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Croom Fools Run

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Location:

FL,

Member Since:

Mar 20, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

PR's:

  • 1 mile : 5:43 (3/2017)
  • 5K : 18:34 (12/2011)
  • 5 mile : 32:03 (5/2010)
  • 10K : 39:29 (11/2013)
  • 11K: 46:47 (July 2008)
  • Half Marathon : 1:26:47 (11/2012)
  • Marathon : 3:06:34 (02/2010)
  • 50K Trail: 4:34 (01/2012)
  • 50 Mile: 8:34:48 (4/2012)
  • 100K: 11:06 (2/2012)
  • 100 Mile: 24:19:44 (1/2022)

Marathons:

  • Treasure Coast Marathon (FL) - 3:39:51, Mar 2021
  • Towpath Marathon (OH) - 3:35:26, Oct 2019
  • Jacksonville Marathon - 3:31:10, Dec 2018
  • NYC Marathon - 3:49:12, Nov 2017
  • Marine Corps Marathon - 3:27:00, Oct 2016
  • Utah Valley - Jun 2016
  • Marine Corps Marathon - 3:28:12, Oct 2015
  • Pocatello Marathon (ID) - 3:32:25, Sept 2015
  • Chasing The Unicorn (PA) - 3:31:20, Aug 2015
  • Run for The Red (Poconos) - 3:30:40, May 2015
  • Boston - 3:24:42, Apr 2015
  • Clearwater - 3:27:04, Jan 2015
  • Clearwater - 3:16:17, Jan 2014
  • Boston  - 3:27:00, Apr 2011
  • DesNews - 3:10:57, Jul 2010
  • Gasparilla  - 3:06:34, Feb 2010
  • Space Coast - 3:11:29, Nov 2009
  • Estes Park  (7500' and up) - 3:52:19, Jun 2009
  • Boston - 3:17:22, Apr 2009
  • Niagara Falls - 3:19:21, Oct 2008
  • San Diego RnR  - 3:24:18, Jun 2008
  • Jacksonville Marathon -3:21:24, Dec 2007
  • Chicago Marathon - 3:35:08, Oct 2007
  • Disney Marathon - 3:52:34, Jan 2007

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

 

  • Sub 40:00 10K
  • 2:59 Marathon
  • 1:25 Half Marathon
  • 18:30 5K

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Maintain my health and continuously seek to improve my fitness. Maybe someday get under 3:00 for marathon. More importantly, I'd like to figure out what my maximum ability is and reach that.

I'd also like to find the right balance in life and use running to enhance and improve myself.

 

Personal:

Dad of  three (welcome Charlotte Dani on 8/10/20) awesome kids and stepdad to three almost as awesome as my own kids.

I have a brown dog named Stella, and three cats - Catty, Tortie, and Esperanza.

  (old lines that were a little out of date but couldn't quite bring myself to removing them completely:) Also, have one wonderful brown dog named Sammy and just added a grey tiger cat (Catty) whose life started out rough but now has a better home.

I've recently started another blog so I can easily add lots of pictures and so other non-FRB users can leave comments:

Forward Progress!

 Also, for 2012 I started a blog to write down each day one thing that I am grateful for

Grateful Blog

 

Love living in Florida but love to travel and see the country and rest of the world.

 

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 20.88 Month: 54.08 Year: 342.30
Brooks T7 Lifetime Miles: 202.78
Brooks ST5 Lifetime Miles: 403.91
GoMeb Speed3 Lifetime Miles: 483.77
Brooks Pure Flow Lifetime Miles: 160.60
Brooks Launch(lobster) Lifetime Miles: 782.98
GoMeb Razor Lifetime Miles: 468.00
Race: Croom Fools Run (50 Miles) 08:48:32, Place overall: 6, Place in age division: 5
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
50.000.000.000.000.000.000.0050.00

50 mi, 08:48:32, 10:34 pace

Ran the Croom Fools run 50 mile race, my third time in the last three years. Woke up at 3:40, met Eileen Coogan Boyle at Target to ride up to the race. Talked about her training which sounded like stuff I should have been doing but still felt pretty good about what I had done - some time on trails, a 30 mile run, some back to back long runs and a pretty good marathon in January. I had forgotten to bring sunscreen and asked her if she had any, which she didn't - but sunscreen would not be necessary today.

The first 5 miles went pretty well, 6:00 am start, followed along with the crowd being careful not to trip, just sort of taking it easy. I didn't wear my fuel belt which felt good for the warm up and it was still pretty cool out. Passed through the starting area, lots of people cheering who were getting ready to start the 50K and 16 mile races. As I was heading to my drop bag I tripped but fell somewhat gracefully with only a small scrape on my shin - more embarrassed than hurt. I figured it was good to get my fall out of the way early.


Grabbed my fuel belt and left one of my lights, it was still dark but would soon be light. I was slow going down the rooty section and let a lot of people go by me. Once it got light I picked it up a bit. I think the first loop was pretty good overall. I ran into several people I knew who were doing the 16 mile and 50K.


I started the second loop and finally felt like I was into a good rhythm. Coming up onto the aid station I glad to see Andy Barrett, thought maybe I could run behind him, but I didn't know it and would later find out he wasn't having a good day and encouraged me to pass him. So, I went ahead and ended up picking up the pace. Worried a little bit I was going a bit too fast but was also feeling good and didn't care if I'd had to pay later. Just before the aid station near the pits I passed up a guy wearing a straw hat and then saw him again at the aid station, he wasn't having a good day (but I'd see him again later).


When I came back to the starting area before the start of the third loop, race director Andy Matthews asked me about various people and gave me a huge amount of encouragement. I was feeling great but the clouds were starting to darken. I left the aid station feeling the best I have in the past three years starting the third loop, just 15 more miles to go. The dark clouds got darker and then the sprinkles turned to rain. Reached the aid station as it really started to come down. I asked one of the volunteers what the radar looked like "not good at all, tornado warnings!" It was in the 60's but the wind and rain made it feel cooler. I only had on a sleeveless shirt and no rain gear but at least I had a hat!


I trudged on from the aid station in the torrential rain, gave serious consideration to quitting but decided would definitely make it to the next aid station. I had three "miles of despair" which seemed longer. The thunder kept sounding closer and the trail turned into a creek. I kept on hop scotching between the left and right side to keep my feet from getting completely soaked.
I was looking for the landmarks for the next turn when I saw someone ahead. It was Clark and Cindy. Cindy was signed up for the 16 mile run, Clark for the 50k. If you ever ran into little Cindy on the streets you'd never know how truly tough she is (little tiny sweet woman in her 50's, I don't think she's more than 4'10" running her first trail race) but when Clark went to start his second loop she didn't want him to head out alone. They told me what a great job I was doing and sent me on my way.

Eventually the rain died down but didn't stop, there was a moment of peace that let me know things would be ok. Next, I saw Torami Williams who was volunteering at the next aid station but was standing on the trail about a hundred yards or so telling me it was just around the corner.


Then, onto the next aid station after one more pass through the pits. Saw the guy with the straw hat and his friend that I saw last time, but this time he was back and running stronger and was soon way out in front of me.
Looked at my watch, 8:04 , 4.5 miles left. I wouldn't make 8:30 but would be a good bit under 9:00. Ran pretty strong, up and down the hill with the peace sigh, Croom Mountain, the twin peaks and whatever the other ones are called. Not too far from the ascent up to Tucker hill are white stripes on the trees marking the camping areas. Up the last rooty section until I could see the parking lot and just like that the race was done.


I didn't beat my time from two years ago, but was 51 minutes faster than last year and felt way better, and except for the three miles of despair, held it pretty steady.  I felt like I had a new kind of energy that I had not felt in previous 50 mile races.

Big shout out to race director Andy Matthews, all of the awesome volunteers, and the many Striders who braved the elements for their races.

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