Easy Monday

After working out at Iron Works this evening, I went out to the park and ran 2 miles on the roads.  I felt fine, except for some sore toes from running the half yesterday in sweat-soaked shoes and socks.

Houston Half Marathon

I was out of bed at 4 this morning to drive down to Houston to run the Houston Half Marathon at 7 a.m.  Arriving plenty early, I got a good parking place and a chance to visit with some friends before the race.  I finished in 2:57:43, which was 22 seconds faster than my half in Huntsville last Saturday.  I placed 7 of 10 in the 75 and over age group.  There were about 4,000 finishers in the half marathon and another 1,500 in the 10K.  A check of the weather conditions when I finished showed that it was 69 degrees and 99 percent humidity.

Run with the Saints 5K

I had to go down to Houston today to pick up my packet for the Houston Half Marathon tomorrow, so I found a 5K.  I ran the Run with the Saints 5K in far west Houston.  I finished in 36:-06, 3rd of 3 in the 60 and over age group.

Anniversary

My wife has put up with me for 49 years today.  I suppose that is my other streak.  With two races this weekend, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Voted

I voted today and did a lot of garden work.  To rest up, I worked out at Iron Works and ran 3 miles on the park roads just before dark.

Same as yesterday

I ran the same 2 miles on the park roads that I ran yesterday.

Easy 2 at the park

I ran an easy 2 miles on the park roads this evening.

Still breaking in the new shoes

I ran the half marathon on Saturday in my old shoes, which are about to be retired to work shoe farm.  So, I went to the park this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the park roads in the new shoes.  They should be ready for another half marathon this weekend.

Back to the park

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Must have run into 30 hikers on the trails.

Huntsville Half Marathon

I ran the Huntsville Half Marathon this morning.  Could not ask for better weather.  Temperature in the 50's, sunny and relatively low humidity.  It is a hilly course, but I finished in 2:58:05, about 7 minutes faster than my half last Sunday.  I was 3rd of 4 in the 70 and over age group.  It was great seeing and visiting with a lot of friends that I have not seen in a while.  It was my 75th half marathon.

Friday at the track

Half marathon tomorrow morning, so I ran laps at the track this morning.  Nice cool and clear weather is predicted.

No one else showed up

No one else showed up at the park this evening.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Started year 8

Since the temperature was down into the 80's, I worked out at Iron Works early and got to the park at 3 p.m.  I continued to break in the new shoes with a 3-mile park road run.  Today was day 1 of 8 years.

7 Years

Today marked 7 years on my current streak.  I have been fortunate to stay healthy and have the support of my friends and family.  I plan to continue streaking for as long as I can.  If I have to break it for anything short of death, I'll start over again as soon as I can.  Nothing special today.  I put on a new pair of running shoes and ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening.  Looking forward to running my 75th half marathon at age 75 this Saturday in Huntsville.  The temperature is suppose to be in the 50's, such a contrast to the half in College Station on Sunday.

Sore toes

My toes are so sore from running the half marathon in sweat-soaked socks.  Otherwise, I feel fine.  I worked out at Iron Works this evening.  Last week, they closed the small one that I have always gone to, so I went to the big one.  All the machines are different, so I will have to adjust my routine.  Next month, they are opening a new one and then close the location that I went to today.  Maybe they will move the machines that I am familiar with to the new location.  After my workout, I went to the park and ran 2 miles on the trails, with my sore toes.

Octoberfest Half Marathon

I went back to College Station this morning to run the Octoberfest Half Marathon.  The race started in the dark at 7 a.m.  The weather forecast for 7 a.m. called for 99% humidity and 100% by 8 a.m.  I suppose the forecast was correct.  The temperature was in the 80's, so it was a challenge to stay hydrated during the race.  The start line was outside of Kyle Field and the finish line was inside the stadium.  I ran slow, but never walked a step and finished in 3:05:35.  I was second place of 2 in the 70 and over age group.  This was my 74th half marathon, working toward a goal of 101.

CapRock ER 5K

I ran the CapRock ER 5K in College Station this morning.  I thought I was running faster, but ended up finishing in 38:17.  There were 4 in the 70 and over age group and I got second.  The first place in every age group was awarded with a Garmin watch.  For 2nd place, I received a $50 gift card for the local running store (3rd place received a $25 gift card).  By the way, the overall male and female winners received a laptop.  Nice finisher medals for everyone.  Not bad for a $20 entry fee.

Regular Friday

With two races this weekend, I rested up today.  Ran laps at the track.

Two of us

There were only two of us who showed up at the park this evening, me and Glen Carter.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Summer seems to have returned.  I have a 5K and half marathon this weekend and the forecast is for hot weather.

New trails

I ran 3.5 miles this afternoon, mostly on the new trails on Federal land outside of the state park.  Just after I started the run, I met my good friend, Melissa Davis, who was finishing up a long run.  Nice visit with her.

Early trail run

I had a meeting this evening, so I worked out at Iron Works and ran trails at the park earlier.  I ran 2.5 miles, most of it in the rain.

Physical results

I had my annual physical last week and they called me today with the results.  Everything looked good.  Guess my streak can continue for at least another year.  After Iron Works, I went out to the park and ran a short loop on the new trails that go outside the park.  I am not sure what the distance was, but it was something over 2 miles.

Texas 10 Series Cypress

I drove down to Cypress (northwest of Houston) to run the Texas 10 Series 10-miler.  I met up with my niece, Amie, who lives in Houston.  She ran the 5-mile race.  Nice weather in the low 60's.  The 10-mile course was 2 loops on a 5-mile course.  Flat, but all concrete.  I finished in 2:10:31, about 13 minutes faster than the Texas 10 Series Huntsville a couple weeks ago on a hilly course with very high humidity.  I was 3 of 3 in the 70 and over age group.  It was nice today not being soaked from head to foot in sweat at the finish line.  I had a negative split today.  My second loop was 4 seconds faster than the first.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning and finished in 37:12.  Nice cool weather in the 60's.

Friday rest day

With two races this weekend, I ran laps at the track this morning.

Annual physical today

My annual physical was rather uneventful this morning.  The lab work will be complete in a  couple days.  Hopefully, everything will be normal.  In the meantime, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening.

Getting close to 7 years

October 18 will mark 7 years on my current streak - and no end in sight.  It just does not seem that long ago when I broke my last streak in October 2009.  I ran 3.5 miles on the trails at the park this afternoon.  I have a 5K and a 10-mile race this weekend.  Then, the next weekend I start running half marathons every weekend.

Park habit

This time of the year, I tend to run more at the state park.  Traffic is so bad in town during the school year and the cooler weather makes running at the park more comfortable.  After working out at Iron Works this afternoon, I ran 2.5 miles on the  trails.

Lost a good friend

I learned within the last hour that an old friend of mine, True Cousins, passed away today.  True and I were charter members of the Seven Hills Running Club founded in 1985.  He was 82, so for many years we competed in the same age group.  I always remember him beating me in races.  Then, I started edging him out.  That is when he told me that he was having transmission problems with his pacemaker.  It was stuck in a low gear.  He was one of the nicest guys you would ever meet.  We also shared a love for old VW's and he helped me keep my going for years.  He was a consistent runner until the last year, but continued to walk.  In fact, he was an engineer and never retired until today.  I will miss him.
    I went to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

It is the first Sunday of the month, so I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran the Sunday Night 5K for the 75th time.  I finished in 37:27.  This was my 904th race and 2,541st consecutive day of running.

Habitat for Humanity 5K

My computer konked out a couple days ago and I have been unable to post.  Thursday, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails, Friday, I ran 2 miles on the park roads.  This morning, I drove over to Livingston and ran the Habitat for Humanity 5K.  I ran 35 something.  According to my GPS, the course was 2.9 miles, a little short.  There was no age group competition and the temperature was about 70 degrees.  Nice.