Loop Around Town

After a workout at Nautilus this evening, I ran my 2.9 mile course around town. It was nice running in sub-100 degree weather, but it was humid as heck.

Rain, Finally

After over a month without a drop of rain, we finally got a 20-minute downpour about 9 p.m. tonight. It had rained earlier in town, but missed us here on the west side. My neighbor was complaining this afternoon that he bought a new riding lawnmower, but has not had a chance to try it out. Mayble the rain tonight will get the grass going. I ran my 2.9 mile loop in town this evening. The temperature was not so hot, but, of course, the humidity was high.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening for the Sunday Night 5K. Even though the temperature was still very hot, I should have run faster than the 35:41 that I turned in. Maybe it was the big Mexican dinner that I had for lunch.

Polish Pickle 5K and Wedding

Got up at 5 this morning to go to the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond. Mary Sweeten rode up with Marilynn, Ben and I. Other club members there included Phillip Clark, Adrienne Langelier, Jennifer Johnston, Charles Walker, Jerry Flanagan, John Cook, Karen Fowler, J. C. Guzman. I ran the race with Debbie Tripp of The Woodlands. I probably slowed us down. The heat was terrible and I had to stop once to get a big rock out of my shoe. We finished in 35:38. However, the beer was good. We stopped to eat in Centerville on the way home. I took a brief nap and then went to Melissa's Broussard's wedding in Crockett. She should have been at the Polish Pickle, because the wedding was not until 4 p.m. I can't stand excuses. She married fellow Seven Hills Running Club member, William Ashley Biscamp. They had a nice wedding and I really wish them the best. They are living in Alba, north of Tyler. He works in Mineola and Melissa teaches at John Tyler High (my alma mater). Today was also a minor streak milestone. My streak reached 6 years and 6 months. We'll party at 10 years.

Tapering for the Polish Pickle

Tomorrow is the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond, so I did a 2-mile taper run around town this evening. Weather.com said it was 103 degrees and I believe it.

Thursday Park Run

We started our run at the park at 6:30 this evening, an hour later than usual. I suppose it was still about 100 degrees. In keeping with my doctor's orders, I stayed off the trail and ran on the park roads. The group did the 4.2 mile trail course and I did 4 miles.

Club Meeting Tonight

We had a meeting of the Seven Hills Running Club officers at my house this evening. We are finalizing plans for the club's Huntsville Half Marathon on October 17. I got in a workout at Nautilus before the meeting, but not a run. After the meeting, I went into town and ran a couple miles. It was totally dark when I finished. In the old days (before people drove around talking on cell phones), I routinely ran the streets after dark. It's a different ball game now.

Worked on the Bug

I spent most of today working on my 74 VW bug convertible. My seat was falling apart. I bought a used one yesterday and put it in. Of course, I had to remove the uphostery from the old seat and intall it on the new one. Anyway, the new seat is much more confortable - and no springs sticking me in the butt. I met up the group at the park tonight and ran roads while they ran trails. Congratulations to Mary Sweeten for starting a new running blog. Click here. Katy Lampson is correct, publishing a blog helps make you accountable for your training runs. Click here for Katy's column.

Second Shot

I did a one-mile run at the track this morning and then went to the doctor to get the second shot in my knees. Number three is next week.

Sunday Night 5K - Not

I left Huntsville at 6 p.m. today to go run the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands at 7 p.m. The traffic came to a virtual standstill north of Willis and inched along all the way to south Conroe. It was nearly 7 p.m. when I reached the southside of Conroe. Knowing for sure I will not make it to the race in time, I turned around and went back to Huntsville. I ran the hilly Avenues 5K course. With the sun setting, the heat was tolerable.

June Bug Run

I directed the club's June Bug 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk this morning. That means I had to get up early and put the signs out. We had 15 runners and walkers. True Cousins was there, but was not able to run due to a hamstring pull. I know how those hurt and how long it takes for them to heal. After the race and retrieving the signs, I joined Casey Spencer, Mariah Reynolds and new club members, Charles Walker and Jennifer Johnston for breakfast at the Cafe Texan. After working in the yard this afternoon, I ran a 2.7 mile loop around town.

OKC

My daughter, Mary, and her husband and two kids, who live in Yuma, AZ were on a vacation trip to Kansas and decided to spend a day at the zoo in Oklahoma City on their way home. So, Marilynn, Ben, Kenny and I drove up to OKC on Wednesday. My son, George, and his wife and three kids drove up from Wylie (near Dallas). We all went to the zoo yesterday and then spent hours at the hotel pool. We had a great time and got back this evening. I ran in OKC on Wednesday and Thursday, in between family activities. No relief from the heat up there. After a workout at Nautilus, I did a 2.9 mile loop in Huntsville about 7:30 this evening.

Quarter Marathon

Mary and I went down to Kingwood this evening and ran the 6.55-mile (quarter marathon) course used for the Texas Marathon each January. I could not have run it four times today in the heat. January is better. This will be Mary's first marathon and she now knows the course.

Movin on up

The new national streak list is out. As of June 1, I am number 146, up from 148 on March 1, 2009. I am number 6 in Texas. Of course, my friend, Vincent Attanucci, of The Woodlands is 147 and 7, respectively. And, it will stay that way. The entire list is on the U.S. Running Streak Association web site at http://www.runeveryday.com.
I ran a couple miles on the road this evening just before dark.

Sunday Night 5K

As you may be aware, The Woodlands Running Club, started a new race series, the Sunday Night 5K every Sunday in June, July and August at 7 p.m. Tonight was the innaguaral race. The crowd was light, but I had a nice visit with Jon and Waverly Walk, Bill Dwyer and Karen Felicidario (all are also members of the Seven Hills Running Club). I prefer to run in the evening, so the timing was great for me. I ran the course in 34:41. Click here for a link to the race.

Mud Maxx

My son, Ben, and I went down to Humble this morning for the Mud Maxx 5K. Seven Hills Running Club members, Mary Sweeten, Mariah Reynolds, Keelie Hughes and Jacob Gautreaux and his daughter, Megan, were there also. The race was not timed and I did not wear my watch, so I have no idea of my finish time. Steve and Paula Boone put on the race and they had about 350 runners. Obviously, we got muddy. They had a couple fire trucks there providing post race showers. It was a fun race. Most of us went to the Potatoe Patch on FM 1960 for lunch before heading back to Huntsville.

Kneeded to Run

The tree guys arrived at my house early this morning to cut down two large dead oak trees in my back yard. They did a good job and my house was not hit or threatened. I periodically had some sharp pains in my right knee all day. I am not sure where that came from, maybe from the shot a couple days ago. Anyway, I kneeded to run, so I went to the track this evening and did a mile. I did not get the sharp pains while running, so I guess its okay. Gotta get up early tomorrow for the mud run in Humble.

Hot in the Park

I heard on the news tonight that this was the hottest day so far this year. I believe it. The group ran trails this evening while I ran 3 miles on the park roads. Hans was back from his trip to South Dakota for the Deadwood Marathon. My calf felt okay after Mariah worked on it yesterday.

Treatment Day

I got in a short 2-mile run on the roads late this morning and then went to the doc for the first of a series of three injections of SYNVISC in my knees. It is a lubricant and is suppose to start working in about three weeks after the last injection. Then, it works up to 18 months. Later this afternoon, Mariah came over and worked on the pulled muscle in my calf. She is really good. The club officers were suppose to have a meeting at my house tonight to discuss the Huntsville Half Marathon coming up in October, but Norman had to delay the meeting for a couple weeks.

Park Roads

We jad a large group at the park this evening. Mariah was there and she took a look at my calf. She could not find a knot and thinks I pulled a muscle. She noted that it was swollen and will work on it tomorrow. In the meantime, while everyone else was running trails this evening, I ran two miles on the park roads.

Calf Still Acting Up

My left calf muscle is still acting up. Maybe I have a knot in it. Help, Mariah. I did an easy 1.6 mile run on the roads this evening. It did not get any worse.

Course Measurement

I borrowed the engineer wheel from the city to measure a course this weekend. It's the old Bowers Stadium 5K course. The markings on the curb have worn away. I met Norman at 5 p.m. this evening and just as soon as we got started, he got a call to go put out a fire. I measured and marked the course and Norman's wife, Millie, picked me up at the turn around point and gave me a ride back to the stadium. I think walking a 5K is harder than running. Afterwards, I went over to the track and run a mile, plus. My calf started acting up at the end of yesterday's run, so I took it easy.

After 7 p.m. Run

I waited until after 7 p.m. today and ran a 3-mile loop around town. I received an email from Hans Jaeger today. He is in Deadwood, South Dakota for marathon tomorrow. He said that the weather forecast is for 40 degrees and rain. For someone born in Switzerland, he really hates running in cold weather. If I had known that it would be that cold up there, I would have gone.

Darn Bug

I worked on the electrical problem in my 1974 VW Bug Convertible today. I got the headlights to work; now the tail lights went out. I have tried everything. Guess I will have to take it to the VW repair place in Bryan next week. Congratulations to SHRC members, Colton Langwell and Colleen Cook, who graduated from high school this week. Gosh, I remember when Colleen was born. I ran my 2.9 mile loop around town this evening, just before dark. It was relatively cool and my knees did not feel too bad.

Short Road Run

I spent most of the day trying to get my VW bug through the state safety inspection and preparing garden beds for Marilynn. She has been taking the Master Gardener course since January and it has caused me a lot of work. My break lights would not work, so my VW failed the inspection. I worked on the VW this afternoon and got the break lights to work; now one of the headlights won't work. I bought a new seal beam this evening, but it still won't work. Back to the wiring tomorrow. I went to Nautilus late this evening and then ran a 2-mile loop in town.

Huntsville 5K Course

For a retiree, I had a busy day. Got up at 9:30, bought some landscaping stuff at Home Depot, got a flat fixed on my new truck, worked on my 74 VW convertible, went to a funeral and worked out at Nautilus. Then, Mary, Juan and I ran the hilly Huntsville 5K course this evening.

Lisa's New Web Site

My daughter, Lisa, lives in Chicago and is a singer and song writer. In her spare time, she is Senior Accountant for a large manufactoring company. Click here to visit her new music web site.
In keeping with the doctor's orders, I stayed off the trails today. I met up with the group at the park and ran 3 miles on the park roads while they had fun on the trails.

No More Trails

I went to the doctor this afternoon about my knees. He diagnosed the problem about 3 years ago as Chondromalacia. Basically, it is where the outside leg muscles, which are attached to the knee caps, start pulling the knee caps outward. The knee caps are suppose to move up and down at the knee joint. This outward pulling creates bone on bone pressure and a lot of pain, especially when sitting for a long time with the legs bent. There is also some arthritus under the knee caps. The surgical fix is to scope the joints to get rid of the arthritus and then loosen the outside leg muscles. To avoid surgery (a streak breaker), I am suppose to be doing exercises to strengthen the inside leg muscles, which are also attached to the knee caps. The braces, which I have worn occasionally, help keep the knee caps centered. Anyway, I have to intensify the exercises. The doctor will also give me a series of three shots of SYNVISC to lubricate the knee joints. The other thing I have to do is STAY OFF THE TRAILS. That will be the hard part.

After a workout at Nautilus this evening, to include my leg exercises, Mary Sweeten and I ran the 5-mile Tour de Huntsville course. The course includes some busy streets, but it traverses all four quandrants of the city. Mary just signed up for the Texas Marathon in Kingwood on January 1. This will be her first. I have no doubt that she will run it and finish.