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
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."
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.
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