The Amazing Pina Family
Did an Interivew and Training Session
Thursday, July 5th, 2012
I first officially met the Pina family at the Trailblazer 10k/5k race in Mountain View, California last September. I had seen Jose Pina senior at some of the races over the last few years but we had not spoken. I was waiting to pick up my award for the 10k and I noticed the Pina family. Jose Pina won the 10k in 34:14 and Jose junior at age 14 had won the 5k in 17:07. His 10-year-old brother Omar didn't run but you could tell that he wanted too. This was truly a running family...the next time I saw them was at the All-Comers meet in Los Gatos last spring. We told them that we wanted to feature their family in our movie "A Long Run." Then we saw them in Morgan Hill at the July 4th race. Jose Jr placed second over-all in the 5k running 15:49 and his 11-year-old brother Omar won the kids mile in a time of 6:55. We wanted to find how more about this family and why are running so well. We set up an interview and training run with them for the next day...July 5th at their house in San Jose. Trophies, plaques, medals and ribbons line most of one wall of their place. Jose was the first master at the San Jose Half Marathon in 2011. He ran 1:14:57. In 2009 he ran 1:13:58. Jose started running in 2003 while living in Mexico before moving to America. Within a year he ran a 31:38 10k. He nor his sons have ever been injured. We wanted to know what they do... For one thing, they have a very special diet which includes a morning "Pina Shake" which tastes great. A bowl of cereal loaded with goodies about mid-morning and then lunch a couple of hours later. They eat a very healthy diet and from what I tired it also taste good. One thing they made up but was not finished before we went running was their beet tea. I will try that Saturday when we get together again. Then we went over to the Rose Garden, just a few blocks from their place, for our workout. It was already getting dark, so we only did a little of what they normally do. Everything they do is quality. They start with a 5-10 minute warm up, they they run laps on the grass around the Rose Garden. We only did one half mile loop. They told me that they ran easy today. We were running at 6:30/mile pace. They normally run a minute faster per mile when they do their 10 laps. The kids have many talents besides running. They are very involved with their church and they like music. Jose running strong at the San Jose Half Marathon. To get ready he would run 22 miles on Saturday at about 6:05/mile pace and then run the same course on Sunday in the same time. As I mentioned in our interview, I wanted to know what was in that morning shake. We talked for about two hours. They shared a lot of great insights and we captured it all on film for our movie. We are meeting up again tomorrow morning. The light will be better to capture their unique training routine.
11-year-old Omar Pina was the first to finish the 12 and under mile in Morgan Hill July 4th. He ran 6:55.
Jose Jr. was right were he wanted to be at the half way point July 4th. He went on to finish 2nd overall in 15:49, a PR. Photos by Catherine Cross Ujena Fit Club
Comments and Feedback
Very interesting--will watch for the rest of the report. Bruce Gilbert 7/7/12 10:33 am |
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Third Best 5k of the Year
Fun Time at Morgan Hill July 4th Race
Wednesday, July 4th, 2012
We have been doing the Morgan Hill July 4th race since 2007. This is one of our Family Running Trips we do. The grandkids run the kids one mile first and then Lisa, Justin, Michael and me do the 5k. Catherine, Crystal and Waitman took photos and did filming for our movie. Photo: Michael has been so busy filming that he hasn't been able to run many of the races. In fact, this is only his second of the year. He ran Carlsbad. Today he ran 21:42. He will be under 21 soon. Justin ran 19:44. I warmed up by running the mile with my granddaughter Carly. (She is seven years old and ran 9:55. Jaxson age 9 ran 7:55.) Michael and I were on the front row and went out fast. The first half mile was for sure under six/minutes per mile pace. Justin passed me and I tried to hang on. Ujena Fit Club member Michael King was right there too. I passed the mile at 6:17 and Justin was two seconds ahead and Mike was two seconds behind.
Up ahead was 15-year-old Jose Pina Jr. (In green)...his first mile split was 5:03. He finished second overall in 15:49. We are featuring the Pina family in our movie. They have a great story. We are meeting at their house tomorrow for an interview and then doing a training run with them. Jose's 11-year-old brother Omer won the kids mile running 6:55. Their dad Jose Sr. is a top master runner. More about them later... I tired to hang on to Justin but he pulled away. There was some wind on the second loop and I just didn't have it today. I ran a 6:55 second mile. Justin pulled out 25 seconds on me. I then tired to stay with Michael King but he too pulled away. I was able to pull out a 6:40 last mile which helped a bit. Close behind me was Honor Fetherston. She finished in 20:47 which was the best age-graded performance of the day. Honor and I talked after the finish. My 30th race of the year will be the Wharf to Wharf in Santa Cruz...this is one of Honor's favorite races and she too will be running. It will be my first time running the race which is widely acclaimed as "The best little roadrace in California." I tired to hang on to Michael King (yellow shirt) but it just was not going to happen today. He ran a good race. He finished 24 seconds ahead of me. I finished in 20:24 which is my third best time of the year. Only two seconds off of my time in Carlsbad. I was concerned after the fall just four days ago. My left wrist and right hip are not back to 100% yet. But I didn't loose any time because of that. I am pleased. Right after the finish. I don't think my time would have been faster if I had not gone out so fast. I am now 13:49 minutes ahead of pace overall after 176 miles of racing. My next race is the Napa to Sonoma half marathon July 15th. The gang minus Crystal after the races. Next up...the parade. Crystal and Michael hanging out at the parade. After running a 7:55 mile my grandson Jaxson ran the 5k with Lisa. This is the first time he has run that distance without stopping. Good going Jaxson...that's four miles for the day. This is how the 4th of July needs to be celebrated. First run as a family and then watch the parade as a family. Photos by Catherine Cross Ujena Fit Club
Comments and Feedback
Way to go Anderson/Wall family. Sounds like a fun event. Barry Anderson 7/5/12 7:47 am Bob, good job with the sore hip! I managed a 20:22 at Lenexa Freedom Run in the heat but with a fairly nice breeze. Our age group had a 19:56 and 19:58, then I was third, but we also beat everyone 50 and over! This is a tough age group. I hope you are thinking about Indy for November 3--that's my hometown and my brother lives there and would love to meet you. Bruce Gilbert 7/5/12 9:24 am Good job on the 20:22...sounds like we would have been battling it out to the finish...still looking at the Indy Nov 3 but I have a half the week later in San Jose... Bob Anderson 7/6/12 3:06 pm You can run easy 7s on the flat course in Indy and be ready to smoke the San Jose Half! Bruce Gilbert 7/7/12 10:16 am |