2017 has already been a little challenging for me.
Honestly, nothing earth-shattering. But when you get to a certain point in your life, like a new age group, the process of filtering out the noise continues.
It's process of what to keep and what to discard in my life. Maybe "set aside" is a better definition.
In doing so, my world is eerily quiet.
As I've stated before, as an introvert, I tend to withdraw when situations present too much stimulation.
I'm a simple person. Being respected by people that others think well of is the greatest compliment that I ever receive.
So beyond that, I sometime question people's motives and reasons for what they do.
And it leads me to this "Why are people doing what they're doing?" phase/analysis and applying it to my life.
After a race last Sunday, I was talking with a quality friend of mine as we were helping the event producers clean every thing up in the park area where the start and finish lines were.
We had communicated earlier in the week that we both had either unfriended or unfollowed particular individuals on social media for the harshness of their comments and opinions during the recent election.
I decided to take it a step further in that I have nearly unfollowed everybody on Facebook.
What I've found is that there's a lot of stuff that I waste precious time on that I shouldn't.
If I'm not able to meet with somebody in person and I want to know what they're doing, I can simply go to their page and catchup.
And if they feel the need to do the same with me, fantastic too.
I don't post and share things to get likes.
In fact, they've probably gone down recently because I've limited what I post and I believe that the algorithms from Facebook push people's posts away if you've unfollowed them (but still remain friends).
I share because there are things in my life that I enjoy or simply think that they might be enjoyable or useful to others.
The other day I shared - for the first time since I can easily remember - a meme on Facebook. It was regarding Lebron James and the Dallas Cowboys.
I got a good chuckle out of it - as well as a few of my good-natured, yet die-hard Cowboys fans.
But back to why people share some of the things they do and what does it mean.
I've seen one athlete who just recently acquired a video recording device - maybe used, but new to them - and they are posting pictures of themselves working out.
And these are things that aren't just off the cuff photographs. Meaning that they've put some time in to creating the image to share.
And I am baffled as to why.
The individual is a beautiful person to look at and by all accounts is pretty intelligent, but while I don't get the impression that they're an ugly person inside you're left to wonder about what is going on in their soul.
Again, I'm simple.
Like my Mom.
My Mom grew up fairly poor and was one of 10 children. Her father passed away when she was in the second grade and her mother when she was in the tenth grade.
I can't even imagine. But she's the only one that can understand what my two nieces are with the passing of my sister, their Mom.
My Mom's birthday is coming up in a few days and she doesn't even look close to her age -- probably because she's lived her life pretty simply.
Nothing real fancy. She's loved as best as she's known how to - and has done so with all of her heart.
And given what I've dealt with during my life, and the lack of love, I'm so thankful for her love towards me - as well as that of my daughter.
Back to the withdrawing part.
I've just noticed that in the last few weeks I've taken myself out of situations - even though I can talk on a microphone with a couple of thousand people around - that are easy and simple for others.
The event producers of the race that I helped out at last Sunday are notable for their orphan Thanksgiving and Christmas - meaning that they literally open their doors for their friends who might not either have family in the area (or family period).
Not that I fit into either of those categories, thankfully, I was still invited to drop by on Christmas.
After I left my parents and came home that afternoon, I thought about it, but because I didn't know who else might be there - and what idle chit-chat that I might have been forced to get into - I didn't go.
A week later, I was on my way to a training group's year-end holiday party.
I didn't spend quite the time that I needed to thoroughly research the address where the party was being held (at a good friend's home) and when I got out to that area (and one I hadn't been before), I basically got lost.
Yes, I could have inconvenienced the host by calling and asking for them to guide me there; however, it was easier just to say, "Thank you for inviting me", and to go home.
And probably the reason why I wrote this this evening, there was another function that I've always been generally invited to.
I really wanted to go as there are two people in the running community that are going to be leaving the immediate area in February and May, respectively.
When I pulled into the parking lot, though, a little early even, I was able to quickly discern that it was going to be a smaller function than maybe what I thought it was going to be.
I didn't want to be in a position to either feel like conversation was forced or that it was had with me out of pity because I didn't know a lot of other people.
Again, I left, found a place to get something to eat and then drove 40-45 minutes home.
I'm not distressed over any of these things, but it is all just interesting to note.
I'm just trying to understand and figure it all out.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Monday, January 2, 2017
Something New For The New Year; January 2, 2017
As we're now into 2017, and I've had a chance to recover from working yesterday's 18th annual Metal Sawing Technology Texas Marathon and Half Marathon, I'm making a conscious decision to retreat from social media, specifically Facebook, for an undetermined amount of time.
Honestly, I'm an introvert. And from time to time overstimulation affects me negatively. I've learned that about myself over time.
I'm very comfortable in my own skin and while it isn't always good to be alone all of the time, it's a way that an introvert recharges - by being alone and doing things that they enjoy.
So I'm still around, still the same me (maybe boring to some, but that's OK), but I just may not be as present as I've been in the past.
I'll record life here and in another blog or two that I regularly update - and be happy with that.
I'm also just a few days away from another birthday, which I'm thankful for, and then driving Waverly back to start her final semester of college - both are absolutely incredible to think of and about.
If you make your way here, I wish you the best in the New Year - and at any time, for that matter.
Honestly, I'm an introvert. And from time to time overstimulation affects me negatively. I've learned that about myself over time.
I'm very comfortable in my own skin and while it isn't always good to be alone all of the time, it's a way that an introvert recharges - by being alone and doing things that they enjoy.
So I'm still around, still the same me (maybe boring to some, but that's OK), but I just may not be as present as I've been in the past.
I'll record life here and in another blog or two that I regularly update - and be happy with that.
I'm also just a few days away from another birthday, which I'm thankful for, and then driving Waverly back to start her final semester of college - both are absolutely incredible to think of and about.
If you make your way here, I wish you the best in the New Year - and at any time, for that matter.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Twas The Night Before Christmas; December 24, 2016
Catchy title above, huh?
I'm not any more noble than the next person, but I hope I can share something that will be of meaning to you this holiday season.
If you don't regularly read what I write, maybe I got you here by taking a look underneath the proverbial hood. Therefore, I need to deliver, right?
I'll do my very best.
I read something today which was written before last Christmas, but was shared by a Facebook friend and appeared in my news feed.
It is titled, "Kirsten Powers: Becoming a Christian Ruined My Love of Christmas". The link is here.
A comment or two on that share in my news feed made it seem that I should know who Kirsten Powers is.
I admit I don't and I haven't even Googled her name, but what she wrote is more important than who she is.
The majority of us are getting ready - as I write - to spend time with family and friends (already perhaps) over the next few days.
If you are, regardless of what is going on - good or bad - with those individuals, covet and cherish that time.
I'll get to why I feel that way - and the motivation for me to write this evening - a little later.
I probably fail to share well enough that I believe in and have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.
And maybe the life I lead doesn't always imitate the most fervent and effectual follower of Christ.
If you do not believe in Jesus and something that I've done has been a stumbling block to you doing so, please let me know privately.
There's one situation that's visible that I don't make well known - not because I'm trying to hide anything, but rather that I don't purposely or inadvertently want to draw any more attention to it than is absolutely necessary.
It is why I navigate a large portion of my life as quietly as possible and do my best to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of others as well as to be an encouragement, when possible, to them.
But during this time the next few days, we have a tendency to miss the magnitude of the eternal importance in what we're celebrating - or to be celebrating.
Powers' reference on page 2 of what she wrote on Christianity Today about what Christmas is -- a “divine rescue mission” of humankind.
Those who do believe, we don't ask boldly, as Powers wrote, "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?” - or also "Have you accepted?" - enough.
It is my hope every day that I have more of a boldness to do so tomorrow than I did today.
I've even been in a couple of congregations around the country this year in my travels that didn't make that specific invitation as part of their service.
It didn't malign the message, because I believe that God's word never returns void, but it did - to me - represent a missed engagement.
I challenge you to spend a few moments if you've made it this far to think about those you know who is not here with us this Christmas and holiday season.
It might be a family member. Could be a friend or a business associate.
May even be those that are suffering in places half way around the globe that we wish we could safely go and do something about.
We all know - or are aware - of somebody.
Please pray for peace and comfort for those individual's loved ones in the days and weeks to come.
Some of us have lost loved ones years ago that still feels like their passing was just yesterday.
I was going through pictures here on my lap top earlier and found the last picture that I took of my sister, Holly.
As you can see, she didn't look like herself.
Eleven days later, on my birthday, January 5th, she was admitted to the hospital.
And a day after that, she was rushed to the ICU from her room and none of us ever had the opportunity to communicate with her again as she passed away 11 days later.
We didn't realize it until after she was in intensive care that the steroids that she was taking to manage the pain associated with the steel rods in her back separating from her spine caused her to not only put on weight, but also weakened her immune system allowing her to catch the flu and caused pneumonia.
But these situations, even though we know that our life is "even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away", should re-focus our efforts to fervently love those closest to us - with the time remaining - as well as those we come in contact with.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in Belton, Texas - about two and a half hours west of here - for a memorial service for a former business partner of my father's.
The deceased (and his family) was (is) Catholic and one of the things that really touched me - especially now that I learned that it is a ritual of a Catholic Mass - was the greeting to one another at the end of Mass for peace to be with you.
It is one of the things that I've tried to focus on more and more and that is to be in a place of peace as much as possible.
Maybe it is something that is a possible immediate goal for you or for the year ahead.
Prayer certainly helps in this, but removing oneself from people that have a tendency to either sow discord in our world or situations that take our eyes off Jesus and what He has in store for us may also help too.
I know that I've painfully had to remove myself from the noise of some as well as direct my eyes elsewhere because what I was starting to focus on - I know from past experiences - will disrupt the peace that I've been working to achieve in my life.
I've very thankful, especially as I get older, for each day that I'm given.
It is the first thing when I pray that I thank God for.
I just want to make the absolute best of each moment that I have to do what's right and to encourage as many people as I possibly can to lead similarly happy, peaceful and productive lives.
Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope that I get to see you sometime soon.
Merry Christmas.
I'm not any more noble than the next person, but I hope I can share something that will be of meaning to you this holiday season.
If you don't regularly read what I write, maybe I got you here by taking a look underneath the proverbial hood. Therefore, I need to deliver, right?
I'll do my very best.
I read something today which was written before last Christmas, but was shared by a Facebook friend and appeared in my news feed.
It is titled, "Kirsten Powers: Becoming a Christian Ruined My Love of Christmas". The link is here.
A comment or two on that share in my news feed made it seem that I should know who Kirsten Powers is.
I admit I don't and I haven't even Googled her name, but what she wrote is more important than who she is.
The majority of us are getting ready - as I write - to spend time with family and friends (already perhaps) over the next few days.
If you are, regardless of what is going on - good or bad - with those individuals, covet and cherish that time.
I'll get to why I feel that way - and the motivation for me to write this evening - a little later.
I probably fail to share well enough that I believe in and have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.
And maybe the life I lead doesn't always imitate the most fervent and effectual follower of Christ.
If you do not believe in Jesus and something that I've done has been a stumbling block to you doing so, please let me know privately.
There's one situation that's visible that I don't make well known - not because I'm trying to hide anything, but rather that I don't purposely or inadvertently want to draw any more attention to it than is absolutely necessary.
It is why I navigate a large portion of my life as quietly as possible and do my best to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of others as well as to be an encouragement, when possible, to them.
But during this time the next few days, we have a tendency to miss the magnitude of the eternal importance in what we're celebrating - or to be celebrating.
Powers' reference on page 2 of what she wrote on Christianity Today about what Christmas is -- a “divine rescue mission” of humankind.
Those who do believe, we don't ask boldly, as Powers wrote, "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?” - or also "Have you accepted?" - enough.
It is my hope every day that I have more of a boldness to do so tomorrow than I did today.
I've even been in a couple of congregations around the country this year in my travels that didn't make that specific invitation as part of their service.
It didn't malign the message, because I believe that God's word never returns void, but it did - to me - represent a missed engagement.
I challenge you to spend a few moments if you've made it this far to think about those you know who is not here with us this Christmas and holiday season.
It might be a family member. Could be a friend or a business associate.
May even be those that are suffering in places half way around the globe that we wish we could safely go and do something about.
We all know - or are aware - of somebody.
Please pray for peace and comfort for those individual's loved ones in the days and weeks to come.
Some of us have lost loved ones years ago that still feels like their passing was just yesterday.
I was going through pictures here on my lap top earlier and found the last picture that I took of my sister, Holly.
 |
| Holly Munsinger, Christmas Eve 2013 |
Eleven days later, on my birthday, January 5th, she was admitted to the hospital.
And a day after that, she was rushed to the ICU from her room and none of us ever had the opportunity to communicate with her again as she passed away 11 days later.
We didn't realize it until after she was in intensive care that the steroids that she was taking to manage the pain associated with the steel rods in her back separating from her spine caused her to not only put on weight, but also weakened her immune system allowing her to catch the flu and caused pneumonia.
But these situations, even though we know that our life is "even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away", should re-focus our efforts to fervently love those closest to us - with the time remaining - as well as those we come in contact with.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in Belton, Texas - about two and a half hours west of here - for a memorial service for a former business partner of my father's.
The deceased (and his family) was (is) Catholic and one of the things that really touched me - especially now that I learned that it is a ritual of a Catholic Mass - was the greeting to one another at the end of Mass for peace to be with you.
It is one of the things that I've tried to focus on more and more and that is to be in a place of peace as much as possible.
Maybe it is something that is a possible immediate goal for you or for the year ahead.
Prayer certainly helps in this, but removing oneself from people that have a tendency to either sow discord in our world or situations that take our eyes off Jesus and what He has in store for us may also help too.
I know that I've painfully had to remove myself from the noise of some as well as direct my eyes elsewhere because what I was starting to focus on - I know from past experiences - will disrupt the peace that I've been working to achieve in my life.
I've very thankful, especially as I get older, for each day that I'm given.
It is the first thing when I pray that I thank God for.
I just want to make the absolute best of each moment that I have to do what's right and to encourage as many people as I possibly can to lead similarly happy, peaceful and productive lives.
Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope that I get to see you sometime soon.
Merry Christmas.
Monday, December 12, 2016
A Few Thoughts From Saturday's Brazos Bend Marathon; December 10, 2016
As I've shared before, I write to help me process life.
When Waverly started college at Liberty University, my advice to her - and even before - was that if she had the time to "do something", regardless of what it was, do it.
Live her life with no regrets.
Returning home from getting dinner out, I was listening a little bit to KSBJ on the ride home and there was some discussion about regret.
And it is how Satan wants us to live in the past in our regrets and to fear in the future and not in the present with Christ.
How true. Even as I sit and write, I can look at things around me - a stack of stuff here, another there - and see failure or rather that there's still a lot of opportunity in front of me.
I prefer the latter.
I stay busy. And there's some reasons for that.
People laugh and tell me that they have a hard time keeping up where I'm at or going to and from.
I look for opportunities to maintain peace, joy and happiness in my life. Especially with a lot of the rhetoric from this past election season, I've moved away from people - on both sides of the proverbial political aisle - whose opinions were extreme or strident.
If you're reading this and you fear that you might be one of them, I'm sorry, but my happiness is more important than your noise.
Constructive dialogue and conversation, I can handle. Beyond that, life is too short.
As I approached the weekend, I had a release planned, but just didn't know which one it was going to be.
I love running in races in multiples and in new locations and I particularly enjoy the half marathon distance.
One plan had me going to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to run a Friday night race in Denton (timed by my friends with RunFAR), perhaps a 5K on Saturday morning in Fort Worth and then maybe swing west for an afternoon 5K in Comanche.
Another included a half marathon in Temple that I've run three times in the past, including last year.
And finally a third option saw me going to Lake Charles, Louisiana for a half marathon that I ran in 2004, the first time that I ever helped another runner cover the distance for the first time.
I had been in Temple earlier in the week for a memorial service of a friend and former business partner of my father's.
It is a solid two-hour, 40-minute drive each way and the half marathon was an 8:45 a.m. start; therefore, I could see a good bit of the day being tied up -- given that I needed to finish preparing to finish line announce today's 29th annual Fort Bend Kia 30K in Sugar Land.
The half marathon in Lake Charles had a 7 a.m. start, which would have worked.
The race in Temple had a $60 race day price while the one in Lake Charles was $80. These come with the territory of signing up for a race late.
The one option that I hadn't strongly considered was the Brazos Bend 100 mile race in Brazos Bend State Park, just south of downtown Houston.
I knew there was going to be lots of people that I knew that was going to be there.
Sometimes, being an introvert (although at selected times, extroverted), I don't want all of that stimulation that comes from people. Granted, the majority of it is always good, but still I like to control the engagement.
Yet I wasn't sure that I wanted to go and drive to an out-of-town race and be by myself like I am much of the time.
The price of the half marathon was $90. Again, it is a function of limiting the number of late sign-ups, which reduces the load on race day staff and the amount of possible things that can go wrong.
No offense to Rob Goyen and his excellent team at Trail Racing Over Texas, but $90 is past my price point for a half marathon.
But $95 for a marathon isn't. We runners have a strange sense of rationale, don't we?
Marathon, huh? I've shied away from them for awhile. I was signed up for the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon, ready to go for my 10th finish - good enough to earn Veterans Status, but just a lack of "want to" to go walk my way through the back end of a 5:30 finish had limited that pursuit.
The big difference here was that I knew that my best friend Bill Dwyer would be out supporting a couple of his Volte Endurance athletes that were going to be running the half marathon.
When I'm announcing and most other times, I'm a person that does my best to give encouragement to others.
Bill literally lives it and has such an incredible spirit of goodness towards others and the ability to see the positive at all times in everybody.
Start - #1 (40 Acre) - 3.08 miles
#1 (40 Acre) - #2 (Windmill) - 3.6 miles
#2 (Windmill) - #3 (Sawmill) - 2.7 miles
#3 (Sawmill) - #4 (Windmill) - 2.7 miles
#4 (Windmill) - #5 (Finish) - 1.87 miles
Total was advertised as 13.78, even though this adds up to 13.95.
33:46.67 - 46:33.66 (spent four mins at main aid station)
43:22.12 - 50:59.73 (was still running a good bit on the second)
32:39.70 - 44:52.65 (started to power walk)
33:44.10 - 46:52.68
24:37.13 - 29:10.85
(2:48:09.72) Front half
(3:38:29.57) Second half
(6:26:39.29) Overall
One of the easiest things you can do to sabotage your time in a trail race, regardless of your speed, is to spend too much time in the aid stations.
In reality, unless you're running a 50-miler or a 100-miler, you should get in and get out.
I don't know that I gave up too much time on the first loop, but definitely did so on the second loop.
I'm pleased with the effort, especially doing it sort of on a whim.
"I don't think I know anyone who registers for 26.2 the day before," said Volte's Carrie Hyde.
Yes, I'm not that classically trained runner that one should follow.
But one of the things that I realized when I delivered a eulogy at my sister's memorial service almost three years ago and that is: Nobody is going to really care about the things you accomplished. What matters is who you were to other people.
Even though I power-walked from the Windmill station out to Sawmill and back and on into the finish, I enjoyed the entire day and all of the people that I saw and interacted with.
First person I saw as I walked in towards the start line from the outer parking lot was Steve Boone. I didn't know he was going to be there as he had been attending to his family's needs the past two weeks as Paula's father had passed away. If you can't be friends with Steve and Paula, it is likely that you can't be friends with anybody.
Great to visit with the Bay Area Running Club's Jeremy Hanson at the start. Funny how things jog our memory. I remembered him from a picture posted on Facebook at the finish with BARC favorite Veronica Hoge.
Bridge City's Brian Beard came up and said "Hello!" before the start of the race. Always, always great to converse with a fellow follower of Christ and Steelers fan.
One of the best moments of the day was when I got to run a little bit with West Columbia's Don Womble. We're all always so busy at races, but it was great to run and chat a little bit with him. Very compassionate, caring man who always speaks well of and thoughtfully asks about Waverly every time we see each other.
Saw Nils Fowler out on the half marathon course and later as he was done and I was on the second loop of the marathon course. His wife, Allison, ran the 50-miler. I really appreciate their friendship. First class people.
After we had been running for awhile, the half marathoners began to start flying by and leading the pace with Duncanville's Jeff Ball was Lake Jackson's Lauren Smith Stroud. She hung with him through the Sawmill turnaround, but was still second overall and first female. The 50-mile American's women record was set on the course on Saturday. I think one day Lauren could take that down.
Two of Bill's runners, Hope Jimenez and Letty Gonzalez, were running the half marathon too. I saw Hope first. She was running well and later on in the morning, I was wondering when she would pass me. I was ready to offer a shout out, but I later learned - as she was headed to the Sawmill aid station and I was leaving it - she had turned an ankle. Though I was most delighted that she continued to walk the course and finish. Solid, steady race from Letty. I look forward to announcing the finish to her goal race in the spring of 2017.
I've always said that one of the classiest women in sports in our area is Houston's Suzy Seeley, but Nome's Melanie Holland deserves to be included in that company. Such a sweet-spirited person, she ran up behind me, as she was running the half, and said, "Way to go, Mr. Jon."
It was great to see The Woodlands' Ronnie Delzer out there trying to set the American record at the 100-mile distance. One of his crew members, Peter Bardenhagen, reported that he went 6:02 through the first 50, which was on pace, but he dropped about six miles later. After recovering some and reconsidering, given a future goal of running Badwater 135, he went back out on the course and covered the remaining 44 miles. A lot of humility from somebody who ran 14 hours, 15 minutes at Rocky Raccoon 100 last February.
I announce a lot of races and it is always great to "bring the finish line to the course". Great to see in the results that Victoria's John Hyak, who is a member of our Seabrook Lucky Trail Leprechaun Hall of Fame, finish his first 100-miler. I think he was surprised to hear me shout out to him, but I could tell that he appreciated it.
Another runner that I've gotten to know through the Seabrook race as well as Steve and Paula's Texas Marathon is Daniel Bucci. Positive, upbeat guy that loves trail racing, he was seventh overall in the 50-miler.
Finishing about seven minutes from each other were two of our regulars at Seabrook -- Kingwood's Jacqueline O'Brien Nolen and Houston's Wendy Hammerman. Jacqueline covered the distance in 8:54:53 while Wendy wasn't far behind in 9:01:08.
Great attempt at the 100-mile distance by April Hamon from over in the Beaumont area. Incredible mom of three who's as tough as nails. I surprised her when I first saw her on the course as I don't telegraph where I'm going anymore to race and then the second time I saw her, as she was early in her second of six proposed loops, I encourgaed her to pick her head up. She completed four laps for 66-plus miles, but realized that it was unlikely to cover the fifth loop in enough time to make the last loop cutoff.
Always good to see Buddy and Becky Howlett from Vidor. Buddy was running the marathon while Becky was doing well in the half marathon. Buddy is one of Rob's newest Trail Racing Over Texas race ambassadors - and a wise choice.
I met Missouri City's Theresa Bueno as I came in to one of the aid stations and she commented on my Penn State shirt. I said, "Yeah, but the guy in the Wisconsin shirt over there didn't like it too much." She had, like others, recognized me by my voice. Such a scary thought. Very, very upbeat individual. I think sometimes if we leave a race and we haven't made a new connection or two, we're missing out.
Great to see long-time friend and fellow ISS ("Incredible Shrinking Strider") Doug Spence from Houston who was volunteering at the finish line aid station. Didn't know he was even going to be there as he was signed up for the Fort Bend Kia 30K the following day, but I told him that I thought out on the course that we were just one letter short from being something far worse!
Also great to see Bob Botto. He was going to be out there later in the night pacing somebody.
The Snowdrop Foundation was best represented out there by Jim Abney. He later said on Facebook he wasn't his normally bubbly self, but it was still great to see him.
Out there representing Snowdrop too was Traci Duck. She was working in the Pavilion with Becky Spaulding as I got ready to leave the Park for the day (as I still had a race to prepare for).
A number of folks that support Robby Sabban's races, Texas Beef Team member Alison Brown and Bob Smither were there doing the marathon and 50-miler, respectively. Both were steady on the course the entire time they were out there. Bob improved greatly - I think to the tune of four hours, I noticed - on his 50-mile time from a year ago.
Leno Rios found his way out to the trails - and got lost! Turning what should have been 17 miles into 22. One of Houston's greatest class acts in racing. Such a talented, steady runner who is a great encourager to many runners in our community.
At the finish line working with Doug was Paula Boone. Her Dad had passed away in the last two weeks and she and Steve had just made it back into town the day before. Steve hadn't run at all during that time and was out there to move off of his 666th marathon finish at the Tulsa Route 66 Marathon, but Paula was giving of herself to other runners. I had been working on getting a card for her, but it was great to give her a big hug to let her know that we'd been thinking about them.
And I couldn't have left the grounds without getting a hug from a long-time friend Becky Spaulding. Finish Line Sports race director Andy Stewart recognized Becky this year with his club's Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award and it was so deserving. I've known Becky since the fall of 2004 when she, Doug Spence and myself were all in the same HARRA Power In Motion clinic together. I don't know how she gives of herself as much as she does, but everyone - especially the trail racing community - is glad that she does.
See running is more about people to me.
I'm glad that I didn't go race elsewhere and regretted not going to Needville (a new Texas city, by the way) -- and neglected the advice that I gave - and continually give - to my daughter.
Nobody will remember your times, but they will remember you and how you treated them and made them feel.
Two more notes that are especially important.
When I came into one of the aid stations, perhaps it was the Windmill station, I recognized Crystal Huff from the Beaumont area that does many of Rich and Amie James' races. Being the dutiful aid station worker that you are when you work a trail racing aid station, she approached me and asked me is there anything that I needed.
And the primary gist is to take your water bottle and fill it up with whatever you need so you can focus on getting in some calories for the next 2-3 miles.
In life, I generally take care of everything for myself. And at that moment, I did the same.
However, as I left that exchange, and the aid station, I worried that I offended and discouraged somebody who was trying to be helpful. When I ran out to the Sawmill aid station and back, Crystal was gone.
I saw her shortly after I finished the marathon, however, and was able to explain to her and ensure that I didn't offend her nor not appreciate the help that she offered.
Finally, one of the things that I did was to engage race director Rob Goyen and tell him what an incredible job he and his team had done on Saturday.
We, as runners, do that often to event directors that do a great job. That's not abnormal.
However, there's a back story.
Two years ago, after the 2014 edition of the Brazos Bend 100, a day where Ronnie cut short his inaugural attempt at the 100-mile distance partly because some of the aid stations had run out of water, I had some reports from people I trusted in the community that said it was a rough day for many.
I was later asked in a Facebook group of the Seven Hills Running Club about doing either Hog's Hunt (Paul Stone's race) or Brazos Bend 50 (so this would have been for the spring of 2015). I strongly recommended doing Hog's Hunt. I just felt like based on what I knew from people that I trusted as well as a post on his blog that Rob had made that - even though his heart was fully-vested in what he was doing - that he just needed a bit more seasoning from a race directing standpoint.
Well, Rob over the past two years has proven that he has gotten that seasoning down well and has spiced things up.
We saw each other at the Snowdrop 55 Ultra this past December, but didn't engage too much. I tried a little, but I understood how Rob might have felt after an exchange in that Facebook group that one day in January or February from early last year.
However, I stopped to make sure that I told Rob face-to-face, eye-to-eye that he and his team had done well. He thanked me for spending my money on the race.
It was something that I set out to do once I set my first foot past the start line Saturday morning and I'm glad that I did.
And I'm glad that Rob was gracious enough to receive my words, even though his success didn't need to.
So, in the end, even in racing, there's something to be said for doing the right things and doing them well and with humility and grace.
When Waverly started college at Liberty University, my advice to her - and even before - was that if she had the time to "do something", regardless of what it was, do it.
Live her life with no regrets.
Returning home from getting dinner out, I was listening a little bit to KSBJ on the ride home and there was some discussion about regret.
And it is how Satan wants us to live in the past in our regrets and to fear in the future and not in the present with Christ.
How true. Even as I sit and write, I can look at things around me - a stack of stuff here, another there - and see failure or rather that there's still a lot of opportunity in front of me.
I prefer the latter.
I stay busy. And there's some reasons for that.
People laugh and tell me that they have a hard time keeping up where I'm at or going to and from.
I look for opportunities to maintain peace, joy and happiness in my life. Especially with a lot of the rhetoric from this past election season, I've moved away from people - on both sides of the proverbial political aisle - whose opinions were extreme or strident.
If you're reading this and you fear that you might be one of them, I'm sorry, but my happiness is more important than your noise.
Constructive dialogue and conversation, I can handle. Beyond that, life is too short.
As I approached the weekend, I had a release planned, but just didn't know which one it was going to be.
I love running in races in multiples and in new locations and I particularly enjoy the half marathon distance.
One plan had me going to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to run a Friday night race in Denton (timed by my friends with RunFAR), perhaps a 5K on Saturday morning in Fort Worth and then maybe swing west for an afternoon 5K in Comanche.
Another included a half marathon in Temple that I've run three times in the past, including last year.
And finally a third option saw me going to Lake Charles, Louisiana for a half marathon that I ran in 2004, the first time that I ever helped another runner cover the distance for the first time.
I had been in Temple earlier in the week for a memorial service of a friend and former business partner of my father's.
It is a solid two-hour, 40-minute drive each way and the half marathon was an 8:45 a.m. start; therefore, I could see a good bit of the day being tied up -- given that I needed to finish preparing to finish line announce today's 29th annual Fort Bend Kia 30K in Sugar Land.
The half marathon in Lake Charles had a 7 a.m. start, which would have worked.
The race in Temple had a $60 race day price while the one in Lake Charles was $80. These come with the territory of signing up for a race late.
The one option that I hadn't strongly considered was the Brazos Bend 100 mile race in Brazos Bend State Park, just south of downtown Houston.
I knew there was going to be lots of people that I knew that was going to be there.
Sometimes, being an introvert (although at selected times, extroverted), I don't want all of that stimulation that comes from people. Granted, the majority of it is always good, but still I like to control the engagement.
Yet I wasn't sure that I wanted to go and drive to an out-of-town race and be by myself like I am much of the time.
The price of the half marathon was $90. Again, it is a function of limiting the number of late sign-ups, which reduces the load on race day staff and the amount of possible things that can go wrong.
No offense to Rob Goyen and his excellent team at Trail Racing Over Texas, but $90 is past my price point for a half marathon.
But $95 for a marathon isn't. We runners have a strange sense of rationale, don't we?
Marathon, huh? I've shied away from them for awhile. I was signed up for the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon, ready to go for my 10th finish - good enough to earn Veterans Status, but just a lack of "want to" to go walk my way through the back end of a 5:30 finish had limited that pursuit.
The big difference here was that I knew that my best friend Bill Dwyer would be out supporting a couple of his Volte Endurance athletes that were going to be running the half marathon.
When I'm announcing and most other times, I'm a person that does my best to give encouragement to others.
Bill literally lives it and has such an incredible spirit of goodness towards others and the ability to see the positive at all times in everybody.
Start - #1 (40 Acre) - 3.08 miles
#1 (40 Acre) - #2 (Windmill) - 3.6 miles
#2 (Windmill) - #3 (Sawmill) - 2.7 miles
#3 (Sawmill) - #4 (Windmill) - 2.7 miles
#4 (Windmill) - #5 (Finish) - 1.87 miles
Total was advertised as 13.78, even though this adds up to 13.95.
33:46.67 - 46:33.66 (spent four mins at main aid station)
43:22.12 - 50:59.73 (was still running a good bit on the second)
32:39.70 - 44:52.65 (started to power walk)
33:44.10 - 46:52.68
24:37.13 - 29:10.85
(2:48:09.72) Front half
(3:38:29.57) Second half
(6:26:39.29) Overall
One of the easiest things you can do to sabotage your time in a trail race, regardless of your speed, is to spend too much time in the aid stations.
In reality, unless you're running a 50-miler or a 100-miler, you should get in and get out.
I don't know that I gave up too much time on the first loop, but definitely did so on the second loop.
I'm pleased with the effort, especially doing it sort of on a whim.
"I don't think I know anyone who registers for 26.2 the day before," said Volte's Carrie Hyde.
Yes, I'm not that classically trained runner that one should follow.
But one of the things that I realized when I delivered a eulogy at my sister's memorial service almost three years ago and that is: Nobody is going to really care about the things you accomplished. What matters is who you were to other people.
Even though I power-walked from the Windmill station out to Sawmill and back and on into the finish, I enjoyed the entire day and all of the people that I saw and interacted with.
First person I saw as I walked in towards the start line from the outer parking lot was Steve Boone. I didn't know he was going to be there as he had been attending to his family's needs the past two weeks as Paula's father had passed away. If you can't be friends with Steve and Paula, it is likely that you can't be friends with anybody.
Great to visit with the Bay Area Running Club's Jeremy Hanson at the start. Funny how things jog our memory. I remembered him from a picture posted on Facebook at the finish with BARC favorite Veronica Hoge.
Bridge City's Brian Beard came up and said "Hello!" before the start of the race. Always, always great to converse with a fellow follower of Christ and Steelers fan.
One of the best moments of the day was when I got to run a little bit with West Columbia's Don Womble. We're all always so busy at races, but it was great to run and chat a little bit with him. Very compassionate, caring man who always speaks well of and thoughtfully asks about Waverly every time we see each other.
Saw Nils Fowler out on the half marathon course and later as he was done and I was on the second loop of the marathon course. His wife, Allison, ran the 50-miler. I really appreciate their friendship. First class people.
After we had been running for awhile, the half marathoners began to start flying by and leading the pace with Duncanville's Jeff Ball was Lake Jackson's Lauren Smith Stroud. She hung with him through the Sawmill turnaround, but was still second overall and first female. The 50-mile American's women record was set on the course on Saturday. I think one day Lauren could take that down.
Two of Bill's runners, Hope Jimenez and Letty Gonzalez, were running the half marathon too. I saw Hope first. She was running well and later on in the morning, I was wondering when she would pass me. I was ready to offer a shout out, but I later learned - as she was headed to the Sawmill aid station and I was leaving it - she had turned an ankle. Though I was most delighted that she continued to walk the course and finish. Solid, steady race from Letty. I look forward to announcing the finish to her goal race in the spring of 2017.
I've always said that one of the classiest women in sports in our area is Houston's Suzy Seeley, but Nome's Melanie Holland deserves to be included in that company. Such a sweet-spirited person, she ran up behind me, as she was running the half, and said, "Way to go, Mr. Jon."
It was great to see The Woodlands' Ronnie Delzer out there trying to set the American record at the 100-mile distance. One of his crew members, Peter Bardenhagen, reported that he went 6:02 through the first 50, which was on pace, but he dropped about six miles later. After recovering some and reconsidering, given a future goal of running Badwater 135, he went back out on the course and covered the remaining 44 miles. A lot of humility from somebody who ran 14 hours, 15 minutes at Rocky Raccoon 100 last February.
I announce a lot of races and it is always great to "bring the finish line to the course". Great to see in the results that Victoria's John Hyak, who is a member of our Seabrook Lucky Trail Leprechaun Hall of Fame, finish his first 100-miler. I think he was surprised to hear me shout out to him, but I could tell that he appreciated it.
Another runner that I've gotten to know through the Seabrook race as well as Steve and Paula's Texas Marathon is Daniel Bucci. Positive, upbeat guy that loves trail racing, he was seventh overall in the 50-miler.
Finishing about seven minutes from each other were two of our regulars at Seabrook -- Kingwood's Jacqueline O'Brien Nolen and Houston's Wendy Hammerman. Jacqueline covered the distance in 8:54:53 while Wendy wasn't far behind in 9:01:08.
Great attempt at the 100-mile distance by April Hamon from over in the Beaumont area. Incredible mom of three who's as tough as nails. I surprised her when I first saw her on the course as I don't telegraph where I'm going anymore to race and then the second time I saw her, as she was early in her second of six proposed loops, I encourgaed her to pick her head up. She completed four laps for 66-plus miles, but realized that it was unlikely to cover the fifth loop in enough time to make the last loop cutoff.
Always good to see Buddy and Becky Howlett from Vidor. Buddy was running the marathon while Becky was doing well in the half marathon. Buddy is one of Rob's newest Trail Racing Over Texas race ambassadors - and a wise choice.
I met Missouri City's Theresa Bueno as I came in to one of the aid stations and she commented on my Penn State shirt. I said, "Yeah, but the guy in the Wisconsin shirt over there didn't like it too much." She had, like others, recognized me by my voice. Such a scary thought. Very, very upbeat individual. I think sometimes if we leave a race and we haven't made a new connection or two, we're missing out.
Great to see long-time friend and fellow ISS ("Incredible Shrinking Strider") Doug Spence from Houston who was volunteering at the finish line aid station. Didn't know he was even going to be there as he was signed up for the Fort Bend Kia 30K the following day, but I told him that I thought out on the course that we were just one letter short from being something far worse!
Also great to see Bob Botto. He was going to be out there later in the night pacing somebody.
The Snowdrop Foundation was best represented out there by Jim Abney. He later said on Facebook he wasn't his normally bubbly self, but it was still great to see him.
Out there representing Snowdrop too was Traci Duck. She was working in the Pavilion with Becky Spaulding as I got ready to leave the Park for the day (as I still had a race to prepare for).
A number of folks that support Robby Sabban's races, Texas Beef Team member Alison Brown and Bob Smither were there doing the marathon and 50-miler, respectively. Both were steady on the course the entire time they were out there. Bob improved greatly - I think to the tune of four hours, I noticed - on his 50-mile time from a year ago.
Leno Rios found his way out to the trails - and got lost! Turning what should have been 17 miles into 22. One of Houston's greatest class acts in racing. Such a talented, steady runner who is a great encourager to many runners in our community.
At the finish line working with Doug was Paula Boone. Her Dad had passed away in the last two weeks and she and Steve had just made it back into town the day before. Steve hadn't run at all during that time and was out there to move off of his 666th marathon finish at the Tulsa Route 66 Marathon, but Paula was giving of herself to other runners. I had been working on getting a card for her, but it was great to give her a big hug to let her know that we'd been thinking about them.
And I couldn't have left the grounds without getting a hug from a long-time friend Becky Spaulding. Finish Line Sports race director Andy Stewart recognized Becky this year with his club's Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award and it was so deserving. I've known Becky since the fall of 2004 when she, Doug Spence and myself were all in the same HARRA Power In Motion clinic together. I don't know how she gives of herself as much as she does, but everyone - especially the trail racing community - is glad that she does.
See running is more about people to me.
I'm glad that I didn't go race elsewhere and regretted not going to Needville (a new Texas city, by the way) -- and neglected the advice that I gave - and continually give - to my daughter.
Nobody will remember your times, but they will remember you and how you treated them and made them feel.
Two more notes that are especially important.
When I came into one of the aid stations, perhaps it was the Windmill station, I recognized Crystal Huff from the Beaumont area that does many of Rich and Amie James' races. Being the dutiful aid station worker that you are when you work a trail racing aid station, she approached me and asked me is there anything that I needed.
And the primary gist is to take your water bottle and fill it up with whatever you need so you can focus on getting in some calories for the next 2-3 miles.
In life, I generally take care of everything for myself. And at that moment, I did the same.
However, as I left that exchange, and the aid station, I worried that I offended and discouraged somebody who was trying to be helpful. When I ran out to the Sawmill aid station and back, Crystal was gone.
I saw her shortly after I finished the marathon, however, and was able to explain to her and ensure that I didn't offend her nor not appreciate the help that she offered.
Finally, one of the things that I did was to engage race director Rob Goyen and tell him what an incredible job he and his team had done on Saturday.
We, as runners, do that often to event directors that do a great job. That's not abnormal.
However, there's a back story.
Two years ago, after the 2014 edition of the Brazos Bend 100, a day where Ronnie cut short his inaugural attempt at the 100-mile distance partly because some of the aid stations had run out of water, I had some reports from people I trusted in the community that said it was a rough day for many.
I was later asked in a Facebook group of the Seven Hills Running Club about doing either Hog's Hunt (Paul Stone's race) or Brazos Bend 50 (so this would have been for the spring of 2015). I strongly recommended doing Hog's Hunt. I just felt like based on what I knew from people that I trusted as well as a post on his blog that Rob had made that - even though his heart was fully-vested in what he was doing - that he just needed a bit more seasoning from a race directing standpoint.
Well, Rob over the past two years has proven that he has gotten that seasoning down well and has spiced things up.
We saw each other at the Snowdrop 55 Ultra this past December, but didn't engage too much. I tried a little, but I understood how Rob might have felt after an exchange in that Facebook group that one day in January or February from early last year.
However, I stopped to make sure that I told Rob face-to-face, eye-to-eye that he and his team had done well. He thanked me for spending my money on the race.
It was something that I set out to do once I set my first foot past the start line Saturday morning and I'm glad that I did.
And I'm glad that Rob was gracious enough to receive my words, even though his success didn't need to.
So, in the end, even in racing, there's something to be said for doing the right things and doing them well and with humility and grace.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
News Feed Surprises; November 17, 2016
I'm now 49 days away from turning 50, as it has passed midnight into Thursday, November 17, 2016.
Facebook can, at times, open up some raw emotions when things turn up in your news feed that you least expect to see.
That's why unfollows, unfriends and, when warranted, blocks are sometimes necessary.
There was a picture that a friend who is a big fan of my announcing posted with one of her friends and a comment that said, "Dear friends never say goodbye, they simply say "see you soon"."
I've known that these two individuals have been pretty strong friends for quite some time and I don't hold it against the person that likes my announcing.
It is just that the person that seems to be leaving the area, perhaps, is somebody who was friendly in an odd way (to me) more than three and a half years ago.
When I discreetly attempted to clear it up, I got no response. Whatsoever.
A situation or two occurred afterward that brought some engagement with that person, but it never opened up an opportunity to resolve that emotional wound.
Another similar situation two years before with somebody completely different eventually saw that person leave the area for another part of the state and now one that borders the Atlantic Ocean.
A race director friend of mine who knew of my struggles then said at the time that God was acutally taking care of me by not having to see them on a regular basis anymore.
Maybe they were right.
And maybe I should take the same advice here.
I handle different rejections completely -- different.
Some bother me. Others don't.
I wouldn't say that I hold grudges as for both of these individuals I've - at different times - prayed for them and their success very fervently. How else are we to still care for people?
Another individual in the running community who is a believer said once about the former situation that sometimes you just have to love people from afar.
Or even farther it might seem.
2016 has been a year about reducing the emotional drama in my life -- and this is, I guess, another reduction. And I should simply move on.
(Note: This person that is leaving, I'm not friends on Facebook with them - or with the person from the situation before.)
There's a part of me, thought, that wishes that I would have been worthy enough (or possess some qualities that I must be missing) for somebody that I was willing to - or did attempt to - invest time in be willing to have acknowledged and responded to it different than what they did (or didn't).
Facebook can, at times, open up some raw emotions when things turn up in your news feed that you least expect to see.
That's why unfollows, unfriends and, when warranted, blocks are sometimes necessary.
There was a picture that a friend who is a big fan of my announcing posted with one of her friends and a comment that said, "Dear friends never say goodbye, they simply say "see you soon"."
I've known that these two individuals have been pretty strong friends for quite some time and I don't hold it against the person that likes my announcing.
It is just that the person that seems to be leaving the area, perhaps, is somebody who was friendly in an odd way (to me) more than three and a half years ago.
When I discreetly attempted to clear it up, I got no response. Whatsoever.
A situation or two occurred afterward that brought some engagement with that person, but it never opened up an opportunity to resolve that emotional wound.
Another similar situation two years before with somebody completely different eventually saw that person leave the area for another part of the state and now one that borders the Atlantic Ocean.
A race director friend of mine who knew of my struggles then said at the time that God was acutally taking care of me by not having to see them on a regular basis anymore.
Maybe they were right.
And maybe I should take the same advice here.
I handle different rejections completely -- different.
Some bother me. Others don't.
I wouldn't say that I hold grudges as for both of these individuals I've - at different times - prayed for them and their success very fervently. How else are we to still care for people?
Another individual in the running community who is a believer said once about the former situation that sometimes you just have to love people from afar.
Or even farther it might seem.
2016 has been a year about reducing the emotional drama in my life -- and this is, I guess, another reduction. And I should simply move on.
(Note: This person that is leaving, I'm not friends on Facebook with them - or with the person from the situation before.)
There's a part of me, thought, that wishes that I would have been worthy enough (or possess some qualities that I must be missing) for somebody that I was willing to - or did attempt to - invest time in be willing to have acknowledged and responded to it different than what they did (or didn't).
Friday, November 4, 2016
MBKB: Blinn College 84, Lone Star College-Cy-Fair 76; November 3, 2016
Since race announcing always seems to get in my way of seeing as many Texas college football stadiums as possible, another other goal - to pass time, in many cases - is to do the same with Texas college basketball arenas.
Thursday night, November 3, I made my west to Brenham to see the Lone Star College-Cy Fair Fighting Ducks take on the Blinn College Buccaneers.
It became the 19th Texas college basketball arenas or gymnasium that I've seen a college game in. One of those is no longer in use, G. Rollie White Coliseum at Texas A&M.
There are a couple of colleges where I've seen a game in, but not a collegiate contest.
They would include Baylor University's Ferrell Center, McLennan Community College's The Highlands and Southwestern University's Robertson Center.
In those facilities, I saw Texas private and parochial high school basketball during the time that I covered those schools from 1994-2001.
Since I always like to try and #eatlocal when possible, I found my way to the downtown square in Brenham and stopped in to a place called Yumm! Sweets & Eats.
There are two sections to the restaraunt - one to eat and the other, literally, for sweets.
I couldn't tell what the sizes of the many different types of pizzas they had or if the calzones that could be made from the same ingredients were cheaper.
Since neither was determinable, I settled on the Jalapeno Ranch Burger (minus the bacon) and it is really, really good.
Campus was no more than about 5-10 minutes away, but it took me awhile to pinpoint where the Physical Education Building was and where I could legally park without my vehicle ticketed and/or towed.
Once I found my way to the entrance, admission was only $5 and the floor appeared nearly brand-new. Multiple banners adorned the one wall indicating NJCAA dominance from the school's volleyball team with quite a few national championships.
Pretty good turnout from the student body for the second home game early in the season.
I wasn't so much surprised that the mascot and cheerleaders were in attendance, but it also seems that Blinn College has a thriving and nationally ranked Dance Team (and they performed multiple times on the evening).
Even more surprisingly is when LSC-Cy-Fair got out to an early lead, but it didn't take long for Blinn to grab a lead and run up a 48-24 halftime advantage.
The Fighting Ducks were their own worst enemy without any rebounding on the inside - on either end of the floor - and plenty of fouls. In fact, before they passed the 20-point mark, there might have been a time where they had more fouls than points.
The officiating crew had one of its three members that was not prepared for the action. On the entire evening, at least half of his foul calls were hard to fathom.
With 11:27 to play in the game, Blinn still had a 63-37 advantage.
More than seven minutes later at the 4:09 mark, LSC-Cy-Fair had taken 10 points off that advantage, down 75-59. And this is when I left to head back to Spring.
Eventually, the Fighting Ducks lost by only eight, 84-76. I've got to imagine that head coach and director of athletics Scott Schumacher lost his mind in those last four minutes.
The one player for Blinn that I was most impressed with was 6-2 guard LaKendric Hyson from Mumford HS. And this was for reasons other than the bright pink shoes.
He led the way with 21 points, including one slam that was definitely ESPN Sports Center material. Most importantly, though, he was completely unflappable in the face of the sloppiness of play in the second half between the two teams.
Thursday night, November 3, I made my west to Brenham to see the Lone Star College-Cy Fair Fighting Ducks take on the Blinn College Buccaneers.
It became the 19th Texas college basketball arenas or gymnasium that I've seen a college game in. One of those is no longer in use, G. Rollie White Coliseum at Texas A&M.
There are a couple of colleges where I've seen a game in, but not a collegiate contest.
They would include Baylor University's Ferrell Center, McLennan Community College's The Highlands and Southwestern University's Robertson Center.
In those facilities, I saw Texas private and parochial high school basketball during the time that I covered those schools from 1994-2001.
Since I always like to try and #eatlocal when possible, I found my way to the downtown square in Brenham and stopped in to a place called Yumm! Sweets & Eats.
There are two sections to the restaraunt - one to eat and the other, literally, for sweets.
I couldn't tell what the sizes of the many different types of pizzas they had or if the calzones that could be made from the same ingredients were cheaper.
Since neither was determinable, I settled on the Jalapeno Ranch Burger (minus the bacon) and it is really, really good.
Campus was no more than about 5-10 minutes away, but it took me awhile to pinpoint where the Physical Education Building was and where I could legally park without my vehicle ticketed and/or towed.
Once I found my way to the entrance, admission was only $5 and the floor appeared nearly brand-new. Multiple banners adorned the one wall indicating NJCAA dominance from the school's volleyball team with quite a few national championships.
Pretty good turnout from the student body for the second home game early in the season.
I wasn't so much surprised that the mascot and cheerleaders were in attendance, but it also seems that Blinn College has a thriving and nationally ranked Dance Team (and they performed multiple times on the evening).
Even more surprisingly is when LSC-Cy-Fair got out to an early lead, but it didn't take long for Blinn to grab a lead and run up a 48-24 halftime advantage.
The Fighting Ducks were their own worst enemy without any rebounding on the inside - on either end of the floor - and plenty of fouls. In fact, before they passed the 20-point mark, there might have been a time where they had more fouls than points.
The officiating crew had one of its three members that was not prepared for the action. On the entire evening, at least half of his foul calls were hard to fathom.
With 11:27 to play in the game, Blinn still had a 63-37 advantage.
More than seven minutes later at the 4:09 mark, LSC-Cy-Fair had taken 10 points off that advantage, down 75-59. And this is when I left to head back to Spring.
Eventually, the Fighting Ducks lost by only eight, 84-76. I've got to imagine that head coach and director of athletics Scott Schumacher lost his mind in those last four minutes.
The one player for Blinn that I was most impressed with was 6-2 guard LaKendric Hyson from Mumford HS. And this was for reasons other than the bright pink shoes.
He led the way with 21 points, including one slam that was definitely ESPN Sports Center material. Most importantly, though, he was completely unflappable in the face of the sloppiness of play in the second half between the two teams.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Churches Visited in 2016
While I've been out of town running or doing other activities, I've tried to be more diligent in being in church even during this time.
As a result, I've been very fortunate to visit a number of excellent churches so far this year.
They have included:
Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana (February 7 and March 27)
First Baptist Church, Waxahachie, Texas (April 3)
Hyde Park Baptist Church, Austin, Texas (May 1)
NewPointe Community Church, Dover, Ohio (April 10)
North Roanoke Baptist Church, Roanoke, Virginia (April 17)
Calvary Church - Harvest Fields, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania (May 29)
First Baptist Church, Downers Grove, Illinois (June 26)
Grandview Baptist Church, Davenport, Iowa (July 10)*
Greater Waco Baptist Church, Waco, Texas (July 24)
Blue Ridge Community Church, Forest, Virginia (August 14 and September 25)*
Temple Baptist Church, Springdale, Arkansas (October 2)
NewSpring Church, Wichita, Kansas (October 30)
It has been refreshing to see how other bodies of believers come together and worship God.
As a result, I've been very fortunate to visit a number of excellent churches so far this year.
They have included:
Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana (February 7 and March 27)
First Baptist Church, Waxahachie, Texas (April 3)
Hyde Park Baptist Church, Austin, Texas (May 1)
NewPointe Community Church, Dover, Ohio (April 10)
North Roanoke Baptist Church, Roanoke, Virginia (April 17)
Calvary Church - Harvest Fields, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania (May 29)
First Baptist Church, Downers Grove, Illinois (June 26)
Grandview Baptist Church, Davenport, Iowa (July 10)*
Greater Waco Baptist Church, Waco, Texas (July 24)
Blue Ridge Community Church, Forest, Virginia (August 14 and September 25)*
Temple Baptist Church, Springdale, Arkansas (October 2)
NewSpring Church, Wichita, Kansas (October 30)
It has been refreshing to see how other bodies of believers come together and worship God.
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