RoadKIll Bill

The Last Campaign

I was fat and very happy for years sitting on my ass watching birds and drinking beer. My environment changed, lost my chair.

I started walking some to trim down from 211 pounds.
It was hard, but after a few weeks I was doing some walk/jog, which I call "slogging".

For motivation, my goal was to finish a footrace when I reached the advanced age of 77.
Below are updates on my endeavors.

Fill free to add your deeds and thoughts to the comments section, or at least add some encouragement/advice for me. I truly am in need of it.

Click on photos for a full view
........ RoadKill Bill

45th Annual Lake Hartwell Dam Run

 

Jeep traveled to this race.

My beautiful Bride came along to keep me out of trouble and take photos.

451 highly trained foot racers and I lined up for this popular race.
The weather was good, 58 degrees and cloudy.
The course travels from SC to Ga over the Hartwell Dam. This surely ranks as one of the most scenic races, and all should have it on their "bucket list".

I did OK. I slowed some each mile cause I got tired, but that is the nature of the game. Back when I was 45 I worked hard, and my efforts produced times under 17. Now I work just as hard, but age has slowed me. Joggers with tiny kids past by me laughing and talking as I suffer.

I am too big and too old for this sport.

I did manage to get in before my peers over 75, and the kids over 70. I was 56th, so I am not yet holding up the parade.

Gary from TN helped pull my old ass in over the last yards:

Gary from my previous race was there and ran great. I am making friends.


Back when I was a kid of 70, lined up a few times with the famous Judy Walls. I never got in before her. It was good to see her (she beat me again).  She is presently running a race in every state.

I made some new friends.
This couple won big, I was way behind them.

Met a new "girl friend" (Katrena) on the bus ride to the start, she did great!


Got to see my old buddy Dave Turner. Awesome guy of 82 that few can keep up with.

My Clemson shirt attracted another Tnet fan. Lots of us were there.

This young Clemson guy (Dennis Nash) ran 37 in the 10K -- excellent!.

At this point of pain in the race I promised myself that if I finished, I would never do this again. Was this my last race?

 

 

20th Annual Lions Club 5K

Have Jeep will travel.

My planned first race was to be next week at the Hartwell Dam.
Having no current clue as to things like race pace, I decided a "practice race" was a good idea.
Elberton, Ga is close, so went there and lined up.

I was not concerned with speed. I was worried pain would force me to wimp and quit. My endurance is good enough to cover the 3 miles, but my mind is not "race day tough".

The course had long hills, and forced me to cry a little.The weather was nice, sunny about 60.
Highly trained foot racers lined up, plus me.

I did OK. As my fitness improves, hopefully my times will do the same.
-- mile 1 --> 9:14
-- mile 2 --> 8:51
-- mile 3 --> 10:59 (hills were too much for me)
5K Time --> 29:33

The heart rate graph shows I did work hard -

When I was younger, that much effort would have produced a good time, now not so much. Youth will be served, and at 77, most people are "youth" to me. On the other hand, glad to still have a strong heart.

Results:

 

I tend to be a hermit, so meeting some people was different for me.

Saw a couple folks I remember from years back - Craig and Angie:

Gary helped drag me in the last 1/2 mile:

Race Director (did a very good job):

My AAA friend Nancy who has been timing and organizing flawless races for years:

Will I ever endeavor to try this again?