Sunday at the park

 I was so sore all day from the hard fall yesterday.  I knew that it would be a challenge to keep my 3-mile minimum streak going.  I took a couple prescribed pain killers during the day and then went to the park a little after 5 p.m.  Once I started running, I felt okay and completed 3 miles on the park roads.

Huntsville Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles)

 I ran our club's Huntsville Quarter Marathon this morning, just over a half mile from my house.  Beautiful clear and cool weather.  About a quarter mile from the start, I tripped on some very rough asphalt and took a very hard fall.  I cut up my forehead, elbow, knee and hands.  I probably looked bad, but I kept going, washing the blood off the best I could with from water from an aid station.  I finished in 1:46:19 and was first of one in the 80 and over age group.  After a shower, I went to the ER to make sure I did not need stitches on my forehead.  I did not, but they did Xrays and other tests to make sure nothing was broken.  I feel little beat up tonight.

Friday afternoon

 I had a doctors appointment late this morning and did not get out to the park until mid-afternoon.  I have a race tomorrow morning, but still ran my minimum 3 miles (trails).

Back to roads

 As usual for Thursday, I met up with the group at the park this evening.  I ran 3 miles on the park roads.

Different course

 I changed up the course on my trail run at the park this afternoon, but got in 4 miles.

Minimum 3

 For just over a month now, I have run a minimum of 3 miles a day.  Don't think I have done that before.  In any case, I have been trying to increase my mileage.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the trails.

Lots of people on the trails

 Since today is a holiday, I saw a lot of people on the trails at the park.  Early this afternoon, I ran 4.1 miles on the trails.  Actually, I intended to run exactly 4, but I missed the turnaround point.

Texas 10 Series Cypress 5-Miler

 I ran the Texas 10 Series Cypress 5-Miler in Cypress this morning.  It was not too hot, but plenty humid.  I finished in a slow 1:20:33 and was 4th of 4 in the 70 and over age group..

Run the Woodlands 5K

 I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning and finished in 47:01.  This was my 55th race in 2021.

Friday at the park

 I made it out to the park early this Friday afternoon and ran 3.5 miles on the trails.

Running with Bridgette

 My good friend, Bridgette Collins of Houston, joined our group at the state park this evening.  Bridgette and I worked together in the early 90's and she has since run over 30 marathons and has her 5th book on running and fitness coming out this month.  I ran 3 miles on the trails with her.

Tree collision

I ran 4.5 miles on this trails at the park this afternoon.  Late in the run. I tripped on a root and fell forward.  I tried to break the fall by grabbing a small tree.  That worked, except that I fell into the tree face first.  The good news is that there are no cuts on my knees.

Group at the park

Darn.  I forgot to blog last night, but I met up with the group at the park and ran 3.6 miles on the trails.

Back to park trails

 After road races the last two days, I went back to the park trails today.  Did 4 miles.  By the way, the visible counter on this blog has been disabled for some time.  I happened to look at the blog stats tonight and see that there has been exactly 160,000 visits since I began in 2008.  Thanks, ya'll for visiting.  It is a real source of motivation for me.

Sunday Night 5K

 For the 120th time, I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening.  I finished in 44:06.

Austin County Fair Stampede 5K

I made the foggy drive over to Bellville this morning and ran the Austin County Fair Stampede 5K.  Nice to visit with good friends.  I finished the hilly course in 47:49 and was first of one in the 80 and over age group.

Three in the rain

 Steady rain this morning for my 3-mile run on the park roads.

Park roads

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

Dry

 It rained some at the park last night, but it was dry when I ran 4 miles on the trails late this morning.

Pending rain

 We are suppose to be getting some much needed rain today or in the next few days.  However, it was dry when I met the group at the park this evening.  I ran 3 miles on the trails.

Trails

 After two road races this weekend, I hit the trails again at Huntsville State Park.  Got in 4 miles.

Texas 10 Series Sienna 5-Miler

 I got super early this morning to drive about 100 miles to Missouri City for a 7 a.m. start of the Texas 10 Series Sienna 5-Miler.  I finished in 1:13:22 and was 2nd of 2 in the 70 and over age group.

Polish Pickle 5K

For the 25th straight year, I ran the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond this morning.  The race is normally in June, but was moved to  September this year.  Perfect weather, 50/60's.  I finished in 43:00 and was 1st of 4 in the 80 and over age group. The other old guys were walking, because the 2nd place winner was 13 minutes behind me.   It was the first time I ever placed 1st in my age group in this race.  That means I not only got a medal, but I got a jar of pickles.

3-Mile loop

 Late this morning, I went to the park and ran a 3-mile loop on the trails.

Two days

 I forgot to blog last night, but I ran 3 miles on the park roads yesterday.  This evening, I ran 3.6 miles on the trails.

Early start

 I got to the park early to meet the group and got started before they arrived.  I ran 4 miles on the trails.

Back to the park

 After a lot of driving and two races this weekend, I returned to Huntsville State Park this morning and ran 3 miles on the roads.

Plano Balloon Festival 10K

 I ran the Plano Balloon Festival 10K in Plano this morning.  This was my first time running this race, usually held in conjunction with the balloon festival  The festival was cancelled, but they still had 15 or so balloon in the air during the race.  I finished in1:37:36 and was first (of one) in the 75 and over age group.  Great visiting with family up there and seeing some old friends at the race.

Heights 5K

 I ran the Heights 5K in Houston this morning, a flat out and back course on Heights Blvd.  Hot and humid, as usual for Houston.  I finished in 45:54 and did not place, since the age group was 50 and over.

Friday trails

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

5K distance

 I met up with the group and the park this evening and ran 3.1 miles on the roads.

Another 4

 I went to the park this afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails.  That gives me 51.9 miles for the first half of the month of September (average 3.46 per day).

Much needed rain

 Even though it was a light mist most of the time, we finally got a little rain.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 3 miles on the park roads - in a light rain.

Empty trails

 I went out to the park at mid-afternoon and ran 4 miles on the trails.  Never saw anyone else the entire time.

Sunday at the park

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

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.