Nine

It rained hard while we were in church this morning.  It looked like there was a break in the rain about 2 p.m., so I went out to the park to run trails.  However, the park was dry as a bone and the sand on parts of the trail was deep.  I ran 9 miles.  No falls, but I tripped on the roots several times.

Back in Huntsville

I drove back to Huntsville this afternoon.  I worked on the running club web site and then ran laps at the track.  Then off to the Sam Houston State and Alabama State football game here in Huntsville. (51-20 Sam).

Back to the park in Plano

I went back to the same park in Plano this evening and followed one trail until it ended in 1.5 miles.  With the out and back, I got in a 3-mile run.

Park run in Plano

It was hot this afternoon and I was a little tired from the long run last night, so I went to a park in Plano and ran 1.6 miles on a paved trail.

Daylight to Darkness 5 Miler

I drove up to Dallas this afternoon to run the Daylight to Darkness 5 Miler this evening.  The whole course was in the White Rock Lake area.  I missed a turn somewhere and got lost during the race.  I asked a couple guys out running for directions and they told assured me that I was lost and headed in the wrong direction.  One of them said that he would run with me to get me back on track.  He ended up running with me to the finish line.  Nice guy.  According to my GPS, I ran 7.1 miles in 1:29:16.  There was only 3 of us in the 70-74 age group, so I got 3rd.

Park roads

Wearing new shoes out of the box, I ran 3 miles on the park roads this evening.  My last pair were first worn on July 1, 2014, so they lasted less than 2 months.

Avenues 5K Course

I worked out at Iron Works rather late this evening and then ran the hilly Avenues 5K course, starting and finishing at the track.  With all the students back in town, the streets are crowded again; not so much on the Avenues 5K course, though.

Family and eating all day

I had family in all day and there was a lot of eating.  I finally broke away late this evening and ran 1.3 miles on the roads.  It should have been a day when I went to the park and ran long.

Heat Wave 5K

I drove about 30 miles to the Waterwood Sub-division east of Huntsville this morning to run the club's annual Heat Wave 5K.  New location and a great course.  It was hot, but shady most of the way.  The course had a couple hills, but was mostly flat.  I finished in 36:28.

Short road run

I went out when it was 96 degrees this afternoon and ran 1.3 miles on the roads;  5K in the morning.

Small group at the park

When I got to the park this evening, I was a group of one.  However, Hans and John were there to bike.  I ran 3 miles on the trails.  Just as I finished, Jason showed up to run.

Little rain

I sat on the back porch this afternoon to watch it rain for a few minutes.  My rain gauge indications about 1/16th of an inch.  Well, maybe tomorrow.  After Iron Works this evening, I met up with the group and ran the 5K course from the church.  At least, the light rain lowered the temperature a few degrees.

Rainy run at the park

It was just J. C., Sara, Jason and I who showed up at the park this evening in the rain and lightning.  I ran 3 miles on the trails and survived.  However, virtually no rain at my house.

Running roads

This morning, I worked on my column for tomorrow's paper and sent it in early this afternoon.  I wrote about Texas laws that pertain to running on the road.  With school about to be back in session, there will be plenty of traffic on the streets for runners to contend with.  I wrote about this subject 6 years ago and not long afterwards, a good friend of mine was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was on a training run.  With so many drivers talking and texting, it is really scary for runners.
This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and ran 2 miles on the roads in town.

Sunday at the park

I went out to the park about noon today and ran 7 miles on the trails.  The temperature was in the high 90's and I was soaked with sweat when I took a fall in the dirt and sand in the last mile.  Talk about getting dirty.

Watermelon Run for the Fallen 5K

I drove an hour over to Hempstead this morning to run the Watermelon Run for the Fallen.  It is a non-competitive run to honor our fallen military heroes.  Jill and Kelly were there too.  A number of military ceremonies started about 7 a.m. and the race did not start until almost 9 a.m.  There were hundreds of runners and walkers.  Everyone was required to walk two laps around the track after the start.  After that, the runners left the gate and ran a course to downtown Hempstead.  According to my GPS, it was 2.8 from the gate to the finish line and my time was 33:50.  I ate plenty of watermelon after the race and met up with a lot of friends.  Several of the Team RWB from Houston that carried flags and accompanied me on the 101st and last marathon in February of this year were there.

Short Friday run

As I do on many Fridays with a race on Saturday, I did a short run today.  I ran 1.3 miles on the streets in town early this afternoon.

Expired

This morning, I went to the optometry place to order more contacts.  The lady pulled my file and said, "According to our records, you have expired."  I assured her that I was still alive and she said that she meant that my prescription had expired.  So, I get an eye exam and a new prescription next week.
Except for being expired, I felt much better today.  I worked out a Iron Works and then ran 3.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening.

Did not feel well today

I did not feel well today, just laid around most of the time.  And, for some reason, my shoulder and neck was sore.  I skipped Iron Works, but met up with the group at the church this evening with the intention of only running a mile or so.  Once I started running, I felt better and ended up running 2.7 miles.

Longer run

After working out at Iron Works, I went out to the park and ran the 6.9-mile outer loop alone.  The temperature was 95, but I carried water and managed okay.

Finally, a little rain

We finally got a little rain this evening.  Not much, less than a quarter inch.  Hopefully, more tonight.  However, it was dry for my evening run.  After Iron Works, I ran an unplanned route on the streets around town.  The course turned out to be 3 miles.

More moving

This afternoon, I made two 60-mile round trips to Waterwood to pick up furniture my son had in storage and move it to his new place in Huntsville.  I got around to running 2 miles on the roads in town late this evening.

Blues Capital of Texas 5K

I got up at 5:30 this morning to make it to Navasota to run the Blues Capital of Texas 5K at 7:30 a.m.  Hot and humid!  The course was obviously short.  There is no excuse for that.  My GPS said 2.96.  My finish time was 34:18.  I would like to think that I am getting fast, but I do not think that is the case.  I was 4th in the 60 and over age group.  After the race, a bunch of us went to a Mexican restaurant in Navasota for breakfast.

Laps this morning

With a race tomorrow morning, I went to the track and ran laps today.

Getting hotter

The temperature was up to 96 today and is suppose to be 100 by Monday.  It was not much below 96 when we ran at the park this evening.  I felt well again and ran 4.6 miles on the trails.

Shorter Wednesday run

I met up with the group at the church this evening.  I ran with Denise.  Her foot was hurting and my stomach was queasy.  So, we ran 2.7 miles, rather than the normal 5K.

Not well today

I am not sure if it was all the heavy lifting yesterday, but I did not feel well today.  I mowed the grass this morning and then took a nap most of the afternoon.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.  I am sure I will be okay tomorrow.

Tired

This afternoon, my son got the 15 staples taken out of his elbow that were put in after surgery about 10 days ago.  He had all his stuff in a large U-Haul truck parked in my driveway for a couple of days until his got the final approval to move to his new place.  He finally got the keys to his new place about 4:30 this afternoon and I had to help him unload the whole truck.  His friends that loaded the truck for him were all at work or out of town.  So, I did all the heavy lifting and carrying.  He had to return the truck by 6 p.m., so we had to work fast.  I got home and collapsed for a while before going on a 2-mile road run.  It felt like a half marathon.  I never made it to Iron Works today; I suppose that I got my lifting in.

Sunday Night 5K

For the 52nd time, I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 36:09.

Cool weather in August

The high temperature today was only 83.  Here it is August and the temperature has not reached 100 all summer.  My visiting family left late this morning.  This afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 3.5 miles on the trails.  There were quite a few bikers and hikers on the trails.

Day with visiting family

I spent all day with visiting family.  Late this afternoon, I slipped away and went to the park and ran 2.9 miles on the trails.  My son's fiancee's father from San Diego went out with me and hiked while I ran.