Updates.....

Lot's of good stuff has been going on. I have been crazy busy lately so let me try to do an update here.


Coaching Season is Over

At Barboursville Middle School, we had a great season. Of course, we had the #1 runner in the nation in Jacob Burcham who had PRs of 2:05.50 (800), 4:33.32 (1600), and 10:14.78 (3200). We also had the #2 and # 3 runner in the state at the middle school in Jared King and David Jobe. If you are a fan of running, keep these three names in your head as they are very capable of doing VERY BIG THINGS at the high school level!!

For the girls, we had a lot of success as well. Alex Ellis ran the 3rd fastest time in the state with a 5:42. That would be a time good enough to qualify for the HS State Meet in some regions. The girls 4x800 team won the County Meet and everyone is looking forward to running this summer and getting ready for XC season!!

The WV 5K Championship Run/Walk

This thing is growing and growing and will end up to being a HUGE event! I am so pumped that we have received so much help in organizing and planning the race. Cassey Bowden of the United Way of the River Cities has done a wonderful job of getting the word out and motivating people to compete.

This race is for everyone. The race committees goal is to promote fitness on all levels. If you come and walk, run, push a stroller, or compete in the wheelchair division, there is a spot for everyone!!

We have tons of great news to share:

• Free Pasta Dinner June 5th at Frankie D's Italian Chophouse for all registered participants
• Money prizes to overall winners and age group winners
• Post race meals/snacks provided by the Salvation Army
• Host Hotel - Pullman Plaza Hotel has provided special rates
• The Herald-Dispatch will provide great media coverage
• The people at Pullman Square have offered their services and we will be holding the awards ceremony there!

If you want to register, please visit www.tristateracer.com/wv5k for additional information and entry forms!

Personal Running

I have horrible news on this end. Two and a half weeks ago I was heading out Guyan River Road for a 10-miler and only made it 3 miles before I had a terrible pain in my right calf area. I had to hop back to the house and take 12 days off. This was the worst. I am glad that I was coaching and planning for the 5K, these two activities took my mind off of the fact that I was not able to run.

I have since been able to run 5 days now. I still am very tender in the calf area but it is getting a little better.

I am icing, massaging, and taking my IBs (ibuprofen) every night to make it a little better. I know that the running now will help loosen it up. I am running lighter (only 4-5 miles now where I was running 7-8 miles before the injury) at a slower pace (7:30 pace vs the 6:50-7:00 pace I was at before the injury).

Talking to my wife last night, I think I have made plans to compete in the Parkersburg Half-Marathon and the Charleston Distance Run, hopefully those races will let me lead up to a marathon in the fall.

Healthy Tri-State

I was approached by the great Rod Allen at WSAZ about doing a Healthy Tri-State commercial for them. I agreed as long as I could get some of the athletes in the video and he said that would be fine. I have been contacted by co-workers, friends, and family saying they have seen me on TV. Rod sent me a copy of the commercial so I have seen it on the computer, but not on TV yet.

I want to say thanks to Rod Allen and all those at WSAZ for letting us be a part of the Healthy Tri-State initiative as well as the athletes who showed off their stretching talents (Alex Ellis, Austin Jarrel, Abby Triplett, David Jobe, and Eric Wooten!!)

Back to race planning and running, we hope to see everyone out there on June 6th!!