YMCA 5K Trail Run

I drove about 30 miles to the south this morning to run the YMCA 5K Trail Run in Conroe.  After all the rain yesterday, the trails were muddy and slippery.  I took it easy, zig zagging to avoid slipping or tripping and messing up my hamstrings.  I managed to get through the course without falling.  My time was 40 minutes even.  I finished 3rd in the 65 & Over age group and at 70, was the oldest runner in the race.
After taking a nap this afternoon, I went to the Sam Houston State-Southeastern Louisiana baseball game and then took my wife and son to the new Olive Garden Restaurant in Huntsville.  My son could not make it tomorrow, so it was an early Mothers Day dinner for my wife.

Easy Friday

As I do on many Fridays, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  I have a 5K trail run tomorrow morning in Conroe and it may be a little muddy after today's rain.  However, I am still not complaining about the rain.

Yard Work

I spent most of the day working on my front yard, trying to reestablish a lawn devastated by last summer's drought.  With more rain this spring, it looks fairly healthy.  The problem is that I have too many healthy weeds.  I did take a break this evening for a workout at Nautilus and then 2 miles on the roads at the park.

Non-Routine Day

I got up this morning and found that my computer would not connect to the Internet nor would my house phone work.  I went to the AT&T store and found that some construction workers working on a highway project near our sub-division cut the telephone cable.  They said it would be fixed by May 12 (4 days from now).  So I had no phone or Internet all day.  I went to Nautilus early this afternoon to work out and then ran 1.7 miles on the roads in town.  This evening, I attended my wife's annual Master Gardener banquet.  It lasted 2 and a half hours.  I should have received an award for all the weeding I have to do in her garden.  The good news is that when we got home late tonight, the phone was working again.

Despite the Threat of Rain

We had a good crowd at the park this evening, despite the threat of a heavy rain.  Got a fews sprinkles, but that was it.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads, while the others ran trails.  I have decided to stay off the trails until I get the strength back in my hamstrings.

Unplanned Course

I ran an unplanned course on the roads in town this evening, even ran a couple of streets I have never ran on before.  Thought the course was at least 3 miles, but when I measured it online tonight, I found it to be only 2.3.  Oh well, another day of streaking.

Skipped a Day

You may have noticed that I did not blog yesterday.  I got up yesterday and drove 300+ miles to Baton Rouge., LA to attend my niece's wedding last night.  I did get in a run on the streets of Baton Rouge before the wedding.  Actually, it was the first time I have ever run in Louisiana.  I drove back to Texas today and went down to The Woodlands for the Sunday Night 5K.  It was my 28th time for running that race (1st Sunday of each month) and I finished it in 37:30.

Sore Calf

I have had pain in my left calf for the last few days, so I am taking it easy.  I already have enough issues with my wheels.  I ran 1.6 miles on the roads in town this afternoon.

Shoes

I had to go down to The Woodlands this evening for a family get-together, so I worked out at Nautilus this afternoon and ran laps at the track.  While in The Woodlands, I visited the Fleet Feet running store and talked to my old friend, Stan Timmer about running shoes.  I have been running in Asics Fortitude for years, because they are a nuetral shoe and are suppose to be the best shoe if you run in custom orthotics.  The problem is that the Fortitude IV's are poorly designed and quickly develop holes in the top of shoe over the big toes.  My "new shoes," which I have been running in for just a few weeks already have holes in them.  I did not have that problem with the II and III models, which are no longer available.  Since I go through 5 or 6 pairs of shoes a year, it is important that I make them last as long as possible and that I get a good price.  So, I will no longer run in Asics.  Stan sold me a pair of Saucony Progrid 4's, which is another nuetral shoe.  I'll try them.  Besides, they are much lighter than the Fortiude and I may just run faster.

Wandered around town

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I drove to the track and then started running roads, some of which I had never run on.  I checked the distance later and it turned out to be an even 3 miles.

Should have run trails

I worked out at Nautilus early this afternoon and then ran 3 miles on the roads around town.  I finished in time to attend the Sam Houston State and Texas A&M baseball game here in Huntsville.  The game started at 6:30 p.m., so I skipped meeting the group at the park.  It was a terrible game; I should have run trails.  Sam Houston, rated #21, lost to Texas A&M, rated #9, 10 to 0.  However, the good news is that my leg seemed okay today.  It was a little painful when I used certain muscles, but it was not painful while I was running.

Pulled Something

I was sitting down this evening and somehow pulled or tore something in the hamstring area of my left leg.  Sharp pain.  The pain came back several times when I got up or sat down.  I worked out and Nautilus and then ran 1.7 miles on the roads.  Thankfully, the pain did not come back while running.  Hopefully, it is nothing to worry about.  I hate to think about what it is going to be like when I get old.

Race to Educate 5K

I ran the Race to Educate 5K on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station this morning.  Finished in 36:30.  They rented our club's race clock, so I took it over and set it up.  I was almost late.  There was a bad traffic accident a couple miles from College Station and the highway was closed.  I had to drive nearly 20 miles on a detour to make it the last 2 miles.  It was a nice small race with no age group awards or other such frills.  They did have a nice race clock, though.  After the race, I went to my favorite Mexican Restuarant for breakfast, the CocoLoco in nearby Bryan.

Spring Fling 5K

Our Seven Hills Running Club held its monthly club run this morning in the Elkins Lake Sub-division.  Sixty two runners and walkers participated in the Spring Fling 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk.  The 5K course was out and back on the roads and nothing but hills.  I finished in 37:23, exactly 1 minute faster than the trail 5K last Saturday.

Laps

After doing yard work for much of the day, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  Then, on to the Sam Houston State baseball game.  Nice clear and cool weather for the same, but Sam lost.

Late Post

I am posting a little late tonight.  This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  Then, later tonight, I went to a movie with my son.  No big deal, but it was the first time I have watched a movie in years.  When I got home from the movie, I signed took advantage of the early bird special (expires at midnight tonight) and signed up for the March 2, 2013 The Woodlands Marathon.  If the early bird entry fee was $90, I hate to think what the regular entry fee will be.

Usual Routine

I worked out at Nautilus this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads in town.  Nice weather, still not too humid.

Two on the Park Roads

While the rest of the group ran trails at the park this evening, I ran 2 miles on the park roads.  After getting home and a quick shower and dinner, I made the last half of the Sam Houston - Houston Baptist U. baseball game on campus.  Of course, Sam Houston won.

Out of Order

I had to go to an informal dinner to welcome our new pastor at church at 5 this evening, so I ran laps at 4.  Then, I went home for a shower and on to the church.  After eating too much, I went straight to Nautilus for a workout.  That was hard after a heavy meal.  The sequence was out of the normal order.

New 5K

I went to the track this afternoon and started running an unplanned route on the roads in town.  I passed the downtown square, ran in front of and around the Walls Prison Unit, through the Sam Houston State University campus and then back to the track.  I had never run this particular course before, so when I got home I measured the distance on the USA Track & Field Route Finder web site.  It turned out to be exactly a 5K (3.1 miles).