5K Race Report

I finished the Race for the Cure yesterday. Thousands of people, they said 30,000 were participating, but not all in the 5K; and it was a wild experience. Some thoughts from the day: *One of my best friends that I've known for 16 years now ran with me. It was good to have a running buddy there. *The crush of people when we started was overwhelming. Took about 3/4 of a mile just to get a decent pace going. *First mile - 10:45. Not good. Took 30-40 seconds just to get to the starting line. Started to look for opportunities to speed it up. *Mile and a half. Hello local high school drum line! Nice to have a sweet beat to help us out. Long strides down a gentle hill. Now we're getting somewhere. *Second mile - 19:30. Pace has picked up nicely. Might actually finish this thing in under 30. Can't let up now. *Like the cheering by people. Really does help. Buddy remarks about home field advantage. Might be something to that after all. *Final bend. Once around the block and we're done. I take a page out of A.J.'s book and go fishing. Takes my mind off the finish line and helps keep the pace up. The fella in the red and black was all mine. His little friend in purple too. *Finish. 3.1 miles - 28.30. Finished in under 30. That was my goal. Actually think it would've been less than that if we could've gotten off to a quicker start. Got a little teary at the end but I held it together. This is but one of many. Next on my list is to run the Walk from Obesity next weekend. Got to search out some 10K's too. What a ride.

Way to go Dan!  Great time as well. The new photos on your profile look terrific.  You have really done well.  Keep it up!

How's about those RockHeads, headparrot. Quite a ride they're giving us folks out here in Colorado. I have to admit I drank the koolaid and am caught up in the frenzy. Ownership group still sucks but got to love the team.  Wonder what a Cuban-owned Cubbies team would be like? Would be interesting to say the least. Hope all is well.  Boner

Thanks Scott. You are definitely an inspriation to get me into running. Thanks for your kind words. I'm just about there.

Congrats, Dan!! I bet you are on cloud nine today. What a feeling of accomplishment especially after considering where we all came from. I also remember getting teary eyed after completing my first 100 mile cycling event, the Elephant Rock Classic. Never thought I could do it even prior to weighing nearly 500 pounds. I was also fortunate to have my best friend ride with me and he helped (and continues to) help train / motivate me for doing bigger and better things on the bike.  Onward and upward, DAN THE MAN!!  Boner

Speaking of biking, I'm doing a 22 mile loop through the city on Sunday (gotta get ready for that triathlon in May!). Including the 10 miles roundtrip to and from the event. Should be fun to get used to my bike again. The more I can do the more I want to do. Funny how that works out. Thanks for the kind words Boner. -Dan

Hey Dan, As one official member of "half the man I used to be" club to another, I would love to go on a bike ride with you on Oct. 28 in Baltimore. I'm going to be in Columbia, MD to ride in the Ulman Cancer Foundation event which is Saturday but don't come back to Denver until Monday. Even if you can't ride, maybe we can get together for coffee for a few minutes.  By the way, any recommendations for a can't miss seafood eatery in your neck of the woods? Let me know and, once again, congrats on your amazing journey! Boner

That is funny that you guys mention the teary eyes.  After my first 16, 20 and 22 mile training runs, I got teary eyed.  Actually, after the 16 I sobbed a bit.  I still have no idea why other than the "where I came from", story.  It is a great feeling, though. Way to go Dan.  How awesome is life?  Keep up the great work. Scott 

Scott. I was thinking about you yesterday. I love reading training/race reports like on your board and have been anxious to experience a race myself first hand.  The Baltimore marathon was on Saturday and I was interested to see how popular the event is becoming. They were up to 14,500 registrants this year and sold out their half marathon slots. I'm thinking of signing up for it for next year. Funny thing is when I was showing my five year old the route she grabbed the paper from me and said "No way Daddy you can't do that, nuh uh." I asked her why and she informed me it was too far and I'd never come back. I asked her permission to run three miles and she decided that was okay. Thank goodness I got her permission! Life is indeed beautiful.

Dan

Awesome job!!  Sounds like a good time.

I too have been running and I seam to enjoy it.  I can run about 4 miles without stopping, but my pace needs to pick up, I think.

I participated in the Walk from Obesity in Charlotte a couple weeks ago and rather than walking I too ran the 3.1 miles.  Although this was not a race nor a timed event, I was one of 2 people to cross the finish first - it really felt great to be able to do that. 

I am going to run my first organized 5k later this month. All the best. Chris