Volte Likes It Hot, Hot, Hot

Five race results the last two weeks.  Four out-of-state.

Why?  Well, we like to travel, don’t we?

We can't help it that there aren't as many races close to home being produced.

Yes, we know it is hot out, but we're still training - albeit wisely. 

Our Tunnel Light Marathon group is less than two months from their date with running destiny.

Others are building their base before they kickoff their late fall and winter marathon and half marathon goals, dreams and aspirations.

Two Sundays ago, July 16, Jerritt Park and Brian Schultz put down near identical half marathon times in Erie, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois.

The two ran the Presque Isle Half Marathon and the Rock 'N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon, respectively, in 1:43:31 and 1:47:15.

Jerritt Park keeping some of the top runners in his imaginary rear view mirror in Erie, Pennsylvania.

(Photo courtesy of Volte Endurance via Run Photos)

It was Park's first summer half marathon, while Schultz posted his best half marathon time since November 6, 2016 when he ran 1:46:36 at the Fort Myers (Fla.) Half Marathon.

Last Saturday, July 22, Marta Mixa continued her navigation of the western part of the United States as she was visiting her daughter in Canoga Park, which is about 45 minutes northwest of Los Angeles.

Marta pulled a “Juan Flores”.

“I had heard of many trails to run around the LA area and happen to find this race,” she said.  “I signed-up on the spot for the 10K.”  

Marta Mixa before she got a bit dirty on the LAPD Foothill Division Fitness 10K course.

(Photo courtesy of Marta Mixa)

The Los Angeles Police Protective League produced their first fitness run – the LAPD Foothill Division Fitness 5K and 10K -- to benefit a youth program and station in the Foothill area.

Running on a hilly, dusty and sandy, rocky trail, Marta was 13th overall – and second among all females – in 56:07, just under two minutes behind the women’s winner.

Our only athlete competing in-state the last two weekends was Mike Kuykendall, who continues to work on his racing skills as he builds for October's Ironman 70.3 Augusta in Georgia.

Sunday, July 23 found Mike in the broiler - and the frying pan (yes, it was that hot) - that was Waco for the Olympic distance of the TriWaco Triathlon.

“I saw three heat stroke victims and six being treated for heat exhaustion,” he said.  “Fifty-seven dropped out and 46 were disqualified for trying to cut the swim course short.”

Mike Kuykendall staying cool and focused on the run during Sunday's TriWaco Triathlon

(Photo courtesy of Candis Kuykendall)

TriWaco was the longest race to date – the official Olympic triathlon distance of 1500-meter swim, 25-mile bike and 10-kilometer run – for Mike as part of his eight-race journey to race day in the Peach State.

“It was the kind of race that builds character,” Mike said of his next-to-last wave start, which pushed him into the 90 degrees temperatures on the run.  “My goal was to finish and learn new tips, which I did.

“I focused on technique, staying hydrated, fueled and only cared enough about the time to ensure enough padding to advance to the next leg.”

And he raced across the famous Waco Suspension Bridge to a 3:51:06 finish.

Next up for Mike will be the Towne Lake Triathlon in Cypress on Labor Day, Monday, September 4.

As we get closer to his debut at the 70.3 distance, we’ll share more of Mike’s triathlon journey.

There’s a journey and then there’s vacation.

Sally Buckelew and her family were wrapping up theirs last weekend in San Francisco where she tackled the San Francisco First Half Marathon on Sunday, July 23.

The smile - or the wince perhaps - says that Sally Buckelew is glad the SF Half Marathon is over!

(Photo courtesy of Sally Buckelew)

“When I gave myself permission to enjoy it instead of racing – because who races at the end of their vacation anyway, the pressure was off and I smiled the whole way,” she said.

Except maybe for a few grimaces up the some of the city’s famous hills in Golden Gate Park, which were at the end of the race.

Sally finished in 2:03:55 while Volte friend Krystal Salinas covered the distance in 2:19:20.

Kind of looks like a whale, doesn't it?  :-)

(Image courtesy of The San Francisco Marathon)

“The first 10 miles there was a good combo of uphill and downhill,” she said.  “But miles 11-13 were all uphill into Golden Gate Park.  My legs were definitely ready to be finished.”

And a guy who saw a lot of legs that were truly toast was Juan Flores.

He traveled to Castle Rock, Georgia for the finish - and to support runners - of the Last Annual Vol State Road Race, a 314-mile scamper across Tennessee.

The highlight?  Getting to meet race director Gary Cantrell, aka Lazarus “Laz” Lake.

“After I watched his documentary (on the Barkley Marathons, I told myself that I would have to go to one of his events, even if it was just to spectate.  So I did!” said Juan.

Laz and Juan or Juan and Laz?

(Photo courtesy of Juan Flores)

“He gets great satisfaction watching people suffer,” Juan added.  “However, he also gets the same amount of satisfaction when a runner is able to complete one of his events.”

Pushing Brian Schultz, Juan and others for traveler of the year might be Volte friend Jon Walk.

Aside from running near identical times (a difference of .44 seconds on a pair of 32:07s) in back-to-back Thursdays at the Trinity 5000 Summer Series in Fort Worth, he added a pair of in-state 5K finishes in Zapata and Hico.

The 5th annual PFC Ira “Ben” Laningham IV 5K in Zapata County on Saturday, July 15 saw Walk stop the clock in 29:42 for a race in Texas county #73 followed by a 33:21 on a multi-terrain course in Hico for the Old Settler’s Run To Remember 5K. 

The latter race leaves Walk one race shy of finishing a race in 300 different North American cities, towns or census-designated places.