running | Six With Sticks

November 25, 2021
by davekenn Leave a comment

Turkey Trottin

It has become a Thanksgiving tradition since Liz was in 3rd grade. The Catonsville HS XC Turkey Trot. Liz is still rehabbing from ACL surgery. But wouldn’t miss Maggie’s first Turkey Trot.

And if there is an adventure, you know Jack is up for it. He came out in the cold to cheer Maggie on.

Maggie was ready. Poised at the start and ready to run her race.

And saw some familiar faces on the course

Once Maggie ran away from the insanely large and scary clown, she came around the last turn headed for the finish line. One more hill to go, and Jack was there to cheer her on.

It was freezing cold, and Maggie was pretty awesome. It was great to have Jack and Liz there to support her. Happy Thanksgiving!

October 15, 2021
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Maggie ran her 3rd cross country race yesterday. She finished 5th overall and was again the first female finisher. She finished in 15:17. Her coach told her to start slow and work people on the hills. His plan worked, and she did very well. She passed people on the hills, and found herself quickly up at the front group. She came into the finish in 5th place, about a minute behind the top runner, and 30 seconds from the 2nd runner. Her times have so far improved in every meet so far.

Maggie at the start. Her coach strategized that she should go out slow at the beginning.

Maggie halfway through, just past the first mile.

Maggie finishing strong

October 7, 2021
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Maggie – GCS meet

Maggie ran in her second cross country meet on October 7th. It was at Glenelg Country School and five different schools competed – GCS, St Pauls, Gerstell, Beth Tfiloh, and St Johns. Maggie was the first female finisher with a time of 15:17.

Maggie started the race fast. She went out with the top runners. She found herself pressing against a pack of St Pauls boys runners. And she hung with that pack.

As she came through the first lap, she was right behind the GCS girl who was in the lead at the time. When they went out of sight, Maggie was still behind her. But when they came out from the back side of the campus, Maggie was right on the heels of her teammate, BB. And had taken the top female spot. And as she went uphill, Maggie grinded and kept gaining ground on the runners ahead of her.

Eden cheered Maggie on at every turn and went up on the course to cheer Maggie around the last loop. As she rounded the last turn, Maggie put on the jets and almost caught the boy way in front of her on a sprint to the finish line.

Maggie showed guts and determination throughout the entire race. She kept a great attitude and persevered. I captured a video of her coming through the last turn and her sprint to the finish line.

October 23, 2019
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Baltimore Marathon 2019

I decided to run the half-marathon again. First time in 6 years. And Liz was willing to do it with me again as well. Neither of us trained. But, she is a young athlete. And so we ran “together” for a short while.

For the first mile, I tried to keep up with Liz. And she was trying to let me keep up. We were darting through traffic, and making our way. And the first mile was about 8 minutes. It killed me though, and I quickly fell behind her pace. The last I saw of her, she was crushing it, with her pony tail flying back and forth.

She impressed me so much. In the morning, as she was putting on her bib, she just looked like a determined athlete. And then stretching, it was clear that she has done this before.

For me, I just wanted to enjoy the day. I’m 42. Don’t feel like I have many of these left in me.

And it was hard. Really hard. I walked so many times. By mile 11, my back and both of my legs were burning. I could barely move, but told myself I would not give up. I would finish the race. Miles 12 and 13 were very slow, probably 13 and 17 minutes respectively. And I finished with a total pace of about 11 minutes. Liz crushed it and finished under 9 minutes, at 1:56:00 total time. Her PR. My worst at 2:26.

But I finished. And I am proud of myself. Mind over matter. I did what I set out to do. I am hurting but it is a good hurt. And I am glad to have shared this experience with my daughter one more time.

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November 22, 2018
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Gobble, gobble, go!

I don’t have pics of Maggie or Jack, because we didn’t attend the event.

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Maggie, Luke, and Jack all competed in Gobble Gobble Go at their school. Maggie completed 16 laps. Luke completed 8 laps. Jack completed 13 laps. Jack beat most of the 5th graders, and was tops in his grade, 1st grade. Maggie might have been tops in her grade, 5th grade.

It is Thanksgiving morning, and we have been talking about the Turkey Trot. I just threw the clothes in the dryer, as it is 23 degrees out. I am not running this year. Liz, Noah and Maggie all want to run. It is almost time to wake them up, so we will see.

December 13, 2017
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Running in the dark

For a few days, I have gotten Luke and Maggie up at 6AM to go running before school. Yesterday, Jack came with us as well. We run around a few blocks, and then we do some exercises – pushups, crunches, planks, box hops and wall sits. It is a special time with the kids, and we are enjoying it.

It is dark when we run and blistery cold. It was less than 20 degrees this morning, so I let them sleep in today. But, we will be back at it tomorrow.

November 7, 2013
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Half marathon with Liz

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Last month, Liz and I ran the half-marathon in Baltimore. At age 11, she is the youngest to have ever run this race in Baltimore. And she completed the race in 2:00:00. That is a fantastic time. To put that in perspective, the next youngest girl was 12, a few years earlier, and finished in 3:57:00, nearly two hours slower.

We’re ready for this race

13.1 miles. Our plan was to run 9 1/2 minute miles. But, we got on the course and Liz was like a jackrabbit, in and out of traffic, passing people through the streets of Baltimore. We ran the race with my cousin, Dave. The first 6 miles were Dave and I trying to catch up with Liz. She was pushing the pace at around 8:00 minute miles, and the majority of the first 6 miles was uphill.

Liz and Dad – pre-race

Miles 7-9, Liz started to cramp and felt like she was going to throw up. Our pace slowed to nearly 11 minute miles. Then, all of a sudden, she darted ahead, and was back at 8 minute miles til the finish line. We kept up with her until mile 10, then caught up with her at mile 11. But, then she was gone, and we didn’t catch her again. Dave and I finished two minutes behind my 11-year old daughter, and loved every minute of it.

I saw Dave this past weekend. He said he has logged 80 miles running this month. He is determined that we will be able to stay with Liz next year!

I don’t see my cousin often, but we shared this race, and it has brought us closer together.

Liz at the finish

Liz – final steps

Liz – 2:00:00

Home stretch

Almost there

Coming down the home stretch

Liz and Dave

Our wolfpack

Determined to win it

September 25, 2013
by davekenn Leave a comment

Bethany Beach Tri

My first triathlon.

George ran the Bethany Beach triathlon last year. He invited some of his friends to join him the next year. In the meantime, his father-in-law, Guy Cesare, developed cancer and has been fighting the fight for life. George decided to start a team, Tri4Guy, and raise money for the cancer research center that has been treating Guy. Sean, Matt and I signed up, and Elizabeth joined the team as well. It was an exhilarating race, and I am glad that we were able to dedicate it to a man that we all love.

Tri4Guy – Bethany Beach Triathlon 2013

For me, this was my first triathlon. My training was suspect. But I am proud of my performance. I did not do well timewise in the water or in any of the transition areas. But, I am very pleased with my performance on a bike and on the run. And I was honored to ride Guy’s bike in the race. In the water, George and I swam together. On the bikes, Sean and I kept pace for each other. And on the run, Matt and I ran together for 2 of the 4 miles.

Liz did the duathlon, biking and running. She did great and won her age group, 19 and under. All of the guys were great with her. They were all like supportive and protective dads for her throughout the race. When they crossed paths with her on the highway, they all yelled out to her how great she was doing. And when they crossed paths with her on the run, George and Sean gave her high fives. And she was waiting at the finish line to cheer each of us on as we finished.

I am so happy to have done this, and with some of my oldest friends. This was a great weekend for the Kennedys, Hipszers and Gaisers.

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Liz – 1st place

Liz being cheered on by the Hipszers

Matt going into transition

Liz at the finish

Me at the finish

Sean at the finish

George at the finish

July 5, 2013
by davekenn Leave a comment

Firecracker

Liz and I ran a 10k in Arbutus on July 4th. We didn’t train for it, and really decided the night before to run it. The race was called the Arbutus Firecracker 10k, and it was the 31st year that this event has taken place.

Liz was unsure the night before if she was going to run it. The deciding factor was a conversation between her and Eden. Eden told her that she should run it for Teresa. Teresa is a little girl who died earlier this week after a failed heart transplant. She went to Hillcrest and our older 3 kids all knew her. Once Eden suggested this, Elizabeth was on board. She would paint tiaras on herself for the race, in honor of Teresa (tiaras for teresa).

In the morning, before the race, Marcia painted the tiaras on Elizabeth. One on her forehead and some on her arms. During the race, the paint was in her face and in her mouth. She was having difficulty breathing, so I told her to wash the paint off. She said, “No. I am running for Teresa. I can’t take it off.” And she kept going.

It was a very tough 6 miles. There were lots of hills. Liz did not stop once to walk. Nor did she complain of tiring. She also kept a strong pace throughout. During the 6th mile, she got ahead of me, pretty far ahead. She never looked back. It was this that made me realize she doesn’t need me.

The problem was, I couldn’t catch her! At the finish, I pushed myself to close the gap. I ended up about 5-10 seconds behind her and 1 runner separating us at the finish line.

My children usually finish before me in races. But I’m usually pushing them at the end to finish strong. In this case, this was the first race where one of my children beat me, and there was nothing I could do about it. I know there is a lot more of this in my future!

July 5, 2013
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Knights Run

Bernie Wrisk organized a 4 mile run through Catonsville. The proceeds from the run would benefit charities that Knights of Columbus supports.

Eden and Elizabeth signed up for the 4-miler and Noah ran the 1 mile race.

Noah won his race, but it was not uneventful. It was a good thing I showed him the course the day before, because there were no people on the course to direct him, and nobody on Frederick Road to stop traffic. When he got to Frederick Road, the traffic was humming and he needed to cross to get to the finish line. Luckily, Marcia spotted him and went and helped. He cruised into the finish line and won the race. Pretty cool for him.

Elizabeth ran by herself. She did well and won her age group. Although again not enough people on the course directing traffic and she got lost. As she rounded the elementary school, she was supposed to hug the building and circle it, but not enough people ahead of her to know where to go, she went to Frederick Rd and then hung a left. She got a block away before she realized she had gone the wrong way and doubled back. She probably spent an extra two minutes with this and was pretty upset with herself. A couple different adults told me after the race that they saw her do this. Weird that none of them called out to her. She still won her age group.

I ran with Eden. Really proud of her. This was the longest she had ever run. She did not complain much, and she did not walk much. She just kept going and focused really well. When it came to the last stretch, about the last 2 or 3 blocks, she was determined, and turned up the jets and finished strong. She looked great coming across the finish line. She also won her age group.

All 3 kids had a lot to be proud of and each went home with some hardware. Very nice. Great event that Bernie pulled off!

Six With Sticks

by Six Kennedy kids and their parents

Category Archives: running