Saturday in The Woodlands

Katy and I drove down to The Woodlands this morning for the David's Dream 5K. We met up with other Seven Hills Running Club members, Jon Walk from Spring, Sara Lange from Houston and Karen Felicidario from The Woodlands. Bill Dwyer was also there to take photos and help present Montgomery Country Triple awards. Those were given to the 14 runners who completed the Conroe YMCA 5K Trail run two weeks ago, the Run the Woodlands 5K last week and the David's Dream 5K this morning. Katy, Sara and I were 3 of the 14. The race this morning started and finished in front of HEB at the Market Square behind the Mall. Nice flat course, but as expected, it was hot. I ran a 34:41 and was 3rd in the 60 and above age group.

Back to Normal

My back was much better today and almost normal. The sore back yesterday was a small glitch in the routine of streaking. I have been through much worse and kept my streak alive. I skipped Nautilus again today, but did run my 2.7-mile course around the campus. June 18, 2008 will be 2,000 days on my current streak.

Sore Back

I did a lot of lifting this morning and this afternoon my lower back was hurting. Laid around most of the afternoon. Skipped my workout at Nautilus and went to the track late this evening and ran laps. Hopefully, my back will be okay tomorrow.

8 Things About Me

I ran my 2.7 mile course around the campus this evening. Hot and humid, but otherwise uneventful. I got tagged by Curtis earlier to list 8 things about me. My response is a little slow, but so is my running.

1. I was born in Tyler, Texas, 8th of 9 children. My dad, who was born in 1881, was 60 when I was born.

2. After flunking out of junior college, I enlisted in the Army in 1961 and got out as a Staff Sergeant in 1965. I spent most of that time in the Army Chief of Staff’s Office at the Pentagon. Met Marilynn there.

3. I happened to be in the White House when Kennedy was assassinated. I worked around the clock for days handling communication for the Chief of Staff.

4. Later in 1965, I received a commission as a Second Lieutenant and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1984. Went to Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division in 1967 and 1968. Got my bachelors in 1971 and masters in 1975.

5. I always ran some in the Army, but did not start running distance and racing until 1983. I have never enjoyed running and only do it for my health. Getting involved in every aspect of the sport, including streaking, helps me stay motivated.

6. I don’t consider anything out of the water as edible and have not eaten poultry since I was a kid.

7. I hate getting up early in the morning. If I were in charge, races would not start earlier than noon.

8. I never watch sitcoms and have not seen a movie in years (except Spirit of the Marathon).

Rained Out Trail Run

We were suppose to run trails at the park at 5:30 this evening. It was still storming at that time. I did not go and assume that no one else did either. Later, I ran 2.7 miles on the streets around the campus in a light rain.

Memorial Day 5K

We had our SHRC's Memorial Day 5K at my house in the Timberwilde Sub-division at 10 a.m. this morning. It was all followed by a cookout. I directed the race and Marilynn fixed all the food and Ben did the grilling. We had a great time and hope that everyone else did also. Marilynn forgot to put out a big tray of deviled eggs from the refrigerator. So, I suppose that I will be eating them for a few days. Norman Langwell and Darren Grant tied for first in the race with a time of 23:26. Sheridan Grant, 15, had led but missed the last turn. He was going so fast, I suppose the turn sign became a blur. The results and group photo are on the club web site on the Latest News page.
After eating too much at the cookout and taking a nap, I went to Nautilus and did my routine and then went to the track and ran laps.

Two Streakers

Bill Dwyer got a photo of me and Vince Attanucci at the Run the Woodlands yesterday. Vince lives in The Woodlands and is another streaker. I have not missed a day running for 1,976 days and Vince for 1,965 days (assuming he got around to running today). I am 139 on the national list and Vince 140. By the way, Number 1 is approaching 40 years without missing a day of running. The U.S. Running Streak Association (http://www.runeveryday.com/) maintains the list.
I ran 2.7 miles around the campus this afternoon. School is out, so the streets were pretty empty.

RTW #32

Ran my 32nd Run the Woodlands 5K this morning. There were lots of other Seven Hills Running Club members there: Katy Lampson, Karen Felicidario, John and Sam Dunphy, Sara Lange, John Cook, Robert Duncan and Jon Walk ran the race. Bill Dwyer and Waverly Walk worked the finish line. It was unusually hot and humid, but everyone survived.

Walk and a Run

I started the day by measuring the Memorial Day 5K course for next Monday in the Timberwilde Sub-division. I walked it with an engineer wheel. People look at you funny when you are out walking with those things with a can a spray paint in your hand. It did give me the opportunity to meet a couple neighbors that I had not met before. I am very comfortable with my measurement of the course. It will be interesting after the race on Monday to see what the Garmin-wearing runners tell me about the length of the course.
Later this afternoon, I got in a 2-mile run in town, went out to dinner with the family this evening and then the Sam Houston State baseball game tonight with Ben. After the game, Ben and I had a beer at Tops and Bottoms.

Short Trail Run

Went out to the park this evening to meet the group. Curtis, Phillip, John and Amber ran 5 miles. I had to get back to go to the SHSU baseball game at 7 with Ben, so I just did a short 2 mile+ run by myself and left. I asked Ranger Karly at the Nature Center about the three zebras, which had been running loose in the park. She said that one was shot and killed and the other two were caught. It reminded me about the time about 10 years ago that a friend, Jim Zeller, was running trails at the park. He heard something coming up behind him. He turned around and it was an emu. Zebras and emus. What else may be lurking in the woods?

Trails on Wednesday

I ran trails at the park this evening with brand new Huntsville firefighter, Norman Langwell and brand new lawyer, James Spencer. We did the 3.5 mile loop. It was very hot and humid and I got a little dizzy after the run. Maybe I need to start carrying water and electrolyte tablets even for the shorter trail runs.

Training for the Polish Pickle

I am in the running doldrums. No long races coming up until the fall, so it's hard to get motivated for a long run. It's a matter of keeping the streak alive and maintaining a base. To sound more positive, I'm actually training for the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond on June 28. Maybe my life is not too exciting, but that race seems to be one of the highlights of the summer. It's also one of my streaks, you know. This year will make 13 in a row.
I ran 3.5 miles on the trails at the park with Amy this morning. She runs well; imagine what she could do if she ran with shoes on.

Back from Florida

Marilynn and I and Ben drove down to Florida on Friday to visit our Marine son, Timothy, at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. We got back this evening. While running early in the morning is against my religion, I ran in my sub-division here Friday before leaving. It was the first time I ran in Timberwilde in the year that we have lived here. We had a great visit with Timothy over the weekend. He stayed at the hotel with us off the base. We saw all the sights in Pensacola and even got to spend some time on Pensacola Beach. I got in a run on the streets of Pensacola on Saturday and Timothy and I ran together on the Naval Air Station Sunday evening. The photo was taken at the Naval Air Museum on the base. After driving nearly 600 miles today, I went over to the track and ran laps this evening.

Running Shoeless

A whole bunch of us met at the park this evening to run trails. Most ran the 4+ mile course. I ran 3.5 with Amy Lanham. She had never run over 2 miles before and she did very well with the added distance. What is amazing is that she runs barefooted. I have stubbed my toes and tripped over so many roots on the trails over the years, I cannot imagine running barefooted. Many of us have had plantar faciatis problems (muscles that go from the heel to the toes). Years ago, I had surgery on both feet to correct the problem. I have read that the African runners exercise those muscles more by running barefooted and never have plantar faciatis problems. Maybe Amy is on to something.

Trail Run Rained Out

John Cook, Megan Williams, Katy and I were suppose to run trails this morning at 9:30. We cancelled due to a tornado watch and expected heavy rains. There was a tornado touched down in nearby New Waverly and the rain hit about 9:30. So, I made it a rest day. I ran one mile+ this evening at the track.

Sticky in the Sticks

It was really humid running in the woods this morning. Katy and I did the outer loop at the park. According to her new Garmin, it was exactly 6.7 miles. According to how beat I was, it was 10 miles. As I was driving out of the park, a bobcat (or maybe it was a bearkat) ran across the road in front of me. It was the first one I have seen at the park in the 13 years that I have run there. I did have one growl at me a few years ago, but I never actually saw it.

Nice Day for Trails

It seemed to be cooler and less humid this evening. I ran 3.5 miles on the trails at the park with Mariah Reynolds and Mary Sweeten. We got a late start. Hans, John, Chris, Curtis and Phillip were already on the trails doing the outer loop. It's back to the trails tomorrow.

Back on the Road Again

After church this morning, Ben and I took Marilynn to eat at the Junction Restaurant. Afterwards, I laid down a while to let the chicken fried steak settle before going back into town for a run on the roads. I had run a mile when I passed Bowers Stadium. The Southland Conference Track & Field Meet was in progress and I could not resist stopping for a while to watch. They wanted me to run hurdles for Sam Houston, but I declined after noticing that the hurdles were higher than the roots that I trip on at the state park. I finished my run with 2 more miles to get in a total of 3. Ben came over and Kenny came up from Houston for a cookout this evening. Marilynn received phone calls from our other kids in Plano, Yuma, Chicago and Pensacola and she seemed to enjoy the day.

YMCA Trail Run in Conroe

Marilynn, Ben and I went down to the YMCA Trail Run in Conroe this morning. Marilynn walked the 3K in 24 minutes, I ran the 5K in 34:55 and Ben, with his broken thumb all bandaged up after surgery, worked as a volunteer on the course. We all had a good time. Katy Lampson, Hans Jaeger and Sara Lange from the Seven Hills Running Club walked away with "hardware" (engraved boards). Congratulations to them. Jan Parks and John Cook from the club also did the 5K. Jon Walk was there supporting everybody and doing what reporters do. There was a much larger crowd this year and it was good visiting with our many racing friends.

Friday Trail Run

Lavonne Zaiontz and I ran trails at the park this evening. It was her first time on the trails in a month or so, but she did well. It was hot and humid and we ran "Marissa's Course" (3.5 miles). Now, I have to rest up for tomorrow's YMCA Trail Run in Conroe, the first leg of the Montgomery County Triple.

Wandering Around the Park

Seems like everybody went in different directions at the park this evening. Phillip Clark, Hans Jaeger, Chris Wilson and Curtis Barton did the outer loop, John Cook and Ron Davis did an out and back, and Mary Ann Davis went for a hike. With no planned route in mind, I ran a combination of trails and roads for 40 minutes. Everyone made it back okay and we had our usual social hour.

Uneventful 3.5

Did a 3.5-mile loop on the streets in Huntsville this evening. After running mostly on the trails at the park lately, it's sorta scary sharing the streets with all the drivers talking on cell phones.

Late at the Park

I intended to meet the group at the park at 5:30 this evening. However, I had to wait for someone from College Station to return the club's race clock they had rented for a race on Saturday. They did not get to my house until about 5:30, so I did not get to the park until nearly 6. I ran the roads and trails for nearly 45 minutes and then joined the group for the usual social hour. Nothing exciting, but a streaker's life for the most part is pretty routine. The decision every day is not whether to run, but when, where and how far.

Wylie Running

Marilynn and I drove up to Tyler Saturday afternoon to visit my brother, who is home from the hospital, but with a long road to full recovery. After that, we went to my nephew's lake house on Lake Palestine for a big family get-together. My son, George, and his family drove to Tyler from their home in Wylie, northeast of Dallas. About 10 p.m. that night, we followed George back to Wylie, arriving about midnight. After church on Sunday morning, we ate Mexican food, went fishing and then George (photo above) and I ran 3.2 miles in his neighborhood. Marilynn and I drove back to Huntsville today. I went to the track and ran one mile in a light rain this evening.

Social Run

Ran 4.5 miles around town this morning. Started at the track on Ave. O. I ran past the square in the middle of a quilting show, with a band playing at the gazebo. I did not see any quilters that I knew. Made it to the SHSU campus and caught the end of the awards ceremony for the triathlon held there this morning. Several SHRC members were there, including Blythe Ernst, Michael Deane and Angie Burns. I visited with them a bit, as well as my friends, Jason Horton and Amanda Seeholm. Amanda was a gymnist in Bela Karoli's camp a few years ago. I went up Bowers Blvd. and right on Sycamore. Down by the Baptist Church, a couple guys held at me. It was SHRC member, Darren Grant, and Doyle Cousins, True's son. They were parking buses at the church parking lot. I visited with them a bit and they assured me that I could not get a cold beer at the Baptist Church. I headed back to the track via Sam Houston Ave. When I got to the Sam Houston Museum complex, I stopped and visited with Sergeant Collins, Huntsville PD, who was working the entrance to the Sam Houston Folk Festival. Finally made it back to to track. The weather was nice and relatively cool. I never timed the run. Because of all the socializing, it would not have meant much anyway.
Now on to Tyler for a family get together this evening and then a drive to Wylie (near Dallas) to spend the rest of the weekend with my son, George, and his family.

Got Home Late

I drove down my son, Ben, down to The Woodlands this morning for surgery to fix a broken thumb. That took most of the day with all the paperwork, pre-op procedure, nearly 2 hours of surgery and then post-surgery recovery. A long wait and nothing but golf magazines and ultra-liberal CNN news on the TV in the waiting room. We did not get back to Huntsville until about 7 p.m., so I missed the 5:30 trail run with the group. I took his pain pill prescription to the drug store and then went to the track and ran one mile+ while it was being filled.

More Trail Changes

I have been running trails at the Huntsville State Park for 13 years. Because some sections of the trail wash out and overly expose the roots, the park occasionally re-routes around the washed out sections. Obviously, this changes the distance of those segments of the trail. This is not a real problem for training on the trails, but there are four major races held at the park, Rocky Raccoon 25K & 50K, Sunmart 50K & 50M, Rocky Raccoon 50M & 100M and the Hog's Hunt 25K & 50K. Trail re-routing changes the distances for these races.
Katy and I ran the outer loop this morning. What is usually a 6.7-mile course is now probably 6.8 due to re-routing on the segment of the trail between the Nature Center and the south perimeter road. We had a good run. Katy slows down to run with me (Coach Bill told her it was okay a couple times of week) and I speed up to run with her. Thanks, Katy.