Allergies

I woke up last night with a very sore throat and I think a fever.  My allergies have been bothering me for several weeks and it has been worse in the last few days.  I felt lousy all day.  However, I did go out to the park this evening and run 2 miles on the park roads.  I just hope I do not have to run the marathon on Saturday with a fever.  I did that in Dallas a couple years ago and it was not fun.

Cool, clear and windy

With cool, clear and windy weather, it was a good day to run trails at the park.  I went out alone this afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails.  I found a smart phone on the trail and turned it in to the office on the way out of the park.

Normal

My hip was better today.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening.  I will be running The Woodlands Marathon this Saturday, so no long runs this week.  Last year, because of the hamstring problem, I had to switch to the Half Marathon and I was barely able to finish.  This year, I hope to redeem myself with marathon #94.

Sore Hip

I am not sure why, but I had a sore hip today.  After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went to the track and ran laps.  Cold and windy.

Two 5K's Today

I got up at 5:15 this morning for an early start to go to Katy (west of Houston) for the Run for Wellness 5K at 8 a.m.  I was on Beltway 8 on the northwest side of Houston and all of a sudden, it was closed for repairs.  I got off and had to figure out how to get to I-40 West.  I finally made it, but ended up driving about 110 miles to get there.  I was invited to this race to look at their race timing system.  I ran the race in 34:50 and then spent some time with the timer.  Got back to Huntsville about 11:30, took a nap and then ran the club's Sweetheart 5K at 2 p.m.  Finished the hilly course in 36:42.  Took another nap and went to church at 6 this evening.

Ramp Romp

I ran the Ramp Romp this morning in College Station.  It was suppose to be a 5K, but, according to a couple runner's GPS, it was about 2.7 miles.  This has been an off and on race since the 80's.  The format and course is constantly changing.  This year, it was sponsored by the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University and was untimed; no age groups.  It looked like they had 300-400 runners.  We started outside of Kyle Field and then hit the ramps on one side of the stadium.  We ran up the ramps to the top, then across and down the ramps at the other end.  After running through the endzone to the other side, we ran up the ramps, across, down and back to the start line.  Then, we did it all again.  I finished in 31:50.  After the race, I had breakfast in College Station, drove back to Huntsville and then took an hour nap.  About mid-afternoon, I drove up to Tyler for a family get-together and got back late tonight.  Two more 5K's tomorrow.

Friday at the Track

Since I have a 5K tomorrow and two 5K's on Sunday, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Trail Run with Jan

Our group met up at the park this evening.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails with Jan.  Of course, she had to slow down a bit to keep up with me.

Park Roads

After working out at Nautilus a little earlier this afternoon, I went out to the state park alone and ran 3 miles on the park roads.  A week and a half to my next marathon.

Park and Baseball

I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening and then went to the Sam Houston State - U. of Houston baseball game.  Temperature in the 50's is great for running, but I froze at the game.

Late Run

I worked on my son's car this afternoon and it was almost dark before I got to Nautilus for a workout.  So, afterwards, I went to the track and ran laps.

Park, again

It was such a beautiful afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 7 miles on the trails.  Tripped once, but no falls.

No race this weekend

This will be one of the few weekends of the year that I do not have a race.  I slept in and ran 3.5 miles on the trails at the park this afternoon.  Tons of hikers on the trails.

New Sidewalk

I drove down a section of the I-45 service road today and see that they have added a sidewalk along the service road.  While a new sidewalk seems like no big deal, my good friend, John Burick, was struck and killed by a vehicle while running on that service road on October 31, 2008.  I wish the sidewalk had been there then.  Maybe it will save a life in the future.
After running trails for the last two days, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town this afternoon.

Perfect running weather continues

Another day of cool and dry weather, perfect for running.  We met up at the park this evening.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails with James.  He started running with us about a year ago and could barely make it 3 miles.  He has come a long way and completed his first half marathon last Saturday at the park.

Solo Trail Run

Since I had to go to Ash Wednesday services at 6 this evening, I worked out at Nautilus earlier this afternoon and then went to the park and ran 3.5 miles alone on the trails.  Perfect weather.

Another Easy Day

I spent part of the day working on the lawn mower.  Finally figured out why it would not start (blown electrical fuse).  Got it running again.  If it does not rain tomorrow, I must mow the grass.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Sore Back

I got my riding lawn mower out of the storage building today and put it in the garage to clean it up, charge up the battery, change the oil, remove and sharpen the blades, air up the tires and lubricate everything.  Lots of work, but now it won't start.  Guess that is a project for tomorrow.  By the time I got to Nautilus this evening, my back was sore and stiff.  Guess I am not use to real work.  I did a light workout and then went to the track and ran laps.

Allergies

After I got home from running 7 hours in the woods yesterday, I started sneezing and it continued all day today.  My allergies have not been bad for the last few months, so hopefully, this will be a short bout.  Plus, I have been sleepy all day.  I did get in a 1.3-mile road run this evening.  I felt like running further, but it was probably best not to.

Love.Run.Marathon

I ran the Love.Run.Marathon on the trails at Huntsville State Park today.  I finished in 6:59:34.  Last year, I ran it on pulled hamstrings and finished in 7:18 something.  I felt strong today.  It is one of the best managed marathons in Texas and the volunteers on the course were super.  Nice finisher medal and age group award.  I was first in my 70 & over age group (the only one).  The weather was perfect, overcast and temperature in the 50's and 60's.  No rain, except for a few sprinkles during the last mile.

Hooters

I drove my son down to Houston this morning for a doctor's appointment.  Afterwards, we met another son who lives in Houston, and we had lunch.  Hooters was around the corner, so we ate there.  My first time at Hooters.  I cannot imagine how many calories were in that burger and fries, but surely enough to get me through the marathon tomorrow.  This evening, I ran laps at the track.

Easy week

With the trail marathon on Saturday, no long runs this week.  I worked out at Nautilus, ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park and then went to the Sam Houston State - McNeese basketball game tonight.

Rain

I woke up (not early) to rain this morning.  It was clear this afternoon and evening and nice for running.  After Nautilus, I ran an uplanned route around town.  It turned out to be 2.6 miles.  I am ready for marathon #93 this Saturday at Huntsville State Park.

Seems like Spring

With all the warm weather we are having, it seems like Spring.  My grass is growing and I will have to mow soon - and it is still in early February.  I met up with the group (larger than usual) at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Up Early

I got up a little early this morning to attend a graveside service in Caldwell, Texas (west of College Station).  Then, my wife and I had dinner with family at a restaurant in College Station on the way back to Huntsville.  Got back in time to finish up and submit my running column for tomorrow's paper.  This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and ran a 2-mile loop on the streets around the university.  This should be another easy week, resting up for the Love.Run.Marathon on the trails at Huntsville State Park this Saturday.

Sunday Night 5K

I skipped the first part of the Super Bowl and went down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 35:51.  I got back to Huntsville about 6:20 and found that I had not missed too much of the game.

River Road Half Marathon

I ran laps at the track yesterday before making the 3-hour+ drive over to New Braunfels, north of San Antonio, to run the River Road Half Marathon this morning.  Perfect running weather - 50's/60's and clear.  I ran this race last year with my hamstring pulls and finished in 2:59 something.  My legs felt better this morning.  It is an out and back course along the Guadalupe River.  The first mile was a steep downhill, then the course was relatively flat and until you get to the last mile uphill.  I hit the turnaround point at 1:20.  I kept hearing a car following me and I turned around and saw that it was the sheriff.  I was in last place (of 78 runners).  It was a narrow 2-lane road and there was a lot of traffic.  While I was a little embarrassed about being in last place, I appreciated the protection from the traffic coming from the rear.  When I got to the last aid station 2 miles before the finish, 4 high school students (all Army ROTC) who had been operating the aid station, joined me for the run to the finish.  With a mile to go, 20 more Army ROTC cadets joined me for the last mile.  They were really excited when I told them that I was a retired US Army Lt. Colonel.  Visiting with them that last 2 miles was most enjoyable and I had a nice visit with their leader at the finish.  I finished the race in 2:48:04, first and only one in my 70 and over age group.