******	2008 Running Activity										(through Dec 31)				******
Date		Sun		Mon		Tue		Wed		Thu	Fri		Sat		Total
30-Dec	---	---	---	---	3.12	(09:31)							3.12	(09:53)	6.24
6-Jan	5.69	(10:00)													5.69
13-Jan			1.29	(10:40)	3.11	(11:43)	3.10	(10:54)	3.10	(10:21)	3.10	(09:34)	3.10	(09:16)	16.80
20-Jan					3.10	(11:05)	3.10	(09:42)	3.10	(09:23)			3.12	(08:36)	12.42
27-Jan	6.24	(09:51)	3.14	(09:57)	6.26	(10:23)	4.00	(09:28)			4.00	(09:26)			23.64
3-Feb	10.03	(10:13)	3.10	(09:02)	5.08	(10:26)							6.32	(08:48)	24.53
10-Feb	10.02	(10:26)			3.13	(10:12)			3.10	(08:42)	4.00	(08:53)	13.17	(10:21)	33.42
17-Feb			3.10	(08:15)	2.50	(09:32)	3.15	(08:57)					6.23	(08:33)	14.98
24-Feb	10.04	(09:46)	3.14	(09:39)			4.00	(08:16)	4.00	(09:38)			6.23	(08:21)	27.41
2-Mar	10.00	(09:38)	6.23	(10:09)					3.12	(09:40)			6.26	(08:22)	25.61
9-Mar			6.24	(09:23)	2.00	(08:11)	6.25	(09:27)	3.14	(09:53)			13.10	(09:47)	30.73
16-Mar			3.10	(08:16)	4.01	(08:49)	4.01	(08:45)	2.27	(08:47)			13.15	(09:32)	26.54
23-Mar			3.10	(07:56)	4.00	(08:41)	6.25	(08:48)	6.23	(09:32)					19.58
30-Mar	13.29	(09:53)					6.23	(09:38)							19.52
6-Apr	14.09	(09:41)	3.12	(08:52)			3.13	(09:32)	6.23	(09:31)	6.23	(09:48)			32.80
13-Apr											3.13	(09:43)			3.13
20-Apr	15.05	(09:57)					6.23	(09:46)	3.13	(09:07)			6.24	(11:21)	30.65
27-Apr													3.63	(08:54)	3.63
4-May			6.07	(10:14)	3.13	(09:50)	6.23	(09:58)	5.08	(09:53)					20.51
11-May					3.14	(09:24)					6.24	(09:45)			9.38
18-May			6.25	(09:32)					6.25	(09:27)					12.50
25-May			6.26	(09:04)	3.14	(09:43)			6.25	(09:18)					15.65
1-Jun	3.93	(09:09)	6.26	(09:57)	3.13	(09:38)	3.16	(10:06)	3.17	(09:23)			3.12	(08:45)	22.77
8-Jun	2.18	(10:33)	3.70	(10:19)	2.98	(10:15)			6.24	(09:52)			3.13	(08:47)	18.23
15-Jun			3.14	(09:06)	2.18	(08:50)	3.02	(09:26)	6.24	(10:08)			6.29	(08:33)	20.87
22-Jun	10.05	(10:42)	3.13	(10:10)			4.00	(10:25)	2.00	(08:59)			3.96	(08:40)	23.14
29-Jun	7.00	(10:14)			5.99	(10:13)	5.00	(10:05)			6.33	(09:09)	4.00	(10:26)	28.32
6-Jul	8.00	(10:05)			5.74	(10:06)	6.21	(10:42)	5.00	(09:37)			3.11	(08:25)	28.06
13-Jul	9.00	(10:15)			4.49	(09:53)	7.00	(10:24)	4.00	(09:33)			4.00	(10:21)	28.49
20-Jul	11.00	(10:16)			1.28	(10:05)	5.00	(10:02)	5.21	(08:57)			4.00	(10:13)	26.49
27-Jul	8.52	(10:03)			2.27	(09:41)	6.24	(09:56)					4.00	(10:16)	21.03
3-Aug	13.11	(10:04)	3.16	(09:59)	3.01	(09:48)	3.16	(10:09)					3.17	(08:24)	25.61
10-Aug	15.00	(10:51)											3.10	(08:28)	18.10
17-Aug	15.02	(10:42)	3.16	(09:59)	6.18	(10:26)	3.11	(10:03)	3.06	(09:22)			4.08	(10:11)	34.61
24-Aug	17.01	(10:48)	4.01	(09:44)	4.55	(09:36)	7.20	(09:48)	5.13	(09:43)			4.01	(10:15)	41.91
31-Aug			6.21	(09:39)			10.09	(10:12)					4.07	(11:04)	20.37
7-Sep	18.11	(11:19)			7.25	(09:58)	7.12	(11:20)							32.48
14-Sep	18.02	(12:56)	4.08	(11:10)			6.23	(10:54)	6.23	(10:07)	6.23	(11:26)			40.79
21-Sep	20.02	(11:50)			5.04	(09:57)	10.03	(10:13)					6.28	(08:31)	41.37
28-Sep	10.01	(11:53)	6.21	(11:20)			10.20	(10:10)					3.11	(08:04)	29.53
5-Oct	10.05	(10:02)			6.22	(11:26)									16.27
12-Oct	26.20	(15:03)					3.10	(11:17)	6.23	(11:52)	10.01	(10:17)	6.66	(11:55)	52.20
19-Oct							6.24	(11:16)	3.13	(10:58)			13.17	(09:20)	22.54
26-Oct					1.60	(11:34)	3.10	(13:03)	6.25	(11:13)	10.03	(10:01)	10.03	(09:58)	31.01
2-Nov	20.02	(11:33)	6.19	(11:31)			3.14	(09:52)	6.24	(11:22)	6.24	(09:51)			41.83
9-Nov	20.03	(10:58)					6.22	(11:20)	6.22	(11:20)	10.01	(10:11)			42.48
16-Nov			6.22	(11:02)	3.62	(12:20)	6.21	(11:17)							16.05
23-Nov	26.20	(11:25)					3.00	(11:33)			6.28	(12:20)			35.48
30-Nov			5.00	(12:52)	6.25	(12:39)	0.23	(11:10)	6.23	(10:55)			8.43	(10:13)	26.14
7-Dec			6.24	(11:07)	6.25	(11:05)	6.25	(12:29)	2.74	(12:51)			3.11	(09:44)	24.59
14-Dec	12.67	(11:04)	6.24	(11:42)	6.24	(12:05)	6.25	(11:34)	6.26	(11:27)	10.01	(10:31)	10.00	(10:43)	57.67
21-Dec			7.00	(12:45)	7.00	(12:52)	8.20	(11:50)	10.00	(10:08)	10.05	(11:30)			42.25
28-Dec			7.00	(12:27)			3.14	(09:11)	---	---	---	---	---	---	10.14
		Sun		Mon		Tue		Wed		Thu		Fri	Sat
Totals:		Running Time ( dd:hh:mm:ss ):						09:16:29:35				Miles Run:			1336.18
2008						Average Pace:			10:26		Average Miles per Day:				3.59
.		Nbr Runs:		215	Avg Duration of Run:				1:04:53		Avg Distance of Run:				6.21
		Running Time ( dd:hh:mm:ss ):						04:19:19:37				Miles Run:			625.82
2007						Average Pace:			11:03		Average Miles per Day:				1.68
.		Nbr Runs:		132	Avg Duration of Run:				52:25		Avg Distance of Run:				4.74
		Running Time ( [dd]:hh:mm:ss ):						04:21:09:58				Miles Run:			710.36
2008 - 2007						Average Pace:			00:37		Average Miles per Day:				1.91
(difference)		Nbr Runs:		83	Avg Duration of Run:				12:28		Avg Distance of Run:				1.47

Road Races: 26 January: Polar Bear 5k This was held in Alpharetta, GA and my number was 7449. There seem to be too many runners (1631) for the single lanes into which the runners are funneled. It is a fast flat course, but since there is no ordering of runners by their expected finish times, one is constantly hampered by trying to get around slower runners. Even though I had a PR, I could have done much better. The single lane doesn't allow for easy passing. I came in 536 of 1631 overall and 14 of 40 in age group 60-64. Chip time was 27:41.88, 50 seconds slower than my watch time. That was how long it took me to cross the starting line. 9 February: Chattahoochee Challenge 10k This was held in Roswell, GA at the Chattahoochee Nature Center and my number was 311. This is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier, but I missed the 55:00 cutoff by 30 seconds. The problem was with the start. I wish these events would use a staggered start dependent upon expected finishing times. Had it not been for my being so far back and the time spent getting to the starting line and in trying to get around slower runners, I'm sure I would have met the qualifying time. As it is, it is a PR for the last 13 or so years. I came in 318 of 459 among men, 11 of 20 in age group (60 - 64), and 417 of 884 overall. 23 February: Charles Harris 10k This was held in Tucker, GA and is a point to point race with a slight negative slope overall. My number was 427. Termperature was a nice 50ish but quite damp and cloudy. There were more hills than I was expecting, but I did post a PR and qualified for group 1B of the Peachtree Road Race. Not sure if this is the fastest race course I've run or not. The Buckhead Sizzler might be faster, but I'm not sure. This race has a nice wide start, so there is no time wasted trying to get around others, and since I was near the front of the pack there was no big delay before I crossed the starting line. I came in 363 of 553 among men, 18 of 42 in age group (60 - 69), and 489 of 906 overall. 1 March: Chattahoochee Road Runners 10k This was held in Sandy Springs, GA, is a point to point race, and has to be the fastest 10k course I've ever run. My number was 323 and the temperature was in the upper 40s. I did post a PR, but should have been faster. I easily lost over 40 seconds in the first mile and lost a few seconds here and there throughout the run trying to get around slower runners. The moral of the story is that I just have to start closer to the starting line. This race used the DAG timing system. Not sure when the time starts -- from the gun? A guy waved a wand over the DAG loop at the end of the run, but that was 15 seconds or so after crossing the finish line. No telling how accurate this timing is. I'm definitely looking forward to doing this again next year. I should have been much faster this year, but I certainly will be next year. I came in 621 of 1040 among men, 16 of 48 in age group (60 - 64) and 805 of 1621 overall. Official time shows 52:22 whereas I show 51:59. This 23 second difference must be due to the lag at the start and the delay in having the timing wire scanned at the finish. I actually find the manual system with tear-off strips to be more accurate. 8 March: Silver Comet 10k This was held in Mableton, GA, is a point to point race, and is a fast 10k course. My number was 218 and the temperature was in the mid 30s, with a howling wind and snow fluries. I missed tying my PR by 1 second per mile. I didn't experience any congestion with other runners; it just seems I just didn't have enough oomph today. I think part of it was that I was running in tights. I know I am a bit faster when just wearing running shorts. I was also wearing gloves and a balaclava. The howling wind was not really a bother; it was blocked by the trees on the Silver Comet. There were a couple of hills in the first 1.75 miles before getting onto the Silver Comet trail. This is another race I look forward to doing next year. Official time shows 52:31 whereas I show 52:20. I came in 291 of 525 among men, 6 of 17 in age group (60 - 64) and 365 of 859 overall. 30 March: ING Half Marathon 1/2 M This was held in Atlanta, GA, as a point to point race. My number was 18116 and the weather was cold (43F) and windy. The staging of this event was the most disorganized I had ever seen. The race officials didn't know where the "corrals" for the different groups were. I was supposed to run with a pace group but could never find it. Others had the same difficulty. The course bore no relationship to the elevation chart that was posted on their web site, although it was a "fair" course without any drastic hills. Since I ended up not being in a pace group I was just "thrown in with the multitudes" so to speak, which destroyed any chance of posting a good time. So, instead of a pace of between 9:00 and 9:10 per mile, I ended up with a pace of 9:53. It was extremely difficult to get around other runners. My net time was 2:11:21 which made for 4147 of 8569 overall, 2418 of 3784 among men, and 47 of 130 in age group (60 - 69). Also, I ran 13.29 miles to complete this 13.1 mile course. 26 April: HomeStretch 10k This was held in Roswell, GA, as an out and back race. My number was 532 and the weather was great, 66F. It wasn't a very big event. There was a 5k with about 200 entrants, and 25 minutes after the 5k started, the 10k started with about the same number of entrants. The course was rather flat, with only one very minor hill at the turnaround point. This was the slowest I have ever run a 10k. The coffee I had on the way to the race seems to have "done me in." I had an episode of tachycardia with my pulse rate having climbed to 236 as I was nearing the two mile marker. I would walk a bit and then run a bit, and so continued a walk/run for the next 4 miles to finish the course. I could never get my heart rate down where it belonged. Perhaps I should have just totally stopped for a minute, I don't know. I ended up with an average heart rate of 183 for the race. Oh well, live and learn. No more coffee before a race! I didn't even turn in my finish-time card, though I guess I should have, 3 May: Mary Kay 5k This was held in Suwanee, GA at the Mary Kay facility, and I had the number 3. It was a combination walk and run event, and a very small one at that. It needs to have more runners and more volunteers. Some runners got lost because the route was not well enough marked and/or there were not enough volunteers to steer folks the right way. This "5K" ended up being 3.63 miles. It should either be shortened to 5k or lengthened to 4 miles. There were some hills that slowed me up. Awards were not given in the usual brackets because there were not enough runners. I ended up placing third in the "Masters" section which they defined as 40+. 26 May: Celebrate America 10k This was held in Alpharetta, GA. I came in 280 out of 457 overall and 11th out of 16th in my age group (60 <= age <= 64). All times for both men and women were grouped together. I should have done better, but I moved this weekend and stayed up around the clock on Saturday night. Had I been fully rested I might have done better. It is a reasonably fast course and well organized. I look forward to doing this one each year. My daughter, Sue, joined me for the run. 1 June: Jacob Harris 4m This was held in Alpharetta, GA, and was a well organized event. I had number 56. It had hills which slowed me down considerably. The weather was perfect and the people very nice. I came in 143 of 350 overall, and 13 of 26 in age group (60 to 64 inclusive). 7 June: Run the Rails 5k This was held in Buford, GA, and was a well organized event. I had number 1049. It has some hills and it was rather hot for 0800. It would be nice if they would start this one at 0700. I actually managed to get third place for my age braket, (60 - 64) It is close and a nice run. I ran this last year and plan to run it again next year. Since it was a small race, I don't expect any results to be posted. This race is also known as the Historic Buford 5k Road Race. 14 June: S.W.A.T. Trot 5k This was held in Snellville, GA and my number was 737. This is a local race put on by the Gwinnett police department and no results are available. The course was closed-loop, oddly shaped (through a sub division) and had the usual modest hills. The temperature was 79 deg F after lots of thunder and lightning a bit earlier. There was a very good turnout for such a local race. 21 June: Possum Trot 10k This was held in Roswell, GA, starting and finishing at the Chattachoohee Nature Center and my number was 402. This is a great mostly flat course which runs along the Chattahoochee river. There is one hill at mile 5.5 which one sees yet a second time after the turn-around near the end of the race. I came in 243 of 452 in the men's division and 9 of 22 in my age group. Overall I was 305 of 783 which is the 39th percentile, up from the 76th last year. I look forward to doing this one each year. It is well organized and a fun run. It is nice to know that I have at least qualified for group 1B in the 2009 Peachtree Road Race. 28 June: Magnolia Run 4m This was held in Atlanta, GA, starting and finishing at the Perimeter Mall, and my number was 653. I don't understand why I was 7 seconds slower per mile than in last week's 10k. It may be that since I am not as familiar with the course I am actually holding something back to protect against possible hills. I came in 109 of 226 in the men's division and 5 of 15 in my age group (60 - 64). Overall I was 137 of 418 which is the 33rd percentile, an improvement of 20% from last year. 4 July: Peachtree Road Race 10k The largest 10k in the world with 55,000 entrants. My number was 15846, and was in time group 1B. I got to the Doraville station by 0510 and had good parking right by the entrance. The weather was good and a good time was had by all. The start was a bit more congested than I had expected. I guess the cause is that I don't get the opportunity to run by everyone because they are all as fast or faster than I am. There were the occasional walkers (runners who had run out of steam) in the way. Each time I passed one I looked at their number, and they always had numbers that didn't belong in time group 1. I don't think the officials did as good a job this year as in the past regarding keeping runners in the correct time groups for the start. I came in 4759 of 5251 which is the 90.6 percentile, and among Masters (>= 40) I was 1998 out of 2190 which is the 91.2 percentile, something upon which to improve next year. 12 July: Breakaway 5k Held in Loganville, GA, this run started with a half mile downhill, which of course means that it ended up with a half mile uphill run. I've run this twice and each time I thought I could have left more on the street. The last bit after one makes the last turn is never as long or as steep as I expect. I met unpavedtrail, aka K-Man, aka Ken from the Gwinnett Running Club. I was number 151. I came in 4 of 10 for my age group, 34 of 73 of men's group and 50 of 128 overall. 16 August: Bulldog Dash 5k Held in Suwanee, GA at the North Gwinnett High School, who are known as the Bulldogs. It is basically a flat course, with a couple of gentle hills, but they still aren't gentle enough for me. They still take my legs away. There was a good turnout, with over 600 runners. It finished with a lap at their high school track. I was number 98, and got third place in the 60+ age group, represented by a cute bulldog paperweight. (Got third place last year too.) This year's pace was 48 seconds per mile faster than last year's. I was 267 of 551 overall which represents a drop from the 62.6 percentile to 48.5. There were two people faster in the same age group at paces 24:04 and 25:46 compared to my 26.21 pace. They don't break out male and female from the overall results. Likewise with age groups.-> 1 September: U.S. 10k Classic Held in Atlanta, GA starting from the Cumberland Mall, this course is known for its many hills and large turnout. It seems that after every hill there was another one, so my time wasn't very good, but one doesn't really run this one for time -- just to participate and to beat one's prior year's time. I came in 1453 of 3076 total runners. They did not separate out age group or gender. 27 September: Buckhead Sizzler 10k This is a rather flat course, starting at the Chamblee Marta station in Chamblee, GA, a suburb of Atlanta, and goes down Peachtree Industrial Blvd. into Buckhead. It is a great course, with just a couple of gradual hills. I was number 397 came in 418 of 689 among males, 8 of 22 in age group (60 <= age <= 64), and 556 of 1194 total. 4 October: Stonemill Race for Autism Held in Suwanee, GA at the Stonemill church. Nice course with a couple of gentle hills. It is well organized and is a good run to post a good time. They actually had cheer leaders to cheer the runners home. My number was 128. I actually came in first in the >= 60 age group because I was the only one in the group (that helps), which is reflected in a nice plaque. Only first place finishers in age groups got plaques. Second and third place finishers got certificates. I came in 26 of 75 among men and 35 of 190 overall. There were fewer participants than last year, but they had difficulty getting their online registration set up. 12 October: Chicago Marathon This starts off from Grant Park in Chicago and is both well organized and supported by the community. I stayed at the Hilton Palmer House right by Grant Park. The crowd support during the run is absolutely incredible. This is the second year in a row that there was a heat problem. It got up to 85 - 87 degrees during the run. I crashed and burned around mile 20, but did finish. I came in 30407 of 31347 overall, 17340 of 17679 among men and 333 of 354 in age bracket. I will be seeking revenge next year. 25 October: Silver Comet 1/2 M This is a great half marathon starting in Mableton, GA. It starts on Floyd Road and is run on surface streets for the first mile and a half and then moves onto the Silver Comet Trail. It is very well organized and has a cutoff at 1700 participants. The weather was perfect. Busses were available to take runners back to the parking area from the finish line. My time was ok. I was trying to maintain a pace of 9:30, but came in at 9:20. Only problem is that I'm not real happy about my heart rate. I thought it should have been lower. I was number 725, came in 433 of 696 among males, 8 of 18 in age group (60 <= age <= 64), and 710 of 1488 total. 23 November: Philadelphia Marathon This was held on a cold day, with wind chill temperatore at 18F. The course is not as flat as one might want, but it is not too hilly. At least the course from Manayunk to the end (10k) is flat. It was a combination of marathon, half marathon and 8k with a total of 18,000 runners, of whom 7231 ran the marathon. I was number 6308 and placed 3757 of 4245 among males, 58 of 85 in age group (60 <= age <= 64), and 6094 of 7231 overall. My daughter Sue also ran it, without training and had a time of 5:35:29. When asked why she ran the full instead of the half she responded, "I wanted to know what 'stupid' felt like." But, she finished. 13 December: Jingle Jog 5k This race was held in Atlanta, at Costco on Peachtree Dunwoody, just outside the Perimeter, with about 3000 participants. It was cold with the temperature in the upper 20s. I hadn't planned on running fast. Because of The Hill I knew I wouldn't post a real good time. But I pushed it afterwards and ended coming in third in age group. It is a very fast half mile finish. I was number 229. I don't know if any results will be posted. They made some kind of mistake with the trophies, so I didn't get mine -- a bit of a shame because they were the best looking trophies I'd ever seen for a run. Also, I only know gun time, because I managed to wipe the data from my watch. When I started out the pace didn't display, and at the end when I attempted to move it to history, it seems that either it didn't or I somehow erased it. 31 December: Flashlight 5k This race was held in Lawrenceville, GA at 6:00 PM on New Years Eve. The temps were in the low 40's and it was windy. The course is rather hilly and is actually run in a couple of loops. There are hills which pretty much took my legs away. I'll have to see if any results are posted. I was number 3236. It looked like maybe 300 people or so. There was also a pasta buffet afterwards.