A Review of 2010

Thankfully, I reached my 69th birthday in May and made it through 2010 without any serious injuries or illnesses. I ran every day during the year and completed a personal record of 59 races.* This included completion of the Texas Marathon Triple (Kingwood, Surfside Beach & Seabrook) for the third year in a row, completion of the Marathons of Texas (Dallas, Houston & Austin) for the first time and completion of the Texas Marathon Challenge (any five Texas marathons in a season) for the fourth year in a row. In February, I completed two marathons in one weekend. I continued to write my running column in the local newspaper and hopefully the column influenced a few people to start running. Since I am starting 2011 with a marathon tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.

*Races in 2010
50K (31 miles) – 2
Marathons – 15
25K – 1
10K – 4
5 Miles – 1
3.85 Miles – 1
3.50 Miles – 3
3.30 Miles – 1
3.20 Miles – 1
5K – 30
TOTAL – 59

Back on Track

Today was actually Thursday and I met up with the group to run trails at the park. Small crowed, Jacob, Jan and I. We ran a 3-mile loop on the trails. The temperature was in the 70's, but it is suppose to cool down this weekend. The weather looks good for the marathon in Kingwood, Texas on Saturday.

Mixed Up

I went out to the park this evening to meet up with the group for our Thursday run. It was raining and nobody else showed up. I said to myself that they were a bunch of wimps. So, I ran 3 miles on park roads alone. About half way through my run, I realized that it was Wednesday. These holidays have me mixed up.

Late Run

I drove to Tyler today for a family get-together and did not get back until late tonight. So, my run today was a mile + run on the treadmill at Nautilus at 11 p.m.

Another 3 in Town

I ran another 3 miles on the roads in town this evening. Sorta boring, but I have to rest up for my marathon on Saturday. With all this eating during the holidays, I know the marathon will be slow.

Light Traffic

With the university on Christmas break and it being a holiday weekend, traffic in town this afternoon was very light. I ran 3 miles on the roads this afternoon and nearly felt safe.

Christmas at the Park

I went out to the state park this afternoon with my visiting son and ran 7 miles on the trails. Even after all the rain yesterday, the trails were in good shape. Merry Christmas.

Sluggish Run

I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this afternoon, but felt sluggish. It must be too much Christmas food.

Good News and Bad News

The good news is that my foot is much better today. I ran 4.6 miles on the trails this evening with no problem. My good friend, Bridgette Collins from Dallas, was in Huntsville today and joined our group on the trails. It was her first time on the trails at the park and she enjoyed the experience.
The bad news is the Collin County Marathon in Allen, Texas that I signed up for 2 days ago has been cancelled. My understanding is that they could not afford what two cities on the course were going to charge them for traffic control. Seems like that should have been considered before they opened registration.

Another Recovery Run

My foot was not any better today, so I ran laps at the track this evening and took some ibuprofen with my dinner.

Signed up for Collin County Marathon

I signed up for the Collin County Marathon today. This is a new marathon in Allen, Texas (north of Dallas) on March 6, 2011. If all goes as planned, it will be my 8th marathon in 2011 and 16th for the 2010-2011 season.
My foot was worse today. I met the group at the park this evening, but I ran about a mile and a half on the road while they ran trails. Hopefully, it will start getting better soon. Luckily, I do not have a marathon until January 1.

Foot Pain

I woke up this morning with pain in my right foot. It seems to be the plantar faciitis and I am not sure what set it off. I suspect that it is the new custom orthotics made by the Army. The process did not seem too "custom." I ran a mile on the track this evening. The pain seem to lessen as I ran, but I will see how it is tomorrow. Pain and minor injuries are frustrating.

Sunday Trails

It was sunny and cool this afternoon, perfect for running. After church and lunch at an Italian restuarant, I went out to the park alone this afternoon and ran 6.6 miles on the trails.

Willis Wildkat 5K

I drove about 20 miles down I-45 this morning and ran the Willis Wildkat 5K. I helped them get the race started 5 years ago and have run it all 5 years. I finished in 32:37 (1st in age group). I was also given a $20 gift certificate at a Mexican Restaurant in Conroe for being the oldest runner in the race. That's better than a senior citizen discount.

When I returned home and checked my mail, I found my finisher medal and age group award from the Marathon 2 Marathon last October 16. Guess things work at a slower pace out in far west Texas.

Got Busy

Got busy today and did not get around to running until just before dark. I went to the track and ran laps and then worked out a Nautilus. I normally skip Nautilus on Friday, but I missed yesterday.

Jingle Bell Run

I went down to The Woodlands tonight and ran Woodlands Fit Jingle Bell Run along the lighted waterway near the mall. Nice 3.5 mile non-competitive run and a beautiful course. I finished in 40:50. After the run, most of us had dinner at Berryhills down the street.

New Course

After a workout at Nautilus this afternoon, I drove to the track and ran a new course on the roads in town. I measured it later and it turned out to be 3.5 miles.

Signed up for Seabrook Trail Marathon

I signed up for the Seabrook Trail Marathon to be held in Seabrook, Texas on March 20. This will be my 4th straight year for the race. It is the last leg of the Texas Marathon Triple (Kingwood in January, Surfside Beach in February and Seabrook in March). I have completed the Triple for the last 3 years. So far, that makes 8 marathons that I have signed up for in 2011 and I still need to add 4 more to give me 20 for the season. I'm a little apprehensive about the 50-miler on the trails at Huntsville State Park on February 5. That will be a new distance for me and I know that I will be running the last few hours in the darkness. I have a hard enough time not tripping on roots during daylight. Then, being a streaker, I have to get in a run the following day.
In the meantime, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town today. It was rather warm after freezing last night. Tomorrow, it is suppose to get up to 75. Usually, the group runs trails on Tuesday evenings. However, beginning this week, the park is closed for Bambi killing during the week for five consecutive weeks.

Feel Recovered

I feel fully recovered from the 50K on Sunday. Back to my normal knee pain. I worked out at Nautilus this afternoon and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Laps

It was cold and windy today and I went to the track and ran laps. Still a little sore from yesterday.

Texas Trail 50K

I ran the Texas Trail 50K (31 miles) at Huntsville State Park yesterday. Of the eighteen 50K's that I have run, it was my slowest. I'm not sure why. I finished in 8:50:40, compared to 7:59:05 in the Rocky Raccoon 50K at Huntsville State Park just last month. The courses were different, but I assume both are accurate. It was unseasonably warm yesterday, but I was comfortable. I never looked at my watch until I had a mile to go, but I never felt like I was running that slow. My sinus's were stilled clogged from the sinus infection from last weekend. Maybe that had something to do with it. Or, maybe I'm getting out of shape. In any case, they had a 10-hour time limit and there were several runners finishing after me.

Back on the National Streak List

I just received my copy of the U. S. Running Streak Association (http://www.runeveryday.com) new streak list as of December 1, 2010. Now that my 4th running streak is over a year now, I'm back on the list (Number 257, at the bottom). There are four guys over 40 years and they are all younger than I, so I do not aspire to be Number 1. I only aspire to stay healthy, enjoy life and help deplete the Social Security system.
Since I am running the Texas Trail 50K here at Huntsville State Park tomorrow, I went to the track and ran laps this afternoon. This evening, I went to packet pickup at Margarita's Mexican Restaurant and had the pre-race dinner at the same place. Are there a lot of carbs in refried beans?

John is Back

John Cook, one of our trail running buddies, was back at the park this evening. He has been out several weeks, recovering from knee surgery (not related to trail running). His doctor gave him a release today to start walking. He and Hans did a short walk on the roads and then started getting hydrated early, while Jacob and I did a 3-mile trail run.

Feeling Better

I felt better today and got back in a routine. Worked out at Nautilus this afternoon, ran 3 miles on the roads in town and went to the Sam Houston State - North Texas basketball game tonight.

Nobody Else Showed Up

I did not sleep well last night and think that it was due to lingering fever. The antibiotics and decongestants seem to be working and I felt better this afternoon. I worked out at Nautilus and then went to the park to meet up with the group to run trails. However, nobody else showed up. I know that people have other things to do, but what could be more important than running. I ran 2 miles on the park roads and then had a beer by myself.

White Rock Marathon

I ran laps in Huntsville Friday morning before leaving for Dallas for the White Rock Marathon on Sunday. Friday night, I came down with a sinus infection and high temperature. On Saturday, I went to the Expo at Fair Park in Dallas to pick up my packet, Then, I got in a run on the roads in Wylie (northwest of Dallas) where I was staying. That night, my temperature went up over a 100 and I got little sleep. On Sunday, I got up at 5 a.m. and got to the race about 7:15 a.m. It was cold (high 30's) and windy and I was obviously not very comfortable with my sinus problem. However, I met up with Dee, who I met and run with at the Tyler Rose Marathon and subsequently at the Fort Worth Marathon. Tyler was her first marathon and she has really improved. Dee and I were in one of the last corrals to start. The first corral started at 8 a.m. and we started about 45 minutes later. We ran the first couple miles together and then she left me in her dust. I knew that I was running slower and when I checked my time at the half way mark, it was confirmed. My half way time was 2:59 and it is usually about 2:40. I never walked any of the race and finished in 6:14:18 (37 minutes slower than my last marathon in Fort Worth on November 14). I was disappointed in my time, but at the same time glad that I did not wimp out. Dee and her friends were waiting for me at the finish line and I appreciated that. I was really beat after the race and my high fever came back Sunday night. I returned to Huntsville this afternoon and had an appointment with my doctor late this afternoon. I finally went to Nautilus about 9 p.m. tonight. Worked out and then ran 1+ miles on the treadmill. I should be back to normal tomorrow. Next is the Texas Trail 50K at Huntsville State Park this Saturday. I will still be on antibiotics, so I will be infection-free.

Trail-Road Mix

I met the group at the park this evening and ran 1.5 miles on the trails and another 1.2 on the road. Afterwards, I sacrificed some of the ice in my cooler and put it on my sore knee and, at the same time, cooled it off internally.

Improving

Not much to report. After a workout at Nautilus, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town. My knee was better, but still hurt. I always wonder how much is physical and how much is mental.