Saturday, I ran from the Old Village to the top of the Bridge and back. Running across the Cooper River Bridge is one of my favorite things to do. Hot, cold, windy, raining - I enjoy it. Saturday - not so much. I was frustrated with losing running fitness - over a year’s time. A lot of self-talk about being patient with the process, reminding myself that I’m starting over in many ways, that I want to avoid injury - none of it helped. I got back to the start and felt a bit defeated.

Tonight, I pulled out my running clothes and fished in my bag for my GPS watch and realized I left it at home. I almost didn’t run because I didn’t have the stinkin’ watch with me. How stupid is that? (Contrary to what Coach Noah says, runs that are not recorded still count.)

I bumped into a friend as I left to run and though I didn’t realize it at the time, our conversation was a huge encouragement to me. About half-way through my run, I arrived at Alhambra Hall and grabbed a drink of water. As I began running again I realized I felt pretty good. The run wasn’t effortless but I didn’t feel like I was struggling. I felt great! I felt like a runner. I texted my close friends at the end - I AM A RUNNER!

Some takeaways from tonight’s run.

• If you planned to run, run.
• When the opportunity is there, spend a few minutes with someone that loves you - you never know what you’ll receive in return.
• Every run counts.
• Pay no heed to doubt, defeat, or discouragement.
• Running does not define you - good or bad. Running shapes you.

Our Race of the Month is Race the Landing 5K Series held this summer at Charlestowne Landing State Park. After a long hiatus, racing returned last summer to the site of the first settlement in Charleston’s history. Race Director, Lisa Deaton, does a fine job of catering to runners. Most of our races in the Lowcountry are for charities and the best races are put on by runners for runners. This is apparent - races start on time, timing is accurate, results are quickly available, plenty of water at the finish, and all racers - young to old, fast to slow are made to feel more than welcome. Each race also ends with a meal - not a necessity for me but it is much appreciated by many who come directly from work. (full disclosure: I was provided a free entry for the first race in the series but I did pay several times last summer to do the RTL races.)

My second choice for Race of the Month is also a series - Bulldog Breakaway 5K. Citadel Track coaches, Jody Huddleston and Kristopher Kut also do a great job of catering to runners. The race is run around the Citadel campus and Hampton Park.

Marathon and Half-Marathon Training Group

Don’t forget our marathon and half-marathon training group begins July 6.

Upcoming Group Runs - May and June

All are welcome at our Group Runs in May and June. There is no charge. We gather at 6:45 am and start at 7 am from St. Andrew’s Church in Mt Pleasant (http://tinyurl.com/sampmap).

• May 18
• May 25
• June 1
• June 8 - There is no group run. Many of us will be running the Charleston Running Club’s Floppin Flounder. Go race!
• June 15 - No group run. Coach Greg and some Charleston Runs athletes will be at the Chattanooga Stage Race and Coach Noah will be at the State Youth Track and Field meet.
• June 22
• June 29

We begin at 7 am at St. Andrew’s Church in the Old Village of Mt Pleasant. We’ll have maps for four and six mile routes. If you’re a beginner and want to run less than that, just see Coach Greg when you get there we’ll set you up. Remember, nobody gets left beyond on our runs so if you have a friend who is new to running, please bring them along.

Upcoming Group Run Dates

All of the group runs will begin on Saturdays at 7 am at St. Andrew’s unless otherwise indicated.

• April 27
• May 4 - No group run on this date as several Charleston Runs athletes will be competing individually and as relays in the Wambaw Swamp Stomp.
• May 11
• May 18
• May 25
• June 2
• June 8 - Starts from Alhambra Hall in the Old Village at 7 am and will be led by Coach Noah Moore. (MooreOnRunning.com).
• June 15 - There no group run this day. Several Charleston Runs athletes will be competing in a stage race in Chattanooga.
• June 22
• June 29

Are You New to Running?

If you are new to running or have never run before and want to get started, you might consider Coach Noah’s Couch to 5K program. He has a new program beginning on Sunday, May 5.

April is full of races!

There’s the BIG race (also know as the Cooper River Bridge Run), the other BIG race (also known as the Palmetto 200/70 relay race), and then there is the race of the month.

My pick for the race of the month is the Bohicket Marina 5k & 10k Run at Seabrook Island.

Bohicket Marina 5k & 10k at Seabrook Island

The race starts at the marina and then goes through the streets of Seabrook Island and ends back at the marina.  This is a beautiful area and one of the few races on this side of town.  The race raises money for the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club in support of its charities which include  scholarships for local students, Habitat for Humanity, Darkness to Light and other community programs.

Charleston Running Club members also get to enjoy a $5 discount on their registration (not too bad).

There are seven other races listed on the CharlestonRuns Race Calendar.

Check them out and go have some fun!

As of this writing, I’ve been able to verify 60 road or trail competitive races scheduled so far for this year in the Charleston area. Twelve of those races are in March. Last year we had over 70 races for the entire year.

The Contenders

Mullet Haul - March 2 - 5 and 10 mile trail races on Johns Island. Runners are encouraged to wear mullets and a prize is awarded for best mullet.

Sweet Grass Music Festival 5K - March 16 - At Mt Pleasant’s Waterfront Park. Later start time - 9 am. Music festival follows. Sounds like a fun, family-friendly event. Make sure you click on the link for race tickets to register.

Shamrock Shuffle - March 16 - This used to be the Flowertown Festival Run. Both a 5K and 10K race, this is a great tune up for the Cooper River Bridge Run next month.

Daniel Island 5K - March 16 - A well run race. Accurate course and timing. Benefits the Bishop England track program. Very runner friendly.

Race of the Month

Catch the Leprachaun 5K

• Thursday, March 14, 2013
• 6:30 pm
• Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park

When I attend a race, I can usually tell which ones are put on by runners. In my opinion, they’re usually the best ones. The course is well marshalled, they start on time, and the results are accurate. Catch the Leprachaun is one such race.

I like mid-week races, especially ones that end with beer and music. The $25 fee includes food, drinks, beer, and St. Patrick’s Day Festivities. More importantly, this race supports the amazing work of Pattison’s Academy, which works to improve the quality of life for children with multiple disabilities by integrating education with functional rehabilitation.

Register today. The price goes up on March 1.

Gift of Life 5K

Gift of Life 2K

Messa 8K for H2O

Race and Roast

There are several races this month and my top pick is the 8^th Annual LifePoint Gift of Life 5K/2K Run Walk on James Island.

I ran this race with my family last year and we loved it.  The course is on paved trails and it starts and ends on a grass field.  The shirt is very cool and the prizes are sweet!

The race does a great job of celebrating organ recipients and donors and even has a race category just for them.  The organization helps raise funds and awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation as well as about the South Carolina Donor Registry (www.donatelifesc.org).

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.  You get to feel good about not only running a race, but helping with an awesome cause.

The other race that I have to mention is the Almost 9 Miler.  The race is next weekend so if you are planning on running you need to register soon!  Eagle Endurance puts this race on so you know you will be running on a fun trail with lots of crazy people.

March is going to packed with races so Coach Greg is going to have a tough time picking his favorite.

Checkout all the races on our Race Calendar to find the best one for you!

Congratulations to Jeff Baxter, Race Director, and the Charleston Running Club on a very fine race.

Charlie Post 5K Results

Charlie Post 15K Results

There are a couple of good races in January and we’ve been a part of each of them. The first race this year is The Citadel’s Bulldog Breakaway. It’s very low key and the field is not crowded. Citadel track coaches Jody Huddleston and Kris Kut work hard at making these events satisfying for the runner who wants to run against the clock - an accurate course with no traffic. They deliver.

The Riverfront Race Festival/Charleston Marathon does offer a marathon, half-marathon, and 5K and in its fourth year (third year for the marathon) it is a good event that we already know has improved over the first years. Running in big local events is much different than traveling to run, especially for guys like Coach Noah who go out and run 26.2 for fun. Look for Noah and one of our other Charleston Runs athletes, Cathy, to lead one of the pace groups. With a new route from Burke High School to North Charleston High this could be interesting.

Race of the Month - Charlie Post Classic

Our race of the month is the Charlie Post Classic. It is indeed a classic - it has stood the test of time. Simple shirt. Simple yet complete award categories. Go; run hard; stop. Eat a bagle, grab an orange. Put on warm clothes and cheer on the rest of the finishers. No hype but a good race.

This is the showcase event for the Charleston Running Club - for runners, by runners. It’s you against the clock in either the 5K or 15K. Because of the 15K distance, runners come from all over the state to compete. This year it is also the USATF 15K State Championship. The race is also very beginner friendly with plenty of first time finishers kicking off the new year right.

(If you are new to running or are getting back in to running, you might consider joining Coach Noah Moore’s Couch to 5K program. He’ll let you join late - His group is training for Catch the Leprachaun, another one of our favorite races. You can find more information at MooreOnRunning.com.)

#10 ranked runner, Karl Walsh.

Compiled by Bill Marable, SC USATF Representative

December 9, 2012

Men

1. Wallace Campbell (26, Clemson)
2. Adam Freudenthal (23, Spartanburg)
3. Michael Banks (26, Charleston)
4. Brandon Hudgins (25, Rock Hill)
5. Eric Ashton (44, Columbia)
6. Austin Steagall (19, Gaffney)
7. Josh Cashman (24, Simpsonville)
8. A.J. Fitzsimmons (21, Mt. Pleasant)
9. Steve Rivard (19, Goose Creek)
10. Karl Walsh (37, Mt. Pleasant)
11. Jay Upchurch (34, Charleston)
12. Brian Johnson (37, Mt. Pleasant)
13. Jason Bryan (27, Greenville)
14. Brett Morley (20, Landrum)
15. Justin Bishop (31, West Columbia)
16. Jonathan Kinsey (27, Myrtle Beach)
17. David Huckaby (24, North Charleston)
18. Sango Asante (18, Moncks Corner)
19. Chas Culberson (22, Pendleton)
20. Daniel Amick (28, Aiken)

Women

1. Rives Poe (35, Charleston)
2. Jemeli Sang (24, Spartanburg)
3. Heather Hunt (38, Sumter)
4. Caitlin Schier (29, Charleston)
5. Caitlin Ranson (27, Charleston)
6. Kristi Arledge (42, Simpsonville)
7. Kathryn Ashton (30, Columbia)
8. Kimberly Ruck (23, Greer)
9. Ashley Evens (24, Columbia)
10. Dee Atkins (34, Duncan)
11. Katherine Logemann (30, Mt. Pleasant)
12. Brooke Grice (17, Columbia)
13. Claudia Nunez-Lopez (22, Chapin)
14. Meg Chieffe (24, Greenville)
15. Amy McDonaugh (35, Irmo)
16. Kenzie Riddle (28, Columbia)
17. Ashley Pastore (31, Greer)
18. Heather Brumbach (34, Columbia)
19. Lisa Girard (20, Fountain Inn)
20. Ginnie Freeman (37, Greenville)

Masters Men

1. Eric Ashton (44, Columbia)
2. Irv Batten (49, Summerville)
3. John Charlton (46, Columbia)
4. Philippe Giguere (43, Simpsonville)
5. Jim Coombes (49, Irmo)
6. Greg Brown (44, Mt. Pleasant)
7. Chris Giordanelli (48, Simpsonville)
8. Marc Embler (55, North Charleston)
9. Joe Hammond (51, Travelers Rest)
10. Brian Welcome (41, Greenville)

Masters Women

1. Kristi Arledge (42, Simpsonville)
2. Julie Seymour (43, Greenwood)
3. Susi Smith (53, Greenville)
4. Margaret Schmitt (40, Greenville)
5. Catherine Hollister (43, Mt. Pleasant)
6. Laura Boselowitz (44, Mt. Pleasant)
7. Angela Hicks (43, Greenville)
8. Dian Ford (57, Piedmont)
9. Lisa Tolley (45, Seneca)
10. Sarah Allers (52, Columbia)