Here is a race report for the Bellaire Trolley 5K run April 8th that Charles and Audrey Jackson ran right outside of Houston.
 
Well, I knew something this race was going to be full of fast folks when I saw a championship banner for Houston runners posted at the site, and when they told me to get my chip.  I had never been in a race with a "chip" and wasn't sure exactly what to do with this item.  Of course some nice elderly lady who probably ran past me at the mile marker, told me what to "do" with the chip.  I was a little obsessed about making sure I ran across the mat!!  Anyway, it was a little on the cool side at the start of the race, breezy but flat course.  Even with a "chip" I ran across the mat and then ran in place aprox. 10 minutes (okay, I am exaggerating, but it sure felt like it!!)  All the fast people were my age!!  The overall female was 49 and ran 18:53, the masters female ran 18:56.  A lady in the 60 to 64 age group ran 22:40!!  I was 5th in my age division with a time close to my personal best at 23:03.  I have never seen so many women in my age division in one race.  I recently moved up an age bracket but it wasn't an advantage in this race.
 
Charles tied his personal best at 23:35 after having an evening of much "spirits" and fun.  He said his head actually quit hurting after 2 miles.  I reminded him how well he could have run if he wasn't having so much fun.  He ran 27th out of 46th in his age division.  The top man ran 15:28, the masters 16:06.
 
This race really helped me see that people my age really have the ability to go faster.  Now I just have to get my "fast" out and fine tune it!!  © Audrey Jackson