Review of 2011

Just as 2010, I ran every day in 2011. That is what streakers do. I had no major injuries until late in the summer when I started pulling and tearing hamstrings. Recovery continues. Because of the injuries, I had to cut back on my fall marathon schedule. I still completed a total of 67 races during the year, compared to 59 last year.
The 67 consisted on 1-50 miler, 1-50K, 13 marathons, 1-25K, 2 half marathons, 3-10K’s, 37-5K’s and 9 other races with distances ranging from 2.7 to 5 miles.
This afternoon, I went out to the park with visiting family and hiked 2.5 miles. After getting back home, I ran a little over a mile on the roads in my neighborhood. Marathon tomorrow.
Happy New Year.

Warm and Sunny

It was warm and sunny today, so I went out to the park this afternoon and ran a 2.5-mile loop on the trails.

Long Day

I got up early this morning and drove 135 miles up to Tyler in a heavy fog. We had a family get-together and then I drove back tonight. I went to the track and ran laps after 10 tonight.

Another New Course

After working out at Nautilus this afternoon, I drove to the track and ran a new course on the roads from there. Even ran some streets in the avenues that I had never run before. The course had some tough hills and turned out to be 2.0 miles. Tonight, we went to the Sam Houston-Samford basketball game. Visited a little with my friend, Willie Fritz, head coach of the Sam Houston football team. They will be playing North Dakota State on January 7 for the national FCS championship. Willie is a good runner, but probably better football coach.

Signed up for the Orphan Hope Marathon

I just signed up for the Orphan Hope Marathon at Huntsville State Park on February 11. This is a new trail marathon and I designed and measured the course. It takes in the best trails at the park. It is just one week after the Rocky Raccoon 50-Miler, but I should be recovered. My hamstring still hurts when I run. Guess it is going to take a while for it to heal. I will be running the Texas Marathon in Kingwood this Sunday and then the Houston Marathon two weeks later. My concern about Houston is meeting the 6-hour time limit. I'll see how it goes in Kingwood.
This afternoon, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran a new course on the roads around town. It turned out to be 2.8 miles.

Late Start

I did not get much sleep last night, so I took a nap this afternoon. It was late when I awoke and I went to Nautilus. By the time I finished working out, it was dark, so I ran on the treadmill. I do not see how anybody can do a long run on a treadmill. Terribly boring.

Christmas Day

I drove over to the track and ran a 1.3-mile loop in the cold and light rain this afternoon. Still no complaining about the rain.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I ran my last race of the year this morning. Got up early and drove down south for the Run the Woodlands 5K. For being the day before Christmas, they had a good crowd (70+). It rained up until the start of the race and I finished in 39:47.
Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this blog entry.

Quarter Marathon

Leah asked me to run one loop of the two-loop hilly Huntsville Half course with her this morning. While doing training runs in the morning is generally against my nature, I consented. It was in the 40's and very comfortable for running. We ran one 6.55-mile loop.

Small Crowd

Only two of us showed up at the park this evening, me and speedy Jacob. I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while he ran 3.5 on the trails. We finished at the same time.

Squeezed in a Run

I have a lot of family visiting today, but squeezed in a run at the track this afternoon.

Trails Again

I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park this evening with the group. Despite the heavy rain last night, the trails are in good shape.

Solo Trail Run

I went out to the state park this afternoon and did a solo 3-mile run on the trails. I noticed that the wild pigs have been digging up the ground along the trails, especially down by the lake. I have run into them a number of times while running the trails, but not for several years. They seem to move in and out of the area. Certainly looks like they are in now.

Empty Campus

I went to the track this afternoon and ran a 2-mile loop through the campus. With classes over for the holidays, the only traffic was the university police. Luckily, I did not get a speeding ticket.

Willis Wildkat 5K and Wedding

For the 6th consecutive year, I went down to Willis (20 minutes or so south of Huntsville) for the Willis Wildkat 5K this morning. I made some improvement over my last 5K, but I'm still off my normal. I finished in 39:30. I guess hamstrings take a long time to heal. In any case, I was the only one in my age group and got a first place medal. My wife walked the race and won her age group also. This afternoon, I drove 50 miles over to Livingston to attend Mary Sweeten's wedding. Mary and I have run a lot together over the years. Beautiful wedding and she married a nice guy. I wish them a wonderful life together.

Track and a Football Game

I went to the track and ran laps this afternoon and then went to the Sam Houston State and Montana football game here in Huntsville tonight. Sam won 31-28 and will play either North Dakota State or Georgia Southern for the national championship (Division I) on January 7 in Frisco, Texas.

Jingle Bell Waterway Run

Tonight was the Jingle Bell Waterway Run in The Woodlands. My friend, Beth Whitehead, puts on this 3.5-mile non-competitive run every year and does such a great job. The course is out and back along with decorated waterway in The Woodlands. I finished in about 45 minutes, about 10 minutes slower than last year. We all met at Berryhill for dinner after the run.

Late Start

By the time I finished working out at Nautilus this evening, it was getting dark. I drove to the track and ran the roads from there. The course turned out to be 1.6 miles. With people texting and talking on the cell phone, I really hesitate running the roads after dark. Back when people only drove drunk, I felt more confortable running at night.

Another Morning Run

I had to take my brother-in-law down to Hobby Airport south of Houston this afternoon. That is a time consuming project, especially with the drive back in Houston rush hour traffic. So, I went over to the track this morning and ran roads from there. Turned out to be a 2.1-mile loop.

Easy Day

I went over to the Field House today and bought tickets for Friday's playoff game in Huntsville between Sam Houston State and Montana and then had lunch with my son, Ben, at the Potato Shack. I mowed the grass for the last time this season, worked out at Nautilus and then laps at the track.

BCS Marathon

Got up early for the drive over to College Station for the inaugural BCS (Bryan/College Station) Marathon. The race started at 7 a.m. with a temperature in the 30's. It got up into the 50's during the race. For me, it was ideal. The hamstring hurt, but it was tolerable for the first 15 miles. My half-way time was 3:04, compared to 3:22 at Fort Worth a few weeks ago. So, I am getting some healing. After 15 miles, it really hurt and affected my running. The race time limit was 6:30 and I was on track to finish within that limit. Then, at about 18 miles, just before getting to the Texas A&M campus, the cones on the course had been removed. I made a wrong turn and ran nearly a mile before I ran into a guy on a bike who had been working the race. He told me that I had run the same distance as the course and told me where to meet up with the course. I went back and started running through the campus and talked to some road guards, who told me that I was at the 20-mile maker. So I got back on the course. I soon realized that I was ahead of some runners who had been ahead of me. I kept running until I got within a few feet of the finish line chute. Then, I turned around and started running the course backwards. Eventually, I ran into the guy who had been ahead of me before I left the course. I let him pass me and then I turned around and headed back to the finish line, behind him. My finish time was 6:24:55 and I think I ran the 26.2-mile distance.
I was really upset about the early removal of the course markings, but there was a lot of positives about the race. Nice course and the aid stations were loaded with super friendly volunteers and virtually every aid station had a large medical staff.

Rare Morning Run

I got up and went to the track and ran laps this morning. A little later I had breakfast at the Cafe Texan on the square in Huntsville. It is suppose to be the oldest continually operated restaurant in Texas. From there, I went to the Sam Houston State/Montana State football game here in Huntsville. Sam is rated number 1 in the nation among small college and this was a quarter final game in the tournament to determine the national champion. Sam won 49-13 and plays Montana (the other Montana team) next weekend in a semi-final matchup. Later, I drove 50 miles over to College Station to pick up my packet for the marathon tomorrow and run some other errands. My son, Ben, went with me and we had pasta before driving back to Huntsville. I will have to push myself tomorrow to make the 6:30 cut-off for finishing. I know the problem I had in Fort Worth a few weeks ago.

Back from Tyler

I ran laps at the track yesterday and then drove up to Tyler for a family affair. After getting back to Huntsville tonight, I went to the track at 9 p.m. and ran laps again. Another short run tomorrow and then the marathon in College Station on Sunday.

Another Short Run

With the BCS Marathon in College Station on Sunday, I am resting my hamstring this week. Short runs, rolling the hamstring and taking lots of Ibuprohen. I ran a mile and a half on the track this afternoon.

Broken Marathon Series Streak

For the last two years, I have run the Marathons of Texas (White Rock in Dallas, Houston Marathon and the Austin Marathon). By not running the White Rock Marathon on Sunday, I broke that streak. At one time, I thought about Running the Texas Trail 50K on Saturday and then driving up to Dallas for the White Rock on Sunday. However, with my injuries this fall, doing two long runs in one weekend was out. The Texas Trail 50K is one of my streak races (16 straight years), so that was more important.
I still have a 4-year streak for the Texas Marathon Triple (Texas Marathin in Kingwood in January, Surfside Beach Marathon in February and the Seabrook Marathon in March). I have already signed up for all three. I should also be able to continue my 4-year streak for the Texas Marathon Challenge (any 5 Texas marathons in a season).
This evening, I ran 2 miles on the park roads while the rest of the group ran trails. I had to get back early to attend my wife's Master Gardener Annual Christmas Dinner. There was no one there to talk about running with, but the food was good.

Indoor Run

It was cold and rainy today and my hamstring was hurting from the 50K on Saturday and the 5K on Sunday. So, I went to Nautilus this evening, ran a mile+ on the treadmill (first time in a long time) and then worked out.

Sunday Night 5K

Even though it rained most of today (no complaints), I drove down to The Woodlands this evening for The Woodlands Running Club's Sunday Night 5K. Luckily, it did not rain during the race. I finished in 40:09, which must be a PW (personal worst) for a 5K.

5 Seconds

I went out to Huntsville State Park this morning to run the Texas Trail 50K, for the 16th consecutive year. It consisted of a 6.7-mile loop, followed by two 12.15-mile loops, to get in 31 miles. Cloudy day and rather warm and humid. Temperature got up into the 70's. With this hamstring problem, I know that I am running slow and cautiously. The race had a 10-hour time limit, but to continue the race, you had to start your third loop in 5 hours and 30 minutes. I ran most of my second loop with an old friend, Ed Thompson. We did not realize it until we approached the start/finish area that we were close to the 5:30 cut off. We had to boogie. We made it with only 5 seconds to spare. For the third loop, I got out ahead of Ed and passed 3 other runners. I finished in 9:50:30 and Ed came in just under the 10-hour cutoff. I never fell and messed up the hamstrings. Last year, my time was 8:50:40. My PR in this race is 6:33.25 (1999).

Rainy Forecast Revised

The forecast for tomorrow has been revised. 10 percent all day and then it starts going up at 5 p.m. Sounds like a good chance of no rain during the Texas Trail 50K. I went out to the park this evening to pick up my packet. Found out that I had registered online twice. Never done that before and, as a race director, always chuckled when people did that. Laugh was on me this time. Roger Soler was very accommodating and gave me a cash refund. Long day on the trails tomorrow.

Rainy Forecast

I hate to complain about rain, but as of now the forecast is 50 percent chance for Saturday's Texas Trail 50K. Ugh. I ran 2 miles on the roads at the park this evening, while everyone else ran trails.