Got up at 9

With no race this morning, I got up at 9 a.m., after sleeping through a storm and 5 inches of rain last night.  I figured that the park trails would be too wet, so I ran 2 miles on the roads around the campus this afternoon.

Different Friday

Tomorrow will be my first Saturday without a race since last January 16.  So, instead of running laps at the track as I normally do, I went out to the park in the mid-afternoon heat and ran 4 miles on the trails.  I ran in a cotton T-shirt that I happened to have on.  Not wearing a tech shirt and carrying some water was a mistake.  I got a little hot and dehydrated, but I made it in okay.  It is nearing that time when the biting deer flies come out and start making things uncomfortable on the trails.

Early trail run

I had to meet an AC guy this evening, so I went out to the park ahead of the group and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Climbing over trees

After working out at Iron Works this evening, I went out to the park for a solo run.  I ran 3 miles on some trails that I had not been on for a while.  The storm that came through early this morning knocked over a lot of trees in the park.  My run was interrupted by 5 or 6 brief stops to climb over fallen trees.

Skipped Iron Works today

I had planned on mowing my lawn tomorrow.  I checked the weather forecast for tomorrow and it is suppose to rain.  So, I skipped Iron Works this evening.  Instead, I mowed the lawn this evening and finished just in time to go to the park.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Laps on Monday

I had a lot of stress today, unrelated to running, and walked a long way behind a spreader to put fire ant poison on my yard this afternoon.  However, I did get to Iron Works this evening and then to the track to run laps.

Texas 10 Sienna

I got up at 4:30 a.m. this morning and left at 5 for the 1 hour and 45 minute drive down south of Houston to Missouri City to run the Texas 10 Series Sienna 10-miler.  It was two 5-mile loops on a very flat 100% concrete course.  It was a little warm for the 2nd loop.  I finished in 2:13:22 and was 3 of 3 in the 70 and over age group.  Best thing was that I got to visit with a lot of good friends.  I also ran into and had a nice visit with Susan Sternberg, who back in the 80's published a magazine in Houston, called Human Powered Sports.  It has probably been 25 years since I have seen her.

RTW and Buffalo Bayou Brewery Run

I had planned to run one race today, but at the last minute, decided on two.  I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K at 8 this morning.  I finished in 36:40.  Then, I drove down to Houston and ran the non-competitive Buffalo Bayou Brewery Run with my niece, who lives in Houston.  I finished the 3.6-mile course in 46:37.  After socializing a bit and having lunch at a nearby restaurant, I did not get back to Huntsville until about 4:30 p.m.

Hike and run

My wife and I went out to the park this morning and hiked for a while.  I then ran 1 mile+, while she continued to hike. Then, I did yard work all afternoon.  That's more tiring and hiking and running.

Usual Thursday

As usual, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.  While the sun was shining this afternoon, we had more rain this morning and the trails were flooded in parts.  Looking forward to a couple races this weekend.

The sun came out

It was raining when I got up this morning, but the sun came out this afternoon.  After Iron Works, I went out to the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the trails.  Steamy.

Rainy trail run

I got up a little early this morning to drive down to Magnolia to attend the funeral of a runner friend, Lou Wilson.  About half way down the back roads, I was stopped by a Deputy Sheriff, who had the highway blocked due to a fatal accident.  I had to turn around and head back to Huntsville.  There was no way I could make it time for the funeral by going another route.  Lou was a great guy and I hate that I was not able to say a final goodbye.  This evening, I met up with the group at the park  Jacob and Glenn ran 3 miles on the trails, so I ran 2.5.  It rained for most of the run, but nothing heavy.

6.5

We had a lot of rain overnight, but it cleared up this afternoon.  I worked out at Iron Works and then went out to the park and ran 2 miles on very wet and muddy (in places) trails.  Today marked 6.5 years (2,374 days) on my current running streak.  I am 3 months and 18 days away from matching my longest streak of 6 years, 9 months and 18 days.  I am still mad at the doctor and myself for causing me to miss those 4 days in October 2009.

Texas Big Star Half Marathon

Friday afternoon, I drove up to Plano (north of Dallas) to pick up my packet for the Texas Big Star Half Marathon on Saturday in Frisco (more north of Dallas).  The race started and finished at Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas (soccer).  I had never run in Frisco and the course was unexpectedly hilly.  The temperature was in the 60's and it was very windy for the entire race.  I finished in 2:56:55.  There were only 2 others in the 70-74 age group and I was 3rd.  Nice race, but I never saw another runner who I knew. After the race, I got a free cyrotherapy session being given in a portable setup at the race.  For an initial session, they had the temperature a minus 90 degrees.  It ultimately goes up to minus 276 degrees.  I did not feel much of the cold during the session and did not feel anything different yesterday or today.  Maybe I need the 276.  I spent the night with my son and family in Wylie (northeast of Dallas) and drove back to Huntsville through heavy rains until well south of Dallas.  When I got back to Huntsville, I went to the track and ran laps.

Friday mile

With a half marathon in the morning, I went out to Veterans Memorial Parkway and ran 1-mile+.  Feeling rested.

First snake of the year

While running 2.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening, I passed a snake.  The business end was under some brush along the trail, so I'm not sure what kind of snake it was.  I think it was a cotton mouth.  In any case, it was the first time I have seen a snake on the trail this season.  Of course, it does not mean that I have passed over some others; just the first one I have seen.

Avenues 5K course

After Iron Works, I took a break from the trails today and ran the hilly Avenues 5K course.  There was a light, misty rain for the entire run.

Me and the speedy J's.

There were only three of us who showed up at the park this evening.  Me and speedy Jason and Jacob.  They wanted to run 3+ miles, so I ran 2.1 miles on the new trails.  They were waiting for me when I finished.

Bad timing

It was suppose to rain this evening, so after lunch I went out to the park to get in a run on the trails.  No more than 100 yards into my run,  it started to pouring down.  I was soaking wet, but finished a 2.5-mile loop.  And, it never rained this evening.

Back problem

For some reason, I woke up this morning with a very sore and stiff lower back.  Maybe it was a calcium deposit from too much ice cream at the Blue Bell Run yesterday.  In any case, after church, I took four Ibuprohen tablets with lunch and then put a heating pad on my back for 30 minutes when I got home.  After that, I went to the park and ran 3.5 miles on the trails.  Something worked, because I feel much better this evening.

Blue Bell 10K

I ran the Blue Bell 10K in Brenham this morning.  The temperature was relatively cool in the 50's.  Usually for this run, the temperature is around 90 degrees.  I felt okay throughout the race and expected a better time than 1:19:14.  I was 4th of 5 in the 70 and over age group.  After the race, my wife and I had lunch at a cafe in downtown Brenham and then drove about 12 miles to Independence, Texas.  There, she shopped at the Antique Rose Emporium (they sell native Texas roses and other native plants) and I slept in my truck.

Friday laps

With a 10K tomorrow morning, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.  Then, I mowed the yard and planted corn in the garden.  The various animals that invade our yard at night will have fresh corn in a few months.

Beat up from roto tilling

It is that time of the year to get the garden started.  I got out the roto tiller this afternoon and broke ground.  That thing beat me up - plus I got stung by a mound of fire ants.  By comparison, running is easy.  After resting up a bit, I worked out at Iron Works and ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Trails, again

I am running trails at the state park most every day during the week.  Until it really gets hot and the biting horse flies are out in force and there is a spider web crossing the trail every few feet, I will probably run there during the week.  I went out there this afternoon after Iron Works and ran 3 miles.  This was my 2,362nd consecutive day of running.

Trying a new course at the park

After Iron Works, I tried running a new course at the park this evening.  It was partly in the park, partly on the new trails in the National Forest and partly on a trail outside the park that I had never been on.  Sounds adventurous, but it turned out to be only 2.1 miles total.

Monday rest day

I was tired today.  Not from running, but from all that driving and sleep deprivation this weekend.  After working out at Iron Works this evening, I went to the track and ran laps.

Texas 10 Series Boerne and Sunday Night 5K

After getting home from the Running of the Bears 5-Miler yesterday, I drove 4 hours+ to Boerne, Texas (west of San Antonio) to run the Texas 10 Series 10-Miler in Boerne this morning.  The race started at 7 a.m., so I had to get up very early at the hotel.  It was around 40 degrees at the start of the race, but warmed up quickly.  I felt comfortable throughout the race and finished in 2:10:11, a minute or so faster than last year.  I was 3rd place of 3 runners in the 70 and over age group.  I got back to Huntsville about 4 p.m., took a 15-minute nap and then drove down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 36:57 and had a nice visit with some friends.

DEER STORY:  A friend of mine showed up at the race in Boerne this morning with a knot on his forehead.  He told this story.  It was dark and he was about 2 blocks from the race and stopped to ask someone for directions.  He got directions, but before he could roll up his window, a deer came at his car, head first through the open window.  The deer hits him in the head, almost knocking him unconscious.  His wife had to grab the steering wheel to keep the car under control.  This is in the city of Boerne near the high school football stadium where the race started and finished.  All he remembers is this furry head suddenly in his car hitting his head.  Crazy!

Running of the Bears 5-Miler

I drove about 35 minutes down to Montgomery this morning to run the Running of the Bears 5-Miler.  The temperature was in the high 40's and clear skies.  Could not ask for better weather.  I finished in 1:01:09, a couple minutes slower than last year.  In any case, I was first of two in the 70 and over age group.  Best of all, I got a chance to visit with my niece and some other good friends.

Friday laps

As I do on many Fridays, I went to the track and ran laps this afternoon.  Up early tomorrow.