Small Group at the Park

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went out to the park to run trails with the group. Small group today, only me, Melissa, Jason and the new guy, Jonathan. I talked Jonathan into going on the 4.2-mile loop with us. It was a new distance for him and he finished it with no problem.

Back to Tapering

I have another marathon on Saturday, so it is back to tapering. I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads.

Tyler Rose Marathon

I completed the Tyler Rose Marathon in Tyler, Texas on 10/10/10 with a time of 5:45:50. That was good enough for 2nd place in my age group. Of course, 10 hours would have been good enough too, since there were only two of us in my age group. While the weather was nice at the 7:30 a.m. start, the temperature got into the high 80's during the race. For the most part, we were going up or down hills. I ran with my new MP3 player for the first time. I turned it on at the 5-mile point. The first group up was the Texas Tornados, then Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline and Johnny Horton. At mile 9, I started running with Dee DiFonzo (above photo) of Fort Worth (her first marathon) and I turned off the MP3 player. Dee was fun to run with and we had a good time visiting for the rest of the race.

Wiener Fest 5K

I ran the Wiener Fest 5K in College Station this morning in 32:49, one second faster than the 5K race last Sunday. There was no age group competition and it was not much of a race, but I got to visit with some College Station friends.

Laps

After a periodic sharp pain in my left knee while running the last few days, I ran easy laps at the track this afternoon. No sharp pain. I am getting up early tomorrow for a 5K in College Station. Hopefully, my knee will not fall apart.

Orthotics

I got up early this morning and drove nearly 3 hours to Fort Hood to be fitted for new custom orthotics. Four years ago, I had them made by a doctor in Houston and it cost me $500 out-of-pocket. Since then, the Army is making them for retirees, so there will be no cost to me. However, I am not sure what I am getting. In Houston, I stood on a plate hooked to a computer and this showed the doctor the pressure points. Then, he made a cast of both feet. This morning, the Army technician took a photo of my left foot with a 3-D laser. I asked about the right foot and he said that they would reverse the image for my right foot. The orthotics will be ready for pick up in about 4 weeks. I asked if they could mail them to me and he said no. I have to drive over there to get them. I appreciate the benefit, but it is sorta dumb that I have to drive back over there just to pick them up. In any case, I made it back to Huntsville about 4 this afternoon. I worked out at Nautilus and then met the group at the park. I have some sharp pain in my left knee, so I ran 3 miles on the roads at the park, while the group ran trails.

Tapering

With the marathon on Sunday, I will take it easy for the rest of the week. I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening. My plan is to do short runs tomorrow and Friday and a 5K race in College Station on Saturday.

Car Switch

I took our new used 2010 Ford Taurus back to the dealer in Tomball, Texas today and switched to a new 2010 Ford Taurus with the same exterior color and a few different extras. I got back in time this evening to run trails with the group at the park. We did the regular 4.2-mile loop. Gosh, this cool weather feels great. The high temperature in Tyler for the marathon on Sunday is forecasted to be 85.

New Car

I spent much of the day down in Tomball buying a new car. Bought a used 2010 Ford Taurus with 13,000 miles. When I got back this evening, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Sunday Night 5K

I drove down to The Woodlands this evening for the monthly Sunday Night 5K put on by Coach Bill Dwyer of The Woodlands Running Club. I ran the course in 32:50. It was one of my best times this year and I contribute that to the cool weather.

Nice Sunny Day

I got up early this morning and went to the university campus to set up and operate the finish system for the CASA 5K. Obviously, I did not get to run the race. The weather was cool and sunny. Then, I went to the state park and ran 10 miles on the trails alone. I suppose that is a taper run for the marathon next Sunday. After that, Marilynn and I went downtown to the Fair on the Square, where we walked a lot and bought a few things. It also gave me a chance to visit with a lot of friends. Good day, but I am beat tonight.

Weather Forecast for Tyler

I looked at the weather forecast for Tyler, Texas (135 northeast of Huntsville) on October 10. That's the location and day of my first marathon of the season. The high temperature for that day is suppose to be 84 degrees. Knowing the accuracy of 10-day forecasts, it will probably be 30 and snowing. If the humidity is low, 84 will not be bad. For being retired, I had a busy day today. In between a lot of things I had to do, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

MP3 Player Loaded

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I bought an MP3 player. I have never run with music, but with so many marathons coming up this season, I thought that it would be worth a try, especially for those closed to traffic. For sure I will try it when running the Marathon 2 Marathon on October 16. The 26.2 mile race starts just outside of Alpine, Texas and runs along Hwy. 90 to Marathon, Texas. From what I can see on Google Earth, there is not a single building along the route and no cross streets. My playlist reflects my age, my East Texas upbringing and the years that I lived in Germany. Here is what I loaded: Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Freddy Fender, Texas Tornados, Patsy Cline, 50's rock 'n' roll, Hank Williams, Ray Price, Marty Robbins, classical and lots of polka.
I ran trails at the park this evening with the group, but not with the MP3 player. We had a new runner, so we only did 3 miles. Mary parked at the parking lot just outside of the park and rode in with me. Unfortunately, her car was broken into while we were in the park. That's a bummer.

Shots in my Knees

In July 2009, I received a series of 3 shots of Synvisc in both knees. This is the stuff from a rooster's cone. I have arthritis under the knee caps and Synvisc lubricates it and eases the pain. It works for up to 18 months and there is no down side of its use. Since it has been nearly 18 months since the shots and I have been having knee pain again, I went to the doctor today for more shots. They have a new version out now and only one shot is required, rather than three. Knowing that I would be getting the shots late this afternoon, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town earlier today.

Signed up for Dallas and Austin Marathons

I just signed up for the White Rock Marathon in Dallas (December 5) and the Austin Marathon (February 20). That's 12 marathons that I have registered for this season. Sure hope I do not get sick or injured. If all goes well, I plan to sign up for about 8 more before the end of March.
I went to a funeral in northwest Houston this afternoon and got back to Huntsville in time for an appointment with the podiatrist about getting new custom orthotics. Then, I went to Nautilus for a workout and then to the park for a 4.2-mile run with the group. One of our regulars, Lara McCain, was in an auto accident in Dallas over the weekend and has a broken leg. I wish her a speedy recovery and hope she can join us again soon.

Cooler Weather, Finally

It got down to 54 degrees last night and was only in the 70's today. If only it was here to stay. I mowed my lawn, changed the oil in my truck and did some other things outdoors. This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and ran 3 miles on the roads in town. Running seemed easy, for a change.

Course Measurement

I measured a 5K course this morning for a race next Saturday. I did it by walking with an engineer wheel. Walking is hard; running would have been easier. Got that done and then ran 2 miles on the road in a new pair of shoes My old pair lasted 2 and a half months.

20 Miles

Even though it was split into two runs, I ran 20 miles today. I ran the Fall Fun Run 10K (6.2. miles) here in Huntsville at 8 this morning. The course was out and back and hilly. I finished in 1:11:21, a little over a minute faster than the same race last year. It was an interesting race. ROTC at Sam Houston State University sponsored a 5-mile military ruck march, which started at the same place at the same time. They had several hundred marchers, who turned around at the 2 and a half mile point. So, when I got to their turn around point, I was running through their marchers for the last 2 and a half miles. I ran past a lot of marching friends, including the local Texas Ranger, the Sheriff and several of our running club members. Also, there was a bike race using the same road, even though they started and finished at a different location. Needless to say, Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Huntsville was busy this morning. I went home, took a shower and posted the race results on our running club web site, and then went to the park to run trails. I did 13.8 miles on the trails, giving me a total of 20 miles for the day. Tonight, I went to the Sam Houston State football game here in Huntsville. Long day.

Early Run

I thought I was going to have to go to Houston this afternoon, so I ran laps at the track this morning. I have a 10K race tomorrow morning and plan to do a long run after that. Two weeks before the marathon, you know.

Thursday Trails

Nice weather for trail running this evening. I did 4.2 miles with the group. Misty Stone joined us for her first run on the trails. She seemed to enjoy the experience and hopefully she will become a regular.

800th Post

This will be my 800th post in about two and a half years. I know that none of them are very interesting, but I found that posting my running activity each day helps me stay completely involved in the sport and is a source of motivation. Thanks to Jon Walk for getting me started. While I have a Facebook page, I do not do much with it. However, it does help me connect with friends.
I ran the Avenues 5K course (very hilly) at 10 a.m. this morning before heading for an errand in downtown Houston (70 miles south). Then, in rush hour traffic at 4:30 p.m., I drove up to Cypress to visit a friend at the hospital there. I got back to Huntsville about 9 p.m. and was thankful (after driving in all the heavy traffic) for making it back safely and for having already gotten in my run for the day.

Trails with the Group

I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 4.2 miles on the trails. It was me, Jacob, Jan, Lara, Melissa, Mary, Will and Jason.

Orthotics

I think my custom orthotics are no longer working. If I recall correctly, it has been 4 years since they were made and they are suppose to last only 3 years. I have developed a large callouse on my left heel, resulting in pain. I trimmed the callous and made an appointment with a Podiatrist. Since the process will take a while, I bought a pair of over-the-counter orthotics today to use until the new ones are made. I ran 3 miles on the roads with the new ones this evening. They were uncomfortable at first, but after a mile or so they felt great.

Back from Wylie

On Friday, I ran laps at the track in Huntsville and then drove to Wylie (northeast of Dallas) to spend the weekend. On Saturday morning, I ran the St. Anthony's Church Fall Festival 5K in Wylie. I finished in 33:53 (2nd in age group). Yep, there was only 2 of us in the age group. I drove back to Huntsville this afternoon and then ran 5 miles on the roads in town.

Houston Marathon Kickoff Party

I went down to the Houston Marathon Kickoff Party in Houston this evening. Had a nice visit with several friends, including Suzy and Michelle Seeley and Tom and Mary Anne McBrayer. After the party, I ran the 3-mile trail around Memorial Park. Just before finishing the course, I stopped to visit the memorial bench to Houston Police Officer Gary L. Price. Back in October 1997, I was directing the Huntsville Half Marathon. Gary, 45, was running the race and had a massive heart attack and died about 3 tenths of a mile before reaching the finish line.

New Roads

I ran the roads in town today, starting about 3 p.m. My route was unplanned and I ended up running some roads that I have never run. Luckily, I was not attacked by any pit bulls. The temperature was high, but relatively low humidity made the run tolerable. My course ended up being 7.5 miles.

Back to the Park

We had a nice crowd at the park this evening. Some came early and did the outer loop and myself and others met at the regular time at ran 4.2 miles. Both groups finished about the same time.

Signed up for the Surfside Beach Marathon

Today, I signed up for the Surfside Beach Marathon on February 26, 2011 in Surfside Beach, Texas. This will be my 6th straight Surfside. So far, I have signed up for 10 marathons or longer this season. Sure hope I do not come up with an injury. I ran a new route on the roads in town this evening. It ended up being 4.6 miles. My computer problem over the weekend was a dead battery. I kept getting these security alerts. I printed one out and took it to the computer shop. They immediately told me that I had a dead clock battery on the motherboard. I did not know that computers had a battery on the motherboard. It affects the clock and the security software. Anyway, I opened up the computer today and found and removed the battery. I bought a new one for $3 something at Wal-Mart and now the computer works fine. I learn something new everyday.

Catching Up

My computer crashed yesterday and I was not able to blog last night. I messed around with it today and finally got into my blog. I ran the Bearkat Bash 5K down in Spring, Texas yesterday morning for the 9th straight year. I finished in 33:20. Marilynn had to go to a baby shower in Spring at 10:30. I hung around in the car while she was at the shower. We got back to Huntsville at noon and then at 1 p.m., we drove 135 miles up to Tyler for a family get-together. Got back to Huntsville about 10:30 last night. I met up with the group this morning at the park to run trails. It was very hot and humid and I only ran 7 miles. Hope it gets cooler soon.

Stuck at 3

I seem to be stuck at 3 miles this week. I ran another 3 miles on the roads in town this evening. Race tomorrow morning.

Trails

John, Hans and Lara got to the park early this evening and ran 6+ miles on the trails. I got there at the regular time and ran 3 miles miles with Melissa, Donna and Liz. We all finished up about the same time.

Getting Anxious

I am getting anxious to start the marathon season. I run Tyler on 10/10 and then a marathon for the next 5 weekends. My plan is to run 18 to 20 by the end of March. The first marathon of the season in Texas is on 10/2 in Midland-Odessa in west Texas. However, I cannot run that one, as I promised to operate a finish line for a 5K here in Huntsville that day. I know that I have some weekly long training runs to do this month, but I am still anxious to get going with the marathons. In the meantime, I ran my regular 3-mile loop in the roads in town this evening. With university classes in full swing and heavy traffic, completing the route without getting run over is an achievement.

Rainy Three Miles

We had heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hermine in Huntsville today. I went to the park this evening and ran three miles on the trails in the rain with Lara and Melissa. I am sure many of the trails at the park were covered in water and mud, but the course we ran had neither.

Back on the Streets

After a few days of running elsewhere, I ran a 3-mile loop on the streets of Huntsville this evening. It followed a good rain, so it was rather cool.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening for the monthly Sunday Night 5K put on by The Woodlands Running Club. Trail running buddies, Hans and John, were also there. I finished the flat course in 33:56.

Long Run

I went out to the park alone this afternoon and ran 17 miles on the trails. Since it was a holiday weekend, there were a lot of hikers and bikers on the trails. That means that the spider webs across the trails were already cleared. The temperature was in the high 80's, but the relatively low humidity make it tolerable.

Tried out the new MP3

I ran laps at the track this evening, just before a heavy rain. I used my new MP3 for the first time. I did not time my run, but I'm sure that Willie Nelson did not make me run any faster.

Only the Hard Core Runners

It was raining this evening and only the hard core members of the group showed up at the park to run trails. It was me, Hans, John and Jacob. We ran the usual 4.2-mile loop. The lower temperature was offset by 100 percent humidity.

Run with Katy

Katy Lampson and I ran trails at the park this morning. We did 4.1 miles in 90 percent humidity. It has been a year or so since I ran with Katy. Good to see her back on the trails.

Annual Physical Today

I went in for my annual physical this afternoon. I'm okay, pending completion of all the blood work. I went straight from the doctor's office to the park to run with the group. We had a new person running with us and she only wanted to run three miles. So, we only ran three. The humidity was very high after a good rain at the park. Three was enough.

Bought an MP3 Player

Chris Wilson called me the other day to tell me about an article he had read in a magazine. The article reported on a study of runners who run while listening to music. Apparently, some music makes runners run faster. He is suppose to loan me the magazine and I will do a story on it in my Running Shorts column in the local newspaper. I have been running and racing for nearly 30 years and I have never worn headphones. I know that there are a lot of devices out there and many runners who run with headphones. However, I have seen runners wearing headphones in situations where they should not be and I think they can be outright dangerous. I remember going to the track at 11:30 at night to run and seeing a girl walking on the track all by herself wearing headphones. Or, people running with traffic on the streets. Mariah Reynolds and I were running trails last week and she told me everything I needed to know about what is available. I bought an MP3 player today. I surprized non-technical self and was able to load some music on it. Now, when do I use it? When I'm running trails, I like to know what is going on around me. Also, I fall once in a while and I would surely break it. When running a marathon with a lot of runners, I like to interact with others and sometimes watch for traffic. Then, I think about the upcoming Marathon 2 Marathon on October 16. We will be running along Highway 90 from Alpine to Marathon, Texas. This is a remote area of southwest Texas and from what I can see on Google Earth, there are no buildings or intersections for the entire 26.2 miles. Also, it is a small race and I can see myself out there by alone for a long time; it may get a little boring. Surely, I will wearing the MP3 player for that race. Maybe for the Surfside Beach Marathon in February, also.
In the meantime, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening. With so much traffic now that school is back in session, I certainly did not use it today.

20 for the Weekend

Counting the 10K race yesterday and 13.8 miles on the trails at the park today, I got in 20 miles for the weekend. Given the heat and humidity, that will have to do.

Lake Houston 10K

Got up early this morning to get down to Kingwood (northeastern part of Houston) for the Lake Houston 10K. There were 246 finishers in the 10K and at 69, I was the oldest. Even though it was hot and humid, the course was relatively flat. I finished in 1:09:29, slightly off my 1987 PR of 49:49. Actually, it was only my 10th 10K race in the last 5 years and it was my best time in those 5 years.

Run, Beer, Run

I went out to the park this evening and ran the roads. Chris Wilson invited me to a party at the park lodge. So, I ran one mile to the lodge, had a beer at the party and then ran back to the Nature Center. At the party, I got to visit with Anne Domonoske, who use to run trails with us years ago before moving to Kansas. She is now a nurse in Houston. We shared schedules and found that she is also running the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson in January.

Fall Must be Near

I ran 4.2 miles on the trails at the park this evening with the group. The low humidity makes it feel like fall is near. Except for a knee issue, running almost seemed easy.

No Sweat

While the temperature was still in the 90's today, the humidity must have been low. I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening and hardly broke a sweat. Dry socks and shorts for a change. Other than that, I spent most of the afternoon sanding and preparing a used VW fender for painting and taking the old fender off (see the photo from a couple days ago). I bought the used fender in College Station yesterday and ordered a new bumper and tail light assembly today.

Signed up for Marathoning for Miracles in Abilene

Today, I signed up for the Marathoning for Miracles in Abilene on October 30, which will be my fourth marathon in October. The following Saturday, I will be doing the Rocky Raccoon 50K at Huntsville State Park. That will complete the Texas Marathon Challenge (any 5 Texas marathons between October 1 and May 31) for the season. Hopefully, I will be able to do it three more times during the season.
James, a friend of mine who has been working out at Nautilus for years, finally accepted my invitation and ran trails with us this evening. He had previously gotten up to one mile on the track. I agreed to run with him this evening. He ran the first two miles and most of the third. That's good and I am sure he will be back.

Students are Back

The students are back at Sam Houston State and the traffic is heavy again. I ran a 3-mile loop in town this evening. I suppose I need to find some quieter streets for my runs in town. I keep hoping for some cooler weather, but the temperature keeps going over 100. It's hard to do long runs with my shoes full of sweat to train for a October marathon in Texas. Slosh, slosh.

Bad Day

This afternoon, my wife was backing out of the driveway and backed into my 1974 VW Bug Convertible. Besides putting a big dent in the back of her car, the back fender, tail light and bumper were wiped out on my bug. Darn. Right after it happened, I went to the park this evening (in my truck) and ran 7 miles on the trails and another 3 on the roads.

Heat Wave 5K

I ran the Heat Wave 5K in Huntsville this morning. At about 2 miles, my right hamstring started hurting and I assume it was from the fall on Thursday. After a quarter mile or so, it eased up and I finished okay. My time was 34:33. After the race, I joined Ben Harvie, Pam Smithwick, True and Esther Cousins and Barbara Chenette at the Cafe Texan for breakfast. We had a good time. While there, a classmate of mine from Tyler HS Class of 59 came in. She was down from Tyler to get her grand daughter enrolled at Sam Houston. That was a nice surprize; I had not seen her since the last class reunion. Later this afternoon, Marilynn and our son, Ben, drove up to Lake Palestine near Tyler for a family get-together at my nephew's lake house. Just got back.

Recovery Run

I still had some body parts sore from the hard fall at the park yesterday, so I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps. 5K race tomorrow morning; I think I'll be okay, but no PR.

Hard Fall

I took a hard fall while running trails at the park this evening - first time I have fallen in a long time. Darn root. I was about a mile into the run and landed on my right knee and hip. Running was painful and I started to take a shortcut back, but went ahead and completed the 4.2-mile loop - slowly. Rather than ice it, I had a cold beer after the run. It feels better now.

Laps in the Rain

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went over to the track and ran laps in the rain.

Signed up for USA Fit Marathon

I signed up for the USA Fit Marathon in Sugar Land (near Houston) on January 16. I think it will fill up fast with all the runners not selected by the Houston Marathon lottery system. That will give me three marathons in January, good training for the 50-miler on February 5.
This evening, I met up with the group at the park and ran 4.2 miles on the trails.

Rain, Finally

We finally got rain today, the first in nearly a month. I sat on the back porch and watched every drop come down. Now, I will have to mow the grass again in a few days.
I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then did a 3-mile run on the roads in town. Even though the rain cooled things off a bit, it was still hot and humid.

10 Miles in 105 Heat Index

I met up with Melissa Boone at the park this evening and ran 10 miles on the park roads. The heat index was 105 when we started. Melissa got in 6 miles on the trails before I got there and she ran 12 on the roads. I weighed 197 when I left the house to run. I drank five 20 oz bottles of water at the park and a bottle of Gatorade on the way home. With all that, I weighed 196.5 when I got back home.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this morning and ran the twice-a-month Run the Woodlands 5K. I finished in 34:21 When I got home, I took a nap, mowed the yard and then went to the Seven Hills Running Club picnic.

This Year and Last Year

With my first marathon of the season coming up on 10/10, I have been worried about getting my distance up and doing it in the heat. Last year, I ran my first marathon (actually a 50K) on 10/31. During the period 7/1 to 8/12, I ran a total of 122.5 miles. My first training run over 10 miles was not until 9/27, just over a month before the 50K. During the period 7/1 to 8/12 this year, I ran a total of 146.3 miles, a significant increase over last year. With all that said and considered, I am not so worried about being behind in my distance training. I will find days when it is not so hot to do my longer runs. Come early September, though, I'll being doing those long runs once a week regardless of the temperature.
Today was Friday, so I skipped my workout at Nautilus and ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Signed up for 50-Mile Run

I mailed in my entry today for the Rocky Raccoon 50-miler at Huntsville State Park on February 5, 2011. This will be a new distance for me. I figure that at least 10 marathons and 2 50K's before then will prepare me. I have been running those trails at Huntsville State Park for about 16 years, so I know them well. Besides, they give you 29 hours to finish the 50 miles. I may need most of it.
In the meantime, I ran 4.2 miles on the trails this evening with the group.

Waiting for Cooler Weather

I know that I need to be running longer distances, but it is so hot. I did my 3-mile loop around town at 6 this evening. The temperature was in the high 90's and I suppose the heat index was well over 100. I hope for cooler weather soon.

Crowd at the Park

We had a nice crowd at the park tonight. We split up by speed and distance and all finished about the same time. I did the 4.2-mile loop.

Back to Normal

It was great having family visit this weekend, but they left this morning. Then, I spent most of the day in the garage on a building project. This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and then did a 3-mile run on the roads.

Marathon Training

I visited with Melissa Boone after church this morning. She is the only other Huntsville runner signed up for the Tyler Rose Marathon on 10/10. This will be her first marathon and she is taking her training seriously and getting in some long runs. She even got in a 12-mile run on the treadmill. I don't think I could ever do that. However, I have to get in some long runs soon. It's hard to do when it is in the high 90's with high humidity. I had relatives visiting all day, but I slipped out this evening and ran 5 miles on the roads in town.

Visitors

I did yard work most of the day and then my son, George, and his family came in from Wylie for the weekend. We were all going out tonight, so George and I went to the track about 5 p.m. and ran laps. I did 2 miles.

Late Start

I did not get out for a run this evening until about 7:30 p.m. By the time old slow poke finished with a 5.3-mile run on the roads in town, it was getting pretty dark and I was not wearing anything reflective. And, people driving with cell phones stuck in their ears scare me.

Short Trail Run

The heat index was 105 when we met up at the park for a trail run this evening. We decided just to do a 3-mile trail run and then get hydrated.

Still Hot

After a relatively cool summer and lots of rain, it is really hot and dry in Huntsville. I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town in the 6 p.m. heat.

Hot

Gosh, it was hot on the trails at the park this evening. The temperature was near 100, with high humidity. We ran 4.2 miles and I was soaked in sweat when we were done.

Marathon Plans for Season

I have been working on my marathon plans for this season (October 2010 - March 2011). Running 13 last season, including 2 in one weekend, gave me more confidence. And, I know how important the mental game is. My game plan includes marathons for 6 consecutive weekends starting October 10 and my first 50-miler in February. I am also thinking about Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota in June, right after my 70th birthday in May. I also plan to add Larry Yeagle Trail Marathon in March, if they schedule on an open weekend. In the meantime, I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town in temperatures near 100. Here is my list (* means that I have already registered):

October 10 - Tyler Rose Marathon, Tyler, Texas*
October 16 - Marathon 2 Marathon, Alpine to Marathon, Texas*
October 23 - Frankenthon Monster Marathon, Cedar Park, Texas*
October 30 - Marathoning for Miracles, Abilene, Texas*
November 6 - Rocky Raccoon 50K (31 miles), Huntsville State Park*
November 14 - Fort Worth Marathon
December 5 - White Rock Marathon, Dallas*
December 11 - Texas Trail 50K, Huntsville State Park
January 1 - Texas Marathon, Kingwood*
January 8 - Mississippi Blues Marathon, Jackson, Mississippi
January 16 - USA Fit Marathon, Sugar Land, Texas*
January 30 - Houston Marathon*
February 5 - Rocky Raccoon 50-Miler, Huntsville State Park*
February 20 - Austin Marathon*
February 26 - Surfside Beach Marathon, Surfside Beach, Texas*
March 12 - Gusher Marathon, Beaumont, Texas
March 20 - Seabrook Trail Marathon, Seabrook, Texas

Sunday Night 5K x 2

I drove down to The Woodlands this evening to run the Sunday Night 5K (97 degrees at the start). My time was 34:33. I had so much fun running the flat course, I ran it again alone, before driving back to hilly Huntsville.

Dog Days 5K

We had the Dog Days 5K in Huntsville this morning. I put out the signs, ran the race and then took down the signs. My time on this hilly course is always bad. Today, 35:37. I would probably claim that the course is too long, but I'm the one who measured it with an engineer wheel years ago. Maybe the earth has swelled.

Day Off

It's Friday and I have a race tomorrow, so I took the day off. I ran a mile at the track this afternoon.

Small Group on Trails

We had a smaller group than usual on the trails this evening. It was me, John, Nathan, Peggy, Mary and Lara. We did the 4.2-mile loop and finished just as a light rain moved in.

New Road Route

I started running from the track this evening and ran a new route on the roads. Afterwards, I checked the course on the USATF Route Finder and it turned out to be 4.2 miles. It's funny, a new route always seems to be longer than it is.

Regular Trail Run

I met up with the group this evening at the park and ran 4.2 miles on the trails. Next week, I will have to break out of my summer routine and start marathon training. My plan is to do at least 7 more marathons, including 2-50K's, by the end of 2010. That will give me 16 total for the calendar year. Of course, this all depends on my knees holding up.

Signed up for Frankenthon Monster Marathon

I signed up for the Frankenthon Monster Marathon in Cedar Park, Texas on October 23. That will give me 3 marathons for October on consecutive weekends.
As far as today goes, I worked out and Nautilus and ran 3 miles on the roads in town. The light rain I caught at the end of my run was rather refreshing.

Three on Sunday

I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening. Light traffic was nice.

Run the Woodlands 5K

I went down to The Woodlands (45-minute drive) this morning and ran the Run the Woodlands 5K, a race held twice a month for the last 9 years. I finished in 33:33.

Rest Day

I needed a day off, so I went over to the track in the middle of the afternoon and ran laps. I had the track all to myself. Who else would run the the afternoon heat? Race tomorrow.

Thursday Trails

I ran 4.2 miles with the group at the state park this evening. Hot and humid, as usual.

Run with Willie

I got about a half mile into my 3-mile road run this evening and ran into Willie Fritz, the new head footbal coach at Sam Houston. He asked to run with me, but I probably slowed him down. We had a nice running visit. Nice guy and I really wish him luck with the upcoming season.

New Course at the Park

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran a new (for the group) 5-mile course at the park on the trails. I use to run this course with Katy a couple years ago. It was so hot and humid that I expected to see some snakes, but saw none. Maybe the other runners in the group ahead of me scared them off. At least, they cleared the spider webs. There are advantages to being slow, you know.

Signed up for M2M

I signed up for the Marathon2Marathon today. The race is on October 16 and starts just out of Alpine in southwest Texas and goes east 26.2 miles to Marathon, Texas. No turns and I am hoping for a west wind. I understand that last year, there was a strong headwind the entire marathon. In either case, it should be fun.
After working out at Nautilus this evening, I did my normal 3-mile road run in town.

Tour de Huntsville

It was a little cooler today and I waited until about 7 p.m. to run. I visited with Kayla Kolafa at the track for a bit and then ran the 5-mile Tour de Huntsville course. I was a little more careful with my hydration after my experience yesterday.

Dehydration

I am not sure why, but I got dehydrated today. While I did some yard work this afternoon, I drank plenty of fluids. At 6 p.m. this evening, I did a 3-mile road run and got dizzy afterwards. Later, I started losing vision. After drinking a lot of water, I feel okay. Guess I need to start drinking more water before and after and taking some electrolyte capsules.

Breaking a Habit

I tend to be a creature of habit. When not running trails at the state park, I tend to run the same 3-mile road course in town. This evening, I ran a different course, which turned out to be 2.8 miles. Oh well, I needed to cut back a little, anyway.

Soaking Wet

I got soaking wet this evening and it wasn't raining. After working out at Nautilus, I met up with the group at the park and ran 4.6 miles. After a couple miles, I was soaking wet with sweat, down to my shoes and socks. And, we have two and a half more months of hot weather.

Regular Three

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran my regular 3-mile road run around town.

4.2 on the Park Trails

We had a large group show up for our trail run this evening, including three new runners. In fact, we had so many vehicles in the parking lot outside the park where we meet, a state trooper stopped and said that we were blocking the view of cross traffic. While some ran a different course, I ran 4.2 miles.

Monday

I did yard work all day, worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town. Typical Monday.

Live, Love, RUN 5K

We got up early Saturday morning to make it up and over to Diboll, Texas to run the 1st ever Live, Love, RUN 5K. Kori Estrada, a teammate of mine from the Texas Independence Relay two years ago, put on this race to raise funds for a little girl who needs a new liver. Kori did a great job and had around 100 runners. My son, Ben, won 2nd place in his age group and I was 1st in mine, with a time of 33:30. I had the opportunity to visit with Edwin Quarles of Lufkin at the race. I have known him for several years. I also met and visited with Mike Burton of the relatively new Lufkin-Area-Pacesetters (LAPS). Click here to visit the LAPS Facebook page.
After the race, we drove up to Tyler for my niece's wedding Saturday evening. We spent Saturday night in Tyler and drove back to Huntsville this evening. We stopped in Trinity and had dinner at Romo's Mexican Restaurant (owned by Tony's family). When I got back to Huntsville tonight, I went to the track and ran laps to get in a run.

Three in the Heat

I ran 3 miles on the roads in town in the mid-afternoon heat today.

Signed up for the Houston Marathon

I signed up for the Houston Marathon (January 30, 2011) today. This will be my 15th Houston. In over 470 races I have run, it is the first time I ever got an entry fee discount for being retired from the military. Thanks, Houston.
I met up with the group this evening and ran trails at the park. Even though the temperature was in the low 80's because of all the rain, the humidity was extremely high. I ran 4.25 miles and was completely soaked in sweat when I was done. I was so thirsty that I drank water after running rather than having a beer.

Breaking in New Shoes

I put on a new pair of running shoes out of the box today and ran 2 miles on the roads in a light rain.

Steamy at the Park

While the rain brought the temperatures down in the 80's (much cooler than NYC), the humidity at the park this evening was very high. I ran 4.2 miles and was completely soaked in sweat when I was done. And, we have a lot more summer to go.

Sluggish Run

For some reason, my 3-mile run on the roads in town was sluggish. I would say that it is the heat and humidity, but we have that every day. Probably a mental thing. Maybe a new pair of shoes will help. I have walked in the new ones for a few days now, so I'll start running in them tomorrow.

Sunday Night 5K

After church, lunch, yardwork and a nap, I drove down to The Woodlands to run the monthly Sunday Night 5K. As you would expect on the 4th of July in southeast Texas, it was hot and humid. I finished in 34:49, a few seconds slower than the 5K yesterday. I had hoped to do a little better on the flat course. Maybe the yardwork did me in. (Photo courtesy of Jon Walk)

Stu's Country Mile 5K

For the 15th straight year, I went up to Centerville, Texas this morning to run Stu's Country Mile 5K, starting and finishing on the downtown square. I finished in 34:42, one second slower than last year. As usual, a whole bunch of us from Huntsville were there and we met at the Town Cafe for a greasy breakfast after the race and before the 4th of July parade. Luckily, there was no heavy rain during the race. We got some in Huntsville later this afternoon.

Almost Ahead of the Rain

I saw that there was a big storm moving up from the south this afternoon. So, I decided to get in a run on the roads in town in ahead of the storm. I mis-timed it. I ran 2.9 miles, the last half mile in very heavy rain.

Ahead of the Rain

The group was suppose to run trails at the park this evening at 6. I checked the weather forecast and it said 100 percent chance of rain at 6. So, I went out to the park about 4 p.m. and ran 3 miles on the roads. As I finished, Phillip and Curtis showed up. They went out on the trails and got caught in heavy rains. I doubt that anyone else showed up at 6.