Hey Runners!

[hammb]

I don't know how many people on here are runners, but I wanted to give a shout out and some props to our Track & Field team at BGSU. I don't really consider myself a "runner" per se (I'm slow as molasses), but I do run. A group of my friends have been signed up for the Glass City Marathon as a relay team for awhile now. We've been training, and I thought it would be fun to do the Falcon 5 Miler this past Friday to see where I'm at for finishing my leg of the marathon (which is about 5 miles).

Anyhow, the event was this past Friday and it was VERY well run. I run in a lot of 5Ks (I'm a sucker for a "free" race t-shirt). From running these various events it's definitely made me aware of what can be done well and not so well on race day. The Falcon 5-miler did a lot of things very well and I wanted to let the rest of you who ever would consider it know:

1. Race was not electronically timed, but there was a digital board as you were crossing the finish line so you knew right about where you'd finish. I like that.
2. Course was not only well marked as it wound back and forth throughout campus, but almost every turn was actually marked by a BG athlete holding a sign, pointing the proper direction, and shouting encouragement to keep going.
3. There were markers for every mile...each of these markers had somebody there telling you what your time was, and again giving encouragement.
4. Finishing the race on the outdoor track was kind of cool...followed by fruit/water/etc.
5. Tshirt was pretty sweet with a big Falcon logo on the front (although I hate White! Blah)
6. Final official results were sent via email as a PDF attachment. I think this is the first race I've done that did this, and it's a very nice touch!


Despite the lousy weather (cold & windy, even in mid April...) it was still a really good experience. I definitely recommend this race, and so long as I keep myself in shape to keep doing 5 milers I'll plan to do it again. The only downside I could see is that it's not a real big race field, and it definitely seems to lean towards real runners. I finished at about 50 mins which was way better than I expected but I was in the bottom 10 of overall finishers. This doesn't bother me one iota since I'm out there against myself more than anything, but if you're the type that can be easily discouraged by being one of the last finishers then this isn't your typical charity 5K with a huge spectrum of abilities.

[MarkL]

Sounds great! But if I could make one improvement ...

4. Finishing the race on the outdoor track was kind of cool...followed by beer.

[hammb]

Sounds great! But if I could make one improvement ...

4. Finishing the race on the outdoor track was kind of cool...followed by beer.

That would be a nice improvement. I have yet to participate in a race that ends that way, but IMO they all SHOULD! Of course I went home and had a beer right away

[MarkL]

I did what's called Run For Your Lives. The first one was October 2011 a bit north of Baltimore. A BG friend flew out my way and we went up there and ran it. Awesome run. It's a race with mud, obstacles, and zombies. Yup, zombies. And at the end there's an after party with lots and lots of beer. With the exception of the crappy parking situation it was a great event and I might do it again this fall if I feel up for it.

[hammb]

I did what's called Run For Your Lives. The first one was October 2011 a bit north of Baltimore. A BG friend flew out my way and we went up there and ran it. Awesome run. It's a race with mud, obstacles, and zombies. Yup, zombies. And at the end there's an after party with lots and lots of beer. With the exception of the crappy parking situation it was a great event and I might do it again this fall if I feel up for it.

Nice! I definitely wanna do something like the Zombie dash or that.

A bunch of us did the Warrior Dash a couple years ago and had a blast with it.

[MarkL]

Wow ... bad day to have a thread about runners ... all the best to the folks in Boston. Those paramedics are nothing short of heroes. They expected the worst to deal with would have been a sprained ankle and next thing they are splinting broken bones, stopping massive bleeding, treating life threatening injuries. They deserve huge recognition when all of this settles down. No clue how or who was involved yet ...

[TG1996]

Thanks for the report hammb. I would have definitely done this if I had come back for the Spring Game, great to hear it's well-run. Though if you did 5 miles in 50 minutes, I would likely have been one of the 10 behind you. I've got one of the 5-point-something legs at the Glass City, as well. Maybe I should start training.

[Falconfreak90]

Sounds like a fun run! Got the Cleveland half marathon coming up May 19...my goal is to finish. Not looking to set the world on fire. Maybe next year for the Falcon 5 Miler!

[TG1996]

Sounds like a fun run! Got the Cleveland half marathon coming up May 19...my goal is to finish. Not looking to set the world on fire. Maybe next year for the Falcon 5 Miler!

We've got a spot in the Glass City Marathon relay, Freak. Want in? Have to make sure I've got plenty of orange on, it starts and ends at the glAss Bowl.

I've got my eye on the Homecoming 5K in October. Get a little run in around campus, then keep going to the tailgate lot!

[hammb]

Sounds like a fun run! Got the Cleveland half marathon coming up May 19...my goal is to finish. Not looking to set the world on fire. Maybe next year for the Falcon 5 Miler!

NICE!

I never thought I would get up to being able to do 5 miles at a time. Now that I have I wanna shoot for a half marathon. Not sure if I'll get there this year or not, but I wanna do one before I turn 35 for sure.

[Falconfreak90]

Sounds like a fun run! Got the Cleveland half marathon coming up May 19...my goal is to finish. Not looking to set the world on fire. Maybe next year for the Falcon 5 Miler!

NICE!

I never thought I would get up to being able to do 5 miles at a time. Now that I have I wanna shoot for a half marathon. Not sure if I'll get there this year or not, but I wanna do one before I turn 35 for sure.

Ya know Hammb, I used to HATE running...playing football, hated running. Got bitten by the bug last year after hearing my younger sister talk about running the Cbus Marathon. All 26 freakin miles...that is nuts. But I've been able to do 11 miles before and did 9.6 Thursday night. I just love putting on some tunes and going...it's like a drug and gets me away from everything. Wow...that is deep. LOL.

Tony,

glASS shitty huh? Let me see what I can do. When is it?

[hammb]

The glass city is next Sunday. My friends and I are doing it as well.

I hear ya freak...I hated it too. Now I love just going out and escaping. Especially in the parks in the woods. I just wish my knees were better. I really can't go more than twice a week or I'll be really hurting.

[Globetrotter]

I'm doing the Columbus Half in 2 weeks, ran the flying pig last year and the Columbus full last year. I know it sounds funny but most of it is mental if you don't care about your time or pace. After you pass a certain point it isn't hard to get back up to it. Starting is the hard part.

Running is like meditation like someone else said.

The Columbus full was my 4th marathon and the half this year will be my fourth half.

[Falconfreak90]

Dang GT, that is impressive! Thanks for the tip as I'm always asking people who've done this a lot longer than me what are the best practices and wisdom? I certainly don't wanna kill myself but running really is invigorating. Just did a 7 miler a couple hours ago and thought "If you can do 7, a half is only 2 7's". LOL

Hammb,
Maybe next year in the glASS City. Too much going on this coming weekend with lacrosse games and yard work. Have fun! And I found the perfect place to run...thru the Portage Lakes Nimisila Park. From one end and back is 7, which is what I did today. THere are lakes, birds, ducks, eagles and tons of dudes fishing and makes it really cool. Especially on such a perfect day like today...65 and sunny. There is ample room to run on both sides of the road the whole way, due to a very generous bike path. Perfect.

[Globetrotter]

Im a big nfl draft fan so I will just download a podcast and listen why I run. Time flies by. If you have an Iphone Map My run will map your run and let you know your pace and all that. It jacks up every once in awhile but it seems ok.

If I am running at the gym I try to time it so that I am ending just at the end of a game so I stay on a bit longer or I start right when a show starts and end an hour later.