I’m Rick and I live in Georgia, U.S.A. I’ve been an on again, off again runner all of my life. I ran track as a teenager then from the mid-seventies to the mid-nineties I served in the U.S. Army. I admit in my early years in the Army the only time I ran was when I had to run. But in my later years of service I would run when ordered to do it and then I would go out and run some more. For many reasons and none of them good by the way, I gave running up for a very long time. I had periods where I would get back into running for a month or two and then quit again. I did have three or four years where I would take bike rides of 30-50 miles on the weekends. Other than that, golf was my only physical activity for a long time. I got back into running in 2013 and I hope to never stop running again. I don’t claim to be a fast runner. I’m closer to being the turtle than the hare. I believe in relaxed, controlled running over speed. I’m not saying you can’t have both but if given a choice I’ll take relaxed and controlled over speed any day.
This blog is not just for old men who run or want to run. I think much of what you will read here applies to the young and old, male or female. The blog is not just a diary of events. When I started running again I was determined to find a way to run injury free. So far, I’ve been pretty successful. Sure, I’ve had a few aches and pains but nothing serious enough to prevent me from training. The blog is about my thoughts and experiences about running to help you run relaxed without injury and to do so for a lifetime.
ADDENDUM: In April of 2018 I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease and need a triple bypass heart surgery. As I look back, the signs were probably there by the autumn of 2015. Since that time, I’ve had a gradual decline in running performance and I always blamed things like putting on a few pounds, old age, not training hard enough, etc., etc. Hindsight is truly 20/20.
Now this blog will have an added message. Surviving open heart surgery, living a heart healthy life and the new journey of running after open heart surgery.
Race Times
My Younger Days…
University City Memorial Day 5K – May 28th, 1990 – 24:57
Run for the Apes 5K – June 10, 1990 – 24:26
VP Fair 3K – July 1, 1990 – 14:16
O’Fallon Firecracker 5K – July 4, 1990 – 27:01
Cancer Society 5K – August 4, 1990 – 26:05
St. Charles Flat 5 Mile – August 12, 1990 – 43:06
JCCA Labor Day 5K – September 3, 1990 – 24:39
Bud Light Stadium Run 10K- September 30, 1990 – 51:43 (Handicap: 49:13)
Indy 500 Mini (Half) Marathon – May 24, 1991 – 2:15:00
University City Memorial Day 5K – May 27, 1991 – 24:55
Run for the Apes 5K – June 2, 1991 – 24:45
Bud Light Stadium Run 10K – August 4, 1991 – 53:30 (Handicap 51:00)
St. Charles Flat 5 Mile – August 11, 1991 – 42:07
VP Fair 10K – September 1, 1991 – 56:07
JCCA Labor Day 5K – September 8, 1991 – 24:43
Stars & Stripes 10K – April 18, 1992 – 48:00
Konigstuhl Run 8.8K – September 12, 1992 – 59:09
Mannheim USO 10K – September 13, 1992 – 48:23
Regimental Signal Association 10K – May 21, 1994 – 54:34
NCOA Fall Classic 10K – November 5, 1994 – 1:00:49
My Older Days…
Jingle Jam 10K – December 7, 2013 – 1:15:59
Run for the Gold 5K – March 15, 2014 – 36:02
Lifting Spirits 10K – November 11, 2014 – 1:11:47
Broad Street Ramble 10K – November 25, 2014 – 1:06:44
Stick a Fork in Me 10K Trail Run – November 22, 2014 – 1:12:11
WJBF Turkey Trot 5K – November 29, 2014 – 31:01
Jingle Jam 10K – December 13, 2014 – 1:09:42
Stronger Than Brain Cancer 5K – March 21, 2015 – 31:13
Run for the Gold 5K – March 28, 2015 – 31:10
Broad Street Ramble 10K – November 5, 2015 – 1:04:44
Jingle Jam 10K – December 5, 2015 – 1:05:55
Augusta University 10K – February 28, 2016 – 1:03:16
Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon – April 30, 2016 – 2:38:17
Seize the Moment 5K – May 28, 2016 – 38:01 (33:35)
Peachtree Road Race 10K – July 4, 2016 – 1:14:44
Broad Street Ramble 10K – October 29, 2016 – 1:15:48
WJBF Turkey Trot 10K – November 19, 2016 – 1:17:39
Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon – April 29, 2017 – 3:14:25
Indy 500 Mini (Half) Marathon – May 7, 2017 – 2:53:19
After Triple Bypass Heart Surgery (CABG)…
Jingle Jam 10K – December 1, 2018 – 1:23:22
Til the Cows Come Home 5K Trail Run – April 26, 2019 – 37:42 (unofficial)
Indy 500 Mini (Half) Marathon – May 4, 2019 – 2:50:23
Run for the Hills 5K Trail Run – Jun 1, 2019 – 41:01 (unofficial)
Jingle Jam 10K – December 7, 2019 – 1:13:21
Augusta University 10K – February 22, 2020 – 1:11:51
Dog Gone Cold 5K – February 29, 2020 – 35:55
3 Bridges 10K – March 7, 2020 – 1:14:58
oldmanrunningsite 