Sunday in the Park

I had a project I had to finish at home, so I went to the Park this morning and ran 3 miles on the roads.  The plan is to get in a long run tomorrow.

Turned Pro

I did not forget to blog yesterday.  My Internet service with AT&T was down all day and night and up until noon today.  I went to the track and ran laps yesterday, as I do on many Fridays.
This morning, I drove about 30 miles down to Montgomery to run the 1st Annual Run to the Son 5K.  It rained all the way down and during the race.  The overall male and female winners were to get $500 cash and first place age group winners $50 and second place age group winners $25.  I was really curious to see how many people would show up for the race.  I guess there were about 100 runners.  I doubt that the fast runners from Houston ever got the word.  I ran the race in 34:43 and won a medal and $50 for first place in the 60 and over age group.  Being 71, I sure never expected to even place in the age group.  The $50 cash prize was nice and I suppose that means I turned pro.
The overall male winner was Jose Torres from our club, who rode down to the race with me.  He finished in 17:23.  He won the $500, plus $50 for his age group.

Out of the Box

I put on a new pair of Asics Fortitude running shoes out of the box today and ran 2-miles on the park roads with Carla and Jenna, while everyone else ran trails.

More Course Measuring

I went out to the state park this afternoon with an engineer wheel and remeasured part of the Love.Run.Marathon course for February.  Someone had removed my markings for the marathon and half marathon turnaround points on the south perimeter road, plus I had to measure for the turnaround point for the new 10K course.  I marked them with the normal flagging, but I also moved some very heavy rocks to the turnaround points.  Maybe someone will be too lazy to move those.  After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 2.7 miles on the roads in town.

Running Activities

I had a luncheon meeting today to help a local organization interested in starting a new 5K in Huntsville.  Then, I spent a couple of hours remeasuring part of the Huntsville Half Marathon course.  Walking about 4 miles with an engineer wheel seems harder than running a longer distance.  I finished that in time for a workout at Nautilus and then a 3-mile run on the park roads.

Short Road Run

I felt good this evening, but since I ran long yesterday, I ran only 1.5 miles on the roads in town.

18 Miles and a Spider

I went out to the park late this morning when it was good and hot and ran 10 miles on the park roads and another 8 miles on the trails, for a total of 18.  When I stopped at my truck in the parking lot to rehydrate, I ran into my friend, Karen Felicidario from The Woodlands.  She was also rehydrating between trail loops.  We looked down on the asphalt and there was a spider at our feet.  See Karen's photo above.  The big ball on the spider's back are seemingly hundreds of small baby spiders.  No wonder they say that if you are in Texas that you are never over 3 feet from a spider.

Fall Fun Run 10K

I ran the Fall Fun Run 10K here in Huntsville this morning.  It was our Seven Hills Running Club's monthly club run for September.  In the 27 years of the club's existence, we had the largest number of runners ever for a monthly club run.  We had a total of 88 for the 10K, 5K and 1-Mile.  All three courses are out and back and nothing but hills.  I finished in 1:19:43.  Then, this afternoon, I drove 2 1/2 hours up to Tyler for a family get-together and returned to Huntsville tonight.  Missed all the good football games.

Friday Rest

Since it is Friday and I have a 10K tomorrow morning, I ran 1.8 miles on the roads this afternoon.

Small Group

We had a small group at the park this evening and I ran a 3-mile loop on the trails with a couple other runners.  This 10 degree cooler weather really feels good.  I have lost about 12 pounds this summer and that helps.
Earlier, I received a call from my doctor's office to tell me that the lab results from all my blood work from my annual physical and everything is normal.

Late Night Track Run

Just got home from running a mile at the track about 11 p.m.  My foot felt much better, but the pain was not completely gone. 

Shot in the Foot

I had an appointment with a Podiatrist at 3:30 this afternoon.  Just in case I ended up getting a cortizone shot, I did a one mile+ run in my neighborhood.  He diagnosed the problem as a bruised forefoot from too much pressure on that part of the foot.  He immediately pulled out a long needle and gave me a cortizone shot in the top of my foot just behind the toes.  Then, he told me not to run for 2 days.  My next run will be one mile late tomorrow night at the track.  After that, I have to get in some serious training runs for the marathon in two and a half weeks.

Annual Physical

I went in for my annual physical this afternoon.  All went well, but I have to go in tomorrow morning for the blood work.  My left forefoot is very sore and really hurts after 10 miles or so.  My doctor referred me to a podiatrist, but was not confident about a quick fix before the marathon on October 7.  I will try to get a quick appointment tomorrow.  This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran the hilly Avenues 5K course.

Rain

Sure nice to have the rain today after having virtually none since mid-July.  After watching much football this afternoon, I went to the track and ran roads from there.  It started raining about the same time I started running and never stopped.  I ran an unplanned route and it turned out to be 1.9 miles.  My foot is still hurting, but I have my annual physical tomorrow afternoon.  Maybe the doc can resolve it quickly.  My first marathon of the season is only 3 weeks from today.

Buffalo Stampede 5K

Never got around to posting yesterday.  I got up early and drove to Buffalo for the Buffalo Stampede 5K.  I finished in 35:42 and got first in my age group (I was the only one).  I stopped in Centerville on the way back to Huntsville and had breakfast at the Town Cafe.  When I got home, I took a nap, updated the club web site and then drove to Waco for the Sam Houston State/Baylor football game.  Did not get home until after midnight.

Track Run

Since my foot was sore and I have a race tomorrow morning, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.

Just Rene' and I

We had a very heavy rain this afternoon in Huntsville.  In fact, it was the first rain at my house in over a month.  It was still raining at 6 p.m. when the group is suppose to meet at the park to run trails.  Rene' and I were the only ones to show up.  The heavy lightning had passed so we ran 1.4 miles on the trails and another 1.6 on the park roads, for a total of 3 miles.  She probably had to slow down some to keep up with me.  The trail was slippery in spots, but the cool rain felt good.

Combo

I had intentions of going to the park early this morning, but I never made it until 11 a.m.  I ran a combo of 8.9 miles on the trails and another 3.1 on the park roads for a total of 12.  I started to develop a blister on the bottom of my foot, so I stopped at 12.  I have been trying to run without my custom orthotics, but that looks like it is not working out.  I suppose caluses are better than blisters.

Houston

I had to go down to Houston this afternoon and did not get back in time to run at the park with the group.  However, I did squeeze in a 1.3 mile road run before I left town.

Avenues

I ran an unplanned route in the Avenues this evening.  It turned out to be 3.1 miles.  Relatively cool weather, with the temperature being in the high 80's.

About Half and Half

I went out to the park late this morning and ran 6.5 miles, about half on the trails and half on the park roads.

Gruene Hall 10K

I ran 1.3 miles on the roads in Huntsville yesterday before leaving for New Braunfels (between Austin and San Antonio) and the Gruene Hall 10K this morning.  Last year, I ran this race in 1:16:38, a couple months after first pulling one of my hamstrings.  Sure felt a lot better this morning and ran it very comfortably.  I was surprized that my time this morning was 1:16:17, just a few seconds faster than last year.  I was 3 of 4 in the 70-74 age group. This is a great race, with about 500 runners, super post-race party with plenty of beer and live country music at Gruene Hall.  My wife and I made some stops on the way back to Huntsville, but got back in time for Sam Houston State's first football game of the season.  They won 54-7 before the largest crowd in regular season game history.  I think I got in another 10K walk from where I had to park.

Tapering

Since I did 6.5 yesterda and have a 10K on Saturday, I decided to start tapering today.  Besides, it was hot.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads while the others ran trails.

Park, again

It was in the high 90's this evening.  After working out at Nautilus I went to the state park and ran roads alone.  At least, the roads there are somewhat shady.  I ran 6.5 miles and got home in time to watch the Dallas Cowboys beat the NY Giants.  Off to a good start.

Back to Park Roads

With cuts on both knees from falling during last Saturday's trail run, I went back to running park roads this evening.  I ran 3 miles and tried to pick up my speed.

Unplanned Course

I drove to the track this evening and then ran an unplanned course through the Avenues.  Even ran on a street that I had never run on before.  The course ended up being 2.1 miles.

Sunday Night 5K

As usual on the first Sunday of the month, I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  It was particularly hot and humid, but I can survive a 5K in any weather.  I finished in 37:08, a little faster than last month, but still way off my pre-hamstring injury times.

Signed up for the End of the World Marathon

I signed up for the End of the World Marathon in Humble, Texas on December 21, 2012.  The Day After the End of the World Marathon is on December 22 at the same place.  At this point, I am not sure I will do both.  I went out to the park late this morning and ran 9 miles on the trails.  It was hot and humid and that new Camelbak I bought really worked well.  I used up all 70 oz of water during the run.  I fell twice and cut my knees.  Oh heck, they heal in a week or so.  As long as the hamstrings are not pulled or torn, I am okay.