I am in awe of some people

Since I am running the Texas Trail 50K tomorrow here at Huntsville State Park, I ran laps at the track this afternoon and later went out to the park to pick up my race packet.  Had a nice visit with Roger Soler, the race director, and then ran into my friend from Dallas, Angela Tortorice.  Tomorrow will be her 71st race of a marathon or longer distance - THIS YEAR.  She ran a total of 72 last year and was selected as the Marathon Maniac of the Year.  I am in awe of some people.

Another Day at the Park

In keeping with my taper, I went out to the park this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Tapering for Saturday

With a 50K on Saturday, I am taking it easy this week.  I ran 1.9 miles on the roads in town this evening, after working out at Nautilus.

Normal Tuesday

As usual, I went out to the park this evening after working out at Nautilus.  I ran 3 miles on the park roads while the others ran trails.  Nice cool weather.

Rest Day

I went over to the track this evening, ran laps and then worked out at Nautilus.  Rest day.

Outer Loop

I went out to the park alone this afternoon and ran the 6.9-mile outer trail loop.  I have run this course a zillion times over the last 18 years or so.  I use to worry about how fast I could run the loop; now that I am over 70 with an accumulation of knee and hamstring problems, I worry about if I will trip on a root and fall.  Only did once today.

Leftover Turkey 10K

Our club held it's annual Leftover Turkey 10K, 5K and 1-Mile Run this morning.  All three races are out and back on the sidewalk along Veterans Memorial Blvd.  There is no level section on the course - all hills.  I finished the 10K in 1:18:51, not a good time, but 10 minutes faster than last year when I was running with pulled hamstrings on both legs.  Next is the Texas Trail 50K here at Huntsville State Park next Saturday.

Park Run

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 3.5 miles on the trails.  The trails are in good shape, but being a holiday weekend, there were a lot of hikers and bikers on the trails.

Run Thru the Woods 5-Miler

For the 11th consecutive year, I ran the Run Thru the Woods 5-Miler in The Woodlands this morning.  They announced that there were a total of 6,000 runners in all three events.  I finished in 1:00:44.  The good news is that I did not have the sharp pain in my hamstring.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Well rested

I ran laps at the track this afternoon.   So, with short runs all week, I am well-rested for the 5-mile race in The Woodlands tomorrow morning.  No sharp pains in the hamstring today, but the race tomorrow will be a good test.

Okay today

I went out to the park this evening wondering how long I could run without the sharp pain in my hamstring returning.  I took it easy and ended up running 2.3 miles on the trails without pain.  I feel more confident about being able to do the 5-mile race in The Woodlands on Thursday.  This will be my 11th straight year for that race.  My major concern is the 50K on December 1 at Huntsville State Park.  This will be my 17th straight year for that race.

More Pain

I started on a road run this evening and at about a half mile got sharp pains in my right hamstring.  I looped back to the track and finished with a 1.3-mile run.  Now, I am concerned about my upcoming races.  I'll try again tomorrow.

Hamstring pain

I intended to go out to the park this afternoon and run trails after the Texans game, however, the game went into overtime and there was insufficient daylight left to do a long run at the park.  So, I ran an unplanned route on the roads in town.  It turned out to be 2.8 miles.  Toward the end of the run, I had sharp pains in my right hamstring.  Darn.  Hopefully, I just tweaked it.  I will go slow and easy tomorrow and see how it feels.  I sure do not need another hamstring injury in the middle of the marathon season.

Nottingham Forest Club 5K

I ran the Nottingham Forest Club 5K in far west Houston this morning.  The race did not start until 9 a.m., so I did not have to get up too early.  I finished in 34:38 and was 2nd of 3 in the 60 & Over age group.  Luckily, yesterday's pain in my right heel was gone.

Sore Heel

I woke up this morning with a sore right heel.  I think this was the same heel that got so bad a couple years ago that I had to get a cortizone shot.  I treated it Bio-Freeze a couple times today, ran laps at the track this afternoon and it feels better tonight.

Light Crowd at the Park

It seems like some people need to work or go to school.  Every since we moved up our park runs to 4:30 on Tuesday and Thursday, we lost a lot of runners.  Tonight, it was just me, James and Jason.  Hans was also there, but he rode his bike.  James and I ran 2.5 miles on the roads, while Jason ran trails.  Really ideal running weather.

2.9

I feel like I am fully rested up after the marathon last Saturday, but I do not have another long race until the Texas Trail 50K at Huntsville State Park on December 1.  I probably need to go a long trail run a week before the race.
In the meantime, I ran 2.9 miles in the Avenues this evening just before dark.  These days seem so short now.

Back to the Park

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I met up with the group at the park.  I ran 3 miles on the park roads, while everyone else ran trails.  We had a running club business dinner and business meeting at the Asian Star Restaurant this evening.  Since I do not eat chicken or anything out of the water, I had the pepper steak.  I hope it was beef.

Change of Plans

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I was driving to the track to run roads from there.  My left rear tire suddenly went flat.  I pulled off into a parking lot to put on a spare.  I found the jack that came with the truck, but it was light and flimsy.  It took forever to jack it up and then it fell off the jack.  Finally got it up the second time and got the tire off.  Then, the special tool needed to remove the spare was not there.  I called my wife to come to picked me up with the flat.  I raced across town to Discount Tire and made it there just as they were closing at 6 p.m.  The tire had a hole in the side and they replaced the tire.  I returned to the truck and put on the new tire and then drove to the track.  I had to be somewhere at 7:30, so I only had time to run laps at the track before getting home for a shower.  Tomorrow, I am buying a new jack and going to the Ford dealership to find out why I did not have the tool to remove the spare.

Soldier Marathon

I flew to Atlanta on Friday and then drove to Columbus, Georgia for the Soldier Marathon at Fort Benning on Saturday.  When I arrived in Columbus, I ran a mile+ on the downtown streets around my hotel. 
It was in the 30's at Fort Benning at the 7 a.m. race start on Saturday, but warmed up quickly during the race.  The first 7 miles of the marathon went through Fort Benning.  At about mile 2, we ran up a long steep hill.  They had drill sergeants on both sides of the road offering kind words of encouragement.  Nice touch.  After the run through Fort Benning, we ran on a paved trail along the river to downtown Columbus.  Then, we made a loop around downtown Columbus and then followed the river back to Fort Benning to complete the 26.2 mile run.  I ran the first half with Dorsey, 19, from Columbus.  She was running her first marathon.  I finished in 6:26:42 and she finished in just under 7 hours.  Congratulations, Dorsey.
I got back to Huntsville about 5 this evening and went to the track and ran laps.
Since it is Veteran's Day today, I will include the above 1983 photo from Fort Hood, Texas. Darn, time goes by fast.

Down to Two

With a marathon on Saturday, I cut my run to 2 miles on the roads at the park this evening.

Ran 3 today. Now time to taper.

I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening and now it is time to taper for the marathon this Saturday.

Out of the Box

I last used that title for my post on September 27, about 6 weeks ago.  The Asics Fortitude 5's I started wearing on September 27 are completely worn out.  At $100 a pair, that makes running an expensive pursuit.  During that 6 weeks, I only ran 2 road marathons and a trail 50K.  Maybe I need to start running barefoot.
I felt a little better today and ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening in the new shoes. 

Not Feeling Well

It is not often that I do not feel well.  Since the 50K on Saturday, my stomach has been hurting.  I woke up early this morning and could not go back to sleep.  My friend, Paul Stone, who directed the Rocky Raccoon Trail Run on Saturday, had to go back home to Tyler before removing all the flagging from the trails at Huntsville State Park.  So, I went out there this morning and walked about 2 miles of trails and removed the flagging.  I layed around much of the day, but I did go to the track this afternoon and run laps. Later, I went to Nautilus for a light workout.

Sunday Night 5K

For the 33rd time, I went down to The Woodlands this evening for the Sunday Night 5K, put on by The Woodlands Running Club.  Bill Dwyer and Mary Carter always do a great job with this race.  I finished in 37:58.  I felt reasonably well after the 50K yesterday.  At least, there were no roots on the concrete walkway.  Not a single fall during the entire 5K.

Rocky Raccoon 50K

I got up at 4:30 this morning and got out to Huntsville State Park for a 6 a.m. start of the Rocky Raccoon 50K.  This was the 12th straight year I have run the Rocky Raccoon 25K or 50K  The weather was clear, but it was unusally hot for this race.  We ran with flashlights for the first hour.  I finished in 9:22:36, a far cry from my 6:35:25 50K PR a few years ago.  I tripped on roots and fell several times and my body is sore tonight.  It is really frustrating.  It's not the roots you see, it's the ones hidden by pine needles and leaves.  I looked like Pig Pen when I finished.  Anyway, this was my 20th 50K race and I have another one on Dec. 1 and a trail marathon in February.  Maybe, I will retire from trail running after that and stick to smooth roads.

Getting Ready

I ran laps at the track this afternoon and then went out to Huntsville State Park this evening, first to pick up my packet for the Rocky Raccoon 50K tomorrow morning and then to set up our running club's aid station on the back side of the park.  Phillip and Donna and her two sons and I drove back there and set everything up.  It always seems odd driving the jeep trails that I have run so many times.

Resting Up

We had a nice crowd at the park this evening, including Karen, who ran with us and left town 3 years ago.  She was back for a visit to Huntsville.  Good to see her.  I am resting up for my 50K on Saturday, so I just ran 2 miles on the park roads.