Saturday race cancelled

This morning's 5K in Willis was cancelled due to storms.  I was sort of relieved because I was not sure how my pulled hamstring would react to trails.  I went over to Veterans Memorial Parkway this afternoon and ran one mile on the concrete sidewalk.  No sharp pains from the hamstring, but I am apprehensive about tomorrow's 10 miler.

Weekend in question

I ran laps at the track today and was disappointed that the hamstring hurt while running.  I am suppose to run a 5K trail run in Willis tomorrow morning, but there is a 95% chance of heavy thunderstorms at race time and for the next 2 or 3 hours.  They will decide whether to cancel it at 6:30 tomorrow morning.  Then, I have the 10-mile Texas 10 Series in Katy Sunday morning.  Now, I am wondering about the hamstring holding up for that distance.

Another 2

While the hamstring is healing, I ran another 2 miles on the park roads this evening.  Three-race weekend coming up, one 10-miler and 2-5K's.

Being careful

I have been cautious the last couple of days, hoping not to re-pull or tear the hamstring.  After Iron Works, I met up with the group (me and Steve) behind the Mall.  I ran 2 miles out and back along Veterans Memorial Parkway.  I have been trying to burn out a tree stump in my backyard for 2 days.  Now, my wife is ill from the smoke.  Today was our 48th anniversary, but she did not feel well enough to eat out.  She really puts up a lot with me, but she supports my running streak - at least she tolerates it.

Nursing the hamstring pull

Depending on how I moved today, the hamstring hurt.  I skipped Iron Works this evening and went directly to the park.  I ran 2 miles on the smooth park roads without pain.  A trip on a root on the trail would probably be extremely painful and cause more hamstring damage.  In any case, today was my 2,200th consecutive day of running.

Injury

Looks like I pulled a hamstring.  I was getting out of my truck this evening and stepped down wrong.  I felt a pull in my right hamstring where is connects to the hip.  It really hurts, depending on which way I move.  So, after working out at Iron Works, I went to the track and managed to get in a slow and steady mile without too much pain.  Depending on how it feels tomorrow, I may go to the doctor and start therapy treatments.  I have three races this weekend, one of which is the Texas 10 Series 10 Miler in Katy on Sunday.  Sure can't miss that one.

Rained most of the day

No complaining, but it rained most of today.  Tomorrow, I will have to check and see if those big cracks in my yard have closed up.  I still felt a little beat up after the half marathon yesterday, so I ran 1.3 on the streets in town this afternoon - in the rain.

Race for Success Half Marathon

I drove an hour and a half over to Lufkin this morning to run the Race for Success Half Marathon at 8 a.m.  I expected to cut some time off last Saturday's Huntsville Half Marathon, but it did not happen.  The rain held off until after the race, but the humidity was virtually at 100%.  I ran every step of the race and tried to take on 2 cups of water at every aid station, but in the end I was dehydrated.  I really got dizzy after the race and drank 4 bottles of water.  I eventually felt okay to drive home.  My time was around 3:12 and I was last in the race.  I'm not sure how many finishers there were, but they 59 registered runners before the race.  The last couple miles, the high school cross country team jumped in and ran to the finish with me.  I enjoyed visiting with them.  It was great seeing a lot of my Lufkin friends and thanks to Cindy Sosa Springs, Sara Neal and Steve Allen for "watering me down" after the race and making sure I was okay.  I really feel drained this evening and have a blister on my toe, too.  Glad I do not have another race tomorrow.  The good news is that it rained all the way home and has been raining in Huntsville ever since.  My rain gauge says 4 inches and it is suppose to rain all night tonight and all day tomorrow.  I hate that the people in Mexico had to under Hurricane Patricia, but we appreciate the rain that it brought.

Laps

As I normally do on Friday, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.  Tomorrow's half marathon should be interesting with storms coming through the area.  We had a whopping quarter inch of rain this morning.

Unfulfilled promises of rain

It was suppose to rain today.  In fact, earlier today the forecast was for 100% at 5 p.m.  None at my house.  Maybe tomorrow.  I got up early this morning for an 8 a.m. consultation appointment at Physical Therapy Associate.  My left knee is giving me problems and I needed some advice on how to stabilize the knee cap.  I bought a strap and started wearing it for my run today.  In anticipation of rain, I went to the park early today and ran 2 miles on the park roads, followed by a workout at Iron Works, where it rained hard for about 1 minute.

Dehyrdration

For some reason, I became dehyrdrated late this morning.  I started losing my vision, so I drank 3 bottles of water and felt somewhat better.  I laid around much of the day and then ran 2 miles on Veterans Memorial Parkway and worked out at Iron Works.

It is finally suppose to rain

After weeks on no rain, we are suppose to get some this week.  I am running a half marathon in Lufkin on Saturday and the chances of rain are 90%.  It is so dry, I would even welcome running in the rain.  After Iron Works this evening, I ran 3 miles on the state park roads.

Day 1 of my 7th year

I had a busy day getting information together for the running column I write for the local paper and a bunch of followup treasurer work for our club's half marathon on Saturday.  I finally got to Iron Works and then a 2-mile run on the campus streets.  It was day 1 of my 7th year of streaking.

6 Years

Today marked completion of 6 years without missing a day of running.  I had family visiting today.  After Mass this morning, I spent some time at our church bazaar and then went to Houston to attend a birthday party.  I got back late this evening and then went to the track to run laps.  My last streak and my longest was 6 years, 9 months and 18 days.  I look forward to going beyond that point.

Huntsville Half Marathon

I ran the 37th Annual Huntsville Half Marathon this morning.  Beautiful clear weather in the 60's and 70's.  I finished in 2:59:59 and took 2nd in the 70 and over age group.  Yes, there was only 2 of us.  It's nice to have a prison in town to make license plate awards.  My time last year was 2:54:02, but I was about 10 pounds lighter then.  This was my 67th race this year, 829th lifetime race and 2,190th consecutive day of running.

Laps

After hauling two pallets of potting soil this morning, without breaking the springs on my truck, I ran laps at the track.  Guess I'm ready for the half tomorrow.  Gonna be hot.

Early park run

I had some time to spare mid-way through the afternoon, so I went out to the park and ran 3.5 miles on the trails.  Busy weekend coming up.  Family and friends coming in tomorrow night, half marathon Saturday morning and a birthday party in Houston Sunday afternoon.  My wife is in charge of the plant sale at the Church Bazaar on Sunday.  I have to get up early tomorrow and go to the Scott's Company and pick up two pallet loads of potting soil and deliver them to the church.  I have to make two trips and get them to the church for the inmates to unload before they leave at 9 a.m.  I sure do not want to unload them myself.

Veterans Memorial Parkway 5K

A bunch of us met up this evening and ran the 5K course out and back along Veterans Memorial Parkway.  My next race is the Huntsville Half Marathon this Saturday.

Just me and Jason at the park

Jason and I were the only ones who showed up at the park this evening.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails and he ran farther and finished when I got back.  With no rain for weeks, the sand is deep on parts of the trail.

Tired Monday

I was tired today, but am not sure if it was from the races this weekend or all the travel.  Maybe, some of both.  I stayed busy all day with different projects.  This evening, I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 2 miles on the streets around the campus.