Big House Big Heart (October 9)

My attention was just drawn to this photo of me running in the 5K race I did a few weeks ago, taken by the photographer for Hope Clinic, for whom I ran (wearing the orange shirt) and raised funds. I was glad to learn of it, as it is one of the only photos of myself that I have in the middle of a race.

Big House Big Heart finishing photo

Here I am, breezing (well, not exactly) into the finish line at the Big House Big Heart 5K race on the 50-yard-line of Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Sunday, October 9, 2011.

Post Big House Big Heart photos

At the corner where we planned to meet following the race, there was a sign: "Where's Allen Creek?" Michelle laughed heartily when she saw it, and asked me to pose, finding it very appropriate given her difficulty in finding me amidst so many participants. (I heard some 15,000 runners.)



Later, on our way to the car, Michelle asked me if I would pose for her, "something cheesy." When I struck this faux running pose and asked if it qualified, she laughed and affirmed it. Then she asked if I'd be willing to plop her small orange hat on my big head and let her take my picture, since it matched my orange shirt.

Big House Big Heart official results

According to the results posted online this afternoon, there were 6144 participants in the 5K (some of them walkers), and I finished 2708th. (I found it encouraging, too, to see that there was one man in the 95-99 year old age group, who finished in 1:54:30.)
In my age group, of men 50-54, I finished in 93rd place out of 172. Not as good as I'd like, but still, a lot better than I could do a few years ago!

2011 Big House Big Heart 5K

This morning I ran a 5K - an event which began in the fall of 2007, and which I have run each year since. Called the Big House Big Heart (the "Big House" part of it name derives from the fact that it begins and ends at Michigan Stadium, long nicknamed the Big House; and "Big Heart" because it is a fundraiser for nonprofits - I am happy to been able to collect a total of $4080 in donations in the five years I have done it, for the ministries of Ypsilanti's Hope Clinic, thanks to the generosity of friends), it has grown phenomenally, and today's Detroit Free Press reported that over 15,000 participants were registered for the three events that make it up - the 10K, 5K, and one-mile kids fun run. These numbers, while certainly imparting an excitement to it, also made it quite a challenge to run for time. I had hoped to break a half hour, but ended up crossing the line (by my watch) in 32:24. However, conditions were superb - cloudless blue skies, and a race time temperature of 60 degrees. I am hoping to continue to run it for many years yet ... it is my plan, in fact, to run it (at least) until the age of 80 (2037). Today's race featured a humorous incident (humorous in retrospect, that is). Almost halfway in my friend Al Banning from church was beside me and patted me on the shoulder. Shortly after that I came up beside a woman who I thought was my friend Melissa Burkhart from church, and I was going to touch her on the elbow ... but then at the last minute, I drew back, realizing, "IDIOT! She's wearing a navy shirt!" (Whereas all of us who were participating for "Team Hope Clinic" had on orange shirts.)