Things We Did Instead of Taxes

The Square State Striders challenged themselves this spring in a multitude of ways. Not just figuring out the tax exempt value on the Arc donation form for a pair of Altra's with 500mi on them, but new and exciting running frontiers: tracks, roads, mud, ice, different roads requiring expensive plane tickets, so many. 

We'll jump in with some marathon reports:

Newest Strider: Phil Stafford, knocked out a seemingly casual 2:57 at the quad crushing Colorado Marathon in the Fort Collins area.

Colorado Marathon, the downhill doozy??? First official marathon, 2:57. -Phil

(Phil paid 43.95 for this digital image so we aren't stealing)

A trio of S^3 teammates wandered the streets of Eugene Oregon over the marathon and half marathon distances. 

Carson Rickey equaled Phil's marathon time of 2:57 but it was at sea level, but Phil was basically controlled falling down Poudre Canyon, so it might be a wash. Carson, a man who obsesses over every detail, had this to say. 

I may have been wearing a lifestyle shoe and I regret that choice. - Carson

And here's Carson strutting his TJMaxx finds down the U of O home stretch!

Cynthia Chau (proud graduate of the prestigious Lowell HS in SF, just don't google them currently) took a hardship leave from work to accompany her spouse Carson and Tom. As the trip was probably already a wash, she ran the marathon as well. Finishing in a dandy 3:42.

 

(Although Cynthia was did not send in a race report, her spouse kindly stepped in for her, as one might during a medical emergency and relayed this to our readers)

She would hate doing a race report I'm pretty sure. - Carson for Cynthia

Thanks Cynthia

Tom Caughlan, long time Strider, perpetually injured, and former Boulder country club lifeguard, braved the elements for half the distance of Carson and Cynthia. It took Tom a respectable 1:35 to get over the line from last years Track World Champs.

I definitely had a fat Matt Carpenter vibe with a windbreaker tied around my waist.- Tom

Tom, I emailed the race director asking for your most flattering pic and they sent this. 

Gerald Romero, whom I can only guess has mono currently because he only sent me 3 race updates had this report from the front lines.

March 3--- the spring run off 10 mile - Pueblo, Colorado Dutch Clark stadium along the river trail. 5th overall 1st place 50-64 

March 16-- the shamrock stampede 10k -- 3rd overall -- Castle rock. All rolling hill side walk paths

These are clearly pics of Gerald but I can not confirm nor deny the timestamps

Amy McDonagh, a true Strider from the get-go, rigged the NYC Half lottery and felt she needed a little treat to train through winter as a reward. Amy dodged a packed St Paddy's weekend of people to a 1:58. (being a previous NYC marathoner they made her use her maiden name as NYRR do not acknowledge our less than 10 year marriage)

On March 17, 2024, in a solid attempt to return to running, I completed the NYC 1/2 marathon. I'm not sure what I'm more proud of, the fact that I ran very even splits for the entire 13.29 mile race with no help from Walrus Man, or that I made it to NYC on Friday after traveling from California for a meeting on Tuesday, back to CO to watch Neil dig us out of the blizzard apocalypse, and then surviving the drive to DIA ?! Regardless, it was awesome. 

Amy clearly auditioning for the 2025 brochure

Melissa Stepanowich decided to off her oldest PR in the books. Not saying she put all you bums to shame by running a 36 min PR, but she just may have. Here's her take:

I started running in 2010 and ran my first marathon in 2011 at the Shiprock Marathon. I had never participated in athletics growing up, so I didn't really know how to fuel or what I was getting into.  Having trained in my hiking boots for the majority of my miles, my well intentioned stepmom suggested I should switch to the same running shoes she wore.  I took the next logical step and purchased a new pair of Nike Frees. My race nutrition plan was just to eat and drink from aid stations when I felt like it. My stepmom was also racing and told me that 5 hour energys always helped her.  So I took my second logical step, and drank one the morning of the race on an empty stomach.  Shiprock takes place in the NM desert with zero coverage and a port-o-john placed every 1-2 miles that you can see like a beacon of green light. The experience was bad enough that I waited 13 years for another road marathon.  I went back this year with the intention of creating a new, and fond, memory.  While I didn't meet my goal time, I was able to PR by 36 minutes and place 2nd in my age group. I am comfortable waiting another 13 years for a road marathon but do consider this an all around win - especially since toddler hype gives you a bigger boost than a 5 Hour Energy ever will. - Melissa

I'm sure your step-mom meant well. 

Sam Wood placed 2nd in the female elite category of DEKAFIT Knoxville, TN

(feel free to google what DEKAFIT is but don't blame me if Jason Bourne shows up at your house).

3 Complete goobers  Strider teammates braved possibly that most bonkers track race conditions at the Springs All-Comers Meet at Colorado College. 

First up is Jeff Olsen who can often be found riding Zwift on nice days and running in the Canon when the Sheriff's Dept is calling for in-climate weather evacuations. Ripping a 19:37 in truly horrid conditions! 

PR for 5k at altitude with excellent pacing from Neil McDonagh - conditions definitely deteriorated from being cold at the start, to wet with abdominal numbness from cold mid race, to snow at the finish, to an inch of snow cover 30 minutes later. All in all a good time in Colorado Spring weather!

(I might add that I did not curse at Jeff even once. Which shows immense growth on my part as a person and a pacer)

Brandon Stepanowich, who somehow is like a truffle pig for oddly unstandardized track races, laced up his 'lingerie shoes' for a metric mile in the 1500m at the All-Comers in somehow nastier weather than Jeff's race. Notching a 4:49 . 

The Springs All-Comers meet offered another shot to live out my mid-life crisis. Except instead of cruising in a Lambo, I got to run 1500 meters around the CC track. Knowing that other Squares would be there helped me disregard the rain turned snow, at least initially. But by the time the race started, I was already for it to be over. In my previous mile attempt at the Air Force Academy, I remember at some point mid-race where my arms went numb and tingly. This time, all that numbness and tingliness was there from the start. Despite that, I feel like I started well and ran fairly consistently. Somewhere during the second lap, Jock Jamz 2023 came blasting over the stadium speakers and whether it was truly there or an auditory hallucination, I could feel the fight or flight adrenaline surging through my body. On the last lap however, my legs, like blocks of ice, had no kick and I was transported to that scene in Rocky IV, stomping through snow with what felt like a log on my back. I ended up finishing in 4:49, but most impressively, pulled off the 3-5 Stapanowich/Stepanov sweep with fellow Squares Robert and Vitaly.

Unsure if Brandon just watched Rocky IV to prepare or reenacted it.

Neil McDonagh, fresh off pacing Jeff in the 5k, fresh off trying to put on a second set of dry clothes in a porta john while its sleeting and dumping snow , fresh off some lady opening the door while he's changing HEY I'M IN HERE! , was stoked to run his first heavy snow 1500m of his life, until figuring out that's not a separate PR category. Neil shoveled a 4:36 1500m.

I think my body was venturing into 'unwell' territory. Especially after the race when I didn't even have my jacket on but I was getting warm. I am proud to have been less than a minute off my lifetime PR over 1500m. I also almost lost count of laps. - Neil

expect a beefed up liability waiver at next year's All-Comers meet

Vacations and Stay-cations

The Square State Striders competed locally and globally (Florida isn't really a state, more of a state of mind, sorry Gerald). Some folks are out racing through in-climate weather and facility while others log another Zwift ride on their Nintendo Switch. Let's hear what the squad was up to.  

Gerald Romero, upon hearing that Spirit Airlines was going under, promptly booked an entry to a series of races all over Florida. No word on if he toured The Villages after on recommendation from his financial advisor. 

Here's Gerald's haul over the last month. 

January 1, 2024 Rescue run- 10k --12 th overall 1st 50-54 42:48 

The Walt Disney world dopey challenge -- January 4, 5, 6, and 7th 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon 10k -40:55 46th overall 3rd place 50-54 Half marathon-- shortened it to an 8 mile 48:57 2nd place 50-54 5k and marathon was run easy non competitive Kari is a perfect dopey 11 years straight 

January14, 2024-- Key west half marathon 21st overall 1:31:35 1st place 50-54 

January 28, 2024-- The yeti chase 10k Morrison , Colorado 15th overall 42:42 1st place 50-54 

February 11,2024 The super half marathon Santa Fe trail Colorado Springs 34 th overall 1:40:56 2nd -50-54 Icy and snow packed path 

                                    *Gerald sent me so many photos I'm concerned that I'm acting as an alibi

Next up Lars Heckman, who has been regularly travelling for training camps to a track in Eastpoint Atlanta, GA. Lars is hoping for a rapid increase in climate change here in CO though, since he is in PR shape but that dang snow is all over Denver still. 

"First face of 2024... A real JV meet in suburban Denver called the Heart Throb 5k (incidentally, and awkwardly, found out its not named after me during check-in).   A fresh 6" of snow covered the out and back course and about a mile in I'd found my groove, leading everyone save for the 3 teenagers and a 20 something.  Of course around that time I started losing sensation in my right foot (pro tip: bring an extra pair of socks) along with both hands.  At this point I figured I'd better just finish and hope they had an ambulance nearby for what was surely going to be a triple amputation due to frostbite. Limped across the line in 5th (age group champ!) and turns out I didn't have frostbite.  Of any kind."

                   * You're first place in our hearts Lars (age group)

Adam Rich braved district school closures and all manner of communicable disease that middle schoolers exude. He still managed to bang out some Colorado 5k hardware. 

Polar Bear 5k was 1st 16:20 on a long course so 15:50 something.

The other one was the Yeti Chase. Tough course at Bear Creek Lake Park. 1st in 16:12 I believe. I lost two races while sick.

You hear that Snowden? There's a bounty if you can figure out what those mystery two races were. 

Brandon Stepanowich realized his Garmin Spot Sat Tracker device wasn't charged up enough to summit Pikes during a violent snow storm. So he did the next best thing. He signed up for the first track meet of his life. Brandon now has run the first xc and track meet of his life in the last six months. This behavior is indicative of moderate cognitive impairment or possibly an unreported closed head injury. Freeze your credit Brandon!!!!

"Turning 40 this year, my racing slogan is Low 5/High 5. I’d like to run a low 5:00 mile (ideally sub 5 but it’s not as catchy) and compete in the High Five 100 in the fall. Progress was made towards the low 5 endeavor as I ran in the first track meet of my life at the Mid America Region Masters Indoor Championships. This would also be the most expensive race of my life with a 5:13 mile working out to a cost of about 18 dollars/minute. For comparison, the hundred mile race will take 30-40 hours, and is free. Still, lots of positives to take away from this one including not vomiting or ripping an Achilles and being able to chase Neil’s voluminous mullet, at least for a couple of laps. Negatives included having the track hack for a week after and being confronted with unfortunate footage of me coming to a strained saunter meters before the finish line. It turns out that I was unaware of where this race actually ended and it ultimately cost a second or two but at least I didn’t crawl. I’m looking forward to the next yet to be determined outdoor track meet and maybe the Springs Downhill Mile to give it another go."

Brandon realizing that running in a tight pack really cramps his textbook form

     This is Brandon attempting to execute possibly the latest DNF anyone has ever committed in a mile race ever. Brandon this is track, half the field doesn't quit every race.

Neil McDonagh, fresh off a fiscal quarter's worth of race hibernation, decided to lay down a real statement to his competition around the country  at the USATF Mid-America Masters Champs. Then he read that it was being held at the soon to be demolished Air Force Academy indoor track, which resides approximately 50 feet less elevation than Pikes Peak, and reshuffled his race plans. 

"Knowing that I had the 800 meters before the mile, pacing and strategy were paramount. One wrong move and I would risk being disabled for weeks with a pseudo-miners lung respiratory rattle. I read you can go about 30-40 seconds without oxygen to your brain and be alright. So I just waited until the last lap of both races and kicked. After a success of 2:12 for 1st in the 800, I performed a strict recovery protocol before the mile an hour or two later. Which consisted of not feeling too hot and just sitting there until they said the 'mile goes in 5 minutes!'. And then I did the same thing in that race and again deprived my brain of oxygen kicking to a 4:49. Proceeding to wander around the fieldhouse in a miasma of dust and maybe sweat, until it was time to go home."

Here's Neil counting the amount of races he'll ever run on that USAFA track

Jon Tiesher ran scouting recon at the first two USATF CO All-Comer meets at USAFA. Ripping consistent miles of: 5:48 / 5:42. Jon didn't send in a formal race report but he wanted me to relay that his time is faster than what Tom can run and what Tom would have run if he had shown up. 

A Blogpost to Remember

 From gravy to ham and dirt to mud to trail; the Square State Striders demonstrated dominance in all disciplines, be it running, sitting there just driving , all the way to throwing a spear at an unknown destination beyond the edge of a cropped photo. Lets hear what the squad had to say about their efforts. 

Sam Wood found a way to make 100 mile ultra marathons look like a pleasant alternative option. 

"I won the Spartan Race Central Florida Beast Elite (women's race). Then I quit running and became an amatuer skier.

Won the Chicago Hyrox Women’s GoRuck division.  I also ran on our women’s >40 team relay & we placed 2nd. I have otherwise barely exercised the month of November

Spartan Beast Central Florida was about 14-miles of swamp/mud with both standardized obstacles (such as monkey bars & walls to scale) & ¡surprise! obstacles (such as tall grass that requires high-knee running, gators/snakes, & definitely flesh-eating bacteria). Think of a Spartan race a little like a “Final Destination“ movie where the whole premise is trying not to die. I raced for the All-Guard Endurance team winning the women’s Elite race and doing the course faster than all but 3 Elite males as well. It was great! But was it?

Congrats Sam, hope you won some antibiotics.

Gerald Romero continued his endurance feat of racing. My current hunch is that this is some sort of money laundering scheme, signing up for all these races. We're onto you Gerald! But also proud!

11/4/2023-- backcountry wilderness half marathon - lonetree 23rd overall 1:38:31 2nd place 50-11/5/2023-- canya canon 4.2 mile-- columbine trail too Helen hunt falls 2nd overall

11/18/2023-- dead horse 15k- mad moose -- 4th overall 1st master

Thanksgiving morning-- Turkey trot 5k 44th overall 1st 50-54 19:26

December 3rd-- rock canyon half marathon, Pueblo , Colorado.    10th overall , 1st-50-59 and 1st master

Honolulu marathon-- Oahu--- the merry mile-- 5:37

Honolulu marathon--   me and Kari both ate something bad the night before and we didn't feel good.   I just stayed with her and we ran together.   nothing competitive.   time and place was irrelevant.    we crossed the finish line in 6:38 and got our medals.  

Sorry about the tummy troubles. And everyone else don't hesitate to contact the FBI Tip Line.  

Andy Sherwood scoped out some retirement options for his PARA inheritance down in Arizona at the Nike NXN Southwest XC race.

"18:59 at sea level. Nike Southwest regional. Not bad But the best was the Strava friends I made along the way. Especially that hypochondriac/crypto bro who was right behind me. "

Adam Rich took it easy and did only , let me check my notes, 7 races in the last 8 weeks.

Here's the tape on Adam's end of year.

Ok here are the ones since November 1st:

November 4th City Park 5k 15:35 for 1st

November 12th The Great Candy Run 16:05 (3.17 miles) for 2nd

November 18th Pumpkin Pie 5k 16:04 for 1st

November 23rd Turkey Trott Rock 5k Castle Rock 15:55 for 4th, lost to three college kids...lol

December 3rd Rudloph's Ramble 5k (Cold, snowy course) 16:10 for 1st

December 9th Jungle Jog 5k (Well the course had 4-5" of snow, ice so not a fast one at all) 18:02 for 1st

December 16th Santas Dash for Cash (No money was given out!!!) 15:49 for 1st

Lars Heckman, STRAVA globetrotter, made sure to leave his Turkey trot mark where the whole world could see, in southwest Minnesota.

After satisfying myself with a Masters PR in my home park race in early November, I thought I'd hang up the carbon soles until next year. Alas, is wasn't to be, as inviting myself to crash my friends Thanksgiving in Minnesota prior to a work trip came with a condition: I had to show my stuff in a Turkey Trot he was self proclaimed chairman for. As I tried to stay ahead of the surge of nearly 1200 people in this mass start, i found myself next to some guy wearing a turkey suit.  As i was pretty sure he wasn't the guy from The Athlete Special, I knew I'd never be able to look myself in the mirror if i got beat by some cosplay casual runner.  With the turkey guy behind me, I could now concentrate on what i do best, paying attention to my watch. I noticed the splits were coming in much faster than I'm accustomed to and then it dawned on me... Aaaaah Sea Level... sea level sea level sea level. You can say it so many times and it just keeps sounding better.  Powered through the finish in 19:05, good enough for 2nd in age group and fast enough to justify a pair of real racers. Watch your back 18's. 

Fresh off a vigorous XC season, Logan Wealing and Sarah Blakeslee, decided to cross the border and to buy some steeply discounted Aleve from our number one economic trading partner.

Not a ‘race’ in the traditional sense, but we did stretch the mog’s new legs a bit over Christmas and road-tripped to Big Bend NP (~1700 miles). Got to see some gorgeous dessert scenery, hot springs, and even took a 20 second ‘ferry’ ride across the Rio Grande into Boquillas, Mexico for lunch. 

Neil McDonagh, was escorted from warm-up to cool-down at the Briargate YMCA Turkey Trot, taking 5th overall in 16:58. He thankfully was able to carry his children on his shoulders the last mile of the race as a cool-down.

Topped it off with a precise measured Breckenridge Santa Dash of exactly less than a mile, placing 2nd overall. 'Which is wild because I am not sure they had any plan on how to track finishers.'

Tom Caughlan (20:40), Jon Teisher (20:18), and Jeff Mohrmann (21:06), also completed the Briargate Turkey Trot.

I received the following race reports:

"Just like Colleen De Reuck, still faster than Tom."

Booster Club gets the State Championship they wanted

The Square State Striders bused up to Boulder for the Colorado XC state championships. The race was held on a bluebird day at Harlowe Platts park, which hosted the previous years' Masters XC Nationals meet. Weather was similar, unsure if goose poop levels were equal but likely. 

The Masters mens squad brought a full team to race some outstanding Front Range club competition (Summit Co. you don't have a team???). Taking the team title this year capped a great first year for the Square State team. Carson Rickey suited up and repped the Squares in the deep open competition, possibly impressing his wife. 

Here's what the crew had to say about the event.

Lars Heckman, recent team addition: 

"The course was hard, the pain was exquisite, but the memory was everlasting! The hardest race I've run, probably ever, maybe because it was my first cross country race! What a great experience to be thrown onto the shoulders of an awesome group of elite runners and walk away state champ! It only gets easier from here right?"

James Kaminski broke a roughly 20+ years of cross country racing sobriety and had a great return for the Striders. 

"That was hands down the hardest running event I did this year, including Leadville. But I can't wait till next season. I had an absolute blast."

Gerald Romero, a fixture on the Colorado (and most of America if we're honest) racing scene is finally a Square State Strider. He threw down and placed on the podium for the 50+ group while mixing it up in the overall masters ranks.

"It was a beautiful day for a classic cross country race. It was a pleasure to be a part of our 40+ USATF team win. and I am proud of our whole team. Our Square State Strider singlets looked awesome out there. Lets continue to be THE BEST EVER!"

Tom Caughlin went full Uncle Rico and showed everyone that he used to be somebody. 

"After 400 meters I knew I was in trouble, but my impending sense of embarrassment for getting beaten by JT led me to continue on, in vain, for another roughly 4,600m. Had it not been for a few brief strides next to Melody Fairchild, a national champion, my ego would be decimated by Teishers dominance of the day. I never mentioned this outing to my 103 lb 15 yr old son, who'd run almost a minute faster in the same park a month ago. I will revel in hubris bordering anemia for a time in the late 90's....I was once....fast. Could I drop five minutes in the coming Turkey Trot?"

JT, showed up in all black (defying potential uniform disqualification) and rocking insider access merch.

Credit: Dave Albo- Lane1 Photos

"My race was just like Tom's but faster."

Neil McDonagh, conducted a live field test science experiment on himself. 

Credit: Dave Albo - Lane1 Photos

"I'm 42 years old now. Maybe in my 6th decade of life I will stop going out at 4:20/mi pace in the first minute of XC races. Until then I shall bathe in the lactate all those Norwegians talk about."

Logan Wealing, ran all the Boulder XC series races and demonstrated his usual full attention and vigor for the season.

"As an inducted member of the International Society of Weights and Measures, I would like to clarify that the variance distance the course can not be truly calculated because 37% of the course did not have double flagged boundaries but in fact natural environmental borders. "

Carson Rickey decided to send a postcard to his old PA-USATF pals about what real XC is about.  (we can not confirm if Carson met the standards of his Tiger Spouse)

"Didn’t walk this year. Great crowd support from SSS Masters. "

Ruth Black was signed up and ready throw down in the ladies race but disaster struck.

"Paid for it, drove to it, then gladly sat out the wind and small field in lieu of cheering on SSS teammates! I do not recommend wearing wool socks on carpeted stairs with full arms and my tailbone is pretty mad about it too."

Mini Striders, Erin and Julia McDonagh dueled with what appeared to be an exceedingly well prepared army of Boulder children in the kids 1km race.

Credit: Dave Albo- Lane1 Photos

"I liked when Constantine (2008 Olympic marathon gold medalist) signed my medal and kissed my head after the race." - Julia

"My race was fun but very hard. I like when Constantina Dita signed my medal."- Erin

The Square State Striders had a great booster squad representation at the meet, and are super thankful for all their support and pity.

Nearly double the amount of Square State Striders were potentials for the big weekend of XC racing in Boulder but there was a litany of 'Reasons' why they could not participate. Please pick your favorite 'Reason'

• My wife is out of town
• My wife thinks I'm not in very good shape
• My Mother-in-law's visiting
• I don't like that course.
• I fell down the stairs maybe broke my tailbone likely have a concussion.
• I avoided saying why I can't do the race.
• Going to a party where they ask you for money.
• Boulder charges $0.20/bag
• My child is going swimming. 

WeWork May Be Done but WeBeWorkin'

Bunch of Striders doing bunch of races and bunch of distances. Lets all huddle up for a lil Cognitive Dissonance pause from the rest of the world. 

First up is Ruth Black, who started out a year ago shoving 1-2 children in a stroller for 5k's, looking worked (no offense Ruth). To just casually ripping off trail ultra's. 

Here's what she ha d to say:

New Belgium half in Fort Collins Oct 1st

When you pay $77 for a beer, I mean race, you have to show up even if it's inconveniently served a week before your first ultramarathon. Flat course, drop-dead gorgeous morning, and I went in with a plan for progression. I'm proud to say that I've never run a smarter race!! (Even when Neil pretended to be an innocent bystander at my college races) Slave to my watch the first 5k, then eased into tempo, stayed reserved until the turn-around, then entered the pain cave. I crossed the line knowing I gave it everything I had. Hammies were nice and tender for the next 4 days but I made it to my next starting line healthy and super stoked.

Above the Clouds 50k in Woodland Park Oct 7th

My first ultramarathon!! The excitement for this race was off the charts. And I actually made an excel chart of every single mile with associated course terrain, goal pace adjusted to expected terrain, nutrition targets, and more nerdy stuff. I was really hoping to go sub-5:30 based on a few factors, but the 10%+ grade hills at miles 15, 24-26 served me some fun humble pie. Crossed the line in 6:01 as 3rd female and 18th overall. It was a beautiful clear morning, the race had amazing volunteers, and I would definitely recommend this race to anyone local looking to try out a trail ultra without committing to a more expensive trip to Moab or wherever.

(first her husband Jared, now Ruth sneaking in a dirty foot pic. NOT THAT KIND OF BLOG!)

Gerald Romero, I assume only races to keep his Delta Diamond Medallion status intact. The G-Man was all over the country this month in a variety of distances.

Chicago marathon and 5k- Chicago 5k- 19:06 Chicago marathon - 3:18- Boston qualifier

The great trailhead footrace 10 mile(10/23)-- 1:11:23/ 2nd overall bear creek park golden

The YMCA creepy crawl 5k- October 28, 2023--Palmer lake 3rd overall--- 20:28

(Gerald trying to get me in hot water with Marathon Foto)

He's a fixture at Square State Strider events, but now he's pulling his own weight. Felix Stepanowich makes his race debut.

"The Littlest Square"

My name is Felix and I am the littlest square. You might recognize my parents because my Dad holds the record for the most inclines in 24 hours while my Mom walks around wearing shirts that say "Married to the fastest man to cross North Carolina." This season was my first racing season and I am participating in the Fall Series Super-Mini distance.  My first race was 25 meters and I was so excited!  I even got direct coaching from Zach Miller on the drive to the race. When we got there, I ran and ran and ran.  Then I went to the start line and there were so many kids!  As soon as they said "Go!", I froze up and started crying.  I ran it in with my Mom and Dad and kept saying "I want to do it again!" My second race was 50 meters....and same thing...sheer overwhelm with the amount of kids.  I was so upset this past weekend when my 75 meter race was canceled due to the snow but I can't wait until my 100 meter race to wrap up the fall series!"

Lars Heckman continues a fruitful summer of racing, rolling out of bed 100 yards from the race start line of the City Park 5k. Here's what Lars had to say:

Going into the 1 year of racing mark, I knew I'd have a massive target on my back in the City Park 5k as defending champion in the men's 40-49 division (to be fair I think I was the only participant last year). Luckily, my part time training partner was there telling me he "didn't feel like running fast" so just stay with him and realize your dreams of cracking 20 minutes. I found myself in a nice group through about two miles before the pain started to become a factor. Luckily, as is rarely the case, this time I ignored it and tried to stick with the group I was in. The last 200m was awesome. Felt like a sprint for glory as the cheers from my girlfriend inspired me to pick off the annoying 10 year old who was ahead of me . Finally, after 20 years of not running, I was able to break 20 minutes and promptly announced my retirement to no fanfare whatsoever, just like the last race. 19:44, good for second in age group. (Shout out to Adam Rich for taking the overall win and not pushing me down a spot!)

Guy in Goodr's and sweats had no idea he was tangling with The City Park Swede. 

Never had a chance buddy. Never had a chance.

I had a nice sit down with Adam Rich about his recent races. Here's the transcript:

Neil: Adam did you do that City Park 5k?

Adam: 15:35

Neil: Any other races?

Adam: I raced the last 7 weeks

Neil: Oh which ones?

Adam:

So folks if you are interested in those past 7 weeks of races, here's what I suggest.

From a website I found:

Search the person's first name and last name as a single search term within double quotation marks: e.g. "Adam Rich"+ "5k". If the name is a somewhat common one, many irrelevant results will show up. To filter these results, try including a middle initial or middle name with your original search: "Adam A.

Happy queries folks!