Early run

I had family coming in this evening, so I went into town and ran 1.3 miles on the roads early this afternoon.

1,746 days

Today was my 1,746th consecutive day of running.  I am getting close to matching my second longest streak of 1,811 days.  I did yard work most of the day and then ran the 5K course with the group tonight.  It was hot, but it usually is in Texas in late July.

4.6

We had a good group at the park this evening.  I ran 4.6 miles on the trails.  It was actually my longest distance in a couple of months.  I usually start stretching my distance in August for the longer fall races.  With no more marathons to run, it will be an easier transition to half marathons and such.

Park on Monday

I usually go to the park to run on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  However, Jacob and Sara were going to run trails this evening.  While they were on the trails, I took to the park roads for my 3-mile course.  One part of the course was barricaded, so I had to detour.  I probably ended up running 2.9 miles.

High 90's

Even though it was in the high 90's today, the summer has been relatively cool - and, more rain than usual.  I ran an unplanned course in town this evening.  Even ran a street that I had not run before.  The course turned out to be 2.7 miles.

Dog Days 5K

I never got around to running our club's Dog Days 5K this morning.  I got up at 6 a.m.and got to the race at 6:45.  Unloaded stuff and then put out the signs for the 1-mile and 5K courses.  Since the courses are new, I decided to lead the race in my truck, rather than run.  We had 80 runners and walkers.  Then, I started taking photos for the club web site.  After the race, I picked up all the signs, took them back to storage, had breakfast at IHOP and then went home to type up the race results and put them on the club web site.  After that, I started editing photos and developing a photo gallery.  I finally finished that late tonight and put it online.  Click HERE for the photo gallery.  Oh yes, late this evening, I did get in a 2.9-mile run on the streets in Huntsville.

Laps

I mowed and did a lot of other yard work today, so this evening I went to the track and ran laps.  This evening, I went over to the running club storage place and loaded up all the signs and other stuff for the club run tomorrow morning.  Tiring day.

3.5 at the park

I ran 3.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening.  Still hot and humid and deep sand in parts of the trail.

Hot 5K

After Iron Works this evening, I met up with the group at the church and ran the hilly 5K course around the campus.  Darn, it was hot.

High humidity

I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park this evening.  While the temperature was about 93, the humidity was extremely high.  I was completely soaked in sweat at the end of my run.  While running past the park superintendent's house, he had just returned home and we had a nice visit.  He confirmed the good news that the construction on the south perimeter road and dam, scheduled to start as early as next month, has been delayed until March 2015.  That means that all the races held at the park this winter will not have to alter their courses.  My son was released from the hospital this morning.  Hopefully, his arm will heal quickly from the surgery and the anti-biotics will completely rid his arm of the infection.

Bubba

I visited my son in the hospital once today.  Hopefully, he will be released tomorrow.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran an unplanned course on the roads around town, which turned out to be 2.6 miles.  Bubba was in his pickup and stopped me during my run.  I thought he needed directions.  He asked me if I needed a ride.  I assured him that I was okay and felt great.  I must look bad when I run.

Measured new courses

After church and a visit to my son in the hospital, Steve Bickford and I measured new 10K, 5K and 1-Mile courses, to be used for our club runs in September and November.  They start and finish at Physical Therapy Associates, behind the hospital.  They are really nice people.  While normally not open on Saturday, they are going to open up for our club runs, so the runners can use their restrooms.  It was hot this afternoon and we walked the course with an engineer wheel for an accurate measurement.  Afterwards, I went to the track in town and ran a 2-mile loop on the roads from there.  Then, back to the hospital.  He is hoping to get out tomorrow.

Watermelon 5K

I got up real early this morning to the one-hour drive over to Hempstead to run the Watermelon 5K at 7 a.m.  Too early!  It was sorta nice running in temperatures in the mid-70's, though.  I finished in 36:36 and was second place in the 60 and over age group.  First place got a watermelon in addition to a medal, so I missed out.  I made a couple trips to the hospital today to visit with my son.  They say he should be released on Monday or Tuesday.

Back and forth to the hospital, again

The doctor checked my son's arm early this morning.  While the swelling was down some, it was still badly infected in the elbow.  So, they operated on him at 9 this morning to removed the bursa sac (padding on the elbow) from his elbow.  He will continue on the strong anti-biotics for a while and hopefully they will take care of the rest.  I made several trips to the hospital today.  I did get in a 2-mile run out and back on Veterans Memorial Parkway this afternoon.

Two trips to the hospital

I made two trips to the hospital today.  In between rain storms, I mowed and trimmed the grass and during another break in the rain, I worked out at Iron Works and did a 1.3-mile run on the streets in town.  The anti-biotics that my son was on were not working, so today they put him on the strongest and most dangerous stuff they have.  The swelling in his arm was down some this evening.  I suppose that is a good sign.  I am not sure when he will be released from the hospital.

Hectic day

My wife went down to Houston to spend the day helping my son, who has been recovering from a serious infection in his elbow and arm.  I went down to Conroe early this afternoon for an appointment.  While there, I received a call from the fiancee of my son in Huntsville that he was admitted to the hospital with an serious elbow and arm infection.  What's the deal?  Two sons with an elbow and arm infection.  They have not even seen each other in a couple months.  I got back to Huntsville and went to the hospital.  They never got around to starting anti-biotics with an IV until 5 p.m. this evening.  I left the hospital about 5:15 and met the group at the church to run.  I cut my run to 2.7 miles, part of it in the rain.  I picked up a pizza on the way home, showered, ate and then went back to the hospital until visiting hours were over.  Hopefully, he will be better tomorrow.

Rain, finally

I woke up this morning to the sound of heavy rain.  It rained most of the morning.  Hopefully, it did more than fill up those big cracks in my lawn.  The trail was in good shape at the park this evening for my 3-mile trail run.

Back to just heat

No rain today, just heat.  I worked out at Iron Works and then ran an unplanned route on the roads around town.  It turned out to be 1.7 miles.

Wet run

About 3 p.m. today, I got out the engineer wheel and spray paint and made final adjustments on a new 5K and 1-mile course for our club run later this month.  From there, I drove to the track and started a 3-mile road run from there.  After about a mile into the run, a heavy rain began and lasted throughout the 3-mile run - a real "gully washer."  Although I got some funny looks from passing cars, the cool rain really felt great after so many weeks of hot weather.  Besides, there was no lightning.  As I drove no more than a mile from the track toward home, there was no rain and the streets were dry all the way to my house.  Still no rain at my house today.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K in The Woodlands this morning.  I finished in 36:34.  It was the 64th time I ran this race, which is held twice a month.  The first time was on June 12, 2004 and my time was 30:13.  The race this morning was my 730th race since I began racing on May 1, 1983 and it was my 1,728th consecutive day of running on my current streak.

Short Friday Run

Since I have a 5K in the morning, I ran 1.3 miles on the roads in town in the middle of the hot afternoon.

Park roads

I got out to the park at 5:30 and there were no other runners there.  I took off and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  Then, about the time I finished, Curtis, J. C. and Leah returned from separate runs on the trails.

Wednesday church 5K

It was 96 degrees when I met up with the group at the church this evening to run our hilly 5K course.

Hot afternoon

It got into the mid-90's this afternoon.  After Iron Works, I went out to the park and ran 3 miles on the trails with J. C., Leah and Sara.  At least the trail is shady.

A couple miles

It was in the mid-90's this afternoon.  After doing yard work this afternoon and working out at Iron Works, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town.

Sunday Night 5K

My friend, Haleigh Pustka, and I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 36:25, almost a minute slower than last month.  She was the overall winner of the race, with a time of 20:03.

Seemed like Sunday

With a race yesterday (Friday), today seemed like Sunday.  I finally got around to running this evening.  Ran 2 miles on the roads in town.

Stu's Country Mile 5K

For the 20th time and the 19th straight year, I ran Stu's Country Mile 5K in Centerville (45 minutes north of Huntsville) this morning.  I finished in 36:59, 2nd of 5 in the 70 and over age group.  As usual, we had a big crowd from our club there and as usual, we all had breakfast at the Town Cafe just off the downtown square.  Then, we stayed around and watched the 4th of July parade.  Lots of horses and tractors, of course.

What happened to the rain?

Since it was Thursday, I headed for the park.  There was a black cloud to the south and obviously a storm coming toward the park and Huntsville.  So, to get in a run, I went to the track and ran 1.8 miles on the roads from there.  Still no rain.  I went to Iron Works and then home.  Still no rain.  5K in Centerville tomorrow morning.  The forecast says a 20 percent chance of rain at start time.  I bet it rains.

Normal Wednesday

As usual for Wednesday, I worked out at Iron Works and then met up with the group and ran the hilly 5K course starting and finishing at the church on Sycamore.

Astros

I worked out at Iron Works earlier today and ran 2 miles on the roads in town about noon time.  This evening, I went down to Houston, met up with my son and then went to the Astros game with the Mariners.  It was military night, so I got free nosebleed section tickets.  We left after 7 innings when the Astros were down 12 to 2 (the final score was 13 to 2).  It was my first Astros game in a couple years.  I did not recognize any of the players on either team.  Guess I am not into baseball.