Houston marathon and Team USA running team

Jim ran the marathon this morning, finishing well within 3 hours and 40 minutes, timed with the Championchip, an RFID, radio frequency identification device. This year the runners did not have to return their chips. The 5 k runners still had to return theirs, strangely, as they were threatened with the old: you will be charged 30 bucks if you don't return it, and banned forever from running in qualifying events for the Boston marathon...

as if the average person can run a 3.5 hour marathon... NOT. Jim was close though.

Alex was off in College Station with the Goodes. They are great frieds, got Cameron and Alex a room of their own, and carted them around, waiting for the rain to abate.. unfortunately, it didn't. As Alex and Cameron probably could have Super-ed, as I think everyone else left Saturday night, as it rained all weekend in the home of the Aggies. Tennis is a hard tournament to run, as weather is sooo unpredictable.

I was elected to help the United Space Alliance team gather their gear, and get it to the Baggage Stogage area, manned by Jet Blue. Thank goodness for the girls, Pria and Clarissa, Susan Ford's daughter and a friend. We left Clear Lake at 5:21, as Steve made a determined effort to get to Clear Brook High School at the last possible minute, 5:20 and 59 seconds.

We took the old green mobile, our Ford Aerostar, and had the USA sign, which Jim had made.

Then... I met up with Chauncy, who did the half, and we waited and waited for Mohamed, who circled the GRB(convention center), for an hour, as...men do not like to make back up plans...and someone left his cell phone in the car! We almost left poor Mohamed to his own devices, and offered Chauncy a ride back to Clear Lake. Lucky for Mohamed, Chancy is a good friend, and the mountain found Mohamed!

As for me, I've been diagnosed with lower back pain, x-rayed, and have degenerative disc disease. I can: do nothing, get surgery, lose weight, or exercise. I think I'll try the losing weight and yoga exercises. Maybe the chiropractitioner or massaging too, as... the pain is bad. Joint pain, too. But, I'll survive!!

Poom