FUN SUMMER RACES

The start of the Chautauqua Days 5K

(unknown, Joe Ellis, Josh Taylor, Wayne McCracken, Jared Ullom, Ryan Lewton, Sherri Martin)

 

 

After training all spring and racing varying distances from 5K to the marathon, I find summer to be a challenging time to maintain a good level of fitness. Throw in the heat and humidity of the Ohio Valley and that difficulty escalates.

To escape the pressure to be on top of my game, I take a slightly different approach to my training and racing in the summer. I cut back my mileage, worry less about hitting good interval times, and participate in several fun local races.

On July 4th I ran Wheeling's Freedom 5 Miler. I've been competing in this race for many years and enjoy it immensely, perhaps because my birthday is on July 4th. It's become a tradition to start my birthday with this flat, fast 5-mile race. Usually this race is a scorcher weather wise, but this year we were blessed with temperatures in the 60s. Not bad at all. It's a laid-back event with usually about 200 or so participants. I get a little bit slower every year, but that's okay--being that my birthday is on race day, I'm reminded that age takes its toll--that's a fact that anyone over forty must confront.

This past Saturday I ran the Chautauqua Days 5K in Bethesda, Ohio. I've run this small-town event since its inception three years ago. Well directed by Rod Miller and Cindy Foose, the race starts and finishes at the Bethesda Park which has nice facilities and a picnic area. In fact the event seems like a big runner's picnic. We were serenaded by a super live band called Muddle and feasted on some great eats after the race provided by Rollin Smoke Foods. The awards were quickly presented after the last finisher crossed the line. Those who wanted to hang out at the Chautauqua Days Festival could stick around and visit all the booths, watch the parade, and participate in various competitions.

In the next few weeks I plan on running the Run Walk Roll 5K (Saturday, July 19) which starts and finishes at Generations Restaurant in Wheeling and the Debbie Green 5K (Saturday, August 2) which starts and finishes near the Civic Center in downtown Wheeling. Both races are a lot of fun and a good way to finish off my summer racing schedule. Come and join us, if you're not too far away!

Once September gets here, I need to get serious again. The Columbus Half will be coming up in mid October. Then in December the big challenge starts--TRAINING FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON!

Have a fun summer of running,

Joe C. Ellis