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Prize money issue apparently settled

After some runners expressed concerns about the prize money being offered at the Tour Des Fleurs 10K on Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Dallas Arboretum, officials apparently have alleviated those concerns. Several runners have complained that when prize money is at stake at area races and an ineligible runner wins (for example, a high school runner can't accept prize money because of UIL rules), the money often doesn't go to the next eligible runner. Apparently that won't be the case at the Tour Des Fleurs, which includes the Asics Luke's Challenge 10K that is offering $5,000 in prize money to Texas runners who are USATF members. Runners can confirm their status by contacting Beth Wise at beth.a.wise@gmail.com.

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Joe Beisner stays motivated to run

Joe Beisner of Irving has become one of the more competitive runners in the D-FW area and is in the Spotlight.

Beisner, 37, began his running career at Lewisville High School and he said his running took off during his junior year. As a sophomore, he decided he wanted to excel and began piling on the mileage during the summer as he prepared for his junior year. The extra training paid off as he qualified for the state meet in cross country the next two years. He also set a PR of 14:20 for three miles and made it to the district regionals two times and ran the mile and two-mile distances. His PRs at those distances were 4:26 and 9:31.

After high school, he signed with East Texas State University and ran cross country for a season. He reached the Regional Cross Country meet and ran a 31:10 in the 10K. After the one season at East Texas, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving his country, he still had the desire to continue his running and accepted an offer from Northwood University in 1997. He was a two-time Cross Country All American for NAIA. He ran an 8K PR of 24:32 and also was a three-time Cross Country All Regional Champion.

After college, the running bug was greater than ever and he since has run everything from a 5K to a half marathon in the D-FW area. ``I don't see any let up in the near future,'' he said. ``Right now, I feel very comfortable competing against anyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I love the competition, in a good way.'' He has won at least eight overall male titles in 2010 and has challenged for several more.

His PRs: mile -- 4:26; 2-mile, 9:31; 5K track -- 14:30; 5K road --14:39; 8K -- 24:32; 10K track -- 30:30; 10K road -- 30:50; 15K road -- 48:15; half marathon -- 1:07:14 and 1:07:15 at Houston and Austin in back-to-back efforts in 2005.

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Beisner hustles to win

Joe Beisner, of Irving, won at least his eighth overall title this year in D-FW area races on Saturday morning (Aug. 28) in Sherman. Beisner, 37, ran a 33:02.4 to win the male division at the Hustle For Health 10K by almost two minutes over runner-up Agustin Hernandez, 38, of Irving. Hernandez, the 1999 Cowtown Marathon winner, came in at 34:50.7. Wendy Ulrich, 39, of Van Alstyne won the women's division with a 42:59.1, and Merry Wolf, 43, of Windthorst came in second with a 45:12.4. In the 5K, Noe Nunez, 24, of Mesquite breezed to victory with a 16:19.2. It was at least his fifth overall victory this year. Runner-up Chris Strait, 36 of McKinney finished second with a 17:44.9. In the female division, Elizabeth Ennis of Fort Worth won by about a minute and a half with a 22:58.6. Rebecca Stern, 28, of Bells was second with a 24:33.6.

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Kolin Styles and Laura Nelson

Jaden Bassett and parents Kim and Jason

Quick finish at NT
and good food

By Fiona Green

Unlike most weekends when races in the Metroplex are plentiful, the only race on Saturday (Aug. 21) morning's calendar  was the 2nd annual North Texas Touchdown 5K in Denton. Held on the campus of the University of North Texas,  the event saw several fast times, which suggested the course, offering runners an interesting tour of the campus, might have been slightly short. Most participants were unconcerned. After setting their new PRs, they headed happily over to the food tables to replenish their stores with one of the best postrace breakfasts this summer, thanks to the generosity of several local restaurants. Age group winners were then awarded their unique trophies - construction worker hard hats bearing the Mean Green eagle logo while overall and masters winners also received football tickets. 

Using the event as a tune-up for her first triathlon was 7-year-old Jaden Bassett of Lewisville who completed the course with her mother, Kim, in 36.58. Having watched her father compete regularly, Jaden decided it would be fun to try a tri herself and will compete in her first kids' triathlon in October. 

Winning the overall male and female titles were Kolin Styles of Holliday and Laura Nelson of Grapevine with times of 15:45.8 and 18:58.4, respectively. Masters winners were Froylan Franco (18:41) and Fiona Green (19:35.5).

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Hot time in Dallas;
water problems acknowledged

The humidity was high and the temperature was climbing toward the 90s, but those factors weren't enough to deter runners from tackling the Hottest Half and 10K on Sunday morning (Aug. 15) at Norbuck Park in Dallas. The event's name should give a hint of what to expect. Heading the 989 finishers in the half was Andrew Cook of Flower Mound, who finished in a 1:15:01.68 (gun time) to beat runner-up Osmani Hofstatter of Cedar Park by almost a minute. On the female side, Niccole Crank of Austin won with a 1:27:59.05 to win by a comfortable margin. Hofstatter, 40, did win the male masters division and Laura Nelson of Grapevine, who has been bagging several masters titles recently, added to her collection by winning the female masters title in 1:39:11.45. In the 10K, which had 569 finishers, Jason Trevino of Irving won the male title with a 35:49.68 and Kim Rogers-Tracy of Plano took the female title in 43:25.51. Masters winners were Jesus Lopez (40:24.18) and Leona Sloan (44:03.33).

Race founder/director Lewis George acknowledged there were some water issues at some of the aid stations. He was ``freaking out'' about it because he couldn't understand why. Now he knows. ``Someone stole some of my water containers before the race. I was 30 percent short of containers.'' Before George began delegating the pick-up and distribution of the containers, he would be among those loading and unloading them. ``If I were still doing that, I would have noticed right away we were short.'' However, when he was informed of the problem, he sent his staff from the start/finish area to help replinish the water. ``I don't think any station didn't have water for more than five minutes,'' he said. Because it was a hot and humid day, George said there were 30,000 water cups used and 7,500 12-ounce bottles of liquids consumed by the 1,500 participants and spectators. Besides the water he supplied, George said there are five water fountains on the course, and a couple of training groups had water stations set up. ``No one should have gone without water for very long,'' he said. He also noted there were 12 heat-related problems, but that only five runners were taken off the course. ``We had medics, fire department staff, two bike riders and communications at every aid station. We were within at least a quarter of a mile of anyone in trouble.''

See results.

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Send in those PR times: format has changed

The format for the personal best times has changed. Rather than just the past three years, the PRs will reflect the most recent best time, plus a runner's all-time PR. So, enter and be listed among those who have submitted their times to see how you stack up with others in your age division. Until I post a form to fill out, please e-mail your information in the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon, and which should include the most recent PR time, your age at the time you ran it and which race and year. The same information needs to be included on your all-time PRs in the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon. She the 5K, 10K, Half and Marathon times already posted.

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