Run Your Resolution 15K

I ran the Run Your Resolution 15K Trail Run in Millican this morning.  The course map is shown above.  Runners have names for course maps, i.e. out and back, single loop, point to point.  I would call this one "spaghetti on a stick."  After a lot of rain in the area lately, the course was extremely wet, lots of water crossings, embankments and very slippery mud.  I went very slow trying to stay upright.  Luckily, I never tripped and fell, but twice I slid on muddy embankments and fell.  No injuries.  Half the race, I ran with about 5 pounds of mud caked to my shoes.  This was the first 15K race I have ever run.  It should have been 9.3 miles.  According to my GPS, it was 9.83 miles.  I finished in 3:26:00 and was 2nd of 2 in the 80 and over age group.

Month and Year Recap:  I ran 127.6 miles in December, which was my best month of the year.  For all of 2022, I ran 1,343.9 miles (average 3.68 per day), with no days missed and all runs at least 3 miles.  I competed in 73 races in 2022 (70 last year).

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Noon run

 I got out to the park about noon today and ran 3.2 miles, mostly on the trails.

Two run day

 The forecast was for storms this evening at the time the group meets at the park, So, I went out early this afternoon and ran 3.3 miles on the roads.  The storms did not materialize this evening, so I went back to the park this evening to meet up with the group.  I ran one mile on the trails, but then there was a thunderstorm coming in.  My total distance for the day was 4.3 miles.

Crowded park

 I had to wait in line for a while this afternoon to get into the park.  Lots of people on the trail, almost all with dogs  Maybe it was dog day or something.  In any case, I ran 4 miles on the trails.

Group Tuesday

 I met up with the group  at the park this evening and ran 3.1 miles, mostly on the trails.

Tough time getting to the park

 I had a tough time getting to the park this afternoon to run.  There was a wreck on I-45 and I got stuck in traffic for a while.  Then, when I got to the park, there was a long line at the gate.  Finally got on the trails and ran 3.3 miles.

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas.  I had a lot of family at the house today, but I broke away and got in 3.7 miles on the trails at the park.

Christmas Eve in the park

 Busy day, but I made it out to the state park early this afternoon and ran 4.3 miles on the trails.  The temperature was in the high 30's.

Had the trails to myself

 It was about 25 degrees when I went to the park to run this afternoon.  I ran 3.4 miles and never saw anyone else or any animal on the trails.

Dropping temperature

 It was 45 degrees when I went to run at the park this afternoon.  I ran 3.2 miles, mostly on the trails.  By the time I finished, the temperature dropped 10 degrees.  Now, late tonight, it's 17 degrees.

Ahead of the cold weather

 It is suppose to get down to 13 degrees tomorrow night.  Nice sunny weather today, with the temperature around 50.  This afternoon, I ran 4 miles on the trails at the park.

Back to the park

 Better weather today.  I made it out to the state park this evening and ran 4.2 miles, mostly on the trails.

Run in the rain

 It rained all day.  I went to the park early this afternoon and ran 3.2 miles in the rain and low 40's temperature.  I was a 1/10th of a mile from finishing my run when a bolt of lightning struck very close by.  So, my last 10th of a mile was my fastest of the day, probably the year.

Bad weather ahead

The temperature this Sunday afternoon was in the 50's and sunny.  Got in 7 miles on the trails at the park.  However, tomorrow, the forecast calls for rain all day, with the temperature in the 40's.  By mid-week, the temperature is suppose  to get down to 15.  Ugh.

Spindle Tree Park Run 5K

 Early this morning, I drove down to Magnolia to run the Spindle Tree Park Run 5K for the 7th time.  With a temperature in the low 40's, it was nice running weather.  I finished in 46:53, my best so far in this race.  I was first in the 80-84 age group.  In fact, I set a new age group record for this race, since I am the only one over 80 who has ever run it.  This was my 72nd race this year.

Nearly empty park

 I ran 3.3 miles on the roads at the park late this morning.  The park was nearly empty from what I saw.  Maybe all the weekend campers came later today.

Hard to get started

 I dug holes and planted a couple tree this afternoon before going to the park to run.  It was hard to get started, but I managed to get in 3.2 miles, mostly on the trails.

Unplanned trail course

 Early this afternoon, I went to the park and started a completely unplanned course on the trails.  It ended up being 3.4 miles.

Group Tuesday

 As usual for Tuesday, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 4.2 miles, mostly on the trails.

Blog post 5,000

This is my 5,000th blog post since I started blogging in April 2008 (about 14 and a half years ago).  The blog is an important part of my "system of motivation" to keep running and streaking.  It makes me accountable.  I really appreciate those good friends who encouraged me to start blogging, Jon Walk and Katy Lampson.  I am just as appreciative of those who read the blog.  And, hopefully, somewhere along the way, this blog and my running journey has encouraged someone else to run to stay healthy.  Since my first blog entry in April, 2008 (reposted below), the blog has received 184,605 hits.  I plan to continue posting as long as I am able to keep running.  Oh yes, I ran 3.6 miles on the roads and trails at the park this afternoon.

April 10, 2008, Starting a Blog

I spend a lot of time on the computer, much of it brousing running web sites, reviewing the blogs of runner friends and communicating with other runners. Jon Walk and Katy Lampson have suggested that I begin a blog. Since I signed up to run the 2009 Texas Independence Relay (TIR) with the Battling Bloggers of the Texas Republic team, I feel obligated to at least try out blogging.
My running routine may be somewhat boring, in that I am a creature of habit. I run every day. A rest day means a shorter run. I tend to run the same races year after year, even though I try some new ones. I have only run one race outside the state of Texas. I spent 22 and a half years in the Army and 20 years with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. I have traveled all 50 states and lived in 9 of them. I also lived in Germany, France and Vietnam and made numerous overseas trips while in the Army and while working for the state. Except to visit the kids and relatives, traveling is not one of my priorities.
This morning, I drove over to College Station and ran the Cornerstone Cougar 5K. Had never run this race before. The weather was cool and the course was through a nice and fairly flat neighborhood. There were three in my 60-69 age group and I got 2nd with a time of 31:47. The 3rd place winner was an old friend, George Boykin. I visited with the race winner, Clint Sherrouse. Clint was the winner of the Huntsville Half Marathon in 2004 and 2005 and is a regular on the trails at the Huntsville State Park. There were probably less that 100 in the race and everyone won a door prize. Mine was a one-pound bag of Starbucks Coffee (suggested retail value $9.95, actual value 99 cents).

Around the lake

 I went to the park this afternoon and ran 7.2 miles on the trails.  Most of it was on the trail around the lake.

Jingle Bell 5K

 I went to Conroe this morning for my grand daughter's high school wrestling match and then on to Livingston for the noon Jingle Bell 5K.  I finished in 46:30 and was 2nd of 2 in the 60 and over age group.  Although not consecutive, this was my 10th time running this race.

Normal

 The park reopened today, so it was back to normal.  I got in 4.1 on the trails late this morning.

Back to KBR

 Late this morning, I went back to Kate Barr Ross Park and ran 3.2 miles on the  roads.  The state park reopens tomorrow!

Kate Barr Ross Park

 With the state park closed for hunting, I went to Kate Barr Ross Park in Huntsville this afternoon and ran 3.2 miles on the roads.

Park closed this evening

 Huntsville State Park closed for hunting at 5 pm today and will reopen at 8 am this Friday.  Since the group was not able to meet this evening, I went out in the early afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Unplanned course

 I made it to the park early this afternoon and started running an unplanned course on the trails, some of which I had not been on for a long time.  The course ended up being 3.4 miles.

Texas 10 Series Conroe 5-Miler & Sunday Night 5K

 Another 2-race day.  I ran the Texas 10 Series 5-Miler in Conroe this morning and finished in 1:22:02.  I was the only one over 70 in the race, so I received a first place award.  This evening, I drove down to The Woodlands and ran my 132nd Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 47:47.

Reindeer 5K

 I ran the Reindeer 5K in Lufkin this morning for the 8th straight year.  Flat course on the downtown streets.  I finished in 46:09 and was first in my age group, whatever it was.  I was the only male runner over 60.  In any case, I got to visit with some good friends from that area.

Friday trails

 With racers coming up this weekend, I took it easy today.  Ran 3.2 miles on the trails late this morning.

All trails

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3.5 miles, all trails.