Pulled Something

I was sitting down this evening and somehow pulled or tore something in the hamstring area of my left leg.  Sharp pain.  The pain came back several times when I got up or sat down.  I worked out and Nautilus and then ran 1.7 miles on the roads.  Thankfully, the pain did not come back while running.  Hopefully, it is nothing to worry about.  I hate to think about what it is going to be like when I get old.

Race to Educate 5K

I ran the Race to Educate 5K on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station this morning.  Finished in 36:30.  They rented our club's race clock, so I took it over and set it up.  I was almost late.  There was a bad traffic accident a couple miles from College Station and the highway was closed.  I had to drive nearly 20 miles on a detour to make it the last 2 miles.  It was a nice small race with no age group awards or other such frills.  They did have a nice race clock, though.  After the race, I went to my favorite Mexican Restuarant for breakfast, the CocoLoco in nearby Bryan.

Spring Fling 5K

Our Seven Hills Running Club held its monthly club run this morning in the Elkins Lake Sub-division.  Sixty two runners and walkers participated in the Spring Fling 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk.  The 5K course was out and back on the roads and nothing but hills.  I finished in 37:23, exactly 1 minute faster than the trail 5K last Saturday.

Laps

After doing yard work for much of the day, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  Then, on to the Sam Houston State baseball game.  Nice clear and cool weather for the same, but Sam lost.

Late Post

I am posting a little late tonight.  This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  Then, later tonight, I went to a movie with my son.  No big deal, but it was the first time I have watched a movie in years.  When I got home from the movie, I signed took advantage of the early bird special (expires at midnight tonight) and signed up for the March 2, 2013 The Woodlands Marathon.  If the early bird entry fee was $90, I hate to think what the regular entry fee will be.

Usual Routine

I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town.  Nice weather, still not too humid.

Two on the Park Roads

While the rest of the group ran trails at the park this evening, I ran 2 miles on the park roads.  After getting home and a quick shower and dinner, I made the last half of the Sam Houston - Houston Baptist U. baseball game on campus.  Of course, Sam Houston won.

Out of Order

I had to go to an informal dinner to welcome our new pastor at church at 5 this evening, so I ran laps at 4.  Then, I went home for a shower and on to the church.  After eating too much, I went straight to Nautilus for a workout.  That was hard after a heavy meal.  The sequence was out of the normal order.

New 5K

I went to the track this afternoon and started running an unplanned route on the roads in town.  I passed the downtown square, ran in front of and around the Walls Prison Unit, through the Sam Houston State University campus and then back to the track.  I had never run this particular course before, so when I got home I measured the distance on the USA Track & Field Route Finder web site.  It turned out to be exactly a 5K (3.1 miles).

Footprints on Earth 5K Trail Run

I ran the Footprints on Earth 5K Trail Run in College Station this morning.  It was put on by the Forestry Department of Texas A&M.  After the rain came though yesterday, it was cold last night and this morning.  The temperature was in the low 50's at race time.  It is surely the last cool temperature we will see until next fall.  The race was rather small, a little over 100 runners and walkers.  What I did not realize was that the race was on trails.  Lots of heavy gravel and places to turn an ankle.  With my weak hamstring, I took it easy and finished in 38:23.  Each finisher was given two trees and I won a nice door prize, dinner for 5 at Chipotle's.

Restful Friday

I did not do a whole lot today, but I did go to the track late this morning and run laps.   Besides, it rained this afternoon and I have a 5K tomorrow morning.

Rebuilding Strength

Most of the pain from my hamstring pulls and tears is gone now. I am just trying to rebuild strength. My legs feel a lot more stable than they did just a few weeks ago. I will continue to run at the park a couple times a week, but I will minimize trail running for the fear of tripping and repulling the hamstrings. I met up with the group this evening and ran 3 miles on the park roads, while the others ran trails.

Football Game

I worked out at Nautilus this evening, squeezed in a 1.3-mile run in town and then attended the Sam Houston State orange-white football scrimmage game. Finallty got around to eating supper about 9 p.m.

Flashlight Dash 5K

I went to the Sam Houston State baseball game with University of Houston this evening in Huntsville. The game started at 6:30 and I left the game just before 8:00 to go run the Flashlight Dash 5K on campus at 8:30. The course was 2 loops around the campus. Nice race for $10. T-shirt and plenty of pizza after the race. I finished in 32:52, which means the course was a little short. Sam Houston won the game 5 to 4.

Finally, more rain

Not expecting any rain today, I started watering my lawn this morning. I was glad to turn off the water when it started raining. It rained off and on for most of the day. I finished up my column for the paper this afternoon, worked out at Nautilus and then ran 2 miles on the roads in town.

Late Post

Busy day. Church, yard work, 3-hour running club officer meeting, working on my newspaper column, guests over tonight. Earlier today (Sunday), I squeezed in a 2.8-mile run on the roads in town. Tomorrow, I have to start working on my taxes.

Hog's Hunt

I got up at 5:15 this morning to work as a volunteer at the Hog's Hunt 50K, 25K and 10K Trail Runs at the Huntsville State Park. I worked as a course guard back in the park and at the same time, manned a water-only aid station. I was there on my feet from 6:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. When I finally got home, I worked on race results for the club web site and then ran laps at the track. Then, I attended a birthday party tonight. I will sleep well tonight.

Couple Miles

I ran 2 miles on the roads in town this evening. Nice weather. Not too hot, yet.

Roads at the Park

I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening. No strange encounters, except for a couple horse flies.

Strange Encouters

I suppose we all encounter strange things when we are out running. I remember getting growled at by a bobcat while running trails and being chased by a duck when running the streets of Huntsville. Today, I was doing a 1.7-mile run on the streets. I heard someone coming up behind me and it was a guy about 15 years old who I have never seen before. He said, "You run pretty fast for an old guy. I've been trying to catch up with you for a long time." He was running in shorts and cowboy boots. He turned left and I went straight. Only in Texas!
A few years ago, I was running in the evening in July or August, when I got stopped by an old lady. She started chewing me out for running in the heat. I tried to tell her that I was use to running the heat and was always careful. Finally she said, "I hope you find Jesus so He can teach you not to run in the heat."
Another strange encounter was on the trails at the park years ago. I was running alone and saw two does on the trail ahead. They ran off, but right where they were standing there was two bucks laying on the trail. I picked up the two bucks and bought a lottery ticket on the way home, but I lost. That was the only money I have ever found on the trails.

Another Three with Amie

Amie and I went out to the park this evening and met up with the group. Amie and I ran the same 3-mile course that we ran yesterday.

Three with Amie

My niece, Amie, is visiting with us. So, this evening we went out to the park and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Three on Easter

After our big family get-together yesterday, it was a relatively quiet Easter. This evening, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Late Run

We had a house full of visiting family all day and I ate too much. I finally got around to running laps at the track after 8 tonight.

Nine Miles

I met up with Callye at the park this morning and we ran 9 miles on the trails.

900

Today was my 900th consecutive day of running. I went well past 900 in two of my previous 3 streaks. Since 1997, I have only missed 18 days, 14 in 2002 for an appendectomy and 4 in 2009 due to the doctor's misdiagnosis of a knee injury.
We had a large group at the park this evening. I ran 3 miles on the trails with the mosquitos.

Work on the Knees

I have three different problems with my knees and I am doing more work at Nautilus to gain strength and flexiblity. I did extra work on the knees at Nautilus today and then ran 2.1 miles on the roads in town.

Tuesday Trails

Normal Tuesday, trails at the park with the group. We went different directions and I think the course I ended up running with about 3.5 miles.

Short Road Run

My hamstring was a little sore today, so I ran 1.3 miles on the roads in town this evening.

Sunday Night 5K

For the 27th time, I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands. My friend, Debbie Tripp, was there and ran it with me. We had a nice visit and finished in 37:32.