May Schedule

New Track This Month

I unfortunately have not found a decent track for us to use for the entire month of May.  I was disappointed with my alma mater Harry S. Truman.  I made multiple calls and emails to the high school, only to be given the run around.  I have never spoken negatively about Truman, even on multiple occasions standing up to naysayer’s who doubted the system and teachers that are in place there.  But, for them to not even give me a response is very poor.  In any case I have to move our speed workouts to Maple Point Middle School off Woodbourne Rd for the entire month of May.  This track is a gravel track with no lines, but we only need to rough it for one month.  I’m hoping that we will finally have something worked out with Council Rock South for June.  I will update the calendar today to reflect May.   

Hill Workout attendance:

We had a small turnout again, but some Speedsters made their debut which was nice to see.  Pete Lederer made his return along with Kami Schaal (welcome back you two!), Kevin, Rod, Maria, Denise, Dawn Brenner (first timer! Welcome!), Glenn, John, Cory, myself, and Dan Schaal who over the weekend qualified for Boston for the first time running a 3:09:43, placing second in his age group, and 14^th overall.  Nice work Dan, we’re proud of you man and extremely happy for you as well.

Next up is Speed work this Tuesday, at Maple Point Middle School at 6PM. 

Running in the Rain

Before I get bombarded with "Will we run in the rain?" emails...YES!

Track Recap & Hills Tonight

We had another below average turnout on Tuesday which is the bad news, the good news is that we're done with the track at New Hope.  The only issue is I don't have a track for the May workouts yet.  This season has been a challenge to say the least.  Good thing I'm always up for a challenge.   Once I establish a track or a location to hold the speed workouts for May I will post the information.  The Hill workouts will continue in May and also tonight.  We will be meeting at Council Rock South (parking lot closest to the track) at 6PM tonight..

In attendance on Tuesday:

Charlotte, Christa (welcome back!), Emily (thanks for moving the hurdles), Haydee (thanks for moving the hurdles), Mary, Paul, Glenn, Brian, Joe, Kevin, Eric, Jill, Rod (thanks for helping out), and Denise.

Track tomorrow

I know that you're used to having Hill workout on Tuesday and Track on Thursday, but this week we're flip flopping the workouts due to not being able to get on the track on Thursday.  We will be at New Hope Solebury HS tomorrow at 6PM for speed work.  Another reminder I will have the Speedster Wear with me tomorrow for sale.  I will not be ordering anything new until most of what I have in stock is gone.  I got stuck with a lot of this stuff when many signed up for stuff, but didn't pay or when others ordered sizes too small and swapped for larger sizes.  If the majority of this stuff goes I will be able to look at getting new stuff for this year.  I will see you tomorrow.

Thursday Recap

Thursday brought us a beautiful day and also brought out some more Speedster Veterans from hibernation.  We had 22 total runners in all come out and take advantage of the great weather.   

The following came out Thursday:  Rod, myself, Tim, Joe, Maria, Eric, Kevin, Paul, Rahim, Harris Brenner (welcome back!), Brian, Charlotte, John, Glenn, Jill, Debbie Burns (welcome back!), Hadee (I’m glad you found the track this week.), Paul Leestma (1^st Timer! Welcome!), Jim, Emily Grace (welcome back!), Denise Coll, and Dan Schaal (welcome back to the track!).

Just a reminder this coming week we will be at the New Hope track on Tuesday and at Council Rock South on Thursday for hills.

Speedster Power and Happy Hour...

Tonight is a special edition of Speed Work, Glenn has offered up a free beer at Jamison Pour House tonight after the Speed workout*.  I'm not one to turn down an ice cold tasty beer, especially one that's free!  So, tonight we're meeting at New Hope Solebury High School at 6PM for this weeks edition of Speed workout.  If coming out to get faster wasn't incentive enough, Glenn will be treating the first round of beer*, to all that come out to tonight's workout and heads over to Jamison Pour House (I'm sure he will find some way to write this off on his taxes).  I hope to see you tonight at 6PM.

*The free beer only applies to those that are named CT or tonight is your first time ever out to a Speedster workout.

Pushing Each Other

The theme of tonight’s workout was “pushing each other,” and that’s exactly what took place.  It was very clear that groups are starting to be established and within those groups the runners are pushing each other.  Everyone that came out tonight really worked it.  We had one new runner and two veteran Speedsters make their first appearances of the season tonight.  Perhaps the first warm night scared some folks off (two less than last week).  Aside from the smaller attendance number, the workout was a very good one.  Quote of night after pushing the limits on the last hill came from Andy Shapiro.  He ran so hard that he almost caused himself to vomit, I turn to him and asked: Was it worth it?  His response “It’s always worth it.” I also wanted to give Maria a shout out for really pushing it on the last hill as well. 

Coming out tonight:

Andy, myself, Tim, Scott “Texas Ranger” Craig (first appearance this season), Jimbo Larson (first appearance this season), Paul, Kevin, Glenn, Rod, Jackie, Izabella Khachaturyan (I didn’t just make that name up and 1^st Timer!  Welcome!), Denise, Maria, and Brendan.

Thank you to each of you for coming out tonight and I will see you on Thursday in New Hope.

Hills Tomorrow!

It's looking like we will have a really nice evening to run hills tomorrow.  We will be meeting at Council Rock North this week at 6PM.  I recommend you get there earlier to get a proper stretch in.  I'll see you tomorrow.

What a difference a week can make!

My subtle hint was received last week or the Philadelphia Sports Hat Trick last night pumped the people up, regardless we had a much improved turnout tonight.  Even with a 20 minute delay due to a high school track meet, all 20 runners stuck around to participate in the season’s first Timed Mile.  It was very cool to have a decent number of veteran Speedsters out tonight to help with lugging the water and everything to and from my car and also with the timing.  So, a grateful thank you goes out to Sharon, Tim, Glenn, Paul, Rod, and Brendan.   

The 20 that came out:  Rahim, Eric T, Brian Abrams (1^st Timer! Welcome!), Jim Maze, Sharon, Tim, Kevin D, Jill Case-Leestma (1^st Timer! Welcome), Paul, Michael Foehl (1^st Timer!  Welcome! I sure hope your icing), Vincent Stout (1^st Timer! Welcome!), Maria “Shameful Shoes” Jimenez, John O, Mary K, Rod “Caution Tape” Messenger, Glenn, Joe H, Brendan, and Marty Suresh (1^st Timer!  Welcome!). 

 If you count Kevin D as a first timer (First track workout, but not Speedster workout), we had 6 runners out for their first time.  That’s a positive sign that our numbers will be good again this season.  I’m still missing a few nurses, accountants, at least one lawyer, a few school teachers, a handful of engineers, and a good amount of knuckleheads.  So, I’m expecting the numbers to continue to climb.  Thank you to everyone that came out tonight and I will see you on Tuesday.