Staying Trained

I do not have another marathon until White Rock in Dallas on December 5. With marathons the last six weekends, I have two open weekends before then. I suppose that long training runs will be in order. In the meantime, I met up with the group this evening and ran 4.2 miles on the trails. Cannot ask for better running weather.

The Day After

I slept in this morning. Well, at least to 9 o'clock. I worked on my column for the Huntsville paper, which was due by 2 this afternoon. I always try to include the race results of local runners. I spent most of my time today trying to find the local runners in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in San Antonio yesterday. Unfortunately, the race results are not searchable by hometown. I tried to manually screen all 27,000 finishers, but ran out of time. So, I left them all out and will include them in my next column. I hate that I was not able to recognize them in tomorrow's paper.
I worked out at Nautilus this evening. The weather was cool with a light rain. I wimped out and decided to run the treadmill at Nautilus instead of a road run. As I recall, it was my first run on a treadmill in over a year. We went out for pizza this evening and then Ben and I went to the Sam Houston State basketball game. Monday Night Football after that.

Fort Worth Marathon

I ran laps at the track in Huntsville yesterday and then headed north for the Fort Worth Marathon today. We started at 7:30 this morning and ran an out and back course on the walkway along the Trinity River. The surface was mostly concrete, but some asphalt and crushed gravel. The course was scenic and the temperature in the low 40's at the start and probably 60's at the finish. I ran much of it with Dee, who ran with me at the Tyler Rose Marathon a few weeks ago. She is from Fort Worth and this was her second marathon. She finished in 5:33:49, knocking about 12 minutes off her Tyler time. I finished in 5:37:11 (1st in age group), my best time since the Yuma Arizona Marathon last January.

Short Course

I went to the track this evening with the intention of running my 3-mile course. I ran into some friends who were leaving the track and got to talking to them. Before I knew it, it was almost dark. I ran some roads I have not been on lately. The course ended up being 1.8 miles. Oh, well, I need the rest for the marathon on Sunday.

Routine Thursday

Worked out and Nautilus and then ran 4.2 miles on the trails at the park with the group.

Adjusting to the Change in Daylight

Now that it is getting dark so early, I am running first and then working out at Nautilus. I ran my 3 miles on the roads in town. My ankle seems normal now and I am ready for another marathon this weekend.

Breaking Them In

After working out at Nautilus, I met the group at the park. I decided to go ahead and break in new shoes and new orthotics. I ran 3.2 miles on the trails and another 1.2 on the park roads, for a total of 4.4.

New Orthotics

I went to Fort Hood in central Texas about a month ago to be fitted for new custom orthotics. Being retired military, I can get them there for free. They called last Friday to tell me that they were ready for pickup. They would not mail them, so I drove 155 miles to Fort Hood this morning to pick them up. I stopped in Killeen near Fort Hood and visited with John Lllewlynn, who I worked with and ran with in the early 80's while I was assigned to Fort Hood. After the visit, I picked up the orthotics and drove back to Huntsville. Got back just in time to get in a 3-mile run on the roads in town before it got totally dark. Then, I went to Nautilus for a workout. I need to break in a new pair of running shoes and at the same time, start wearing the new orthotics. I am trying to decide where to do one or both before my next marathon this Sunday.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran The Woodlands Running Club's monthly Sunday Night 5K. After the 50K yesterday, I was a little stiff for the first quarter mile, but after that I was okay. I finished in 34:02

Rocky Raccoon 50K

I got up at 4:15 this morning for a 6 a.m. Rocky Raccoon 50K (31 miles) start at the park. For over an hour, it was totally dark. I wore my head light and found myself focused on the trail in front of me, trying not to trip on a root. I am very familiar with those trails, but at times I did not know where I was. I even made some turns without realizing it. You just do not look up ahead. There were nearly 500 in the race, but most were doing the 25K. The weather was ideal and the trails were in good shape, except for the roots, of course. My ankle was sore, but never became worse and was not a problem. I finished in 7:59:05.

I'm going for it

My ankle is still a little swollen and sore, but I am running the 50K tomorrow. If it does not get significantly worse during the race, I should be okay. The temperature is suppose to be in the high 30's at the start and get up into the high 60's during the race. No rain. I am a little anxious about the trail running in the dark for about the first hour and a half. My goal will be not to trip and fall or re-sprain my ankle. I ran laps at the track this afternoon and then met Phillip and Mary at the park lodge after picking up my race packet. Then, we loaded up the canopy and other stuff for the aid station our club will be operating and then drove on a jeep trail to the back side of the park and set it all up. Then, I attended a birthday party Mariah was having for James at one of the park campsites.

Ankle Better

I treated my sprained ankle today and it felt better. This evening, I went to the track and ran an easy mile without too much pain. If it continues to improve tomorrow, I will run the 50K on Saturday. The race starts at 6 a.m., so we will be running trails in the dark. I have never done that. This should be interesting.

Darned Ankle Sprain

I went out to the park alone this afternoon to run the 7-mile loop in the cold rain. At 3.5 miles, I stepped in a hole of some sort and sprained my left ankle. It was my first ankle sprain in 16 years of trail running. I did a combination of running and walking the last 3.5 miles. I have been treating it since. The swelling is not too bad, but it is painful to walk on. I will do short runs for a couple days and hopefully it will be okay for the 50K on Saturday.

Signed up for the Texas Trail 50K

Today, I signed up for the Texas Trail 50K on December 11. This is the replacement race for Sunmart, which was held at Huntsville State Park for 19 years. I ran the Sunmart 50K for 13 straight years and then the Texas Trail 50K last year. That will give me 17 marathons or longer for 2010. In the meantime, I mowed my grass this afternoon (hopefully for the last time this season), worked out at Nautilus and ran with the group at the park. Melissa Boone was back after a month-long bout with Mono. We ran about 4 miles, mostly on the trails, but partly on the road.

Back to Monday Routine

After a workout at Nautilus this evening, I ran 3 miles on the roads in town. No blisters or lingering soreness from the marathon on Saturday. Next race is the Rocky Raccoon 50K (31 miles) this Saturday at Huntsville State Park. Since I have run the trails at the park for 16 years and this particular course many times, I am not as apprehensive as I would be going off to a city to run a marathon course that I have not experienced. Also, the current weather forecast is for no rain and a high of 67. Can't ask for more than that.

Marathoning for Miracles Marathon

I ran laps at the track Friday morning before driving out to Abilene in West Texas for the Marathoning for Miracles Marathon on Saturday. The race started at 7:30 a.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center and finished at the same place. It was cold at the start, but the temperature during the race got up to around 80 degrees. The humidity was very low, so it was comfortable running. The course was outside the city and generally on ranch roads. There were a few hills, but the course was mostly flat. We had a very strong headwind from about 9 to 15 miles, but enjoyed the tailwind from about 15 to 21 miles when we needed it the most. I finished in 5:39:23 (1st in age group). Rather than a trophy, age group winners won a Marathoning for Miracles bag and cap. This was my 60th race of a marathon or longer and my 4th marathon finish in 4 weeks. After the race, I drove 4 hours to Wylie and spent the night with my son and his family. I drove back to Huntsville this afternoon and ran laps at the track this evening.

Ready for the Next One

Sure nice not to have to do those long marathon training runs. As long as I keep doing another marathon every weekend, I can goof off during the week. I will run the Marathoning for Miracles Marathon in Abilene, Texas this Saturday. I have been to Abilene many times; it should be a flat course. These evening, I met a small group (me, Hans and Mary) at the park to run trails. Mary did not feel well, so we ran a 3-mile loop. She sure ran fast for not feeling well.

Morning Trail Run

Paul Stone of Tyler, who is the race director for the Rocky Raccoon Trail Run, 50K, 25K and 10K, at Huntsville State Park on November 6, contacted me last night and asked me to do an interview with Channel 7 on the race. So, I met them at the park at 10:30 this morning and did the interview. Afterwards, I ran 3.7 miles on the trails. I left Huntsville at 2:40 p.m. and drove to Tyler for a family get-together. Got back about 10:30 tonight. Five hours of driving today; sorta tired.

Dry Trails

It has been a long time since we have had rain. The trails at the park are very dry and sandy. I met up with the group at the park this evening, ran our 4.2-mile loop and then got hydrated.

Track and Roads

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went to the track with the intention of running the roads from there. Leah was there finishing up a run on the track and wanted to me to run with her for her last mile. I did that and we had a nice visit. After that, I ran two miles on the roads.

Recovery Run

Even though I had no aches or pains today after the marathon yesterday, I only ran two miles on the roads in town this evening.

Frankenthon Monster Marathon

I ran the Frankenthon Monster Marathon this morning in Cedar Park, Texas. The race started at 7 a.m. in Brushy Creek Park. It was 3 loops on a 8.75-mile course through the park. Most of it was on concrete trails, but about a third of it was on crushed gravel. Hot and humid and occasional light rain. I finished in 5:56:33 and picked up a nice 1st in age group trophy. Yes, I was the only one in my age group. My time was about 10 minutes slower than my last two marathons and I attribute that to the humidity. The race was well-organized. The course had two out and back sections, so we got to see the other runners several times. I left Cedar Park at 1:30 p.m. and got back to Huntsville at 4:30. Then, I went down to Conroe for Curtis and Debbie's wedding at 5:30. Congratulations to them.

Laps

Being that I have a marathon tomorrow in Cedar Park (just north of Austin), I went to the track this morning and ran laps.

Normalcy

My achillies is much better today and I have reached normalcy. After attending a retirement reception for an old co-worker this afternoon, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran 4.2 miles with the group at the park. I am ready for another marathon on Saturday.

Achilles Better

I had to get up early and make a trip to downtown Houston in rush hour traffic this morning. I would hate to do that every day. My achilles was still sore today, but better. At least, it hurt less than the normal pain in my knees. I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this evening, after working out at Nautilus.

Achilles Problem

I woke up early this morning with a very sore achilles. It must be a "delayed injury" from the marathon on Saturday. I treated it a couple times today with some icy-hot stuff. This evening, I met with the group at the park, but cut my run short to 2.5 miles. Immediately after the run, I took some ice from my "medicine chest" and iced it, both externally and internally. The pain is bearable and I am sure it will be okay for another marathon on Saturday.

New One Year Streak Completed

With my 3-mile road run in town this evening, I completed a new running streak of one year. If it had not been for those four days I missed last October due to a misdiagnosis on my knee, the streak would be 7 years, 9 months and days. Oh well. Now I can get back on the National Streak List (http://www.runeveryday.com/) - at the bottom, of course.

Photos from Southwest Texas

Big Bend

Judge Roy Bean's House, Courtroom and Tavern in Langtry, Texas

Pecos River

Marathon2Marathon

After I got in a run in Huntsville last Thursday morning, Marilynn and I made the 560-mile drive to Alpine in southwest Texas. That night, we drove further west to Marfa to see the Marfa Lights. They are mysterious. We drove nearly 100 miles south on Friday and spent the day in Big Bend National Park. It was the only part of Texas I had never been to. Beautiful place. I will post some photos here tomorrow. We came back up a different way to get to the town of Marathon. I picked up my race packet, got in a run around the town and then headed back to the hotel in Alpine. The marathon start point was a couple miles outside of Alpine on Hwy. 90 east toward Marathon. Marilynn dropped me off and stayed until we took off. Our friends, Charlie and Ruth Fields from Montgomery, Texas were there and we had a nice visit with them. The race started at 8 a.m. and we ran 26.2 miles on the shoulder of Hwy. 90 to downtown Marathon. Not a building or a crossroad the entire distance. Mountains on both sides and rolling hills. With less than 60 runners and all spread out, there were times when I seemed to be there all alone. In places, you could see the highway for miles ahead. No spectators, except for the aid station volunteers every two miles. There was a train track on the other side of the highway and several train engineers blew their whistles and waved as they drove by. The temperature was about 50 at the start and got up to about 80 during the race. Really ideal weather. During the first mile, I tripped on a chunk of asphalt, fell and cut my left knee. Blood ran down my leg. It was not a problem, except for having to explain it at each aid station. I gave them a different story at each one. I got hit by a 18-wheeler, a mountain lion got me, I was attacked by a bobcat. One lady at an aid station said that being attacked by a havalina would be more plausible. I finished the race in 5:46:02. That's 12 seconds slower than the Tyler Rose Marathon last Sunday. It took me about 12 seconds to get my butt off the asphalt, so I will call it a tie. I took 2nd place in the 60-69 age group (there was 3 of us). While I enjoyed this unique race experience and had a great time, I doubt that I will do this one again. It is just too far to drive to get there. After the race, we drove down to Del Rio and spent the night there. We stopped and visited Langtry, Texas (pop. 19). That was the home of Judge Roy Bean back in the late 1800's ("Law west of the Pecos"). There use to be a TV series about him many years ago. They have a nice museum next to his home and tavern. Nice place to visit if you are in that very remote part of Texas near the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers. We drove back from Del Rio today and had lunch in San Antonio. We went to church this evening and I had my running clothes on underneath my church clothes. I went to the track afterwards and ran laps. Annie was there and I ran a couple laps with her. She use to run trails with us and ran the Tyler Rose Half Marathon last Sunday.

Signed up for Fort Worth Marathon

I signed up today for the Fort Worth Marathon on November 14. I have done the February Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth three times, but never the November race. I also learned that Dee, my running buddy at the Tyler Rose Marathon last Sunday, also signed up for Fort Worth. That's good news; maybe she will run with me again. I still have four more marathons to do before then, next being Marathon 2 Marathon this Saturday. With 26.2 miles along Hwy. 90 from Alpine to Marathon in southwest Texas, I will surely use my MP3 player. The temperature is suppose to be in the low 80's. That's okay, as long as there is a strong wind from the west.
After a workout at Nautilus this evening, I went out to Huntsville State Park and ran 3 miles on the park roads. Curtis was just finishing a trail run when I got there and we visited for a few minutes. I also interrupted my run and visited with Chris, the park superintendant, who was biking on the road.

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.