Replacement Run for Sunmart Announced

I received an email this morning from Brad Childers in San Antonio. He is the race director for the new Texas Trail Runs (50K and 12.5 mile) at the Huntsville State Park on December 5, 2009. This is the replacement race for Sunmart. I will be meeting with him in the next two weeks. I'm tempted to go ahead and sign up for the 50K, even though I will be running the Dallas White Rock Marathon the next weekend. Since I'm doing a 50K in October and a marathon in November, I should be okay.
This evening, I went to Nautilus for my first workout in a week. I felt like I was starting over and had to go down on the weights. After my workout, I ran a 3.2 mile loop around town. The traffic was heavy and I came close to getting hit by a car. A lady was exiting a parking lot while lighting a cigarette. As I got out of her way, I slammed my fist on her hood to get her attention. She apologized and I was mad and did not hang around to accept it.

Back from Yuma

I got back from Yuma, Arizona this morning. I flew out there on August 22. My plan was to drive back to Huntsville with my Marine son, Timothy, who was coming home on pre-deployment leave. the Marines sent him to California for a week and he was not able to leave until August 29. Since my ticket was non-refundable, I went out there anyway and spent a week with my daughter, Mary, her Marine husand and the two grandchildren. I had a great visit, watched a lot of cartoons and changed a diaper for the first time in many years.
Timothy and I left Yuma at 8 a.m. yesterday, drove straight through and got to Huntsville at 8 a.m. today. I was like a Zombie when I got home. I got a little sleep in the truck, but we made sure who ever was driving was wide awake. The scary part of the drive were the deer. They were everywhere along I-10 and Hwy. 290 in Central Texas. We passed at least 100 next to the highway and at one point, we had to break for one in the middle of the road.
I stayed on the small Marine Air Station in Yuma while there and, of course, got in a run everyday. Even though, I ran once in the morning, most runs were in the evening. I never ran in less than 100 degree heat and on Thursday, it was 116 when I ran. Obviously, it was a dry heat, but heat is heat.
I ran my 2.9 mile loop this evening in Huntsville and I felt very sluggish.

Streets Crowded Again

The students are back in town and the streets are crowded again with traffic - and everybody is talking on a cell phone. You have to be especially careful running the streets. I did my 2.9 mile loop around town and then had a Mexican dinner.

Small Crowd at the Park

We only had three at the park this evening, Hans, Marisa and I. Marisa ran fast on the trails and Hans and I did an easy three miles on the roads. In fact, there were very few campers at the park for a Thursday. Must have something to do with school starting.

Routine

I went to Nautilus this evening and then ran a 3.1 mile loop around town.

Four at the Park

While the group ran trails at the park this evening, I ran four miles on the roads. Cooler after the rain today, but still humid.

New Streaker in Town

I'm happy to report that we have a new streaker in Huntsville. Jesse Parker, Track & Field Coach at Sam Houston State and member of the Seven Hills Running Club, has a running streak of 37 days. Congratulations, Jesse! Don't stop now. Jesse's blog is http://bearkatrack-runmore.blogspot.com/.
I had "Mondayitus" today, so I did not feel like doing much. I went over to the track this evening after a workout at Nautilus and ran a 2-mile loop around town.

2 x 5K

I went down to The Woodlands tonight for the Sunday Night 5K. I finished in 33:10 and then ran the course again to get in some distance. I did not time the second 5K, but I'm sure I ran fast.

Club Picnic

We had our Seven Hills Running Club picnic this afternoon at the Elkins Lake Picnic area. Over 30 members attended. We had a great time visiting and playing volleyball. Thanks to my wife, Marilynn, and Lavonne and others for putting it together. And, thanks to my son, Ben, for doing the cooking.
I ran my 2.9 mile loop around town at noon today. Yesterday's rest helped the knees.

Historical Tour

I decided to give my sore knees a rest today. So, I went over to the track and ran a mile in the middle of the afternoon.
I also finished writing a web page called, " Historical Tour of the Huntsville Half Marathon Course" and added it to the club web site. Runners of the Huntsville Half pass some historical places and I thought it would be nice if they had more information. Click here for the page. This weekend, I plan to take photos of the places mentioned and add those to the page.

Not So Hot

I know that a temperature in the 80's would seem really hot during other times of the year, but after all the high 90's and 100's of this summer, the 80's felt good this evening. The group met at the park this evening. Most ran trails, but Roger and Patsy Collins walked the roads and I ran 5 miles on the roads.

Late Run

Ben Harvie from Houston (fastest guy over 60 in Texas) was in Huntsville on business today. We got together for lunch and then visited the Texas Prison Museum.
Later this evening, we had a terrific storm on the west side of Huntsville (rain, hail, wind and lightning) for about 30 minutes. Our power went out during the storm and stayed out or an hour or so. With the power out, I fell asleep on the couch and did not wake up until about 7 p.m. I went to Nautilus and then ran from the track. I ran a 3.2 mile loop around town and it was totally dark when I got back to the track.

Tuesday Park Run

As usual, I ran the roads at the park, while the rest of the group ran trails.

2.9

After Nautilus this evening, I did a 2.9 loop around town. After running, I stopped at a conveinience store and some guy said that he has seen me running around town and asked if I was over 50.

Sunday Night Habit

I went down to The Woodlands tonight for the Sunday Night 5K. My friend, Ed Thompson, was recovering from minor surgery and was not able to run. My time was 33:45. It was my 6th Sunday 5K and my 14th 5K race since May. The Sunday Night 5K will continue for the next 3 weeks.

Run the Woodlands 5K

Our Seven Hills Running Club had inter-club competition with The Woodlands Running Club at the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning. Only 7 club members showed up. We had another 4 non-club members who ran for the club, so we had a total of 11. Scoring was based on a combination of speed and participation; we lost. I ran 34:03.

Rare Morning Run

Since I had to attend a funeral this afternoon and I am going down to The Woodlands tomorrow morning for the SHRC-TWRC inter-club competition at the Run the Woodlands 5K, I ran at 11 this morning. I took a little different course around town and it ended up being 3.4 miles.

Andrew and Karen Moving to Lubbock

Andrew and Karen are moving to Lubbock. The group met up at the park at 5:30 this evening. After a mile plus, the run was interupped by a surprize party for them at the small parking lot along side Park Road 40. We had cake, ice cream and champagne. Thanks to Kathy Cook for setting up the party and thanks to Hans for the champagne. After the party, some carried on with their run, but most of us found rides back to the parking lot at the Nature Center. We wish Andrew and Karen the best. They have been welcome and regular members of the trail running group for the last year or so.

Around Town

I ran my 2.9 mile course around town about 7:45 this evening. It seemed much cooler than the park road run yesterday. Or, maybe it was the running in a new pair of shoes and with newly refurbished custom orthotics.

Park Roads

It was very hot and humid at the park this evening. Mary Sweeten, Austin Collins and I ran roads, while the others ran trails. I did 3 miles.

Mary is Back

Mary Sweeten is back from her vacation in Hampton, Virginia (I lived there for two years). She and I ran the Avenues 5K course at 7 this evening when it was still 97 degrees.

Another Sunday Night 5K

I am getting accustomed to the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands. The course is the same as the Run the Woodlands course, which I have run more than 30 times over the last few years. It is flat and accurate and it gives me a chance to see where I am in my training. The shots in my knees have helped and I have been able to improve my time. I ran again with my friend, Ed Thompson, and we ran 33:11 tonight, 7 seconds faster than last week. If I can knock off some weight, I think I can get under 30 for the first time in years. My 5K PR is 23:45 (1987). Brian Zemlicka and his son, Chris, 14, also ran. Bill Dwyer, Jon Walk and Adrienne Langelier managed the race and did a good job.

Dog Shortcuts

I went down to Houston this morning and spent all day helping my son, Kenny, with heavy work around his house, including lots of digging. I was really beat at the end of the day - and sunburned. I went to the track a little after 9 tonight to get in a run. While I was stretching at the gate, a girl running on the track passed the gate with her little dog running behind her. The dog stopped at the gate and watched her run around the track. When she got to the other side of the track, the dog ran across the field and joined her again. When they both got to the gate again, the dog stopped and did the same thing. I don't think this dog is into the sport.