YardCrap Foot Racing

Cat's Cradle

The Jeep took me to Morganton, NC today for a race.  My hamstring has not allowed me to train, but the Jeep never leaves home with out me.

The race proceeds were for Cats in need.  Three cats decided to live with me these last years.  They are what keeps me going these days.  I love my cats!!  

****************************************************************

I met Tom McCormack.  He won the race!!  I know of him, but never met him.  He is 62 and ran 17:42 today (5:42 pace)!!  This is not a normal guy.  He might be the best over 60 runner in the World.  He lives in TN but competes around the World, so meeting him was a real treat.  He does not just hold "ALL TIME" records, he holds the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc, etc places also.  He gives me hope as like me, used to be a cop.  His after 60 times are as fast I did at 45 (when he was doing insane times). http://www.runtricities.org/html/WebArticles/McCormack/JCNews.html
He is very friendly, and even let me squeeze his pretty Bride as he took this photo:

I feel even older than I look.  Maybe I should shave my head?  Nope, too much trouble.  What I need is to loose ten pounds and get in shape.

Next up is Richard Hefner who is the best over 60 racer in my old stomping grounds around Charlotte.  He handled me with ease today, but unlike McCormack, he is normal.  If I can now finally stay fit enough to train, in a few months I believe I can get closer.  I can't beat him, but I can get closer.  I went to this race today because he recommended it on his blog: http://theoldrunner.com

He is a man of many talents, check out this uTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7jR1vfl5j8

There was a guy there I knew back from when I was a "real" foot racer -> Bobby Aswell.  He ran the 10K really well today, and I believe won it last year.

Here is his nearly grown daughter (time flies):

She nearly beat me and 25 years back, her Mom used to do that all the time.

Here are new friends I met, the Inman Family:

Andy beat me also with a 20:09 and unless an alien ray hits me, I will never run that fast again.  20 years ago I could do 18 flat, but 20 years of excellent beer takes a toll.

Here is local Morganton "septuagenarian" Will Cooper who I edged out today.

If I make it back for their September race, the tables could easily turn.  As we age, our innards harden and makes running harder.  It is still fun.  He looks 40, and I look 95, but  like Will, I have a lovely Bride.

The race was flat and all on golf cart trails.  On a scale of ten I would give the course a twelve.  That is why my spirits are down.  As all can see below, I ran the same time in my last race which was on a difficult course.  I have gone backwards.
My excuses:
- developed a hernia (annoying, but did not affect my race)
- fluid is running down both legs and one arm from posion ivy (again, no effect on my race)
- torn hamstring is sore but seems mended, but tight, can't extend my stride. It seems to have held.  I'll know   when I wake up tommorrow!
- had to get up at 3AM to make this race, and I like to sleep till noon
- mainly, just have not been able to train for a month, but the future looks bright

I was 18th of 130 foot racers.
I edged out a ten year old near the end!
Age graded, beat Dickie ~

The secret to winning is "grow old, show up, and they will give you something most of the time".

'Moving On Up'

A YardCrap Foot Racer (Bill Peay) has now reached "Rock Star" status due to being published in the Nation's premeire running magazine --> THE RUNNING JOURNAL.

Here is the link:

Running Journal

Go to page 16 and zoom in.

3rd Annual CPT David Hortman 5k Run

 

This race celebrates a brave soldier.  I was an Army officer, never was in a situation (except bar fights) to be brave.
It benefits 'Boy's State'.  I was fortunate to be chosen to go there in 1964.
It seemed like a race I needed to be a part of.
I was wrong.




This my blog and few read it, so I can whine until the excellent cold beer (Pilsner Urquell) out here on the deck makes me feel better.

For me, this was a very difficult course.  Many did not see it that way.  In my last race attempt, my hamstring brought me to a halt after 3 minutes (see Hartwell race in the last post). I spent the last month in rehab on the flat treadmill.  I lost much of the fitness I had aquired.  Still, as soon as possible I wanted to get back out there so weeks did not turn to never.

- This past week I seem to have developed a hernia.  I have pain going into my left lower back, but to be honest, this did not effect my race at all.  I am going to ignore it as I know guys who ran OK with these.  Mentally it was a reason to ease up, but I did not.

- My watch says the elevation gain was 103 feet.  I disagree.  It seemed twice that to me.  My level of fitness (lungs) would not let me run uphill.  My hamstring would not let me run down hill.  For me, this was a difficult course.

- The race did not start on time (a pet peeve of mine).

- Damn uphills killed me and made me cry.  Damn downhills hurt me and made me cry.

- After the race I discovered I had forgotten to add ice and my bottle of beer was hot (drank it any way).

There was some good.

- I finished, and that was in doubt even before the cannon fired.
  They had a tiny cannon.  I was an Artillery Officer and got to talk to the tiny cannon        owner.    Back in my day, we used a slide rule to figure elevation, distance, windage, powder charge,   etc.  Now GPS talks to a computer and sets the gun up in a second.  You don't even need to  know math.  I "need" a tiny cannon (and a slide rule).

- It was a lot more interesting than sleeping in.  I will go to another race as I had fun.

- I met a friend.  The famous Jim Wilson was there.  He ran his first race at 68 and a couple  hundred races later is now 81.  I was joking to some when the awards started that they should  start off with the geezers first as we might not live till our age group is called up.  Jim  said, "Yeah, guys our age never pre-register for a race".  That made my day.

- I struck up a conversation with a young guy parked near me.  We talked some and he said I   looked really familiar to him ( I was thinking the same).  He asked if I had ever lived near Charlotte.  Turns out he is a retired Police Officer -> Richard Hammonds.  It is a small world.  The guy is in incredible shape and is into trail racing and triathlons.  Cops I know  do love donuts, but are as diverse as the general population.

• 
  
  I'll go back next year.  Now I have a mark on the wall there, and believe I can improve on it.   Hell, I could not do much worse, so why not?
  
  --------------------------
  
  I finished (finally) 35th of 187 racers.
  My time was 23:46 --> a 7:40 pace.
  I just could not go uphill (or downhill).
  I won the over 70 and the over 60 and was 2nd over 50.  I am trying to find some 'Sun Shine' here, but WTF?  I was never agressive, and never really racing, just "Whining" along.
• Race Results
• 
  I always feel it is my duty to pose with some of the lovely ladies who raced with me.  Truth be told, even in my prime I rarley beat all the ladies.
  
  
• 

Love that Clemson Hat !!!