Run to Stock the Closet 5K-Ariel-2019

Date/Location:	11/28/19, Auburn, CA
Distances:	5K
Time:	27:08 (Unofficial)
Place:	??
Teammates:	Teammates- 10K: Bailey Cossantine, Jim Kepfer, Martin Sengo, Libby & Jason Shykowski, Robin Soares, Troy Soares & Oscar the Dog 5K: Anna Soares, Boatwright Family, Ashley & Hunter Glass and HEIDT Family & MANY OTHER AUBURN FRIENDS

We are praying when they are saying 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go! I only leave 2 seconds late though. I run up a hill. I see Mr.Kepfer and run with him. We run a little and then Mommy catches up and runs with us. Mr.Kepfer and Mom start getting farther and farther away from me. I do my best to stay with them but it’s too hard.

I know that a friend from Cross Country is racing. So, I go faster. I think I see them in the distance, I not sure but I'm pretty sure. I go faster trying to catch up. I run faster and go downhill. I see a girl and think if this was a race with results passing her would help, but it's not.

I start again picking up speed and get closer and closer to her. I finally pass her. I run down a hill I go pass Ashley and Hunter’s house. I see my Cross-Country friends. It feel weird being close because usually they are way ahead. I cross the railroad tracks and I pass them.

I don't stop running. I keep going fast. I pass Railhead Park. I look behind me and I see Uncle Mate. He's going fast and he might catch me. I run faster. I think I'm close. I run past 7-11 and then I have to cross the street. I run a little bit and I have to cross another street. I see a turkey sign and then I know I'm on track.

I run by a busy road and then my Uncle Matt passes me. I try to stay with him but it's hard to. I run up a hill and down to the finish, I start to go faster as I run to the finish line. I finished!

Run To Stock the Closet 10k (Troy)

Date/Location:	11/28/19, Auburn, CA
Distances:	10K
Time:	46:33 (Unofficial)
Place:	Unknown
Teammates:	Teammates- 10K: Bailey Cossantine, Jim Kepfer, Martin Sengo, Libby & Jason Shykowski, Robin Soares 5K: Ariel Soares, Boatwright Family, Ashley & Hunter Glass and HEIDT Family & MANY OTHER AUBURN FRIENDS

This is so much fun, Robin’s family is visiting and her brother and mom are participating.  Oscar is super excited about all the dogs here.  We’ve worked hard to train him to “heal” and not run ahead.  But with a lot of runners it is still a challenge.

We pray before the start.  I always desire to remain focused on the Lord during a race because I know without Jesus in my life, I wouldn’t have the great memories I do.  Of course it’s easier to do that when everything is going well..

Everybody is running!  We missed the start.. even though we were standing on the start line.  That’s ok, it’s just for fun anyway, but Oscar is beside himself.  As we run along with the crowd up Lincoln St by Victory Velo and the other great shops of downtown, I have to keep calling Oscar to “heal” and stopping him from going ahead.  Perhaps it’s because he’s never seen so many running ahead.  Now we’re going up downtown’s steepest hill, Cherry Ave, and I’m still on Oscar constantly.  Needless to say this is stressful and kind of embarassing because everyone is having a great time and I’m disciplining my dog.  I was hoping to be encouraging others and spreading Christmas cheer rather than yelling “heal” over and over.  I’m reminded how important it is to look to God constantly or even silly things can take me, and my attitude, by surprise.

I catch up to Ariel and I’m excited to run with her for a bit.  But then Oscar runs in front almost tripping Ariel!  Even this short moment of joy is cut short.

Mile 1. 8:10.  Up Pleasant Ave hill, I’m determined to push the pace and try to catch up to Anna and Hunter.  I pass some of the same people over and over (since I stop for Oscar multiple times).  But at the top, where it levels out, and now farther ahead with fewer people, Oscar gets calmer and I’m reminded to enjoy this really “fun” time .

I catch Robin and Jim Kepfer.  We see Hunter and Anna ahead.  We all comment how it’s becoming impossible to catch the “kids”.  But I’m determined to try and pull ahead.

Mile 2. 7:36. A long downhill, maybe I can catch up.  I do catch Hunter but remain 200 yds behind Anna.  Up along the gov’t buildings back to the Town Square starting line, I know it’s Oscar and it’s the last chance to catch her before we start our 2nd lap.  I’m surprised she’s going so fast even with another 5k ahead.

Mile 3. 7:13.  We come through the Square, heart racing, and my nephew gives me a high-5 at the same time I see Anna finished.  I’m winded and can barely say “Good Job”.  I didn’t realize she was doing the 5k, but it makes sense now.  Oscar and I now have a goal to catch a girl way up ahead.  I also feel like I want to make up for the all the stopping early on.  We push hard up Cherry Ave.  And come fast down by the High School. However, we’re now passing 5k walkers and Oscar thinks we’re behind again so I still need to be on him, otherwise all the training might be undone.

Mile 4. 7:27. Back up Pleasant and around the Overlook Park.  I see the Boatwright family all walking together and having a good time.  It’s a great reminder of the family moments and memories being made all around us.  I see Tony Lewindowski, and many other friends.

Mile 5. 7:32. Down Sacramento St, walkers on the right and cars on the left, I’m careful to keep Oscar out of the way of each.  Every once and a while a dog or person will move out and there’s a close call.  Thank you, Lord, for preventing any collisions.  “Hi Troy!”  It’s Robin’s mom, Jan, doing great in the 5k!  We push as hard as we can by the gov’t buildings again but can’t catch the girl ahead.

Mile 6. 6:44. Whew!  A great push and we’re done!  Sorry, Lord, I didn’t rely on you more.  Lesson is to go into even easy events with as much reliance on God as the hard events. 

It was great to see a lot of wonderful Auburnites, push hard, and be fortunate enough to have a wonderful family.. and a wonderful dog

Run to Stock the Closet 5K-Anna-2019

Date/Location:	11/28/19, Auburn, CA
Distances:	5K
Time:	23:21 (Unofficial)
Place:	1st Female Overall?
Teammates:	Teammates- 10K: Bailey Cossantine, Jim Kepfer, Martin Sengo, Libby & Jason Shykowski, Robin Soares, Troy Soares & Oscar the Dog 5K: Ariel Soares, Boatwright Family, Ashley & Hunter Glass and HEIDT Family & MANY OTHER AUBURN FRIENDS

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go! I start to run through downtown winding through all the people. Up ahead I see young kids going all out. I know that there are going to burn out, but it's fun to watch them run. I was just going at a fun pace because I had gone hard during a race not too long ago.
I start to climb up a steep hill and try not to let my excitement make me go faster, which would waste my energy. I get to the top and begin to run down the hill. I run past the high school and through the neighborhoods. I turn onto the main road in downtown and see some of the kids that were ahead walking or sitting on the sidewalk. I was right when I said they might blow up from running so fast.
I then turn and begin to run towards Railhead Park. I pass my friend’s house and begin to run around the park. After a while, I look behind me and see Dad running with his friends. I tell him that I will beat him in the 5k. I didn’t hear what he said and kept running. I look back again and he seems closer to me. I start to speed up.
I am running on Auburn Folsom road now and I know I’m close to the finish. As I’m speeding up I pass a few people. I cross an intersection and keep running on the sidewalk. Dad isn’t getting close to me now but I keep up this pace.
I turn the corner and see a girl in white up ahead. I push to get closer to beat her. I pass her at the top of the hill and run down towards the finish.
I finish and thank God. My Dad actually is doing the 10k. He thought I was doing the 10k as well and that he would catch me after I burn out. I encourage my Dad as he runs past for his 2nd lap. It was fun to enjoy the race, but it got hard towards the end.






Praise The Lord For He Is Good, His Love Endures Forever!

Run to Stock the Closet 10K-Robin-2019

Date/Location:	11/28/19, Auburn, CA
Distances:	10K
Time:	48:23 (Unofficial)
Place:	2nd Female Overall?
Teammates:	Teammates- 10K: Bailey Cossantine, Jim Kepfer, Martin Sengo, Libby & Jason Shykowski, Troy Soares & Oscar the Dog 5K: Anna & Ariel Soares, Boatwright Family, Ashley & Hunter Glass and HEIDT Family & MANY OTHER AUBURN FRIENDS

It’s great to be home for Thanksgiving and hosting my family!  We head down to Main Square Auburn and donate our canned goods to the local food bank putting on the race. There are no bib numbers, race results or awards but just a bunch of folks coming out to run (easy or hard) on Thanksgiving morning.  It’s like a mini reunion with many of our local friends.  Thanking the Lord that the rain storm has subsided!  It is still cold and cloudy.

Troy, Anna, Ariel and I say a prayer and just as we are finishing up, the race starts!  We quickly jump into race mode and take off. 

True Auburn style, we start running uphill into Downtown Auburn.  Then up behind downtown and past Placer High School.  The football team is practicing on their wet, new field for the playoff game coming up this Saturday.  Dedication!  I’m running with Jim Kepfer, Anna’s coach, and Martin Sengo.  Up ahead are Libby and Jason Shykowski.  Troy is behind us with Oscar and I can tell Oscar is not on his best behavior.  The excitement of all the runners to chase down is probably the issue.

MIle 1 is 7:55.  Glad to see that I’m able to run under 8 min pace.  Jim and I catch up to the Shykowski’s and pull ahead of Martin.

Up another hill along the Fairgrounds.  I see one of Ariel’s cross country teammates running with his cousins.  I tell him good job.  I’m surprised to see Anna and Hunter ahead.  They are cruzing along comfortable and not at a blistering pace today.

We run past Railhead park where a morning pick-up football game is starting. 

Mile 2 is 7:49.  Great!  Troy and Oscar catch up to us and go by.  Anna looks back and sees them coming and takes off.  Up another hill past the Courthouse building and then a bit more up to the police station.  I pull ahead of Jim. 

MIle 3 is 7:29 and my average is 7:42.  I hope I can maintain this when I repeat the loop!    

I pass the starting line and start the 2nd lap.  Troy and Oscar have pulled ahead by quite a bit.

Mile 4 is 7:52.  My average pace has creeped up after climbing up through Downtown.  I hope to make up for it later. 

Martin catches up to me and we chat for a bit.  He then pulls away after the climb past the fairgrounds.  There are a lot of walkers and dogs doing the first loop.  I see familiar families like the Boatwrigthts from our church and Life Group.  I keep my eyes open for my mom.  I hope to see her along the way!

Mile 5 is 7:43.  My average is getting close to 7:42 again.  Just got to keep trying.  I push to try to catch up to Martin.  Just then I hear my mom say “Rob!”.  I was focused ahead at that moment,  I wasn’t looking for my mom.  I wave over my shoulder and say “good job Mom!”

MIle 6 is 7:08 and my average is under 7:41.  Yay!  Thank you Lord!  Once past the police station it’s all downhill!  I push hard and finish across an imaginary finish line.  Done!  Thank you Lord!  That was a fun start to the morning.  Time to regroup with the family!

Run For the Mandarins 10K-Anna-2019

Date/Location:	11/24/19, Auburn, CA
Distances:	10K
Time:	41:51
Place:	1st Female Overall, 2nd Overall
Teammates:	Teammates- 10K:  Hunter Glass 5K: Ariel Soares & Ashley Glass

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO! I start running downhill towards the exit of the fairgrounds. I am running with a friend, Hunter, for the 10k. At the exit, I turn up the hill. I try to keep a good pace. I am hoping to get an 7:20 or a faster pace. My pace right now is around 7 min. I feel slow, but I know itś just from the excitement from the beginning of the race. At the top of the hill, I see my Dad with Oscar. This morning Oscar had escaped and decided to walk himself. It was good to see that my Dad found him.

I run around Placer and see my Mom. She cheers me on and I keep running. There are about three grown-ups ahead of me. We turn up another hill and I pass a grown-up. I’m in 4th right now with Hunter ahead of me. We get to the bridge and a train comes around the corner. It is cool to run across the bridge when the train is going to go under. I then run through the neighborhoods. I turn left down a road I have never been down before. A band member from school was directing the runners cheered me on. It’s flat but then there is a hill. The hill first looks short, but it ends up being long. We make some detours through the neighborhood. It is cool to be in a new neighborhood. I then run down a hill towards the train tracks. I see an aid station worked by kids at my school. I grab water and start to run towards Railhead.

I pass Hunter at the aid station. I have energy, but I am tired. The arrows on the ground change to green it seems. I run around Railhead and the green chalk says 3 miles. Halfway finally! After running around Railhead, the arrows point  right. I turn right and see the lead biker biking back with the grown-up ahead of me. I thought we were going to do an out and back, but the biker told me to turn around (wrong way). I run back and have lost some time. Hunter has gotten closer to me. I try to regain my distance but it’s hard. We turn up a steep hill and my legs start to hurt. I am content though if Hunter passes me.

At the top of the hill, I turn and see my dad. He cheers me on. I keep running up some hills and I see that the course starts to head back to the finish. It is flat and I see an aid station up ahead. I know the person working there and ask for water. He is trying to fill up water but I pass him before he finishes filling up the cup. I turn on a road and it’s flat. My legs start to feel heavier. I run down a steep hill and my legs hurt but at least I’m not using much energy.

I turn and start to run around Railhead again. All I have to do is run around Railhead, into the fairgrounds and I’m done. My legs get heavier as I run. I start going uphill and I use the momentum of the downhill to get me up. At the top of the hill, it’s hard to move my legs. I use the downhill to regain my strength. There are two hills to go. On the next hill, my legs are getting harder to move. My goal is not to walk and run the whole way. I finally get to the top and coast down. At the bottom of the downhill, I see Leah, my BFF. She cheers me on and it gives me energy. I tell her thanks and run up the last hill. I run into the fairgrounds and all I have to do is coast all the way to the finish. I run in and point to God. HE kept my legs moving. I collapse after I finish and rest. I made it!  Thank the Lord. I got 1st woman and 2nd overall. The leader went the wrong way so I moved up to 2nd.

Praise The Lord For He Is Good, His Love Endures Forever!

Run For the Mandarins 5K-Ariel-2019

Date/Location:	11/24/19, Auburn, CA
Distances:	5K
Time:	25:09
Place:	2nd Female Overall
Teammates:	Teammates- 10K: Anna Soares & Hunter Glass 5K: Ashley Glass

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go! I start to sprint and then I slow down quickly remembering that this is a long race. I go at a fast pace that feels good. There are just three people (all kids) ahead of me. A grown-up passes me. I try to stay with him. It's hard but I stay with him for a while.

I’m breathing hard. I run up a hill and turn. It’s getting hard to stay with the guy and I am falling behind. I am running pretty fast I go up a hill and then cross the bridge. I go down a hill. I keep running I see Mommy. She encourages me. I run harder. I see our friends Laurel and Ruby they also encourage me.

I go down a very big hill. I pass the guy who passed me earlier. I try to catch up with the rest of the group. I am 5th right now. I can see the first girl (who is a kid). I start to run faster, but it's very hard. She seems to run faster.

We go up a path and down. We run to the train tracks and I see Leah's brother, Emerson. I see Mom and Dad. They cheer me on. I’m almost to the finish line. I run faster. I know that I won’t be able to beat the girl but I still try. I sprint as fast as I can down the hill and into transition. I got 5th place and 25:09.