2012 Diva Dash 5K Run

The 2012 Diva Dash 5K run was for Tori Svenson. Tori is a beautiful 7 year old little girl who is bravely battling brain cancer. All of the funds raised will go to help her family pay for the mounting medical bills and other personal things. There was a total of 621 participants which should bode her a substantial check.

This was my first 5K of 2012. I had only ran 2 times this year, and they were the week of the race. I wasn't expecting much out of my performance due to the lack of training, but was hoping to finish better than my last race on the same venue. If I could finish around 25:30 I would be happy.

The race went off without a hitch and I started off on the 2nd row. I got a great start and sprinted off with the leaders and then fell into my race pace. The course is 2.25 laps around the Cascade Hills Church campus road.

I finished with a time of 25:41 and felt really good during and after the run. Age groups were in 10 year increments and I placed 10th out of 42. Would have placed 3rd if it was 5 year increments.

Here are the Results

2012 Southern Spring Fling Inline Speed Skating Races

Since September 5, 2009 I have greatly waited for this day with anxious anticipation. This will be my first inline speed skating race since separating my right A/C joint (shoulder). It just happens that this race is at the very same skating rink where the accident happened so long ago. Even though I have been going to Smyrna the past few Sunday's to practice at the rink, I haven't raced there, which is a totally different feeling than just practicing. The nerves, the speed, the NEW guys to race against. And of course, the FEAR of IT happening again.

After having a great evening visiting with my kids in Auburn, I headed up to Powder Springs, Ga. to spend the night with my good friend Jerry. Since I arrived late, Jerry was already asleep, so I snuck in and passed out.

The alarm on my phone seemed to go off as soon as I hit the pillow. 4:15 comes early no matter what time you actually go to bed. The races start at 6am sharp, so I had to get up, shower and get to the rink around 5am claim my spot and get ready to skate.

I am scheduled to race the Elite Veteran division and the Novice Master Men division. Elite divisions start at 6am sharp, and the Novice divisions will start immediately following the Elite awards ceremony. It really makes for a very LONG day. We have 240 participants registered to race and we have to get them all in by 6pm. So as soon as one race is over, the next race is called to the start line.

For the first time since going to Nationals in 2008, my age group has heats. There are 14 Veteran Men in 3 heats, WOW. And one of them includes Jim Larson which is the reigning World Record holder!!! Oh well, who isn't up for a challenge.

Well he wasn't in my heat, so he wasn't the one that I needed to worry about. Most of these guys I didn't know, so I had no idea how good they were. Well I quickly found out and placed 4th in both my 500 meter and 1000 meter heats. Which didn't qualify me for the finals (top 3 go). I wasn't too disappointed though being my first race in 2-1/2 years. My starts were terrible, so at least I know where I need to concentrate my training for next time.

So now I have wait around until the Novice races start, approximately 3 hours!!! I know alot of these same guys are going to be racing in the Novice division too, so the thought of leave did cross my mind a little. I quickly tried to distract myself from the thought and walked around to find some of these guys to go talk to. Kind of break the ice so to speak. Skaters are all a good bunch of folks and are very nice, at least off the floor that is. LOL

After a seemingly endlees waiting period, my warm-up is called. So it time to get the head straight and warm-up those muscles. My legs are feeling ok up to this point. I hit the floor and get several warm-up laps in and then go check-in at the starting line. I find out that Master Men has heats too.

I'm in the first heat, but this time I come in 3rd. So the confidence is building some! My start was actually pretty respectable and I am happy with it. The final comes around pretty quick (even though it was an hour later). I get aneven better start this time and place 3rd in the 500 meter final!!! YAY I am exstactic! LOL I seems that as the day goes, my starts and skating in general are getting better and better. Now I am axiously anticipating the 1000 meter races.

When I go to check-in for the 1st 1000 meter heat, the girl tells us that some guys have bailed out of the race and there is going to be only 2 heats with 7 guys in each. WOW, I don't think that I have ever had that many GROWN men on the start line since I started racing! I am in the 2nd heat this time. I start thinking about strategy and decide that I need to put all of my effort towards the start and get out as fast as I can.

So we are now called to the line. The gun goes off and we race down the line to the first corner (cone). I am in 3rd position and am happy with that. As we come around to start the 2nd lap, the 2 guys in front of me go a little wide and I make the pass for 1st. Some how I was able to hold the off and finish the heat in 1st. I think you could have seen the smile on my face all the way back in Columbus! Top 3 qualify for the finals.

So the 1000 meter finals finally make it around about 5:45pm. Remember we have to be out of the building by 6pm. Master Men is always the last race of the day, unfortunately! So we come to the line and the gun goes off. I start the race in 3rd position again. I some how am able to hold off a late charge by one of the guys and finish in 3rd being unable to catch the 2 guys in front.

By now my legs are totally shot and hurting, but my overall feeling is grand. I had a great day with no incidences or injuries. AND my performance improved with almost every lap during the day. It was also good to see alot of my skating buddies that I haven't seen in several years.

I finished 3rd place overall for the Nocive Master Men. I am now looking forward to the next race and to see what I can do there. Possibly the Tampa Classic April 6-7. More to come then...

FAMOUS - well at least for this report

SPECIAL REPORT: The Ultimate Endurance Test
Posted: Feb 02, 2012 2:31 PM EST
Updated: Feb 09, 2012 2:29 PM EST

By Sara Belsole - WLTZ News

COLUMBUS, GA - They swim. They bike. They run.

And they put all three of them together for the ultimate endurance test: the triathlon.

"Pain, exhaustion, fatigue, where's the next aid station," triathlete Brent Staley says.

Despite the tremendous physical challenge, triathlons seem to be the new drug of choice for fitness addicts here in Columbus.

"It's the fastest growing part of my business. Two years ago it was women's cycling and now it is triathletes," Ride on Bikes owner Jason McKenzie says.

"I had heard of triathlons before I started and never really thought about doing it, but once I got into it I don't know what it is, it just grabs you," triathlete Scott Burkhalter says.

Many triathletes say once you're hooked, it's time to alter your lifestyle in order to train--which some say can almost be like a second job.

"I wake up before the sun, I was in the gym this morning running on the treadmill," Staley says.

"I bike probably about 3-4 times a week, and swim at least twice a week and run twice a week," Burkhalter says.

Not to mention a totally new diet plan.

"I eat about 4,000 calories a day, lots of fruits, I try to get a lot of protein in to kind of rebuild especially after I work out," Staley says.

If you're looking to get involved in triathlons, Ride on Bikes right here on Broadway is where you need to come. It's the only full-service triathlon store in Columbus.

"We have over 300 bikes in stock, so when you walk in, we narrow it down for you. I try to get it down to three bikes for you to choose from," McKenzie says.

Ride on Bikes also has all the shoes, clothing, and other accessories any triathlete could ask for.

"I found out the hard way, it's not cheap by any means," Staley says.

But the triathletes say it's totally worth it.

They also say the increase in triathletes in the area has created a feeling of comradery.

"We travel together, we train together, we diet together, it's kind of like, I hate to say it, a cult, it's something everyone wants to do together," McKenzie says.

And those triathletes are passing the tradition on to their families.

"The most exciting moment I ever had in my triathlon career was last year when my 11-year-old daughter called me up and said she wanted to do one," Burkhalter says.

To celebrate the explosion of triathletes in Columbus, the city is hosting four this year.

And they won't only give those tri addicts another opportunity to compete, but it will also help boost the economy.

"It's becoming a part of our community and people are going to start traveling which is brining money to Columbus. The way triathletes work is they will travel anywhere to race so the more people we get to Columbus for the motels and businesses, the better it is," McKenzie says.


If you want to join the triathlon craze, log onto www.active.com for more information on races, gear, and events here in Columbus.