I Wimped Out

I got out of bed at 5:30 this morning to head for Brenham for the Blue Bell 10K. I checked the weather forecast on the Internet and it showed severe thunderstorms for the start time and for the duration of the race. They even had a red border around the forecase. So, with the heavy storms there and enroute to Brenham, I decided not to go. I later checked the race web site and they said they were delaying the race one hour. Then, I thought about going until I checked the forecast again and they extended the severe thunderstorm warning through the new starting time. So, I wimped out and did not go. I was assuming that the race would be cancelled or rescheduled. However, later in the day, they posted the race results. Adrienne was the female winner and my fellow streaker from The Woodlands, Vince Attanucci, was there. Also, Karen Fowler from the Seven Hills Running Club was there. Then, I was really upset with myself for not going. Addrienne sent me an email this evening saying they changed the course to an out and back and it rained during the whole race. Just as she was finishing, a new storm came through and there was more lightning. Of course, I would have still been running a long time after she finished and would have been caught in the new storm. Oh well, there is next year. I did go out and run around Huntsville this afternoon after the rain stopped. The course ended up being 3.7 miles. After I got home, I ate some Blue Bell.

Pre-Rain Run

I needed a day off today, so I went over to the track this morning just before it started raining and ran one mile+. Tomorrow is the Blue Bell 10K in Brenham. As of now, the forecast is for 100 percent chance of rain at the starting time. I don't mind the rain as long as there is no lightning. I guess if it starts lightning, I'll just run next to a tall person.

Tour de Bayou

I went down to Houston this evening with Hans, John and Karen to run the Tour de Bayou #3. The tour is run on 5 consecutive Thursdays in the fall and in the spring along the bayou east of downtown Houston. Even though Hans has been running it for 13 years and John at least a couple years, this was a first for me and Karen. The entry fee is cheap (free). Number 3 was somewhere between 4.5 and 4.7 miles on grass and asphalt trail with some short steep hills. I forgot to keep track of my time, but I am sure it was fast. They will adventually publish the finish times. I ran into several friends, including Scott Bounds, former SHRC member and Huntsville City Attorney and Ben Harvie, current SHRC member. The Tour de Bayou was a new experience. And, when you run every day like I do, it is important to find new experiences.

Crowd at the Park

We had a big crowd for our trail run at the park this evening. As I recall, it was Hans, John, Chris, Marisa, Mary, Andrew and Karen, Jason, Ron and Mary Ann, Phillip, Curtis and Mike. I ran 6.5 miles and I think most did about the same.

Four at the Park

I had a busy day and ended up with enough time to run 4 miles at the park this evening before going to the Sam Houston baseball game with U. of Houston (Sam won 11-2) tonight. The trails are in good shape after the recent rain.

Avenues with Mary

Mary Sweeten and I ran the Avenues 5K course this evening, followed by a couple laps at the track. Mary's goal is to run the Texas Marathon in Kingwood next January. I have no doubt that she will.

Happy Easter

The group was suppose to run trails this morning at 9:30 a.m. I'm not sure if anyone showed up. If they did, they got wet. At least the rain surely put out the remaining fires from the controlled burn and settled down the ashes. I ran a 2-mile loop around town this afternoon. Tomorrow is the 13th. I suppose it is time to start doing my taxes.

Back to the Smoky Park

Lavonne and I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 11.9 miles. The park is still smoking from the controlled burn a few days ago. Since there is nothing for the animals to eat in the ashes, they must have all left the park. We sure did not see any. Lavonne is training for the Hog's Hunt 25K on May 16 and I guess I am training for the Polish Pickle 5K on June 27.

Smoky Run at the Park

A bunch of us met at the park this afternoon to run trails. The group included Hans, John, Curtis, Phillip, Ron, Sarah from Germany, and Marisa. About 12 feet into the run, I tripped on something and took a hard fall on my already-sore knees. No falls after that. They just completed a controlled burn of most of the park and some trees were still smoldering. There was still plenty of smoke. We ran 6.2 miles.

Sluggish

After my first workout at Nautilus in about 2 weeks, I ran a 2.9 mile loop around town. I felt sluggish. I suppose it was due to the humidity after running in dry New Mexico and Arizona.

Bataan and Beyond

Marilynn and I just returned this evening from our trip to New Mexico and Arizona. We also made a side trip to California, just across the state line from Yuma, Arizona. We left on March 27 and drove to Van Horn, TX, where we spent the night. The next day, we drove up to Las Cruces, New Mexico. We met up with Hans and Linda Jaeger and John Cook. We visited the veterans memorial park in Las Cruces, which includes a statue to honor those soldiers who died during the Bataan Death March during WWII. We then drove to White Sands Missile Range, east of Las Cruces, to pick up my packet for the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon. Hans, John and I ran the marathon the next day, along with 5,000 + others. It was the most difficult marathon I have run. The elevation (nearly a mile) contributed to the difficulty (I even got a nose bleed during the race). The rest of the difficulty was due to deep sand, wind and the trek up and around the mountain. Luckily, the temperature was relatively cool. I finished in 6:26:42 and placed 347 of 952 in the civilian males (light) category. Light means that we did not carry heavy backpacks. Hans, Linda, John and I had a good time hanging out in Las Cruces and checking out the local eateries.
On Monday morning, Marilynn and I drove out to Yuma, Arizona. Our daughter, Mary, and her Marine husband, Eric, and their chidren, Phillip and Emma, live in government quarters at the Yuma Marine Air Station. We stayed with them. Our youngest, son, Timothy, is a Marine and is stationed at the same base. He lives in the barracks. We spent a great week with our family there. All my runs were on the base. The temperatures got up into the 90's during the day, but cooled quickly in the evenings.
We left for the drive home yesterday. We stayed in Van Horn last night and drove back from there to Huntsville today.

Almost Tapered

With the Bataan Marathon on Sunday, I am almost tapered. My long training run was the Seabrook Marathon almost two weeks ago. I did 2.8 miles around town this afternoon. The next couple days, I will do even shorter runs. I have to be rested for the sand - and wind. I received an email from the race today and they warned of strong winds during the race, with gusts up to 51 mph. This should be fun.

Avenues Before the Storm

The group met this evening to run the hilly avenues. The group included our friend, Mihaela Mullin from Kingwood, who is training for Boston next month. She drove up to Huntsville just for the hill training. I'm glad she made it today before the storm came through. Curtis, Jason, Ron, John, Colleen and Andie were also running. Since I am cooling it for the marathon on Sunday, I did just 2.8 miles. I ended up going to Nautilus late tonight.

Rainy Day

I spent most of the morning clearing brush and burning it. Got it done before the rain. I had a working lunch with Meagan Lee of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority to complete the race results from the Ronald Run for a Reason 5K last Saturday. I got to the park a little late this evening and the group was already on the trails. I was not sure which course they were running, so I improvised and ended up doing 3 miles. There was an off and on light rain during my run, but the trails were in good shape. When I got back, Phillip, Curtis, Andie Ho and the new guy, Jason, were waiting at my truck. They had done the 4.2 mile course. After a shower and dinner, I went to Nautilus to do my thing there. I am getting a little apprehensive about the marathon in New Mexico next Sunday. I have run marathons on concrete, asphalt, beach, trails and crushed rock, but never in the desert. However, if Hans, John and Chris can do it, I sure can too.

Day Off

Mentally, I needed a day off, so I went to the track and ran one mile + this afternoon.

Life Expectancy

Someone sent me a link to a Life Expectancy web site. Click here. You have to answer 30+ questions and then you get your virtual age and life expectancy. I'm not sure how accurate it is, and I won't know for a long time. According to the site, I will live to 94. Marilynn will live to 93. I told her that I was getting remarried for that last year.
A bunch of ran trails this morning. I did 6.3 miles. Also running was John, Melissa Stelter, Curtis, Phillip, Ron Davis, J. C. and Felix. Brian Zemilca and Leslee Cade from the club were also at the park running and biking. Robert Duncan was there biking. Mary Ann Davis was also there hiking while we were running. Hans left this morning for a liesurely drive to New Mexico for the Bataan Marathon next Sunday. John is flying out there Friday and I'm driving out on Friday.

Long Day

I got up early this morning to set up the finish line for the Ronald Run for a Reason 5K on the SHSU campus. They ended up with well over 150 registered runners, which is good for their first year. It was good to see my friends at the race, to include Donna Crocker and Loren Sheffler from Houston and Leif Skyving, visiting from Idaho. I had a lot of other things to do today, however, I did get out to the park this afternoon and run a 3.5 mile loop. There were tons of hikers and bikers on the trails, on spring break, I suppose.

Getting Ready for the Race Tomorrow

I'm helping the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority put on their Ronald Run for a Reason 5K on campus tomorrow morning. We got the race equipment out and ready to go. Julie and I drove the course one more time this evening to make sure they know where to place the signs. It looks like they have done a great job in the putting the race together and they already have 150 signed up. I ran trails this evening with Hans, John, Lavonne and Jan Parks. We did 4.2 miles. Curtis and Phillip started earlier and finished up just before us. My son, Ben, went to the SHSU baseball game tonight and called me to tell me that Seven Hills Running Club member, Sara Seale from North Zulch, was there. Sara graduated a couple years ago and has maintained her club membership. I made it to the game for the last inning and visited with Sara. She is doing well and hopes to end up in Huntsville in another year. We will see her for sure at the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond in June.

Sunmart Replacement Race

According to my contact with Roger Soler Sports in San Antonio, they were contacted by several companies wanting to sponsor a replacement race for Sunmart. The plan is that Roger Soler Sports will put on the replacement race, using a new sponsor. It will be on usual Sunmart date in early December and the usual 50K and 50-mile distances. A big meeting is planned next week and they will know more after that. Stayed tuned here for more details.
After a busy day of yard work, I went to Nautilus and then ran a 2.9 mile loop around town.

City Hills

Julie Fike of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and I met at 1 p.m. today to do the final measurements on their Ronald Run for a Reason 5K this Saturday. The course will be similar to the Huntsville 5K course, but different. They should have a good crowd. As of a few days ago, they had 89 signed up. I will help with the finish line on Saturday. Later this afternoon, I went to Nautilus and then ran "city hills" (the avenues) with the group. We had a large group today, including Mihaela Mullin, who came up from Kingwood to run hills to prepare for the Boston Marathon next month. She got her gas money's worth. Since I am recovering from the marathon on Sunday and tapering for the next one in a week and a half, I took it easy and did about 3.5 miles.