Track Run

I took a break today and ran one mile at the track this morning. I have some pain in the top part of my left foot and am not sure what it is. It bothers me more when I walk than when I run. I am really getting apprehensive about running two marathons this weekend, especially when I see there is a chance of rain in both Surfside Beach and Austin. I really do not mind running in the rain, except for a better chance of getting blisters. I just want to see that finish line in Austin.

Added a Marathon to my Schedule

I added the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth on February 27 to my race schedule. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the schedule. I figured that I would have to do those long boring training runs between the Austin Marathon on February 14 and Seabrook on March 21 if I did not run a marathon inbetween. I probably need to find another to run the first or second weekend in March.
Most of the group ran trails at the park this morning. Since the last of the Rocky Raccoon 100 milers would still be on the trails until noon, I decided to run trails this afternoon. Mary and Johnny joined me and we did the 6.8-mile outer loop. I took a hard fall with less than a mile to go and banged up my knee a little bit. I'll be okay. I suppose that most people my age break hips when they fall.

Willis Wildkat 5K

Ben and I went down to Willis this morning and ran the Willis Wildkat 5K. We both won first place in our age group (yep, we were both the only ones in our age group). I ran a 30:14, but I think the course was a little short. Someone said that their GPS measured the course as 2.9 miles. Since I have been running most 5K's is 33 something, 2.9 sounds about right. In any case, it was nice to visit with many friends at the race and meet some new ones. This afternoon, I went to a wedding and then to the Sam Houston - Central Arkansas basketball game. Sam won and is now 8-0 in conference play.

Trails

I usually skip Nautilus on Friday, but I did go and workout this evening since I missed yesterday. After my workout, I ran 4.2 miles on the trails at the park with the group. It was pretty muddy after two days of rain. That's not good for the runners doing the Rocky Raccoon 100 and 50-mile run at the park this weekend.

Same as Yesterday

I had to wait around this afternoon for a guy to come and work on my computer, so I never made it to Nautilus. However, just before dark I ran the same 3-mile course around town that I ran yesterday. Like yesterday, it was in the rain.

Rainy Run

I worked out a Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles around town in the rain. Then, Ben and I went to the Sam Houston - UT San Antonio basketball game. Sam won and is 7-0 in conference play.

First Run at the Park in a While

I met up with the group at the state park this evening and ran 4.2 miles on the trails. The trails are in good shape now, but it is suppose to rain this week. The Rocky Raccoon 100/50-mile race is this weekend and the trails may be muddy by then. I may go out there as a spectator after the Willis 5K on Saturday morning.

Day After the Marathon

I slept in this morning, wrote my column for the Huntsville Item, paid some bills, worked out at Nautilus and then went to the track to get in a run. When you are retired, it seems to take a lot longer to get things done. Now that I have done marathons three weeks in a row, I am trained as I am going to be for two marathons in one weekend on February 13 and 14.

Miracle Match Marathon

I ran the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco today and finished in 5:49:12 (3rd in age group). It was about 28 degrees at the start and did not get much above that for the rest of the race. There were even a few snow flurries. I wore shorts, long sleeve T-shirt, gloves and a sweat band over my ears and I was confortable the entire race. It is billed as the toughest marathon in Texas. Obviously, that is due to the steep hills between mile 14 and 24. Two years ago when I ran this race I finished in 6:03:52. So, today was an improvement. Finishers received a medal and a windbreaker. Nice. Plenty of aid stations and there were lots of freezing, but friendly volunteers. Logistically, the race is easy. Park in the Hilton parking lot, hangout in the hotel until race time and walk out the front door to the start line.

Frost Your Fanny 5K

It was appropriately named. I ran the Frost Your Fanny 5K club run this morning. It was the same hilly course that is used for the Huntsville 5K every October. Cold run, even a few light snow flurries. I finished in 34:01. Tomorrow is the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco.

Cold Winter

After what seemed to be a long hot summer, this seems to be a colder than usual winter. I ran 2 miles around town in the cold this afternoon after a workout at Nautilus. I plan to run the club 5K tomorrow morning and then head for Waco for the marathon on Sunday - in the cold.

Yuma Territorial Marathon

Marilynn and I got back from Yuma, Arizona this evening. We drove out there last Wednesday and Thursday to visit our daughter, Mary, and her family. While there, I ran the 1st Annual Yuma Territorial Marathon. I finished in 5:34:19, my fastest marathon time since Austin in 2004 (5:10:27). This was also my 50th marathon and I wore bib number 50 to commemorate the occasion. There were 53 finishers in the marathon and 110 in the half. No age group awards. The race started and finished in front of the Cocopah Casino in Yuma. The course was out and back along a major highway through the lettuce fields. Most of the course was flat and the weather was in the 40's, 50's and 60's - and, no humidity. I felt good during the run and Houston 6 days earlier never bothered me. Next is Waco on Sunday and I dread those steep hills from mile 14 to 24.

The drive to and from Yuma - After leaving Tucson and headed for Yuma, we drove into a sand storm. At first, visibility went down to about a 100 yards. Then, visibility went to zero and I was in the left lane on I-10. Just as I got into the right lane, there was a wreck in the left lane and I barely missed it. After we got out of the sand storms, it starting raining. As we got closer to Yuma, the wind picked up and it was hard keeping the car on the road. Went went around 4 18-wheelers that were blown over in the highway and another which had left the road. Yesterday evening on the way back, we passed a bad wreck just south of El Paso. I saw on the news last night that a couple were killed in the wreck. Today, we drove from Van Horn to Huntsville and it rained almost the whole way. Near Sonora on I-10, the rain got so heavy that I could see nothing and I got off the road. As we got closer to Sonora, it started hailing and the hail was one or two inches thick on the highway. It was like driving on ice. We passed several cars that slid off the road and wrecked. We were glad to make it back to Huntsville safely.

Avenue Hills

The group ran the avenue hills this evening. I did 1.6 on the streets and another .5 on the track and I had to leave to be at a dinner at 6. Thank goodness that this is the last week the park will be closed for deer hunting. While I do not have a trainer, I suppose that I should not do any long runs this week anyway with the marathon on Saturday.

Recovery Run at the Park

I met up with Hans and Mary this evening at the park. We ran 2.8 miles and then had a tailgate party. I still felt beat up from the marathon yesterday. It is giving me second thoughts about running two marathons in the same weekend in February. I have signed up for both. I have another marathon this Saturday in Yuma and another in Waco the next weekend. I will see how I feel after Waco.

Houston Marathon

I finished the Houston Marathon today in 5:46:31. Marilynn and I got up early this morning and drove down. Logistically, everything went well. We parked in a parking garage next to the Four Seasons and hung out in the lobby at the Four Seasons until race time. They put all veterans (10 or more Houston Marathons) in the first wave. I got in the back of that wave and never had to fight the crowd. The second wave did not start for another 10 minutes and they never started catching up with me until 4 or 5 miles. I was surprized about how many friends I saw during the race, both runners and spectators. I ran the last four miles or so with Bridgette Collins of Dallas. She and I use to work together in Huntsville in the early 90's. She has since written two books on fitness. It was good to visit with her again. I have not run Houston in the past two years and noticed a big increase in the crowd along the course. Maybe it was the nice weather.

Added a Marathon to my Schedule

With the Houston Marathon tomorrow, I rested up by running a mile at the track this afternoon. I signed up for the Yuma Territorial Marathon in Yuma, Arizona next Saturday. Hope the sand is not blowing. The next weekend is the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for my schedule. After marathons on three consecutive weekends, I'll have two weeks to rest up for two marathons in the same weekend in February.

I need a bigger shirt

Marilynn and I went down to Houston today for the Houston Marathon Expo. After picking up my huge bib, I realized that I may need a bigger shirt. It was nice visiting with old friends at the Expo and I even ran into Allison Gullet, who was a Seven Hills Running Club member and graduated from SHSU several years ago. This evening, it was raining when I started to run, so I ran the treadmill at Nautilus and then worked out.

Test Run

I did a lot of digging in the yard yesterday and had sharp pains in the upper part of my left foot last night and today. I went to the track and ran a mile in the rain this afternoon to test it. I assume that I pulled a muscle in my foot from so much digging, but it did not seem to bother me when I ran. With a marathon this weekend, that was a relief. Then, we had a club meeting at Margaritas tonight. It is always fun visiting with other club members.

5K with Mariah

Mariah and I met at the track this evening and ran the Avenues 5K course. It is good to see her persistent in her running.

Heavy Traffic Again

The students are back in town and the traffic is heavy again. After a workout at Nautilus, I ran a 3-mile loop around town this evening and had to be extra careful. Earlier this afternoon, I went down to the doctor in The Woodlands and got the stitches out of my back. Thank goodness, no more surgeries.