race – Knoxville/Petersville/Brunswick (Frederick County), MD – 35th overall (20-29 male age-group division winner) - 44:57 (clock time), 44:55 (watch time)
8). Saturday, April 3, 2010 – 2nd Annual Race for Joe 5K – Borough of Franklin Park/McCandless Township (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania – 13th overall (2nd in male 20-29 age-group division) – 21:01 (clock time), 20:57/20:58 (watch time)
9). Saturday, April 10, 2010 – 1st Annual Hills of Milltown 5K Challenge (it was closer to 3.45 miles according to someone’s GPS) – Historic Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – 10th overall (3rd in male 19-19 age-group division) – 24:21
10). Saturday, May 15, 2010 – 1st Annual Queen Anne’s Police K-9 Chase 5K (it was around 2.9 miles) – Terrapin Nature Center area, Stevensville/Kent Island – Queen Anne’s County, MD – 10th overall (4th in male 21-30 age-group division) - 21:58.9 (as of completing this race, I can say I have done a race on all general areas of the Cross-Island Trail on Kent Island )
11). Sunday, May 30, 2010 – Patapsco Trail Run – Avalon Area, Patapsco State Park, Catonsville/Ellicott City (Baltimore County-into-Howard County-and-back-to-Baltimore County), MD – Dropped out a little after a mile into the race because I lost my glasses after a river crossing. I am grateful to )God I got back and out of the woods all right
12). Saturday, June 5, 2010 – Katie’s Run 5K - New Germany State Park, Grantsville (Garrett County), MD – 21st overall – 22:55 (clock), 22:53ish (watch)… This was the day Kay and I got engaged!!!!!
13). Saturday, June 12, 2010 - Running Brook Elementary School 3K Fun Run – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 4th overall – 13:00 (it may have been slightly longer than 3 kilometers)
14). Tuesday, June 22, 2010 – Centennial 1-Mile Fun Run – Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – 10th overall (I think) – 6:14
15). Saturday, July 3, 2010 – Arbutus Firecracker 10K Run – Arbutus/Relay (Baltimore County), MD – 156th overall – 51:29 (clock), 50:52ish (watch time, I think)
16). Friday, July 9, 2010 – Howard County Striders Cross Country #2: Reservoir High School – Fulton (Howard County), MD – 96th overall – 24:16
17). Saturday, July 17, 2010 – Inaugural Trailfight 5K (a little longer than a 5K I think) – Trolley Trail #9,Oella/Catonsville (Baltimore County), MD – 16th overall – 21:55 (clock), 21:49 (watch)
18). Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – Howard County Striders Meet of Miles – 1-Mile Track Run at Oakland Mills High School’s outdoor track – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 50th overall – 6:18
19). Saturday, August 28, 2010 – 3rd Annual Expect a Miracle 5K – Berlin (Worcester County) – 4th overall (male 21-30 age group division winner) – 22:14 (course was a little longer than a 5K plus I made a wrong turn)
20). Saturday, September 11, 2010 – Inaugural Race to the Creek 5K – Lusby (Calvert County), MD – 13th overall (3rd in male 20-29 age group division) – 20:48 (clock), 20:47 (watch)
21). Saturday, September 25, 2010 – 15th Annual North Beach 5K – North Beach (Calvert County), MD – 7th overall – 21:01
22). Saturday, October 2, 2010 – Inaugural Run and Rumble in the City for Autism 5K/10K Run (I ran the 5K) – Greensboro (Caroline County), MD – Winner – 18:45 (reported time), 18:20 (clock time)(the course was more like 2.91 miles long according to MapMyRun.Com)
23). Saturday, October 2, 2010 – 9th/10th Annual VP Shoes The Athlete 5K – Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD – 24th – 21:24 (3rd in male 20-29 age group division )
24). Saturday, October 16, 2010 – Inaugural End Hunger in Calvert County 5K – Trinity United Methodist Church, Prince Frederick (Calvert County), MD – 5th overall (2nd in male 20-29 age group division) – 20:53
25). Sunday, October 24, 2010 – Howard County Striders’ “Legends of the Fall” Series #4: Atholton High School 5K – Columbia (Howard County), MD – 8th overall
- 19:57.05 (first time in over a year running a sub-20-minute 5K )
26). Saturday, November 13, 2010 – 10th Annual St. Anne’s School of Annapolis 5K Run – Annapolis (Anne Arundel County), MD – Winner – 17:55 (clock), 17:52 (watch) – First half was 8:57ish, so I was blessed to have kept an even pace
27). Thursday, November 25, 2010 – Turkey Trot 10K Prediction Run – Columbia (Howard County), MD --Departed at 10:13:08, Arrived at 10:59:02, Predicted Time: 46:52, Actual Time: 45:54 (this was my 13th year in-a-row doing this event )
28). Saturday, December 4, 2010 - Annual Southern High School Bulldog 5K Run – Southern High School – Harwood (Anne Arundel County), MD – 4th overall – 19:52.10 (ran negative splits, first half was about 9:58, first half mile was 2:59, and last half-mile was about 3:00 :)
29). Saturday, December 18, 2010 – Inaugural Rudolph 5K Cross-Country Run – Belmont Conference Center, Elkridge (Howard County), MD – 14th overall – 20:56.96
Races I Have Run In 2011
1). Saturday, 1-8-11 - Chesapeake Bay Running Club Trail Run #1: 5K at King’s Landing Park (New Course) – Huntingtown (Calvert County), MD – Winner – 23:39.39 (I went the wrong way twice and ran a little longer as a result).
2). Saturday, 1-22-11 – Chesapeake Bay Running Club Trail Run #2: 3K at Myrtle Point Park – California (Saint Mary’s County), MD – 4th overall – 13:53.
3). Saturday, 2-5-11 - Chesapeake Bay Running Club Trail Run #3: 6.5K at Historic Saint Mary’s City Trails – Saint Mary’s City (Saint Mary’s County), MD – 7th overall – 29:25
4). Saturday, 2-19-11 – Chesapeake Bay Running Club Trail Run #4: 4-Miler (just a little shorter than 4 miles) at Calvert Cliffs State Park – Lusby (Calvert County) – 4th overall – 28:45
5). Saturday, 3-5-11 – Chesapeake Running Club Trail Run #5: 3-Miler at Oak Ridge Park – Burntstore/Hughesville (Charles County), MD – 4th overall – 20:43
6). Saturday, 3-26-11 – Chesapeake Running Club Trail Run #6: 4-Miler at Maxwell Hall Park – Hughesville (Charles County), MD – 2nd overall – 27:03
7). Sunday, 4-3-11 – 2nd Annual Swan Point 5K Fun Run – Swan Point Yacht and Country Club, Swan Point (Charles County), MD – 2nd overall (25-34 male age group division winner) – 19:33
8). Saturday, 4-6-11 – 6th Annual Matt’s Place 5K Family Trail Run (2-loop course, slightly longer than a 5K) – Chesapeake Church Property, Bristol (Anne Arundel County), MD – 4th overall (3rd in 19-35 male age group division) – 1st loop 10:56ish, 2nd loop/finish – 22:38
9). Wednesday, 4-20-11 – Tidal Basin Run #447 (New 5K) – Hain’s Point/East Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. – 21:06 (clock), 21:03 (watch)
10). Saturday, 4-23-11 – 2nd Annual 5K Resurrection Run – The Calverton School’s Cross-Country Course, Huntingtown (Calvert County), MD – 3rd overall – 20:17 (finished the last 1/4 –mile give or take without a shoe).
11). Saturday, 5-7-11 - 4th Annual 5K Run for Teach for America – University of Maryland College Park Campus (Prince George’s County), MD – 48th overall - 33:46 (went the wrong way).
12). Sunday, 5-8-11 - Howard County Striders’ “Vernal Velocity” Spring Series #4: Swansfield Elementary School 5K – 9th overall – 20:34 (clock), 20:33 (watch)
13). Saturday, 5-14-11 – First Annual West River Estates 5K Run – West River (Anne Arundel County), MD – Winner – 20:21 (I probably lost close to a minute off of my time due to some confusion towards the finish area).
14). Saturday, 5-21-11 – Special Olympics of Calvert County 8th Annual Inspiration 5K Run – Solomon’s Island/Johnstown (Calvert County), MD – Winner – 19:11
15). Saturday, 6-4-11 – 2nd Annual Full Gospel Assembly of God Main Street 5K Walk/Run – Prince Frederick (Calvert County), MD – Winner – 22:11.45
16). Saturday, 6-25-11 – 3rd Annual Chesapeake City Canal Day 5K Run – Chesapeake City (Cecil County), MD – 5th overall (2nd in 19-29 male age group division) – 19:29
17). Tuesday, 6-28-11 – Centennial Fun Run (1-Mile) #2 – Ellicott City (Howard County), MD – 7th overall – 5:44
18). Wednesday, 7-13-11 – Howard County Striders’ “Summer Sizzler” Series #2: Hammond High School 5K (Inaugural) – 15th overall – 20:53
19-21). Tuesday, 7-19-11 – Chesapeake Bay Running Club’s Track Evening #4 (I ran all 3 events ) – Patuxent High School’s outdoor track, Lusby (Calvert County), MD:
- 3,200 Meter – Winner (the gentleman who was winning dropped out and I ended up winning by default) – 12:16.14 (5:56 was my 1,600-meter split)
- 800 Meter – 7th overall – 3:35.37 (1:52 was my 400-meter split)
- 200 Meter – 3rd overall – 33.16 seconds (my fastest 200 over 2 years I do believe )
22-24). Tuesday, 7-26-11 – Chesapeake Bay Running Club’s Track Evening #5 (I ran all 3 events ) – Patuxent High School’s outdoor track, Lusby (Calvert County), MD:
- 1 Mile – 5th overall – 5:19.56
- 400 Meter Run – Last place (7th place) in faster heat, 8th overall – 1:25.97
- 100 Meter Dash – 2nd place in 2nd-to-faster heat, 7th overall – 16.59
25. 08/02/11 - Queen City Junior Striders Series #5: Broadford Lake Park 1-Mile - Mountain Lake Park/Oakland (Garrett County), MD - Winner - 5:18 (Praise God! As of this race, I can say I've won a race in every Maryland county by the grace of God :)
26. 08/02 Queen City Junior Striders Series #5: Broadford Lake Park 2-Miler - Mountain Lake Park/Oakland (Garrett County), MD - 7th overall - 15:19 (accidentally went wrong way and ran extra).
27. 08/04 HCS Friday Night XC Series #3: Reservoir High School 5K - Fulton (Howard County), MD - 19th overall - 19:42 (my best time on the course to date :)
28. 08/11 Annapolis XC Series #5: Portland Manor Farm, Lothian (Anne Arundel County), MD - 16th overall - 19:50
29. 09/03 2nd Annual Race to Erase MS - Chestertown (Kent County), MD - 3rd overall (2nd 20-29 AG) - 18:48 (Course PR to date :)
30. 09/24 3rd Annual Donate Life 5K Family Fun Run - Baltimore City (Baltimore County), MD - Winner - 18:26.2 (Praise God! As of this race I can say that I have won a race in every public school district in Maryland by God's grace :)
27. 09/25 2nd Annual Clemens Crossing ES Cougarthon 5K - Columbia (Howard County), MD - Winner - 16:48 (course was shortened due to puddles on the course).
28. 10/01 Inaugural I Conquered The Bridge 5K - Chesapeake City (Cecil County), MD - 24:25 (went the wrong way and ran longer than expected).
29. 10/01 Annual VP Shoes The Athlete 5K - Salisbury (Wicomico County), MD - 6th overall (20-29 age group winner) - 20:41
30. 10/29 Inaugural Shady Side ES Seagull Sprint 5K - Shady Side (Anne Arundel County), MD - Winner - 20:50 (Went wrong way in the beginning, ran longer, probably around 3.3 miles).
31. 11/05 3rd Annual MPizzle 5K - Hammond High School/Columbia (Howard County), MD - 2nd overall - 19:26
32. 11/12 2nd Annual Run For The “Well” Of It 5K – Ridgely (Caroline County), MD – Winner – 18:20 (clock)
33. 11/19 Inaugural Voices in Praise Harvest 5K (slightly shorter at 4.96K)– Bristol/Lothian (Anne Arundel County), MD – Winner – 17:49
34. 11/19 3rd Annual Evergreen ES Turkey Trot 1-Mile – California (Saint Mary’s County), MD – Last Place 5:46
35. 12/24 Nutcracker Races (4-Miler) – Dowell/Solomons (Calvert County), MD - 3rd Place – 28:36 (I accidentally wen the wrong way a couple of times, and ran a little longer at about a little over 4.6 miles :)
Races I Have Run In 2012
01/07/12 - CBRC Trail Run#1: King's Landing Park 5K (slightly new course), Huntingtown (Calvert County), MD - 5th overall (2nd in 20-29 AG) - 19:52.4 2.
01/21/12 - CBRC Trail Run#2: Historic Saint Mary's City Trail Run (slightly over 4 miles) - Saint Mary's County, MD - 2nd overall (20-29 age group winner) - 27:49
02/04/12 - CBRC Trail Race #3: Calvert Cliffs State Park 3.85 miles (slightly new course)- Lusby (Calvert County), MD - 4th overall (2nd 20-29 male AG) - 26:57
02/18/12 - CBRC Trail Race #4: Oak Ridge Park 3 Miles - Charlotte Hall/Hughesville (Charles County), MD - 2nd overall (20-29 male AG Winner) - 21:21.42 5 (slightly new and longer course).
02/25/12 - CBRC Trail Race #5: Maxwell Hall Park 4.03 Miles - Benedict/Hughesville (Charles County), MD - 3rd overall (2nd in 20-29 male AG) - 26:16.14 (clock time), 26:14 (watch time - course PR :).
03/24/12 - CBRC Trail Race #6: Myrtle Point Park 3K - California (Saint Mary's County), MD - 5th overall (20-29 male AG winner) - 14:21.80
04/01/12 - 33rd Annual Cherry Pit 10-Mile Run - Edgewater/Birdsville (Anne Arundel County), MD - 274th place - 1:27:42.41 (clock time), 1:27:35 (watch time)
04/14/12 - David Maclin Memorial Scholarship Fund First Annual 5K Walk/Run - Upper Marlboro (Prince George's County), MD - 2nd overall - 19:15 9.
05/05/12 - Upper Marlboro Young Marines Drug Demand Reduction 3K (it ended up being a 4K) - Mitchellville/Upper Marlboro (Prince George's County), MD - Winner - 14:37
05/12/12 - 2nd Annual Dogwood Dash 5K Run - Colchester Farm, Galena (Kent County), MD - Winner - 19:22
05/12/12 - 2nd Annual Stryker's For A Cause 5K Run (New Course) - Sudlersville (Queen Anne's County), MD - Winner - 19:27
05/19/12 - 2nd Annual Piscataway 4-Miler (New Course, approximately 3.8ish miles) - Bryan's Road/Pomonkey (Charles County), MD - Winner - 23:02
06/03/12 - 2nd Annual Atholton Elementary School Panthers Pounding the Pavement 5K Run - Simpsonville/Columbia (Howard County), MD - Winner - 19:22 (I went to Elementary School, Kindergarten - 5th Grade here :)
06/12/12 - Centennial Fun Run #1 (1-Mile) - Ellicott City (Howard County), MD - 2nd overall - 5:46
06/28/12 - Inaugural Leapin' Lizards 5K - Lexington Park (Saint Mary's County), MD - 5th overall - 19:57
07/04/12 - 31st Annual Rock Hall Flat Five (5 Miles) - Rock Hall (Kent County), MD - 8th overall - 33:33
O7/07/12 - 3rd Annual RunUnited 5K - Snow Hill (Worcester County), MD - Winner - 18:57.4 (as of this race, I have run a race in every Maryland Eastern Shore county seat :)
07/10/12 - CBRC Track Meet #3: 3,000 Meters Patuxent High School Track, Lusby (Calvert County), MD 3rd overall 10:58.30
07/19/12 - Annapolis Striders XC 5K #2: Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold (Anne Arundel County), MD - 8th overall - 19:39 (may have been slightly longer than a 5K).
07/24/12 - CBRC Track Meet #5: 400 Meter Run - Patuxent HS Track, Lusby (Calvert County), MD 3rd overall 5:11.17
07/24/12 - CBRC Track Meet #5: 1-Mile Run - Patuxent High School Track, Lusby (Calvert County), MD - 6th overall (2nd in the 1st heat) - 1:09.91
07/27/12 - Friday Night XC Race Series #6: Hammond High School 5K ~2.92 miles, Columbia (Howard County), MD - 17th overall - 21:04
08/02/12 - Annapolis Striders XC 5K #3: South River High School (several meters short) Edgewater (Anne Arundel County), MD 12th overall 19:56 23.
08/08/12 - Baltimore Road Runners Club Track Meet #3: Goucher College, Towson (Baltimore County), MD: 1,500 Meter Race 4th overall 4:52.3
08/08/12 - Baltimore Road Runners Club Track Meet #3: Goucher College, Towson (Baltimore County), MD: 800 Meter Race - 5th overall (5th in the first heat) - 2:24.5.
08/08 BRRC Track Meet #3: Goucher College, Towson (Baltimore County), MD: 3,000 Meter Race 10th overall 11:45.1 (I had to stop and get off the track to get my water bottle because my mouth was very dry. I ran the rest of the race with a water bottle. This is a PR for me running with a water bottle for 3,000 meters, praise God! :)
08/08/12 - Baltimore Road Runners Club Track Meet #3: Goucher College, Towson (Baltimore County), MD: 4X200 Meter Race - Our team won overall and we were the only ones competing - 2:05.0 (Team Time. We did not seem to get individual splits).
08/16/12 - Buddy Attick Fun Run (3 miles) - Greenbelt (Prince George's County), MD - 2nd overall - 18:34.7 26.
08/23/12 - Buddy Attick Fun Run (1.75 miles) - Greenbelt (Prince George's County), MD - Winner - 9:53.4 27.
09/01/12 - 1st Annual Labor Day 5K Against Hunger - Leonard's Grant neighborhood, Leonardtown (Saint Mary's County), MD - Winner - 17:52 (as of this race, I can say that by the grace of God I have run a race in every county seat of Maryland :))
09/15/12 - 4th Annual Tia's Way 5K - White Plains Rail Trail, White Plains (Charles County), MD - Winner - 17:48
10/07/12 2nd Annual Feel The History Part II: Running Back For More - Point Lookout State Park, Scotland/Point Lookout (Saint Mary's County), MD - 3rd overall - 18:55
10/13/12 - 3rd Annual 5K Breast Cancer Challenge (reversed course) - Solomons/Johnstown (Calvert County), MD. - Winner - 18:03.8
10/20/12 - 3rd Annual Beat the Teach 5K XC Run - Owings (Calvert County), MD - 21:24 32.
10/20/12 - 4th Annual MPizzle Kegs for Cancer 5K Run - Hammond High School, Columbia (Howard County), MD 36:35ish (clock time), 21:43 (watch time. I started quite late).
11/17/12 - 4th Annual Evergreen Elementary School Turkey Trot 1-Mile - Evergreen Elementary School, California (Saint Mary's County), MD - Winner - 6:09 (praise God, it is my mile PR with an air cast :).
12/08/12 - Annual Wright Stuff 5K - College Park/Berwyn Heights (Prince George's County), MD - 6th overall - 20:32.6 (praise God, it is my 5K PR with an air cast :).
12/23/12 - Nutcracker 1-Miler - Dowell/Solomons (Calvert County), MD - Winner - 6:55 (clock time), 6:54 (and change) (watch time).
12/31/12 - Bobby Largent Midnight Mile - Virtual Participant, based out of Capon Bridge (Hampshire County), West Virginia - Winner - 5:56 (tied 1-mile PR in an air cast :)
Races I Have Run In 2013
01/01/13 - Annual New Year's Day Fun Run 2-Miler Fun Run - Braddock Heights (Frederick County), MD - Winner - 12:40 (2-mile PR in an air cast, and I do believe this is my 100th win. Praise God for achieving great things with me :)
01/05/13 10th Annual PHUNT 11K Trail Run (first year with the 11K, so it was a new course) - Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, Fair Hill/Elkton (Cecil County), MD - Winner - 1:00:34
