TexasLindsey

We're visiting my in-laws here in Conroe, Tx before we head to Galveston, Tx for vacation at the beach.  I met up with a running group in the neighboring city called The Woodlands and I ran 6 miles.   This area of Texas is the piney woods with 100 foot pine tress.  It seems like your in the middle of the woods but behind the trees are every kind of business you can think of.  They have a great running club in The Woodlands!   Lots of people and very friendly.

I was wanting to run less than 10 miles because I ran 16 on Saturday... also I wanted to run about 8:30 pace.  Based on that, it was suggested I run with this young girl.  There were several routes and trails we could take.  She said she was running 7 miles and told me there would be water stops so I didn't need my belt.  I thought she might be about 20 years old but it turns out she was 16.  Sweet girl and very dedicated student and athlete... but she did not know the trails and she got us lost.  We ran 4 miles at 8:30 or better but then we started back tracking and getting lost.  She was panicky because we didn't have water and then she started getting upset because she had shinsplints.  She wanted me to leave her and go on... but A. I wouldn't know any better which way to go than she would and B. I'm not leaving a 16 year old lost girl in the woods! 

So we made our way to a main street (with no sidewalks) and were running along doing about a 9 or 10 min pace for a couple miles and then one of the running group people spotted us and offered us a ride back to our cars.   Thank goodness! 

So it was an interesting day.  I'm running with this group again next Sunday for my long run.  Their schedule has them doing 14 but I'm supposed to do 17 according to my schedule.  I met a guy who is the cross country coach at the high school there and next week I'm running with him and his pace group... he says they do 8 or 8:30... so I'm looking forward to it.