Wrapping up the Year

To rest up for the marathon tomorrow, I went to the track and ran a mile this afternoon. I am suspending my workouts at Nautilus until I get those stitches out of my back. Except for breaking my streak for 4 days in October, this has been a good running year. I completed 45 races in 2009, up from 39 in 2008. Here are the distances:
50K (31 miles) - 2
Marathons - 6
18.2 miles -1
25K (15.5 miles) - 1
Half Marathon (13.1 miles) - 1
10K (6.2 miles) - 3
5 miles - 1
3.9 miles - 1
3.85 miles - 1
3.5 miles - 1
5K (3.1 miles) - 26
3.0 miles - 1

Streak Commemoration Run

John Wallace III of Seattle and his father, John Wallace, Jr. of Ishpeming, Michigan, both completed 20-year running streaks today. Also, Mark Washburne of Mendham, New Jersey completed 20 years today. I have gotten to know both John and his father through the U. S. Running Streak Assn. In 2004, John III completed a cross-country run of 3,800+ miles from Washington state to Georgia and he did it without a support vehicle. Click here for his web site. In 2007, John, Jr. and his wife, Karen, completed a run from Michigan to Mississippi. Click here for their web site. Karen has a current streak of 4+ years. I am in awe of these runners.
To commemorate their 20-year streak, John III set up a 4-mile run in Seattle and invited everyone to join him there or wherever they live. So, I ran 4 miles this afternoon on Veterans Memorial Parkway in Huntsville to commemorate their streak. Congratulations to all of them.

Last Surgery

I went down to The Woodlands today and got the stitches out of my face and had more surgery on my back to remove a spot (3 inch incision). Before heading back to Huntsville, I stopped by Luke's Locker and bought a couple pair of running shoes. After getting back, I made the mistake of working out at Nautilus. That was not good for my stitches. It was almost dark when I left Nautilus, so I ran a 2-mile loop on the roads. I'll do more tomorrow, then taper on Thursday for the marathon on Friday.

Would Have Been 7

It just dawned on me. As of yesterday, my streak would have been 7 years, if it had not been that doctor who did a bad diagnosis on my knee in October. Oh well, my new streak is over 2 months now and I'll reach 7 years when I get to be 75 years old. After working out at Nautilus this afternoon, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town. Tomorrow, more surgery.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran The Woodlands Running Club's Sunday Night 5K (same course as the Run the Woodlands yesterday). J. C. Guzman was also there. I finished in 32:44, 3 seconds faster than yesterday.

RTW

I went down to The Woodlands this morning and ran the Run the Woodlands 5K in 32:47.

Empty Streets

Most of my family is coming in tomorrow afternoon, so we had a rather quiet Christmas Day. I went out and ran my 2.9 mile loop around town this afternoon. There was virtually no traffic.

Wet Trails

The group met up at the park at 11 a.m. today to run trails. With all the heavy rain last night, we figured parts of the outer loop would be flooded. So, we decided to run a 4.1-mile course instead. Parts of that course were flooded, but we were able to maneuver around the bad spots. Nice run. Merry Christmas to anyone reading this blog.

Stormy Night

It is stormy tonight, but I managed to get in a mile run at the track this afternoon after working out at Nautilus. Trails tomorrow.

More Surgery Today

I went down to The Woodlands today for additional surgery on my face. After a workout at Nautilus, I met up with the group at the park this evening. Instead of running trails and facing the chance of falling and tearing 2 inches of stitches, I ran 5 miles on the park roads while the rest of the group ran trails.

Three on Empty Streets

After working out at Nautilus this afternoon, I ran 3 miles on relatively empty streets. All the Sam Houston students are on Christmas break.

Rare Morning Training Run

If you have read this blog for long, you will know that I rarely do a training run in the morning. I much prefer evening runs. I met up with the group at the park this morning and ran 7 miles on the trails. Nice weather and the trails are in excellent shape.

Graduation

I thought my 2.9 mile loop around the campus would be nice with no traffic now that the fall semester is over and the students are out for the holidays. I headed down Bobby Marks Drive and ran smack into the crowd leaving the coliseum for the mid-term graduation ceremony. Lots of vehicle and foot traffic. I suppose from now through mid-January, it will be quiet in town and nice running on the roads.

Back to the Park

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 3.5 miles (Marisa's Course) on the trails. Talk about running weather and the trails being in good shape.

Small Group

I went over to the track this evening to run the avenues with the group. The temperature was in the 40's and the rain had stopped. I was the only one who showed up. So, I ran a 2.9 mile loop around town.

3.1 on the Roads

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went to the track and ran 3.1 miles on the roads from there. Nice running weather and no aches or pains.

Avenues

I went down to The Woodlands this morning for some outpatient surgery to remove a spot from my face and then ran the hills in the avenues with the group this evening. Since the park is closed during the week for hunting for the next few weeks, the group is meeting at the track at 4:30 p.m. to run the avenues. I had to attend a Christmas dinner tonight, so I ran 2.1 miles. I feel like I am fully recovered from the marathon on Sunday, even though I am probably not.

White Rock Marathon

I ran the White Rock Marathon in Dallas for the first time yesterday. My time was 5:41:19, compared to 6:00:20 in Tulsa three weeks ago. Not that my time was great, but it was my best marathon time since Houston in 2005. After my Tulsa experience, I drank a lot more water and Gaterade at the aid stations every two miles and after the race. Other than walking through the aid stations to drink, I ran the entire distance and finished without any particular aches or pains. The aid station at mile 19 (operated by Hooters) was so good that I doubled back and went through it again. The temperature and weather in Dallas was about the same as Tulsa and ideal for marathon running. I ran into several good friends at the race, to include Briana Kretzschmar, Dave Nelson and Beth Whitehead. And, thanks to Beth, who ran the half marathon, for waiting around for my finish.

Two on the Road

Since I am headed for Dallas tomorrow morning, I did a 2-mile loop on the roads in town this afternoon. I'm ready for Sunday.

Jingle Bell Run in The Woodlands

For the third straight year, I went down to The Woodlands tonight to run the Woodlands Fit Jingle Bell Run along the waterway. Ben went down with me and ran. Marilynn went down to shop. The run was untimed and started and finished at Luke's Locker behind the Mall. According to someone's GPS, the course, mostly along the waterway, was 3.5 miles. I forgot to time myself, but I am sure I ran fast. Other club members at the run were Pamela Walton and J. C. Guzman. Most of the runners met at Berryhill for dinner and conversation after the run. We had a great time. Thanks to Coach Beth Whitehead of Woodlands Fit for putting on this fun event.

U.S. Running Streak Association

Today, I received in the quarterly newsletter (more like a book) from the U.S. Running Streak Assn. They printed my broken streak announcement letter and then did a tribute page. That was nice. The good news is that my friend, Vince Attanucci of The Woodlands, moved up one on the new national streak list.
This evening, I ran a 2.2-mile loop around town and then went to a Master Gardener dinner with Marilynn. No running buddies there.

No Long Training Runs Needed

I suppose one of the advantages of running marathons every week or so is that long training runs are not needed. One marathon becomes the last long training run for the next one. I will be doing the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on Sunday, 8 days after the Texas Trail 50K. I have not done marathons that close together, but I think I will be okay. In any case, it is part of my training for two marathons in the same weekend in February. Scroll down to the bottom for my race schedule. I ran 3 miles on the streets around town this afternoon and then worked out at Nautilus.

Late Night Run

I was tied up most of the day and did not get a chance to run until about 10 tonight. It was cold and rainy, so I went to Nautilus and ran on the treadmill. How can anybody do that on a regular basis?

Sunday Track Run

Obviously, after the 50K yesterday, I took today off and ran a mile at the track this afternoon. All my parts were working okay.

Texas Trail 50K and Downhill Dash

It has been a long day. I got up early, picked up Chris Wilson and we met up with other club members at the park for the Texas Trail Runs, the replacement race for Sunmart. Most of us ran the 50K. The race started at 7:30 and the temperature was 25 degrees and only got up to 45 during the afternoon. While my running was rather slow, I did very little walking. I got distracted by some bikers and some other runners and fell twice during the first 12-mile+ loop. Not bad falls, though. I finished in 8:25:35, certainly not my best on this course, but not my worst. When you are 68 with bad knees, any finish is good.

The club held the Downhill Dash at 6 this evening. This was a 1.23-mile run down the Christmas Parade route, just before the parade began. I'm not sure how many runners we had. My job was to take the male and female winners with their trophies back to the parade start in my VW bug and give them a ride in the parade. Fernando Gonzales and Destiny Perrodin were the winners and they had a great time.

Promoting the Downhill Dash

The club's Downhill Dash is tomorrow night and I spent much of today at Mance Park Middle School speaking to five 7th and 8th grade classes about the Downhill Dash and running in general. That was interesting, especially since it was snowing outside and most of them had never seen snow. Then, I did a one-mile run at the track and tonight I picked up my packet for the Texas Trail 50K at the Huntsville State Park tomorrow morning. Marilynn, Ben and I had the pre-race dinner at the SHSU cafeteria. Ed and Trudy Thompson joined us and we had a nice visit. Gotta get up early tomorrow. It is suppose to be 29 degrees at the start and get up to 45 in the afternoon. At least, it is not suppose to rain or snow during the race.

Tapering

I met up with the group this evening at the park, but kept my run to about 2.5 miles. Another short run tomorrow and then the 50K on Saturday.

Short Run

I had to run errands down in Conroe this afternoon, so I did a one-mile run at the track before leaving. It was cold, but it is suppose to be much colder for the 50K at the park this Saturday.

Wet Park Run

The group at the park this evening was rather small - me and John. We did 4.2 miles on the trails and it rained the whole time and it seemed to get colder during the run. After the run, we didn't even hang around for a beer.