Texas 10 Series Bridgeland 5-Miler and Sunday Night 5K

My toe inflammation was better this morning.  I got up early and ran the Texas 10 Series Bridgeland 5-Miler in Conroe.  The race is normally held in Cypress in Harris County, but was moved to Conroe in Montgomery County, because Harris County would not give them a permit due to COVID.  That's fine with me;  Conroe is a lot closer.  I finished in 1:11:17 and was 2 of 2 in the 70 and over age group.  This evening, I drove down to The Woodlands and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 45:13, almost 2 minutes slower than last month.  In any case, I finished the day with 8.1 miles, all on concrete.

Darned inflammation

 I woke up this morning with inflammation in my big toe joint.  Huntsville State Park was closed today for the Rocky Raccoon 100, so I went to the track late this morning and ran 1.5 miles.

Light rain

 There was a on and off light rain when I ran trails at the park this morning.  I ran 3.5 miles on the  trails.

78

 Here it is early February and it got up to 78 degrees this afternoon.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Out and back

 Late this morning, I went to the park and ran my out and back 4-mile course on the trails.

Got my first COVID vaccination

 I got my first COVID vaccination this at 9:15 this morning.  No side effects so far and this evening I met up with the group at the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Back to the park

 After 5 miles on concrete streets yesterday, I went to the state park this morning and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Texas 10 Series College Station 5-Miler

 I forgot to post last night, but I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.  I got up real early this morning and drove over to College Station  to run the Texas 10 Series College Station 5-Mile race.  I finished in 1:08:46 and was 2 of 2 in the 70 and over age group.  That gives me 114.3 miles for the month of January, an average of 3.68 miles per day.

Back to 4

 I went out to the park early this afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails.

New shoes

 This evening, I ran in my new New Balance shoes for the first time.  The last time I ran in New Balance was back in the 80's.  They were very heavy shoes then.  We will see how long the new lighter version lasts.  I haver custom orthodics, so I have to wear a neutral shoe.  Seems like when I get use to a brand and model, they discontinue the model.  In any case, I ran 2 miles on the park roads to break in the new shoes.

Regular 4-mile course

Late this morning, I went to the park and ran my regular out and back 4-mile course on the trails. 

Group Tuesday

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Monday on the trails

 Late this morning, I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.

Longer run

 I went to the park late this morning and ran 7 miles on the trails.  It was overcast and in the 60's, but saw very few others on the trail.

Frost Your Fanny 5K

 I ran our club's annual Frost Your Fanny 5K in Huntsville this morning in the hilly Spring Lake Sub-division and finished in 43:19.

Two days

 I forgot to blog last night, but I ran 2.5 miles on the state park trails yesterday and another 3 today.

Four bikers and a hiker

 Late this morning, I ran 6 miles on the trails at the state park.  Only saw 4 bikers and 1 hiker on the trails.  Overcast sky and a temperature of about 60.  Nice.

Another warm day

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  With the temperature in the 70's, we were attacked by mosquitos after the run.  Someone said that they saw a big rattlesnake at the park a couple days ago.

Warmer weather

 It was almost 70 when I went to the park late this morning.  Being a holiday, the trails were crowded, but I got in 5 miles.

Real early morning run

 I got a call yesterday from an old friend that I have not seen in many years.  He and I were officers in the Rose Runners Club in Tyler, Texas in 1984.  He was coming through Huntsville early this morning and wanted me to run with him at Huntsville State Park.  We met at 7:15 a.m. (middle of the night) and ran 4 miles on the trails.  We had a good run and visit.

More good running weather

 I made it to the park late this morning and ran 5 miles on the trails.

Nice running weather

 It was sunny and in the 50's today.  I went to the park and ran 4 miles on the trails.  Also, being a Friday, there were not too many people on the trails.

Group on Thursday

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Back to 4

 After 3 days of slacking off with 2+mile runs, I went to the park this morning and ran 4 on the trails.

Half and half

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.3 miles, half on the trails and other half on the roads.

Same course as yesterday

 This afternoon, I ran the same 2.5-mile trail course that I ran yesterday. It was 37 degrees, but the bridges were coated with ice and snow.  Again, I never saw anyone else on the trails.

Cold and wet run

 It was about 35 degrees and raining when I went to the park this morning.  I got in 2.5 miles on  the trails.  No surprise, but I did not see another person on the trails.  Later today, we had rare snow in Huntsville.  Probably about 2 inches.

Did not expect the park to be so crowded

 Late this morning, I had to wait in a long line to get into the park and then park in overflow parking.  There were so many people on the trails, I had to keep my mask on much of the time.  I ended up getting 4 miles on the trails.

4,100

 I ran trails at the state park this morning.  This was my 4,100th consecutive day of running.  To commemorate the milestone, I moved the decimal point three places and ran 4.100 miles.

Another 3

 I met up with the group this evening and ran 3 miles on the park roads.

Earlier run

 It was suppose to start storming this morning about 11 and last most of the day.  So, I went out to the park earlier than normal this morning and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Roads

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the roads.  Good to see Camille, who recently moved back from Portland, join us - after a 26-year absence.

Nice Monday weather

 It was sunny with the temperature in the 60's when I went out to the state park to run late this morning.  I got in 4 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

 Being the first Sunday of the month, I went down to The Woodlands this evening to run the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 43:34.

Back to trails

 After a couple days running roads, I went to the park late this morning and ran 4 miles on the trails.

New Year Resolution 10K

 I ran our club's New Year Resolution 10K this afternoon up and down the hills of Veterans Memorial Parkway and finished in 1:34:17.

2020 in review

 My RA and Afib seem to be stable with medication for both.  At least for now, no pacemaker implant is in sight.  My 2-mile run on the state park roads this evening gives me 101 miles for the month of December and 987.2 for the year.  With the run today, I finished 2020 with 4,092 consecutive days on my streak.  With so many races cancelled this year due to COVID, I competed in only 37.  My normal is close to 70.  It looks like early 2021 will be a continuation of 2020, but hopefully running and racing will get back to normal by the spring.  Happy New Year.

Park not as crowded

 The park was not as crowded when I went there to run late this morning.  I got in 4 miles on the trails.

Roads

 Took a break from the trails this evening.  I met up with the group and ran 3 miles on the state park roads.

Back to 4

 After a couple days at 5 miles, I ran 4 on the trails at the park this morning.

Another 5

 I ran another 5 miles on the trails at the park late this morning.  Can't believe the crowds at the park.  I went south from the Nature Center today in hopes of avoiding people.  It didn't work.

Five

 Late this morning, I went to the state park and ran 5 miles on the trails.

Christmas day

 After the visiting family left this afternoon, I went to the park and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Park blocked

 I went out to the state park this morning to run trails.  When I got to the park entrance off of I-45, there was a semi jack-knifed on the park road.  One end of the trailer was on a pile of dirt and half the wheels were up in the air.  A pickup truck was trying to pull the whole rig, but was getting nowhere.  The entire road was blocked and no one could enter or leave the park.  I waited for a while, but it became obvious they were going to have to call for a big wrecker.  So, I turned around and drove to the track to run.  I ran 2 miles, which is about my mental limit on a track.  Merry Christmas.

5K average

 I ran 4 miles on the trails late this morning and am averaging 3.13 per day (just over 5K) for the month of December.

Reverse direction

 I met up with  the group at the park this evening and ran what is becoming my normal 2.4 miles, half roads and half trails.  Just to do something different, I reversed direction.

Monday trails

 Still a lot of people at the park, but not as many as yesterday.  I went out  late this morning and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Sunday crowd at the park

 The state park trails were crowded when I went out to run late this morning.  Some people on the trail wear masks, but others do not.  Just to stay safe, I take one and put it on when passing other people.  In any case, I ran 4 miles on the trails

Rainy 5K

 I went down to The Woodlands this morning for a social run at Fleet Feet, honoring my friend, Coach Bill Dwyer.  Got to visit with Bill and lots of other friends.  I ran 3.1 miles along the waterway and got soaked with rain.  It was even tough driving back to Huntsville through very heavy rain.

Friday afternoon park run

 I ran 3 miles on the trails at the state park this afternoon.  Tripped and fell for the first time in a while.

Thursday 2.4

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.4 miles, half trails and half roads.

4 on the trails

 It was 43 degrees when I went to the park this morning and no rain.  Nice running weather.  I got in 4 miles on the trails.

Late posting

 Just realized that it is after midnight and I have not posted.  Usual Tuesday.  I met up with the group at the park and ran 2.4 miles, half on the trails and half on the roads.

Cold

 It was in the 40's when I went to the park this morning to run.  Got in 2.5 miles on the trails.

Same course as yesterday

 Late this morning, I went to the park and ran the same 3.5-mile course as yesterday.  Except today, much of it was in the rain.

Nice weather

 It is suppose to rain all day tomorrow, but today it was cool and dry.  Late this morning, I ran 3.5 miles on the trails.  Besides the normal bikers and hikers, I saw a bunch of other runners.

Beat the rain

 It was suppose to rain pretty much all day, but I was able to run 4 miles on the trails before heavy rain this afternoon.

Half and half, again

I met up with the group at the park this evening and, again, ran 2.4 miles, half on trails and half on roads. 

Warmed up

 The temperature was 70+ when I went to the park today.  Got in 4 miles on the trails.

Group

  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.4 miles, half roads and half trails.

New computer

 I bought a new PC today and spent a lot of time trying to recreate bookmarks, etc.  It is much faster.  I  did go out to the park this morning and run 3 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

 For the 111th time, I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening.   I finished in 45:03.

Not so crowded park

 Maybe it is the colder weather, but for a Saturday the state park was not so crowded.  I ran 3 miles on the trails.  I passed a few people, but not like other weekends.

Friday trails

It was cold and clear today.  Nice trail running weather.  Late this morning, I ran 4 miles on the trails at the park.  I passed several other runners.  Not that I was going fast, they were coming from the other direction.

Earlier than normal Thursday trail run

 I had to go somewhere this evening and was not able to meet up with the group, so I went to the park earlier this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Old neighborhood

 The state park was closed today for hunting.  Late this morning, I drove to the Forest Hills Sub-division (my old neighborhood) and ran 2.8 miles on the streets, partly in the rain.

Park closed early today

 The state park closed at 5 pm. today for squirrel hunting and will open again at noon on Thursday.  So I went out at 3:30 this afternoon and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  I warned all the squirrels that I could.

End of November

 With the temperature in the 40's this morning, I went to the state park and ran 3 miles on the trails.  My total milage for the month of November was 91.1 miles (average 3.04 per day).  So far this year, my total is 886.2.   I have never logged milage until recently and had to refer to this blog to complete each month for 2020.

Texas 10 Series Conroe 5-Miler

 I got early this morning and ran the Texas 10 Series Conroe 5-Miler at 7 a.m.  This was my 3rd straight race in Conroe.  Lots of runners, but they took a lot of precautions to make it safer in the pandemic.  There were a lot of friends there, but I did not take much time to visit.  I finished in 1:11:01.  After picking up my award to 2nd in the 70 and over age group, I went home and back to sleep.

Southern Star Brewing 5K

 For the 6th straight year, I ran the Southern Star Brewing 5K in Conroe this morning.  It is usually in August, but was rescheduled due to the pandemic.  It rained before the race and a little during the race.  I finished in 45:32 and was 2 of 2 in the 70 and over age group.

Rainy day

 It rained much of the day, but I got in a 2.5-mile run on the trails at the park.

First time in 19 years

 This was the first Thanksgiving Day in 19 years that I have not run the Run Thru The Woods 5-Miler in The Woodlands.  Due to COVID pandemic, it was changed to a virtual race.  I ran it in Spring a couple weeks ago.  So, late this morning, I went to the state park and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Trip to Tyler

 I drove to and from Tyler today to visit an ailing relative, but got in a 2.5-mile run on the trails at the park this morning before I left.

Bigger group at the park

 All the regulars were at the park this evening for our group run.  Plus, Sara came down from Lovelady with her niece to run with us.  I ran 2.3 miles, half on the trails and half on the roads.

3 on the trails

 Early this afternoon, I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.

Crowded trails

 The trails at the state park were crowded when I went out to run late this morning.  With the pandemic in full swing, I wear take a mask when I run and pull it up over my nose and mouth when passing other people on the trails.  Some others do the same, but some do not.  I ran 4 miles today.  About half way, I ran into Cammille, who use to run with us about 20 years ago.  She moved to Portland and recently back to Huntsville.  We had a nice visit.  Hopefully, she will rejoin our group runs on Tuesday and Thursday.

Conroe Turkey Trot 5K

 I ran the Conroe Turkey Trot 5K in Conroe this morning.  I like the 9 a.m. start.  Mostly concrete trails, but flat.  I finished in 42:56 and was 2nd of 4 in the 60 and over age group.  It was my 34th race this year and my 1,150th life-time race.

Cardiologist appointment

 I had an appointment with my cardiologist this morning.  No pacemaker for now; next appointment is in January.  So, the streak is safe for now.  This afternoon, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Annual physical

 I had my annual physical today.  Am still alive, but will not know more until all the blood work comes back.  Tomorrow, I have an appointment with the cardiologist, but with the pandemic going on, I doubt that he will schedule a pacemaker implant.  In the meantime, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.3 miles, half on the trails and half on the roads.

Snake 5

 I ran 4 miles on the trails at the park this morning and encountered a fifth snake on the trails this season.  This one was another gulf coast ribbon snake.  They are easy to see, but I wonder how many copperheads I ran past and never saw.

Half and half

 I met up with the group at the state park this evening and ran 2.3 miles, half on the trails and half on the roads.

Run Thru the Woods 5 Miler - Virtual

 One of my streak races is the Run Thru the Woods 5-Miler every Thanksgiving Day in The Woodlands..  Due to the pandemic, it was made a virtual race in 2020.  I had some errands to run down south today, so I ran 5 miles on the Greenbelt Trail in Spring this afternoon.  I had never run on those paved trails before.  Nice, with rolling hills and smooth asphault pavement.  I finished in 1:10:35 for my 19th straight year for this race.  My time in the in-person race last year was 1:10:10.

Sunday at the park

 Late this Sunday morning, I went to the park and ran 3 miles on the trails.  Lots of people on the trails, so I wear take a mask and put it on when I get near anyone.  The park has been much more crowded on weekends during the pandemic.

Back Pew Brewing 5K

 This morning, I ran the Back Pew Brewing 5K in Porter.  I have driven through Porter many times, but never ran there.  There were a little over 200 finishers, but virtually everyone wore a mask before and after the race.  I finished in 46:04 and was 2nd of two in the 70 and over age group.

Friday trails

 Late this morning, I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.

"Regular" group run

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran what is becoming my "regular group run" - 2 miles on the park roads.  We all try to finish about the same time, so, obviously, they are running longer distances.

Changed the distance

 Just for something different, I ran a 3.5-mile course on the trails at the park this morning.

Late post

 I forgot to post last night, but it was a normal Tuesday.  I met up with the group at the park and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Heights 5K - Virtual

 I had signed up for the Heights 5K in Houston on October 3, but it was changed to a virtual run in November.  Anyway, I ran the 5K this morning in my old neighborhood (relatively flat) in Huntsville and finished in 46:00.

Sunday trails

 I ran 3 miles on the trails late this Sunday morning.

Snake 4

 Late this morning, I went to the park and ran 5 miles on the trails.  A half mile into the run, I looked down and saw a copperhead in the middle of the trail.  Luckily, I saw it in enough time to go around it.  That's only the 4th snake I have seen on the trails all season.

Friday trails

 I went to the park late this morning and ran 3 miles on the trails.

New orthotics

 I went down to Houston this morning and picked up my new custom orthotics.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening and they felt okay.

Gimpy 2.5-mile trail run

 The inflammation in my big toe joint was a little better today, so I ran a gimpy 2.5 miles on the trails at the park late this morning.

Short road run

 I woke up this morning with an inflammed right big toe joint.  So, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 1.2 miles on the roads.

Snake 3

 During my 3-mile run on the trails at the park this morning, I had a snake scoot across the trail in front of me.  It was only the 3 snake I have seen on the trails all season.  No threat, though.  It was a Gulf Coast Ribbon snake (non-poisoness, but agressive).

Sunday Night 5K

 I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening and finished in 46:57.

CASA of the Pines 5K

 I drove a little over an hour this morning to run the CASA of the Pines 5K in Kinnard.  It was my 1,145th race and the first one in Kinnard.  The course was out and back on a very rough road.  I finished in 47:21 and was first in the 70 and over age group (I was the only one).  Felt like I could have done better, but was just trying to avoid tripping and falling.

Friday trails

 Late this morning,  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Roads

I met up with the group this evening and ran 2.2 miles on the park roads.