Weather and Personal Endurance Level Cast Shadows in this Saturday's Races

As I am writing this, the six o'clock local Gainesville news is about halfway through with weather announcer Bradley Benoit delivering his own version of the local weather, along with the "forecazz" as he likes to pronounce it.  It looks as if this weekend we're in for some stormy, rainy weather.  So regarding the upcoming Tyler's Season of Hope races on the Hawthorne Trail, 15K (9.3 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) in length, the prospects for a dry race seem pretty dim.  This is a recurring theme for the end of the calendar year when bad weather often comes along to increase my misery index with scheduled races.  Back in Janauary 2025, the Florida Track Club organizers finally delayed by a day holding their touted Mary Andrews Marathon/half marathon race on the eastern end of the Hawthorne Trail.  So once the storms finally abated, I had to deal with very, very cold weather for this unimaginative and undifferentiated, boring there-and-back course.  I'm already dealing with my own problems sustaining running endurance for middle distances with this weight gain and brain cancer ordeal, but I frankly don't want to have to deal with race infrastructure screw-ups like not providing adequate parking...Tyler's Hope is guilty of that in the past years on a couple of counts when they marginalized us in favor of side interests like the 5K kids and "Girls on the Run".  They did mention on their website that during their races the course will remain open until the last finisher crosses the line, but my trust level on this is low...the charity running this, I'm afraid, is into the philosophy of "take the money and run". I still would like a little cooperation...please don't marginalize the Season of Hope entrants!  But I think that Melissa and I are of one mind on this...we're bypassing their event.  Instead, we'll get up early this Saturday and check out the weather and the most likely "forecazz" to come true.  Should all bode well, maybe we'll then pay another visit to Depot Park...

Attended Last Night's Christmas Jubilee Jam at the Thomas Center

Yesterday evening, at the historic Thomas Center about six blocks north of downtown Gainesville, Melissa and I went to the annual Christmas Jubilee Jam, which is one of the concerts the group Gospel Meets Jazz conducts there every two months for various charities.  This event's proceeds went to fund aid for homeless students attending Alachua County's schools...a worthy cause and one befitting the Christmas season.  Lanard Perry leads this project and plays trumpet for the group onstage...I don't know the names of the jazz pianist, drummer, or guitarist, but that pianist rocks!  The two-hour show featured guest singers who, along with the band, performed various Christmas and gospel songs...mostly to a jazz format that totally worked.  They also had a barbershop quartet that sang acapella several old Yuletide hits...it all was very entertaining and I was impressed with both the musicianship of everyone involved and the sweet spirit and good tidings they shared with the enthusiastic audience...

As I shared before, Gospel Meets Jazz holds its concerts every two months at the Thomas Center on 302 NE 6th Avenue.  The music is faith-based and uplifting...and exciting! I'm thinking about going to another or more of their shows next year...their dates: Feb 21, Apr 24, June 19, Aug 14, Oct 16...and then on to the next Christmas Jubilee Jam in December, 2020.  You probably want to purchase tickets in advance...the show we just went to had sold out.  Here's their website link: [gospelmeetsjazz]...

Season of Hope 15K Race Coming This Saturday

When I first glanced at the month of December this year on the running race calendar, I was only looking at half-marathons scheduled in my vicinity.  But I missed on a race I ran a year ago: the Season of Hope 15K race, which benefits research and treatment about the debilitating disease of dystonia and other neurological disorders.  The race will be held this Saturday morning (the 8th) on the Hawthorne Trail, with the parking, registration, start, and finish to be at Boulware Springs Park on SE 15th Street in Gainesville.  Starting time is 9:00 for both the 5K and 15K events...you can read about my experiences last year by clicking on the following link: ['18 Season of Hope].  Since at this early time the weather prognosticators are giving about a 30-40% chance of rain on Saturday, I'll wait until later in the week before deciding whether to run in it.  It's funny...on the same day at 7:30 am the free weekly Depot Park 5K will take place at that site off Main Street and SE Depot Avenue...if I had the wherewithal I could run that one and then scoot down the road to tackle the 15K.  After all, I did plan to go on a long run this coming weekend.  But no, better stick to the 15K if the weather's okay. Then again, if it's raining maybe there won't be such an annoying number of people cramming the parking lot and race course: I know, I know...I shouldn't think like that since it's all going to a good cause. Still, I've never run a race in the pouring rain before...