Marathon Schedule Taking Shape

My 2011/12 marathon schedule is taking shape. Hopefully, my hamstrings will be healed soon. I have appointments for two more treatments this week. Here is the schedule so far (* means that I have registered):
October 9 - Tyler Rose Marathon*
October 15 - Marathon2Marathon
November 5 - Rocky Raccoon 50K Trail Run*
November 13 - Fort Worth Marathon
November 19 - Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathon*
December 4 - White Rock Marathon
December 10 - Texas Trail 50K
December 11 - BCS Marathon*
January 1 - Texas Marathon*
January 15 - Houston Marathon*
January 29 - Miracle Match Marathon
February 4 - Rocky Raccoon 50-Mile Trail Run
February 11 - Orphan Hope Trail Marathon
February 18 - Surfside Beach Marathon*
February 19 - Austin Marathon
March 3 - The Woodlands Marathon*
March 10 - Gusher Marathon
March 18 - Seabrook Marathon*
All 18 of these are Texas marathons. The challenge will be two doubles (2 marathons on the same weekend). I ran a double year before last and in retrospect, it was not that difficult. I ran faster the second day. I am convinced it is 90 percent mental.
I got up late this morning and went out to the park and ran 3 miles on the park roads. I finished up just about the same time the group was finishing their longer trail run.

Dog Days 5K

I got up early and put out the signs and set up the race clock for our running club's annual Dog Days 5K. My running 70 & Over running competition in the race was my old friend, Jerry Flanagan. About a half mile into the race, I saw him leave the course and run into an apartment complex, apparently trying to find a place to use the restroom. I figured that he would eventually catch up with me, but never saw him again until he was in an ambulance at the finish line. He had climbed over a fence in that apartment complex to find privacy. Then, he fell off the fence and broke his hip. Later, I visited with him in the Emergency Room and bragged about winning the 70 & Over age group. He will have surgery in a few days and hopefully he will recover quickly. My finish time at the race was a slow 37:30.

Signed up for New Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathon

I just signed up for the new Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathon on November 19. The course starts on the field and runs up and down the ramps to all levels within the stadium. You finish the 1.2-mile course back on the field. For the marathon, you run it 22 times. Sure sounds like fun to me. Assuming my hamstrings heal okay, I will do 3 or 4 marathons before November 19, including the Fort Worth Marathon the weekend before.
I had my 3rd hamstring treatment this morning and have 2 appointments next week. It was hurting more today, so I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Rain, Finally

We finally got some rain this afternoon, about 30 minutes worth. I am sure that most of it went down the deep and wide cracks in my yard, but hopefully some of it will reach the parched grass roots. We ran trails at the park this evening and it was like a sauna. We did 3.6 miles. In 17 years of running trails at the park, I cannot remember it every being that hot and humid.

Measuring Trails

After my appointment for treatment of my hamstring, I met up with Lloyd Cain at the state park. He is the cross country coach at Onalaska, Texas HS and was trying to work out a course at the park for his runners. Lloyd lives in Livingston, Texas and he and I go back for nearly 25 years. He was president of the running club in Livingston and he use to put on a lot of good races. I was a member of his club before it shut down. I have not seen him for years, so we had a good visit today. We measured some trails and worked out a plan for his team.
I then went to Nautilus for a workout and ran 2 miles on the roads in town. Darn, it was hot today. There is a tropical storm in the Gulf and hopefully we will get some rain in the next few days. My yard is so dry and cracked I fear walking across it because I may step in a crevasse and sprain an ankle.

Roads Instead of Trails at the Park

I met up with the group at the park this evening, but I ran 3 miles on the park roads while they were running trails. I intend to minimize trail running until my hamstrings are healed.

Hamstrings Felt Better

My hamstrings felt better today. Maybe the treatments are catching up. I ran a new course on the roads in town this evening after working out at Nautilus. Even ran some streets that I had never run before. I measured it online later and it turned out to be a 3.1 miles (5K). It had rained in town an hour earlier and maybe that it is why I felt better. Now, if we can just get some rain at my house 3 miles west of town.

Another Recovery Run

My right hamstring was hurting today, so I took another Celebrex and ran 1.2 miles on the roads this evening.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I ran slow and steady this morning. Finished the 5K in 37:33, which was probably my slowest time ever on that flat course. My goal was not to re-injure my hamstrings and I accomplished that.

Third Treatment this Week

I went in today for the 3rd treatment this week on my hamstring and have 3 more appointments next week. It was really sore this evening, so I ran a mile at the track. I have a 5K race tomorrow morning in The Woodlands.

Mostly Trails

I was hesitant about running trails this evening for fear that I would trip and pull my ailing hamstring. So, I ran about 1.5 miles on the trails and another mile on the roads at the park. I took a Celebrex capsule today and will get another treatment at the doctor's office tomorrow. It is hot, but I have to start getting in longer runs. First marathon of the season is on October 9.

Darned Hamstring

While running trails yesterday, I stubbed my right toe on a root. While I did not fall, I "re-pulled" by right hamstring. It was very sore this morning. I went in to the doctor's office at noon for treatments. I ran a mile at the track this evening. Hopefully, it will be better tomorrow. My next treatment is on Friday.

The Rain Missed Us

We have not seen rain lately in Huntsville t is extremely dry. There were heavy rains in south Texas today, but the line of storm and rain stopped at the Huntsville city limit. My friend 25 miles to the south said that it rained for 6 hours at his house. He called me to see if we were still going to run trails today. Business as usual here. The group ran 4.2 miles on the trails and I took a different route and ran 3.5.

New Shoes Out of the Box

I had another appointment for work on my hamstring at noon today. This evening, I took a new pair of shoes out of the box and ran 2 miles on the road.

Rare Sunday Morning Run

For the first time in a while, I met up with the group at the park to run trails on Sunday morning. They decided to do the nearly 7-mile loop around the lake. With my hamstring problem, I opted for a solo 3.5-mile loop. It was still sore, but I took it easy (I have never been accused of running hard, anyway).

Another Day Off

My leg was still sore from falling on my already sore hamstring last Thursday, so I went to the track this afternoon and ran a mile. It was better than yesterday, so I plan on running trails with the group tomorrow morning.

Signed up for Surfside Beach Marathon

They opened up registration for the 2012 Surfside Beach Marathon (2-18-12) and I signed up. It will be my 7th straight Surfside. The experience is all about the weather on race day. Every year seems to be a completely different experience. In any case, it is leg 2 of the Texas Marathon Triple (Kingwood, Surfside & Seabrook), which I have completed the last 4 years. I have done the Marathons of Texas (White Rock, Houston & Austin) for the last 2 years. This year, Surfside and Austin are again on the same weekend. That means I have to do another double. However, I plan to do a double before then. Texas Trail 50K on December 10 and BCS Marathon on December 11. I need all the challenges I can get, anyway.
My right hamstring was really sore today after that hard fall on the trails yesterday. I ran a painful and limpy mile at the track this evening.

Party at the Park

Instead of running, most of the group decided to party at the park this evening to celebrate several birthdays. However, me, James, Benito and Phillip ran and before partying. About a mile into the run, I tripped on a rock and took a hard fall right on the spot that I had treatments on this afternoon. Darn, it hurt. We ended up running 2.8 miles. We did get a few minutes of rain this evening, the first in several weeks. I just saw on the news that June was the hottest June in Texas since 1895. I believe it.

5K in Town

Maybe it was the inflamatory drug, but my hamstrings felt better today. It was hot as blazes, but I got in a 5K run on the roads around town. J. C. ran most of the way with me. About a mile into the run, we got stopped by a police officer. I thought we were going to get a speeding ticket, but he was someone I knew and he wanted to harass us about about running in the heat.

First Treatment

I spent three hours today at the chiropractor's office receiving treatments on my hamstring. It felt better this evening, but I am sure the immediate improvement was a result of the inflamatory drug that the doctor gave me. I worked out at Nautilus and then ran trails at the park with the group. I only did about 2.5 miles.

Doctor Visit

I went to the doctor this afternoon to get the hamstring(s) checked out. He gave me some anti-imflamatory drugs and a referal for heat, ultra-sound and other treatment at the chiropractor's office. My first treatment is tomorrow morning.
After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went to the track again and ran laps.

Course Measurement

I went out in the middle of the hot afternoon today with a measuring wheel and measured a course for a new 5K Christmas run on December 3. The Chamber of Commerce is putting it on with the help of Sam Houston State University. I have measured many courses in Huntsville over the years. My wife asked me one time how I got away with painting on streets, curbs and sometimes, sidewalks. I do not know. The police have never stopped and asked what I was doing. After the course marking, I went to the track and ran laps.

RTW

For the 48th time since 2004, I went down to The Woodlands and ran the Run The Woodlands 5K this morning. I finished in 36:28. The hamstring high in my right leg (my butt) is very sore and I probably need to get it treated for faster healing. Since my first marathon of the season is October 9, it will not be long before I need to start getting in longer runs.

Huntsville Half

I am on the race committee for the 33rd Annual Huntsville Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk to be held on October 22. I invited international opera star, Melanie Holliday, to sing the National Anthem before the race. She called me back a couple days ago and told me that she would. I went to one of her performances a couple months ago and she is amazing. Can't wait to hear her sing again on October 22. Now, maybe I can get her to run the 5K.
It's Friday, both my hamstrings are hurting and I have a race tomorrow. So, I ran laps at the track this evening.

Hot and Humid

There was a heavy rain at the park yesterday (none at my house), so not only was it hot, it was very humid on the trails this evening. I ran 3 miles with James and a new guy, Benito.

Easy Three

I spent much of the afternoon buying and installing a new router on my computer. Then, I spent an hour and a half on the phone with ATT tech support in the Phillipines. He caught the "runner" in my email address and he is a runner. So, we talked some about running. Finally got the PC and the laptop to connect. It was a little late, but I then went to Nautilus and then to the track. Met J.C. at the track and timed some laps for him (all about 1:24). I have never been accused of doing speedwork. Before I could go run on the roads, I visited with one of our club members, Eva Edwards. She is about to graduate from Sam Houston State. Then, I did an easy 3-mile run around town. While passing through the campus, I met and visited with another runner friend, Tiffany Long.

Short Trail Run

To give my leg more recovery time, I kept my trail run this evening to a little over 2 miles.

Stu's Country Mile 5K

This morning, my wife and I made the 45-minute trip up I-45 to run Stu's Country Mile 5K in Centerville, Texas. There were about 50 runners, odd age groups and big trophies. I felt sore and stiff this morning and I may have pulled a muscle in my right leg about a mile into the race. I finished in 36:48 and got 3rd place in the 65 and older age group and a 12-inch trophy. My wife walked the course, made a pit stop at the Days Inn and finished last in the race with a time of 54:15. However, she was first in her age group and received a 18-inch trophy. It was only her third race ever. About half the runners were from Huntsville and most of us (as we have done for many years) went to the Town Cafe off the square after the race and had a big greasy breakfast. Nice start to the 4th of July Holiday.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening for The Woodlands Running Club's Sunday Night 5K. Bill Dwyer always does a good job putting on this race. I ran with Jon Walk (just back from the Kona Marathon in Hawaii) and finished in 34:30.

Saturday and Not a Race in Sight

There was not a race anywhere close to Huntsville, Texas this morning. So, I slept in. In fact, I did not get up until 10:45 this morning and only then because my wife called me from Wal-Mart and asked if I needed anything. I mowed the yard this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the roads this evening. Race tomorrow night in The Woodlands and Monday morning in Centerville.

Different Course

I went out this evening and ran an unplanned route around town. Mariah stopped me and we visited for a while. Her baby is due on July 12. Then, a good looking blonde lady stopped and offered me a beer. I was tempted. I then ran by the prison and got a wave from the guards in the towers (called "pickets" in Texas). I ran past the bat warehouse and endured the smell. It is an old warehouse belonging to the prison that is now inhabited by 60,000 bats. My course ended up being 4.4 miles. If I had brought water with me, it would have been a good day to go farther.