Downtown Wadsworth Matchstick 5k/10K

Up and running!

We've been truly blessed with such an awesome committee, groups and individuals making this happen.  Nearly all the details are laid out and approved.  The 5K and 10K routes are finalized.

I cannot wait as we continue to progress with what God has planned for this race, but my heart tells me it will be big!

How do I find out more?  Let me tell you my friend!  You can find us on...

Our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/MatchStickChallenge
Our Twitter page:   https://twitter.com/MatchStickCHL
Our Pinterest account:   http://www.pinterest.com/MatchStickCHL/

FIND US ON GOOGLE:    https://plus.google.com/115221821322430093833/about

We had a friend offer to create a trophy for the over winners in the 5K and 10K for both men and women.  Check it out!

Well?!  Pretty cool, huh?  It is a little matchstick.  My son saw this and said, "Dad!  I'm going to run and win that."  I love his passion...but I did tell him that there are age group medals that he could win.  Oh, then his eyes got BIG!  MEDALS?!  Yes, each age group, men & women, top 3 finishers will be eligible to get a medal.

He's all in and wants to train for his first ever 5K run at age 9.  I pray that he does it and I pray he enjoys it.  I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of him running, but I will be coordinating the volunteers and might miss it.  I'll have my wife run with him and his sister cheer him on.  Just over 6 months away!

I've mentioned that my passion for fitness has grown and continues to do so.  My passion to get others passionate about it as well has hit the gas peddle.  I'm seeing those in our church get excited about this either by participating in the race itself or volunteering.  God is moving in our community and this race is His platform.

Stay tuned and God Bless.

Coach Bill

Bring it 2015!

So, here it is!  The official logo of our race and date!  This is exciting!  Along with my 2015 running goals, being a part of this committee and running a successful race is going to cap it off.  Registration and links are soon coming, but I couldn't hold back any more and had to share this.

Again, I've never been a part of something like this.  There is so much that goes into coordinating a race.  However, we've been bless with a great and very knowledgeable committee that have been more than willing to work together, share ideas and put a professional race together.  We have been able to tap resources from the Akron Marathon and Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon for input and ideas.  Local businesses and non profits have been willing to offer volunteers and assistance where is needed.  We'll hit some road bumps, but I think we are heading in the right direction.

The downside...I will not be able to participate in the race itself.  But I expect to see a lot of faces I recognize!  Hint...hint.

My other goals for the year:

• Still want to break the 20 minute mark for a 5K (carry over from 2014)
• 3 Half Marathons this year (Capital City, Columbus - Akron Half - TBD)
• Would like to cut 15 seconds per mile off my Half time from Akron 2014 (7:30/mile)
• 1 Trail run (TBD)
• Get my wife to run her first half (that is going to be a challenge...but she has been bitten by the running bug)
• Get my kids to run at least my son a 5K and my daughter a 1 Miler.  Alex...what do you think about that?

Ah, I see.  And Korrine, what do you think?

THAT'S THE SPIRIT!

We'll give it time.  Keep working hard and God Bless you all.

Coach Bill

Off and Running!

Pun intended.  In early November I shared with you my excitement about an up coming race that we are going to hold in 2015.

Needless to say, we are a go and have a great committee that is involved in outlining all details and promote the race and events that surround the week.  There is still a lot of work left and more of the details will follow after the first of the year.

Some of the details that are nailed down:

• It will be a 5K & 10K race
• It will be held on Friday June 26th
• It will be a Twilight Run (race will start for both at 8:00pm)
• Time keeper established (more on this after the 1st of the year)
• Finish Line at Art Wright Stadium

There are still things I am excited to talk about...but just not there yet:

• 5K Course Map
• 10K Course Map
• Race Logo & Shirts
• I'm heading up the Volunteers...can't wait to start bragging about this even more
• Countless other items!

I will have links and hopefully more photos within the next couple of weeks.  Until then we have a direction, but are still finding our way.  Not much different than these guys:

But we are so close.  I also plan on putting together a training guide.  I won't be able to physically run in this one, but I sure as heck can get ready for it!

Keep working hard and stay strong.

Coach Bill

2014 Running Season Recap

Done with 2014.  I set some pretty lofty goals for myself, at least that is how it felt at the time, and nearly obtained all of them.  Blast that sub 20 min 5K!  Next year I tell you!

I wrapped up my season on Thanksgiving morning, a very cold Thanksgiving morning I might add. It was a modest and hilly 4 mile run in downtown Akron Ohio.  There was only minimal training or preparation for this race after the Hot Chocolate Run, but I felt ready.  My goal was around 7:00 per mile.  I am shooting for that mark for next year when I run my 2 or 3 half's for 2015.  Wanted to know how I would feel after 4 miles at that pace.  Well, I didn't get there but I did break the 29 minute mark for the 4 miles (28:48 - 7:12 pace).  I was amazed by some of the times considering the conditions being so cold, snowy and slippery (saw one guy go down and he didn't get back up). There are a lot of good runners out there.  I want to be one when I grow up.

But it was a lot of fun and while running on Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) you have time to reflect on what you are thankful for.  I am truly bless with my health, my family, my friends and countless other blessings the Lord has provided.  I thank him daily.

Final Totals:

3 5K Races:  Best time:  21:29.1 (included one trail run) PR
1 15K Race: Time: 1:09:13 PR
2 Half Marathons: Best Time: 1:38:32 PR
1 4 Miler - mentioned above

I couldn't be happier with these times and the effort put into preparing.  Again, I know I am not alone when I'm training or racing.  Thank you to my wife that put up with all the time training and for the support and mostly for joining me in a couple of these.  This is the 1st year we've done this and I'm looking forward to years to come.  Thank you to my running group from church for helping me through personal objectives and goals.  They meant a lot to me and I think the 1st year was a success. Thanks to God for giving me the courage to do this and to put these people in my life.  His shove has shown me I'm capable of so much more.

Over the next several weeks and months I will be posting about the Wadsworth Matchstick 5K/10K that will be held in June 2015.  This is a totally new adventure but God has open doors and hearts in making this happen.  For all that I'm grateful for that has happened over these last 12 months, I am that much more excited to see what he has in store for the next 12 months.

Keep working hard, because as my daughter tells me, "The harder you work, the better you get."

God bless,

Coach Bill

Are you ready?!

Its here!

AND HERE!!

OH BOY!  I cannot wait!  Who is with me on this one?

Maybe it will just be you and the other person in the mirror.  Push play.  Push hard.  You'll notice the difference!

You can do it and I'll help you get there!

Coach Bill

How are you going to tackle 2015?

I've got some great suggestions!

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Don't forget...

I really do love this!

Keep working hard & Happy Thanksgiving!  4 Miler in the morning, who's with me?!

Coach Bill

Getting better!

It was dark, snowy and cold.  But it was the most fun I've had this year in a run.  My wife and I did the Hot Chocolate Run in Columbus again this year, and we had a blast!  Again, we did this last year and I was under the weather and Ryann was running her first 5K.  Are results weren't much to shake a stick at back then.  Amazing the difference a year makes.

We took the kids again and stayed with our friends in Columbus for the evening.

The kids had a blast eating chocolate candy, chocolate marshmallows, tootsie rolls, chips and jumping in the bounce house (they were fine...trust me).  Not sure why I can't get the "HEY!  Look at dad real quick before somebody walks in front!"  After 4 tries this is the best that I could do.

This year, like the Akron Marathon, we were blessed to have a lot of our friends from church come down and meet us there.  It just makes the entire experience more enjoyable when you add that friendly competition to the event.  But also to cheer on everybody that is running too.

Long story short, we did pretty well this year with our times.  No extravagant goals, other than to beat last year for both Ryann and I.

Ryann - 5K:  31:25
Me - 15K: 1:09:13 (7:26/mile pace)

This is my fastest pace for races over a 5K distance.  I was pretty happy, but I was hurting.  The weather has been harsh and training became a challenge.  Still recovering from this one.

*NOT tights...Compression pants

Only one more race left for the 2014 season.  A 4 mile run in Akron Thanksgiving morning, then start training for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon!  Should be a lot of fun and again, it will be with a great group from our church too.  I'm blessed to be married to such a wonderful and supportive woman and friends who are wonderful followers of Christ.  

*I had to flip my hat inside out so I could be found in the crowd.  

Can't wait until next year.  Ryann hinted that she might try the 15K next year!  I'm holding her to it.  She has come such a long way and I'm so proud of her.

New goals for 2015 to come.  First goal...3 Half Marathons in 2015...1 Full?  Well, that's TBD.

Keep working hard and God Bless.

Coach Bill