The Woodlands 5K

I set my alarm for 5:15 this morning to get up and get down to The Woodlands to run the 5K at 7:30, held in conjunction with the marathon and half next Saturday.  I woke up and looked at my watch.  It was almost time for the alarm to go off.  So, I turned on the coffee and went to take a shower.  I looked at my watch again and it was three something.  I went back to bed, but never got back to sleep.  I got out of bed about 5 and got down to The Woodlands early.  Nice to get a good parking spot.  I finished the 5K in 42:44 and was 3rd of 4 in the 75 and over age group.  The age group award was a code for 50 percent off of next year's race.  I like that idea for an age group award.

Morning park run

With a race tomorrow morning, I went to the state park this morning and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Stumble in the park

I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Early in the run, I tripped and stumbled forward.  I grabbed a small tree and spun around it (rather than hitting it).  I'm okay, but somehow, cut my leg in three places.

Catching up

I ran 2.5 miles on the trails yesterday, but forgot to post last night.  This afternoon, I ran 2 miles on the park roads.  Looking ahead, I plan on running two 5K's this weekend, a half marathon the next weekend and 10K's the next 2 weekends.

Same course as yesterday

After working out at Iron Works this afternoon, I went to the park and ran the same 2.5-mile course on the trails as yesterday.

Back to the park

After church and dinner at a Mexican restaurant, I went out to the state park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  A mile into the run, I ran into trail running buddy, Lorie, and her sister, who were completing a loop around the lake.

Race for Hope Half Marathon

I got up at 4 this morning to get over to Lufkin for a 7 a.m. start of the Race for Hope Half Marathon, which started 15 minutes late.  I felt okay, but somewhere out in one of the neighborhoods, I, along with 2 other runners, missed a turn.  We eventually got back on the course, but ended up running 14.6 miles.  I finished in 3:47:19.  While they did not have age group awards, I was first place in the 70 and over group.

Resting up

I am a little apprehensive about running a half marathon tomorrow morning (remembering the struggle on January 1).  So, I rested up today.  Got in a little over a mile on the new road next to my house.

Cold and rainy run

I went to the park this afternoon and ran 2 miles on the roads in a cold rain.

Stitches out

I went to the doctor in Conroe late this morning and had the stitches removed from my nose.  Later this afternoon, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 3 miles at the part, 1.1 on the trails and the rest on the roads.

Change in temperature

About half way through my 2-mile run on the park roads this evening, a north wind started blowing and the temperature dropped at least 10 degrees.

Trees

I planted 21 pine seedling on my property this afternoon.  Normally, this would probably be easy, but the ground was hard and I had to jump on the shovel to get the depth.  So, I was plenty tired before I worked out at Iron Works and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  In the second mile, some nice folks stopped their car and offered me a bottle of water.  I must have looked bad.

Back from Wylie

Thursday afternoon, I drove up to Wylie for activities with my family and got back to Huntsville about 7 tonight.  On Friday, I got in a 5K run at a park in nearby Plano and another 2 miles at the same park on Saturday.  At 8 tonight, I went to the track and ran laps.  I still have some inflammation in my big toe joint, but it is much better.  My next race is a half marathon this coming weekend.

Post 4,000

Since I started blogging in 2008, this is my 4,000th post.  Thanks to blogger and friend, Jon Walk, for getting me started.  While it is probably the most boring blog out there, it has helped me stay motivated to run every day.  I appreciate those who follow the blog and appreciate the comments and emails when I go on a trip and miss posting for a few days.
I am not sure what the doctor injected in my foot yesterday, but it feels much better today.  I went out to the park this morning and ran 1.5 miles on the roads.

Day at the doctors

I had an appointment with a doctor in Conroe this morning to surgically remove a spot from the top of my nose (1-inch incision).  Then, I ran several errands in Conroe and The Woodlands.  After lunch at Cracker Barrel, I had an appointment with my rheumatologist in Conroe.  The inflammation in my big toe joint was much worse today and it was very painful to even walk on it.  He changed my medication and gave me an injection in the inflamed spot.  I came home and spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch.  About 5:30 this evening, I got up and ran a little over 1 mile on the new road next to my house.  So, the streak is still alive.

A little better

The inflammation was a little better today.  I met up with the group at the park and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Gimpy one-mile+

My big toe joint became inflamed and kept me up much of last night.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran a gimpy and painful 1-mile+.  Next race is a half marathon on February 22, so I have time to recover.

Back to the park

This afternoon, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.  A couple of sore spots from yesterday.

Kilgore to Longview 11-Mile Race

I drove up to Tyler yesterday afternoon and spent the night with family.  This morning, I drove over to Longview for the Kilgore to Longview race.  After getting my packet, I took one of their buses over to the starting line in downtown Kilgore.  Perfect running weather.  I finished the 11 miles in 2:40:05 (5 minutes slower than in 2018).  Given all my medical issues this past year, I was surprised that I was not slower.  Got a police motorcycle escort the last 2 miles.  You only get those if you are the lead runner or the last runner.  Yes, I was 92 of 92 runners, but first in the 75 and over age group.  Anyway, it was my 1,124th race and 3,765 consecutive day of running.

Laps

With a race tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this morning.  Rested up.

Tapering

With a 11-mile race on Saturday, I ran just 2 miles on the park roads this evening.

Mixed trails and roads

After Iron Works this evening, I ran 2.5 miles at the park, mostly on the roads.

Changing temperature

It was almost 80 degrees this afternoon and I spent most of it doing yard work.  I met up with the group this evening at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Now, it's 52 and is suppose to get down to 34 tomorrow night.  My next race is a road race from Kilgore to Longview (11 miles) on Saturday.  Just hoping for a trail wind.

Morning trails

It was suppose to rain this afternoon, so I went to the park late this morning and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

I ran the Sunday Night 5K in the Woodlands this evening and finished in 43:03.

The Woodlands Park Run 5K

Park Runs are free, non-competitive, timed 5K's held around the world every Saturday.  This was only the second one held in The Woodlands.  I liked the 9 a.m. start.  Most of the out and back course was along the waterway.  I finished in 41:56.