Easy Two

Due to a couple hamstring pains late in my run yesterday, I did an easy 2 miles on the roads at the park this evening.  No problem with the hamstring, but it was hot and humid.  Guess you expect that on the last day of July in Texas.

Avenues 5K with Mary

I ran the hilly Avenues 5K course this evening with my old running buddy, Mary Jenke.  She is starting to train for the Huntsville Half on October 27.  Late in the run going up the steep hill on Avenue O, I felt some pain in my right hamstring.  Ugh!  Sure do not want that injury again.  I took it easy and finished up the run.  Short run tomorrow.

Marathon Training has Begun

I started my marathon training today with a 7.5-mile run on the streets in town this evening.  It was hot, but I planned my route so I could stop at my truck once and get more water.  With my first marathon of the season on October 6, I have just over 2 months to train.  The longer run today was much more comfortable than the long runs last fall with pulled hamstrings.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I drove down for the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning.  This race is held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month, but I have not run it for some time.  It was hot, but I thought I was running well.  I was surprized by my slow 37:23 finish.
I went back down to The Woodlands tonight for a party hosted by John and Gina Slate.  It was to celebrate John's upcoming Leadville 100-Mile Trail Run in Colorado.  It was nice party and I wish John the best of luck at Leadville.

Friday Routine

As I do on most Fridays before a Saturday race, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Went to the Park Twice

I spent most of the afternoon at the state park fishing with my son.  We did not catch anything.  Guess it was too hot.  Then, I went back to the park this evening and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Three More

I ran a 3-mile course on the roads in town this evening.  It is hot, but nothing compared to the heat wave/drought last summer.  In fact, I still have green grass in my yard.

Three at the Park

We had a nice crowd for our trail run at the park this evening.  Even had some new people.  It was also good to have Callye back from her surgery.  I am still off the trails and my hamstrings continue to improve.  I ran 3 miles on the park roads while everyone else ran trails.

Visiting Family

I had visiting family today, but I managed to squeeze in a short workout at Nautilus and a 1.3-mile road run.

Muggy

It was very muggy today and I had a sluggish 4.5 mile run on the roads in town.

Rock Island 4H Hempstead Watermelon Festival 5K

I drove a little over an hour to Hempstead this morning for the Rock Island 4H Hempstead Watermelon Festival 5K.  I ran this race in 1996 (28:03) and they have not had it since until this year.  The course was fairly flat and through neiborhoods near downtown and the Watermelon Festival.  Rather small, less than 100 runners.  The course seemed accurate and I thought I ran fairly well.  I finished in 34:53, which was my best time since pulling and tearing my hamstrings last summer and fall.  I finished 2nd of 4 or 5 in the 60 and over age group.  Besides a 2nd place medal, I was given a framed certificate for being the oldest runner in the race.  Then, I also got a free watermelon.  What a deal!
After the race, I drove over to Fleet Feet in The Woodlands to return the Saucony shoes I bought in May.  I ran in them for 29 days (69 miles) and the right heel wore out.  They gave me store credit for the full price of the shoes.  That was nice of them.  I will buy another pair of Asics from them when they get them in.

Yard Work

I spent most of the hottest part of the day doing yardwork.  With all the rain this summer, I have to mow and trim every few days.  It is such a contrast to the drought last summer.  Since I have a race tomorrow, I did a short 1.5-mile run on the roads in town this evening.

Houston Today

I picked up the brochures/entry forms for the 34th Annual Huntsville Half & Quarter Marathon & 5K Run/Walk from the printer this morning and then drove south and distributed them at running stores and other places in The Woodlands and in Houston.  It was a 190-mile drive.  When I returned, I worked out at Nautilus, distributed some at places locally and then ran 2 miles on the roads at the park.  The race is on October 27.

Cross Training

My left foot was still sore today, so I removed the new custom orthotics and replaced them with the old ones.  I will see if that makes a difference.  I ran laps this afternoon and decided I needed some cross training.  So, I went fishing.

Bald headed rooster somewhere

I ran laps at the track early this afternoon and then had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon for Synvisc injections in both knees.  I have arthritis under both knee caps and Synvisc is a lubricate that works for 15 to 18 months.  Synvisc is the stuff from a rooster's cone.  So, there is a bald headed rooster out there somewhere and I appreciate his donation.  This is the third time I have received the injections and they work great.

Stormy Weather

After working out at Nautilus, I went out for a run on the streets.  A storm was moving in, but I managed to get in 2.4 miles.  My left foot is sore (feels like plantar fasciitis).  I sure do not need that now.  Many years ago, I had surgery on that foot to fix that problem.  So, I am not sure what the problem is.  I iced it when I got home and will take it easy for a few days.

Day 1 of the Next Thousand

My run today was the first of the next thousand days.  It rained early this afternoon as we drove down to Houston for lunch with my son and niece.  The sun was out when we left the restaurant and we stopped at a couple of stores on the way back to Huntsville.  I ran 2.7 miles on the roads in town this evening.  I felt sluggish as the humidity was very high.

1,000 and 600

I ran the Dog Days 5K here in Huntsville this morning.  Today was my 1,000th consecutive day of running.  I have been at the 1,000 mark twice on previous streaks, even got over 2,000 on one.  The race was my 600th since I started racing in 1983.  I finished the race this morning in 37:15.

Mushrooms

With all the rain lately, my yard is full of mushrooms.  I have enough to put Monterey Mushrooms out of business.  While it is not raining this morning and the grass was fairly dry, I went out to mow the lawn.  I made one swath through the yard and then there was a sudden downpour for 5 minutes.  So, when the rain let up, I finished mowing anyway.
Since I have a race in the morning, I went over to Veterans Memorial Blvd. and ran a mile plus.  Day 999.

Sun was shining

The sun was actually shining when the group met at the park this evening.  I did my normal 2 miles on the park roads, while the others ran trails.  Day 998!

Cooler, but very humid

It was cloudy all day, with some light rain.  With that, it was very humid.  I ran 4.8 miles on the roads in town this evening and was completely soaked in sweat when I finished.  It was day 997 of my current running streak.  I will run the Dog Days 5K on Saturday.  That will be 1,000 and my 600th race.

Birthday Party Today

Once a year, we have a birthday party at the park for several members of our trail running group who have a brithday in the summer.  We meet at a parking lot just outside of the park and most of the spouses also attend.  Most of us run before the party starts.  I did 2 miles on the park roads before joining the party.  It was raining when we arrived at the park, but luckily it stopped soon afterwards and the party was dry.

Run between rains

We had a lot of rain this afternoon (still no complaining).  After working out at Nautilus, I ran the roads around town.  The lightning got close during my run and I cut it off at 2.9 miles.

Much needed rain

The rain was all around us yesterday, but we missed out at my house.  However, we finally got some this afternoon and chances look good for the week.  In any case, so much more than last year.  I still have grass in my yard.  I ventured out this evening and ran 2 miles on the roads in town.  I have soreness in my left foot, so I will take it easy this week.

Freedom 5K

Marilynn and I drove 100 miles up to Nacogdoches (oldest city in Texas) this morning for the Freedom 5K.  Donna Fabian from Huntsville was also there.  It was hot and very humid, but I finished the relatively flat course through residential neighborhoods in 36:20.   It was my 599th race since 1983.

Laps

I ran laps at the track at 3 this afternoon.  Resting up for a long drive and 5K in Nacogdoches.

Felt like it should have been Sunday

With the race yesterday, it felt like today should have been Sunday.  I guess that means that my body clock is based on racing every Saturday.  I ran the usual 2-mile road course at the park this evening.  It's plenty hot, but 2 miles is survivable.

Nowhere but Centerville

Nowhere but Centerville are you going to find a $10 race entry for a 5K with a T-shirt, 14-inch trophy for 2nd in age group and refreshments after the race.  My wife and son and drove up to Centerville for Stu's Country Mile 5K this morning.  This was my 17th consecutive year for running this race.  I finished in 37:38 and got 2nd in the 66 and over age group.  My wife walked the distance and came in last place.  However, she won 1st in her age group win and came home with a bigger trophy.  We had a lot of club members there and, as usual, we all went to the Town Cafe for breakfast before watching the 4th of July parade around the downtown square.

Centerville Tomorrow

Tomorrow, I will be running Stu's Country Mile 5K in Centerville, 45 minutes north of Huntsville.  It was in that race last year that I pulled the hamstring in my right leg.  Later, I tore the hamstring above the knee in my right leg and then pulled the hamstring in my left leg.  Then, in February, I fell and repulled the one in my left leg.  It has been a tough year.  I have run slow, ugly and at times in much pain.  For months, I felt like my legs were going to collapse - and at one point they did.   I managed to run 6 marathons, switched to the half in some others and skipped some others altogether.  Most of the pain is gone now and I am slowly rebuilding strength.  Through it all, however, I have kept my running streak alive.
This evening, I went to the park and ran the usual 2 miles on the park roads, while the others ran trails.

Back to Monday

This morning, I wrote my running column for the paper tomorrow and then did yardwork.  The column is already online.  Click HERE.  This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran an unplanned route on the streets in town.  The course turned out to be 3.1 miles.

Sunday Night 5K

I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands tonight for the 30th time.  Finished in 36:52, a few seconds slower than last month.