Tag: 5k

4’th of July Firecracker 2025

First, let’s talk about the Chiefs game last night: the Chiefs won it in 10: 3-2. We got the expected pitcher’s duel with the Cubs starting a AAA pitcher on rehab and the Chiefs throwing Lin, a top Cardinals prospect.

So, it was 2-2 going into the 10’th; the Chiefs did loads the bases in the 8’th inning with 0 outs but failed to score.

This was perhaps the best non-education day crowd of the season.

Then came the 10’th:

As much as I enjoyed the 21-2 game the day before, from a baseball fan’s viewpoint, this game was better. It was better played and there was plenty of drama.

5K

Well, this was a personal worst. But, oddly enough, I am ok with it. I’ve done no fast walking in a very long time; the miles are there but the speed isn’t. And it was gross: 79 F with 72 percent humidity.

The first mile was the expected zoo, given that I started at the back of the pack (where I belonged) and had the expected “moms with strollers”, “leashed dogs” and “parents with kids.” Lest you think that I am putting on airs, I’ll point out that many of these types were either beating me or at least staying with me. Aside from parents with their kids, there weren’t any, uh, “athletic bodies” around me, save a few older runners. One I thought: “wow, she is attractive for such an old lady..” and it turns out that I’ll be her age in a couple of months! No, there were no gazelles or active athletes in my part of the world.

The start WAS crowded and when it finally thinned out a bit, the better runners were on their way back. I was right at 12 minutes at mile 1 and probably should have stayed there. But I tried to pick it up at the turn around. I did; mile 2 was 11:45 (big whoop) and I could feel the heat getting to me. So, I eased up; mile 3 was 13:15 and I just didn’t care that much about my time at that point. I just wanted to finish without getting sick and with the ability to walk it back home.

After sitting for a while, I walked it back home.

total: 2.3 at 17:06 to get there, the 5k, 2.3 at 19:54 (I was tired) to get home.

What I am missing: I should have a “short but with some speed” day every week. This was this week’s session.

My 4’th of July race list:

1981: 26:53 4 mile (San Antonio)

1982 42:00 10K (Florida)

1983: 50:08 10K (Virginia)

1997: 43:37 10K (Milton, Wisconsin)

1998: 20:40 5K (Peoria)

1999 5:59 road mile (Sat), 21:33 5K (Sunday, Peoria)

2000 47:04 10K (Milton)

2001 50:05 10K (Milton)

2002 49:20 10K (Milton)

2003 1:06:52 (10K walk) Milton

2004 23:31 run (Kyle, TX)

2005: 40:55 5 mile run (Bloomington, IL)

2006 31:11 5K walk (Galva)

2007 31:35 5K walk (Peoria)

2008 31:33 5K walk (Galva)

2011 30:09 5K run (Peoria)

2012 27:46 5K run (Peoria)

2013 27:40 5K run (Peoria)

2014 27:06 5K run (Peoria)

2015 26:48 5K run (Peoria)

2017 30:05 5k run (Galva)

2018 29:23 5k run (Peoria)

2024 33:58 5k walk (Peoria)

2025 38:53 5k walk (Peoria)

Marathon: you do not “need” to do one..and it is ok to wait.

This post on Threads lead to a rather sharply worded response from me.

Note: the account holder DOES post some good stuff; I can recommend the account to runners. But..

“Excuse?” I suppose I can interpret that as him talking to someone who WANTS to do a marathon but is trying to talk themselves out of it. And, to be fair, that might apply to a group of people that is larger than the group that I am in.

Yes, I’ve finished the marathon (or beyond) distance 62 times (a few times fewer if you do not count my DNF in the 100)

And, no, I was not good at it. My PR as a runner is 3:33 in 1980, master’s is 3:38 in 2000. I did several as a walker (walking 100 percent of the time) and my last time was in 2019; it took me 6:42 (walker)

No, I am never saying “never again”, but given the tenuous health of my knees (currently tolerating 10 miles fairly well) and lumbar, I am NOT doing a marathon in the foreseeable future. And that is right decision, for ME at my current stage in life. Now, if I drop from 195 lb to, say, 178 lb…who knows? Right now, 10 miles is very comfortable but I’ll need 18-20 miles to feel that way before I start looking. It *could* happen, though I don’t see it as likely.

But here is my point: I did my first marathon when I was 21 and, frankly, I did not know what I was doing. But I was doing 15 miles at 7:40-8 minutes a mile, and could do a 5:30 one mile and a 19:20 3 mile (just at 20 for a 5k) and had run for sports for YEARS. I did not go from “couch to marathon.”

I honestly think that way too many never give their bodies a chance to adjust to running first and end up walk/jogging/shuffling to a 6 hour plus marathon.

And, well, the marathon is hardly the pinnacle of running achievement. For example, a 22 minute 5k is much better accomplishment than a 5 hour marathon.

As an aside, I talked to the young man who fit me for walking shoes. It turns out that he is pretty proud of his sub 2 minute 800, and he SHOULD be. That is harder than people think.

Fit AND Fat? Be careful…

Yesterday, I walked books from the house to my office. It was maybe 200-300 meters and four flights of stairs. I weighed the books (in my backpack suitcase) and it was …34 lbs.

But..the footsteps felt harder and I felt it in my knees and hips. And pull ups..no dice; not even one.

So, my point: I am 64 years old; I’ll be 65 in 8 weeks. Carrying that extra weight was WORK, even though it was only 34 lbs. (15.5 kg)

I was once 320 lbs. Now I am just under 190 and I’ve been 195 plus/minus 10 pounds for the past 28 years or so.

When I was 320, well, I still lifted weights and walked, though top walking speed was 18 minutes per mile, as a male in my early 30’s.

And yes, I heartily encourage people of all sizes to work out!

But, I am hear to tell you: the excess weight does add to skeletal stress, and as you age, even if you work out, you will struggle to deal with the extra weight. You won’t stay young forever.

A young person can get away with more. Back in 1985, when I was 50 lb heavier than I am now, I ran a 5K in 23:00. This is a time I have not seen since 2008 or so. Youth matters and it helps you compensate.