Pine Belt Pacers Forum

This time last year i was very excited about my first race, I had only run 3 miles one time and it was on a flat track. So I didn't know how I would do on a hilly course. I searched a lot on the web about your first race and read everything I could to be ready for My First 5K..

When I showed up at the Cloverleaf Mall everyone made me feel welcome, I got my packet and helped Keith set up some tables. Quickly the place started filling up with runners and their familes, all shapes and sizes!!!! Not knowing what to do I watched others as they started warming up and getting ready for the race to start, so I did also.. Before long we were given instructions and the race started, from my reading I knew I needed to start out in the back.. you see, I started runnning when I was 56 years old, over weight and out of shape!!!! My plan was start out in the back and slow down later.. all the reading and talking with others still coudn't prepare me for the excitment that I felt when we started racing, I loved it!!!!! I was able to meet my first goal and that was to finish the race.. I felt that I was a winner, my time was slow but better than what I thought I could do it in..

I didn't win an award that race, but it didn't matter. I knew that I had found something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life.. I went home with a desire to train harder and find some hills to run on!!!! I was able to run 8 races during the rest of '07.. So far this year I've run in about 25 races, I still look forward to my daily runs and each race.. My time is getting better, I'm still slow, but I'm having fun..

I've enjoyed the training and the races, but the best thing about this hobby is the new friends that I've made.. I had worked since I was in high school and had been around people everyday.. I had worked for Delphi for 29 years when they shut down the Laurel plant and sent everyone home, that was a big adjustment for me. My wife has alot of medical problems and has to sleep most of the day, that left me with alot of time by myself. The running and crosstraining has let me made tons of friends.. The members of the Pinebelt Pacer's have encouraged me and kept me motivated through their posts, I know I will never be able to run the distance or the pace that alot of the members do, but I enjoy reading about their training, so please keep it up, you never know how much it has encouraged me..
I didn't understand what all the numbers were about when everyone talked about speed training, but because of the 5k Speed Training that we had, I now undersand it and still continue to do my weekly speed training at the track. But the website and the events wouldn't be here if wasn't for a great bunch of folks who give of their time to make this happen. I want to say THANK YOU!!!

See you at the races,

Hello Frank,

Great post, very inspiring. I remember you from your very first post on the forum and I remember being anxious to meet you last year at the Labor Day run. You are an excellent addition to the Pacer group. Always so willing to help and your training for your first year has been inspiring. Keep it up. Keep up with the posts. We love to hear from you and others.

Frank, you are inspirational to me!! Everytime I want to quit, and I mean just quit, I think of you and and numerous other Pacers who fight the good fight and keep on running. So, as long as I can, as long as I see people like you who have such a joy in being able to run, I will push on!! Thanks for all you do !! Your pictures and reports are Great!! Run On!!!!

Good post Frank. As the old saying goes consistency is key and have fun at the same time. You have certainly upheld those two elements. Thanks for all your help at the races. Run on!!!

Frank you are absolutely right. The Pine Belt Pacers are a great part of the motivation to keep you running. I have started a training program with USM and hope to continue running long into my future.

Hope to see you all tomorrow morning bright and early, rain or shine.

Karen

It was great reading your post, it's inspiring, I only hope next year at this time I can still be excited about this as you are AND be as fast as you!

Thanks also for all the great photos, I think our website would be less exciting without all the pictures you have taken of the races! The one you took of me and Mitzi is super. I would love a full-size copy (email below).

Thanks!

Frank,

We also enjoyed your post, you have trained very hard over the past year and your race times continue to improve each and every race. This is motivation to us all, that with hard work positive results will come. Our family met you and Blake last year at the South Central race. Since then we have not only enjoyed our races that we have all run together, you have also become a super friend. Thanks for all you do.

Henderson's