Back to the avenues

It was sunny this afternoon and the temperature was up to about 90.  I was getting use to the lower temperatures due to the storm.  I ran the avenues 5K course this afternoon.  No one stopped and offered me a ride, but I got charged at by two dogs.  No physical contact.  Darn owners.  Don't they know about the leash law?

Missing the park

Another day of running the streets.  Starting to miss trail running at the park.  Hopefully, the park will reopen next week.  I ran 2 miles around the campus this afternoon.  Part of the course was through the campus to avoid the construction area.

It finally passed

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey finally passed.  It rained all morning, but finally stopped this afternoon.  I really feel for those who were hurt so badly by the storm.  While all this is going on, you feel somewhat guilty out running.  However, as long as I can physically keep up the streak, I will keep running.  My hip was hurting a little, so I ran a 1.3-mile loop on the streets in town.

And more rain

It rained virtually all day again today, but less than yesterday. After Iron Works this afternoon, I decided to check out the trails at the state park.  As I drove the mile or so Park Road 40 entrance to the park, I noticed that they had removed about 5 large trees that had fallen on the road.  That was not a good sign.  Then, they told me at the gate that the park was closed for day use and would probably open again after Labor Day.  So, I went back to town and ran an unplanned route on the streets.  It rained the entire time.  An old friend stopped me to tell me I was crazy, but she always said that anyway.  The course turned out to be 3.1 miles.

The rain continues

It rained all day in Huntsville without a break.  Still raining.  The good news was the temperature was down in the low 70's.  This afternoon, I ran the hilly avenues 5K course, which traverses the highest point between Houston and Dallas.  While running in the rain today, I had 3 people stop and offer me a ride.  There are really nice people in Huntsville.

Wet run

The forecast for today was for rain all day from the northeast side of Hurricane Harvey.  So this morning, I ran 2 miles around the campus in the rain.  Not too bad, but at the corner of Bobby Marks and Bowers, the water was half way up to my knees.  I really feel for the people in Houston, where there is much more rain and so much flooding.

Avenues run

We had very little rain today from the hurricane, but are suppose to have tons in the next few days.  I went to the track this afternoon and, from there, ran an unplanned route in the hilly avenues.  It turned out to be 1.8 miles.  My race in The Woodlands tomorrow morning was cancelled.  So, I will have to find another race to stay on target for race 1,000 on December 17.

Hurricane

Hurricane Harvey is scheduled to hit the Texas coast this weekend.  While Huntsville is not in the direct path, we will get lots of rain on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  So, running may be fun for the next few days.  I have a 5K race in The Woodlands on Saturday.  I wonder if it will be cancelled.  I had an running club officer meeting this evening, so I went out to the park early ahead of the group and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Deep sand

We have had no rain for 2 weeks+, so the trails at the state park and very dry.  In some places, the sand is very deep and tough for running.  With the tropical storm coming in from the Gulf this weekend, we are suppose to get lots of rain.  In the meantime, I went to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles, some of it in deep sand, of course.

Back to the park

After Iron Works this evening, it was back to the park to run with the group.  It was me, Jacob, Glen and Gretchen.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Still have some lower back pain to go along with some hip pain.  Getting old is not for wimps.

Laps

I usually do not run laps on Monday, but my lower back was still hurting today.  The long run yesterday did not work out whatever caused it.  So, I went to the track this evening and ran laps.

Hot run at the park

Am not sure how I did it, but I pulled a muscle in my lower back while getting dressed for church this morning.  I took 3 Ibuprofen tablets at the restaurant after church and then laid on a heating pad for a long time after getting home.  Then, I filled up the camel back with water and headed for the park.  According to my truck thermometer, the temperature was 99 degrees.  I ran 7.4 miles on the near-empty trails.  My back loosened up a bit, but I did get some pain in the old hip.  I took one fall and skinned up my left knee, which has taken a beating after years of trail running.  At least, I'm ready for a couple 10K's next month and hopefully a 10-miler.

Heat Wave 5K

I ran our club's annual Heat Wave 5K this morning.  As expected, it was hot.  It is held at the Waterwood Sub-division, about 20 miles east of Huntsville.  I finished in 41:52.  Guess my hip is not fully recovered.  I missed this race last year, but in 2015, I ran it in 38:52.  Of course, I was young then.

Four days in a row

For the fourth straight day, I ran my 2.5-mile loop on the trails at the park.  My truck thermometer said it was 99 degrees when I ran at 2 p.m.  Hornets were everywhere, but luckily I did not get them upset.  I remember years ago and one of the races at the park, a runner stirred up a ground hornet's nest.  Me and a bunch of others in the area got stung.

Race Schedule

I have been working on my race schedule for the next few months.  I am trying to reach several goals and have a couple milestones coming up.  My wife and I celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on October 28, which happens to coincide with the Huntsville Half.  Then, I will run race number 1,000 in Galveston on December 17.  Running streak day 3,000 will be on January 4.  Then, my 101st half marathon will be the Love Run Half Marathon at Huntsville State Park on February 17.  I ran my 101st full marathon at this race in 2014 in honor of all those who have served with the 101st Airborne Division, the unit I served with in Vietnam.  I will do the same for my 101st half marathon.

     In the meantime, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park this evening.

Saturday, August 19, Heat Wave 5K, Waterwood
Saturday, August 26, Run the Woodlands 5K, The Woodlands

Sunday, September 3, Sunday Night 5K, The Woodlands                          

Monday, September 4, Labor Day 5K, Huntsville                                       

Saturday, September 9, Gruene 10K, New Braunfels

Saturday, September 16, College Prep 10K, Houston                                  

Sunday, September 17, Running of the Bulls 5K, Houston

Saturday, September 23, Woodforest 5K, Conroe 

Sunday, September 24, TX 10 Series 10-Miler Huntsville

Sunday, October 1, Sunday Night 5K, The Woodlands                        

Sunday, October 8, TX 10 Series 10-Miler, Cypress

Saturday, October 14, Stesti Beer 5K Trail Run, Lovelady

Sunday, October 15, Tyler Rose Half Marathon, Tyler            

Sunday, October 22, Octoberfest Half Marathon, College Station 

Saturday, October 28, Huntsville Half Marathon (50th Wedding Anniversary)

Sunday, November 5, TX 10 Series 10-Miler, Katy

Saturday, November 11, Explore Falls 5K, Spring

Sunday, November 12, Fort Worth Half Marathon

Thursday, November 23, Run the Woods 5-Miler, The Woodlands

Saturday, November 25, Leftover Turkey 5K Run, Huntsville    

Sunday, November 26, First Responder Half Marathon, Waco              

Sunday, December 3, TX 10 Series 10-Miler, Conroe                                 

Saturday, December 9, Reindeer 5K, Lufkin                                               

Sunday, December 10, BCS Half Marathon, College Station

Sunday, December 17, Santa Hustle Half Marathon, Galveston (Race 1,000)           

Monday, January 1, Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood 

Thursday, January 4 – RSD 3,000

Saturday, January 6, River Road Half Marathon, New Braunfels

Sunday, January 7, Sunday Night 5K, The Woodlands

Sunday, January 21, 3M Half Marathon, Austin

Sunday, January 28, TX 10 Series 10-Miler Boerne 

Saturday, February 17, Love Run Half Marathon, Huntsville  (101st Half Marathon)

Back to the park

With many schools now in session and all the road construction in town, traffic is starting to get bad.  As I will do on most days, I went back to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Normal Tuesday

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

Checking on construction

I ran 2 miles around the campus this evening.  I wanted to check on construction of the streets where we will hold the Huntsville Half Marathon on October 28.  Right now, the pavement is completely gone and they are installing large pipes under the street.  It is really a mess right now, but hopefully they will be finished in time for the race.

Stretching out the distance

It's August and I have longer races coming up next month.  I went to the park late this morning and ran 6 miles on the trails.  With this heat and humidity, I will need to carry more than one bottle of water to run farther.

Run the Woodlands 5K

Obviously, I decided to go down to The Woodlands this morning to run RTW 5K.  I finished in a slow 41:08.  In any case, it was my 975th race.

Debating

I am debating with myself as to whether or not to run the The Woodland 5K in the morning.  I estimate that my 1,000th race will be the Santa Hustle Half Marathon in Galveston on December 17, 2017 and have asked them for bib 1,000.  They are considering it and will get back to me.   I've completed 974 races and have a lot of races coming up this Fall.  I may have to slow down to make Galveston 1,000.  I also plan to make the Love.Run Half Marathon on February 17th my 101st half marathon.  Between now and then, I have Texas 10 Series races and some races that I always run.  So, orchestrating all this may be difficult.  I may or may not run the 5K tomorrow.  In the meantime, I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Another hot and steamy trail run

We had a larger group at the park this evening, but the same hot and steamy weather.  I ran my normal 2.5-mile loop on the trails.  Curtis met up with a rattlesnake on his run.  I have only seen one snake on the trails all summer.  Maybe I just have bad eyesight.

Solo trail run

After Iron Works this afternoon, I went out to the park and ran 3 miles on the trails.  Did not see another person or creature (except flying ones) on the trail.  Humid as heck.

Just me and Jason

It was just me and speedy Jason at the park this evening.  He ran nearly 5 miles and I ran 2.5 and we finished about the same time.

Campus run

This evening, I ran 2 miles around the campus, partly to check on construction projects that might interfere with upcoming races  on the campus.  There are so many streets dug up and closed for traffic.

Sunday Night 5K

As I do every first Sunday of the month, I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening.  My friend, Jon Walk, stayed with me the entire race.  We had a nice visit and solved a lot of world problems.  We finished in 39:18.

Southern Star Brewing 5K

I did not get much sleep last night, but I got up this morning and drove to Conroe to run the Southern Star Brewing 5K.  It was my first race in my new Brooks Dyad running shoes.  I finished in 39:48 (4 seconds faster than last year).  There were two of us in the 70 and over age group and I was second.

Back from Tucson

I got back from Tucson, AZ about 11:30 tonight.  I flew out there early Wednesday morning. to attend my youngest son's graduation from the law enforcement academy.  He is now a Deputy Sheriff in Yuma, AZ.  Had a good time visiting with him and his wife and some of her family.  We had a busy schedule, but I managed to get in runs all three days there.  There was a park with a running trail about 2 blocks from the hotel. There were scattered showers in Tucson, so the temperature and humidity was about the same as Huntsville.  My flight was Tucson to Dallas today was interesting.  Not only crying babies, but two dogs barking at each other.  Back in 1961, I was on a Trans Texas flight (DC-3) from Tyler to Dallas and there was a crate of roosters behind the last seat.  I never thought I would see dogs on planes.  Roosters I can understand.

Regular 2.5 Miles

After mowing my yard and working out at Iron Works, I ran my regular 2.5-mile course at the state park.  Sara joined us for the first time in a while.  Good to see an old friend.