Gruene Hall 10K

 I made the 3-hour+ drive over to New Braunfels yesterday to run the Gruene Hall 10K this morning - for the 11th straight year.  The weather was great.  Almost felt cold standing around for the start and very low humidity.  I finished in 1:33:09 and was first (of one) in the 80 and over age group.

Early run

 I am leaving town for a race tomorrow, so I went to Veterans Memorial Blvd. late this morning and ran 2 miles on the sidewalk.

Three on the roads

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

Mixed 4

 I did not get out to the park until after 5 this evening.  I ran 3 miles on the roads and another mile on the trails, for a total of 4.

Cool in the 80's

 I met up with the group  at the state park this evening and ran 3 miles on the roads.  After so many days in the 90's, the 80's seemed much cooler.

Labor Day 5K - 700th 5K

 I ran our club's hilly Labor Day 5K in the Spring Lake Sub-division this morning.  Finished in 48:11.  It was my 700th 5K race.

Sunday Night 5K - 1,200th race

 I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening and finished in 46:38.  It was my 1,200th race since my first one on May 1, 1983.

Hot 5

 I went out to the park in the early afternoon and ran 5 miles on the trails.  Hot.

Park roads

 Late this morning, I ran 3 miles on the state park roads.  The park was pretty empty, but I am sure it will fill up for the Labor Day Weekend.

No eye patch for 2 days

Today was my second day without wearing an eye patch.  Driving and running seem to be okay, but I still have some double vision at certain directions and distances.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

COVID booster shot

After getting shot one and two in February and March, I got my COVID booster shot this morning.  No side effects, so far.  My double vision was somewhat reduced today, depending on which way I am looking.  I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.  I tripped a couple of times, but no falls.

Eye update

 I have seen several doctors about my double vision and had an MRI last Friday.  There was nothing in the MRI and the problem was diagnosed as an optic nerve something or another.  The double vision is suppose to go away on its own in a month or  two.  In the meantime, I am suppose to wear the patch when I drive or run.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the roads.

Short road run

 I had a lot of errands today, but I made it out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.2 miles on the roads.

Five hilly miles

 I ran 5 miles on the hilly roads at the state park this afternoon.

Run the Woodlands 5K

 I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning and finished in 48:13.  Got to visit with friends, including fellow streaker, Vincent Attanucci.

Afternoon at the park

 I made it out to the park late this afternoon and ran 2.3 miles on the roads.

Three in the new shoes

 I ran another 3 miles this evening on the park roads in the new shoes.  In another day or so, I will consider the "broken in."

Breaking in new shoes

 I put on a new pair of running shoes (Saucony Echelon) this afternoon and ran 2.3 miles on the state park roads.

Half and half

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3.8 miles, half on the roads and half on the trails.  I found that the trails are too difficult with one eye patched. 

Park roads, again

 I still have double  vision.  The doc gave me a black patch today to wear over one eye.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads early this afternoon with the patch.  Worked okay.  I may try trails again tomorrow.

Park roads

 I went out to the park in the middle of the afternoon when it was good and hot and ran 3 miles on the park roads.

Watermelon Run for the Fallen

 I forgot to blog last night, but late yesterday I ran 2.1 miles on the concrete trails at a city park in Huntsville.  I got up early this morning and drove an hour over to Hempstead to run the Watermelon Run for the Fallen.  It is an annual non-competitive 5K to honor fallen service members.  Every one walks two laps around the track at the football stadium.  Then, if you want to run, its 2.8 miles to downtown Hempstead, watermelon and ceremonies to honor the fallen.  I finished the 2.8 segment in 45:10, just over a minute slower that the last race two years ago.

Roads, again

 My double vision will probably keep me off the trails for now.  I'm still getting it checked out.  In the meantime, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2 miles on the roads.

To the roads

 Starting last Friday, I have been experiencing double vision.  That means that I see twice the number of roots to  trip on when running trails at the park.  Am not sure what is causing it, but it seems to coincide with the hard fall I took at Millican last Thursday evening.  I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get it checked out.  So, today, I ran 3 miles on the state park roads.

Regular Tuesday on the trails

 As usual for Tuesday, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Monday in town

 I had a doctor's appointment late this morning, so I did not get out to the park to  run until mid-afternoon.  As I drove just a few miles south of Huntsville to the park, I  could see that it was storming with heavy rain and lightning.  I got into  to  the park and sat in my truck for a while.  It did not seem to be letting up, so I drove back to town and worked out at Iron Works.  Then, I ran and unplanned route in town.  It ended up being 2.3 miles.  Of course, no rain in town or at my house.

Back to the park

 After 3 days of running elsewhere, I went back  to the state park this afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Southern Star Brewing 5K

 For the 7th straight year, I ran the Southern Star Brewing 5K in Conroe this morning.  Hot and humid, as usual.  I finished in 47:24 and was 3rd of 5 in the 70 and over age group.  Got to visit with a lot of good friends.

Laps

 I had a doctor's appointment late this morning and I felt a little beat up from the race and fall yesterday.  So, I went to the track later this afternoon and ran laps.  Another race tomorrow.

Millican Summer Series Race 6

 I ran the last of the 6-race Summer Series Trail Runs in Millican this evening.  I finished the 5K+ course in 57:23.  No slippery mud on the course this evening, but I did trip on a root and took a hard fall and skinned up my knee.

Regular

 I ran my regular 2.5-mile course on the trails late this morning.

3 months

 I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the state park this evening.  My new running streak is now 3 months old.  I think I will be something like 93 years old when I get back to 11 and a half year old streak.

Another hot 4 miles

 I got to the park about noon today and ran another 4 hot miles on the trails.

Back from Wylie

 Saturday morning, I drove up to Wylie (NE of Dallas) to visit family.  That afternoon, I went to a park in Plano and ran 2.3 miles on concrete trails.  When I got back to Huntsville this Sunday evening, I went to the track and ran 8 laps (2 miles), which is about my mental limit on a track.

Hot 4

 Late this morning, I ran 4 hot miles on the trails at the state park.  Not bad, but I donated a lot of blood to flying insects.

Regular 2.5

 I met up with  the group at the park this evening and ran my regular 2.5-mile loop on the trails.

Early afternoon at the park

 I made it to the park early this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Tuesday with the group

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

Heavy rain at the park

 Late this morning, I headed south for the state park.  As I headed south on I-45, I could  see that there was heavy rain and lightning at the park.  So, I went home and went to the park later this afternoon.  I got in 3 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

 I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening and finished in 48:17.

Much better

 The inflammation in my foot was much better when I woke up this morning.  I cannot understand how it could improve so fast.  In any case, late this morning, I went out to the park and ran 4 miles on the trails.

Problem

I woke up this morning a little sore from the hard fall at the race yesterday.  However, I also had an inflamed right big toe joint.  I went to the park late this morning and ran a wimpy and painful 2 miles on the trails.  It has gotten worse this afternoon and evening.    Hopefully, it will be better tomorrow. 

Millican Summer Series Race 5

 I completed the 5th race of the 6-race Millican Summer Series Trail Runs this evening.  I expected the trails to be dry, but the race director said that they had a heavy rain in Millican this afternoon.  Much of the trail was very slippery.  I slipped and took a hard fall once.  Very hot and humid.  I finished the 5K+ course in 59:02.

Early afternoon run

 I made it out to the park early this afternoon, when it was good and hot, and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Tuesday with the group

 As usual for Tuesday, I met  up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Hot and humid, but that is expected for late July.

Spraying at the park

 I got to the park about noon today to run my 2.5-mile loop on the trails.  About a half mile into the run, I found a crew spraying the woods next to the trails.  Never saw that before.  I asked one of the guys what they were spraying for, but he did not speak English. Whatever it was for, the stuff smelled terrible.

Post 4,500

 This is my 4,500th post since I began blogging in 2008. I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.  Saw more hikers on the trails than I have seen all summer.

Dog Days 5K

 I ran our club's Dog Days 5K at Elkins Lake here in Huntsville this morning.  The course is very hilly and a little long according to my GPS.  I finished in 49:31 (49:57 last year).

Friday trails

 I went back to the park late this morning and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Park roads

 I got out to the park this evening and decided not to dodge roots on the trails.  So, I ran 3 miles on the smooth park roads.

Later run

 I had a doctor's appointment late this morning for an ear infection and did not get out to the park until later this afternoon.  It was hot and I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Not a usual day

 I got up this morning and found a dead deer (young buck) in my front yard a few feet from the house.  I have no idea what killed him, but I had the task of getting rid of the body.  I met up with the group  at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  About a quarter of a mile from the finish, I got  stung on the hand.  It took off before I could identify it, but I figure it was a wasp, bee or hornet.  I have been bitten by a few insects at the park over the years, but that was the first time in many years that I got stung.

Little longer

 I went out to the park late this morning and ran 3 miles on the trails, a little longer course than my regular 2.5.

Sunday at the park

 Late this morning, I went to the state park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Lunar Landing 5K

 I got up very early this morning and drove down to Houston near NASA to run the Lunar Landing 5K.  Great race and I got to visit with a lot of Houston friends that I have not seen in a while, including Ben Harvie and June Harris.  I finished in 44:57 and was 2nd of 2 in the 80-84 age group.

Regular park course

 Late this morning, I went to the state park and ran my "regular" 2.5-mile trail course.

Millican Summer Series Race 4

 Went back to Millican this evening for the 4th of 6 races in the Summer Series 5K (+) trail runs.  The trails were mostly dry, but still with a few muddy spots.  I finished in 58:31.

Sluggish 3 miles

 It was hot and humid at noon today when I went out to the park and ran 3 sluggish miles on the roads.

Caught in the storm

 I met up with the group at the park this evening as a storm approached.  As I headed out on the trails, the storm blew in.  Very heavy rain and lightning.  I ran a little past the half mile point and then headed back.  I made it back to my truck safely,  The others did too.

Back from Austin

 I got up yesterday (Sunday) morning and ran 1-mile+ on Veterans Blvd. and then drove to Austin.  I attended a private Pat Green/Brad Paisley concert last night at Austin City Limits Live.  I drove back to Huntsville late this morning at got back at 2 p.m.  The last 100 miles was in the rain, some very heavy at times.  This evening, I went out to the park and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Run the Woodlands 5K

 After being at a concert in The Woodlands last night and getting home at 11:40 p.m., I went back down this morning and ran the Run the Woodlands 5K.  I finished in 48:08.  It was my 102nd time for running this race, my 37th race this year, my 1190th race and my 689th 5K.

Short park road run

 I went to the park late this morning and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Wet trail run

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails, the last half mile in a heavy rain.

Another 2.5

 I made it to the park late this morning and ran my usual 2.5 miles on the trails.

Tuesday group run

 As usual for Tuesday, I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

RTW/SN5K history

 The Run the Woodlands 5K (2nd and 4th Saturday of each month) and the Sunday Night 5K (now on the first Sunday) are held on the same relatively flat course in The Woodlands.  I have run the RTW 101 times and the SN5K 117 times for a total of 218.  I started running these races when I was 63 and have run 3 since I turned 80.  With the help of my smart daughter, I charted my finish time in 216 and the chart is below.  Two races from 2014 were omitted due to the transition to a new course and the races were short of a 5K.  The chart is below.  I ran my last full marathon at age 72 and ran a lot of half marathons until age 78.  Obviously, I ran faster when I was younger.  In the early 80's when I started racing, most of my times were in the mid-20's.  My personal record is 23:45 (May 1987 when I was 45 years old.)  I have run a total of 688-5K races.  I'm not sure what the chart says, except that you run slower as you grow older.

In any case, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park this morning.

Sunday Night 5K

 I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening and finished in 46:57.  I suppose because of so many races this 4th of July morning, there were only 3 of us who showed up.  So, I was 3rd overall.

Stu's Country Mile 5K

 For the 25th straight year (except last year was cancelled) I ran the Stu's Country Mile 5K in Centerville this morning.  I finished in about 47:30 and was 2nd place of 2 in the 70 and over age group.  I actually ran this race on July 4, 1988 when it was 5.3 miles with no course volunteers or water on the course.  When I ran it again in 1996, it was changed to a 5K.  Have not missed a year since.  So, I have run the race 26 times.  We always have a lot of our club members there and we all go to the Town Cafe for breakfast after the race and finish in time for the 4th of July parade.

Noon run

 I went to the state park at noon and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Millican Summer Series Race 3

 I drove over to Millican this evening to run race 3 of the Summer Series.  The 5K trail race (3.2 on my GPS all three races) did not get started until about 7:20.  It was very hot standing around waiting for the start and I was glad to get on the shaded trails.  The trails were almost completely dry.  I finished in 1:00:03 (gun time), compared to 59:08 last time.

Park roads

 For a change, I ran 2.3 miles on the park roads late this morning.  That gives me 76.1 miles for the month of June.

Curtis' report

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails, partly in the rain.  Curtis was there and gave us a report on his 332-mile point to point race in a bunch of  states in the southeast.  Amazing race, 95% on the roads and 5% on trails.  He finished on Day 6 and came in second place of 76 runners.  Congratulation, Curtis.  Not many runners have a "332" sticker on the back of their car.  I was parked next to him this evening and it made me look like a wimp with my "50-Mile" sticker.

Found nothing

 I ran 2.5 miles on the trails early this afternoon and found nothing - except biting horse flies.

Odd find on the trails

 I ran 3 miles on the trails at the state park this afternoon.  About half way through the run, I found a lady's purse on the trails.  I have been running regularly at the park for over 30 years.  I found cell phones, cash and lost kids, but never a purse.  It was completely empty, so I left it where it was.  I did not want to finish my run carrying a purse, anyway.

Run the Woodlands 5K

 For the 101st time, I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning.  I finished in 48:50 and got the chance to visit with some good friends.

Trails at the park

 I worked out at Iron Works this morning.  As I was leaving, I ran into old runner friends, Jerry Flanagan and Marvin Dittfurth.  For many years, Marvin and I use  to  trade off being president of the running club.  Jerry ran Boston a number of times, until he broke his hip and had a hip  replacement.  Then, I went to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  Just when I finished, Hans Jaeger and John Cook showed up riding bikes.  Hans, John and I went off to run a number of marathons together.  I have not seen either one for a while.  Hopefully, they will get back to biking at the park on a regular basis.

Got it over with

 No food or drink until this afternoon.  I went to the track this morning and ran laps and was at the hospital at 11:30 for my colonoscopy, which was done about 1 p.m.  Got it over with.  I suppose the next one will be in 5 years.

Long day

 I have a colonoscopy scheduled for 11:30 tomorrow morning.  So, I had to  start my preparation last night.  No food today, just clear liquids.  Nothing tomorrow before the procedure.  That made for a long day today.  This morning, I found a chance to go to the track and run a mile to keep the streak alive.

Regular 2.5 at the park

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

Park roads

 I ran an unplanned route on the state park roads late this morning.  It turned out to be 2.3 miles.

Late Sunday run

 I had visiting family much of the day and did not get to the park until about 5:30 this evening.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails and got bit a few times by flying critters.

June Bug 5K

 I ran our club's June Bug 5K this morning in the Spring Lake Sub-division here in Huntsville. I finished in 47:38 and was first of one in the 80 and over age group.

Regular 2.5 at the park

 Late this morning, I made it out to the park and ran my normal 2.5 miles on the trails.

Millican Summer Series Race 2

 I drove over to Millican this evening to run Race 2 (of 6) of the Millican Summer Series at 7 p.m..  What a contrast to the rain, water and mud  two weeks ago!  There was no water on the trails and very little mud.  Of course, there were plenty of roots on the  trails and lots of ups and down.  According to my GPS, the course was 3.2 miles (like last time).  I finished in 59:08 (3 minutes and 1 second faster than last time).

Took a break from the trails

 I took a break from the trails (hard fall yesterday) and ran 2.1 miles on the park roads at the park late this morning.

Tuesday with the group

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  It was nice to have Sara from Lovelady and her son, Brady, join us.

Noon run

 I got to the park at noon today and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Hot Sunday afternoon

 It was 95 and humid when I got to the park in the middle of the afternoon.  The lady at the gate even offered me a bottle of water when I entered the park.  With no rain for a week, most of the mud on the trails has dried up.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Greyhound 5K

 I drove up to Kosse (88 miles) this morning to run the Greyhound 5K for the ninth time.  Hot and humid.  I finished in 47:40 and was 1st of 2 in the 80 and over age group.  Got to visit  with a lot of friends at the race and a bunch of us had breakfast at the Kosse Cafe after the race.  This was my 30th race so far in 2021.

Two on the road

 I went to the park this morning and ran 2 miles on the roads.

One month

 My 5th running streak is now one month old.  In another 11 months, I can get back on the national list.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Summer time

 It was in the high 90's and very humid when I got to the park to run this afternoon.  I ran my "regular" 2.5-mile loop and for the third straight day, saw no one else on the trails.

Usual Tuesday

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

Trails still muddy at the park

 I went out to the park this morning and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  They are still muddy in parts, even with less rain for the last couple days.  However, they are bone dry compared to the trails at Millican last Thursday.

Sunday Night 5K

 I went down to The Woodlands this evening and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 48 something, probably my slowest ever in this race.   Maybe I need to replace my pacemaker for one that has a high speed transmission.

Hope for Hospice 5K

I went back to Bellville (they are having a lot of races there lately) this morning to run the first ever Hope for Hospice 5K.  Nice untimed race with 20+ runners and walkers.  I enjoyed the course and, according to my watch, finished in a slow 47:40.  After the race, I had a good visit with Jason and Jerri Smalley and their  boys.  Jason is the Bellville Chief of Police and Jerri  is an RN.  

Back to the park

 After a rough race yesterday, I felt a little beat up today.  However, I went to the state park and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Millican Summer Series Race 1

 I drove 51 miles over to the Millican Reserve near Navasota to run the 1st of six 5K races in their summer series.  It rained all the way over and some during the race.  From where you park, it is a half mile walk to the start/finish line.  The course is all trails.  My GPS, which normally measures short on trails, showed the course to be 3.2 miles.  So, it was probably longer than that.  Very technical course.  Up and down, lots of roots, all very slippery mud and water everywhere.  There was 30 to 40 times we had to go through water over the ankles, sometimes up close to the knees.  I fell several times and was a muddy mess by the time I finished.  My finish time was 1:03:09.  There were a couple guys in their 70's running, but I suppose I was first in the 80 and over age group.  Awards are given at the end of the 6-race series, based on a point system.  It was my 24th consecutive day of running.

Global Running Day 5K

 I went to the Fleet Feet Store in The Woodlands this evening and ran their Global Day 5K along the waterway.  I finished in 43:47, but according to my GPS, the course was 3 miles.  Got a chance to visit with a lot of friends.  On the way back to Huntsville, I stopped in at Cheddars in Conroe and had dinner with my daughter and her family.

Hard fall

 I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  With more rain today, the trails were in bad shape.  I tripped on a root and took a hard fall.  No injuries that band aids won't cover up, though.