Millican Summer Series - Race 1

 I drove (51 miles) tonight to run Race 1 of the Millican Summer Series, 5K (+) Trail Run in Millican.  About the time the race started, there was heavy rain and lightning.  It was so dark in the woods, it was hard to see the trail.  Many of the trails were under water and the brown mud was extremely slippery.  This was the most miserable race I have ever run.  I slipped in the mud and fell at least 6 times.  I finished in about 1:12:00, but my back and the rest of my body is so sore.  I suppose the good news is that I won my 80 and over age group.

Park opening date moved

 The state park reported more damage from yesterday's storm and moved the reopening date to June 4.  Even then, the trails will still be closed.  In the meantime, I ran again in town this afternoon.  Did 3.3 miles.

Another heavy storm

 I was at Iron Works about noon when we got hit with another heavy storm, heavy rain, wind and hail.  When I got home, I found that one of the trees (next to the one that had the beehive two weeks ago) had several large broken limbs at the top.  It must have been a lightning strike.  The state park is suppose to reopen in a couple of days, but I suppose today's storm will delay it further.  Today's storm moved on and the weather for the rest of the day was pleasant.  I went into town this evening and ran 4 miles.

Long day

 I had to get up early this morning and put out the course marking signs and other tasks for our club's Memorial Day Run at my house.  All went well, except for the heat and humidity.  I took a nap this afternoon and then ran 3.3 miles in town late this evening.

Another busy day

With church today and a lot of tasks to get ready for the race at my house tomorrow, it was a busy day.  It was after 7 this evening that I finally got in a run.  Did 3.2 miles in town.

Saturday without a race

 I started to go down to Magnolia to run Spindle Tree this morning, but I decided not to since I had to be in Conroe at noon for a family affair.  When I got home later this afternoon, I had yardwork to do and then get all of the equipment out of the running club storage locker for our annual Memorial Day run at my house.  I ran the streets in town at 7:30 tonight.  Got in 3.3 miles.

Friday on the streets

 With the park still closed, I got my Friday run in on the streets.  Ran 3.1 miles.

Birthday

 I spent most of my birthday today doing yard work.  Tonight, I went down to Conroe and ran the Fass Brewery 5K.  I do have to share of photo of a pair of socks I received from my good friend, Bridgette Collins.  I'm glad she thinks I'm only 38.  Bridgette and I worked together in the early 90's.  Then, she moved to Dallas and began running.  She has since run a bunch of marathons, written 5 books (4 on running) and serves as a running coach.  She now lives in Cypress.  She is a great person and has done so much for the sport of running

State park still closed

 The latest is that the state park will reopen on May 30.  And even then, the trails will still be closed for a while.  At least, it is during biting horse fly season.  In the meantime, I ran 3.2 miles on the streets in town.

Amazing ankle recovery

 I learned over the years that injuries that come on suddenly tend to go away suddenly.  The ankle that hurt so much yesterday was much better today.  I ran 3.6 miles on the roads in town this evening.  I only had to deal with the back issue.  Wish that had come on suddenly.

Streak saver mile

 My ankle was sore as heck today.  I iced it three times today and waited until nearly 9 tonight to try to run.  I went to the mall parking lot and got in a little over a mile.  Painful, but I am confident that I did not make it worse.

Day did not go as planned

 I had to go to Houston this afternoon.  After church, I got in a mile at the mall parking lot, with the intention of running more at the track late tonight after getting back from Houston.  While in Houston, a beekeeper was suppose to remove a beehive from the tree in my front yard.  He showed up about 9 p.m. just after I got back from Houston.  My grandson went outside barefooted and stepped on a bee and got stung.  Somehow, in all the commotion, I did something to my ankle.  I figured it was a pinched nerve and would be okay after I started running.  I got to the track at 11 tonight and ran one painful lap.  I decided not to risk making it worse.  So, the streak is alive with 1.2 miles today.

Mindy Moses Memorial 5K

 I did not know Mindy Moses, but I ran the Mindy Moses Memorial 5K in Bellville (for the 4th time) this morning.  A nice town and a lot of nice people.  Mindy Moses's Mother came up and introduced herself and then introduced me to Mindy's brother.  Mindy must have been a well-liked person;  they always have a large crowd at this race.  I finished the race in 53:56 and was 2nd of 4 in the 70 and over age group.

No rain today

 For a change, we had no rain today.  With the park still closed, I ran 3.1 miles on the streets in town early this afternoon.

Another heavy storm

 Another heavy storm came through this evening and there is a lot of flooding in the area.  Huntsville State Park was suppose to reopen tomorrow, but I see on FB that they will remain closed for now.  This was my day for running with the Fass Brewing Run Club in Conroe, but the storm was in the forecast.  I went into town early this afternoon and ran 3.3 miles on the track and on the roads.

Streets in town

 Late this evening, I ran 3.3 miles on the streets in town.  The state park is suppose to re-open in 2 days, but another heavy rain is in the forecast for tomorrow.

Back to the mall

 I went back to the old mall parking lot late this evening and ran 5 laps for a total of 3.5 miles.

More rain today

 I had appointments this morning and then it rained most of the afternoon.  I finally got in a 3.5-mile run on the streets in town late this evening.

New venue

 It rained most of the day and I did not get a chance to run until later this evening.  With the state park still closed, I had to run elsewhere.  I ended up running around the outer edge of the West Hill Mall (now state offices) parking lot.  Not bad.  It is 7/10th of a mile around, flat, concrete and no tripping hazards and virtually no traffic.  I ran 5 laps for a total of 3.5 miles.  It might be a good place for one of those pre-operation midnight runs.

Miles and Smiles 5K

 I started streak year 4 off with the Miles & Smiles 5K in Madisonville.  I like the relatively short drive and 9 a.m. start.  Accurate course, mostly on a rough trail through a large park.  I felt lucky to have no slips and falls, but I did not have to stop once and get a rock out of my shoe.  I finished in a slow 57:46 and was first of one in the 80 and over age group.  I appreciate the belt buckle age group award, huge, heavy and beautifully designed.  It is much nicer than any marathon finisher belt buckle I have received.  I have been introduced at races before, but this was the first time I have been handed the microphone and asked to speak.  Well, it was a nice chance to convince everyone to start a running streak.

3-year streak

 I ran 3.2 miles on the streets in Huntsville late this morning.  This completed 3 years on my current running streak.  During this streak (1,096 days), I ran 3,903.1 miles, an average of 3.56 per day.  Also, during this 3 years, I ran 213 races, an average of 71 per year.

Fass Brewery 5K

 As usual for Thursday, I went down to Conroe tonight and ran the Fass Brewery 5K.  Not much pain in the back, but felt a little unstable.

Back injection #2

 I had the 2nd injection in my lower back to treat my bulging disc about noon today.  I was suppose to be completely asleep, but I sure felt it.  Hopefully, it will help.  I ran laps at the track early this morning to keep my streak alive.  Because of the injection, I was not able to eat or drink anything all morning.  I kept the distance at the track to 1 mile to avoid any dehydration issues.

Kate Barr Ross Park run

 Late this morning, I went over to the Kate Barr Ross Park and ran 3.1 miles on the roads.  A city cemetery maintenance truck passed me twice.  I must have looked bad.

Running the streets in town

 I worked out at Iron Works this afternoon and then took off running the streets from there.  So much traffic.  I got in 3.2 miles without getting run over.

Sunday Night 5K

 I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands tonight.  I finished in a slow 54:33.

Hog Crazy 5K Trail Run

 I ran the Hog Crazy 5K Trail Run in Millican this morning.  As I expected, it would be muddy and slippery.  I fell once going up a muddy embankment.  No injuries; just got muddy.  I finished in 1:04:02 and was first  of one in my age group.

Day 1 without the park

 With the park closed due to damage caused by about 21 inches of rain since Sunday, I had to find another place to run today.  I waited for the heavier rain to ease up today and ran 3.2 miles on the streets in Huntsville, partly in a light rain.

Fass Brewery 5K

I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight.  Nice sunny weather after about 12 inches of rain in Huntsville last night and this morning.  At Huntsville State Park, they worked this week cleaning out the lodge after the flood last Sunday.  Well, it flooded again today, as can be seen in the photo.  There is a paved street in front of the lodge, which is part of my road running route.  Of course, there are a lot of trees down and other damage to the park.  They announced today that the park will be closed until May 13.

First post-surgery run

 I ran 3.3 miles on the roads at the park early this afternoon.  I had some pain in the right leg from the surgery yesterday, but my back was more bothersome.  My upcoming challenge will be a 10K race this Saturday.