Subway GetFit Road Race 10k

A week before the Gear Grinder I ran a 10k that I planned to run last year but my knee was hurting by then really bad. This time, after the knee surgery I want to believe that it's OK to run fast and on concrete again.
The race took place by the Scheels complex by Pebble Creek Golf Course. It was a two loop course with some hills and on windy roads.
Bismarck Parks and Recreation had some issues with their new timing system and it gave us, runners, some extra time to get know each other.. I don't mean that I introduced myself to everyone in the crowd but I met a few runners I haven't seen awhile and even new faces. One of them, Kyle Downs, even looked like a runner.. I knew I would have to run hard this time and my suspicion was right on. After the start it was Kevin Stankiewicz who joined us for the first mile but then just Kyle and myself. I felt how he was a bit stronger on the hills. The lack of miles this season is starting to catch up on me. We kept a decent pace and I tried not to fall too far behind going up. He then started asking questions that I knew were either to cover up any signs of weaknesses or that he in fact was feeling really good. It ddin't take long to figure out. On one of the longest "climbs" he went ahead and never looked back. I managed to keep the distance fairly short between us but eventually he pulled away and beat me by a good 30 seconds.
The course was longer than 10k so my actual 10k time must have been just under 35 minutes and that's not too bad on a course like this.

I hope that with more 10k specific workouts I can push this time under 34 minutes by the Turkey Trot at Thanksgiving and take home the turkey again!
Until then I've got some XTERRA's and THE XTERRA in Maui!

Results:
http://bisparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012-Subway-Get-Fit-Race-Results.pdf

2012 Gear Grinder

Click on the link to see the stats and map..
Untitled by danmanmule at Garmin Connect - Details

This past weekend was my first official mountain bike race. I really can't count the off road triathlons here because after the swim we don't start together..
So it was interesting and I had no expectations at all. I knew I wanted to ride hard but only after I ease into the rhythm.
There was a good 30+ bikers who did either the sport or the expert division. We all lined up at the start line and off we go.. I guy shot out like he was 1k time trialing but I suppose that's how you get to the lead and make sure not to be bothered by anyone.. It took me a while to find the gears and for a while I was at the back of the lead group in about 8th position. I noticed that a group of 4 is breaking away so I slowly started to move up. It wasn't easy to pass people on the singletrack so for the most part I was just cruising behind other bikers. by the middle of the race I moved up into 3rd position by passing the team leader Dennis Kemmesat. 2nd wasn't too far away but this guy held a faster pace. I was able to pass him too just before starting the last loop and put some time in him on the flat(ter) section of the course. At one point I know I was within a minute from the top guy but making my way through the field came at a cost. I started fading, and also losing ground to the leader. I managed to maintain the pace but it sure left me empty. 2nd place overall not too shabby and I even earned $35! HA!
The 29er Specialized rides a lot smoother and faster over this course than my previous bike. I believe if I had this bike during the XTERRA in Jamestown I could shaved off a good 15 minutes from my total time (no technical issues, faster, less tiring) ..

I am not sure where is my next race.. XTERRA Canada (Sept 2) is within 15 hours drive from Bismarck or maybe XTERRA Deuces Wild in Arizona (Sept 9)?
There is also XTERRA Utah (Sept 29). In the meanwhile I will likely do the 5k run during the Bismarck Marathon events.. After runing 10 miles the other day on mainly concrete I don't think my knee is ready to pound it for hours..

FALSP 15k Trail Run

Hello again..

There was a race this summer, on July 14th,  that I did and never wrote about- until now.. But this race was one of my favorites as it was different from the rest. Kevin Stankiewicz, the coordinator of the FALSP (Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park) 15k Trail Run and his team put together a great event that might, and I hope it will, grow out to be a much more popular one in the future. The distance was 15k or about 9.3 miles over 3 loops winding on mainly mountain bike/hiking trail around the park's forts (lookouts) and trail system. There was 32 runners who finished but with all the family members around the finish it seemed a lot more..  The early start, heat and challenges a trail will offer didn't deter runners..
Right after the start I took the lead but I meant to run at a conservative pace at least for the first loop. Still, I ended up getting off-course and adding seconds and miles to my total... There were arrows and markings on the course and EVERYONE seemed to find the course but me. I failed to make a sharp right turn onto the narrow single track trail and instead I ran straight down a ridge. While running down I was even telling myself that this is cool, Kevin made this course pretty hard core by making us run on this steep, stairs-like dirt road section. I found myself running into the course again, cutting about 500 meters off the course. Luckily Kevin had suspected that someone might make this mistake and he was waiting on his bike.. He politely asked me to get back where I left off.. So I had to climb back up on the hill that had to be a good 100 meters long and about 30% incline. By then a lot of people had passed that turn so I had to run after the leaders . It wasn't long though until I took the lead again and kept it until the finish. It had gotten really hot by the end of the race that sure made it even more difficult if running on trails 10 miles ain't tough enough.
Good job to all runners who finished it and a big thank you to Kevin who organized the event from start to finish!

Results:

Bib #	Age	Gender	Time	First Name	Last Name
493	27	M	59'05"	Daniel	Molnar
483	30	M	1:09:58	Derek	Schulte
485	34	M	1:11:11	Ryan	Holen
488	34	M	1:16:00	Jim	Sheldon
490	32	M	1:17:30	Brian	Opp
475	38	M	1:19:08	Patrick	Johnson
484	30	F	1:20:48	Katie	Knoll
468	47	M	1:21:03	Dave	Hagler
491	34	M	1:22:46	Chase	Iron Eyes
492	60	M	1:24:24	Leon	Essler
465	33	F	1:25:17	Carrie	Axt
466	30	M	1:25:18	David	Axt
476	38	F	1:25:33	Molly	Traynor
477	46	F	1:26:40	Denise	Weeks
474	47	M	1:26:46	Gavin	At
494	25	M	1:28:14	Tim	Jahraus
482	57	F	1:29:33	Judy	Myers
478	41	F	1:31:09	Michelle	Reichenberger
479	34	F	1:31:52	Jocelyn	Duffy
480	35	F	1:33:20	Nicole	Hinderer
470	68	M	1:35:47	Tom	Tudor
489	45	F	1:36:29	Lisa Lee	Bjerklie
486	23	F	1:38:37	Rachel	Fearing
472	56	M	1:39:49	Larry	Ressler
481	44	F	1:40:11	Tania	Hellman
469	48	M	1:40:13	Cameron	McCullough
471	57	M	1:45:22	Tom	Swanson
467	37	F	1:47:10	Jody	Olheiser
473	33	F	1:49:28	Lisa	Cagle
463	31	F	1:52:37	Lisa	Kaufman
464	29	F	1:52:41	Shawna	Wing
487	30	M	1:58:28	T	Bailey

XTERRA Mexico best moments..

I have some stories I feel I need to share with ya'll. You might find them funny or interesting.. I loved them!
After the race Anna's dream had finally come true. We went to eat pizza! So we walk in this restaurant, there was no one in there but a guy in his early twenties and another young kid around 8 years of age. With our broken Spanish we point at the items on the menu and order our Xtra Large Hawaiian styles pizza. I also order a beer. Una Negra Modela pr favor. The guy takes the order. Of course, no ID needed for the beer. He walks back behind the counter then I see this about 8 year old boy run out the restaurant and not even a minute later he was back. Holding my Negra Modelo that he places  down on the table in front of me. If I wasn't from Hungary and actually lived to see something like this I would had been shocked. It was just funny. It brought back good memories from my child hood. So after finishing my first beer I order another one. Una mas cerveza por favor- I say. The boy runs out again and back in within seconds like he was racing. Apparently they had no beer in their restaurant and he was sent by his older brother?? to get the beer from the liquor store just next door. At only a $1 per bottle I had no problem with this.