June 29, 2008 Several races coming up will offer runners a change of pace Runners have until Monday to enter the Firecracker 5K for the pre-race entry fee of $15. After Monday, the cost moves up to $20. Even for $20 the race is still one of the more inexpensive runs around. This is always a popular run out at the River Ridge course. The course is certified and flat for a runner trying to get a fast time. The difference in the Firecracker 5K is that it is held Thursday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. with day-of-race registration starting at 6:30 p.m. There are 10-year age groups from “under 14 years” to “over 70 years,” so it makes it good for all runners to have a chance to win an award. The one thing I noticed when race organizers advertise a race out at River Ridge is that almost every direction to the location includes “look for the bell tower.” It just made me wonder how many people know what a bell tower looks like, versus a tall structure in a complex? Local people know about the bell tower, since there are a number of races held there; but if you were coming from out of town, would a runner really know what to look for? Whether runners look for the bell tower or the River Ridge complex, it is a good run; and since it is in the evening, hopefully it will be cooler at that time. Some results from local runners include a couple of San Marcos runners entering the Lockhart Kiwanis 5K last week. Ros Hill gathered in a first place in the 40-49 age category, and second place overall, with a time of 17:50. Paul Paese came in at 20:35 at that race and took third in the over-50 age category. Paul has been running a few 5K races lately and seems to be able to stay in that 20-minute range all the time. Paul has been a runner in San Marcos for near on to 30 years and has put in some long streaks of running that have lasted two years or more, and has run a lot of marathons and 50K races during that time. This will be the last week Paul will be logging the miles around San Marcos, as he has accepted a teaching position as Dean of Education at a university in Connecticut. That state is a nice place to visit; but keeping a streak alive during the winter months, when the snow drifts get deep and the temperature drops below freezing, makes you wonder if those streaks will continue like they did here in Texas. Marathon season in Texas is over those winter months, and Connecticut has their season a few months earlier. I am sure Paul will find a way to get the runs in, one way or another. Good luck in your new job, Paul; and let the runners back here in San Marcos know how you are doing. David Alexander and Laura Mason traveled down to San Antonio for the Carrabba’s Half Marathon last week. The weather in June lately is not the best for a long run, but Dave and Laura opted to give it a try. The course was a 4-loop course designed for a relay that most people entered. David mentioned that he had not run a half marathon distance for a number of years, and was wondering why he chose to enter this one. He finished in 2:48 and Laura came across in 2:55. Not bad, considering the weather and running against relay teams kicking it around the loop for a short three miles or so. It was a challenge; but both are glad they stuck it out and finished the race without any other team members but themselves. On July 12th the Beta Sigma Phi-nest 5K race out at Hernandez Middle School will be held. It is an early morning run with an inexpensive $15 entry until July 5th, and then only $20 after that. This is a new course and should be a nice change for local runners who have run the River Ridge course so many times. It will have a few more hills than the flat River Ridge course, but that will just make it more interesting. San Marcos runners can take advantage of entering these runs right here in town, and save on the gas money that it takes to drive to somewhere else in the area. Dr. Maurice Johnson - better known around San Marcos as “Moe” - is a professor in the Department of Health, P.E., Recreation and Dance at Texas State University - San Marcos. Moe has been a fixture in the San Marcos running community - both as a runner and race organizer - since way back when Moby Dick was a minnow. His column on running and fitness appears each Sunday in the Sports section of the San Marcos Daily Record. • Recent “Running With Moe” Columns • Home • About the Club • Current News • Club Runs • Places To Run • TX Running Clubs • Running Links • Useful Stuff Upcoming Races • Race Results • Country Roads 10K & Kids Run • ARA-Moe’s Better Half Marathon • “Running With Moe” Contact Us!