No race this Saturday

There were no races around this Saturday morning.  I ran laps at the track this morning and then attended a long lunch hour meeting with the other Seven Hills Running Club officers.  Then, I left for a family get together in Tyler and just got back to Huntsville.

Signed up for The Louisiana Marathon

I just signed up for The Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge on January 20, 2013.
My son, Ben, and I went fishing at Huntsville State Park this afternoon, but did not even get a bite.  Since it was Friday afternoon, the pier was loaded with people.
This evening, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Signed up for Tyler Rose Marathon

I just signed up for the Tyler Rose Marathon to be held on October 7, 2012.  It will be my first marathon of the season.  I hope to get in about 15 total for the Texas season.  Just hope the hamstrings hold up.  I ran the Tyler Marathon two years ago and was signed up to run it again last year.  Because of the hamstring problem, I had to switch to the half marathon.  It is a hilly course, but I am use to running hills.  It is those uneven red brick streets that I hate.
After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 2 miles on the roads at the park.

Only 100

It got up to only 100 degrees this afternoon and was a cool 97 when I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening.

Even Hotter

I had to run some errands 30 miles down I-45 in Conroe this afternoon.  The exterior thermometer on my car showed it to be 110 degrees.  The group ran at the park at 6 p.m. and it was surely over 100 degrees then - with high humidity.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while most did a 3-mile loop.

Hottest Day

It was over 100 degrees in Huntsville today for the first time this summer.  I woke up early this morning to the sound of an alarm on my aerobic system (sewage treatment plant) in my backyard.  I had to get a serviceman out to fix the pump in the system and that cost me $250.  Maybe we will eventually be annexed by the city and get connected to their sewer system.  So, I finally got to take a shower later this afternoon.  Such is country life.  After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town.  I suppose that it was still over 100 when I ran about 6 p.m.

Three

I waited until about 6:30 this evening and then drove to the track and ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Polish Pickle 5K

I went to bed after midnight last night with the intention of getting up at 5 a.m.  I woke up at 3 a.m. and never went back to sleep.  Got out of bed at 5 a.m. and drove up to Bremond (90 miles) for the 17th consecutive Polish Pickle 5K.  As usual, it was hot and they had a record crowd of about 700 runners.  I finished in 35:44 and got 2nd of 7 in my 70-74 age group.  That was my best 5K time on an accurate course since my hamstring pulls and tear, so I was okay with that time.  I took a short nap this afternoon after getting home and then went to an anniversary party for some friends tonight.

Rest Day

Since I am running the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond tomorrow, I rested today.  Ran laps at the track.

Two at the Park

I met up with a small group at the park this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  The hamstrings seem to be getting stronger.  I plan to run my first marathon of the season in Tyler on October 7, so I will need to start getting my distance up next month.  I am always apprehensive about the first marathon of the season, especially after the pulled and torn hamstrings during the last year. 

Longest Day

Today, June 20, is the longest day of the year.  I started the day with breakfast at IHOP.  A young couple and their small child were at the table next to me.  The young man was wearing Wounded Warrior T-shirt and was missing both of his arms.  He ate with his foot.  We must not forget the sacrifices that our servicemen have made and continue to make to protect us from terriorism.
I worked much of the day on my lawn.  Then, I lawn mower broke and I drove 30 miles down to Conroe to get a part to fix it.  While there, there was a very heavy rain storm.  Unfortunately, it was not headed for Huntsville.  So, after getting back home, I was able to fix the lawn mower and  finish the yard.
About 6 p.m., I worked out at Nautilus and then ran 4.2 miles on the roads in town.
It's nice to have a long day to get everything done.

Back to the Park

I went back to the state park this evening to run with the group.  It was raining, so just the hardcore runners showed up.  It was Phillip, James, Craig and me.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while they all did 3 on the trails.  One good thing, the horse flies do not attack while it is raining.

Cross Training

I decided to do some cross training this afternoon, so I took my son, Ben, fishing at Huntsville State Park.  There was a 5-foot alligator hanging around the fishing pier the whole time we were there.  I could not find my good rod and reel, so I fished with an old one.  I left it unattended on the railing for a few seconds and a big fish took the bait and my rod and reel.  Ben had a second one, so I used that and was careful to hang on to it.  Ben and I both caught a Bass (3 to 4 pounds).  Nice relaxing afternoon.
This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran 1.8 miles on the roads in town.

All 4 Quadrants

I went to the track this evening and then ran an unplanned road route from there.  It took me through all 4 quadrants of the city and turned out to be 5.9 miles.

June Bug 5K

It was hot and humid this morning for the June Bug 5K in Huntsville.  I finished the very hilly course in 38:27, almost a minute slower than the same race last year.

New Shoes

I ran 2 miles on the roads in town in new Asics Fortitude 4 shoes.  It will be the last pair I buy.  After they are worn out, I will try the new Fortitude 5's that are still in the box in my closet.

No more Saucony's

A month ago, I bought a pair of Saucony ProGrid 4 running shoes for $100.  The sole is worn out.  I'm tough on running shoes, but one month is crazy.  I wear custom orthotics and need a neutral shoe.  For years, I have worn Asics Fortitude and they last me several months.  Then, they came out with the Fortitude 4 model and my big toes come out of the top of the shoe in just a couple weeks.  They did not do that on the earlier models.  That is why I tried Saucony ProGrid.  I still have one more pair of the Fortitude 4, but recently found a new Fortitude 5 online for $72.  I have those now and it appears that the upper part of the Fortitude 5 is like the old 1, 2 and 3's.  Maybe they will be okay.  I just have to find a reliable source at a good price.
As usual, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2-miles on the roads.  Biting flies were bad; I need to run faster.

In Houston Today

I ran laps at the track this morning and then went down to Houston for a family get-together.  From there, I drove my son and his girlfriend to the airport in Houston and got back tonight.

Rain when you don't expect it

With a low percent chance of rain today, I watered my lawn this morning.  Later this afternoon, we had heavy wind, rain and lightning.  I sure do not want to complain about the rain, but Jacob and I were the only regulars who showed up at the park this evening.  My son, Tim, and his girlfriend, Phoebe, who are visiting from Yuma, AZ, and my wife came along this evening.  They went hiking in the rain and lightning, while Jacob and I ran.  I did 2 miles on the road, while Jacob ran trails.

Early Run

Even though it was awfully hot and humid, I worked out early this afternoon because I had to go to a family thing this evening.  I ran an unplanned course on the roads in town, which turned out to be 2.6 miles.  Earlier today, I received my copy of the quarterly newsletter from the U. S. Running Streak Association.  It is always great reading the stories written by fellow streakers.  Some have gone to extremes to keep their streak alive.  It makes me realize that I am a wimp.

Sluggish

I don't know if it is the hot and humid weather or the fact that I had family visiting today and ate too much, but I ran 3.1 miles on the roads in town this evening and felt very sluggish.

Greyhound 5K

I got up at 5 this morning to drive 90 miles up to Kosse, Texas for the Greyhound 5K.  Nice race with about 150 runners and walkers.  I ran it once before year before last.  My time then was 33:48 and this morning it was 36:12, exactly the same as my time at the Heights 5K in Houston last Saturday.  Slow, but consisent.  I was first of two in my 70 & Over age group.  After getting back to Huntsville and taking a nap, I drove down to Houston to pick up my son and his girlfriend at the airport.

Funeral in Spring

My wife and I drove down to Spring, Texas this morning to attend the funeral of a friend who passed away last Sunday night.  He was only 39 and died from a brain tumor.  We were down to visit with him on May 18.  I did yard work this afternoon and ran laps at the track this evening.  I have to get up early tomorrow for a race.

Robinson Plantation

Darren, our running club president, and I drove 20 miles east over to Point Blank, Texas this morning to visit the old Robinson Plantation.  It is now owned by the parents of Leah, one of our club members.  She and her parents proposed it as a great place for a race.  So, Darren and I went to check it out.  What a beautiful place!  The plantation house was built in 1857 and once sit on over 3,000 acres.  Now it sits on a well-manicured 40 acres.  The owners, Bill and Barbara, searching with metal detectors, have found many artifacts over the years.  In fact, so many that they have built a museum to house and display their collection.  The plantation was 8.4 miles from General Sam Houston's plantation and General Sam had visited the Robinson Plantation house many times, as well as Govenor Wood, the second govenor of Texas.  We received a guided tour of the museum and a jeep tour of the entire grounds.  Then, Leah and her parents treated us to a wonderful lunch at the plantation house.  We have some running courses in mind and will try to set up a race their later.
In the meantime, I went to the ye olde state park this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads, while the others ran trails.

Astros Game

It is after midnight and I just got back from the Astros-Cardinals game in Houston.  Before going down this afternoon, I got in a workout at Nautilus and a 1.9-mile run on the roads in town.  It was mid-afternoon and hot!

Two at the Park

While the others ran trails at the park this evening, I ran 2 miles on the hilly roads.

Cotton T-Shirts

I had on a cotton race T-shirt this afternoon and left the shirt on when I went running this evening.  I normally run in tech shirts and forgot how uncomfortable it was to run in a cotton shirt in hot and humid weather.  I ran 3 miles on the roads and my shirt was completely soaked in sweat.  No more cotton for running.

Sunday Night 5K

For the 29th time, I went down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 36:45, 33 seconds slower than the 5K in Houston yesterday.  Both are flat and accurate courses and it was hot and humid for both.

Heights 5K

For the second year in a row, I drove down to Houston early this morning to run the Heights 5K.  The course is out and back and very flat.  The surface is smooth asphalt.  The best runners in Houston were there.  In fact, there were 9 runners who finished in under 17 minutes.  Last year, I ran 34:15 and was first of five in the 70 -74 age group.  This morning, I finished in 36:12 and was third of four.

Houston

My wife and son and I drove down to Houston late this morning for the Sam Houston State - University of Arkansas baseball game at 1 p.m. at Rice University.  It was the first game of the Houston Regional NCAA Tournament.  Arkansas won, but it was a close game.  After the game, I went to Luke's Locker in west Houston to pick up my packet for the Heights 5K in Houston tomorrow.  We got caught up in the evening rush hour traffic and did not get back to Huntsville until about 6:30 this evening.  I went over to the track and ran laps when I got home.  The race starts at 7:30 tomorrow, so I have to get up early.