Houston Most of the Day

I had to take my son down to Houston late this morning for major surgery on his finger to reattach some tendons and insert a pin.  I did not get back to Huntsville until after 8 tonight and went over to the track and ran laps after 10 tonight.

Park Roads

I ran 3 miles on the park roads this evening, tapering for the 50K on Saturday.

Loop Around Town

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I drove to the track and ran an unplanned loop on the streets around town.  The distance turned out to be 3.4 miles and I finished as it was getting dark.  Nice cool weather.

Anniversary

Today, my wife and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary.  I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  Tonight, we went to The Woodlands, met our son there, and had dinner.

Huntsville Half Marathon

I ran the Huntsville Half Marathon this morning and finished the 13.1-mile distance in 2:52:34, about 5 minutes faster than last year.  The weather was perfect, but it is very hilly course.  The tentative race results show that I finished 2 of 3 in the 70 and Over age group.  This is our running club's big annual event and we had well over 400 registered runners.  I have directed or run this race virtually every year since 1985 and have gotten to know so many of the regulars.  So, I look forward to this race every year, because it gives me the opportunity to visit with so many friends.

Rainy Day

It rained much of the day.  I voted and then went to the running club's storage facility to pick up signs and other stuff for our half marathon tomorrow morning.  Then, I got in a 1.3-mile run on the roads in town.  Tomorrow, I will get up early, load up my truck and set up the finish line and race clock before running the race.  It is suppose to be 45 degrees and windy at race time.

Park Roads with Scholar

I ran 3 miles on the park roads with Scholar this evening, while the others ran trails.  I am running our Huntsville Half Marathon this Saturday and the high temperature on Saturday is suppose to be 64, compared to the high 80's today.

Late Start

I did yard work this afternoon and got a late start on my workout at Nautilus and run.  I managed to get in a 2.8-mile run on the streets in town before total darkness.

Not Sure What to Do

With a marathon 9 days ago, a half marathon this weekend, a 50K the next weekend and then a marathon the next weekend, I am not sure whether to train, taper or what.  So, I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening, while everyone else ran trails.

Signed up for the Soldier Marathon

I signed up for the Soldier Marathon at Fort Benning, Georgia, on November 10.  It will be 7 days after the Rocky Raccoon 50K (31 miles), but I should be recovered by then.  Gosh, I have not been to Fort Benning since Paratrooper School there in 1967, a few months before going to Vietnam.  I really do not expect to run into any old Army buddies there.  I retired from the Army in 1984 and most everyone in the Army came in after that.  Maybe I can go jump out of an airplane after the marathon.
After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran the hilly Avenues 5K course.

Sunday Off

I took today off and just ran laps at the track this afternoon.

First Trail Run in Awhile

I went out to the park about noon and ran 9 miles on the trails.  I tripped on a root and fell and skinned up my left knee, which was barely healed from the last time.  I think it was the same well-camoflauged root.  I think I will bring an axe with me next time and take care of that root for good.  The temperature was in the low 80's, but it was tolerable.  Tonight, I went to the Sam Houston State/McNeese football game here in Huntsville.  Sam won 45-10.

Signed up for Love.Run.Marathon

I just signed up for the Love.Run.Marathon (formerly Orphan Hope Marathon) on the trails at Huntsville State Park on February 9, 2013. 
For the first time in a while, I do not have a race this weekend. 
I spent most of the day today making new turn signs for our club's Huntsville Half Marathon on October 27.  This evening, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town and then went to Nautilus for a workout.

Three Years

Today marked 3 years on my current running streak.  A group of us met up this evening and ran one 6.55-mile loop of the Huntsville Half Marathon (Oct. 27) course.  Nice run, except that the traffic was heavy due to the Sam Houston State homecoming parade near the course.

Roads

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran an unplanned route on the roads in town.  It turned out to be 2.6 miles.

Back to Normal

It was back to a routine workout at Nautilus this evening and then a run at the state park.  It was raining and only James, Phillip, Jacob, Jason and myself showed up.  James and I ran 2 miles on the park roads while the others ran trails.

Mother Road Marathon

I ran laps at the track last Friday morning and then drove to Wylie (near Dallas) and spent the rest of the day with my son and his family.  On Saturday morning, I drove up to Joplin, Missouri for the Mother Road Marathon on Sunday.  It stormed Saturday night but quit raining in time for the marathon.  I caught the shuttle bus at 6:05 to take me to the starting line in Commerce, Oklahoma.  Some of the roads were so blocked off by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that they would not let the shuttle bus full of runners take the direct route to the starting line.  We had to detour through some other cities and did not get to the start line until 7:25.  The race was suppose to start at 7:30.  So, in 5 minutes, we had to get to the porta potty and the drop bag truck.  Luckily, the motorcycle cop who was to lead the race was in the porta potty.  So, they delayed the race 5 minutes.  There were just under 200 runners in the marathon and I have no idea how many in the half marathon and 5K.  The temperature was in the 60's and 70's and strong winds, luckily most of the time behind us.  The course went through the northeast corner of Oklahoma, across the southeast corner of Kansas and on into Joplin, on the old Route 66.  We went through five cities.  I ran the whole thing (although slowly), except for brief stops at the aid stations to take on fluids.  I finished in 6:16:20, a few minutes slower than the Tyler Rose Marathon the previous Sunday.  Maybe it was mental, but I seemed to have more pains and a tougher time.  In any case, I was 1st in my age group (the only one) and received a nice trophy.
After the race, I drove a 140+ miles down to Fort Smith, Arkansas and had dinner with an old buddy that I had went to school with at Subiaco Academy in Subiaco, Arkansas in 1956 and 57.  I have seen him since 1958.  We had a great time recalling those days, old girlfriends and classmates.
I spent the night in Fort Smith and then this morning, drove 40+ miles to Subiaco Academy, which is located in a monastery.  I went up to the lake, where we use to hang out and then to the monastery.  It is a beautiful place up on a hill.  My wife and I walked the grounds and were greeted by one of the maintenance workers and a member of the faculty.  We were escorted up to the Abbot's office, who heads the monastery and the academy.  We received a very warm greeting and had a nice visit with him.  He was a student at the academy while I was there.  Also, one of the Brothers at the academy was called to meet with us, because he was a student at the Academy when I was there.  It has been over 50 years since I was there, so I was due for a visit.
We drove down through the mountains in western Arkansas on our way back home.  It took a while, but the drive is worth it.  We finally made it back to Huntsville a little after 9 tonight.  At 10 p.m., I went to the track and ran laps.  I will sleep well tonight.

Easy Week

With another marathon coming up on Sunday, I continued with an easy week.  James and I ran 3 miles on the roads at the park, while the others ran trails.

Back to Hot Weather

It is hard to believe that it was in the 50's just a few days ago.  It was back up to 87 this afternoon.  I ran an unplanned route on the roads in town this evening.  It ended up being 2.7 miles.  Somebody asked me today what I was training for.  Nothing.  I am resting for the next marathon on Sunday.

Signed Up for the Texas Trail Endurance Run 50K

I just signed up for the Texas Trail Endurance Run 50K (31 miles) to be held at Huntsville State Park on December 1.  This is the replacement run for the Sunmart 50K held there for 19 years.  I ran the Sunmart 50K for its last 13 years and the Texas Trail Endurance Run 50K for all 3 years.  So, this will be my 17th straight.  Roger Soler always does a great job putting on this race - and I don't have to travel far to get there.  It's like running in my backyard.
Today, I felt fully recovered from the marathon on Sunday.  I know that I am probably not, so I ran only 2 miles on the roads at the park this evening.

Catching Up

Friday, October 5 - I ran laps at the track and then drove to Wylie (northeast of Dallas).

Saturday, October 6 - Got up early and ran the St. Anthony Fall Fest 5K.  Finished in 36:11 and was 2nd in my age group.  The temperature was in the low 50's.  Later on Saturday, I drove 100 miles over to Tyler.

Sunday, October 7 - I ran the Tyler Rose Marathon.  This was my 83rd marathon or longer and the first since recovering from the hamstring pulls and tears from July 2011 to February 2012.  The race was little late getting started.  The head timing guy had stopped for coffee in Canton, Texas and got mugged by a couple guys.  He had two ribs broken and ended up in the hospital.  Others had to travel to Canton to get the timing equipment.  Thus, the race was a little late getting started.  It was overcast all day and the temperature was in the 50's all during the race.  Perfect weather.  When I ran this same marathon two years ago, the temperature was in the high 80's.  The course was very hilly, but I suppose I am use to that.  I ran the whole distance, except for brief walks at the aid stations.  As usual, I had pains here and there during the race (including the hamstrings), but no injuries or blisters.  I finished the first half in 2:58 and the whole marathon in about 6:12.  Apparently, they had more timing system problems and my official finish time is still not posted.  They did tell me that I was 2nd in my age group and gave me a nice trophy, in addition to a finisher medal and a rose bush.

Monday, October 8 -  I slept in this morning and then drove back to Huntsville late this morning.  This evening, I went back to my routine workout at Nautilus.  I was still a little stiff today and ran laps at the track this evening.  No long runs this week and another marathon on Sunday.

New Streak List

Today, I received my quarterly magazine from the U.  S. Running Streak Association,  http://www.runeveryday.com.  I always look forward to reading the many stories about what people have done to keep streaks alive, stories about others who had to break their streak and the many accomplishments of the members of the Association.  I am member 23 of 446.  Great organization!  With my current streak, I am 285 on the list of 384.  That's the same spot as 3 months ago.  Some people ahead of you drop off the list and others with streaks longer than yours are added to the list ahead of you.  So, it is hard to move up.  If I had not broken my streak with the knee problem and taken those four days off in 2009, I would be 149 on the list and approaching 10 years.  I am still upset with the doctor, but that is an old issue.  I may be the only one on the active list with 3 retired streaks, 600 days, 1,811 days and 2,483 days.  I keep coming back for more.
After working out at Nautilus this evening, I met up with the group at the park and ran an easy 2 miles on the park roads.

Tapering

I took it easy this evening and only ran 1.3 miles on the roads in town.  The forecast for cool weather in Tyler for the marathon on Sunday is holding up.  I will need all the help I can get.  I am always anxious about the first marathon of the season.  This year, especially, after all the hamstring problems last year.

Signed up for the Rocky Raccoon 50K

I signed up for the Rocky Raccoon 50K at Huntsville State Park on November 3.  Paul Stone always does a great job putting on this race.  Between now and then, I have 2 marathons and maybe a 3rd and a hilly half marathon here in Huntsville.  Weak hamstrings or not, here I come.
We had a good crowd at the park this evening.  I ran 3 miles on the roads.  Tapering now for my 5K on Saturday and marathon on Sunday.

Ten

After completing a lot of projects at home today, I went to the park and ran 7 miles on the trails and another 3 on the roads, for a total of 10.  Nice dry weather, with a cool breeze.  I just checked the weather forecast for the Tyler Rose Marathon next Sunday.  High of 66.  When I ran it year before last, it was 87.  Just hope the weather man is right on this one.  I am just anxious to get this first marathon of the season done.