Weekend Report

Training weeks 11 & 12 were tough to say the least. My work has become very busy and there is a lot going on for me in October. I said I was breaking out the Timex but just may keep it on the shelf until November. With the Ten for Texas group winding up this weekend, San Francisco next weekend and course management for the Light the Night Walk in The Woodlands Oct 29th I will stay in "just keep up " mode for the next two and a half weeks. I did 22 miles week 11 and with the 104TX boost yesterday I logged 30 miles for the first time in about a year for week 12.

The Ten Miles for Texas was one of my favorite races back in the late 80's early 90's. I remember, (and this is what's really tough for me sometimes now), pacing a friend to a sub 1:10 to show him that he could do it. My PR for 10 miles is a 1:04:40. Now fast forward to yesterday....after pretty much not running for the last year ( and very little the last several years) I'm picking up my number to "run" the new version of the classic with a slightly different name, now called the Ten for Texas. The Community Associations of The Woodlands and Luke's Locker did a wonderful job putting on a first class event. My plan was to run with Debbie Tripp & two of our 104TX runners doing a 4:1 run walk pattern. We started out great and were about 1 mile into the run turning onto Grogans Mill and I looked back to see two of the San Francisco TNT'ers behind us. Debbie and I split pace duties, she would stay with her group and I stopped to wait for the TNT runners. Here is were it gets weird. I was planning on pacing them and was doing very good until mile 2 when I had a little wave of "I really don't want to be doing this today feeling" creep over me. I actually thought about stopping and jogging back to the finish to see everyone come in. About that time one of the TNT'ers said how much I was inspiring her and that she was really proud of me being in the race and running with them. She knows that I'm just starting back with my training and that this is a big effort for me. She didn't know that I was thinking of a way to politely bail out on them and quit the run. After her comment I couldn't stop and we had an outstanding day helping each other to a finish. I am very proud of my two pacers as they gave up years of smoking and have become physically active.....and next week they will become marathoners. I hope to be stronger for them then.

I can't say enough about how good it is working with Coaches Kim Hager, Debbie Tripp & Cathy Steele who all give from the heart. Our inaugural 104TX group did great and hopefully will continue running as they all have a lot of talent. We plan on many more training programs through Luke's Locker and hope to keep everyone involved.


Luke's Ten for Texas training group
Kim Hager ( coach ) - 1:04:30 - 1st overall woman, Cathy Steele ( coach ) - 1:22:09, Julie Sparks - 1:32:27, Greg Salomon - 1:33:49, Greg Alvarez - 1:34:59, Brian Perry - 1:36:56, Todd Hoke - 1:37:57, Sharon Larkworthy - 1:40:17, Theresa Breslin - 1:43:12, Christi Jones - 1:48:55, Mike Jackson - 2:04:11, Tammy Conatser - 2:04:24, Debbie Tripp (coach) - 2:04:25, Ron Longtin - 2:06:25 ( walker !!!! that's a 12:39/mile walk pace!!! ), Ana Brumfeld - 2:07:22


Luke's Beat Program Alumni
Marion Schellen - 1:43:44, Dave Betcher - 1:57:03


Team In Training Fall Group - Chicago & Nike San Francisco
Most of the group did not run this race saving themselves for next weekend. The ones that did kept the effort dialed way back.

Chicago next week
Mark Solomon - 1:13:24 ( 1:13 is holding back for Mark ), Sue Van Natta - 1:25:58 - Sue paced her daughter Rachel to a 1st in age group finish in her first race. Sue is amazing. She's done 20 marathons and all 20 have been Boston qualifiers. She's moved up in age to a 4 hour standard to qualify and is on track for a 3:30 next week at Chicago....very, very possible for 21 in a row. It looks like Rachel may take after her mom.....and she has a twin sister )

San Francisco next week
Jim Fredricks - 1:37:56, Debi Koch - 2:32:50, Malissa Attebery - 2:32:51 ( I paced along with Debi & Malissa - my chip time was 2:33:13 due to my placement at the start, Debi & Malissa have bragging rights over me )

Team In Training Winter Group - Houston, Arizona & Disney
Christina Sanchez - 1:37:03. Christina transferred from the Fall group to the Winter group ...I still claim her as ours. There were 5 others from the winter group who are coached by Carol Steele and Dana-Sue Crews who I don't know)

Team in Training Alumni & Friends - "The Rebels" ( runners that I have been involved with at some level )

Lee Harlicker - 1:04:03 - 2nd in age group, James Donahue - 1:08:48, Kerri Snyder - 1:11:13 - 1st in age group, Buck Snyder - 1:11:13, Pam Meaux - 1:12:11 - 2nd in age group, Tony Allison - 1:13:09, Les Ellsworth - 1:15:59, Kelly Vowles - 1:16:10 - 3rd in age group, Mitch Hall - 1:16:17, Ann Leoni - 1:20:22, Pam Owens - 1:21:53, Jim Braden - 1:21:56 - 1st in age group, Angie Rizzo - 1:23:36, Sandra Sutherland - 1:26:49, Liz Ramos - 1:28:25, Kevin Fuchigami - 1:29:53, Mary Kershbaum - 1:33:04, Scott Farrand - 1:34:19, Robin Bennett - 1:34:20 - (Scott & Robin are also running Chicago next week ), Melinda Tosoni - 1:40:45, Donna McDermott - 1:42:45. Tom Battle - ????? Tom was in stealth mode as he chooses to run races without a chip - he finished somewhere near Donna.


WoodlandsFit Super Coach - Susan Rouse - 1:16:51 - 4th in age group

Blogger's
Holden Choi - 1:31:55, Dave Smart - 1:33:22, Jon Walk - 1:43:06 ( great seeing you and visiting )


Additional - notes from the Clearlake 10 miler today

Bloggers
Cassie Cowan - 1:47:53, Jon Walk - 1:54:19 ( great back to back effort ), Vic Kaiser - 2:22:57

None of The Woodlands Rebels made the trip to Clearlake this year. Hopefully next year the races will be on different weekends. The Team in Training Coach for Clearlake who is traveling to San Francisco with me next week, Miranda Mallet ran a 1:38:55, her mom Kay Mallet finished in 1:53:07.

We did have a couple Rebels run in Baltimore this weekend. Geri Henry finished the Marathon in 4:52:21 for 7th in her age group. her husband Ron ran the half in 2:20:54