WOO HOO !!!

I'm heading for Maine today and wanted to get another run in before I left knowing I'll be spending three days in the car.
I left the house at 6:30, this is a bit earlier for me but I found out it is a much better time to start running. I felt really good so thought I would try to run 2 miles again and if at the 2 mile mark I still felt good I would continue on. As Gomer Pyle use to say "surprise, surprise" I ran 2.50 miles. That was from the start of the trail all the way to the killer hill. WOO HOO !

Miles today 4:64

Miles for week 9:14

FISHING

I'm not fishing for compliments but today when I went out for my run I decided to try to make it to 2 miles before I walked, and I did. I also found it a bit easier to run some of the hills. I guess all that running last week has helped. I'm planning on having 2 more morning runs before I leave for Maine.

Today also was gym day and Shayla had a few new things for me to try. We did an all body workout since I wouldn't be seeing her for about 4 weeks. Yikes! That's along time to go without doing weights.

Miles 4:50

RACE DAY

We arrived at White Rock around 6:30, parked and then headed up the hill to get our chips. Once we had those on we found the potty line. They did have an indoor bathroom plus porta potties outside. Now we were ready. The start was down by the lake and we found a spot not too far from the front. Both races were starting at the same time and place so it was a bit crowded. The trails were not wide and there were bikers coming towards us at times. Katy was ahead of me and Christy was behind. Someone had told us the course was flat but it wasn't. I was determined to run to the first water station which was at 1:50 miles and surprised myself that I made it. I lost some time at the station because they didn't have any water poured and you had to wait. I was going to skip it but decided with the heat I shouldn't. After the water there was a hill to go up and then it got flat. I tried to run as much as I could but started to get one of Jenny's stitches so slowed to a walk. It was great to see Katy with water as I approached the finish. We both agreed it was harder than we thought.We got water and then went to cheer Christy in. After we met Christy we headed for the ice cold beer. It was Stampede beer and was suppose to have extra vitamins in it. So I drank to my health. I received a tile for 1st place in my age group with a time of 40:01. I almost made it out of the forty's. Katy and Christy each won a door prize of a fuel belt.

It was a great finish for everyone but a harder race than we thought it would be.

As we turned the corner to my street we noticed a LORDY LORDY KATY's 40 sign that the girls had made to surprise their mother.

We were still hot and sweaty when we got home so decided just to go in the pool with our race clothes still on.

Miles for week 19:07

RACE DAY

In our new hats and tech shirts.

WE were up early to leave for the Too Hot To Handle race. It was a great race and I will give a report tomorrow, this has been a very busy day. I'm waiting for the race results to be posted because I missed hearing my time, however I did take 1st place in my age group.

New Trails

We went out for a short run today because we had to take the girls to cooking class at Central Market. We tried a new route, one I had never done before. I found some new trails wit lots of shade. I'll take Amy on them when she comes so she can get acclimated to the heat for the hottest race.

Miles run today 3:56

Miles frun for the week 15:97

NEW HAT DAY

Today is the day we pick up our race packets and get a free running hat, which I really need. We decided to go run early and left the house around 7. It was cloudy and humid. About the time I crossed the first bridge I had to use the potty. WE kept going and I was complaining but Katy said I could make it to Kids Kastle. She saw this path going off to the left and figured it would be a short cut to the bathrooms. So down the path and across the tracks and there we were. I now have a new route that took off .25 miles. After my break we continued on the same trail we took Monday.

Total miles today 4:56

Miles for week 12:41

The Difference

You don't appreciate how nice it is to run with someone until you have the chance. Katy arrived on Sunday and on Monday we headed out for an early run. I took her on the trail I usually do through the neighborhood and we ended up doing 4:75 miles. It wasn't easy with the heat and humidity but it was nicer with someone to chat with. After running I had to come home and shower and change to go to the gym and work with Shayla. She said we were going to do legs and I told her I had just run/walked 4 miles and her answer was "so".

WE took today off because Katy has some mean looking bug bites on her ankles and legs and it hurts to bend the ankle. Tomorrow we will be back out.

Total miles for week 7:85

Race for a cause

This morning Christy and I were doing the Evan Man 5K in our neighborhood. It is a fundraiser for Evan a 3-year old boy who contracted Meningitis last December and is currently undergoing several therapy processes to recover. Before the race both parents spoke about Evan and what he and the family were going through. I had tears in my eyes from listening.

The weather was cooperating, we had a cold front come through and I think the temperature was in the high 70's with clouds. I was glad for the grey sky because I decided to go without a hat. It was pretty much the same course they always use for races in the neighborhood but today there were two water stations. That was great news ! I did carry a bottle with me just in case.

I planned to run the first mile and when my garmin signaled I kept going another .30, this is big for me. My first mile was 11:something. Second mile was around 13. I walked up the hills but tried to take advantage of running down them. I finished in 42:18. When I was getting near the end I saw Shayla and stopped to say a few words, that probably cost me a few seconds.


After the race I went for some water but they were out so had a Sprite instead and waited for Christy to cross the finish. They were offering hot dogs and tacos but we decided to pass on those and go home.

Bump on a log

Making smores on the beach.
I know I was going to go for a light run today. Somehow the morning got away from me and before I knew it it was too hot to go out. Does cleaning count as working out? Tomorrow the gang from Atlanta arrives and I have been busy getting ready for them.

I haven't heard yet from the Belgium group. It's 7 pm their time so I think the race should be over. Hope they all did well and are drinking a cold beer about now and celebrating.

TIME

I love to fly kites. There is something about being on the beach with the wind blowing and you're reeling out the kite's line and watching that kite soar higher in the sky, you just lose tract of time. This week has been something like that. Here it is Friday and I can't recall what I have done. I know one thing, I have not run all week but I did train Mon, Wed and today.

I am signing up for a race on Sunday called the Evan-Man fun run. It's a 5K and for charity. It's in my neighborhood and put on by the Marcus Cross Country Team to raise funds for a three year old boy who has been ill. I think Christy is
glad that there will be no medals given out. She won't have to wait with me to see if I placed in my age group.

I wish the running team in Belgium, Amy, Mark and Jenny, good luck in their race Saturday afternoon. I hope they have a great time. I can't imagine running
late in the day. Kathryn did that race at night. I don't know how she stayed awake to go out and run that late at night.

Tomorrow I am planning on a light run.

No Crabbing

It's always hard for me after a vacation to get back to the gym. Since I had a scheduled appointment I knew I had to go. Except for some walking and running I really hadn't done any weights for a week.

Shayla was waiting for me and we worked on legs and abs. I can see some improvement in my right hamstring but still have a ways to go.

One thing is for sure, I always feel better after working out.

Liberty Race

Home one day from vacation and we had a July 4th race to run. The Liberty Run in The Colony. I wasn't sure why I signed up for this only that I had run it last year with Amy, Stefaan and Christy.
This year the course started at the park by the lake and headed up hill towards a neighborhood. I was determined to run the first mile. It was a challenge with the hill but I made it . Then I got a break with a little downhill, found some shade from some trees to help me cool off. I lost my running cap at the water park in Galveston and the one I was using wasn't vented. The course circled around until we were back on the road into the park. I finished in 40:22, grabbed some water and went and waited for Christy. Then we found a shady spot on the grass and waited to hear the results. I took second place for my age group. Another trophy, this one is the head of an eagle.

Now I have to keep training for the next race which is The Too Hot To Handle at White Rock Lake on July 19th. It is a 5K and Katy, Christy and I will be running.

Miles for week 9.85

4th of July

Here's to a safe and happy 4th of July and good luck to everyone who is running a race today.