18.1-Mile weekend coming up

This weekend, I have 3 races, 5-mile, 10-mile and a 5K, for a total of 18.1 miles.  The weather is suppose to be nice in all 3 places.  It was in the 80's here this afternoon.  I met the group at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Falling on the trails

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 3.5 miles on the trails, part of it in the rain.  I tripped on roots and fell twice.  Ouch.  The park was virtually empty; I never saw another person on the trail.  If nobody was there to see or hear me fall, does that mean that I did not really fall?

Just me and Jason

It was just me and speedy Jason at the park this evening.  He ran 3.5 miles.  I ran 2.5 miles and he was waiting for me when I finished.

Monday at the park

With the cool weather this winter and spring, I have fallen into the habit of running at the park about every day during the week.  I went out to the park this evening and ran 3.5 miles before working out at Iron Works.

Easter

After church this morning, I went out to the crowded park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  By the time I got back home, visiting family had already arrived.  From then on, I ate a lot more calories than I consumed during my run at the park.  Happy Easter.

Super Hero 10K

I drove just over an hour east this morning to the Alabama-Choushatta Indian Reservation to run the Super Hero 10K.  One of my favorite courses; narrow paved roads through the East Texas forest.  The weather was perfect, clear and in the high 50's.  I finished in 1:19:34 and was 1st of 2 in the 60 and over age group.  Got a chance to visit with some good friends, including Mary Kaplan, Loren Sheffer and Amanda Cruise.

Not a normal Friday

I usually run laps at the track on Friday.  Since I have only a 10K in the morning, I went out to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Cooler weather

We had a storm come though during the night and it was cool today.  Just the other day, I was thinking about putting away all my long sleeve T-shirts.  I worked out at Iron Works this evening and then met the group at the park.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Back to normal

I must have walked a couple miles back and forth across my lawn this afternoon pushing a fertilizer spreader.  Soon, I will have to do it again for an application of fire ant control.  I did save enough energy to go out to the park and run 3 miles on the trails.  I feel back to normal after my colonoscopy yesterday.

Survived day 2

I had my colonoscopy this morning.  With no food all day yesterday and no nothing after midnight last night, I went into the hospital at 9 this morning.  I woke up in the recovery room about 10:45 this morning .  They released me and told me to take it easy for the rest of the day.  I headed straight for Olive Garden for a big meal and then home.  I felt sleepy and weak all afternoon, but took a good nap.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and met the group at the park.  Since I was not suppose to be running, I ran a little over a mile on the trails.  This was my 2,347th consecutive day of running.

Long day

The day before a colonoscopy is always a long day, if you know what I mean.  I did manage to take a break and go to the track and run laps.  On a separate trip, I went to Iron Works for a workout.

Annual club run at the park

We had our club's annual Run the Trails, 3.5-Mile, non-competitive run this afternoon at Huntsville State Park  I hiked out to a point on the course and served as a course monitor and race photographer.  We had a nice crowd and it was good seeing so many runners and walkers making their first trip to the park.  This evening, I ran laps at the track and went to the store to buy green jello.  I have a colonoscopy Tuesday morning, so I am having jello for 3 meals tomorrow.  Ugh.  Running will be a challenge for the next couple of days.

Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon

I got up at 4:15 this morning to head down to Seabrook (on the coast east of Houston) for the Lucky Trail Half Marathon, which started at 7:15.  Earlier, there were forecasts for storms, but it ended up just very windy.  The course is a double loop on gravel trails along the roads and waterways.  I finished in 3:08:54, which was good for 3rd place of 3 in the 70-74 age group.  This was my 7th half marathon in the last 6 weekends.

Friday laps

With another half marathon tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.

Houston most of the day

I had to spend most of the day on a non-running related matter in Houston, but got back in time to meet the group at the park.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails and tripped and fell once.  No problem.

Forgot about the ankle

I ran 3.5 miles on the new trails at the park this afternoon and forgot about my ankle.  I guess that means that it okay.

Slower than my normal slow

The ankle was still a little sore today.  I ran 3 miles on the trails this evening, but a little slower than my normal slow.

Ankle almost normal

I was surprised to find my ankle almost back to normal this morning after being so sore yesterday.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran very carefully for 2.5 miles on the trails and then worked out at Iron Works.  Unless I screw it up this week, I should be ready for another half marathon on Saturday.

Longview Half Marathon

I drove up to Tyler Friday afternoon and then 43 miles over to Longview Saturday morning for the Longview Half Marathon.  Luckily, the rain held off until the end of the award ceremony.  Virtually all of the course was on the shoulder of major highways.  Water stops were few and far between, so I was a little concerned about hydration.  I learned quickly to take on plenty of water at each station.  At about 10 miles I started getting pain in my left foot and it never went away.  I finished in 2:57:21 (3rd place of 4 in the 70-74 age group).  I drove back to Tyler, took a nap and then went to visitation for my brother at the funeral home.  My left foot (ankle, I suppose) was sore, swollen and purple this morning.  Knowing that I would not get back to Huntsville until late tonight, I went for a run this morning in Tyler.  I ran for a little over a mile.  It was painful, but loosened up a little for the last half mile or so.  My brother's funeral was this afternoon and, as expected, I got back to Huntsville late this evening.  The streak is alive, but I have another half marathon to run this Saturday.  Hopefully, it will be okay by then.

Short Friday run

With a half marathon tomorrow, I ran 1 mile+ on Veterans Memorial Parkway this morning.  Day 2,336.

Muddy trails

While there was virtually no rain today, the trails at the park were muddy and under water in parts.  After Iron Works, I ran 2.5 miles on the park trails.

Rain all day

It pretty much rained all day.  Some of it was very heavy.  When the light rain later in the afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Had to run through standing water in places, but I have seen it worse.  Later this evening, I made it Iron Works for a workout.

College Station all day

I drove my son over to College Station this morning for out-patient surgery at 10:15 a.m.  There were delays all day and we did not get back to Huntsville until after 6 p.m.  Enroute to a running club officer meeting at 7, I ran laps at the track.

Dry before the rain

It is suppose to rain tomorrow, but today it was windy, cloudy and dry.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails and then worked out at Iron Works.

The Woodlands Half Marathon & Sunday Night 5K

I got up at 5 a.m. on Saturday and went down to The Woodlands to run The Woodlands Half Marathon.  It got rather hot and humid and I finished several minutes slower than last year.  The timing system did not pick up my finish and I was not listed in the results, but, according to my watch, it was right at 3:02 (last year it was 2:58).  In any case, it was my 70th half marathon.  After returning to Huntsville and a shower, I drove 135 miles up to Tyler for my nephew's wedding at 4 p.m..  I did not mention it in my previous blog entry, but just before leaving for the Expo on Friday, I found out that my brother passed away that morning.  It was his grandson, who was getting married.  With family already in town and so much invested in the wedding, they went ahead with it.  They are planning on having the funeral next Sunday.  I spent last night in Tyler and drove back to Huntsville this afternoon.  I got back in time to go back to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  Jon Walk and I ran together and we finished in 36:30.  It was my 866th race and my 2,331st consecutive day of running.  Next is the Longview Half Marathon on Saturday.

The Woodlands Marathon Expo

I ran laps at the track this morning and then went down to The Woodlands Marathon Expo to pick up my packet for the half marathon tomorrow.  In the parking lot on my way to the building, I tripped on one of those boards sticking up between the concrete slabs.  I fell on the concrete, a sharp-ended board flew up in the air and almost hit a lady and I had a 6-inch sharp board sticking out of the front of my shoe.  I re-cut my knee in the same place that I cut from falling at the park 2 days ago.  It wasn't even healed over yet.  A witness said that I did a pretty good roll.  My sinuses are still hurting and I was up most of last night with an ear ache.  All this is nothing that the half will not cure tomorrow.  In any case, I got to visit with a lot of good friends at the Expo, including Loren, Leanne, Jon, Vincent, Parnaveh, Bill, Maria and Mayra.

80's

After running in the 40's last weekend, it was in the mid-80's this afternoon.  I had to be somewhere else at our group time this evening, so I went out to the park at 3 p.m. and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Better

I slept very well last night and felt better today.  The fever seems to have gone, but I still have congestion and a sore throat.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails and then worked out at Iron Works.

Sick all day

I hardly slept last night and was feverish all day, my typical sinus infection.  I skipped Iron Works, but did go out to the park and ran a little over a mile on the trails.  Tonight, I had to drive down to Houston to pick up my wife from the airport.  Just got home.  I have a half marathon coming up Saturday, so I need to recover quickly.