2014 in Review

With a half marathon tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.  It was my 1,900th consecutive day of running, which by coincidence occurred on the last day of 2014.  I'm still almost 600 days from equaling my longest streak.  When I broke my streak in 2009 and had to start over again, I thought, my God, I will be 75 years old when I get back to 6 years, 9 months and 18 days.  Darn, I'm 73 now and will be 74 in May.  My, how time flies.
Looking back over this year, I competed in 66 races:
Marathons - 2
25K -1
Half Marathons - 7
16K - 1
10 Miles - 8
10K - 5
5 Miles - 3
5K - 38
2 Miles - 1
No major injuries and I completed my goal of 101 marathons.

Tapering

With a half marathon on Thursday, I only ran 2 miles this evening.

Looking ahead

My next race is the Texas Half Marathon in Kingwood (near Houston) this Thursday, January 1.  I have run the full marathon there for the last seven years, but this will be my first half (2 loops instead of 4).  The forecast is for a high of 40 degrees and rain in the afternoon.  If that forecast holds, it should be good weather for running.  In the meantime, I ran 3 miles on the streets in town this evening.  It was around 50 degrees and no rain.  Very comfortable - except for achy knees, of course.

Hard to get off the couch

After watching football this afternoon, it was hard to get off the couch and go out and run in the 38 degree temperature and rain.  I ran 2 miles on the streets in town.  On the way home, I saw Dana (another streaker) out running.  She reaches the one-year mark at the end of this month.

Run the Woodlands 5K

My house was full of family last night.  People were up late and sleeping all over the house.  I figured they would be sleeping in this morning, so I got early, snuck out of the house and drove down to The Woodlands to run the Run the Woodlands 5K.  It was rather warm and very humid and I finished in 38:22.  I thought I was running faster.  Maybe it was the humidity - or maybe too much food yesterday.  In any case, I drove straight back to Huntsville and about half the family was still asleep when I got back.

Family day

After a quiet Christmas Day, we had a lot of family in today.  I managed to get in a 2-mile run in a light rain on the streets in town this afternoon.

Christmas Run

I ran 2 miles on the nearly deserted streets in town this afternoon.

Christmas Eve at the Park

This afternoon, I went out to the state park and ran 6.9 miles on the trails.  I only saw one other runner and two bikers on the trails.  Merry Christmas to all.

Back from Conroe

I had a doctor's appointment down in Conroe at 3:30 this afternoon, but had my running shorts on under my jeans.  I made it back to Huntsville and to the park at 4:30.  Only Jason and I showed up.  He ran 3 miles on the trails and I ran 2.  Then, I went to Iron Works for a work out.

Achy knees

I am past due for shots of Synvisc in my knees.  That's the stuff from a rooster's cone to ease the arthritis under my knee caps.  I have a doctor's appointment on January 12, but at least one more half marathon before then.  Today, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 2 miles on the roads around the campus.

Santa Hustle Half Marathon

I ran the Santa Hustle Half Marathon in Galveston this morning.  I had never raced in Galveston and have not even been to the city in many years.  If I can count my 25K's, the Santa Hustle was my 50th half marathon and it was my 65th race in 2014.  Nice weather and a flat course, mostly along Seawall Blvd.  There were 1,351 finishers in the half and 2,852 in the 5K.  I finished in 2:48:20, which is my fastest half marathon since February of last year when I ran 2:48:04.  I picked up a finishers medal and then another medal for 3rd of 6 in the 70-74 age group.

Morning laps at the track

I went to the muddy track this morning and ran laps.  Now, off to Galveston for a half marathon tomorrow.

Rain last night and this morning

We received much needed rain last night and this morning.  I went out to the park later this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.  The trails were in very good shape.  No sand pits and no mud.

Two at the park

It was me, Jacob and Curtis at the park this evening.  Speedy Jacob and Curtis ran 3 miles on the trails, while I ran 2 on the park roads.  I barely finished before them.

Started Christmas

Even though my wife has been Christmas shopping for a few days, I wrote the Christmas letter today, to be sent with cards and worked on the address list and mailing labels.  I also put up the Christmas tree.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran the PTA 5K course with the group, finishing after dark in a light and chilly rain.  Another half marathon coming up this weekend.

Done

I finally finished the greenhouse today, complete with a water faucet, light and an electrical outlet.  Now, I can move on to getting ready for Christmas.  After working out at Iron Works this evening, I met up with the group at the park.  Jacob was there after running a 100-mile race over the weekend.  He and Becca ran 6.9 miles on the trails while I ran 3 miles on the park roads.  I'm not sure where or how far Jason ran.

2 easy miles

This morning, I went to Jacob Gautreaux's house to interview him and take his photo.  I featured him in my running column for tomorrow's Huntsville Item.  He ran his first 100-miler on Saturday,  After turning in my column early this afternoon, I went to Home Depot and then built the flooring for my wife's new greenhouse.  I hope to complete the project tomorrow and then get started on Christmas.
This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran an easy 2 miles around the campus.  In the last mile, I ran into fellow streaker, Dana Formon, and we had a nice visit.

BCS Half Marathon

I ran the BCS Half Marathon over in College Station this morning.  I have run the full the last 3 years, but this was my first time running the half.  Mentally, it was just as difficult as the full.  I never walked a step, but ran my usual slow pace.  For most of the race, I was back there with people running and walking, which to me is very annoying.  I swear I passed one lady 50 times.  In any case, I finished in 3:02:29.  I had hoped for about 2:55.  Maybe it was the relatively hot and humid weather.  I was 4th of 5 in my age group.

Reindeer Run and Jingle Bell Run

I got up early this morning and drove over to Lufkin to run the 3.3-mile Reindeer Run.  About half was on paved roads and the other half on trails.  Got a chance to visit with a several friends from that area who I had not seen for a while.  I finished in 39:08, which was good for second place in the 60 and over age group.  They also gave me an award for being the oldest runner.  I will sleep on it tonight.  Actually, it is a very nice Mattress Firm memory foam pillow.  After the race, I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Lufkin and then drove 40-something miles south to Livingston to run the Jingle Bell 5K at 1 p.m.  Again, I got to visit with some old friends.  I finished the race in 35:42.  Then, I drove back to Huntsville (total miles 180 for the trip) and finished up the electrical part of the greenhouse.  The light worked and no one got shocked.  Early to bed tonight.  I have to get up at 4:45 in the morning for a 7 a.m. start at the BCS Half Marathon in College Station.

Restful Friday

Except for filling in the ditch for the power and water lines to my wife's new greenhouse, I had a rather restful Friday.  I have two 5K races tomorrow and a half marathon on Sunday.  So, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.