Third consecutive day

For the third consecutive day, I ran the same 2.5-mile course on the trails at the park.  I have another half marathon this Saturday.

Routine Monday

I worked out at Iron Works this afternoon and then ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Back to the park

Nice cool and sunny Sunday afternoon.  I went out to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Jail Break Half Marathon

I got up very early this morning and drove nearly 100 miles to Baytown (east of Houston) to run the Jail Break Half Marathon at 7 a.m.  The temperature was nice - 50's.  However, it was windy has heck.  At about 8 miles, the course ran a mile up to the highest point on a long bridge and then came down again.  Luckily, we had the wind at our back on the trip up.  I finished in 3:01:01, a little slower than usual.  Slow and steady pace and never walked a step.  I was the oldest runner of 622 finishers and the only one in my 70 and over age group.  Nice trophy.  This was my 86th half marathon; 15 more to reach my goal of 101.

Back to the park

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Then, worked out at Iron Works.  Half marathon tomorrow.

Ran with the Raven

Yesterday, I flew down to Miami to run with the Raven on South Miami Beach.  Raven Kraft has run 8 miles on the South Miami Beach every single day for over 42 years.  I have known him through a common friend here in Huntsville and we have stayed in touch for several years.  However, I never met him in person until yesterday.  I ran the 8 miles with him and we swapped a lot of stories.  He has had runners from 88 countries and all 50 U.S. states run with him.  There are many articles written about him and a movie.  A book on him will be out in about 3 weeks.  My flight to Miami was delayed about 2 hours and it was pouring down raining when I got there.  I barely made it to the beach on time.  It was raining hard and I changed into my running clothes next to the beach in my rental car.  By the time I finished changing, it stopped raining.  Raven's web site is http://ravenrun.net.  He is the most dedicated and inspirational runner I have ever met.
     This morning, I got up at the hotel and went for a run on my own.  I ran for about 1.5 miles and then played tourist.  I walked back to the hotel and took photos on the way.  Then, I flew back to Houston and got home this evening.

Tapering for tomorrow

I plan on a special 8-mile run tomorrow, so I only ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening.

Wet run

After Iron Works this afternoon, I went out to the nearly empty state park and ran 3 miles on the park roads in a light rain.

Lot of family in

I had a lot of family in today, starting at 10 a.m.  So, I went to the track early this morning and ran laps.  No lingering soreness from yesterday.

Love.Run Half Marathon

I ran the Love.Run Half Marathon at Huntsville State Park this morning.  Last year, I ran it in 3:23 and hoped to do better this year.  The temperature was in the 60's and 70's and I felt comfortable.  I ran the whole thing, but slower than expected.  The official results are not out, but my time was about 3:42.  I was the only one in the race over 70, so I picked up a nice trophy.  I have an important run coming up this Wednesday, so I probably ran a little slower to avoid tripping and falling or spraining an ankle.  Luckily, I finished with no trips or falls.  This was my 85th half marathon. 938th race and 2,680th consecutive day of running.

Laps at the track

I have a half marathon tomorrow, so I ran laps at the track this afternoon.

Mowed the grass

Here it is mid-February and I had to mow the grass today.  Crazy weather.  I am continuing to take my antibiotics and decongestants and am feeling better.  Looking forward to running a half marathon this weekend.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails this evening.

Tomball all day

I went down to Tomball and spent most of the day selling my old truck and buying a new one.  That is always a stressful experience, but I got it done.  I got home late and only had time to get in a 2-mile run on the roads before having to be somewhere at 6 p,m.

Late evening at the park

Only two of us showed up at the park this evening, me and a new guy, Anthony, who had never been to the park.  He wanted to run 4 miles, so I advised him on an out and back course.  He was much faster than me (everybody is) and I ran the same route out to nearly a mile and a half, figuring I would see him coming back in.  I waited for a while.  He never did and it got to be after 6 p.m. and nearly dark, so I ran on back in, figuring that he came back a different way and would be waiting for me.  It was totally dark when I got back and he was still out there somewhere.  I waited awhile and as I was about to "call out the dogs", he returned.  Even Anthony was not sure how he got back.
      I still have congestion, but feel stronger.  The cooler weather today helped.

Much of the day in Conroe and Tomball

I spent much of the day running errands in Conroe and Tomball and got back to Huntsville this evening.   It was too late to go to the park, but I worked out at Iron Works and ran laps at the track.  I am still taking antibiotics, but am starting to feel stronger.  I lost 8 pounds in the last few days.  My goal now is to not put it back on.

Working run

The Love.Run.Marathon (and half and 10K) at Huntsville State Park is coming up this weekend.  I designed the course for them when they started the race a few years ago.  It has to be changed this year because park of the park is closed for construction.  I modified the course a few weeks ago, but was not sure about my measurement of one segment of the course.  So, this afternoon I went out there and remeasured.  It was 197 feet short, so I moved the turnaround point to make up the difference.  All that took about 7.5 miles with an engineer wheel.  On the way back in, I picked up the wheel and ran about a mile and a half to get in my daily run.  The temperature was in the mid-80's and the park was loaded with bikers, hikers and runners.

Miles for Meals 5K

The inaugural  Miles for Meals 5K was held in Conroe this morning.  They rented our club's clock and inflatable arch and I took them down and set them up.  I had a rough night last night and was up many times.  I had a little coffee before I left the house and my wife gave me a slice of toast to eat on the way down.  I really felt weak, but wanted to try to run the race anyway.  It did not start until 10 a.m., so it was pretty hot by then.  During the last mile, I did something that I do not normally do in a race - walk.  I finished in 44:24.  I had to go sit down.  Then, my vision started to go.  I drank two bottle of water as quickly as I could.  That cleared up the dehydration.  From there, I drove down to Houston to pick up my packet for the Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon tomorrow.  By then, I actually felt hungry.  There was a McDonald's across the street, so I had a hamburger and fries.  Later, I felt like I may lose it, but it stayed down.  I made a decision this evening not to run the half marathon tomorrow.  I have lost too much strength and I have never had a DNF.  So, I will have to add another half marathon to my schedule next year.

Worse

Besides the sinus infection, I was all night going back and forth to the bathroom.  I knew I was getting dehydrated.  I tried to take water, but threw it up.  So, I went to the emergency room this morning and got thoroughly checked out  They gave me an IV and medication for nausea.  They figured the problem with the mixture of the antibiotic and decongestants.  I slept most of the rest of the day, but did go over to the track this afternoon and run laps to get in a mile.

Sinus infection

I hardly slept last night.  Had a fever and chills.  I managed to get to see my doc this afternoon and told him that I was there for my annual sinus infection.  I started my antibiotics and some over-the-counter stuff.  For the second day in a row, I skipped Iron Works and went to the park.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, but really felt tired.  I have a 5K this Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday.  Several years ago, I had a high temperature due to a sinus infection and ran the Dallas White Rock Marathon.  A friend brought me some of her leftover antibiotics to the start line.  I made it okay, but was a little slower than normal.

Feeling worse

My sinuses were killing me today.  I stayed inside laying on the couch for most of the day.  I skipped Iron Works and went out to the park this afternoon in ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Looking forward to cooler and wet weather again to stop whatever is blowing around that is giving my sinuses fits.

Sneezing all day

It was 83 degrees this afternoon and I spent much of the day working outside, trimming bushes, etc.  I'm not sure what is in the air, but I have been sneezing all day and my sinuses are stuffed.  I did get my workout in at Iron Works and a 2.5-mile trail run at the park.  I was testing my pulled muscle and took it easy.  No problem.

Summer in February

It is in the 80's this week.  After Iron Works this afternoon, I went to the park and ran 3 miles on the park roads.  The park was rather empty and quiet after the weekend and Rocky Raccoon 100 Trail Rum/

Sunday Night 5K

I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening.  My fellow streaker, Vincent, ran the whole thing with me and we finished in 35:54.  He would normally run it much faster and besides, he had already run 10 miles today.

Idle today

I was idle today as far as racing goes.  One of the few Saturdays without a race.  I ran laps at the track this morning and went out to the park this afternoon for a while to watch the Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler in progress.

Same 3 miles

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran the same 3 miles on the park roads.  The park was crowded with runners showing up to run the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler, which starts at 6 a.m. tomorrow.  I saw license plates from a lot of different states.  In fact, when I ran the loop down by the lodge, I ran through a line of runners waiting in a line stretching across the street to get pick up their packets at the lodge.  The weather this weekend should be nice; hope they all finish.

Back to the roads

I went back to the roads this evening at the park.  I ran 3 miles without pain from my pulled muscle.  That's encouraging after the painful run on the trails yesterday.

Darn

Just when I thought my pulled muscle was healed, it started hurting when I hit the trails this afternoon.  It was a continual pain, so I cut the run to something over 2 miles.  If it does not get better soon, I will schedule Cryotherapy sessions.