Texas 10 Series College Station

I got up very early this morning to get over to College Station for a 7 a.m. start of the Texas 10 Series 10-Miler.  The temperature was in the 60's, a little warm for this time of the year.  My niece, Amie, went with me and ran the 5-miler.  I finished in 2:16:11, fourth of four in the 70 and over age group.  We had breakfast at IHOP after the race and then drove back to Huntsville.

Wild Hog Trail Run 5K

I got up early this morning and drove nearly 100 miles to Bremond to run the Wild Hog Trail 5K.  Very technical and varied course.  It was a loop around a ranch a few miles outside of Bremond.  The course included course gravel, narrow trails through the woods with plenty of roots, embankments, hills and pasture land with plenty of cow patties, fire ants mounds and holes.  I took it easy and managed to avoid a fall or spraining an ankle.  According to my GPS, my time was 42:40 and the distance was 3.17 miles.  I was first of two in the 70 and over age group.  They had plenty of food and drink after the race and I got to visit with a lot of old friends.  After the race, I drove nearly an hour down to College Station to pick up my packet for the 10-miler there tomorrow morning.

Two-race weekend coming up

I have two races this weekend, so I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Reconstruction at the park has started

Reconstruction of the south perimeter road at the state park has started.  They are digging up the road and hauling in gravel (like potato-size rocks).  I ran down that way this evening and even passed some construction barriers.  Hopefully, they will cover the gravel (rocks) with a a finer gravel that you can run on.  That road is part of the course for 7 of the 8 trail races held at the park every year, including the Rocky Raccoon 100 and 50-miler in February.  This evening, I ended up running 3.3 miles on the trails - and on the rocks.

50's

It was clear and in the 50's this afternoon.  So, I went out to the state park and ran 3.5 miles on the new trails.  I did not see another person or creature the entire time.  Worked out at Iron Works afterwards.

Suppose to rain

It was suppose to rain this evening, but not a drop at the park.  After Iron Works, I met up with the group ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Warmer weather

It was short-sleeve running shirt weather today.  I did not check, but it had to be 70 or higher.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 3.5 miles on the trails, worked out at Iron Works and went to a Sam Houston State basketball game tonight.

Correction

They told me at the finish line in Willis that my time was 41:00.  I did not time myself and thought that was a little slow, even for cross country.  They put out the official results today and reported my time as 39:16.  No big thing, but that sounds more like it.  Today was pretty much football day after church.  I did manage to get out to the park and run 2.5 miles on the trails.  I got attacked by an unleashed pit bull on the trail.  Fortunately, it was a puppy and just wanted to play.

Volleyball 5K and Buffalo Bayou Brewery Run

For the second year, I drove down to Willis to run the Volleyball 5K, put on by the Willis High School Volleyball team.  The temperature was right at freezing at race time.  The course was cross country.  Here is a photo of the start.  I'm in the yellow jacket and orange cap.  I finished in 39:16.  They did not give age group awards, but I received an award for being the oldest runner.  After that race, Melissa, one of our club members and friend of my niece in Houston, followed me down to Houston to the Buffalo Bayou Brewery Run and run with my niece, Amie.  Me and Melissa and Amie ran 3.63 miles and stayed together.  We had to make a lot of stops to cross busy streets and I ran into an old friend who happened to live on the course.  Of course, we had to stop and visit.  Anyway, it took us 51:34 to finish.  In the second photo, Melissa is to my right and Amie to my left.  After the race, we went to a nearby bar and grill and consumed more calories than burned in two races.

Veterans Memorial Blvd.

It's Friday and I have two races tomorrow.  This afternoon, in the cold wind, I ran about 1.25 miles on the sidewalk along Veterans Memorial Blvd.  Tonight, my wife and I went to see "13 hours."  It was the first movie I have seen in over a year.

Just me and Jason

It was just me and Jason who showed up at the park this evening.  He ran 3 miles on the trails and I ran 2 miles on the park roads and he still finished before me.

New shoes

I took a new pair of shoes out of the box today and ran 2 miles around the campus in town.  The last pair lasted 58 days, compared to 47 days for the previous pair.  Of course, I have been running more on the trails lately and the trails are much easier on shoes that concrete and asphalt.

Texas 10 Series Awards Dinner

I went down to Spring this evening to attend the annual Texas 10 Series Awards Dinner.  For the 7-race series, I received 2nd place in the 70 and over age group for the Armadillo Cup.  I received an armadillo cup and a check for $175.  They had a drawing for free entries in the series for life from the 38 runners who completed all 7 races this year.  Unfortunately, I did not win.  Since I was the oldest runner in the drawing, I am sure the director of the series would have preferred to give me that award.  Earlier this afternoon, I went to the track and ran laps.

New trails

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 6.4 miles on the new trails.

Gave up football today

There were two playoff games on this afternoon, but I did not watch either.  After church and lunch, I worked on Houston Marathon race results for the club web site and my column to be in the paper on Tuesday.  Then, I drove down to Luke's Locker running store in The Woodlands to interview the shoe manager for an upcoming column on running shoes.  I got back to Huntsville in time to get in a 3.5-mile run on the trails at the park before it got dark.

2,600

This is my 2,600th blog post since I started in 2008.  No big deal, but streakers are always looking for a milestone.  I intended to go down to Houston this afternoon for the Houston Marathon Expo, but the cold rain convinced me not to make the trip.  Instead, I went out to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  It was raining when I got to the park, but it let up for my run.

Longer trail run

It's Friday and I normally just run laps because I have a race on Saturday.  Since I have no race tomorrow or Sunday, I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 7 miles on the trails.

No race this weekend

Gosh, I do not have a race this weekend.  Sunday is the Houston Marathon & Half Marathon and I have a lot of friends running.  I have run the Houston Marathon 15 times and last year, I ran the Half Marathon for the first time.  The logistics (cost, parking, crowd, etc) is too much for a half marathon.  I may go down for the Expo on Saturday or to spectate on Sunday.  However, starting the next weekend through April, I have at least one race every weekend.  This  evening, I met the group at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Park, again

I have to take advantage of this nice weather and run at the park.  Especially this time of the year, the trails are so much better than the roads.  I went out to the park alone this afternoon and ran 4.6 miles.

Back from Dallas

I ran laps at the track Sunday afternoon before heading for Dallas to be with my sister for her back surgery Monday morning.  The surgery went well.  I stayed in the hotel at the hospital near downtown Dallas.  I took off for a run from the hotel on Monday afternoon.  Nice clear and cold weather, but not the best place in town to run.  I ran about a mile and a half.  I had planned to get back to Huntsville late tonight, so I ran the same course in Dallas this morning.  With a change in plans, I got back to Huntsville a little after 3 this afternoon.  So, I worked out at Iron Works and met up with the group at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Run the Woodlands 5K

For the 70th something time, I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning.  It is held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month.  I finished in 39:03.  I have been watching football ever since.

5-Day Streak

I have a streak within my streak.  I went to the park this afternoon for the 5th straight day and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Tomorrow, I am running the Run the Woodlands 5K and then watching football for the rest of the day.  That will break my 5-day streak.

Trails everyday this week

This is the perfect time of the year to be running trails at the state park.  It's cool, the trails are in good shape, there are no spider webs across the trails and the biting horse flies are hibernating (or whatever they do in the winter).  So, I have run out there every day this week.  After Iron Works this evening, I met up with the group and ran 3.5 miles on the trails.

Rain returns

No complaining, but we are getting more rain.  I had to drive my wife down to Conroe this afternoon for an appointment, so I went out to the park and got in a 2.5 run on the trails before I had to leave.  It was still dry by then.

The nice weather continues

Clear and in the 50's.  Routine day.  I worked out at Iron Works and met the group at the park and ran the same 2.5-mile loop I ran yesterday.

Here it is after midnight

I got busy this evening and forgot to post.  Nice clear weather today, with a temperature in the 50's.  I worked out and Iron Works and then went out to the park alone and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

My mental calendar has been messed up due to the holidays.  Today did not seem like Sunday.  I told my wife that I thought I would go out to the park this afternoon and run trails.  Then, she reminded me to go to The Woodlands and run the Sunday Night 5K.  I did that and finished in 36:48.

Must have been tired

I thought I slept well last night, but my wife told me for the first time ever that I talked in my sleep.  However, she would not tell me what I talked about.  Surely, it was about my running streak.  I kept the streak alive for another day.  I went out to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Texas Half Marathon

I ran the Texas Half Marathon in Kingwood this morning and finished in 3:10:21.  I got back to Huntsville in time for our club run at 2 this afternoon.  Rather than run, I opted to take photos.  Will sleep in tomorrow.