WEBARK 5k RECAP and a new Running Cartoon of the Week

What a beautiful day for a race--the Webark 5K in Glendale, West Virginia. This is one of my favorite Ohio Valley races. The race director, Tom Rownd, is a veteran director and veteran Boston Marathoner. He and his crew put on a first-class event with plenty of awards for both walkers and runners, door prizes, food, and drink. This is one of the most popular races in the Ohio Valley with over six hundred participants. The money raised from the race goes to the Webark "no-kill" animal shelter, an organization dedicated to providing homes for abandoned and mistreated animals.

Although the drive over to Glendale was foggy and the air a brisk 45 degrees, by 9:00 a.m. when the race started the fog was burning off and the temperature climbed into the 50s. I actually prefer the 40's, but I'll take the 50's any day. The race has become so popular that it can be crowded at the start. Old guys like me have to be careful not to get trampled by young studs and kids full of adrenalin. By the mile, the crowd had thinned out a little. I went through in 6:04, maybe a little fast for me.

I went through two miles in 12:15 and finished the race in 19:03. At 57 years old, I am having a more and more difficult time breaking 19 minutes. Hopefully, at some 5K this season, I'll break it. One of my former cross country runners, Cedric Robinson, won the race in around 16:30. My training buddy, Chrissy Lewis, took the women's race in 19:55. My son-in-law, Josh Taylor, surprised me by finishing fourth overall and running 18:29. I thought for sure I'd beat him today because of injuries he had been nursing most of the winter. No way did that happen. He was over 30 seconds ahead of me.  He hopes to qualify for Boston in early September. Another notable time was posted by my friend Wayne McCracken--18:34--that is fast for a 54 year old! All in all it was a great time, great weather, and a great race.

The last two weeks before the marathon has arrived. We will basically be doing easy distance and cross training every other day. Nest Saturday I hope to run an easy 13 miler, the last long run before race day. Time to cut back and rest up. Have a great week of running!

Webark 5K finishers: Ryan Shirley (son-in-law), Josh Taylor (son-in-law), me, Chrissy Lewis (training and coaching buddy), Ed Liberatore (fellow teacher)