Knee recovery continues

I ran a 2-mile loop around the nearly empty campus this morning.  The knee still hurts, but I will continue to take it easy for the next few days.

In search of a water pump

After church this morning and lunch at the Pita Pit, I went to every auto parts store in Huntsville looking for a water pump for my son's car.  A friend of his was suppose to install it when my son got off of work at 2 this afternoon.  No had one, so I called all the stores in New Waverly and Conroe.  The O'Reilly Store in Conroe said that they had one at their store in Spring.  So, I drove 50 miles down to Spring, bought the pump and got back to Huntsville by 2:30.  Then, I had a running club officer meeting from 4 to 6:30.  After that, I went to the track and ran laps.  Gosh, I missed all the football games.

Willis Wildkat 5K

For the 8th straight year, I ran the Willis Wildkat 5K in Willis this morning.  Relatively speaking, the temperature was rather warm.  The race starts and finishes at the club house and runs through the lake-side sub-division.  I finished in 37:22, which was good enough for 1st place in the 60 and over age group.  After the race, I went on down to Conroe to visit the Academy store.  Even though my knee was not bad during the race, it hurt like heck during the drive back home.  I think that might be my last race until my 100th marathon on January 1, so I have time to take it easy.

Back to College Station

My son had a doctor's appointment this morning in College Station.  I drove him over there and while there, I picked up my 2nd place in age group award from the BCS Marathon office.  We had breakfast at IHOP and stopped at a couple other places.
After I got back to Huntsville, I went to the track and ran laps - in the rain.  5K tomorrow.

Waterway Jingle Bell Run

For the 7th straight year, I went down to The Woodlands to run the Waterway Jingle Bell Run.  This a a non-competitive 3.4-mile run along the lit-up waterway, starting and finishing at Luke's Locker.  My son, Ben, went down with me and ran.  I ran with my good friend, Debbie Tripp.  Ben and I had dinner at Berryhills after the run.  Great visiting with many good friends before and after the run.
My knee was really sore and swollen today and I had ice on it a couple times.  I guess I need to wrap it every day before I run.  It hurt like heck for the first couple of miles tonight and then all the way back to Huntsville.  I am just thankful that I got through that marathon on Sunday.  Next is the Texas Marathon on January 1.

Night run

After working out at Iron Works tonight, I met up with the Wednesday night group and ran their 5K course around the campus.

Armadillo Cup Results

At least it did not rain today.  I went out to the state park this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  No one else from the group showed up and there did not seem to be anyone else in the park.  So, I had it all to myself.  Worked out at Iron Works afterwards.
The Texas 10 Series announced the Armadillo Cup winners today.  They recognize the top three overall winners in each age group for the three 10-mile races in the 2013.  Pretty much by default, I won first place in the 70 and over age group.  For that, I get $200, an armadillo cup and free entry into the same 3 races next year.  The 2014 series starts in College Station on February 2, 2014.  I'll be there.

Easy day

I woke up at 6:30 this morning, but finally got back to sleep.  Finally got up at 9.  This week, I have to start working on Christmas.  I was going to the track this evening and run laps, but it was cold and raining.  I did not feel like putting up with the experience, so I worked out at Iron Works and ran the treadmill there (only do that about once a year).  If I had to run on a treadmill every day, I would quit running.

BCS Marathon

I woke up at 3:30 this morning and could not go back to sleep for another hour.  My knee was aching, but I had to go to the BCS Marathon in College Station, one way or another.  I had picked up a race packet for my friend, Vince, from The Woodlands.  I  wrapped up my knee tightly and met up with Vince in College Station about 6 a.m.  I sat in my truck, debating with myself about running.  I got out and walked around a bit and then decided to at least start the race.  Of course, in just under 700 races, I have never dropped out of a race that I started.  The race started in the cold at 7 a.m.  My knee hurt for about the first 8 miles.  After that, it did not seem to bother me much.  I hit a wall at around mile 23 and walked a little of the last 3 miles.  I normally don't walk at all during a marathon, but I think the 10-miler yesterday caught up with me.  Anyway, I finished in 6:13:45 and got 2nd in my age group (yes, there was only two of us).  Marathon 99 done.

Texas 10 Series Conroe

I ran the Texas 10 Series Conroe 10 miler this morning.  Very cold, but dry.  I finished in 2:09:32, which was good for 1st in my age group (I was the only one over 70).  That gives 1st place in the 70 and over age group for the Texas 10 Series for 2013.  That's good for $200 and free entry for the same races in 2014.
The bad news is that I did something to my left knee.  At about 8 miles, it started burning and hurting.  After the race, it was swollen and very sore.  After the race, I drove to College Station to pick up my packet for the marathon tomorrow.  After getting home, I have iced it several times.  My plan is to wrap it tomorrow morning and drive over to College Station.  I will see how it feels tomorrow before making a decision on whether to attempt to run.

About to break a race streak

The Texas Trail Endurance 50K Run will be held at Huntsville State Park tomorrow.  I ran it for the last 13 years when it was called the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run and for all 4 years under it's new name; 17 consecutive years.  I will not make it this year.  I am trying to complete the entire Texas 10 Series 10 Milers and Conroe is tomorrow.  Then, my 99th marathon will be at College Station on Sunday.
This afternoon, I ran laps at the track.  The high today was 38 and it will be really be cold for the start in Conroe at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

Weekend weather

I just checked for forecast for the weekend.  The weather for the 10-miler in Conroe on Saturday is 33 up to 39 degrees and a 30 percent chance of rain (freezing rain).  For the marathon in College Station on Sunday, its 37 to 45 degrees, with a 30 percent chance of rain.  Sounds okay.
It was 39 degrees with a light mist when I went out to the park this evening and I ran 2 miles on the park roads.  No one else showed up.

Night run

I met up with the group tonight after working out at Iron Works and ran 2.6 miles around the campus.

Crazy weather

It got up to 80 in Huntsville today, but a cold front is due in this weekend.  The forecast for the 10-miler in Conroe on Saturday is 40 percent chance of rain and temperature in the 30's.  The forecast for the marathon in College Station on Sunday is 10 percent chance of rain and a temperature in the 30's and 40's.  Sunday sounds okay for a marathon.
The park is closed for controlled hunting from 5 p.m. today until noon on Thursday.  I went out there after 4 p.m. this afternoon and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  I was reminded 3 times for park officials that I had to be out by 5.

Rest time

After 4 races in 4 days (5-Miler, 10K, Half Marathon and a 5K), I rested up today.  However, I mowed the grass this afternoon and cut down a huge dead pine tree, without the house or anyone being injured.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and ran laps at the track.  This Saturday, I am running the Texas 10 Series Conroe 10-miler and then the BCS Marathon in College Station on Sunday.  The weather forecast for the weekend is cold, rainy and windy.

First Responder Half Marathon & Sunday Night 5K

I ran the First Responder Half Marathon in Waco this morning.  It was a two-loop course with a lot of bridge crossings and a run through a fire station.  However, we did not get to slide down the pole.  Nice weather, overcast and mostly in the 60's.  I finished in 2:56:53 (4th of 5 in the 60 & over age group.  At 72, I was the oldest of 169 finishers.  I got back to Huntsville about 2 p.m., showered, took a 30-minute nap, and then drove down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  The traffic on I-45 on Sunday of the Thanksgiving weekend is always bad, so I took the back roads to The Woodlands.  I finished the race in 40:10, about my slowest 5K ever.  I came back on I-45 and the northbound traffic was terrible.

Leftover Turkey 10K

I ran our club's annual Leftover Turkey 10K this morning.  The course is out and back on Veterans Memorial Parkway.  No part of it is flat, either up or down.  I finished in 1:22:58.  Off to Waco now for a half marathon tomorrow.

Short road run

Since I have 3 races in the next two days, I only ran a 1.3-mile loop on the roads this afternoon.  However, with school out for the holidays, there was very little traffic.  It would have been a nice day for a long training run - if I needed one.

Run Thru the Woods 5-Miler

I got up early this morning, picked up Jill and Kelly and we all went down to The Woodlands to run the Run Thru the Woods 5 miler.  It was my 12th straight year for running this race and it was by far the coldest.  The temperature was in the high 20's or low 30's.  I finished in 1:02:07, a couple minutes slower than last year.  Now, Friday off and then three races this weekend.

Track

I had a doctor's appointment in Conroe this morning and then spent much of the day running errands in Conroe and back in Huntsville.  Traffic was terrible.  I went to Iron Works later this afternoon, but they were closed.  So, I ran laps at the track and someone told me that the other Iron Works was open.  I went there for the first time and worked out.  Off to The Woodlands for a cold 5 miler tomorrow.