First Treatment

I went in this morning for the first treatment on my left hamstring. Treatment consisted of 3 different electronic stimulations and ice. Two more appointments this week and three next week.
After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went to the track and ran 2.8 miles on the roads from there.

Switching, Again

I went out to the park this afternoon with the intention of running the 6.9-mile outer loop. A mile or so into my run, may hamstring told be to turn back. I ended up running 3.8 miles. It also told me to switch from the Rocky Raccoon 50K this Saturday to the 25K. I start my treatments on the left hamstring tomorrow morning. It will be my last switch, though. I am determined to run the Fort Worth Marathon on November 13 and the Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathon on November 19.

Rock the Mind 5K

My son, Ben, and I drove 50 miles to College Station this morning to run the Rock the Mind 5K. Robert Duncan and Skipper Nethery from Huntsville were also there. Nice weather - clear, sunny and in the 40's. The entire course was on concrete sidewalks. My hamstring was hurting worse and I took it easy. I am not sure what my time was. My watch said just under 38 minutes and the race clock said 37 minutes. In any case, I was 3rd place in the 60 and over age group. This afternoon, we went to the Sam Houston State and Lamar University football game. Sam won 66 to 0.

Regular Friday

Since I have a 5K race tomorrow morning in College Station and my hamstring is hurting, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps. That seems to be my regular Friday.

Easy Trails

I ran an easy 3 miles on the trails at the park this evening. The last mile was in a heavy rain. That's the first time in many months that I ran in heavy rain. No complaining.

I hate to say it.

I hate to say it, but it looks like I have pulled the hamstring in the upper part of my left leg. And, just when my right leg is much better. Maybe I need to take up the sport of checkers. My first appointment for treatment is next Monday and I have a 50K (31 miles) the following Saturday (November 5). I may have to switch to the 25K and start my mrathon season the following weekend in Fort Worth.
In the meantime, after working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 1.2 miles on the roads in town.

Tour de Bayou, Stage 4

John, Leah, Hans and I went down to Houston this evening to run Stage 4 of the Tour de Bayou. The course was 3.5 miles cross country and on trails along the bayou near downtown Houston, with mosquitos chasing you all the way. I finished in 46:51.

Resting the Hamstring

After 13.1 miles on Saturday and 6.9 on Sunday and a sore hamstring today, I decided to rest. I ran 1.2 miles on the roads this evening.

Return to Trails

I ran 6.9 miles on the trails at the park this afternoon. It was my first trail run since September 11.

Huntsville Half Marathon

I ran the Huntsville Half Marathon this morning and finished in 2:57:27, meeting my goal of finishing under 3 hours. Got 2nd place in the 70 and over age group (yes, there was only two of us). The skies were clear and the temperature got into the mid-80's. We had a total of 422 registered runners for the Half Marathon and 5K.

Resting up for Tomorrow

The hilly as heck Huntsville Half Marathon is tomorrow. My goal is to beat my Tyler Half Marathon time from two weeks ago. Looks like we will have well over 400 runners running the half and the 5K. I am looking forward to with many friends that I have not seen in a while. My good friend, Marvin Dittfurth, and I will be racing together for the first time in many years. Also looking forward to hearing international opera star, Melanie Holliday, sing the National Anthem. I have to get there early to set up the race clock, the finish chutes and deliver the trophies.
This afternoon, I ran 1.2 miles on the roads in town. I feel like I am well-rested for tomorrow. Maybe, too rested.

Back to the Routine

I got the "Where have you been" comments when I went into Nautilus this evening. It has been so long that I felt like I had to start over. After working working out, I went to the park and ran 3 miles on the park roads. Nice cool weather.

Back from North Carolina

Just got back from visiting my daughter and her family in Richlands, North Carolina. I drove 715 miles today and went to the track at 10 tonight to run laps.
On October 9, I ran the Tyler Rose Half Marathon in Tyler, Texas. I ran slow and steady and luckily did not trip on the red brick streets. My concern was not to do anything to reinjure my hamstring. Hilly course and a temperature up in the 80's. The finish line was in the middle of the largest municipal rose garden in the U.S. Nice setting. I finished in 3:00:41 (1st place of two in my age group). However, I had regrets about not running the full marathon.
The next day, I left from Tyler and drove to Lincoln, Alabama. Got there just in time to get in a run before it got too dark. Drove on to Richlands the next day. When I stopped for gas somewhere in South Carolina, I went for a run along the highway and up and down a road leading to the local landfill.
Had a great stay with my daughter, grandson and granddaughter. Her husband is a Marine in Afghanistan. Ran one day with my grandson and spent a day with him at a Cub Scout day camp. Had lunch with him at his school twice and went to his tumbling class. Also, went to my 4 year old granddaughter's ballet/tap dance class. Got in a run everyday in the town of Richlands.
Left North Carolina yesterday and drove to Ogden, Alabama. Ran there last night upon arrival. That run completed two years on my current running streak. I still have a long ways to go to get back to my longest streak of 6 years, 9 months and 18 days.
I drove back to Huntsville today.

Signed Up for Rocky Raccoon 50-Miler

Last night, I signed up for the Rocky Raccoon 50-Mile Trail Run at Huntsville State Park on February 4, 2012. It was a new distance for me last year and I enjoyed the experience. Hopefully, this year it will be cold again, but hopefully, no icy bridges.
This morning, I went over to College Station to run the Ram Run 5K. I did not realize that it was Cross Country. With this drought in Texas, the ground in cracked. So, I had to be careful not to trip in one of the crevaces. I finished in 38:46, which was good enough for 1st place in my age group. Actually, any time would have been good enough, since I was the only one there 70 and over.

Friday Off

Since I have a 5K race tomorrow and a half marathon the next day, I took today off and ran laps at the track. Besides, we have a 30% chance of rain today and I want to sit on the back porch and watch for it.

Switching to the Half Marathon on Sunday

I am definitely switching from the Tyler Rose Marathon to the Half Marathon on Sunday. With my training, or lack of it, in the past few weeks, even the half marathon will be a challenge. I was in for a treatment on my hamstring today and it will probably be my last. Most of the pain is gone; I just have to build strength.
In the meantime, I am staying off the trails at the park. I went out there this evening and ran 3 miles on the park roads, while the rest of the group ran trails.

5 Miles

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 5 miles on the roads in town. Ran into Jesse Parker, SHSU Cross Country Coach, walking his dog by the Huntsville Prison Unit. We stopped and visited for a while.

Tour de Bayou, Stage 1

I met up with John and Leah this evening and we drove down to Hans' house in Conroe. From there, we all went down to Houston for Stage 1 of the fall Tour de Bayou series. The race is in what looks like a large bowl. You run up and down the steep banks and some on the rim of the bowl. All cross country. They said the course was 2.9 miles. I think I got off the course and ran a little extra. In any case, I finished in about 37 minutes. Nice cool weather, and, of course, no mud. I had another treatment on my hamstring this morning and it felt okay this evening. I am just anxious to get through the half marathon in Tyler this weekend without messing it up.

Signed up for Fort Worth Marathon

I just signed up for the Fort Worth Marathon, which will be on November 13, one week after the Rocky Raccoon 50K and one week before the Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathon. I ran Fort Worth last year and had one of my fastest times.
I received my new $500 custom orthotics in the mail today and ran in them this evening. For that much money, they should have little jet engines or something. In any case, I ran 2.9 miles on the roads in town and they were very comfortable.

Catching Up

I ran laps at the track Friday before heading for Wylie (northeast of Dallas) to spend the weekend with my son and his family. On Saturday morning, I ran the St. Anthony's Fall Festival 5K in Wylie. Good running weather and a flat course. I finished in 38:01. While this was still way off my normal 5K time, it was much better than the 46:50 for my 5K one week earlier. My hamstring is obviously getting better. I was the only one in my age group, so I picked up a 1st in age group medal. Also won a door prize ($20 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods). I drove back to Huntsville this afternoon and got back just in time to drive 49 miles down to The Woodlands for the Sunday Night 5K - for the 23rd time. I finished in 36:37.