Colbi and I ran the Chavez 5K with Nunez in his hometown of St. Joseph's Missouri. The Big Momma was quite a challenge but it was a fun event. Bret was going to run it with me but then we realized that it might make him ineligible for high school track.
14Chavez 5k in St. Joseph's Missouri
| 80 | 822 | REETZ BRIAN | Lincoln | NE | 44 | M | 41:02.0 |
I ran the Lincoln Marathon in May. It was quite the experience.
http://journalstar.com/niche/l-magazine/health-and-fitness/marathon-man/article_70005ea4-a04f-518c-9bbb-010bc0df0d13.html
http://www3.parkinson.org/site/TR?pxfid=15460&pg=fund&fr_id=1110
Here is a recap of the run.
14 Lincoln Marathon
5:45:06
13:11
per mile (view kilometer pace)
38 percent
(view time)
1238 out of 1283
696 out of 709 Males
111 out of 114 Males in the M40 Age Group
Probably the best way my Lincoln
Marathon experience is the way that my sister Cheryl captured a photo of
us during the Lincoln Marathon – I survived. It was an amazing
experience, one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It worked
out the way I had prepared.
Pace: 10:02
Overall Place: 219 of 402
Place in Gender: 119 of 162
I got up at 5 a.m. (way too
early for me) on Sunday, May 4. I had all of my clothes set out the
night before and I slipped into my running shirt (Parkinson Team Hope)
and running shorts. I headed down to Westbrook (I’m very lucky to work
at the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music), entered the office and relaxed
for a bit. I met up with Turan Odabasi and Bill Nunez for a men’s
“selfie” around 6:20 a.m. near the Union. The weather was perfect for my
first marathon run. We made our way to the start line for 7 a.m. start.
The nervousness I felt the past couple of days was replaced by a desire
to burst from the starting line.
I made my way to the
center of the pack and waited for each wave to roll out. I finally made
it through the corral gates and found myself pretty much alone heading
into the first curve. What an amazing feeling to hear the yelling and
screaming and show of support.
Climbing the Hill
I
made my way down 17th, turned onto South Street and faced the first
true hill. In my past two half-marathons that hill wasn’t the easiest
for me; this time it was! That carried me on the turn onto Sheridan and
the crowds. They are super supportive and turn out in droves, especially
those that gather near the roundabouts. Running at a 9:30 to 10-minute
clip – right where I wanted to be – I was feeling great and taking in
all of the sights and sounds, saying hi to people along the way.
Making
my way down 48th Street, I was excited to run on trails I’ve trained on
since I started running along Highway 2. I ran the 10K in 1:02. I
rocked that stretch all the way to 20th Street and The Hill. I looked
for my cousin Greg, who just ran the Boston Marathon, and found him at
the top of The Hill -- screaming and shouting encouragement! What an
inspiration he has been to me.
I weaved my way through by
the Country Club area en route to 10th Street, still feeling strong. I
passed Westbrook, went towards the stadium, and then split to the full. I
had set a new personal-best in the half and that was a key goal
(2:16.02).
The second half
As I made the
left instead of the right hand turn for the first time, a wall hit me
both mentally and physically: knowing I had to do this all over again,
complicated by a huge wall of wind! Luckily I knew in a mile or so my
daughter Colbi and her boyfriend Garrett would be there to start me on
Reetz’s Rebel Run with the National Parkinson Foundation baton! Colbi
had a good supply of Skittles, and that helped us make our way down the
Antelope Valley Trail.
Next up was my wish kid Kade.
Before last week I hadn’t seen him in a number of years but he had
really grown up. We had a nice visit as we ran down the trail and then
across J Street and on Capital Parkway/Normal Boulevard.
I
had a bit of trouble finding the next person for the run -- Cheryl. She
had trained for this so. I kept slowly advancing, finally saw her and
she jumped on and ran. We made it to 40th and Normal, where my son Bret
was waiting for us. We had a nice run and then my wife Lori was at 56th
and Normal. Also were there were all of my Storz in-laws including the
twins, who had signs on their strollers. I ate some cashews to get some
energy back. Bret, Lori and I then ran up the big hill towards Holmes
Lake and down to the parking lot where my parents were waiting. We
walked and talked; my mom said she had fallen at the park earlier. I
told them to just wait there and I would run ahead and then make the
loop and walk for awhile with them again. That was a long, lonely runt.
Coming
back, Greg met me, He and I started running down the hill and I grabbed
an orange, giving me a good burst. Greg and I ran to were my friend
Mark met with us. I rediscovered a pretty good pace as we met my niece
Megan and her boyfriend Jeff at mile 22. With not much left, I would run
and then walk, run and then walk. I was light-headed, low on energy,
and I hoping that I wasn’t going to pass out. I tried to find a way to
finish. Greg and I embarked on the next stretch and pointed to goals –
starting at the mailbox, ending at the cone – and pushing through the
intersections with the help of police. Going slowly, I hoped that Nunez
and Odabasi would still be at the mile point. I saw Odabasi; we made our
way to Nunez.
The last couple of miles were a struggle,
with little crowd support at the end of the marathon. I thanked anyone I
could for being there. Seeing the “N” on Memorial Stadium, I got a huge
rush! Nearing the blue entry gate, I slapped the sign that says
marathon on it and started my final run into the stadium. As I turned
left into the stadium, a man with a speaker said: “Here is Reetz!”
At long last
Making
the descent onto the field I think I heard Colbi yell from behind me in
the stands, “Go Dad” as I made my way across the field to the finish
line and the 50-yard line!
I was spent! But it felt great
to have someone come up and put the medal around my neck. I stopped and
got my photo taken with the National Parkinson Foundation baton in my
hands. 5:45.06.
I was starving! I grabbed a water, and
found sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and donut holes. I stood at a
table, slammed down the food and went back and got more!
People
congratulated me and told me how they had read about me in the paper
and inspired them! What an amazing feeling. I’m very blessed. Thank you
all for your support throughout the journey!
I did the Uplifting Athletes run for the second time -- but this time with Colbi..
14 Uplifting Athletes 5K July 20
Time: 31:10 Pace: 10:02
Overall Place: 219 of 402
Place in Gender: 119 of 162
Then when we were on vacation in Dallas we did the Too Hot to Handle. It was like a cross country course and fun with Bret and Colbi. Lori was supposed to do it but was injured.
14 Too Hot to Handle 5K Dallas
July 13, 2014
Division: M 45-49
Division place: 21/37
Overall: 253/920
Gender place: 176/368
Time: 30:51
I then did the Run to Overcome 5K in Lincoln to see if I could get my best ever 5k time and I did!
14 Run to Overcome Bryan Health
Time: 25:51 Pace: 8:20
Overall Place: 44 of 662
Place in Gender: 30 of 188
Division M4049 Place: 4 of 18
In November, we once again did the Beer and Bagel Run. This time it was Bill Nunez, Turan Odabasi and Jeremy Kildare. It was a good time!
14 Beer and Bagel Run
Gun Time: 1:20:48
Net Time: 1:11:21
Net Time Pace: 15:52
Overall Place: 1410 of 1866
Place in Gender: 653 of 766
Division M4549 Place: 67 of 76
And finally did the Good Life Halsfy and set a new PR. It was a new race and finished cool down in the new Railyard in Lincoln. The last three miles were quite a struggle but I was very happy with the way I finished out the year.
14 Good Life Halsy
| 02:11:17.7 | |
| Overall : | 1275 / 2255 |
| Gender : | 595 / 805 |
| Categ : | 61 / 77 |
Pace: 10:00
