Friday at Nautilus

I normally skip Friday at Nautilus, but since I never made it there yesterday, I worked out there this evening.  They were just bought out by Iron Works, effective July 1, so it will no longer be Nautilus.  After working out this evening, I went to the track and ran 1.3 miles on the roads from there.  5K in Houston early tomorrow.  I hate getting up early.

Squeezed in a track run

I had a busy day, but managed to squeeze in a run at the track between other things.

Avenues 5K backwards

I ran the hilly as heck Avenues 5K course backwards this evening.  That means I started by running up the Avenue O hill to the 21st Street intersection, which is the highest point between Dallas and Houston.

Knees

As usual after a 3-day weekend, today feels like Monday.  I need to get back to a more regular schedule at Nautilus and work on the knees more.  They are always sore and stiff; I could not do a squat for anything.  Found out today that Nautilus was bought out by the local Iron Works, which is only a couple blocks from Nautilus.  I hear that they are going to operate in both locations.  We will see.  After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went out to the park and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

57 runners in my driveway

I got up early this morning to put out the signs and set up for the club's annual Memorial Day 5K at my house.  We had fewer than expected, but 57 was still a good crowd.  We had a great time and everyone hung around for breakfast, awards and visiting.  After we got everything put away, I took a good nap.  Then, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town and this evening, my wife and I attended a Memorial Day program at the Veterans Museum in Huntsville.  Nice day.

Getting ready for tomorrow

We spent most of today getting ready for the 5K starting and finishing at my house tomorrow.  My wife and two friends fixed breakfast for 125.  I slipped away and ran 2 miles on the streets in town this evening and then loaded up the signs to be put out early tomorrow morning.

Run the Woodlands 5K

For the 56th time, I went down to The Woodlands this morning and ran the Run the Woodlands 5K, which is held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month.  My streaker friend, Vincent, ran it this morning for the 150th time.  Of course, he lives in The Woodlands and does not have so far to drive.  In any case, congratulations on reaching the milestone, Vincent.  It was hot and humid and I finished in a slow 38:07.  After the race, I had breakfast and then went to several stores in the area.

East week

It has been an easy week, as far as running goes.  I went to the track this afternoon with the intention of running the streets from there.  It started raining, so I ran laps instead.  5K tomorrow.

Traffic

I managed to get in a run at the track before leaving for Sugar Land (south of Houston) for the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament.  I left at 4:15 p.m., drove 94 miles and arrived at 6:30 p.m.  I hit the worst of the rush hour traffic around the Houston beltway and south on US 59.  The traffic were terrible.  I watched the Sam Houston State - Southeastern Louisiana game and Sam lost.  It is a double elimination tournament, so Sam will play again tomorrow - without me.  After the game, I was introduced to Coach Gary Kubiak (Houston Texans) at the game and we had a brief visit.

Getting ready for the Memorial Day 5K

We are hosting the club's Memorial Day 5K and breakfast at my house next Monday.  Nothing like having an inflatable arch over your driveway and a hundred or so runners in your yard.  Lots of fun.  I modified the course for this year.  This morning, my wife and I walked the course and measured it with an engineer wheel.  I'm not use to walking; it is more tiring than running.  I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran laps at the track.

Hilly park roads

I ran 2.1 miles on the hilliest park roads this evening.  Tough when it is hot and humid.

Back to the airport

We drove our son and his girl friend down to the airport in Houston today for their flight back to Yuma, AZ.  We had lunch with my other son in Houston on the way to the airport.  Got back this evening, worked out at Nautilus and ran 2.6 miles on the roads in town.  Things should be normal at my house for a few days until we host the Seven Hills Running Club's annual Memorial Day 5K run at my house on May 27.  Nothing like having an inflatable arch over your driveway and a hundred or so runners for breakfast after the race.

Posting late

For some reason, I had a tough time getting into my blog tonight.  Got some strange messages about being logged in somewhere else.  I contacted the chip timing company that timed the race last night.  For some reason, my chip was never read.  Luckily, I checked the clock when I finished and they worked me into the results with an official time of 1:35:15 (1st in the 60 and over age group).  Someone said that the age group winners got a pecan pie, but I doubt that they will mail me one.  I slipped away from visiting family this evening (Sunday) and ran 2 miles on the roads in town.

Nighttime Trail Run

My wife and I drove 64 miles over to Caldwell tonight to run the 1st annual Nighttime Trail Run at Royalty Pecan Farms.  They had a 5K, 10K and 15K, with a total of 700 registered runners.  My wife walked the 5K and I ran the 10K.  The race started just before 9 p.m. and the course was through the pecan orchards.  The mosquitos and other bugs were annoying.  Other trail runs that I have done were during the winter and the bugs were not so bad.  So, I ate my share of protein tonight.  My results were not included in the chip-timed race, but my finish time was 1:35 something.  That should be good for 1st place in the 60 & over age group.

Hike in the park

I went out to the park this afternoon and hiked trails with my son and his girlfriend.  I took my new Nikon camera with expensive telephoto lens.  I was standing on a bridge and taking a photo of my son swinging on a vine.  I backed up to get a better shot and fell off the bridge.  Luckily, that section of the bridge was not over water and I survived the fall.  However, the zoom telephoto lens no longer zooms. 
Later this afternoon, I slipped away and went to the track and ran laps.  10K trail race tomorrow night..

Visiting family

With visiting family today, I never made it to Nautilus.  However, I did go to the park this evening and run 2 miles on the park roads.  Later, I joined the family at the Sam Houston State baseball game with U. of Central Arkansas.

More rain today

It rained much of today.  I had to go down to the airport to pick up my son and his girlfriend this afternoon.  I managed to get in a 1.3-mile road run between the rain and leaving for the airport.

Hard to get out of the hammock

I spent most of the day doing yard work and cleaning out the storage shed.  I was really beat, so I layed down in the hammock in the back yard.  There was a cool breeze and it was so comfortable.  It was hard to get out and go to Nautilus.  Finally did.  Worked out and then went to the park and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Quiet streets

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran a 3.4-mile course around town.  With classes over at Sam Houston State, the streets were quiet and relatively empty.

Mother's Day

Since it was Mother's Day, I spent most of the day with family.  However, this evening, I went to the track and ran laps.

YMCA Trail Run

After so much rain in the past two days, I expected muddy trails at the YMCA Trail Run 5K in Conroe this morning.  It was not that the mud was so deep, it was very slippery.  I tried to run on the roots and grass as much as I could.  Luckily, I never slipped and fell.  I finished in 37:29.

Milestones

I ran my first race, a 10K at Fort Hood, Texas, on May 1, 1983.  That was 30 years ago.  During that 30 years, I ran 653 races.  Then, I have run 3 races during my second 30 years.  Today, I ran 2.1 miles around town, my 1,300th consecutive day of running on my current streak.

Heavy storm

I did yard and garden work most of the day.  This evening and night, we had a heavy storm.  I managed to get in a 1-mle run at the track before it started.  Luckily, no hail and we got plenty of rain.

Disconnected

My phone and Internet went out yesterday.  ATT said that a cable was cut somewhere and it may be Saturday before my service is restored.  Sometime during the night, service was restored.  I ran a 2.1-mile course in the avenues yesterday.

Park

For the first time in a week, I went out to the state park this evening.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Getting back into the routine

After being out-of-town most of last week, I got back into my routine today.  This morning, I wrote my column for the paper and worked out at Nautilus this evening.  Then, I ran an unplanned course on the streets in town.  It turned out to be 2.6 miles.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands tonight to run the Sunday Night 5K, held on the first Sunday of every month.  This was my 7th consecutive month and my 39th time for running the race.  Nice cool weather.  I finished in 36:35.

Run Forest Run 5K

Our club put on the Run Forest Run 5K & 1-Mile Run/Walk this morning at the Forest Glen Camp, in the deep woods east of Huntsville.  We had 80 runners and beautiful cool weather.  The course was almost all gravel road and forest trails.  Before running the 5K, I set up the inflatable arch and a race clock.  My finish time was 37:11.  Given the course, I expected a slower than usual 5K time.

Checking back in

On Tuesday, I ran laps at the track and then drove up to Fort Worth.  My brother had surgery on Wednesday morning and the family gathered there to support him.  Looks like all went well.  Wednesday afternoon, I drove across Fort Worth and Dallas to Wylie to visit my son and his family.  I ran 1-mile+ in Wylie Wednesday evening and then ran 2.3 miles in the cold and wind on Thursday.  I drove back to Huntsville this afternoon, ran laps at the track and then went to the Sam Houston State baseball game tonight.