Running Side Trips

Side Trips will include news from running clubs, individual achievements and notes from area road races. Please feel free to submit notes to be included on the page by e-mailing the information to admin@clinesrunningcorner.com.

Read about the latest running news.

***

Runner's World writer wins age division
at the Hottest Half

John Hanc, a contributing editor for Runner's World magazine competed in the Hottest Half on Aug. 15 to experience the expected Texas heat (he wasn't disappointed as the temp was climbing toward the 90s) and gather tips on hot weather running for an upcoming article in the magazine. The New Yorker (Farmington) apparently handled the heat and humidity well as he won the 55-59 age division with a 1:40:19.54, averaging 7:39 a mile. It should be an interesting read after sweating through the morning.

Branded a Texan

Mark Olateju, a competitive masters runner, who once celebrated his passion for running by having a runner tattooed on his chest has now confirmed he's a Texan by having the head of a Longhorn ``branded'' on his right shoulder about four months ago. ``You can't get more Texan that this,'' he said at the FWRC Watermelon run on Saturday (Aug. 14). He said the steer head isn't supposed to represent the University of Texas Longhorns; it just represents the State of Texas. He said a hot needle was used to etch the tattoo on his shoulder. ``That wasn't too painful,'' he said. ``It was more painful when it started to heal and puff up (as it's supposed to).''

***

Hard way to earn a watermelon

Participants in the Fort Worth Runners Club's Watermelon Relay on Saturday morning (Aug. 14) were on teams of two. Each team member had to carry the melon for a half-mile. Many already had run the 5K (though it turned out to be 2.9 for most of the runners because of a wrong turn). However, there was an upside to carrying the watermelon...participants could take them home to eat. Of course, many old-timers remember when the relay was two miles with each team member carrying a melon a mile. And the melons were bigger....or so it seemed.

See the video of the Watermelon Relay.

***

***

Happy 79th for Robert Cunningham

Robert Cunningham, a well-known regular participant at area road races, received a day-early birthday cake at the Trinity 5000 on Aug. 5 at the Trinity Trails in Fort Worth. His 79th birthday was Aug. 6, but he said ``This one isn't significant. Next year's will be (when he's 80).'' The cake was shared by the Trinity 5000 participants who also sang Happy Birthday to Robert. Photo provided by Movin' Pictures.

***

Leaving the Texas heat for some interesting runs, and former Birdville runners close the deal on a pact

A few of our home-grown runners are not satisfied with the Texas heat, so they are opting for some runs in the next few months out of state in hopes of finding something cooler.

Among them are Kelly and Cary Hancock, owners of Advanced Chemical Logistics, and they have some interesting travel plans. Kelly, the District 91 state representative, plans to run the New York Marathon on Nov. 7. He’ll be trying to beat the 3:47 chip time he posted in 2003.

Cary, along with his son Layne, went to Alaska to participate in the Big Wild Life Half Marathon on Aug. 15. They were joined by Kirk Wakefield and his daughter Whitney. This trip was part of a pact made when Layne and Whitney were running cross country at Birdville High School. Cary and Kirk told them they could enter any half marathon in the United States if they ran together. Layne and Whitney, now sophomores at Baylor, took them up on the promise. Cary, 48, finished in 2:01:59.6 and Layne, 20, came in at 2:18:42.1 and Whitney, 20, finished with Layne in 2:18:42.1.

***

*Some El Scorcho moments*

Libby Jones ran her first 25K at El Scorcho
even though five months pregnant

By Libby Jones from her Blog

After not running basically at all first trimester because I felt so fatigued, I had begun running again in the second trimester, felt good, worked with the doctor to come to agreements on how much running, and just kept feeling stronger!

So then three and a half weeks ago, I got a crazy stupid idea.  I loved the thought of El Scorcho 25K - there was a huge safety net to it being on a 5K loop where you could stop after any given one, and it was the only event at the absolutely coolest part of the day for the next couple months.  While running felt good, getting out the door when you're pregnant is still hard.  So I was also looking for a firm goal to keep me motivated.  My first 25K seemed like a strong motivator. Read the rest of Libby's Blog about El Scorcho.

New pair of shoes eased some soreness for Melissa

By Melissa Galyon from her Blog

I'm recovering from a pretty wacky race on Saturday night, with some soreness in my quads and calves, but feeling great overall. A new pair of Brooks Adrenalines doesn't hurt either (a friend told me I run on pillows, lol)...

The Race- The El Scorcho Run (25K/50K) is held annually in Trinity Park in Fort Worth, Texas, at midnight in July. There were nearly 500 folks running, which contributed to a laidback atmosphere. Spectators (yes, even in the middle of the night, we had crowds) set up tents, lawn chairs and coolers by the trail. The 25K racers ran around a 5k loop five times, and the 50K ran double that. Finishers received medals. Read the rest of Melissa's Blog.

This time Nick Polito finished

By Nick Polito from his Blog

I ran it last year and after 7 loops and 21 miles I quit. I came in this year with a different mindset of finishing was my first goal even if I had to run 9 min miles. I ended up with a few of those but I am very happy with the results. I have so many friends that run this race although most run the 25K. I even had some amazing friends that come out there to cheer us on and miss a whole night’s sleep. I didn’t taper much for this race as Chicago is still my goal race. Still had 78 miles for the week and I felt somewhat fresh for the race. The 25K starts 10 min after the 50K so at the start we know anyone passing us is a 50K runner. See the rest of Nick's Blog.

A midnight stroll

What were you doing at midnight Saturday? Sleeping? Some people were just beginning to run. These were among the 500 who were at Trinity Park for the fourth El Scorcho 50K, 25K event. Congratulations to everyone who finished Sunday (July 25) morning. At least the temperature wasn't too scorching. Todd Reynolds of Benbrook (pictured right), one of the area's top masters runner and 2009 winner of The Cowtown Ultra, won the 50K. If anyone would like to tell about your experience, please send a report via e-mail and it will be included among any others that are received. If you have pictures, send them, too. Photos submited by Mike Deavers.The white dots? Reflectors.

***

By Fiona Green

For Angel Soriano, the Karen K5K at the Powerhouse Gym in Weatherford on July 31 was his first race of the summer. Despite having put in some good training runs, he was unsure how he would stack up against the competition. His training, however, had clearly paid off as he breezed to victory in 17:39, almost 30 seconds ahead of runner-up and Masters winner Todd Hamilton. Both are Weatherford residents as was overall female winner, 29-year-old Tara McCall (pictured above with Angel). With a course consisting of rolling hill after rolling hill, with an especially long one thrown in at the end for good measure, the course was challenging for 'non-local' runners more accustomed to running on smooth, flat roads. PRs were certainly not the order of the day. The course was a perfect fit for Soriano, who loves the speed of road racing as much as the thrill of cross country. Currently running for Western Texas College, his favorite distance is the 10K for which he has a PR of 33:56. McCall was proud of the fact that she was able to stay strong throughout the race. Having developed a love of running at a young age, she ran cross country in high school and has stayed active ever since. A fitness instructor at Power House Gym, she credits her endurance to the work-outs she teaches -- kick-boxing, spinning, weights and a class entitled Better Butts! She also believes that pushing her one-year-old in a stroller has helped develop her upper body strength. It should be mentioned that she left the stroller at home this morning.
The event was organized in memory of Karen Kahler,  a former fitness instructor at the gym, and her daughters Lauren and Emily, who lost their lives as victims of domestic violence last November. 
Proceeds from the race were to be donated to Freedom House, a local organization which helps victims of abuse

***

Carmen Flores started running relatively late, but she has become a road warrior

Carmen Flores, 63, didn’t begin running in road races until the mid 1990s after attending a Fort Worth Runners Club meeting on a Tuesday and then going out the next Saturday to run a 5K. She has been like the Energizer bunny ever since….she keeps going, going and going.

``I’ve raced pretty much every Saturday since,’’ she said after completing one of the Trinity 5000 Summer Series events on a Thursday evening at the Trinity Trails. She trains by running four miles four times a week and then racing on either Saturday or Sunday (and Thursday, too, during the summer).

She attended the FWRC meeting after marrying Wesley Collins in July of ’94. She was introduced to road racing when they went downtown to watch the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. Carmen met several women who were members of the FWRC, including Judy Barton and Barbara Durham. They invited her to attend a club meeting, she did and has been hooked ever since.

Carmen has spread her running wings, too, as she has participated in events all over the area, state and out of state. She has run one marathon, though it also was her last.  ``The training is rough,’’ she said. Besides running, Carmen also is an avid skier and loves the Colorado slopes. She has tackled a few black (one of the most difficult) slopes, but ``I don’t care to do another one again,’’ and now enjoys mostly the blue (intermediate) slopes.

Fortunately, Carmen always led a fairly active lifestyle and grew up in Harlingen as a tomboy, which is understandable since she has two older brothers and two younger brothers. ``I was always active,’’ she said. She played volleyball, softball and, while at Tarrant County Junior College, intramural tennis. ``I’ve always run, but I didn’t race until I joined the runners club.’’

She, as most runners, discovered new friends and believes she and other ``older’’ runners serve as role models for the younger ones. ``It’s a good feeling when someone younger tells me I’m a role model,’’ she said. One of her best friends is Margaret Thrash. ``She’s 10 years older than I am and she beats me,’’ Carmen said. ``She’s a good role model.’’

Carmen also is competitive. She doesn’t go out for a 3.1-mile stroll when she finishes a 5K in the lower 30-minute range, more than five minutes slower than her fastest time. One of her goals is to beat fellow co-worker James Bircher, but she said he’s always ``just’’ in front of her.

Most of her best finishing times came in the late ‘90s and in early 2000. She set a  53-minute 10K PR during that time, after ``training and training and training’’ in an effort to beat 55 minutes. She also did her first and last marathon in that span of years.

So, expect Carmen to keep lacing ‘em up and racing for as long as she can. Running, she said, helps her stay fit, feel younger and be healthier. 

***

Cowtown moving from downtown to
Will Rogers Coliseum area

Cowtown officials, who already have announced that the six-race event will be split and be conducted on two days next year, have announced the event also is moving from its downtown Fort Worth location to the Will Rogers Coliseum area. ``The Cowtown is a premere Fort Worth event dedicasted to health and fitness...Our move to Will Rogers Memorial Center and expansion to three days (counting a Friday Expo) will make our six unique runs and fitness expo more enjoyable and safe for everyone,'' Cowtown board chairman Brian Hocker said in a news release. Read the entire news release. The Cowtown move comes on the heels of the White Rock Marathon being moved from the American Airlines Center venue to the Fair Grounds this year. Both events are trying to find more parking and other space for their growing events.

***

***