Another 10K Down and Another PR!

This was a weekend full of racing for me and I am able to end it on a high note. Yesterday, I ran the Chalfont Challenge 5K in my hometown of Chalfont, PA. This is the traditional final race of the annual Bucks 5K Series. I only ran 4 of the 7 races in the series this year and yesterday's race was my worst time in the series. I intentionally held back because I knew I'd be running a 10K today. So, I finished the Chalfont Challenge 5K in 26:31 and managed to place 11^th in my age group.

Today's race was a different story. I woke up feeling very positive and determined to give it my best and that is exactly what I did – finished the Princeton Healthcare 10K in 49:40 – a new PR! It was a miserably humid morning as temperatures were forecasted to reach 90 degrees here today. It was probably 68 degrees at race start time. The race course is very pleasant – mostly through shaded tree lined residential streets and a finish on the field and track field that is adjacent to Palmer Stadium at Princeton University. The race venue was about an hour drive from my home so it was another early Sunday morning for me but in the end well worth it.

My strategy for this week is to taper a bit. I am scheduled to run the ½ Sauer, ½ Kraut, ½ Marathon next weekend in Philadelphia so I want to make sure I am well rested and ready to tackle the 13.1 miles through Pennypack Park.

Happy and Safe Running Folks!
John

2011 Bucks 5K Series Comes to a Close

Chalfont Challenge 5K Race Results

The 2011 Bucks 5K Series came to a close today with the Chalfont Challenge right here in Chalfont, PA. It was an overcast and very humid morning with rain showers just prior to the race start time at 8:30am. Turnout was light because of the weather – a total of 347 runners crossed the finish line.

I finished 8^th in my age group (55-59) with a time of 26:04:17. This was my 2^nd best race time for the series this year but I ran the same race 11 seconds faster last year. So, all in all, I am pleased with my performance in the series this year. I ran 6 of the 7 races and placed in the top 10 in my age group for 4 of the races I ran. My best time in the series this year was 25:55 compared to 25:06 during 2010. A year older and 49 seconds slower!

I am planning to run 1 more local 5K race in Warrington, PA on Sunday, June 26 before I head up to Vermont to spend a week at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for my marathon training camp. It took me 57 years to go away to summer camp but Vermont, here I come!

Happy Trails,
John

Chalfont Challenge 5K

The 7^th and final race in this year's Bucks County 5K Series will be held this coming Saturday (June 11) in Chalfont, PA. The Chalfont Challenge 5K is not the most difficult course in the series, but some of the inclines make it a bit more challenging than others. Right now, we are in the midst of an extreme heat advisory with temperatures in the upper 90's (97 degrees today and 99 degrees is predicted for tomorrow) with high humidity. Fortunately, it looks like the high temps will break for Saturday's race but the forecast is now calling for showers and thunderstorms, Let's hope the storms hold off until after the race is finished.

Start time for this year's race is 8:30am. Hope to see a good turnout of runners and spectators!

Happy Trails,
John

Doylestown 5K Race - Memorial Day Weekend

The 2010 Doylestown Red,White and Blue 5K race was held Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 29. This is the largest of the Bucks County 5K races.

It was an overcast, partly sunny, mildly humid morning for a race. Although I fell short of achieving a new PR, I finished 8th in my age group, which is the best placement I've achieved so far in this series! My race time was 25:23 coming in at an 8:10 mile.

One more race to go in this series - the Chalfont 5K Challenge will be in my home town next Saturday on June 5th.

After this series, I will begin training for my next half-marathon which will be in Minneapolis on August 22. It will be nice to visit Minneapolis again - I lived there between 1979 - 1981 when I attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota. Hope to catch up with some old friends who still live there!

Happy Trails!

John