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The Berlin Marathon: My Third Abbott Star

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Thanks to a bad hamstring pull/tear, I entered this race with a month of physical therapy and very little marathon training. Eight weeks ago I was eyeing a BQ attempt – but at the start I was hopeful for a sub-5 and, if my leg really acted up, just for a finish. Add that cherry on top….my daughter who was traveling with me and my wife gave me her cold two days before the race. But….I was in Berlin so I was going to race. We actually landed in Berlin a week before the race. My mother-in-law is originally from Berlin (she lives in San Francisco now) so she met us there and was our tour guide. We checked into our AirBnB (that is a whole other story) and spent the night in the city but the next day drove up to Friedland to meet other family (who I, my wife and our daughter had never met). I got in some nice 4 mile training runs around a small lake there…my leg actually felt OK….tight, but OK. We also drove about an hour and crossed into Poland – our first visit there (think that was my 31s...
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Summer Meltdown 1/2 Marathon

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  I ran a half-marathon August 9 morning. It is called the Summer Meltdown Half. I wasn't expecting much as my legs are still a bit sore/tired from that little 500k LAVS I did. But, have to keep training for Berlin Marathon next month. The day didn't start off great - my alarms (I set two) didn't go off! I gave myself plenty of time, but I happened to roll over and see that race start was in 65 minutes and I had easily a 45 minute drive....YIKES! I jumped out of bed, grabbed my running clothes I had set out last night, brushed my teeth, and hit the door (leaving my running watch behind). I flew down the roads in my car (when I could...seemed to hit almost every redlight between my house and the highway). Once on the highway, that 65 mph looked like "85" to me officer (and even then I went a bit faster at times). I saw a car pass me on my left and felt good as that driver would get the ticket.....15 minutes later that car and I entered the race start parkin...
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THE LAST ANNUAL VOL STATE ROAD RACE 2026

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 THE LAST ANNUAL VOL STATE ROAD RACE 2026 This was my second go at the Last Annual Vol State 500k.   In 2024, I managed a finish with a time of 8 ¼ days.   I had a hope of doing better this year….but that remained to be seen.   For good luck, I attached a Buc-ees dog chew toy armadillo to my back….because I think armadillos are cool (we have them in our neighborhood and sometimes on our front lawn) and in recognition for all the poor armadillo road kill we see on the LAVS route (I was hopeful my armadillo – and me – would fare better).    The ferry ride across the Mississippi was nice.   Unlike two years ago, no eagle grabbed a turtle this time. There was to be a slight change…..two years ago, the race mileage officially started in Missouri on the other side of the river and the ferry ride back was part of the 314 miles.   This year (and last year I believe), the race started in the same spot, but the ferry ride was no longer included in the dis...
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Location: Dorena Landing, James Bayou Township, MO 63845, USA
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Family Feud: The Hatfield & McCoy Marathon

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I ran the Hatfield & McCoy Marathon on June 13. Started in Kentucky and finished in West Virginia. Not the easiest course - had some hills (a couple real nice ones), humid and warm/hot. I started with a compression sleeve on my right calf (been having leg issues...actually not sure if it is the calf, groin pull, and/or sciatica). I also used my trekking poles (good practice using them for future races). Because of the leg, I intentionally took it slow. Told Cori a sub-6 hour would be nice, but hoping for sub- 7 and would take a sub-8 if the leg really acted up. I did the half-marathon in about 2:40.... my watch died about mile 23. Ended up crossing the finish in 6:02 (even though 2 minutes past the six hour mark, it still counted...there is no cut-off times at that marathon). Enjoyed the race and the 16 1/2 hour 5 state drive to and from it (despite some heavy rains, storms, and stop-and-go traffic at times). Counting Kentucky for this one, I have now run and finished a ma...
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Location: Kentucky, USA
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Sasquatch Shuffle 50k

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    Mission Tejas State Park 19343 State Hwy 21 E Grapeland, TX 75844 I want to commend Rise Racing for putting on an awesome event. My legs were still a little tired from the Vintage Half, but I couldn't pass up the chance to claim that awesome medal. I was a little worried about two things. My left calf was still sore (I injured it while getting the largest finishers medal at Little Rock Marathon in March - and it flared up again at the Vintage Half six days ago). Plus, Friday had flood-strength rains so I expected it to be a muddy swim-run biathlon. However, the trails turned out to be good. Yes, some puddles here and there (with lovely mud-patty making ingredients) and some slip-'n-slide spots. Overall, really good trail conditions. As for my calf, I had worn my compression calf sleeves but still felt the calf flare up at about mile 3. I decided to use my trekking poles that I had brought and that made a huge difference. The loops were technically two loops (weird shaped f...
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Location: Grapeland, TX 75844, USA
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Vintage Half-Marathon

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I was still nursing my left calf that I hurt at the Little Rock Marathon in March. The calf had flared up again during the Blue Bell Half but the last couple weeks it felt pretty good. I was hoping it was better and healed enough for today. Well, it was better up to almost the 10 mile mark then it flared up again. My pace went from high 7 minute miles/low 8 minute miles to low 10 minute miles. But I finished. Was hoping to break 1:50 but those slow last three miles had other ideas. Finished 1:52:58. Managed second in my age group (first killed my time). Sebastian Sawe ran the entire London Marathon just a tad more than my half Fun race……now putting the second ice pack on my calf.
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Location: Klein, TX 77379, USA
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Blue Bell Half-Marathon

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  Ran the Blue Bell Half-Marathon in Brenham, Texas. Was a bit concerned as my left calf has not fully healed from the Little Rock Marathon 3 weeks prior….and the course was full of hills. I was hoping to at least go sub-2 hours. Started off well and my pace was around 8 minute 10 second miles through the 10k but my calf started acting up. Had to favor it the rest of the race (and sadists….I mean race organizers, had runners basically finish up hill (except the last couple blocks)). Anyway, got my sub-2 hours with a finish time of 1:53:48. Took 5th in my age group….3 minutes off of top 3, but overall OK considering the calf. Leg is pretty sore now. Will be icing it and elevating it. Blue Bell is our Texas ice cream and at the finish line I tried a fudge bar (good). Plus, after the race, the ice cream was free at their creamery and market. I had their chocolate with peanut butter - very good (they don’t sell it in stores, only there). I’m a huge peanut butter & chocolate ...
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Location: Brenham, TX 77833, USA
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