Hurricane Alex

As Hurricane Alex approached the Mexican coast today, we got plenty of rain from the northern bands. I had a busy day, I squeezed in a run at the track at noon and a workout at Nautilus this evening before going to Conroe for dinner with some family and friends.

Tuesday Trails

I met up with the group and ran 3 miles on the trails at the park. It was good to see Mariah running trails after a long absence.

Monday Routine

Worked out at Nautilus, ran 3 miles on the road and ate dinner at the Farmhouse Restaurant. That is my Monday routine.

Wild Animal Attack

The day after my encounter with a kitten in Bremond, I got attacked today by a duck. I was minding my own business, running my 3-mile course on the roads. As I passed the Sam Houston Museum, I got attacked by a duck. I will survive. Thank goodness, I will not have to break my running streak.

Polish Pickle 5K

I ran the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond, Texas this morning - for the 15th straight year. Finished in 33:39. Beer for breakfast was good. As usual, it was hot and humid. The main door prize was a heifer and the second was 20 bales of hay. I won neither - for the 15th straight year. My wife took the above photo of the first place kitty (I passed him (or her) in the last mile).

Friday

Since it is Friday and I have a race tomorrow, I went to the track in the middle of the afternoon heat and ran laps. Early to rise tomorrow.

Lavonne Back on Trails

It was good to see Lavonne back on the trails at the park this evening, after a long absence. Most of us ran the 4.2-mile course, but Lavonne finished on a different trail and did 4.6. After all the rain this morning, it was a little cooler - but so humid.

Felt Better Today

After being light-headed most of yesterday, I felt better today. I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads around town.

Did Not Feel Well

I felt light-headed today and spent much of the day in bed. This evening, I had to attend a visitation at the funeral home and then went out to the park. I was late and the group was already running. I ran a mile+ out and back course on the trails and then joined a birthday party in the parking lot for three members of the group. I felt okay afterwards. Hopefully, tomorrow will be more normal.

No More Ramp Romp

I received an email from Drew McMillen in Rec Sports at Texas A&M today telling me that the Ramp Romp will be no more. Sad news. The Ramp Romp was a 5K at Kyle Field and had been held for 18 years. You started on the stadium track, ran a mile around the campus, came back to Kyle Field, ran up and down all three sets of ramps at the stadium and then finished on the track. It was one of my favorite races. I have run it the last 7 years and 2 times before that. Even good things eventually come to an end
After working out at Nautilus, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening.

In the Heat of the Afternoon

I ran 3 miles on the roads in heat of the afternoon (upper 90's). It is still early in the summer, so it will get worse.

Mud Maxx 5K

I ran the Mud Maxx 5K in Humble this morning. The event was not timed and I did not wear my watch, so I have no idea how fast I completed the race. Lots of mud, water, rocks, tall grass, dust and embankments. I glad I was in the back of the crowd; the runners up front scared off the snakes, I'm sure. Marilynn went down with me and ended up working as a volunteer.

Weight

Last summer, my weight was 208 pounds. I decided that I was not going to run a bunch of marathons in the fall and winter months at that weight. I went on a diet and got down to 193 (I weighed 159 when I got home from Vietnman in 1968). Anyway, I ran 13 marathons and rewarded myself with lots of food after each one. Earlier this month, I checked my weight and I was up to 211. So, for the last two weeks, I have cut back. Three light meals a day and nothing inbetween. I have never eaten anything out of the water and I have not eaten poultry since I was a kid. My diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruit and beef. Lots of Mexican food. If they would only make diet cheese enchiladas!
My running today consisted of a one mile run at the track in the afternoon heat.

Four at the Park

Another hot and humid day in Huntsville. I met up with the group at the park and I ran 4 miles on the park roads while the rest ran trails. I am still having some issues with my left knee and hopefully staying off the trails for a while will help.

Dodging the Rain

It was not suppose to rain in Huntsville today. I drove 3 miles into town to workout at Nautilus and then run. Just as I stepped into Nautilus it started raining. For at least 30 minutes, we had a "gully washer." It stopped raining as I left Nautilus. I drove to the track and then ran 3 miles on the roads around town; water was still running down the streets, but no rain. I then drove home and found that we never got a drop at my house.

Nice Crowd at the Park

We had a nice crowd at the park this evening. The consensus was to run only three miles. Due to an issue with my knee, I did my three on the park roads, while everyone else ran trails.

Another 3

Monday routine, workout and Nautilus and then 3 miles on the roads around town. I did it earlier this afternoon, so it was hot.

Late Run on the Roads

I did not get around to running until nearly 8 p.m. this evening. I drove to the track and then ran 3 miles on the roads around town.

Greyhound 5K

Got up early this morning and left at 5:30 a.m. for Kosse, Texas and the Greyhound 5K. Talk about a small town race. They had about 60 runners and the race started and finished at the City Park. The course was on gravel and oil roads. Really rough to run on and that slowed me down somewhat. I finished in 33:48 (2nd in age group). My son, Ben, ran also and finished in 30:48 (1st in age group). Really a nice run and I got to visit with old friends and meet some nice people. We left Kosse and then drove up to Tyler to visit family. While there, I drove part of the Tyler Rose Marathon course. There are some long hills on the course - something to look forward to on October 10. Got back tonight and I am a little beat.

Resting Up

Since I have a 5K race tomorrow morning, I only ran 2 miles on the roads around town this evening.

Hot and Humid

After yesterday's rain, it was hot and humid at the park this evening. I was having some knee issues, so I ran 4 miles on the park roads, while the rest of the group ran trails.

Between Storms

Sure nice to be getting all this rain, but I had to get my run in today between storms. I ran a 3-mile loop around town today at noon, which is certainly not my normal time of day to run. Sam Houston State students are back in town for the summer sessions, so the traffic is heavier. Then, I worked out at Nautilus this evening.

Trail/Road Run

I met up with the group at the park this evening to run trails. In the first mile, I turned my ankle. While it was not too bad, I got to a road after one mile and ran two more on the roads.

Fixed the Lawn Mower

I finally figured out how to fix my riding lawn mower. It ended up being rather simple and the only expense was a $7 part. I had imagined taking it to a shop and not getting it back for weeks, while my almost one-acre lawn turned into a jungle.
The Houston Marathon announced today that registration for the January 30, 2011 race will be by lottery for the first time. Obviously, there are a lot of people upset about that. I have not heard of anyone complaining about the new $115 entry fee, though. They also announced that Houston Marathon Veterans (10 or more) can sign up without going through the lottery. This will be my 15th Houston and I plan on signing up. I had hoped to run the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco again in 2011, but it is on the same day as Houston. The number of marathons in Texas is growing each year and that is good.
After the normal workout at Nautilus this evening, I ran 3 miles around town and then took Marilynn out to an Italian restaurant for dinner.

Sunday Night 5K

The blog system was down last night and I was not able to post until now. I went down to The Woodlands last night for the Sunday Night 5K, put on by the The Woodlands Running Club. Mary Turner, one of our trail running buddies from Huntsville, was also there. She had not run the unmarked course, so I stayed with her and we finished in 35:01. There were only five runners; she was the first female finisher and I won my age group. Click here for a group photo and complete results.

Darn Lawn Mower

I mowed my lawn this afternoon. Just as I was finishing, the steering went out. I loaded it up on my truck to take it to a shop. Both shops were closed, so I brought it home and tried to fix it myself. After a couple hours, I gave up. So, Monday, I'll take it somewhere and get it fixed.
Anyway, I went into town this evening and ran 3 miles on the roads.

Fishing

My son, Ben, and I went fishing all afternoon. I was tired when I got home, so I went to the track and ran laps.

Marathon Schedule

I tend to run a lot of the same races every year. You can see my race streak list to the right. And, for the last three years, I completed the Texas Marathon Triple (Texas Marathon in January, Surfside Beach in February and Seabrook in March). This year, I also ran the Marathons of Texas (White Rock in Dallas in December, Houston in January and Austin in February). Surfside Beach and Austin were the same weekend in February, so I had to run two marathons in the same weekend. They announced today that Surfside Beach will be a week later next year, which means it will be a week later than Austin. So no repeat challenge in February. However, one of my streak races is the Sunmart/Texas Trail 50K in December and it will be on the 11th, the day before White Rock. New challenge, 50K on Saturday at Huntsville State Park and the White Rock Marathon in Dallas the next day. I'll have to think about that one. I am also thinking about trying the Rocky Raccoon 50-miler in February.
In the meantime, we had a lot of badly needed rain today. I went out to the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the park roads. The last mile was in the rain. That felt good.

Road Day

The group has been running trails on Tuesday and Thursday, so today was a "road day." After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Tuesday Trails

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I met up with the group at the park and ran 4.6 miles on the trails.