Trails with Aggies

My Aggie running buddies, Christine and Shelby, came over from College Station this afternoon to run trails at the state park.  We ran 7 miles.  Great weather and a nice run with good friends.

Back to the park

I ran 3 miles on the park roads this evening.  My run was interrupted by a visit with race director, Joe Prusaitis of Austin, and members of his committee, who were setting up for the Rocky Raccoon 100-miler at the park this weekend.

2.6

After working out at Iron Works this evening, I ran 2.6 miles on the roads in town.

Back to the cold

We had a light snow early this morning and it has been cold all day.  After working out at Iron Works this evening, I went out to the park to meet up with the group.  It was in the high 30's, but seemed much colder.  The group was speedy Jacob and I.  He ran a 4-mile+ loop on the trails, while I ran 3 miles on the trails.  He was waiting when I finished.  We had a "hot chocolate," visited for a while and went home.

Winter yard work

I did some winter yard work this afternoon (trimming bushes and stuff) and got a late start on my real exercise.  I then worked out at Iron Works and then ran laps at the track.  Easy day.

Recovered

I was a little sore yesterday after the half marathon, but felt fully recovered today.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran a 3-mile loop on the trails.  My first half mile was rather slow; I ran into Craig, then Len and then Nancy.  I have a brief visit with each.  Great weather for being at the park.

Lake Benbrook Half Marathon - 700th Race

I drove up to Fort Worth yesterday afternoon and spent the evening with my younger brother.  We had a nice dinner and visit and then I drove down to Benbrook on the south side of Fort Worth for the Lake Benbrook Half Marathon this morning.  The race started at 8:30 with a temperature in the mid-30's.  During the race, it warmed up quickly to the 50's.  Really nice weather for a half.  The course was out and back on a paved road around Lake Benbrook.  Very hilly.  At about 3 miles, I met another retired Army guy, David Smith, and we ran and visited for the rest of the race.  I finished in 3:03:53 and won 3rd place in the 70 and over age group.  It was my 700th race since I started racing in 1983.

OMG, Snow

Woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground and 27-degree temperature.  I ran 1.3 miles on the roads and managed to avoid patches of ice.  Off to Fort Worth for a half marathon tomorrow.

Cold, rainy and windy

I was the only one who showed up at the park at 4:30 this evening.  Found out later that Jacob and Becca were already out on the trail running around the lake.  Anyway, it was 35 degrees, raining and windy.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads and my ears were freezing by the time I finished.  Afterwards, I worked out at Iron Works.

Trails with Christine and Shelby

Christine Mesecher and Shelby Faw, both Aggies, came over to Huntsville from College Station this afternoon to run trails with me at the state park.  Christine ran part of the BCS Marathon last month with me.  Neither had run trails before, but seem to enjoy the experience.  We ran 4 miles.  Beautiful weather.  Worked out at Iron Works this evening and skipped the Wednesday night 5K run on campus.

Park roads

We had a good group at the park this evening, but everyone seemed to be running a different course at a different starting time.  I got there and ran 3 miles on the park roads.  This great weather can't last much longer - but I hope it does.

Get a bush

I worked out at Iron Works and then went out to the park for a 3-mile trail run.  While on the trail, I came upon a couple standing in the middle of the trail kssing while in a deep embrace.  I had to leave the trail to get around them.  I wanted to tell them to get a bush.

In between football games

In between football games this afternoon, I went over to the track and ran laps.

Crowded Park

I went out to the park late this morning and it took me forever to get in the gate.  Must be the 3-day weekend.  I ran 3 miles on the park roads and then 7 on the trails, for a total of 10 miles.  Lots of hikers, bikers and a few other runners.

Unplanned

I drove to the track this afternoon and took an unplanned route on the roads in the avenues.  It turned out to be 2.1 miles.

Trails and annual running club dinner

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran a 7-mile course on the trails.  This evening, I attended the Seven Hills Running Club annual meeting at McKenzie's BBQ.  I ate more than I consumed in the 7-mile run.  It was a tough campaign, but I was reelected as Treasurer of the club.  I also received an award (certificate and gift card to Luke's Locker) for having run the most races in 2013 (68) and was given a cake, celebrating my 100th marathon.

Wednesday night run

I met up with the group at 6:15 tonight and ran the 5K course around the campus.  With the students back in town, traffic was very heavy.  While running with good friends is nice, I'm not sure running with heavy traffic at night is wise when I am available to run during the day.

Enjoying this nice weather

After so much cold weather, it's nice to have clear skies and temperature in the 60's.  After working out at Iron Works, I met up with the group at the state park this evening.  It was Phillip, Jason, Jacob, David, Laura and me. Most ran different courses, but Jacob and I ran a 3-mile loop on the trails.

Allergies

I've been lucky this year.  My allergies start bothering me in November, I have not had a problem - until today.  It was windy and I was working outside this morning.  I was constantly sneezing and felt lousy.  I slept most of the afternoon.  This evening, I went to the track and ran laps and then worked out at Iron Works.  Feel better tonight.

Hospital 5K Course

Steve and I interrupted football and ran the proposed 5K course this afternoon.  The course starts and finishes at Huntsville Memorial Hospital.  We can use it for club runs, if the hospital lets us use their parking lot and restrooms.

Run the Woodlands 5K

For the zillionth time, I went down to The Woodlands this morning and ran the Run the Woodlands 5K, held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month.  I finished in 36:45, exactly the same time as the Sunday Night 5K last Sunday on the same course.

Still raining

It continued to rain today.  I have a 5K tomorrow, so I ran 1.3 miles on the roads this afternoon - in the rain.

Wet run

I was tied up with something this afternoon and finally got out to run just before dark.  By then, it rain was light.  I ran an unplanned route around town, which turned out to be 2.4 miles.  Tonight, I went to the Sam Houston State - McNeese State basketball game.

Night 5K

After working out at Iron Works, I met up with a group at 6:15 tonight and ran a 5K course around the university campus.  Nice temperature in the 50's, but the wind made it seem colder.

Visiting friends

Our friends, John and Karen Wallace, from Michigan came to spend a day or so with us, enroute to the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson this Saturday.  John's running streak is over 23 years and Karen's is over 5 years.  They are running marathons in all 50 states - alphabetically.  Several years ago, they ran together from Michigan to Mississippi without a support vehicle.  Great people and dedicated runners and streakers.  This afternoon, I ran a 3-mile loop around town in not-so-cold weather.

20's

It was in the 20's when I ran 2 miles around town this evening.  For here, that's really cold.  I was reading posts on the U.S. Running Streak Association Facebook page from members who were having to run in sub-zero weather.  One guy said that he ran in -53F with the wind chill.  What people will do to keep a running streak going!

Sunday Night 5K

I drove down to The Woodlands this evening to run the Sunday Night 5K, as I do almost every first Sunday of the month.  I have not counted lately, but it must be forty something times.  I finished in 36:45, which is my fastest time on this course since last May.  Maybe it was the cold weather.
There is an article about me in the current Postcards Magazine.  The article provides a link to my blog.  As you may know, very few people (until now) are aware that I have a blog.  Then, the Huntsville Item ran a story this morning about my 100th marathon.  Click HERE for the link. I really don't care about the publicity, but if it influences anybody to start running, it's okay with me.

Trails

It was relatively warm this afternoon.  I went out to the park and ran a 3.5-mile loop on the trails.  I did not run into any other runners, but there were plenty of bikers and hikers on the trail.

Back to normal

I have no aches or pains (not even sore toes) from the marathon a couple days ago and feel normal.  I ran 2 miles on the roads in town and then worked out at Iron Works.

Rest day

I had no particular aches or pains today after running the marathon yesterday, but I made it a rest day.  I worked out at Iron Works this evening and comfortably ran laps at the track afterwards.  I need to get busy planning a race schedule for the next few months.

100th Marathon

My next door neighbor shot off fireworks until 2:30 a.m. this morning and I got hardly any sleep before getting up at 5:15.  I drove down to Kingwood and ran the Texas Marathon.  It was my 100th race of a marathon or longer distance.  I enjoy this particular race because it gives me a chance to visit with a lot of friends.  My 100 is nothing compared to what my friends in the photo have accomplished.  Jim Simpson, left, was the first American to run 1,000 marathons.  Parnaveh Moayedi holds several world records, including the most marathons in a year by a female.  And, she just became the first female in North America to run 500 marathons.  Larry Macon is the world record holder for the most marathons in a year and was the second American to run 1,000 marathons.  In any case, they are all younger than I and I am glad to reach the 100 mark.  The course at Kingwood is tough.  Four loops on a 6.55-mile concrete walkway.  You really have to watch your footing.  My time is always slower on this course, which I think is long.  I finished in 7:13:47, an hour longer than my last marathon in College Station less than a month ago.