well...

I waited too long to sign up for the Houston Marathon or the half. Went to the website today and saw the notice that the races were sold out. Oh well.
Then I started wishing I had something to train for. So I went and did something crazy. I registered for the Sunmart 50K in December. I also registered for the Turkey Trot in Dallas since we will be there for the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving.
I'm excited to have something to train for, though a 50K in just over two months is quite a bit to train for. Anyway, I'm anxious to get back to some more serious running. Gives me something to shoot for.
It will be my first time for a trail run, so there's no pressure of finishing in a certain time frame. At least that's what I'm saying today.
My running has still be okay, getting in hour-long runs each of the past three days.
Wanted to go a little longer today, but cut it short to go to church.

again, but this time a crappy run

Had a rough day today. Took the afternoon off to help Donna deal with some stuff. It all worked out, but was very stressful.
I figured a good run would clear my head and calm me down. Well, it did for a little bit.
I ran a pretty fast pace for almost 10 minutes, then got onto the cart path at the golf course at almost dark. I made it around a couple of holes then hit an uphill stretch that goes past hole No. 12 and behind the green on No. 11 at Crown Colony.
I felt a little weird and I stopped. As soon as I started walking I felt lightheaded. Enough to make me wish I had my phone to call Donna to come get me. But I didn't have it.
I took a path between some houses and got back out on a main street and headed home. But I was still more than a mile from home.
I still felt bad. Really lightheaded. Kinda weaving as I walked.
I finally decided to run a little bit as I got closer to home, but only made it a minute. I walked some more then tried again, but didn't quite make it a minute this time.
I walked the rest of the way home.
I only ran 17 of the 50 minutes that I was gone.
I still don't feel very well now and it's been almost two hours since I got home. Still feels weird when I stand up. Drinking lots of water, and that's helped a little.
Hope I feel better tomorrow. And hope that Donna's day goes better tomorrow.

wow...another post

Headed out tonight for an hour-long run but immediately realized that my legs were a little sore from yesterday's 90-minute run.
Felt good but then just got lost in my thoughts and decided to just walk and enjoy the evening. I was at about 30 minutes when I started walking. I walked for about 10 minutes. It was nice to not be in a hurry. Thought a lot about how things have been since we moved here, what's next for us, etc...
Then finished up with 13 minutes of running at a pretty fast pace.

weekend runs

Saturday morning's run was great. Got out about 6:30 a.m. and the temps had to be in low to mid 60s. Felt great.
Got in about an hour and a pretty good pace.
Got done in time to head out to a high school cross country meet in which a boy from Diboll won first.
Today I had my longest run since Aug. 1. I was out for an hour and a half and didn't really struggle until the last 10 minutes or so. Got out a little later than yesterday, so it was a little warmer.
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Still haven't decided to run a race anytime soon. Don't know when it will be.
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Best news of the weekend. Jenna, 5, scored her first soccer goal.
The first two games, she was pretty nervous.
Saturday she took the ball nearly the length of the field for a goal. Was about to score a second one, but a girl on the other team kicked the ball in for her. We're still counting it.
She's really pretty good and I'm not saying that cause she's my kid.

back at it....sorta

This has been my worst month of running since I started logging my mileage in Jan. 2003. Not sure why, just been busy I guess. And tired.
Got in a little more than an hour tonight. Probably ran around 8-8:30 mile pace though I didn't keep track.
Felt pretty good.
For those that have asked:
Donna is in business at Studio 220 in Lufkin. She and Stephanie Davis are partners. Their website is studio220photo.blogspot.com
Ashton is loving 3rd grade and Jenna is doing great in kindergarten.
It's nice being close to family, but it sure has been busy since we moved here. I'm ready to slow down a little bit.

runnin'

Been running okay lately. Not blogging very well though.
Here's where I am: I barely have any desire to run competitively. Races, that is. Not that I'm out running slow or anything. I have been to the track and I ran once with the cross country team. Actually, that run with the XC team was my best in a long while. I realized I still had some speed.
The problem with the speed is that I've gained about 10 lbs since this time last year. Maybe it's beer or maybe it's my dad's chocolate pies that he keeps force-feeding me and my 5-year-old. Maybe it's a lot of factors: moving, job change, working on my master's in communications (ugh, not sure how great a decision that is), etc...
Whatever. I don't like excuses but they are there if I need them.
I like running in our neighborhood. Gotten used to the inclines, so that's good. Found some routes I can run to stay somewhat flat.
I still enjoy it. A lot. I'm sure I always will.
I haven't signed up for the Houston marathon yet. Or the half. Not going to Huntsville for the half because Jenna has a soccer game that day. Priorities.
The prices for the Houston half or full marathon do not concern me. I'm not giddy to run the half just to run on the course that Ryan Hall ran a US record. I've already ran that course twice and that's not where I ran my fastest half.
I'm not sure what my next race will be. I'm sure there will be one.
Maybe when Bezner challenges me to a 5K. I noticed he's in the 20s now. Hey, I used to be there myself. He'd smoke me right now.
I'll try to blog more. It'd probably be good for me. If not, oh well.
For those of you that are interested my email is equarles@consolidated.net
For those of you not interested, oh well.