Smelling the finish line and another podium finish at the Wine Glass Half Marathon in Corning, NY
This past year was perhaps my most enjoyable year of running in my 58 years of running! Enjoyable as I was inspired by several individuals as well as my own running performance this past year. I ran eight races this year of varying distances from the 5K to the half marathon. Several of the longer races are considered very competitive on a regional and national basis. For the first time in my running career, I had a podium (top three) finish in my age group category too! I will explain how I was able to achieve this later in this post. While it never really seemed like I was doing that much more running than normal for me, apparently it was. I ended up with over 1,450 miles that included running over 50,000 vertical feet! It has been over 20 years since I ran that much!
Inspiration
One of the three most inspiring individuals this year was my own grandson, Charlie. Charlie has enjoyed various sports in his young life dating back to his days playing T-Ball. He has always strived to do his best at each sport he attempted too. Perhaps his most admirable trait is his ability to support his teammates. You could say he has always been a “coaches dream”.
Charlie sets his school record in the 400M and is the Oakland County middle school champion!
Charlie’s best sport is running. In 6th grade he was one of the better runners on his middle school’s cross country team. In the spring, he was also one of the better runners on his track team. This past spring, running now as an 8th grader, Charlie decided to move from running the 800M to the 400M. His thinking was that he would not have to run so far! In one of his first meets of the year he ran very well and afterward realized that he was within a couple of seconds of breaking his school’s record. This was great motivation. In the next few meets he continued to “inch” towards breaking that record.
Then came the big day mid-season. He did break the school record! Was he satisfied? Not really, his motivation continued as well has his record breaking performances. Charlie ultimately became the Oakland County (MI) Middle School Champion in the 400M running 52.3 seconds! A time that would have also earned him a varsity letter on his high school’s track team if it was allowed.
Charlie has since joined his new high school’s cross country team this past fall and was consistently one of the top runners in every meet running varsity. Congratulations Charlie, we all are looking forward to your continued success.
Former Grand Blanc High School track star Grant Fisher wins Olympic Bronze medals in the 5000Mand 10000M races!
The Olympics
From the local track scene to the world stage. My next inspiration this past year came from a young man who also ran track at my old high school in Grand Blanc, MI, Grant Fisher.
While running for Grand Blanc in his final race of his high school career, Grant Fisher became the 7th high school runner in America to ever run a sub 4 minute mile. No doubt this is one school record that will never be broken! Grant went on to have a successful college career running for Stanford. Following college, he turned pro and ran for team Nike. He also ran in the 2021 Olympics too. Competing in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.
Grant Fisher made every Grand Blanc resident and former Grand Blanc runners extremely proud of him when he ran very strong and strategically smart races to medal in each the 5000 meter and 10000 meter races! An extraordinary achievement!
New Runners
Members of Run Team Novi become running buddies and conquer the Memorial Day 5K!
The next highlight of my running year was the following the success of a group of enthusiastic local runners who each decided to either begin their running career or at least enhance it. Working thru the Novi Parks and Recreation Department, I led this group of diverse runners as they trained to run their first 5K road race. Most began as walkers or at least walk/runners and very few knew each other. However, by then end of the three month training program friendships had emerged, and they each successfully conquered their targeted 5K race on Memorial Day 2024. Congrats to all!
2024 Race Planning
Then there is my own running and racing to report for the year 2024. It began with identifying which races and distances I would target for the year. There were the usual races; The Super (Bowl) 5K, Bayshore Half Marathon, Dexter/Ann Arbor 10K, and of course the Crim 10 Mile. But then the question became which races would serve as trial or test runs. To support the Bayshore Half Marathon, I selected to return to the long established Martian 10K race which was about a month ahead of Bayshore. To keep me running sharp in mid summer, I selected a local Father’s Day 5K race. Which by the way I ran with my grandson Charlie.
That left open which race to run in the fall of the year. The criteria for the fall race included that it had to be a destination race, one that was withing a day’s drive and included some interesting sightseeing and of course was a well-respected race on the national scene. Well, following some thought, I settled on The Wineglass Half Marathon in Corning, New York. Several of my local running buds had ran this race in recent years and they each highly recommended it.
The Coach’s Coach
Click on logo to link to The Planted Runner website.
But perhaps the single most significant event this year was not really an event but rather two decisions. Decision number one was for me to work with another running coach. Yes, even coaches can benefit from having a coach! I felt I needed accountability. The second decision was which coach to work with. I was seeking a highly interactive level of support.
Coach Claire is also a very fine runner herself.
After narrowing it down to several nationally based and highly regarded coaches my final choice became obviously clear. In early March I selected to work with Coach Claire Bartholic, also known as, “The Planted Runner”. I became a member of her “PR Team”. It proved to not only be the right decision but an awesome fit for me. From day one I was quickly accepted by many others on the team and for the rest of the year we shared our successes and struggles.
Coach Claire makes running and racing fun again.
I also needed to have a long-term perspective. Of course, I was seeking to do well in all of my races but what I learned was that each race and each training block for each race built upon the previous one. What this led to was not only the most successful running year of my past 58 years, an Age Group podium finish in each of my 8 races, and my fastest half marathon time in nearly 10 years! Yes, selecting Coach Claire Bartholic and her “PR Team” was the best decision of the entire running year that resulted in me not only running but also simply having the most fun running this year since perhaps nearly 60 years ago !
The Races
The Super (Bowl) 5K This is a local race that is literally held in my backyard! Most of the 3.1 miles meanders thru the subdivision that backs to our property. Since it occurs in early February the weather conditions are always tricky. About the only thing you can count on is that it will be cold. This year the weather was again cold but not nearly as bad as it could be. The roads and pavement were at least clear of snow and ice. Leading up to the race I had been focusing on doing predominantly slower paced runs. So, I had no idea of how fast I would run this race.
What I learned was that the slower paced training had actually helped me with my endurance. I was able to hold a faster paced run through most of the distance and finished with a time of 25:49 or an average pace of 8:22. I also finished 2nd in AG. I was happy with this result especially given the lack or any race specific training.
The Martian 10K Another local race, this one held in mid-April. By this time I had been a member of the PR Team for only about a month. My training during this time was focused more on the Bayshore Half Marathon coming up on Memorial Day weekend. Once again, another race to run with minimal race specific training. I entered this race primarily as a trial race to evaluate my progress to date.
It’s always more fun to race along with friends!
I ran a strong race, perhaps a little too fast too soon in the race because for as I neared the final mile I needed a slight walk break. I also remember passing most of those runners during my final kick who ran past me while I was walking too.
I was very happy with the results running 51:27, or an 8:23 pace and once again finished second in my AG.
Bayshore Half Marathon This was my primary goal race for the spring. This was where I was going to give it my very best. For various reasons I ran very poorly when I did this race a few years prior. I was seeking to redeem myself. I was also seeking to gain another podium finish too! Regardless of whatever my AG finish would be I also knew that a long time good running bud of mine, Jim, would be running this too. Jim and I often competed very closely in every major race in our area and I just simply never beat him since our first race together at The Brooksie Half Marathon many years ago. So while I was hoping to score a podium finish, maybe even win my AG, my real gaol was to simply beat Jim.
Somewhere between the starting line and the finish line.
Sure enough, Jim was there on race morning. We had a good friendly chat before the race. Jim, the old sandbagger he always was, warned me about how poorly he had been running. He also tried to boast my confidence by telling me how good I had been running. I heard these stories before other races before.
Well, Jim and I pretty much ran together for most of the first 6 or 7 miles. I had him in my sight when he did get ahead of me. But then something about this course, I began to fatigue and before long Jim was far ahead of me. I could see him in the far distance.
I held on to hope that he was once again going to win this race and I figured if I could just hold off any old dude that tried to pass me then I still had a strong chance of finishing 2nd in AG.
I did manage to continue to run as strong as I could to the finish and finished strong on the track. Shortly after there was Jim waiting to greet me in the post race goodie line. We compared notes and we congratulated each other once again.
As it turned out, there was another 70-year-old guy we never saw in the race because he was far ahead of Jim. I ended up 3rd in my AG and frankly was very happy with that. I ran 1:55:00 half marathon time., 1 minute behind Jim and 2 mins behind the winner. It represented the first time I ran a sub-two hour half in recent years. I had no reason to complain and celebrated. Coach Claire and her PR Team made a big difference.
Dexter / Ann Arbor 10K The featured race for this local event is actually the half marathon that is ran between Dexter (MI) to downtown Ann Arbor (MI). I have ran the half several times in past years but frankly prefer to run the 10K for this race. It’s a beautiful out and back route that predominantly borders the Huron River. It also features a very tough and long uphill run to the finish line. This race also is only one week following the Bayshore Half Marathon. Another reason not to run the half here.
First Place Age Group Winner and medal for the 50th anniversary of the Dexter to Ann Arbor race series.
Since most of my local age group competition tends to run the featured half marathon, my chances to win this race are significantly improved. Nonetheless, I still want to run hard and hopefully score one of my fastest 10K times in recent years.
So, that’s sort of just what I did! I ended up with a finish time of 52:39, or an average pace of 8:18 per mile, and won my AG!
Father’s Day 5K Another local race that I had ran in previous years. However, this year was special because I raced it along with Charlie. Well, we at least ran side by side during our warm-ups. I was looking to run a fast 5K especially since the race route, around the Detroit Zoo, is virtually flat the entire way.
Father’s Day 5K, at the Detroit Zoo. I was special to run with Charlie today. Well, not exactly “with” him as he is much faster than me.
We woke up to a beautiful Sunday morning to run with plenty of sun and temps near perfect. So, no excuses today. Charlie and I each ran extremely well. I had hoped that my time of 24:52 or 7:58 pace would be good enough to maybe win my AG, but it wasn’t. 2nd place for me again. Charlie on the other hand ran an excellent 5K in a little over 18 minutes and he did win his AG!
Crim 10 Mile It just would not be summer if I did not run “The Crim”. Held in downtown Flint, Michigan, I have ran this race nearly every year since returning to competitive running in 1984. This year was my 37th Crim. There are a myriad of reasons why I return to my hometown area each 4th Saturday of August to run 10 miles as hard as I can, the short answer is that this is the area where my running career began 58 years ago.
Of all the times I have competed in this race I have never had a podium finish. This is one of the top 10 Mile races in the country and the competition is extremely tough. This year it also was the USATF National Championship for Master Runners! That actually served to my advantage. I had never trained better for this race in more than 30 years! I was aiming for a great effort.
And a great race I had too! I ran strategic, I ran, strong, I ran smart. I also finished with one of my fastest times in recent years with 1:23:38 or 8:21 average pace per mile. Good enough to not only beat out my regular age group running buds Jim and Graham but also to finish 2nd in the 70-74 Year Age Group! My first every podium finish at Crim!
Pumpkin Fest 5K The South Lyon Pumpkinfest 5K is a race that supports Charlie’s high school cross country team. I’ve ran it before and it’s a fun race that leads off the town’s Pumpkinfest parade, so there is plenty of crowd support well, at least for the first mile. It’s a small, old school feel type of race of about 100+ runners and most of them are high school students! So, forget about running with the lead pack.
Charlie finished 2nd Overall and I won my Age Group in the Pumpkinfest 5K.
Actually, I ran quite well running a 24:06 or 7:45 pace, 5K time! Not too shabby for this old body. I won my age group again too!. Perhaps the best part was when Charlie (who had finished well ahead of me) met me on the track to run the final 300 meters to the finish. This was also the point where I really tried to have a fast finishing kick too. Charlie easily kept up with me along the track well, at least for about 200M. He claimed he couldn’t keep up with me any longer and stepped off the track! I think he was simply being polite to his elders.
Wineglass Half Marathon Each year I try to travel to a special destination race where I can combine travel and vacation with a quality race experience. Trusting the high praise for the Wineglass Half Marathon from several of my running friends, Corning, NY was the destination this year.
Nothing like the feeling of knowing you did your best, from the very beginning of training right through to the finish line! My best half marathon time in over 10 years!
The total experience, race, travel, dining, and more did not disappoint. I published a full race report in my previous blog post. You can see that report here.
I ran a 1:49:06 time or 8:20 average mile time to finish 2nd in my age group! While my time in this year’s race would have easily won this age group in many years past apparently, there was a runner from Maryland who was beat me by 15 minutes. There was no way I could compete against him. I was very happy with my 2nd place finish.
My Running Clients I am extremely grateful to the runners who selected me to help them realize their individual goals this past year too. However, I believe they are so special that they deserve the attention of a separate post dedicated to their achievements. So, be on the lookout in the very near future for their stories on this blog site.
What’s Next? The Wineglass was in early October and closed out my racing for 2024. Typically, I like to continue to race until early November but this year I was simply mentally fatigued following Wineglass. I dialed my running down by running a bit less and a bit slower. I was no longer following a specific plan where I was expected to run a certain distance and pace 6 out of 7 days a week. It felt good and I thoroughly enjoyed cheering my friends running their fall races.
2025? Not really sure about this year so far. On one hand 2024 was such a huge success for me I sort of feel that it may be difficult to exceed. I know I would not enjoy placing any further or undue pressure on myself too. I still expect to race a few races, perhaps a few races that I have never done before? Most certainly I do plan to run the Crim 10 Mile for my 38th time later in August. In all likelihood, during the next few weeks I should settle on a racing plan for 2025.
I look forward to your feedback and perhaps working with you at some point this year to help you realize your running goals.
Thanks again.
Coach Lee