Trails on Friday

I usually have a race on Saturday and run laps at the track on Friday.  No race tomorrow, so I went out to the park and ran my usual 2.5-miles on the trails.

Zoo

I took my wife, daughter and grand daughter down to the Houston Zoo today.  I think that it was my first visit there in about 25 years.  Perfect weather; sunny and the temperature in the low 70's.  My recollection of the zoo was that it was a long walk between exhibits.  I suppose that many more exhibits and animals have been added and now it is just huge.  I got back to Huntsville just in time to go out to the park and run 2.5 miles with the group.

Spider webs

I suppose that it is getting to be that time of the year.  There are spider webs across the trails at the state park.  Now, I have to run behind bikers.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails this afternoon and had to break a few webs.  This weekend, I have a half marathon on Sunday in San Antonio.  The course includes a run through Fort Sam Houston, where I was stationed in the Army in 1961.  This should bring back some memories.  The weather forecast for Sunday in San Antonio is 100 percent chance of thunderstorms.  Ugh.

Trails, again

After Iron Works, I met up with the group at the park.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Park roads

Instead of running trails this afternoon, I ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Texas 10 Series College Station

I made the on-hour drive over to College Station this morning to run the Texas 10 Series 10-Miler at 7 a.m.  About 15 miles from Huntsville, the road was closed due to an accident.  There were flashing lights for a quarter mile or so.  While waiting, I had thoughts of being stuck for so long that I would miss the race.  As it came out, I was only held up for 20 minutes and made it to the race with time to spare.  I finished the 10 miles in 2:16:06.  I think it was my 2nd slowest of the 25 Texas 10 Series races that I have run.  Maybe it was the heat and humidity.  I'm not sure, but I need to do better.  I did place 2nd of 3 runners in the 70 and over age group.

American Legion 5K

This morning, I drove down to Jersey Village, a city on the northwest edge of Houston, to run the American Legion 5K.  The race did not start until 8:30, so I did not have to get up too early.  I had never run this race before, nor have I ever run in Jersey Village.  I finished the flat, double looped course in 36:53, which placed me 2nd of 3 in the 60 and over age group.  Race number 944.

Regular Friday

With two races this weekend, I made it a regular Friday with laps at the track - and a lot of yard work.

3.5 miles of yard work

This afternoon, I had to broadcast fire ant killer on my whole lawn (1 acre lot).  Just for the heck of it, I put on my GPS to see how much walking back and forth with the spreader I had to do to get it done.  It came out to 3.5 miles.  Then, I went to Iron Works and met the group at the park for a 2.5-mile trail run.

3003

Just realized that I have posted on this blog just over 3,000 times since my first entry on April 19, 2008.  Today is 3003.  I realize that the blog is probably the most boring online, but it is part of my "system of motivation."  It helps keep me accountable for my running and streaking.  If it helps anyone else, that is great.
This heat wave in March continues; it was in the 80's again today.  I went to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Hot

I'm not sure what the high temp was today, but my truck thermometer said 93 degrees when I went out to the park to run.  I met up with the group and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  This weekend, I plan to run a 5K on Saturday and 10-miler on Sunday.  Then, half marathons the next three weekends.

New trails

After Iron Works this afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 2.2 miles on the new trails adjacent to the park.  Feels like summertime.  I have three more half marathons to run this season; hope it cools down a bit.

Club run at the park

We had our club's annual 3.5-mile non-competitive trail run at Huntsville State Park this afternoon.  I worked as a course guard and photographer, but I ran 2.5 miles on the trails this morning.

Seabrook Lucky Trails Half Marathon

I got up at 4:30 this morning to drive down to Seabrook to run the Seabrook Lucky Trails Half Marathon.  Rather warm (up to about 80) and humid.  The course is two loops on a gravel trail.  I finished in 3:01:58 and was 1st of 2 in the 75-79 age group.  Last year, my time was 3:08 something.

Friday at the track

Usual Friday.  I am running half marathon number 88 tomorrow, so I ran laps at the track early this afternoon.

Park is still crowded

We have had beautiful clear and cooler weather all week and the state park is full of spring breakers.  I'm not use to seeing that many people on the trails.  After Iron Works, I met up with the group at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Another late post

Gosh.  Here it is after midnight and I have not posted for Wednesday.  I worked out a Iron Works this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Late post

I forgot to post before midnight, but I did not forget to run today (Tuesday).  I ran 4 miles on the trails at the park, dodging a lot of spring break bikers and hikers.

Circus

I took my wife, daughter and granddaughter to the circus in Huntsville this evening.  I suppose that was the first time I have been to a circus in nearly 50 years.  They had some nice acrobat acts, but were a little light on animals (2 elephants, 4 horses and 1 dog).  So, earlier in the day, I worked out at Iron Works and ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.

Back to Houston

Later yesterday, I drove back down to Houston to watch my son and daughter perform in a club last night.  I spent the night in Houston and got back this afternoon.  I went out to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Law Week 8K

For the first time ever, I ran the Law Week 8K in Houston this morning.  It was the 32nd annual, so I have missed a few.  After I got into a parking garage, I realized that I left my wallet at home.  I had friends at the race who offered to bail me out of the garage, but I pushed the call button and a nice lady opened up the gate for me for free.  I finished the race in 1:04:52 and got a nice framed artwork for 2nd place in the 75-79 age group (there was only 2 of us).  I also won a door prize, which was 5-$20 gift cards to Tiff's Treats, which I understand is a cookie store(s) in the Houston area.  I wander how many calories in that door prize.

Minor milestone - 2,700 days

Today was my 2,700th consecutive day of running.  With a race tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this afternoon and then cut up a tree that I cut down yesterday.  I'm tired.

3+ at the park

After Iron Works this afternoon, it rained on the way to the park.  However, I got in 3.1 miles on the trails without a drop of rain.

Trails, again

As usual for Tuesday, I met up with the group this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  We had a heavy rain earlier today, but the trails were in good shape.

Back to the trails

After a weekend running on mostly concrete, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Sunday Night 5K

I went back to The Woodlands this evening to run the monthly Sunday Night 5K for the 80th time.  I finished in 37:58, about 2 minutes slower than last month.  Must have been the half marathon yesterday.

The Woodlands Half Marathon

I ran The Woodlands Half Marathon this morning.  The temperature was in the 50's and there was some light rain in the last few miles.  I finished in 2:59:36 (4th of 6 in the 75 & over age group).  This was my 87th half marathon and 940th race.

Laps

With a half marathon in the morning, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.  Later, I went down to The Woodlands to pick up my race packet.  That gave me a chance to visit with some friends, including Loren Sheffer.  The weather should be nice tomorrow.

Early run

I had to be somewhere this evening, so I went out to the part early this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Sunny and cool.

A little longer

After Iron Works this afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 4 miles on the trails.