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Running for Fitness

Finally, at the age of 70 years old, I won the April 14, 2018 Al Ain Zoo Run 10 km race

Race results: http://my3.raceresult.com/87772/results?lang=en#3_72E9FA

Still running, Oct 21, 2017, came in third in my age group in the Al Ain Zoo 10 km race, http://my2.raceresult.com/82266/results?lang=fr#3_B7DAEE

In 2010, I continue to run regularly, though with less spurt as the years wear on.

I run at least one Hash (Hash House Harriers and http://waspsh3.wikispaces.com) a week, usually about 7 or 8 km
when in Abu Dhabi I run a 10 km predictor each Wednesday evening with the Abu Dhabi Striders. My running goal is to run a time in minutes equivalent to my age over ten kilometers each year for as long as possible. Past the end of my 6th decade, I am still able to do that (in cool weather).
Plus I generally do another mid-week run or two of about 6 km. That's down from my 2001 distance of anywhere from 8 to 20 km (depending on outside temp and stage of training).

I no longer run Marathons, but I try to do at least one HALF MARATHON a year. This is my last one:

November 5, 2010 I came in 305th in a field of 356 finishers, time 2 hours, 20 minutes and 40 seconds.
- Facebook comments: http://screencast.com/t/sbkazXsA
- Abu Dhabi Half results are here (not sure for how long ;-) http://tinyurl.com/2010auhalf305.
- Premier generated this visualization of the results, showing my cohort as the last tall bar on the right: http://screencast.com/t/bv8BOcAQ

At right, competing in a swim-run biathalon in Abu Dhabi in fall, 1998 >>

Here is my HALF MARATHON running record:
a partial list since the turn of the century:

November 13, 2009, I missed the online registration (closed, full, long before deadline) I volonteered to marshal, and on the night before the event I went to get my assignment but found places had come available and I could have one, so I ran the next day without any more forethought than that, and finished in under 2 hrs 20 min (my estimate)
Feb 28, 2008, I registered for the www.zayedmarathon.com/, got an email from them the night before to reply by SMS to confirm place, did that, got email next morning, day of race, telling me to pick up race packet by noon from a shopping mall. I was teaching, so I reported to the start without race bib, expecting to find one there, found instead crowds and chaos, no one there with any paperwork. I ran without a number and watched the serious runners go ahead. At least I can still run the distance.
November 16, 2007, slowing down at 2:14:02
March 9, 2007, my time was 2:04:18
March 10, 2006, I finished in 02:00:28 (rats I know I could have done it in under two hours) http://www.abudhabistriders.com/races/results/results060310.html
Nov 19, 2004, my time was 2:16:17 (recovering from injury?)
My stamina suffered, but by Nov 9, 2001, I had come back suffienctly to compete in a half Marathon in Abu Dhabi, in a time of 1.57.48, finishing 43rd out of 55 finishers
In 2000 my miniscus cartilege in my left knee tore in April and it took me seven months of unsuccessful attempts to rest and resume running before I decided to have the orthroscopic surgery to repair it. I had the operation Oct 3 and was running again after a 1-month recuperation.

Here is my MARATHON running record:

Date	Venue	Time	Conditions
Feb 24, 1989	Bahrain	3:29:41, my first marathon ever	Cold to cool throughout a four lap course
Jan 26, 1990	Muscat	A bit over 3.5 hours	Pleasant first 10K, hot at the finish
1991	Muscat	Just under 3.5 hours	Cool - refreshing rain during run
Jan 31, 1992	Muscat	3:21:39, *personal best*	Cool to pleasant for most of the race
January 1998	Abu Dhabi	3:59:57, cut it close	Cool start, warm at finish, didn't train as before. In any event, I won the over-40 category.
February 1999	Abu Dhabi	4:09:42 (personal worst, but hey, I did it!)	24 degrees C at 5 a.m. start (75F). But overcast throughout race.

I think this is it for me for marathons. Knees just aren't up to it anymore. Orthroscopic surgery some years ago repaired a torn meniscus, the problem has never recurred, and wearing heel pads in all my shoes has kept my plantar fasciitis happily under control as well.

Running for Fitness

Last updated: April 25, 2018 16:30 GMT