I have started competing in a few running events in 2007 as a way of preparing for the run portions of my upcoming triathlons.  I ran the Red Nose Run in Birmingham on January 20th.  This was a 15K event on a paved walking, running and biking trail along Lakeshore Drive.  This was basically a flat course, but had some short uphill and downhill sections.  I ran this 15K about 12 minutes faster than I ran the Firehouse 15K at the end of last year.  My time of 1 hour, 19 minutes and 25 seconds is now my fastest 15K time in recent history.  I finished this event 144th out of 376 or in the top 38 percent and 15th out of 27 in my age group or the top 56 percent.

One week later, I ran the Rickey Harrison 10K in Tuscaloosa.  This is the first event of the Grand Prix of West Alabama as sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Track Club.  This course had more climbs than is really noticable while driving.  It was the State Championship for 10K so many people from the Birmingham area also ran the race.  My pace was not as fast as the longer race last week, but I was also trying to maintain a more consistant and controlled pace.  However, I did set a new recent record for the 10K distance (53:56).  I finished 62nd out of 112 racers or in the top 55 percent.