Split run

 An army of roofers showed up early this morning to put a new roof on my house.  I had to get up and move my truck from the driveway.  Also, my allergies were acting up.  Late this morning, I went to a funeral.  Felt lousy all day.  I went into town to run early this afternoon, but after 1.2 miles, I quit. I went back into town late this evening and ran another 2 miles, for a total of 3.2 for the day.  Just hope this does not turn into another sinus infection, like a few weeks ago.

Mostly trails

 I went back to the park this afternoon and ran 3.6 miles, mostly on the trails.

Back to the park

 It was back to the park today and a 3.5-mile run, mostly on the beaten down trails after the Rocky Raccoon 100 over the weekend.

State park closed for the Rocky Raccoon 100

 Huntsville State Park was closed this weekend for the Rocky Raccoon 100, so I had to run in town this afternoon.  Got in 4.7 miles on the roads and in the city park.

Spindle Tree 5K Park Run

 I drove down to Magnolia  early this morning and ran the Spindle Tree 5K Park Run.  After a mile on the gravel trail, I got a rock in my shoe.  I debated with myself whether I should stop and get it out.  I decided to tough it out and keep running.  I finished in 51:29, first of one in my age group.

Park is filling up

 The state park is filling up for the Rocky Raccoon 100 this weekend.  In fact, it will be closed to everyone not running or supporting the race.  I went there early this afternoon to run and there was a long line of cars waiting at the gate.  I ran 4 miles, mostly on the trails.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K social run in Conroe tonight.  50's - nice temperature for running.

Another normal day

 My left calf is still sore, but I had a "normal day" running at the state park.  Ran 4.2 miles, evenly split between the trails and the roads.

Mostly trails

 My left calf was sore today, but it has been that way for a while.  After my left leg suddenly collapsed while running trails yesterday, I was a little leery about running today.  However, I started on the trails and everything seemed normal.  I ended up running 3.6 miles, mostly on the trails.

Road and trails

 I went to the state park late this afternoon and ran 5.1 miles, mostly on the trails.  About half way, while on the trails, my left leg suddenly collapsed and I fell.  I was able to get up okay.  I have no idea what caused it, but I was okay for the rest of the run.  My upper left  calf is a little sore tonight, but all else feels fine.

Sunday Night 5K

 The weekend turned out to be not so busy.  I had planned to get up at 4:30 this morning and drive down to Missouri City to run the Texas 10 Series Sienna 5-Miler.  However, due to the cold weather, it was cancelled and changed to a virtual event.  I did go down to The Woodlands this evening and run the Sunday Night 5K - for the 169th time.  Finished in 50:25.

Frost Your Fanny 5K

 I ran our club's Frost Your Fanny 5K this morning in Huntsville on the hilly Spring Lake Sub-division course.  The race was appropriately named; it was 29 degrees.  I finished in 52:43 and was first of one in my age group.  I finished the month of January with 113.8 miles (average 3.67 per day).  The end of January marks 18 months on a streak of at least 3.1 miles per day.  My running streak of at least 1-mile a day will hot 5 years on May 10 of this year.

Friday before a busy weekend

 This was a Friday before a busy weekend.  Got in 3.5 miles at the park early this afternoon.  Mostly trails.

Running club meeting

I attended our annual running club meeting this Thursday, so I did not make it down to the Fass run.   I went out to the park early this afternoon and ran 4.1 miles, mostly on the trails.

Stayed in town

 Just to vary my routine a little, I stayed in town today and ran 3.6 miles on the roads and in the city park.

Group Tuesday at the park

 Being Tuesday, I met up with the group at the park this evening.  Still about 39 degrees.  I ran 3.8 miles on the empty park roads.

Still cold

 It was still in the 20's today.  The state park was virtually empty when I ran this afternoon.  Got in 3.5 miles, about half on the roads and half on the trails.  The camping area was almost empty and I never saw anyone else on the trails.

Got it done

 We had rain and sleet last night and the temperature was in the low 20's today.  Surprisingly, the roads were not too bad this morning and I was able to safely drive to the state park late this morning.  I ran 3.3 miles, all on the trails.  There was sleet on parts of the trail.  I had to be creative on my course to get in distance because all the bridges/boardwalks were covered in ice.  Luckily, no trips, slips or falls.

Back to normal

 I had planned to do one of the park runs to the south this morning.  However, the forecast was for rain and I was not sure what my BP would be.  So, I slept in.  No rain, but it was 35 degrees and my BP was normal.  I went to the park late this morning and ran 3.6 miles, mostly on the trails.  We are suppose to have freezing rain tonight and a temperature in the 20's all day tomorrow.  Getting a run in tomorrow may be a challenge.

Tough 3.2

 I went to the park this afternoon and ran 3.2 miles on the trails.  Tough run, as I was obviously having an episode of low blood pressure,  Got it done, but the weather will be a challenge for the next two days.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight.  Nice weather tonight, but the next few days will be challenging with a winter storm headed our way.

A little rain

 I ran 4.1 miles at the park this afternoon, about half on the roads and half on the trails.  There was a light rain for part of the run.

Run in town

 I had an appointment in Conroe this afternoon, so I ran in town, instead of the park.  Got in 3.4 miles.

Crowded park for MLK Day

There was a line of cars waiting to get into the gate at the state park this afternoon.  Got in 4.1 miles, mostly on the crowded trails.

Longer Sunday run

 It was sunny and in the 50's this Sunday afternoon.  Went to the park and ran 5 miles, mostly on the trails.

Spring 5K Park Run

 I ran the Spring 5K Park Run this morning, for the 3rd time.  Finished in 51:49, almost a minute faster than last week.  First of one in my age group.

Before the cold

 So far, this winter has been fairly warm.  It was about 70 degrees when I ran at the park early this afternoon.  It is suppose to be in the 40's for my race tomorrow morning and then 28 Sunday morning.  If the forecast holds, it will be the first freeze of the winter.  In any case, I got in 3.4 miles at the park, mostly on the trails.

Fass Brewery 5K

 As usual for Thursday night, I ran the Fass Brewery 5K social run in Conroe tonight.  Clear, with the temperature in the 50's.

Early afternoon at the park

 After working out at Iron Works, I went to the park early this afternoon.  Got in 4.8 miles, mostly on the trails.

Group night at the park

 Being Tuesday, I met up with the group at the park this evening.  A little drizzling rain today, but the trails were in good shape/  I ran 3.5 miles, mostly on the trails.

Another good weather day

 It was sunny today, with the temperature in the 50's.  Cannot beat that for running weather.  I went to the park late this afternoon and ran 4 miles, half on the roads and half on the trails.

Sunday on the trails

 I made it out to the park later this afternoon and ran 5.2 miles, almost all on the trails.  Lot of hikers on the trails - and runners, presumably training the for Rocky Raccoon race coming up in a few weeks.

Spring 5K Park Run

 I ran the Spring Park Run at 7:30 this morning.  Nice temperature in the 50's, but very windy.  I finished in 52:38, a little faster than my last run on this course.

Tried to run before the storm

 I went to the park this morning to try to get in a run ahead of the storm.  I ran 3.3 miles on the trails, but ended up running in the rain and some nearby lightning.

100th Fass 5K

 I ran my 100th Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight.  I was privileged to run it with my friend from Minnesota,  the amazing "Pacer Tom" Perri.  He will be running his 771st marathon in Houston on Sunday.  He has run 275 marathons since being diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Feeling better

 Here is an update on the ailments that I have included in my blog entries in the past month or so.  The sciatic nerve pain in my right ankle and hip, stemming from my back problem, seems to have slowly gone away.  The pain from my right hip bruise from falling on the trail a couple times recently s better.  My left calf is better, but still a little sore.  No more pain from the bulging disc in my back when I run, even though it is still sore and stiff.  I may have to live with that.  It's not easy, but I can still tie my running shoes.  As had been said, getting old is not for sissies.  I expect that I will run slower and be faced with more injuries than I experienced in my younger years.  I am just thankful that I have the motivation and physical strength to keeping running - every day.  This blog, and the fact that I know that it is being read, is a large part of the motivation.  I just hope that my experience inspires or otherwise helps others struggling to find motivation to run.

The weather was warm this afternoon (nearly 80) and nice for running.  I ran 4.4 miles at the park, mostly on the trails.

Hunting is over at the park

 Hunting is over at the state park for this season.  So, no more interruptions of my running routine.  I made it to the park this afternoon and ran 3.5 miles, about half on the roads and half on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K - Virtual

 Yesterday evening, I drove down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K, a race I have not missed in a long time.  I got to the race, but had to return to Huntsville due to a family emergency (every thing is okay now).  Bill Dwyer, the race director, told me I could run it as a virtual race in Huntsville.  I did that today on the roads at the state park.  Finished in 52:02 and reported my time.  Maybe I won first place in my age group.

Texas 10 Series Bridgeland 5-Miler

 I ran the Texas 10 Series Bridgeland 5-Miler in Cypress this morning.  I finished in 1:25:47, about 4 minutes faster than last year.  I was 4th of 4 in the 70 and over age group.  The other 3 were in their low 70's.  Nice clear and cool weather and got to visit with a lot of good friends.

Spindle Tree 5K Park Run

 I ran the Spindle Tree 5K Park Run in Magnolia this morning.  Finished in 53:52 (first of one in my age group).

Park closed again

 The state park was closed again today (and tomorrow and Sunday) for hunting.  This is suppose to be the last closure for this hunting season.  In any case, I ran 3.4 miles in town this afternoon.

Run Your Resolution 5K (New Years Day)

 I went back to Millican this morning and ran the New Years Day edition of the Run Your Resolution 5K    trail run. I felt better today and ran almost 4 minutes faster than yesterday.  Finished in 1:06:21 and was first of one in the 80 and over age group.