50 Fives by Fifty-Five - 50 5k road races

Race #15 completed: Cooper Young Festival Race in Memphis

Bob — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:56:55 +0000

Our first evening run on the tour took place on Friday Evening, September 16 in Memphis, TN. The Memphis weather cooperated, and temperatures cooled during the day to a very comfortable mid-70s range, and it colled down as the race went on.

A great experience with somewhere near 2000 runners taking part, we started out just about at sunset and finished in evening darkness. All the while we were being cheered on and “illuminated” by hundred of neighborhood residents who had taken to the streets and lined the running route through the very cool Cooper Young part of mid-town Memphis.

Here is a photo of me with two-time 50fives participant David Johnson.

Race # 14 completed in, and at, the nation’s Capital/Capitol

Bob — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:19:01 +0000

Once again, the weather favored us on Sunday morning, October 17, 2010 as Carly an I took part in the National Law Enforcement Memorial 5k road race in Washington, DC. Okay, we stretched the definition a bit to qualify DC as a Virginia race, but then its only a mile or so away from VA, and we had our share of training runs from DC into VA and back, and so it goes.

The race route took us right by the front of the US Capitol building, and then around three sides of the structure and back again. It was really an inspiring route and I feel honored to have had the opportunity to participate in this way and to honor and support the memorial.

A 45 degree morning quickly turned into a 70 degree day in the mid-morning sun for this 10 am race start, but we caught some shade where we could, and enjoyed the sunshine along the way.

Race # 13 - at the “Jersey Shore” - completed on August 2, 2010

Bob — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:43:15 +0000

A clear sky and bright sun greeted us early Sunday morning along with 2000 other runs for a very hot run around the streets of the Sea Girt. Nice to have some homeowners along the course in the front yard with their garden house aloft, sending a cooling jet of water out into the course for runners to pass through. The flat course led from the center of the village out to the ocean and back through the seaside neighborhoods. A great day.

Liza and Bob at the SeaGirt 5k Race in August 2010

Race 12 completed in Manchester, Vermont

Bob — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:19:46 +0000

On the weekend of Saturday July 17, Carly and I traveled to Manchester, VT for the Komen Vermont/New Hampshire Race at Hildene Meadows. It was a sunny and clear day, and it did not take long for the pavement on the course to make for at least a 90 degree run. We were glad to experience one or more of the misting stations set up along the way to cool things off a bit.

Even with the heat, though, it was a glorious day and a great event for a great cuase, and we were glad to participate and enjoy the morning with at least a thousand other runners, and walkers, from all over New England.

Carly and Bob at the Manchester, VT 5k run on July 17, 2010

Race 11 completed in South Beach, Miami, FL

Bob — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:20:25 +0000

Saturday morning, January 30th. It’s 7.30 am and its already 72 degrees. Not bad for a Northerner down in Miami Beach for the weekend. It’s all part of the ING Miami Marathon weekend, and we’re taking part in the Tropical 5k race portion of the festivities. All weekend, South Beach is packed with runners from all over the world, together with football fans streaming into town for the ProBowl and the following week’s Super Bowl. What can you send about meeting the one and only Dennis Rodman in the local watering hole on Saturday night. What a character.

The course was great. All along the MacArthur causeway, with the ocean and bay on either side, there were more than 1500 runners. A nice flat course, starting out by the cruise ship terminal, it was a long run to pass by the four ships in port on Saturday morning. A little bit of a headwind, but a colling one at that. Done by 8 a.m., and then it was off to the beach and the pool.

Race 10 Completed in South Carolina- The Charleston Reindeer Run on December 5, 2009

Bob — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:02:26 +0000

Charleston, SC. December 5, 2009. What a great city and a great course. Joined by my pal Paul Heinauer, we ran with 1500 other runners thorugh historic downtwon Charleston on a rainy and brisk Staurday morning. After getting rained on for the first seven or eight minutes of the run, the sky began to brighten and the balance of the race was cool and pleasant.

The scenic course passed through downtown and then out in to an incredible neighborhood with stately old homes kept in mint condition. At the halfway point, the course then turned onto the riverfront for the next mile, and then back through downtown for the last half-mile.

Amazing that this is my sixth waterfront/oceanfront race out of the ten races to date. Ive got to race along the Atlantic, the Pacific and Lake Michigan. Going to be tough to keep that up across the U.S.

Almost ran straight into SC governor Mark Sanford prior to the race. He was one of the runners, and I had the chance to meet him after the race, thanks to Paul.

Paul Heinauer and Bob at the finish line of the Charleston 19th Annual Reindeer Run

Race 9 is complete - The battleship 5k in Wilmington, North Carolina

Bob — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:41:02 +0000

Sunday morning, November 1. The sun rises, and quickly we reach 80 degrees, brilliant sunshine and plenty of humidity for the 8:15 start of the Battleship 5k road race on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, NC. Couldnt have asked for a more fun time than to run the race with veteran tri-athletes Hank and Dave Johnson of Smithfield, NC. Out the road, up over the bridge spanning the river, and then back again, this time into the wind. A real tester, but Dave was an age group winner, as was I. Of course, Hank could have handliy picked up an award in his age group, but gentleman that he is, he paced back witht old-timers Dave and Bob.

: Dave Jonhson and Bob with the Hardware !

Hank Johnson and me on Saturday, in front or USS North Carolina (the battleship)

Battleship 5k Race Start

State number eight - just completed a run in the park along Lake Michigan

Bob — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:27:16 +0000

Saturday afternoon - 4pm. The rain cleared and the temparature rose to a comfortable 50 degrees as 1500 runners gathered at Lincoln Park just north of downtown Chicago for the 10th annual Pumpkins in the Park 5k race. Great run if you like a flat course - hardly a hill to be seen.

Pumpkins in the Park 5k - Chicago 2009

Pumpkin in the Park 5k set for October 17, 2009 in Chicago

Bob — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:53:41 +0000

Lincoln Park in downtown Chicago will be the site for the Illinois entry in the 50 Fives journey. Over 1500 runners are expecetd to participate in this Saturday afternoon event. The course should be fairly flat, and hopefully not too windy, as the park is adjacent to Lake Michigan.

Alaska- Midnight Run in Juneau

Bob — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:01:44 +0000

This race will take place in late June of 2012. The longest day of the year, in the land of the midnight sun, combine to make this midnight event a lot of fun.