Sinus headache

My allegery and sinus congestion woes continue.  Now it's a headache.  I drove down to The Woodlands this afternoon to pick up my packet for Half Marathon tomorrow morning.  Nice to visit with some friends.  I ran laps at the track when I got back.  The race starts at 7 a.m., so I will be getting up early tomorrow.  The forecast is for 65 degrees at the start, with 100% humidity and 10% chance of rain during the race.  Maybe the humidity will clean out my sinuses.

Better today

I have been taking my pills and heating my hamstring and felt better this evening.  I never made it to Iron Works, but I did go out to the park and run 2 miles on the park roads.

I would have preferred not to run today

I did not mention it yesterday, but I pulled a hamstring in my left leg while running laps at the track.  Am not sure what happened.  It was surely not from going too fast.  I think it was more of a pull than a tear.  I put heat on it today.  My allergies from the last few days turned into a sinus infection.  I went to the doctor this afternoon and got antibiotics and a couple other things to take.  So, I have been in bed most of the day.  I really did not want to run this evening.  It was in the high 30's and I sure did not feel like running.  However, when you streak, you run, if possible.  I drove over to the track and ran a 1.3-mile course on the roads from there.  The hamstring felt like a knot for a while, but after that it was okay.  I put heat on it when I got home.  My focus now is being ready for The Woodlands Half Marathon on Saturday.  It is suppose to be much warmer by then; high of 75.

Pending rain

It was suppose to rain this evening, so I worked out at Iron Works earlier this afternoon and then ran laps at the track.  By the time this evening we normally run at the park, it was sill not raining.  So, I went out there for a social hour.

Allergy problems continue

I woke up coughing and sneezing and with sinus congestion and sore throat.  I took some over-the-counter pills and napped on the couch much of the day.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and ran an unplanned course around town.  It turned out to be 2.2 miles, according to my new GPS.

Sweetheart 5K

Our club had it's annual Sweetheart 5K this afternoon at 2 p.m. on the SHSU campus.  Itt was 78 degrees and my allergies were killing me, not to mention that the course is very hilly.  I finished in 38:14.  We used a new course and someone turned one of the signs around and stole another.  I knew the course, but many got lost.  Based on the finish times, no one was too far off and nobody seemed to be upset.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I went down to The Woodlands for the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning.  Nice cool and dry weather.  I finished in 36:53.  Afterwards, I went to Luke's Locker and bought my first GPS running watch.  Now, I have to figure out how to operate it.  That's not easy for us in the 70 and over age group.

Restful Friday

With two 5K races this weekend, I rested up today with a 1.5-mile run on the streets in the Avenues.

Trail measuring

I went out to the state park this afternoon with an engineer wheel to measure some trail sections.  Starting next September or October, the whole south perimeter road all the way to the dam will be closed for resurfacing for about 9 months.  It will mess up all the races held at the park every year.  I am trying to come up with a new course for the Love.Run.Marathon.  I think it can be done.  After walking several miles with the engineer wheel, I put it in the truck and then ran for 2 miles on the trails.  Later this evening, I drove down to Houston to attend a Team RWB dinner.  Terrible rain and traffic going down;  took over 2 hours to get there.  Then, the normal 1 hour and 10 minutes coming back.

Wednesday Night 5K

After Iron Works this evening, I met up with the group for the hilly 5K run around the campus.  It was warmer than usual, but still comfortable.

Back to normal

I felt normal today.  On behalf of our running club, I had a meeting at the hospital this afternoon to talk about a new course that starts and finishes there.  Looks like it is going to work out.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the park roads.  After that, I went to Iron Works for a workout.

Sick

Except for a sinus infection every two years, I do not normally get sick.  I must have some stomach virus.  I stayed in bed much of today.  I did go out to the park this afternoon to run trails.  I figured that if I was going to get sick that the trails was the place to be.  I ended up running 2.5 miles and then felt much better.  So much so that I went to the SHSU - Northern Colorado baseball game.  Sam won.

Laps

I was sore this morning.  I'm not sure if it was from running 26.2 miles on the trails yesterday or falling 5 times.  After an enchilada dinner, taking some Ibuprohen and running laps at the track, I felt much better.

Love.Run.Marathon

 

I ran the Love.Run.Marathon on the trails at Huntsville State Park this morning.  It was my 101st and last marathon and I ran it as my modest tribute to all those who served with the 101st Airborne Division.  That is the division I served with in Vietnam.  It was an amazing day.  I wore bib number 101.  Team RWB (red, white, blue) from the Houston and Dallas area came to run with me.  It is a national organization to support veterans.  They ran behind and beside me the entire race.  And, they carried flags, including the 101st Airborne Division flag.  I felt humbled and honored that they ran with me.  Really great people and they are dedicated to serving veterans.  During the race, I fell five times and skinned up my knee on the last fall.  Funny, I fell five times in the same race last year.  I finished the first half in 3:16 and had a slow second half. Finished the race in 7:13:01.  My finish was a major surprise.  There were air horns, two police cars with flashing lights, many cameras and the Army song was played on the loud speaker system.  I received my finisher medal, first in age group trophy and a beautiful plaque from the race committee commemorating my 101st marathon.  The race committee also had a huge cake for me and our Seven Hills Running Club gave me a jacket, embroidered with "101 Marathons."  Most importantly, many of my family members and running friends were there for my finish.  Jennifer, Dawn and the rest of the race committee for the Love.Run.Marathon and absolutely great and considerate people.  And, they do such a good job putting on this race.

Ready to go

Thanks to Jennifer for bringing up my race packet to the park today and saving me a trip to packet pickup in The Woodlands.  Bib 101 is ready to go tomorrow.  It was 75 degrees this afternoon and I ran laps at the track.  Thank goodness, it will be a little cooler for the marathon tomorrow.

Tapering

My 101st and last marathon is on Saturday.  I met up with the group at the park this evening.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while they ran trails.  Worked out at Iron Works and went to see Lone Survivor tonight.  I probably average one movie every two years, so it was a rare occasion.

At the park twice today

This morning, I went out to the park and met with up with Jennifer, the race director for this Saturday's Love.Run.Marathon at Huntsville State Park.  We walked part of the course and remeasured part of it due to the construction of a new bridge on the trail.  We ended up walking close to 6 miles.  Later this afternoon, Christine drove over from College Station and we ran 6.6 miles on the trails.  Nice run with no rain and no freezing cold.

Rare sighting

Jacob and I were the only ones at the park this evening.  The temperature was in the low 30's, with a light rain.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while Jacob ran 3 miles on the trails.  He reported that while on the trail along the lake, he came across two otters mating.  They got mad when he stopped.  I have known only one other runner to ever see an otter at the park, so Jacob was lucky.

Short, cold and rainy run

It rained most of the day and it was 38 when I went out to run this afternoon.  I ran 1.5 miles on the roads in town before working out at Iron Works.

9 Miles

This afternoon, I ran 9 miles on the trails at Huntsville State Park.  It was in the 60's and no rain.  Nice.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I drove down to The Woodlands this morning and ran the Run The Woodlands 5K.  Finished in 36:00.  I spent the afternoon working at an aid station at Huntsville State Park for the Rocky Raccoon 50-Miler.  Running 50 miles looks easy from an aid station perspective.

Cold and rainy day

It was in the low 30's all day and rainy.  I went over to the track this afternoon and ran laps and then had a meeting this evening with members of a sorority from SHSU putting on a new run in March.  Hopefully, I was able to help.

Even colder

It was 29 when I got to the park this evening.  Only Jacob and I showed up.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while speedy Jacob ran 3 on the trails.  He was waiting for me when I finished.

Another cold run

I worked out at Iron Works this evening and then ran the streets around the campus with the group just as it was getting dark.  I ran 2.6 miles.  The temp was in the 30's.

Park roads

I ran 3 miles on the park roads this evening with James.  Phillip, Jason, J. C. and Becca all ran trails.  Nice weather after rain all morning.

Tax day

I worked on my taxes today and finished up tonight.  I did take a break earlier to workout at Iron Works and run laps at the track.  Ready for warmer weather.

Half Marathon - in two parts

I got up at 5 a.m. this morning and drove to College Station for the Texas 10 Series College Station 10-Mile Race.  The race started at 7:30.  It was raining, cold (42) and very strong winds.  The temperature dropped to 38 during the race.  It was a double loop course.  I finished the first loop in 1:02:26 and the second loop in 1:03:58, for a total of 2:06:06.  The weather was terrible, but I felt strong the entire race.  I was first in my age group (yes, I was the only one).  That win gives me a free entry into the same race next year.  Thanks to my trail running buddies from College Station, Christine and Shelby, for being at the finish line.  I drove back to Huntsville, took a shower and a nap and then drove down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 37:55, a little slower than normal.  So, today I ran a half marathon - 10 miles + 3.1.

Track

I have a 10-mile race in College Station tomorrow morning and a 5K in The Woodlands tomorrow evening, so I ran laps at the track this afternoon.  Warm today, but it is suppose to be cold tomorrow.