Finishing up January

I went to the park early this afternoon and ran 4.2 miles on the trails.  With a temperature of 75 degrees, I expected to see snakes.  No - just water and mud in places.  That gives me 124 miles for the month of January.  Milestones and a streak challenge ahead.  I am approaching 1,000 days on my current running streak and 10 years since my last marathon.  As far as a challenge,  my cardiologist  is scheduling 3 surgeries on my legs.  He said the compression socks are not helping and I have 3 bad veins in my legs. 

Group night

 Even though our group has thinned out, we met at the park this evening.  I ran 3.8 miles, mostly on the muddy trails.  It was 73 degrees - mosquitos are out.

All trails

 All trails at the park this afternoon.  4 miles.

Sunday afternoon at the park

 I went to the park early this afternoon and ran 3.5 miles, mostly on the muddy trails.

Hog Wild 10K Trail Run

 I ran the Hog Wild 10K Trail Run in Bremond this morning.  The race is on a private ranch several miles outside of Bremond.  Plenty of mud, cow patties and fire ant mounds, but no hogs.  I finished in 1:57:34. about 3 minutes slower than last year.  I was 1st place (of one) in the 80 and over age group.  In fact, I was the only runner over 50.

Muddy trails

 I went to the park early this afternoon and hit the trails for the first time since the heavy rains early this week.  Got in 3.3. miles, but had to get through a lot of mud in low places.  Hope it dries out a bit for those running the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler in about a week.  Then, there was more rain later today.

Fass Brewery 5K

 As usual for Thursday night, I met up with the group at Fass Brewery and ran the 5K course from downtown up through neighborhoods and back to downtown.

No break in the rain today

 I rained all day.  With no break in the forecast, I went to the park this afternoon and ran 3.3 miles on the roads in a steady rain.  A neighbor posted on FB this morning that he measured 12+ inches of rain in the last 48 hours.  I guess he can add a few more inches with the rain today and what is expected tonight.  Just wish we could store some for the long periods of no rain in the summer.

In between the rain and storms

 Early this afternoon, we had a break in the rain and storms.  I went to the nearly empty state park and ran 4 miles on the roads.  With probably 10+ inches of rain in 2 days, the trails must be a mess.

Rainy run

 It rained ALL day.  I thought about the treadmill at Iron Works, but I was not mentally up to that.  So, I went to the park late this evening and ran 3.5 miles on the roads - in the rain.

Around the lake

 It was cloudy and about 40 degrees this afternoon at the park.  Perfect for a longer run.  I ran a 6.7-mile course around the lake.

Frost Your Fanny 5K

 I ran our club's annual Frost Your Fanny 5K in the hilly Spring Lake Sub-division this morning.  Appropriately named with the temperature in the low 20's.  I finished in 51:20.  It was my 6th race this year.

Noon run

 I started running at the park at noon today.  Sunny with a temperature in the high 30's.  Got in 4.7 miles on the trails.

Fass Brewery 5K

 As usual for Thursday, I went down to Conroe tonight and ran the Fass Brewery 5K.

Not so cold

 I went out to the park to run early this afternoon when the temperature was in the high 30's.  Got in 4.5 miles, mostly on the trails.

Up to 28

 The temperature was up to 28 degrees when I went to the state park to run this afternoon and the roads were in much better condition for driving.  I ran 4 miles, all on the trails.

Frost Flowers

It was 22 degrees this afternoon when I went to the park to run.  We had a light rain this morning, so the roads were pretty treacherous.  Two miles from my house, a truck was flipped over along the highway.  I ran 3.5 on the trails.  I ran into something that I had never seen before, Frost Flowers, sometimes called Ice Flowers.  Jason saw one at the park years ago and told me about it, so I new what they were when I saw them today.  The sap oozes out of slits on the stems of certain plants and freezes.  Obviously, the temperature has to be below freezing, the soil has to be moist or wet and other conditions have to be right.  I do not have a phone with a camera, so I went back to the park late this afternoon and took these photos.

32

 It was 32 degrees at the park early this afternoon.  Not bad after I ran awhile.  Got in 4.5 miles, all on the trails.

Spindle Tree 5K Park Run

 It was in the 30's this morning when I ran the Spindle Tree 5K Park Run in Magnolia.  Finished in 50:55.

Nearly empty park

 The state park was nearly empty this afternoon when I went there to run.  I guess that it was the approaching cold weather.  In any case, I ran 4 miles, mostly on the trails.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K social run in Conroe tonight for the 22nd time.

Early afternoon trails

 I made it out to the park early this afternoon and ran 4.7 miles on the trails.

Colder and windy

 After the rain yesterday, it was cold and windy this morning.  Got in 3.5 miles on the trails at the park. A little muddy in places.

Trying to run between the storms

 The forecast was for thunderstorms pretty much all day.  I went to the almost empty state park early this afternoon.  I waited for a storm to pass and then started running on the roads.  At 2.9 miles, another storm blew through, with close lightning.  The last 2/10th of a mile was a little scary, but I finished with 3.1.

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

 I got up very early this morning and drove to Cypress to run the Texas 10 Series Bridgeland 5-Miler.  Like yesterday, perfect running weather.  High 30's and sunny.  I finished in 1:19:28 and was 2nd of 3 runners in the 70 and over age group.  This evening, I drove down to The Woodlands and ran the Sunday Night 5K (for the 144th time).  Finished in 49:20.  Total miles for the day - 8.1 (all on concrete).

25th Spindle Tree 5K Park Run

 I ran the Spindle Tree 5K Park Run in Magnolia this morning - for the 25th time.  The temperature was in the high 30's, but was comfortable after a half mile or so.  I finished in 50:32.

Friday before a 3-race weekend

 We had a good rain this Friday morning, but the trails at the park were in good shape this afternoon.  I ran 3.5 miles, mostly on the trails.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight.  Believe this was the 21st time running this social run since last summer.

Mostly roads

 I made it back to the park late this morning and ran 3.7 miles, mostly on the roads.

Return to the park

 After 5 days of running elsewhere, I returned to Huntsville State Park late this morning.  Ran 4.8 miles, all on the trails.

New Years Resolution 5K Run

 I ran our club's New Years Resolution 5K Run here in Huntsville this afternoon.  I finished in a slow 53 something and was 1st of one in the 80 and over age group.