The Year in Review

I started 2012 with pulled hamstrings on both sides and repulled the right hamstring in mid-February.  Even though I had to skip some marathons that I had signed up for and switched to half marathon in others, I still managed to complete 3 marathons by spring.  This fall, I have completed 2-50K's and 5 marathons.  That gives me a total of 10 marathons or longer for 2012.  While I did not complete as many marathons as I would have liked, I ran everyday in 2012 and completed 55 races of various distances.
Tomorrow, I am running the Texas Marathon in Kingwood (near Houston) for the 6th straight year.  The weather forecast calls for a 80 percent chance of rain at the start and a temperature of 50+ during the race.  Jim Simpson from California is scheduled to be there and run his 1,000th marathon.  Also, Larry Macon of San Antonio.  Yesterday, he broke his own world record after completing his 157th marathon in 2012.  Tomorrow, will be my 90th marathon in my life time.  I may have the most marathons on my block, but I have to put it in perspective.  It is absolutely amazing what people can accomplish.
This afternoon, I went to the track and ran laps in the rain, resting up for tomorrow.

Trails

In between football games this afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 3+ miles on the trails.

Roads

I ran 2.6 miles on the roads in town this afternoon.  It was 49 degrees, but felt colder.

Would Have Been

It dawned on me today that yesterday would have been completion of a 10-year running streak - if that darn doctor had not misdiagnosed my knee problem in October 2009 and made me miss those 4 days.  Oh well, I'll just be a lot older when I reach the 10-year mark.  It was late when I got around to running today.  I worked out at Nautilus and then went to the track and ran laps in the cold wind.

Cold and Rainy

The group was suppose to meet up at the park this evening.  However, it was cold and rainy.  So, it was just me and my visiting, son, George.  I ran 3 miles on the roads and George ran 3.5 on the trails and was waiting at the truck when I finished.

More Family

We had more family in today and again, I ate too much.  It was very cold today, but I did get in a 2.4-mile run on the roads in town this afternoon.  It is really nice running the roads with so little traffic.

Merry Christmas

We had storms early this morning and 20 mph winds most of the day.  This afternoon, the temperature dropped rapidly and it is suppose to get down to 28F tonight.  Before family started arriving early this afternoon for a Christmas celebration, I went into town and ran 3 miles on the roads.

Queasy

Except for sinus infections every couple of years, I have not been sick since I started streaking.  However, my stomach felt queasy most of day and I laid around.  I ran 1.6 miles on the roads this evening and felt better tonight.  I have relatives coming in for Christmas tomorrow.  Sure do not want to be in bed.

Empty Streets

When I went out to run the streets in town today, the streets were nearly empty.  I think that everyone at Wal-Mart.  In any case, I ran a 2-mile loop.  I have another marathon to run on January 1, so I will take it easy until then.  That's whats nice about running a marathon every week or so.  No long boring training runs.  Tonight, I signed up for the Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon on March 17.

Looking Up

Things are looking up.  The world did not end yesterday and starting today, the days are getting longer.  The results of yesterday's marathon (actually 28 miles) were posted today.  My time was 7:45:49.  I was very surprized that I was 3rd of 7 in my 70 and over age group.  Overall, I placed 310 out of 334 finishers.  I felt good today and went over to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

End of the World Marathon

I am almost too tired and sleepy to write this report.  I drove down to Humble near Houston this morning for the End of the World Marathon.  It was a one-time race, but they are having the Day After the End of the World Marathon tomorrow at the same place.  Except for about 1 tenth of a mile, the entire race was held off road.  High grass, ruts, mud, rocks, roots, deep sand, some nice hard ground.  The course was 4 loops of 6.55 miles.  My goal was to finish without spraining an ankle and I accomplished that goal.  During the race, I visited with Larry Macon of San Antonio.  He is the world record holder for the most marathons in one year.  He said that he will break his old record this year with 150!  That's about 3 a week.  How do you find that many and get to them?  I also visited with Yolanda Holder of California.  She is the female record holder (no pun intended).  She said that she will break her own record this year with 120.  While I did not meet him, Jim Simpson was also at the race.  He is closing in on 1,000 lifetime marathons.  These people are amazing.  I am a wimp with 89 lifetime.  Had a lot of other friends at the race and it was great visiting with them on the course and after the race.  While few people seem to care, the course was long.  I knew that after completing my first loop.  The consensus of the runners with a GPS was that the course was 28 miles, rather that 26.2.  That extra distance and going slow to avoid an ankle sprain gave me an excuse to run about 7:45:00.  The finisher medal was 1.1 pounds.  Tomorrow, I will take a photo of it and post it here.

Easy Day

With a marathon tomorrow, I took it easy today.  I went to the track this evening, ran laps and then worked out at Nautilus.  It is suppose to be near freezing tomorrow morning, but get up to about 60 by the time I finish.

Not Bad News

One of the phone calls I was waiting on yesterday was the results of the lab work following my colonoscopy last Thursday.  The found something, did a biopsy and sent it to the lab.  Found out this morning that it was not cancer.  However, it is an ulcer in my colon and the doctor wants to see me on January 2.  So, that's not bad news.
The temperature was up to 80 degrees this afternoon in Huntsville.  Someone said that it is a record for December 19.  However, a storm is headed this way later tonight and a cold front will follow.  That's good news for my marathon down in Humble on Friday.  I heard that the new Mexican restaurant had opened on the Intersate service road.  I was running errands this morning and stopped by there at 11 a.m. to check to see if they had a meeting room for our running club meeting in January.  While I was there, I decided to eat.  Turns out, it just opened and I was their first customer.  I don't know if that it an honor, but I sure got good service.
It was late before I got to Nautilus this evening and was nearly dark before I started running on the streets in the avenues.  My course ended up being 3 miles.  I have become leary of running the streets after dark, with so many distracted drivers.

Late Start

I was tied up this afternoon waiting on some important phone calls and did not get to Nautilus until after 5 this evening.  After my workout, I went to the track and ran laps.

Signed up for next year's BCS Marathon

Late last night, I took advantage of an early bird special and signed up for the BCS Marathon next December.  If all goes well and the world does not end this Friday, it should be close to marathon number 100.  The End of the World Marathon this Friday will be number 89.
I mowed my grass today, hopefully for the last time until next Spring.  This evening, I ran an unplanned route in the avenues, even ran a street that I had never ran before.  The course turned out to be 2.2 miles.

Run between Games

I went out to the park and ran 3 miles on the park roads during the last part of the Texans game and the first part of the Cowboys game.  Apparently, my missing parts of both games did not hurt the teams.  They both won.

Willis Wildkat 5K

I drove about 30 minutes down south for the Willis Wildkat 5K this morning.  I helped them get this race started and have run it all 7 years.  I finished in 35:28, second in my age group.  Marilynn went down with me and walked the course.  She was first in her age group.

Short Road Run

Before doing yard work most of the afternoon, I ran errands and 1.3 miles on the roads in town.  5K race tomorrow.

Waterway Jingle Bell Run

I got to the hospital at 7:30 this morning for my colonoscopy.  I woke up in the recovery room a little after 9 and was out of the hospital an hour later.  I will not know the final results for a few days.  Boy, was I hungry by the time I got home.  This evening, I went down to The Woodlands to run the Waterway Jingle Bell Run.  This is a 3.5-mile, non-competitive, untimed run on the lighted walkway along the waterway in The Woodlands Mall.  It is beautifully decorated at Christmas.  My intention was to only run 2 miles.  However, I felt okay and ran the whole thing.  My time was 47:44.

Not a fun day

I am preparing for a Colonoscopy tomorrow morning, so today was not a fun day.  Excuse me, I will be back in a minute. - - - - - - Okay, I'm back.  However, I did manage to run laps at the track this afternoon and get in a quick workout at Nautilus.  With nothing but clear liquids all day, I am starving tonight.  I watched TV some, but all they had were food commercials.

Couple Miles

I ran a couple miles on the park roads this evening.  Then, a quick shower, dinner and off to an running club officer meeting to plan our event schedule for 2013.

Hot to Cold

It is hard to believe it was 80 degrees yesterday and the high today was 54.  Tonight, it is suppose to get down to 30.  After the marathon in the heat yesterday, I rested much of today.  This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran laps at the track.  I feel fully recovered.

BCS Marathon

I ran the BCS Marathon in College Station this morning.  Hot and humid.  I ran the whole thing, except for walking through the aid stations and taking on plenty of fluids.  My hydration seemed to be okay, but I did drink 3 bottles of water on the way back to Huntsville after the race.  The race director said that 10 runners were transported to the hospital.  Luckily, the storm and rains held off until later this evening.  The course was mostly flat and much of the surface concrete.  A lady working at one of the aid stations, said:  "You ran this last year, I remember your knee."  I'm glad I am known for something.  I finished in 6:17:54 and received a second medal for 3rd place in the 70 and Over age group.  This was a well-managed race.  A long sleeve race T-shirt, plenty of great aid stations, nice finisher medal, finisher T-shirt and lots of food and drinks after the race.

Marathon Expo

I ran laps this morning and then went over to College Station to pick up my packet for the BCS Marathon tomorrow and visit the Expo.  Nice to visit with some friends there.  The temperature at the start is suppose to be 69 degrees, with 93% humidity and a 20% chance of rain.  By the time I finish, it will be 80 degrees, 63% humidity and a 45% chance of rain.  It should be an interesting day.  I just want to get it over with - and not be struck by lightning.

Another taper

With the 50K last Saturday and a marathon this Sunday, I have had an easy week.  Peaked out at 3 miles.  I ran 1.9 miles on the roads in town this evening.  I have to go 50 miles over to College Station tomorrow to get my race packet for Sunday.

Alone at the Park

After working out at Nautilus, I went out to the park to meet up with the group.  I was the group.  With the park being closed for part of this week, I assume that everyone else thought the park was still closed.  So, I ran 3 miles on the park roads.  This evening, I had a meeting at my house with our running club president, Darren Grant, and Willie Fowlkes of The Woodlands to discuss a new 10-mile race in Huntsville next April 6 as part of a new Texas 10 Series.

Ran out of time

I got started late on my Nautilus and running routine this evening.  I ended up only having time for a 1.3-mile road run before having to get home, showered, dressed and off to my wife's 6 p.m. Master Gardener annual dinner.  And, I ate too much. 

Park closed early today

The park closed at 5 p.m. today and will reopen on Thursday.  For several weeks each year in December and January, they close for controlled hunting.  I would not want to be a squirell at Huntsville State Park for the next couple of days.  I went out there earlier this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the park roads.  Scott and James were out there running.

Back to my Bug

I am having transmission problems on my truck and had to take it in to the dealership early this morning and leave it for a few days.  So, I had to get out my 74 VW Bug Convertible for transportation.  It's been in the garage collecting dust for a year with a For Sale sign in the window.  In fact, I have not driven it for six months.  I spent a part of the day getting it inspected and cleaning it up. 
Since I ran 34.1 miles this weekend, I took today off and ran 1.3 miles on the roads in a brand new pair of running shoes.  The old ones were completely worn out.  I first wore them on the 6th of November, so they lasted less than a month.  And, I wore an old pair of shoes for the 50K trail run on Saturday and the 5K on Sunday.  Maybe I need to start running barefooted.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 37:08.  Last month, I ran the same race the day after the Rocky Raccoon 50K and finished in 37:58.  So, I made a little improvement.

Texas Trail 50K

For the 17th consecutive year, I ran the Texas Trail 50K (31 miles) at Huntsville State Park today.  My PR for this race is 6:33:25 (1999 at age 58).  The weather has varied over the years, but it is usually cold.  Sometimes very muddy.  Today, the temperature got up to 80 degress, with humidity in the high 90's.  I felt really drained early in the race and worried a lot about hydration.  I carried a water bottle between aid stations and always emptied it before the next aid station.  I finished in a disappointing 9:46 something, 30 minutes slower than the Rocky Raccoon 50K at the park last month.  I suppose it was the heat.  On the bright side, I only tripped on roots twice and fell down and got to visit with many good friends.  My thinking at this point is to make this my last 50K.  It is just not fun to zig zag and dodge roots for 31 miles.  My wife, Marilynn, came out to the park and was there for my finish.