Mixed Up

I went out to the park this evening to meet up with the group for our Thursday run. It was raining and nobody else showed up. I said to myself that they were a bunch of wimps. So, I ran 3 miles on park roads alone. About half way through my run, I realized that it was Wednesday. These holidays have me mixed up.

Late Run

I drove to Tyler today for a family get-together and did not get back until late tonight. So, my run today was a mile + run on the treadmill at Nautilus at 11 p.m.

Another 3 in Town

I ran another 3 miles on the roads in town this evening. Sorta boring, but I have to rest up for my marathon on Saturday. With all this eating during the holidays, I know the marathon will be slow.

Light Traffic

With the university on Christmas break and it being a holiday weekend, traffic in town this afternoon was very light. I ran 3 miles on the roads this afternoon and nearly felt safe.

Christmas at the Park

I went out to the state park this afternoon with my visiting son and ran 7 miles on the trails. Even after all the rain yesterday, the trails were in good shape. Merry Christmas.

Sluggish Run

I ran 3 miles on the roads in town this afternoon, but felt sluggish. It must be too much Christmas food.

Good News and Bad News

The good news is that my foot is much better today. I ran 4.6 miles on the trails this evening with no problem. My good friend, Bridgette Collins from Dallas, was in Huntsville today and joined our group on the trails. It was her first time on the trails at the park and she enjoyed the experience.
The bad news is the Collin County Marathon in Allen, Texas that I signed up for 2 days ago has been cancelled. My understanding is that they could not afford what two cities on the course were going to charge them for traffic control. Seems like that should have been considered before they opened registration.

Another Recovery Run

My foot was not any better today, so I ran laps at the track this evening and took some ibuprofen with my dinner.

Signed up for Collin County Marathon

I signed up for the Collin County Marathon today. This is a new marathon in Allen, Texas (north of Dallas) on March 6, 2011. If all goes as planned, it will be my 8th marathon in 2011 and 16th for the 2010-2011 season.
My foot was worse today. I met the group at the park this evening, but I ran about a mile and a half on the road while they ran trails. Hopefully, it will start getting better soon. Luckily, I do not have a marathon until January 1.

Foot Pain

I woke up this morning with pain in my right foot. It seems to be the plantar faciitis and I am not sure what set it off. I suspect that it is the new custom orthotics made by the Army. The process did not seem too "custom." I ran a mile on the track this evening. The pain seem to lessen as I ran, but I will see how it is tomorrow. Pain and minor injuries are frustrating.

Sunday Trails

It was sunny and cool this afternoon, perfect for running. After church and lunch at an Italian restuarant, I went out to the park alone this afternoon and ran 6.6 miles on the trails.

Willis Wildkat 5K

I drove about 20 miles down I-45 this morning and ran the Willis Wildkat 5K. I helped them get the race started 5 years ago and have run it all 5 years. I finished in 32:37 (1st in age group). I was also given a $20 gift certificate at a Mexican Restaurant in Conroe for being the oldest runner in the race. That's better than a senior citizen discount.

When I returned home and checked my mail, I found my finisher medal and age group award from the Marathon 2 Marathon last October 16. Guess things work at a slower pace out in far west Texas.

Got Busy

Got busy today and did not get around to running until just before dark. I went to the track and ran laps and then worked out a Nautilus. I normally skip Nautilus on Friday, but I missed yesterday.

Jingle Bell Run

I went down to The Woodlands tonight and ran Woodlands Fit Jingle Bell Run along the lighted waterway near the mall. Nice 3.5 mile non-competitive run and a beautiful course. I finished in 40:50. After the run, most of us had dinner at Berryhills down the street.

New Course

After a workout at Nautilus this afternoon, I drove to the track and ran a new course on the roads in town. I measured it later and it turned out to be 3.5 miles.

Signed up for Seabrook Trail Marathon

I signed up for the Seabrook Trail Marathon to be held in Seabrook, Texas on March 20. This will be my 4th straight year for the race. It is the last leg of the Texas Marathon Triple (Kingwood in January, Surfside Beach in February and Seabrook in March). I have completed the Triple for the last 3 years. So far, that makes 8 marathons that I have signed up for in 2011 and I still need to add 4 more to give me 20 for the season. I'm a little apprehensive about the 50-miler on the trails at Huntsville State Park on February 5. That will be a new distance for me and I know that I will be running the last few hours in the darkness. I have a hard enough time not tripping on roots during daylight. Then, being a streaker, I have to get in a run the following day.
In the meantime, I worked out at Nautilus and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town today. It was rather warm after freezing last night. Tomorrow, it is suppose to get up to 75. Usually, the group runs trails on Tuesday evenings. However, beginning this week, the park is closed for Bambi killing during the week for five consecutive weeks.

Feel Recovered

I feel fully recovered from the 50K on Sunday. Back to my normal knee pain. I worked out at Nautilus this afternoon and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Laps

It was cold and windy today and I went to the track and ran laps. Still a little sore from yesterday.

Texas Trail 50K

I ran the Texas Trail 50K (31 miles) at Huntsville State Park yesterday. Of the eighteen 50K's that I have run, it was my slowest. I'm not sure why. I finished in 8:50:40, compared to 7:59:05 in the Rocky Raccoon 50K at Huntsville State Park just last month. The courses were different, but I assume both are accurate. It was unseasonably warm yesterday, but I was comfortable. I never looked at my watch until I had a mile to go, but I never felt like I was running that slow. My sinus's were stilled clogged from the sinus infection from last weekend. Maybe that had something to do with it. Or, maybe I'm getting out of shape. In any case, they had a 10-hour time limit and there were several runners finishing after me.

Back on the National Streak List

I just received my copy of the U. S. Running Streak Association (http://www.runeveryday.com) new streak list as of December 1, 2010. Now that my 4th running streak is over a year now, I'm back on the list (Number 257, at the bottom). There are four guys over 40 years and they are all younger than I, so I do not aspire to be Number 1. I only aspire to stay healthy, enjoy life and help deplete the Social Security system.
Since I am running the Texas Trail 50K here at Huntsville State Park tomorrow, I went to the track and ran laps this afternoon. This evening, I went to packet pickup at Margarita's Mexican Restaurant and had the pre-race dinner at the same place. Are there a lot of carbs in refried beans?

John is Back

John Cook, one of our trail running buddies, was back at the park this evening. He has been out several weeks, recovering from knee surgery (not related to trail running). His doctor gave him a release today to start walking. He and Hans did a short walk on the roads and then started getting hydrated early, while Jacob and I did a 3-mile trail run.

Feeling Better

I felt better today and got back in a routine. Worked out at Nautilus this afternoon, ran 3 miles on the roads in town and went to the Sam Houston State - North Texas basketball game tonight.

Nobody Else Showed Up

I did not sleep well last night and think that it was due to lingering fever. The antibiotics and decongestants seem to be working and I felt better this afternoon. I worked out at Nautilus and then went to the park to meet up with the group to run trails. However, nobody else showed up. I know that people have other things to do, but what could be more important than running. I ran 2 miles on the park roads and then had a beer by myself.

White Rock Marathon

I ran laps in Huntsville Friday morning before leaving for Dallas for the White Rock Marathon on Sunday. Friday night, I came down with a sinus infection and high temperature. On Saturday, I went to the Expo at Fair Park in Dallas to pick up my packet, Then, I got in a run on the roads in Wylie (northwest of Dallas) where I was staying. That night, my temperature went up over a 100 and I got little sleep. On Sunday, I got up at 5 a.m. and got to the race about 7:15 a.m. It was cold (high 30's) and windy and I was obviously not very comfortable with my sinus problem. However, I met up with Dee, who I met and run with at the Tyler Rose Marathon and subsequently at the Fort Worth Marathon. Tyler was her first marathon and she has really improved. Dee and I were in one of the last corrals to start. The first corral started at 8 a.m. and we started about 45 minutes later. We ran the first couple miles together and then she left me in her dust. I knew that I was running slower and when I checked my time at the half way mark, it was confirmed. My half way time was 2:59 and it is usually about 2:40. I never walked any of the race and finished in 6:14:18 (37 minutes slower than my last marathon in Fort Worth on November 14). I was disappointed in my time, but at the same time glad that I did not wimp out. Dee and her friends were waiting for me at the finish line and I appreciated that. I was really beat after the race and my high fever came back Sunday night. I returned to Huntsville this afternoon and had an appointment with my doctor late this afternoon. I finally went to Nautilus about 9 p.m. tonight. Worked out and then ran 1+ miles on the treadmill. I should be back to normal tomorrow. Next is the Texas Trail 50K at Huntsville State Park this Saturday. I will still be on antibiotics, so I will be infection-free.

Trail-Road Mix

I met the group at the park this evening and ran 1.5 miles on the trails and another 1.2 on the road. Afterwards, I sacrificed some of the ice in my cooler and put it on my sore knee and, at the same time, cooled it off internally.

Improving

Not much to report. After a workout at Nautilus, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town. My knee was better, but still hurt. I always wonder how much is physical and how much is mental.

My New Trail Running Gear

Since I can't seem to stay on my feet when running trails, I bought some new trail running gear. Hopefully, it will help.

My knee felt a little better today. I went out to the park this evening and ran 1+ miles on the park roads. I'll try a longer run tomorrow. I'm still confident that I will be okay for the marathon in Dallas on Sunday.

It only hurts when I use it.

I continued to treat my knee today. The swelling is not too bad and it only hurts when I am using it. I went over to the track this afternoon and ran a gimpy mile. I am pretty confident that nothing is broken and that I will be recovered sufficiently for the marathon on Sunday.

Knee Injury

I went out to the park alone late this morning to run 8 miles on the trails. At about 3 to 4 miles into the run, I tripped on a root and caught myself on a small tree. Somehow, I hurt my left knee. I tried to continue running, but ended up walking most of the way back in. It is swollen around my left knee cap. When I got home, I put ice on it and treated it with some stuff. Hopefully, it will be okay by the marathon next Sunday. It is frustrating. I have been addicted to trail running for about 16 years, but trails have been the source of most of my injuries.

Leftover Turkey 10K

Our running club's annual Leftover Turkey 10K, 5K and 1-Mile race was this morning. All three courses were out and back along Veterans Memorial Parkway. I got there early and put out the three cones to mark the three turnaround points. Darren directed the race, so I got to run the 10K. We had a total of 32 runners for all three races. A half mile into the race, I noticed that some SOB had stolen the cone for the one-mile turnaround point. I managed to get some one-milers turned around a little past where the cone had been. Why would anyone steal a traffic cone with the club name marked on the side? As I continued, I was worried that the 5K and 10K cones were also taken. Luckily, they were not. In any case, I felt my running was sluggish. Maybe it was from eating too much on Thanksgiving. I finished in 1:12:05 on this very hilly course. This was about a minute slower than the last time I ran the same course. After the race, some of us had breakfast at the Cafe Texan on the downtown square.

Signed up for Mississippi Blues Marathon

Today, I signed up for the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson, MS on January 8. So far, that is four marathons in January that I have signed up for. That should be good training for my 50 miler on February 5.
It was unusally quiet on the streets in Huntsville today. I worked out at Nautilus this afternoon and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Run Thru the Woods

For the 9th straight year, I went down to The Woodlands this morning and ran the Run Thru the Woods 5-Miler. Finished in 55:35 (4th of 6 in my 65-69 age group). I spent the rest of the day with family and ate too much.

Quiet Streets

With the university being closed for Thanksgiving, the streets of Huntsville were quiet today. I worked out at Nautilus and ran 3 miles on the roads in town without getting run over.

Almost Summer Again

I suppose the temperature was in the 80's today. Felt like summer again. The forecast is for 31 degree this Friday night. My, how things change in just a few days. My son, Ben, and I re-cleared a trail in the woods behind my house this afternoon. Finished just in time to meet the group at the park to run trails. We did our regular 4.2-mile loop. Afterwards, Ben and I went to the basketball game at Sam Houston State to watch the girls play North Texas U. Sam won.

Headache

I had a headache all day today, but am not sure whether it is from hitting a tree yesterday with my head or sinus blockage. In either case, I ran laps at the track and then worked out a Nautilus.

Trails on Sunday

With all these marathons lately, I have not had a chance to run trails with the group on Sunday morning. So, I went to the park this morning and ran 7 miles. I thought about doing a second loop, but my knees were really sore. With about a quarter mile to go, I tripped on a root, fell and hit my head against a tree. That really convinced me not to do another loop.

Ran my 500th Race Today

I went to College Station today and ran the Texas World Speedway 5K at noon. It was my 500th race since I started racing in 1983 at age 42 (I'm 69 now). My first race was the Night Fighters 10K on May 1, 1983 at Fort Hood, Texas. It was an event of the 2nd Armored Division, which at that time was the Army's night fighting division. The race started at 3 a.m. and 2,500 runners participated. We all carried glow sticks for light. I figured that if I could not finish that I would fall off into the darkness and no one would see me. I finished in 1:03:00.

Today's race was on the speedway track. I finished in 32:21, which is my fastest 5K this year. I guess running a bunch a marathons is good training for a 5K. Also, I suppose if you are running on a race track you are expected to run faster. The banks were a little difficult to run on, but the straightaways were nice. It was a small race and I got 2nd in the 51 and over age group.

I rushed back to Huntsville to attend the Sam Houston State-Texas State football game. I made it to the game in the 2nd quarter.

Completed the Texas Marathon Challenge

With my completion of the Rocky Raccoon 50K on November 6, I completed the Texas Marathon Challenge (TMC) for 2010-2011. The TMC is operated by Roger Soler Sports in San Antonio. Complete any five Texas marathons (or longer) between October 1 and May 31 and you meet the challenge. This was my third straight year for completing the challenge. The first year, you get a medal, singlet and you can buy a TMC jacket. After the first year, you can buy the jacket.
There is no 5K in Huntsville tomorrow, so I will run the 5K in College Station. This evening, I skipped working out at Nautilus and only ran 3 miles on the roads in Huntsville.

Reducing the Race T-Shirt Pile

Periodically, I have to get rid of race T-shirts. Since I have been racing since 1983 and completed just under 500 races and volunteered at many others, I have accumulated a lot of shirts. It was time to get rid of some more. Many are so ugly I have never worn them. Others I have worn out. Those 100 percent cotton shirts turn yellow around the collar. Some may be salvagable. Of course, I have to keep the Tyler Azalea 10K shirt with big yellow azaleas (there is no such thing as an yellow azalea). Some I threw in the trash. Others I set aside to take to the mission. Others I saved for a quilt, in case I ever have one made. Now, when I pick up my packet at a race, I look at the T-shirt and try to decide which member of my family might like it. Then, I get their size. Sometimes, I guess right.
Anyway, I put on a nice T-shirt and ran 4.2 miles with the group on the trails at the park this evening. James, a workout buddy at Nautilus, joined us this evening. He has been working on his distance. He was previously up to 3 miles and I talked him into doing the 4.2 mile course with us. It was a new distance for him and he completed it without any problem. In fact, his GPS said the course was 4.4.

Marathon Withdrawal

After running marathons the last six weekends, I feel like I should be doing one this weekend. I'm tempted to go to Tulsa for the Route 66 Marathon, but I'll probably stay in Huntsville. I was planning on running a 5K in College Station (50 miles from here) on Saturday, but I just found out today that there is a 5K race on the Sam Houston State University campus this Saturday. I will run that instead. It will be my 500th race since I started racing in 1983.

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.