Laps in the middle of the afternoon

With three races this weekend, I went over to the track in the middle of the afternoon and ran laps.

Early trail run

I had to make a trip over to Bryan and College Station this morning.  On the way back early this afternoon, I received a call from my son in Edinburg that he was on his way up to Huntsville for business and would stop by this evening for dinner.  So, I went out to the park at 3 p.m. when it was 100 degrees and ran 4.7 miles, mostly on the new trails.  I ran over a snake before I realized what it was.  I stopped, when back and checked it out.  Non-poisonous green snake.  In any case, it was the first snake I have seen on the trails this summer.  However, a few days ago, I found a Copperhead on the front porch next to the door.  Looking for water, I suppose.

Another hot day

Day 29 of our no rain streak and temps up around 100.  About 6 p.m., I ran 2 miles on the streets around the campus.

New trails, again

James and Monica were at the park this evening and had not been on the new trails.  I ran 3.4 miles with them. Today was our 28th consecutive day without a drop of rain after so much in the early summer.

The heat goes on

It has been at least a month since it has rained at my house.  The cracks in my yard are so wide you have to be careful not to fall in.  For almost every day this month, the forecast was for a 10% chance of rain.  If my math is correct, it should rain every 10 days.  So much for forecasts.  It was in the high 90's when I ran 2 miles on the streets around the campus this evening.

Wellness 5K

I got up at 4:30 this morning to make it down to Katy for the 7 a.m. start of the Wellness 5K.  If I seem to be doing a lot more races this year, I am.  I have averaged 64 races a year for the last 3 years.  The race this morning was my 45th for 2015.  My friend, Jon Walk, of Spring, started competition between he, myself and Graham Schooley of Houston to see who could run the most races in 2015.  A couple weeks ago, I was at 43, Graham was at 38 and Jon at 35.  I was down in the valley last weekend and did not race, so I am sure at least Graham got in a couple of races.  Jon is the premier and busiest race announcer in the Houston area, so it will be difficult for him to catch up  I have no idea if anyone else in the Houston area has run more races, but it would be interesting to find out.  This coming weekend, I have 3 races.  In the meantime, I finished the flat 5K this morning in 38:36, a little faster than yesterday.

Dog Days 5K

I woke up early this morning and could not go back to sleep.  I left the house at 6:30 a.m. with my pickup full of signs, a race clock, water and a lot of other race stuff.  I drove over to Iron Works, where we started and finished our club's annual Dog Days 5K & 1-Mile.  Steve and I put out the signs and I ran the race at 8 a.m.  I finished in a slow 40:12.  Maybe it was a combination of the hills and heat.  We loaded all the stuff in the truck and then drove the course and took down and loaded up the signs.  I then drove over to the club storage place and unloaded it.  I was really beat, mostly from all the loading and unloading.  I have to get up early tomorrow for a 7 a.m. race down in Katy.

Regular Friday

With 2 races this weekend, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  It was only 95 degrees.

Back to the new trail

I ran 3.4 miles on the park trails this evening, including about 2 miles on the new trail.  There is still about 5 miles of new trails that I have not run and they are currently building more.  All the new trails are part of the national forest, but connect to the state park trails.

High pressure

There is a high pressure system hanging out over Texas for several weeks, so we have not had a drop of rain and none is in sight.  Another hot day to run.  It was 97 when I ran about 6 p.m. today.  I ran an unplanned route around town and the campus.  It turned out to be 2.8 miles.

New trail

They have been clearing some new trails at the state park.  Actually, most are in the adjoining national forest, but connect to the state park trails.  I ran a little over 3 miles this evening, including about 1 mile on the new trail.  Hot, 97 degrees.

Back from Edinburg

I ran laps last Thursday morning and then drove 412 miles down to Edinburg in South Texas to visit my son and his wife.  I could not find a race in that area during the weekend.  Even though it was a busy weekend, including a visit to South Padre Island, I managed to get in a run every day.  Even in the evening when I ran, it was 100 degrees.  Yesterday, was my 2,100th consecutive day of running.  I drove back to Huntsville this morning and finished up my column for tomorrow's newspaper.  Then, it was back to my routine.  After working out at Iron Works, I ran my 2-mile course around the campus.

Ran out of time

I mowed the yard this afternoon and got a late start on my run this evening.  I only had time for a quick workout at Iron Works and a 2-mile run around the campus before having to be somewhere tonight.  Besides, it is getting hot and we have not had rain for a couple weeks.  And, none in sight. It is such a contrast to earlier this summer.

Just Jacob, Jason and me

It was just Jacob, Jason and me at the park this evening.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Easy 2

After that 11.5K race in the high heat and humidity yesterday, I was beat today.  I worked out at Iron Works this evening and then ran 2 miles around the campus.

Magnolia Hill 11.5K Trail Run

It was hot and humid this morning for the XTerra Magnolia Hills 11.5K Trail Run near Navasota.  I had never run this race before or ran at the location.  Most of the trails were very narrow, ups and downs and twists and lots of muddy spots.  I took one light fall, but managed to grab a tree and cushion the fall.  I walked through the muddy areas to avoid slipping and falling.  I finished in a slow 2:13:27.  However, it was a PR, since I never ran a 11.5K race before.  I was the only runner in the 70 and over age group, so I was first.  I also won a door prize, a free entry into a future XTerra race.  This was my 43rd race in 2015, my 805th lifetime race and my 2093rd consecutive day of running.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning.  I finished in 38:36.  No age group competition or awards, but I won a pair of socks from Luke's Locker in the door prize drawing.  I gave them to my wife as an early Christmas present.  After the race, I drove on down to Houston and spent most of the dark helping my son with work around his house.  It was a hot day for that.  Another race tomorrow morning.

Friday laps

With 2 races this weekend and a lot of family and visitors at my house over the weekend, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Ran short of time

We had a running club social meeting this evening, so I had to skip running at the park.  By the time I got around to running this evening, I only had time to get in 2 miles around the campus.

Posting late

It is well after midnight; I fell asleep on the couch.  After a busy day, including yard work, I worked out at Iron Works and ran 2 miles on the roads around the campus.

Getting dry

It has been a while since it has rained.  My lawn is starting to need watering and the muddy parts of the trails at the state park have dried up.  I met up with the group this evening at the park and ran 3 miles on the dry trails.

Sore knees Monday

My highly medicated knees were sore today after 3 races this weekend.  After Iron Works, I ran 2 miles around the campus.

Wellness 5K and Sunday Night 5K

I got up at 4:45 this morning to make it to downtown Houston for the Wellness 5K at 7 a.m.  I finished in 38:31 and was 1st in the 70 and over age group (I was the only one).  Then, I drove back to Huntsville, took a nap and mowed the yard and did some work on my wife's car..  This evening, I drove down to The Woodlands and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  Finished in 38:02

Stu's Country Mile 5K

For the 20th straight year, I ran Stu's Country Mile 5K in Centerville this morning.  I finished in a lousy 39:49.  It was hot and my GPS showed the course to be a little long.  In any case, I was 2nd of 5 in the 70 and over age group.  We had over 20 of our club members there and we all met at the Town Cafe just off the downtown square after the race for breakfast.  Then, we watched the 4th of July parade after that.

Toe

I woke up today and my right little toe was dark red and slightly swollen.  I ran laps at the track this afternoon and it never bothered me.  So, it's off to the races this weekend.

Back from Houston

I had to go down to Houston today for a family matter.  Early this morning, I somehow dropped an empty coffee mug on my little toe.  It is really sore, but hopefully nothing is broken.  I made it back from Houston in time to meet the group at the park.  My toe was hurting, so I cut my run to 2 miles on the trails.  Hopefully, it will be okay for the weekend races.

Thought I was going to Houston

I thought I was going to drive down to Houston for a family matter this afternoon, so I did a quick 1.8-mile run in town.  As it turned out, I did not have to go.