2014 in Review

With a half marathon tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.  It was my 1,900th consecutive day of running, which by coincidence occurred on the last day of 2014.  I'm still almost 600 days from equaling my longest streak.  When I broke my streak in 2009 and had to start over again, I thought, my God, I will be 75 years old when I get back to 6 years, 9 months and 18 days.  Darn, I'm 73 now and will be 74 in May.  My, how time flies.
Looking back over this year, I competed in 66 races:
Marathons - 2
25K -1
Half Marathons - 7
16K - 1
10 Miles - 8
10K - 5
5 Miles - 3
5K - 38
2 Miles - 1
No major injuries and I completed my goal of 101 marathons.

Tapering

With a half marathon on Thursday, I only ran 2 miles this evening.

Looking ahead

My next race is the Texas Half Marathon in Kingwood (near Houston) this Thursday, January 1.  I have run the full marathon there for the last seven years, but this will be my first half (2 loops instead of 4).  The forecast is for a high of 40 degrees and rain in the afternoon.  If that forecast holds, it should be good weather for running.  In the meantime, I ran 3 miles on the streets in town this evening.  It was around 50 degrees and no rain.  Very comfortable - except for achy knees, of course.

Hard to get off the couch

After watching football this afternoon, it was hard to get off the couch and go out and run in the 38 degree temperature and rain.  I ran 2 miles on the streets in town.  On the way home, I saw Dana (another streaker) out running.  She reaches the one-year mark at the end of this month.

Run the Woodlands 5K

My house was full of family last night.  People were up late and sleeping all over the house.  I figured they would be sleeping in this morning, so I got early, snuck out of the house and drove down to The Woodlands to run the Run the Woodlands 5K.  It was rather warm and very humid and I finished in 38:22.  I thought I was running faster.  Maybe it was the humidity - or maybe too much food yesterday.  In any case, I drove straight back to Huntsville and about half the family was still asleep when I got back.

Family day

After a quiet Christmas Day, we had a lot of family in today.  I managed to get in a 2-mile run in a light rain on the streets in town this afternoon.

Christmas Run

I ran 2 miles on the nearly deserted streets in town this afternoon.

Christmas Eve at the Park

This afternoon, I went out to the state park and ran 6.9 miles on the trails.  I only saw one other runner and two bikers on the trails.  Merry Christmas to all.

Back from Conroe

I had a doctor's appointment down in Conroe at 3:30 this afternoon, but had my running shorts on under my jeans.  I made it back to Huntsville and to the park at 4:30.  Only Jason and I showed up.  He ran 3 miles on the trails and I ran 2.  Then, I went to Iron Works for a work out.

Achy knees

I am past due for shots of Synvisc in my knees.  That's the stuff from a rooster's cone to ease the arthritis under my knee caps.  I have a doctor's appointment on January 12, but at least one more half marathon before then.  Today, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 2 miles on the roads around the campus.

Santa Hustle Half Marathon

I ran the Santa Hustle Half Marathon in Galveston this morning.  I had never raced in Galveston and have not even been to the city in many years.  If I can count my 25K's, the Santa Hustle was my 50th half marathon and it was my 65th race in 2014.  Nice weather and a flat course, mostly along Seawall Blvd.  There were 1,351 finishers in the half and 2,852 in the 5K.  I finished in 2:48:20, which is my fastest half marathon since February of last year when I ran 2:48:04.  I picked up a finishers medal and then another medal for 3rd of 6 in the 70-74 age group.

Morning laps at the track

I went to the muddy track this morning and ran laps.  Now, off to Galveston for a half marathon tomorrow.

Rain last night and this morning

We received much needed rain last night and this morning.  I went out to the park later this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.  The trails were in very good shape.  No sand pits and no mud.

Two at the park

It was me, Jacob and Curtis at the park this evening.  Speedy Jacob and Curtis ran 3 miles on the trails, while I ran 2 on the park roads.  I barely finished before them.

Started Christmas

Even though my wife has been Christmas shopping for a few days, I wrote the Christmas letter today, to be sent with cards and worked on the address list and mailing labels.  I also put up the Christmas tree.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran the PTA 5K course with the group, finishing after dark in a light and chilly rain.  Another half marathon coming up this weekend.

Done

I finally finished the greenhouse today, complete with a water faucet, light and an electrical outlet.  Now, I can move on to getting ready for Christmas.  After working out at Iron Works this evening, I met up with the group at the park.  Jacob was there after running a 100-mile race over the weekend.  He and Becca ran 6.9 miles on the trails while I ran 3 miles on the park roads.  I'm not sure where or how far Jason ran.

2 easy miles

This morning, I went to Jacob Gautreaux's house to interview him and take his photo.  I featured him in my running column for tomorrow's Huntsville Item.  He ran his first 100-miler on Saturday,  After turning in my column early this afternoon, I went to Home Depot and then built the flooring for my wife's new greenhouse.  I hope to complete the project tomorrow and then get started on Christmas.
This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran an easy 2 miles around the campus.  In the last mile, I ran into fellow streaker, Dana Formon, and we had a nice visit.

BCS Half Marathon

I ran the BCS Half Marathon over in College Station this morning.  I have run the full the last 3 years, but this was my first time running the half.  Mentally, it was just as difficult as the full.  I never walked a step, but ran my usual slow pace.  For most of the race, I was back there with people running and walking, which to me is very annoying.  I swear I passed one lady 50 times.  In any case, I finished in 3:02:29.  I had hoped for about 2:55.  Maybe it was the relatively hot and humid weather.  I was 4th of 5 in my age group.

Reindeer Run and Jingle Bell Run

I got up early this morning and drove over to Lufkin to run the 3.3-mile Reindeer Run.  About half was on paved roads and the other half on trails.  Got a chance to visit with a several friends from that area who I had not seen for a while.  I finished in 39:08, which was good for second place in the 60 and over age group.  They also gave me an award for being the oldest runner.  I will sleep on it tonight.  Actually, it is a very nice Mattress Firm memory foam pillow.  After the race, I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Lufkin and then drove 40-something miles south to Livingston to run the Jingle Bell 5K at 1 p.m.  Again, I got to visit with some old friends.  I finished the race in 35:42.  Then, I drove back to Huntsville (total miles 180 for the trip) and finished up the electrical part of the greenhouse.  The light worked and no one got shocked.  Early to bed tonight.  I have to get up at 4:45 in the morning for a 7 a.m. start at the BCS Half Marathon in College Station.

Restful Friday

Except for filling in the ditch for the power and water lines to my wife's new greenhouse, I had a rather restful Friday.  I have two 5K races tomorrow and a half marathon on Sunday.  So, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.

Continuation with the greenhouse

I finished running the power line to the greenhouse today.  With the shopping at Home Depot, that took most of the day.  Next is filling in the ditch.  We had a running club officer meeting this evening, so I went to Iron Works earlier than normal and then ran 2 miles on the roads in town.

Tired

I put the drive belt back on the trencher this morning, but it kept coming off.  I went to the store and bought a new belt and then spent about 2 hours trying to dig the trench to the greenhouse.  The ground is hard black clay.  I finally gave up and loaded the trencher and took it back to the rental place.  They reimbursed me for the belt and tried to give me half my rental fee back.  Anyway, I refused the refund and went home and dug the rest of the trench by hand.  Then, I laid the water line  Next is the conduit with the power line, which I will do tomorrow.  I rested for 30 minutes and then met the group at PTA for our Wednesday group run.  I intended to only run a mile or so, but ended up doing the regular 5K course.

Still working on the greenhouse

I mentioned several times about erecting my wife's new greenhouse.  Once it was up and all the shelves were built, I had to start running underground power and water lines to the greenhouse.  Today, I rented a trencher to dig the trench for the underground lines.  After an hour of digging (like operating a rotor tiller on concrete), it quit working.  I called the guy from the rental place and he was suppose to come and look at it.  He never did.  I determined that the belt came off under the housing.  I called him and he agreed that I could fix it tomorrow.  In the meantime, I did a lot of manual digging.  Hopefully, tomorrow, I can get it going and finish the trenches.  Then, I can install all the pipes and conduits with the wire. After plenty of upper body exercise, I was beat this evening.  I skipped Iron Works and went to the park and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Ran through a demonstration

I ran 2 miles around town this evening.  After making a turn onto the sidewalk along Sam Houston Avenue, I ran into a 100 or so "anti-police" marchers going the opposite way on the sidewalk.  They were chanting and carrying signs.  I stayed on the sidewalk and kept running through the crowd until they all passed me.

Texas 10 Conroe and Sunday Night 5K

I went down to Conroe this morning and ran the Texas 10 Series Conroe 10-Miler.  This was the last of a series of seven 10-mile races in different cities in Texas in 2014.  I ran all 7 and all 3 last year.  For the second year, I won the series Armadillo Cup for the 70 and over age group.  So, I will receive a trophy and $250 in cash.  Nice.  For running all 7 this year, I will receive a backpack.  Today, I ran 2:09:47 and got 2nd in my age group.  Someone misplaced at least one of the turnaround points and the course was a little long.  My GPS said it was 10.2 and others said 10.3.
After getting back home, I took a shower and a nap, worked on posting race results on the club web site and then drove down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  My friend, Jon Walk, who was the announcer at the race this morning, ran with me and we had a nice visit.  We finished in 38:00.

Laps, again

I ran laps again at the track today to give my sore knees a rest.  Two races tomorrow.

Time for another Synvisc injection

My knees have really been sore lately, so it must be time for another Synvisc injection in my knees.  It is basically the stuff from a rooster's cone and "oils the knees."  I will call Monday for an appointment.  In the meantime, I went over to the track this evening and ran laps and then worked out at Iron Works.

Waterway Jingle Bell Run

Tonight, I ran the Waterway Jingle Bell Run in The Woodlands.  Due to construction in the waterway area, the course was a different than in previous years.  Most of the course was on the streets, rather than along the waterway.  The distance was 5K.  It was not timed, so I am not sure what my time was.  Anyway, I have run it all 8 years that it has been held.

PTA 5K Course

This evening, I ran the 5K course, starting and finishing in front of Physical Therapy Associates (PTA).

Staples out

Today was the 7th day since I cut my head erecting my wife's new greenhouse and had staples put in at the emergency room.  As I was leaving the emergency room, they gave me a staple remover, which my wife used to take the staples out (after she went online to find out how to use it).  I spent much of the day building racks, shelves, beds or whatever you call them for the greenhouse.  This evening, I ran 2 miles on the streets in town and then worked out at Iron Works.

Just me and Monica

The park is closed tomorrow for controlled hunting, so we rescheduled our group run for this evening.  It was rather cold and only Monica and I showed up.  We ran 3 miles on the trails.