Running in December!

I ran in December for the first time today. I always used to stop running after the last 5K in September or October, but now I enjoy running enough to continue running as long as it's warm enough. And warm enough it was today - sunny and 45!

2023: 300 Miles!

With my 4.7 mile run today, I've reached 300 miles for the year. At the age of 66, that's the most mileage I've run in a year. By far. Pretty cool...

Five Takeaways from the Blue Ox 5K

The Blue Ox 5K took place yesterday in Bemidji. Here are 5 takeaways from the event:

1. It was cold... which is okay. I don't know what the actual temperature was. I do know it was under 50 and windy and no sun. Thankfully, the wind wasn't much of a factor. I was one of the few running in shorts and a T-shirt. One thing I've learned is that I much prefer running in cold weather. I don't overheat and my times are much better.

2. This is turning into a big race! There were 285 runners. They came from all over. Some of the locations I heard: California, Illinois, Wisconsin, Manitoba, and North Dakota.

3. Not only are there a lot of runners, there are a lot of fast runners. The winner, a young man from Park Rapids, finished with a time of 16:53! Almost every age group had times in the low 20s.

4. My 75-year-old friend, Jerry, from Perham finished with a time of 27:39. Wow!

5. This is the second time this year I finished in 4th place for my age group. Thus, not on the podium.  But, anytime I can finish in under 30 minutes, I'm happy. 

Home Run

Yesterday I ran the Home Run 5K. The conditions were almost perfect - about 60 degrees and cloudy.

He we are waiting for the gun:

...and we're off:

The end - exhaustion setting in:

As the men's third place overall winner, a donation was presented in my name!

Also, as the third place winner, I received a $25 gift certificate to Scheel's! Perhaps I should turn professional.

My time was an unspectacular 31:29. That didn't seem quite right. I felt pretty good all race. I really felt I should have met my 30 minute goal. I plotted the course on MapMyRun when I got home: 5.25 miles. I hate when that happens.

Yellow Rose 5K

 

This morning we had the Yellow Rose 5K. The weather was beautiful - about 60 degrees and cloudy.

After a short distance into the race my goal was to try and pass 10 people. Since I accomplished that rather quickly, I decided to try and pass 10 more! By the 2 mile mark I had achieved that!! Well, of course, it was time to increase that to 10 more. In the last hundred yards of the race I achieved that goal also!!! What a great race! I finished in 29:55. Any time I can get under 30 minutes, I'm happy. Once again, this goes to show how important cool temps are for me. 

Unfortunately, there were way too many seniors running today. I finished in fourth place for the old guys and didn't take home a medal.

Year 12 Complete & ALS Walk/Run

A couple weeks ago I completed year 12 of Running Every Street. Thank you to everyone who contributes to this every year.

Today was the ALS Walk/Run in Roseau. It's always a very well organized event. We start at the football field, run out to the park, and come back following bike trails part of the way.

It was a beautiful day for a 5K - about 60 degrees, mostly sunny.

Among the old guys, I took third:

I was hoping to break 30 minutes, but I just couldn't quite do it:

In the past year I've been under 30 minutes three times, last October, February, and May. The thing each of those races had in common was that the temperature was under 50. I think I finally understand how important temperature is to my performance.

Lake Region 5K

Today was the Lake Region 5K in Fergus Falls, MN. 

We headed down on Thursday and camped at Maplewood State Park:

Since the last couple races I've run were under 30 minutes, I set my goal at 29 minutes for this race:

The temperature at the start of the race was mid- to high-seventies. And, although this is one of the most beautiful races I've run - much of it around a lake - the hills really take a lot out of you, especially when you factor in the heat. I gave it my best, but in the end I didn't even come close to my goal:

Here are the pertinent stats:

Nitric Oxide

 

I've been taking nitric oxide for the last several weeks. According to Triviia, nitric oxide is an essential messenger molecule that serves important vascular, as well as metabolic functions. It allows for blood, nutrients and oxygen to travel throughout the body effectively and efficiently. This is important because as we age, nitric oxide production decreases. We may feel this through lack of energy, high blood pressure and even cognitive decline. One study found that by age 70, most people will only produce 75% of nitric oxide compared to someone in their 20s.

Nitrates are also thought to promote endurance, and some studies suggest that endurance among athletes improved with nitrate consumption. Trivita offers a 60 day money back guarantee. 

After using it for several weeks, I have to admit I don't feel any extra energy or endurance. But, the important thing to me is performance. The first test of performance comes with a 5K race this weekend. We'll see if I can achieve a better time than my last several races. 

The next test will be come shortly before the 60-day period ends. I will do another Cooper Test to determine if my CO2 Max has improved. I will let you know the outcomes in the comments below.

Life Care Walk Run

 

The LifeCare Walk Run was held on Saturday. It was cloudy, kinda windy, and cool. Perfect!

Great turn out. 130 of us were signed up.

I had some difficulty getting my watch to cooperate at the start...

Trying to finish strong.

My best time since 2020 - 19:21!

2nd place for the old folks.

30th overall.

The medalists.

Year 12!

I actually started year 12 in early April. It felt like spring... for a couple days. Since then, we've had one or two blizzards! I've managed to eke out a few cool runs between the storms. I think we should be good to go from this point.

This year is much different from other years. Being down in Florida for a couple months I was able to run over 50 miles. I even ran a couple 5Ks down there. What a blessing that was. 

As always, thanks to all of you who support me and Living Hope Ministries.

Mardi Gras 5K

 

I'm still taking advantage of the beautiful weather here in Florida to run 5Ks. Last Saturday was the Mardi Gras 5K in Panama City Beach.

It took place at a beautiful recreational facility, Frank Brown Park, in Panama City Beach.

It was actually in the low 40s at the start of the race. There were only a handful of us in short sleeves...

We began by running around a small lake.

Faith enjoyed her time whilst waiting for me to return.

Here I am approaching the finish line totally exhausted.

I finished at 29:35, my best time in 2 years! I came in second for the 65-69 age category.

FSU Panama City Torch Run

 

For the first time in my life, I'm running outdoors in the wintertime. We've been wintering in Panama City Beach, Florida. Today I ran the Torch Run in Panama City at Florida State University. 

Here we are beginning the race at the Holley Academic Center:

After all the warm weather we've experienced down here, the coolness of 55 degrees was welcome for the race today.

Faith handed me an inflatable torch to finish the race with. (I didn't realize until afterward that I was holding it upside-down!  😀)

My time was 31:50. Of the 142 participants, I came in 62nd. I came in 2nd place of those in their 60s.