A Run in the Morning

I have work commitments later this afternoon, so I ran earlier in the day than normal. It was a good decision to get out in the morning since the temperature was perfect and the sky clear with a gentle breeze from the north. I only went 3 miles, but it was a good run. Since it's a work day there weren't many people out, which is fine. Fewer dogs to dodge. Actually, the dogs usually behave. It's the humans who think they can take up the whole running path. Anyway, glad I got out when I could.

Fantastic Four

Thursday ended up being full of meetings and it wasn't until today (Saturday) that I got in the third run of the week. Talk about a nice day! Temperature was only about 60 degrees and little to no wind. I went 4 miles and felt good the whole way. Even the humidity wasn't too bad. I took it slow and easy and just enjoyed the day with some nice music to listen to along the way. I'll take days like this in Texas any time.

Midday 3

I figured it was going to get close to 90 degrees today and since it was a light day for meetings I went for a midday run. Even so, it was still over 80 and humid. I ran 3 miles total, with a 2-1/2 minute walk at the end of the second mile. It'll take a little time to get used to the heat again and we're on the way. Overall, though, a good outing followed by mowing the lawn. I've definitely got my exercise in for the day.

Back on the Horse

Yesterday I smoked a brisket all day, so today was an outing much like the last one where I only went 2 miles. It was an outing to get back on the horse and prep for the upcoming week, where I hope to get out three times in the next six days. Plus, today was ultra-humid after a big storm last night. The stream running under Lake Forest was full and lots of debris jamming up part of it, including some big logs from trees that fell. Nice outing, though, and it served its purpose. 

Run then Walk

Tuesday I got up really early to take The Wife to the airport. By the time work ended, I knew an outing would not go well. Today was better, but humidity was up since it rained yesterday. Plus, my left knee has been aching a little. Not sure why. So I kept it to 2 miles today with a run for the first mile and walking the second. Mainly the walk was to keep my exercise time a little longer. I could've run the second part, but I wanted the extra minutes. And it was humid. Did I mention that?

Travel Gap

We left town last Saturday and I got back on Thursday. The schedule was packed so I didn't even try to bring running gear. When I arrived home, I was a bit worn out but new I needed to get out. I walked 2 miles, which didn't seem worthy of its own post. Today was better, with a 4-miler, although not all of that was running. I figure I ran a 5k with a ten-minute walk in the middle, mainly because I wanted to get more time exercising but didn't want to run the whole way. It was a nice compromise. Plus, I listened to an album I hadn't heard in probably a decade and that kept things fresh. Very windy and overcast, with rain yesterday and more forecast for this evening.

Soup Day

I felt better on today's run than I did Tuesday, but the humidity took care of that. Wow, was it soupy out there. I held the run to 3 miles, with a walk at the 2-mile mark to cool down a bit. The temperature was 86 degrees, which added to the mix quite nicely. I did enjoy the outing, though, since I loaded the new Old 97's album onto my iPod after only listening to it on vinyl for the past couple of weeks. Great stuff.

Bleh

I was hoping for a more energetic outing today, but overall I felt blechy. I think it's the cumulative effects of allergies over the past few months. I mean, I wasn't having an allergy attack today, but I did feel like I had the flu and someone beat me up with a baseball bat. Like a normal day. Anyway, I ran a little over a mile, then walked for a bit, ran some more, and ended up walking the rest of the way. Overall mileage was 2.8 miles, of which I probably ran 1.75 or so. Not great, but then again, I got out there. Sometimes that's the win.

Another 5

After the fun of allergies and a 4-miler on Thursday, I ended the running week with 5 miles this morning. I thought there'd be more people out since it was in the 60s and sunny, but what do I know? I mean, there were a few people on the trail, but maybe it was because I went out relatively early at just past 8 a.m. Anyway, the run was good and the only walking I did was a tenth of a mile up the big hill. I followed that up with trimming and mowing the yard and it's not even lunchtime yet.

More of the Allergies

After all these years I'm still not sure how this allergy thing works. I was fine Monday, which was the total eclipse and very enjoyable, and then Tuesday rain moved in and it was cloudy and wet all day. You'd think that'd knock all the pollen or whatever out of the air and I'd be fine, but you'd be wrong. Instead, I suffered through a major allergy attack and spent all day trying to maintain some momentum at work while continually sneezing and blowing my nose. What a great day. Any thought of running never crossed my mind. It rained again yesterday, so today was my first chance to get out of the house since Monday. I ran 4 miles in sunshine and a stiff breeze out of the north, but I have to say it felt good to get out. I can only hope and pray this doesn't set off another allergy attack, but as we established earlier, what do I know?

5 and Windy

Today's running conditions were much different than Thursday. The temperature was in the mid-60s with a lot of wind, kind of like earlier this week. Nevertheless, I persevered against not just the wind, but also my thoughts about cutting the run short. I told myself I had nowhere I needed to be and to suck it up. I went a full 5 miles, completing my 3-4-5 plan for the week. It's a start.

4 (Kind of)

It was a little warmer than I expected today, about 82 degrees. I could feel the change over the last few runs but still decided to go 4 miles, as per plan for this week. It ended up kind of being 4 miles. I walked two-tenths of a mile at the 2.35 mile mark, or about three minutes. So it ended up being a split of about 2.3 and 1.7 mile runs. Whatever the case, I did it. That little walk in the relative heat helped me make it. No complaints about what a beautiful day it turned out to be.

Gusty

Today was windy, like 20 mph constant and gusts up to 30 mph. This week I want to do the 3-4-5 step up in mileage, assuming I get in all three runs. Today was 3 miles and even though I probably could have gone more, it seemed like enough with all the wind. Also, I'm an idiot. Once again, I put on the wrong pair of shoes. I should know better by now since my left knee aches a little bit when I wear them. I think at this point I need to put my non-running pair of shoes in another location. You'd think it wouldn't be this difficult, but you'd be wrong.

Opening Day

Thursday was Opening Day for Major League Baseball, which IMHO should be a national holiday. I bring this up because I chose to watch the Cardinals opener against the Dodgers instead of running. It ended up being a mistake since the Cards got their butts kicked. Lesson learned.

Today was really nice and I ran 3.5 miles. Then I followed last Saturday's pattern and spent a couple hours working in the yard. Guess that means springtime is really here. It certainly burns some extra calories.

A Tad Cool

Cool breeze from the north today and temperature in the low 50s, plus a late-afternoon meeting on the calendar. I was resolved to not miss running today, though, and went out for 3 miles during a break between work calls. The breeze was strong when running against it, but not bad on the last mile mostly going south. Looks like the rain has moved out for a while so I'll take it.

Nice Morning

I missed Thursday due to rainstorms and laziness, but mostly laziness. Today was absolutely gorgeous, with temperature in the 50s and abundant sunshine. I ran 4 miles but with a break in the middle since I stopped and talked to someone I know. The running part felt good and not too much effort, which is good since I have lots of yardwork to do this afternoon. I'm getting in the physical effort today for sure.

The Glory of Spring

With the recent rain, the grass is turning green and the trees are budding. The day started off cold, 35 degrees, but warmed into the upper 60s with a load of sunshine. I felt good and ran 4 miles. I think the "race" on Saturday got me in the right frame of mind to work on my fitness and mileage. I want to keep it going but Thursday looks like a rainy day. I might have to rearrange my running schedule or hope that there are breaks in the storms.

Shamrock Run

The rain stayed away this morning so we could run the McKinney Shamrock 5k. Compared to my last couple of outings, this was actually a good run. I didn't push it and finished with a 10:20 pace, a little faster than my normal outings. Then I topped it off with a full Irish fry-up and a couple of pints. It was actually nice to do a race again, even though I wouldn't call what I did "racing." Just a good outing with some friends and about 1500 other people.

Dragging

Between work calls I was able to get out for a 3-miler. I still felt like I was dragging even though the weather was decent, if a little humid. Maybe that was the problem. Also, allergies since I felt like my windpipe wasn't operating at full capacity. Anyway, I walked briefly at the 2.3 mile mark since my heart rate was kind of high. I ran a little more, walked up the big hill, and finished with another short run. Then sneezed and had a runny nose for a bit. Such a joy. I was glad to make it out since rain was in the forecast but held off.

Is It Dookie or Dooky?

Whichever way you spell it, that's how I felt today. I slept like dookie/dooky last night and of course, that carried over into today's run. I actually ran a mile and then walked home, for a total of 2 miles. Maybe I can get a good night's sleep and try again tomorrow. Rain is in the forecast for Thursday, so it makes sense to move that run forward a day and see I feel better.

Sad

It's sad that the last couple of weeks I've averaged two runs and about six miles. That used to be my standard for one run. Thursday it rained all day, which makes for a good excuse, but overall it's just sad. This morning I went for a 3-miler and it was a decent run with a stiff, cool breeze from the north. Good news, though: yesterday I signed up for a St. Patrick's Day 5k, which will actually be on the 16th. It's not much in the running department but at least it'll be something fun.

Lagging

I felt kind of lethargic on this afternoon's 3-miler, like I was lagging behind the pack. Not sure what the deal was since I've slept all right the past few nights and allergies haven't been bothering me. Maybe I've been eating too much rich food, like the beef kind of rich food. Maybe I should eat smaller portions. Or eat something not so heavy. Maybe, but probably not.

Scrape

Tuesday evening I was taking out the trash and pivoted just outside the back screen door, which was closing behind me. As I pivoted, the back of my right heel scraped up the metal corner of the door, leaving a nice, long gouge. Yes, I swore. That kept me sidelined for Thursday but it felt good enough today.

There's a line from the late, great Kirstie Alley in her role from Cheers where her character, Rebecca Howe, has a bad moment and whines, "I am too stupid to live!" Well, I wasn't in that bad of a situation today, but still felt pretty idiotic. During my 4-mile run, I experienced a multiple instances where one knee or the other felt not quite right. I almost walked the last half-mile or so, but I focused on keeping my form moving straight and economical and all was good. However, when I got back inside and took off my shoes I realized I'd worn my walking shoes. In other words, the old pair of running shoes that I don't run in any more. I've now done that multiple times. I may not be too stupid to live, but maybe I'm too stupid to run.

In-Between Run

Today I had late-afternoon meetings and was able to get out for a 3-miler in between. The mercury got up to 84 degrees, which was a little cooler than the low 90s we had yesterday. I could feel the difference in temperature from last week, with a little more humidity. I felt like I was dragging a little, probably due to all the allergies over the past seven days. Or actually, a lifetime of allergies. Regardless, I overcame a sneezing fit this morning to still enjoy a run.

Allergy Week

Well, that was nice. After going for a birthday run on Tuesday, that evening I suffered a big allergy attack. It pretty much kicked my butt for a couple of days, and I thought it best to not run on Thursday and tempt fate even more. Especially since it was windy and that really seems to do the trick. Today, though, was much nicer. Sunshine, nice temperature, and even more important: very little breeze. After breakfast and coffee, I ran 4 miles. It was a good, steady run, and I went the whole way. Except for the big hill, of course. Then I spent an hour or so running the mower over the accumulated leaves in our yard, mulching them quite nicely. Now it's time to relax and hope the allergies stay away.

Another Birthday Run

What a nice day! Temperature was in the low to mid-50s this morning and I went a full 4 miles. Sun was shining, breeze very light, and just an all-around beauty of a day. Plus, it's also my birthday, and what better way to celebrate than to go for a run? I missed going out last Saturday due to cool and windy weather. I probably could have bundled up and went out, but I opted for laziness instead. Hey, at this age I'm entitled. Or so I hear.

Highs and Lows

Felt tired this afternoon for some reason. I started out fine, but by the time I got to 1.5 miles I felt like I could take a nap. That was the low part of the run. I walked a quarter-mile and then ran the rest of the way. I even kicked it into a sprint the last tenth. That was the high part of the run. It was another 3-mile outing and a beautiful day. I wish my run had matched the weather, but hey, i got out the door. That has to count for something.

Really Nice

It was almost too nice today. Temperature was 62 degrees, the sun shone in a cloudless sky, and barely a hint of a breeze. I went the usual 3-mile route, with walks at beginning and end. For math nerds, that made the overall total 3.3 miles, but I only count the running part in my reporting. I was glad to make it out today, since the weekend days were rainy and cool. As of today, subject to change tomorrow, the forecast is looking good with no precipitation or freezing temperatures through next week. Let's run!

Running in the 70s

The temperature was mild again, in the low 70s, and I ran 3miles. As mentioned last time, I'd planned on going more but just wasn't feeling it. And no reason to risk injury for just another mile. Gotta love these nice days in February. I think a little rain is in the forecast over the weekend, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Cooler Than It Should Be

On most days, especially during winter, 62 degrees would be a decent temperature. Today it felt cooler than it should have, even though the breeze wasn't that strong. I decided to go 3 miles, hoping to ratchet it up by a mile each outing this week. I mean, really, a day like today is outstanding in early February. No complaints here, and happy for a nice run.

Cool Sunday

I did the Sunday run this week since I had Saturday obligations. Today was a little on the cool side with a breeze from the north, with the mercury hovering around 50 degrees. I went 4 miles, with a quarter-mile walk at the three-mile mark. That was due to my heart rate being a little high, so I walked a little to bring it back down. Overall, it was a good outing. Not many people out on the paths, but that's okay. I enjoyed it and left myself enough energy to do some yardwork as well.

Another!

Today was absolutely gorgeous. 74 degrees when I went out late afternoon and barely any wind. I figured I should go at least three miles, maybe a half-mile more, and ended up with a tally of 4 miles. I thought about walking before I got to the turnaround but ended up running all the way (except the big hill). Why not? It was a really good run and an awesome day. No arguments here. 

Make-Up

Didn't run Saturday since it was cold and windy and I didn't run yesterday because I did other stuff. Today was nice, though, about 70 degrees and non-windy. I ran 3 miles and honestly, it felt a little like a struggle. Maybe because I didn't sleep well last night. Oh well, I did the rare Monday run and am glad I did.

Back from Vegas

Well, last Saturday I spent most of the day doing the things and getting ready for a trip out of town. I left on Sunday and returned late yesterday. Three full days in Las Vegas meant I was ready for some exercise. Even thought it's a little bit cool and overcast, my schedule today allowed me to get out for a run by late morning. I ran 3 miles and it did feel good after all the joys of modern travel. No travel in the immediate forecast for me, which I'm hoping means I can get back into a regular rhythm of goodness.

Breezy Outing

Didn't get out today until about 4:40 p.m., an hour or so before sunset. A little breeze from the north kept it pretty cool even though the temp was supposedly 58 degrees. I ran in shorts and long-sleeved tee. It felt nice and easy today and I went 3 miles with a sprint at the end. It was nice to feel like I could've run longer. Cold is back in the forecast starting tomorrow but I plan on getting out Saturday unless it turns ugly.

Geography Matters

Geography matters in a few ways. For instance, last week I was on the beach in Mexico and no way was I going to run. It would've ruined the general sense of laziness I enjoyed. I did go for a few walks, but they were mostly leisurely and counted for about as little activity as I could get away with.

Geography also matters in how I perceived today versus when we lived in Kansas City. Today in Texas the temperature at run-time was about 26 degrees. It was really cold and I wanted to turn around before I even made it a quarter-mile. However, I persevered and made it for a whole 2.5 mile outing. Compare that to the times in KC when the thermometer hit 26 degrees in January. I would've been ecstatic during some of those brutal winters. In fact, there were times that felt downright warm. Today, though, it was far from it. It's supposed to get warmer as the week goes along and I'm fine with that.

Four for Saturday

I waited until afternoon to run today since this morning just didn't look nice. The high today is only 48 degrees with a good breeze from the north, but at least the sun poked out after lunch. I ran 4 miles and overall felt much better than earlier in the week. It was nice to get some sunlight during the middle of winter. I didn't get out Thursday due to it being rainy so I was determined to get out today. Mission accomplished.

Number 2,000

This is post number 2,000. This log that I started in December 2006 has lasted 17 years now. I did it to track my progress in running a marathon and now 10 marathons and a bunch of halfs later I'm still going. My youngest daughter asked me yesterday if I would like to run a half with her later this year and of course I said yes. So, now I have a goal.

2,000 posts doesn't mean 2,000 runs. Some posts encompassed multiple runs while others recapped a walk. I guess that means I've done 2,000ish runs. This has been a simple way for me to log each one and go back someday to see what I experienced along the way. Hopefully there's plenty more to write about.

Last One?

Was today the last run of 2023? If so, it wasn't great. I ran a mile and walked another for a total of 2 miles. Just wasn't feeling it, I guess. It was a nice enough day, a little on the cool side with a breeze, but at least the sun was shining.

Which brings up the year in review: how did it go? Okay, I guess. I really do need a goal for next year, like a 10k or a half. The only race I ran this year was the turkey trot, which was fun but not really a stretch goal. All said, though, I'm still glad to be running. It's a good time of relaxation and keeps me reasonably fit. If I can avoid injury and laziness in 2024 that'll be a good thing.

Crispy Run

This morning it was crisp - very cool temperature, breezy, but at least the sun was out. I bundled up for my 4-mile run. Strangely enough, there weren't a lot of people out the day after Christmas. The run itself was good and I'm glad to be on the increase again with mileage. Hoping I can keep that up in the new year. And glad I didn't let the coldness keep my inside.

Misty Run

This morning was supposedly heavy fog, but in reality it was just misty. I needed to get out since I didn't have the chance on Thursday. I ran 4 miles. Overall, I felt good and the effort not too much. I thought about doing a shorter run, but then I figured: why? I wasn't in a hurry and in the holiday season I need the exercise. I spent the afternoon watching a friend work on the brakes on his truck and then coming home and making salsa verde. It's Christmas time!

Walking with The Wife

I had time in my work schedule to walk with The Wife yesterday, so I did. We walked just over 2 miles and it was a bit cool and windy. It was a nice, brisk walk with someone I happen to like a lot. My rib feels almost all the way better. It's weird because it seems to ache when I first wake up but fades as the day goes by. We have rain in the forecast coming up, so we'll see how I can get out between storms.

Frost

Frost on the ground this morning in north Texas and temperature was just above freezing when I went out. The sun was shining and the air was still, which made for a nice setting. I drove to Oklahoma and back yesterday and I felt a little stiff after 7+ hours in the car. This morning I walked briefly, ran 1.85, and then walked the last mile for a total of 3 miles I wasn't in a hurry and that was nice. I think today calls for maximum relaxation.

Odd Run

The mailman delivered a piece of mail the other day that belongs to the same house number, just a street over. So I started my exercise today by walking over and back and then going the regular route. That was a little odd but worked out okay. The good news is I took a few running steps and the pain in my ribs seemed dull. After a few yards it went away and seemed like I could keep going. I really didn't feel it the rest of the way, going 3 miles total and including 1.5 miles of running. I'm back!

Tender Ribs

The ribs are still tender so I walked again today. 2.5 miles or so - I had to make the turn a bit early since some lady was walking three dogs ahead of me and two of them got free when a couple walking toward me passed them by. I decided I didn't want to get in that mess and made an about-face. Very breezy today although the sun was out. I wore long-sleeved shirt and long pants, which turned out to be a good decision. I'd originally thought of wearing shorts but didn't regret going with pants instead.

Ribs

 About 3-4 weeks ago The Wife injured her ribs, I think by bending over a grocery freezer and popping a lower rib. I told her I'd never heard of that but watched her suffer quite a bit before it healed. Then I did the same thing last Friday leaning into my truck's engine compartment to check the oil. What are the odds?

Thursday it rained. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, I didn't run Saturday. Today I took two jogging steps and decided running wasn't for me. So, I walked 2.5 miles. That went okay but I really wanted to keep up the running progression. It might be next week before running is back in the plan. *sigh*

More in the Fall

Another nice autumn day here in north Texas. Just a few degrees under 60 with sun and hardly any breeze to speak of. I went 3.5 miles this time and thought about going another half-mile but decided I felt a little dead-legged. Saw a hot air balloon to the east and a couple of guys walking their dogs, but not much else. Pity since it was such a nice day.

Post-Turkey Run

That stomach virus earlier this week helped me shed four pounds or so, and I did my best to make it back the last couple of days. So today was important for doing my best to maintain some semblance of fitness over the holiday weekend. Temperature was in the low 50s but sunshine-y with a light breeze. I ran 4 miles plus the walking at the beginning and the end. Overall, a pleasant outing that saw me start off wondering if I'd go the distance but ended up making it with gas still in the tank. Plus, gotta take advantage of the cooler weather while it's around and bearable.

Turkey Trot 2023

Ran a turkey trot today for the first time since we moved to Texas from KC, I think. We used to do the Parkville Turkey Trot as a family, but kind of got away from the tradition as the years went by. Daughter #2 asked if I wanted to do one this year, so we did. Got in my 3.11 miles first thing and now it's on to breakfast and more. My run earlier this week was derailed by a fast-moving stomach virus. It hit Monday and left Tuesday, but I didn't feel 100% and decided it would be smart to skip it in lieu of resting. There it is, proof once in a while I actually do something smart.

Darn Near Perfect

Temperature in the upper 50s and sunshine today, almost a perfect day. Tiny breeze out of the north, barely enough to mention. I ran 4 miles overall and felt good the whole way. Plenty of people out today, including a father/son group along the bridge by the pond in the neighborhood to the north. Mostly blocking it on the way out and only slightly on the way back. Other than that, I didn't see a ton of people out, which is kind of amazing considering how nice it is. I'm ready for the Turkey Trot next week. Other than packet pickup, of course.

Avoiding the Dogs

Maybe it's just a function of the times. I ran 3.4 miles but it should've been 3.5. I turned around right before I got to a couple walking their dogs so I wouldn't have to pass them one way and immediately going the other. Then when I got back in the neighborhood I ran by the first house, with a fence running the length of the sidewalk. It was missing a small piece last week and now another, bigger, piece close to street. That dog is a dick. He snapped at me through the missing plank and if it was up to him would've crashed through and eaten me for an appetizer. Last week there was the dog across the street barely a hundred yards west. Maybe I should start carrying dog spray. Anyway, it was a beautiful day and a nice run, dogs notwithstanding. And this is from a dog person.

Pleasant Run

The day was mostly overcast but the clouds parted a bit this afternoon. Temperatures reached the upper 60s and it was a very pleasant day for a run. I thought about going longer than 3 miles but since I'm planning on running a couple more times this week I decided to ramp up on the next couple of runs. Looks likes it's supposed to stay this nice at least through Saturday before a chance of rain moves in. I'll take it.

This is the Week

I count today's run as part of the past Monday-Sunday week, so that means I got in two outings the past week. Better than the previous week. I think this is the week I get back on track. Not the track, just on track. Wanted to clarify. I ran 3 miles today with a temprature in the mid-60s. It was a nice afternoon for running. Last week I signed up for a Turkey Trot with Daughter #2. At least I can run that distance with no issues these days.

Slow Month

Yes, October ended up being a slow month for running. Last week I kind of let it all slide with my parents in town and lots of work obligations. Today I had a chance to get out before it got dark (screw you, daylight savings time) with a temperature of 84 degrees on a November day. The breeze was high and it felt good, but after more than a week off I walked most of a 2.5-mile walk. I ran about .4 of a mile early on but decided to take it easy. Not sure about running on Thursday since rain is in the forecast. We'll see. Hoping to make this a less-slow month.

Between Storms

Lots of rain overnight and this morning, and more expected this evening. Fortunately, a gap between storms arrived this afternoon and I had the chance to get out. I ran 4 miles with the temperature about 60 degrees. The creeks and ponds are way high and I expect they'll rise even more by the time the rain is all done. I walked up the big hill, as usual, and sprinted the last bit into the neighborhood. Overall, a good outing in good conditions.

A Little Water

It's amazing to me how we can go pretty much five months without rain of any kind to a couple of days of rain that causes the creeks to overflow. I guess the ground can't soak it all up or something. The creek I run over on Lake Forest was over its banks and probably has gone down a little bit today. We're due for more rain over the weekend so we'll see how it goes. Rain was the reason I didn't get out on Tuesday.

Today was a different story. I ran at lunchtime since I have a late call this afternoon and went 3.3 miles total. Just like before, I started running from my old spot after a short walking warm-up. Once again it felt pretty good and I think on Saturday, as long as it's not raining, I can run a bit longer. Even though I do love summer, it's nice to run when the sky is overcast and the temperature is only 72. A bit humid, but that's okay.

Multiple Outings

 I walked 1.25 miles with The Wife this morning and then stopped by the house to pick up my iPod before embarking on another 3.3 miles. The extra .3 is because I started running at the old spot, which used to be the usual mark for tracking my mileage. It's .15 miles from the house, so multiply it by two to get the .3. This is the first time I started running from the neighborhood in a long while, and I ran the whole 3 miles except for the big hill on the way back. It's a nice day, a little overcast, but the temperature and breeze feel good. After getting back I harvested the turd crop in the backyard and then mowed, putting me over 12,000 steps before noon. Time to relax the rest of the day.

Three Again

A nice day again, about 74 degrees at run time with sun and a light breeze. Another 4 miles with a half-mile walk to begin and end, a whole three miles in the middle without stopping. I figured I should go for it since I probably won't be able to get out on Thursday. Maybe tomorrow, but it will be just a walk if I do.

Eclipse Run

Solar eclipse today in Texas, and as I ran it started. It was pretty cool to see the crescent sunlight on the ground as it filtered through the trees. I went 4 miles total and ran 3 miles straight. It helped that the temperature was in the 50s with a cool breeze from the north. I actually ran a few hundred yards once I got back to the neighborhood since I spotted The Wife walking ahead of me. It was nice to run without breaks and the momentum toward higher mileage continues.

Around Work

I found an unexpected gap in my work schedule today and got out for a walk/run, which was nice because I have a late afternoon meeting that puts a crimp in my exercise schedule. It's a gray, cloudy day and temperature is only around 70 degrees with a breeze from the south. Almost underdressed in shorts and t-shirt but somehow survived. I went 3 miles total, with half of that running, once again in half-mile increments. I sprinted at the end of the third one and overall felt good. Still planning to increase mileage as the weather cools.

Anniversary Walk

Missed a few days of exercise due to a trip to Georgia to see family I did get in a little walking on Saturday when I took my nephew to a UGA football game. We got back yesterday and today is our anniversary, so The Wife and I went for a nice 3-mile walk. Temperature was only 71 degrees and it's a pleasant day, in many ways. Hard to believe we've been married this long, especially the part where someone would stick with me so many years. Every one of those years has been a gift.

I Love the 80s

Okay, the title is a reference to the temperature today, but I also did love the '80s. It was pleasant outside, sunny, with a nice breeze from the south. Rain is supposed to move in tomorrow night but as I've said before, I'll believe it when I see it. I walked 3 miles today, mainly due to soreness from yesterday when I was snaking a bathroom drain. Interesting that contorting myself into unnatural postions under a sink results in aches and pains the next day. Such is life for someone who lived through the '80s.

Late-Morning, Post-Coffee

The Wife and I went out to breakfast this morning, which was nice but delayed my exercise by a few hours. I went for a 4-miler and ran 2.5 miles of it in .5, 1.5, and .5 mile increments. The temperature wasn't too bad, nor was the humidity, and a nice breeze out of the southwest hit me at some good moments. I still feel like I'm doing well on the road to increasing mileage back to what it was a few years ago.

94?

The temperature says 94 degrees but it doesn't feel like it. Maybe it's because I went out for my walk/run after 5 p.m. as the sun was getting lower. I ran half of the 3 miles in half-mile increments, as I've done before. Even sprinted the last few hundred yards for a literal change of pace. There wasn't much breeze, which again makes me wonder why it didn't feel as hot as the thermometer said. Oh, well, I'll take it.

Sunny Walk

We finally got some rain Sunday night, which cooled things off briefly, but today we're back into the low 90s with lots of sun. I determined this was another good time to walk instead of running. It was a brisk pace, especially since usually I take a little bit to warm up. I can tell we're heading toward the end of the year as the shadows from the fences and trees grow longer. Overall, 3 miles and nothing unusual about it.

Normaler

Today seemed like a normal Saturday, temperature this morning in the upper 70s. I went 4 miles total, running half of that in half-mile intervals. I got out before 8 a.m. so I could come home and eat breakfast and drink my coffee at a leisurely pace. Running felt fine, although at the end I upped the pace and got the heart rate up nice and high. Yeah, that's normal, too.

Skating Fail

This was a new one on me today: almost a mile into my walk and a girl went by me on old-style four-wheel skates. She got about five steps ahead of me and fell. Poor kid, she was probably a high school sophomore or so, wearing backpacks both front and back. I helped her up and she said something about the weight of the backpacks, but I didn't really hear since I was wearing earbuds. Anyway, she seemed okay and skated off. Guess I did my good deed for the day.

Other than that the 3-mile seemed routine. Temperatures still in the low 90s but very breezy, and this might be our last week of hitting 90. We'll see. On Saturday's outing I'll try some running again.

A Little Walking, A Little Running

Today I got out for a 3-miler with storm clouds on the western horizon. I walked a half-mile, ran a half-mile, walked two-tenths of a mile, and was going to run another half but stopped after a quarter. All I can say about that is my knees felt...rickety. Not sure the cause, but I decided to walk the rest of the way. They feel fine now, a couple hours later, and whatever was going on was apparently temporary. I also mowed the back yard after returning home, where I got a few spits of rain but not much else. Youngest Daughter and I went out for dinner and I used the windshield wipers on the truck a little, but again, not much to report from the "storm."

40 Degrees

What a difference 40 degrees makes. A couple of weeks ago I was walking in 107 degrees and this morning started off at 67. Wow.

I missed Thursday's outing due to allergies. They kicked my butt starting Tuesday and by Wednesday I felt like I'd been beaten up multiple times. Seems like the allergy attacks have been more intense the past few years, almost putting me down for the count for multiple days. It sucks. Yesterday I felt almost back to normal. Today I was going to run as much as possible, but in the second interval I felt the effects of the allergies with breathing, so I stuck to 3 miles and ran half of it. Here's hoping the allergies take a hike and I can enjoy running more in the cooler weather.

Seriously

Today the temperature not only stayed in the low 80s but we also got a trace of rain this morning. Which means, of course, that it's time for my allergies to make a grand entrance. Seriously???????

About noon I felt sinus pressure and my head felt stuffy, and then as the afternoon wore on the mucous started running. Again I ask, seriously? So much for getting a chance to enjoy the nice weather.

Regardless, I went out for a walk. I'd planned on running but walked 3 miles instead, with plenty of snot rockets along the way. I got in my exercise, but seriously???????

Broken

The heat broke today and it looks like summer is on the way out. Mostly. Today's high is still 94 degrees but it was only 74 when I headed out for a walk/run. I ran 2.25 miles of the 4 miles and gotta say it felt pretty good. With milder temperatures I should be able to run more frequently and build up the mileage. I'd like to get back to the days of doing six-milers on a regular basis and getting back to the point where I can run a half marathon. It's been awhile but that's my plan over the coming months.

Is This It?

Is this the last time this year I'll be out for a walk where the temperature is over 100 degrees? Could be. Today was 105, tomorrow is supposed to be 107. I'm not walking tomorrow. Then Saturday's high is 99 but I'll be out in the morning before it reaches that point, and after that it trends to the low 90s before plummeting to a high of 78 on Tuesday with rain in the forecast. I went for a 3-mile walk today and it honestly felt like a blast furnace. Maybe it was just the thought this might be the end of the high heat. Whatever the case, I'll start enjoying some cooler walks and runs. At least until next year.

More Summer

Today we made it back over 100 degrees, with a lovely reading of 101 when I went out for a walk after work. Supposedly, this week is it for the high temps. As I've started before, we'll see. I enjoyed a nice 3-mile walk, listening to a podcast for a change. Nothing remarkable about today and the walk. Sometimes you're just in the groove and it all goes according to plan.

Another Delay

Yesterday I smoked a brisket and some other fine meats, meaning I didn't get out until today. Which was a little sad, since the temperature was 68 degrees yesterday morning.

Today wasn't bad, though. We clocked in at 80 degrees when I headed out, and I kept it to 3 miles since I ran half of it. Once again, it was nice to get in a little bit of running in half-mile increments. I also mowed the lawn and cleaned off the patio. Now it's rest time.

Lunch Walking Again

The temperature is actually below 100 degrees in Texas and that called for a midday walk. Still thinking about running and now that my new shoes have 10 miles on them I think it's almost time. Today I walked the usual 3 miles and did so at a pretty fast pace: just over 16 minutes/mile. I know, if I was speedwalking that wouldn't be very impressive, but normally when I walk the first mile is well over 17 minutes/mile. At least it was a nice day and as always it felt good to get out.

Delayed Walk

Yesterday I had a work activity in the afternoon and a concert in the evening, leaving no time to walk. I took the rare Wednesday walk instead. What a difference 10 degrees makes. The temperature was only 96 degrees and for a portion of the return journey the sun hid behind a cloud. I went 3 miles as usual and felt less worse than normal when I got home. The forecast has us hovering around 100 degrees over the next ten days but maybe the season of 106+ degrees is over. We'll see.

Saturday Outing

Once again I walked the 4-mile route where I kept to the shade for a good portion in the middle part. I thought about running since the temperature this morning was in the 80s, but I was breaking in a new pair of shoes and decided not to. It looks like we're in for temps lower than 100 in the coming week, so maybe I can start mixing in some running again. We'll see since I don't actually trust the forecasts.

Earlier Weekday Walk

I walked earlier than normal today since I have plans tonight and didn't want to rush around to get in some exercise. The added benefit included getting out before the temperature went over a hundred degrees. Fortunately, I have a gap in my calendar today between meetings so I went out for a 3-miler. I considered running but even the temperature was only 94 degrees the humidity was pretty high. I decided the best course was to walk. So I did.

Weird items by the side of the road observation: a pair of crutches in the grass along Lake Forest and a baby bottle in the drainage area right inside Creekwood. I wondered if the crutches had been cast aside because someone was miraculously healed, but the reality is probably that one of the McKinney Boyd students threw them aside on the way to school. The baby bottle? Not a clue.

Still Sweating

Today's high was only 102 degrees. "Only." The long-range forecast looks like we get down to the upper 90s for highs next week and then back to the century mark for Labor Day weekend. Like they know.

The breeze today felt good even thought it was hot. I walked 3 miles and when I walked up my street the neighbor next door was putting out his trash bins and asked me how my run was. I laughed. I ain't running in this. I'll continue this pattern and trying to keep up at least a minimum level of fitness until I can run again.

Saturday Morning Walk

The weather app I use cracks me up sometimes. The message this morning was that today is forecast to be cooler than yesterday. Ha ha. Yesterday was 109 degrees, today's high will be 107. WAY cooler.

This morning I walked 3.5 miles. I could have and probably should have gone the extra half-mile, but I wanted to get home for some coffee. Seems lazy of me, doesn't it? Right now I'm on my last cup and at the moment it seems like I made a good choice.

Midday Shade

I had a break between calls after lunch plus a late call on the calendar, so I took the opportunity for a midday walk. I wondered how it would go with the noonday sun, but it was actually okay. The shade under the trees was actually better in some areas. I went out while the temp was in the upper 90s, as opposed to 106 degrees now when I would've had to go out. I walked 3 miles and was happy to see minimal work emails had arrived in my absence. Maybe I should do this more often.

Break in the Heat

For the first time this month we didn't get to 100 degrees today. It topped out at 93 degrees and you could feel the difference. A temperature almost 15 degrees lower than the usual is noticeable. I walked 3 miles total and ran a mile of it in two half-mile increments. It took a little to get back into the rhythm and not feel like I was dying. The breeze helped. I know this won't last but it was nice to get in a little running.

Getting it Done

I went out around 8:30 this morning and got in my 4-mile walk. I considered running part of it since there was a nice breeze and temperature was in the mid-80s, but decided against it. I saw a few people out cycling but not much in the way of other walkers or runners, just a couple. The high today is supposed to be 106 so I'm glad I got it done early and mowed the lawn before the heat sets in this afternoon.

Dog Days

Up to 105 degrees today with heat index of 116. We could sure use some rain. I went my usual 3 miles today, encountering a work crew blocking the sidewalk at one point. Looked like they were stubbing in a fire hydrant, which involved a Bobcat to move some of the earth around. They were gone when I made the return journey. Time to relax in the a/c with a nice cold beverage.

100?

The answer to the question of whether or not it made it 100 degrees today is unclear. On my watch it says 101, but if I look at my phone, which the watch is linked to, the weather app there says 98. On the other weather app on my phone it says 96, but the website on my computer for the same provider says 102. What am I supposed to believe?

Regardless of the temp, we experienced some cloudiness for the first time in a while. That's probably what kept the digits around 100 instead of the 105 in the forecast for tomorrow. And the next day. And 106 the three days after that. Followed by 108, 107, and 107. It's going to be a great week.

In the meantime, I walked my 3 miles today. I'll do my best to keep it going.

See Randy Walk

Maybe I should change the name of this blog to See Randy Walk since that's what I've mainly been doing lately. Today I walked 4 miles and then came home and mowed the lawn. I already have almost 10,000 steps in and it's barely 11 a.m. Pretty normal for a Saturday, I guess. I walked a little different route today to capture more shade in the morning hours and that worked well. Now it's time to relax a little before heading out for a concert tonight, during which I'll be standing the whole time. I think a nap is in order this afternoon.

The Fun Continues

Got up to 105 degrees here today but plummeted to 104 by the time I finished work and got out for a walk. I did the usual 3-mile out and back routine. I was thinking about how getting used to the heat takes a little time. When you start off when the norm is 80 degrees and stick with it as things warm up over weeks and months, hitting the century mark isn't really as big a deal. Although walking for an hour is a lot different than working an eight-hour day on a roof or doing lawncare. Hydration plays a lot bigger role in those cases.

Welcome to August in Texas

Has it cooled down any? Of course not! First day of August and today's high was 104 degrees. The heat index reached 111. When I look at the extended forecast we're supposed to be above 100 through Sunday, although I'll believe that it'll cool down when it actually happens. I went on my 3-mile walk this afternoon and actually saw a guy running. I thought I was crazy...

Pre-Heat Walk

This morning it was 84 degrees when I headed out for a walk. I considered running part of it, but with the humidity as it was I decided walking 4 miles was better than trying to run, too. So, I walked all of it. Seems like that was a good choice since I also needed to mow the lawn. Eleven o'clock in the morning now and I've done my exercise and chores. Guess I'll chill out the rest of the day.

Walk On

Another 100-degree day, another 3-mile walk. It was incredibly similar to Tuesday's outing with a breeze out of the southeast. I must be getting more used to the heat since I didn't really start dripping sweat until I climbed the big hill in the last half-mile. I guess there's something to this acclimatization thing. Actually, I don't know if that's the right word but I'm too lazy too look it up.

Back to Normal

Let's just say the lower temperature from Saturday was very short-lived. Today it's back to normal, with air temp of 102 and heat index of 107. Still not as bad as when we were into the middle 110s but the foreseeable forecast has us at or over 100 for the next week+. I walked 3 miles today and it wasn't bad with a breeze from the east. I mean, it was a hot breeze, but still better than nothing.

Running!

What a nice surprise. When I woke up this morning it was 74 degrees outside. Can't remember the last time it was this cool. Anyway, I decided to get out as quick as possible, before even having coffee or breakfast. The humidity was also pretty darn low, so it actually felt like 74. And wonder of wonders, I even ran! I went 4 miles total and ran 2.25 of it in intervals. I was wondering when I'd be able to run again, thinking it might be September before the chance arrives, but instead I enjoyed this rare summertime opportunity.

Hottie

Today was another hottie, but not the good kind. Temperature was 102 with heat index of 111, a little bit higher than yesterday. It'll be nice when I can get back to running again. Instead, it was another 3-mile walk. Can't complain too much, though, since I wasn't sure I'd get one in today with a work meeting schedule 'til five o'clock. Fortunately, it ended early and I headed right out the door.

Make-up Day

I missed yesterday due to other obligations and decided I should make it up today. Last night the weather app said "Tomorrow's temperature is forecast to be COOLER than today." Which was hilarious, because yesterday's high was 106 degrees and today's 103. Yeah, waaaaaay cooler. Anyway, today at walk time it was 103 degrees with a heat index of 109, which means the humidity is down a little. Lots of sun, obviously, but a good walk nonetheless. I really needed after work today.

A Good Long Walk

This morning we spent time giving out homemade cookies to the local fire department crews, part of a service day at church. Once we made it home I went for a 4-mile walk. I suppose I could've run a little, but it was a bit humid and the sun was out in full force. The temperature was only 92 degrees but heat index was 105. Still plenty of moisture in the air. Now I'm off to mow the lawn.

Texas Never Disappoints

Today the temperature got up to 102 degrees with heat index of 115. I can't say I'm disappointed in this Texas summer. I walked 3 miles and sweated like the proverbial pig. A good breeze out of the southwest helped a little, although there were times when it felt more like someone opened the oven door. At least there's shade in the middle mile. I usually take off my hat during that stretch to let some of my body heat escape. And, you know, to let the wind blow through my hair.

Humid Like a River

Rain the past couple of days, followed by abundant sunlight, equals a very humid day. I didn't even think about running today, choosing to walk 3 miles and sweat profusely. My plan worked. I think we're heading back toward a streak of hot weather, this time with less rain. Still, here we are almost mid-July and it hasn't been off the charts bad so far. I'll still take this over ice and snow any time.

July Reprieve

This morning it was only about 84 degrees, a nice temperature for July in Texas. Plus a breeze from the south. I went a total of 4 miles. That included a mile run in the middle bracketed by walking and two half-mile runs. I thought about going an extra mile but plan on walking at some point today with The Wife. The high today is in the low 90s, another plus. I thought we might get a little rain but it ended up sprinkling just a little with nothing to show for the cloudiness. Oh well, it's a nice day to sit on the back patio and relax.

Training Walk

My calendar has late meetings on it today, and the only time I could get out was during a training session. I only had to listen instead of running it, and that worked out fine. I walked 3 miles and carried my phone in a waist pack, or whatever it's called. In case you're wondering, the session was fine. The walk was good and I considered running, but wow, it was humid. I sweat plenty just by walking. Now back to the meetings.

I Tried

Today is not as hot as it's been lately, with the temperature around 90 degrees when I went out for an Independence Day excursion. I tried to run a little, testing the waters as it were, and quickly decided it was a walking day. We had a storm blast through yesterday evening and it left the area under a nice blanket of humidity. The creek was full when I passed over, which is nice to see at this time of year. I ended up going 3 miles, and that was plenty. After my brief running trial, which lasted about a third of a mile, I felt the fingers of calf cramps and knew the humidity was too much. But it was a nice walk overall.

Not So Hot

Today is much cooler than it's been the past few weeks. It was only about 86 degrees with a heat index of 93 plus cloud cover. I'm smoking a brisket today and didn't want to be gone too long, so I planned on going 3 miles and ended up at 2.82 because of people walking along the path around where I would normally turn. And here's the bigger deal: I actually ran part of the route today. About 1.3 total, with a pickup at the end. Not bad for a Saturday in July in Texas.

109 on a 100 Base

Today's temp got up to 100 degrees with a heat index of 109. Par for the course these days. I went on another 3-mile walk that felt much like the one a couple of days ago. I have to say the only other people I saw out were the guys doing lawn care work. 50 minutes or so for a walk feels pretty draining; I can't imagine doing it all day. God bless those guys.

Heat Index

This is about as high as the heat index has risen, at least while I've been paying attention. It was 102 degrees with heat index of 116 when I left the house for today's walk. Strangely enough, it wasn't really that bad. A breeze from the southeast helped, as well as shade at various points along the route. I walked 3 miles and then came home and mowed the lawn. Yeah, I'm kind of stupid that way.

Water in the Creek

There's water in the creek again after a surprise thunderstorm late yesterday afternoon. I thought the storm was going to stay north of us but we caught the southwestern edge and got hammered for a good 45 minutes or so. We needed it. Of course, that made this morning humid but that's fine by me. I walked 3 miles. I'd rate it as a good walk since I was in no hurry and had no place to be. Lots of stray thoughts throughout the walk, which is probably better to do at noon than in the middle of the night.

Walk and Mow

Yesterday the temperature plummeted to the low 90s and the humidity actually kept the heat index below 100. I still walked instead of running and went 2.5 miles. When I got home the lawn needed a trim, so I got in a little more walking. We're headed to the century mark over the next week, which means I'll likely continue the walking with little to no running. 

See Randy Walk

Maybe I should rename this website. When it's 97 degrees with heat index of 115 outside, there's not gonna be much running going on. I needed to get outside, though, and do something. I walked 3 miles and generated a nice bucket of sweat. It wasn't that bad. Really. I knew I would walk the whole way and no pressure to run. Summer is here, although it officially starts tomorrow according to the calendar. Either way, it's arrived in Texas already.

Running While Smoking

Today I put a pork shoulder on the smoker, and figured even though that requires attention I still needed to get out for some exercise. I went 3 miles, half of it running. Still very humid around here, and I heard that Wednesday and Thursday were some of the most humid (humidest?) days on record in the Dallas area. I believe it. At least I got in my exercise for today as well as mowing the lawn. Now it's time to enjoy the long weekend.

Welcome Back, Summer

Yesterday we hit 94 degrees, a nice jump up in temperature. A nice breeze out of the southeast helped, at least when running against it. I went 4 miles total and ran half of it in half-mile blocks. All the walking in between helped me make it the whole way and also seemed to keep my heart rate from getting too high. Plus the areas of shade along the route were also most welcome. I've been wearing a hat due to some spots on my forehead (more like a six- or seven-head) that had to be removed last year, and the hat is supposed to keep more from developing in the harsh Texas sunlight. At least in the areas of shade I was able to take off my hat and that helped cool me down in those instances.

Misty June Day

Definitely not a normal June day. It was cool, only getting up to about 80, and cloudy all day. It finally rained about the time I was heading out, although it was more of a mist than actual rain. Maybe a little more than mist. Whatever the case, it wasn't too bad. It picked up a little bit around the mile mark, so I ended up going only 2.5 miles. The good news is that I ran 1.6 of that with a pickup at the end. I got in some sweat regardless of the weather. The forecast looks like after tomorrow we start getting into real summer weather. This might be the coolest run I have for a while.

Disassociated 5k

Another day, another 5k. That's 3.1 miles out of the 5-mile outing. It was another nice Saturday morning with clouds on the horizon but nothing overhead. Fortunately, there was a very nice breeze which kept me cool. The temperature was in the high 80s and it looks to get hotter over the next week. I appreciate the chance to acclimate to the upcoming warmth. Or hotness. Whatever you want to call it, it's summer in Texas.

1 of 3, 2 of 4

The 1 of 3 in the title refers to the baseball games I attended the previous three nights. The good guys (Cardinals) were in town to play the bad guys (Rangers). The good guys won only 1 of the 3 games, which was actually better than I expected since the bad guys are playing lights out so far this year and the good guys...aren't. Had fun anyway, although it meant missing my Tuesday outing.

Today I ran 2 of 4 miles, the latter half of the title above. The temperature is still hovering in the upper 80s with a nice touch of humidity. I ran four half-mile intervals with a pickup the last quarter-mile or so. It was good to get out and sweat again. This time the heart rate seemed reasonable although I wasn't watching it that closely 'til the end.

Someone asked me the other day if I still run and if I want to do any more marathons. Yes, I still run, I replied, and I'd like to run more halfs and fulls. The problem for me is the time commitment, which first of all means getting into good enough shape to be able to start a real training program. Something to consider.

Another 5k

In today's 5-mile outing I ran 3.1 miles in intervals. Interestingly, I cut short the next-to-last interval because my heart rate seemed too high. It got up to 165, and as I've mentioned before, that's above the max heart rate if you use the normal calculation. At the very least it was in the 90%+ range. It got up to the same rate toward the end of my final half-mile interval, but I stuck it out so I could get to the 5k mark in running. I didn't feel horrible during any of it but I did feel like I was laboring a little more than usual. Temperature was about 80 degrees but humidity was way up. Or maybe it was tougher because I didn't find a hundred-dollar bill this time. 

Feeling Like a Hundred Bucks

I actually found a hundred-dollar bill on my run today. Yes, I searched around quite extensively to see if someone was looking for it, but I saw not a soul. Like nobody was out today running or cycling. Yes, I kept it. I've found a twenty and once a fiver on previous runs, but this one takes the cake.

What's interesting is that if I'd given in to a shorter run like my mind kept telling me, I wouldn't have found it. The money was almost at the turnaround point for two miles out and then two back. In fact, I didn't see it when I passed it the first time. It was on the return. I considered turning around at 1.5 miles, and then had almost convinced myself to turn at 1.75 and do a 3.5 mile run, which I rarely do. Instead, I thought another quarter mile out wasn't that far.

I know, I'm making too big a deal of it. Especially since it's going in the offering plate at church to help the food pantry or the local homeless ministry. Hey, it wasn't mine to begin with and it's a chance to pass it along to someone who does.

Running? Yeah, 4 miles total with 2.5 in intervals. The temperature was in the mid to high 80s but a breeze out of the southeast kept things reasonable. Still recovering from the wedding weekend and sweating for an hour or so felt good.

Revelry

I certainly intended to get out for some exercise while we had a bunch of family in town for a big wedding, but somehow it just never happened. After all the revelry and some people leaving this morning, I desperately needed a walk/run. A big thunderstorm rolled through yesterday about dinner time, leaving us to bask in the humidity today. I went 3 miles and ran only one out of that, but today was more about just moving than any serious effort. Still have stuff going on next weekend and early next week, but let's see if I can make the exercise happen.

Just a Walk

Due to scheduling this week, I decided today was the day to get out for some exercise. My knees felt...puffy? Not sure of the right word, but maybe it was because of the running two days ago. Or because I'm old. Or maybe both.

So, I walked. I walked 3 miles. It was a nice, semi-brisk walk. Beyond giving my knees a chance to recover, I think it was also good to be out in warmer weather without sweating up too much of a storm. It's the part of the year where I need to acclimate again to the heat and I'm well on my way. If I can run tomorrow, I will, but if not then at least I'm not going too long without exercise.

More Run than Walk

Today has to be the longest continuous run I've done in I-don't-know-how-long. I mean, I could go back and look at previous posts but that would take effort. Instead, I'll just say I ran 3.7 miles out of 5 total, with a run in the middle of 3.2 miles. Today was great here in Texas for a run like that. A little humid but nice breeze out of the north to make it palatable, and temperature only 70 degrees. In fact, when I first woke up it was almost too cool to sit on the patio and drink coffee. After a few errands it was time to run, and so I did. It feels nice to have that accomplishment in the bag and primes me nicely for the upcoming hot weather.

Failed Flying

Tuesday I was supposed to travel to Toronto for work. Short story: I got the whole experience of boarding and deboarding without ever leaving the airport. Delays kept accumulating so I finally ended up canceling the trip. The downside was I was worn out from the experience plus all the work I did when I got home so I skipped running that day.

Today was different, with sunshine, a nice southerly breeze, temperature in the mid-80s, and no aborted plane flights. It was humid, as usual, so I went 4 miles and ran 2.25 of that in four intervals. Not bad and keeps me feeling good about continuing to get back and stay in shape.

5k Out of 5 Miles

All that rain we were supposed to get over the last three days? Not a drop. Definitely par for the course.

Today was humid, though, with temperature in the low 80s. I went 5 miles total and ran 3.1 of that, or 5k. I did intervals of .5, .75, .67, .75, and .5. Actually, I guess that adds up to 3.17, a little more than 5k. The running parts felt just fine, even though I felt my left hip was a little sore for some reason when I started. I tried to concentrate on propelling myself with both legs equally, making sure I wasn't favoring one over the other. A little bit of extra focus in that area seemed to help. Now it's time to mow the lawn.

Some Humidity in the Area

We had a little rain yesterday. Not as much as forecast, but enough to put some water in the creek and up the humidity some. It was noticeable today and I took a walk at the halfway point of my 4-mile run, which means my total running distance was 1.8 miles with the rest walking. I think it was a wise choice and I made up for the extra walk by adding some speed to the last tenth of a mile or so. Remember, speed is relative and I ain't as fast as I used to be. Not that I was ever that fast, but still.

Two for the Show

Ran two of the 4 miles today, in the usual interval pattern. I have to say I feel pretty good about it since the temperature was 84 degrees and a little humid, which I'm still getting used to. At least there was a nice breeze to cool me down in certain parts, and of course, some shade. We have intermittent rain in the forecast starting tomorrow through Monday, but if the weathermen keep up their usual success rate we won't get much of anything. Which means I'll be able to run as scheduled.

Back from the Great White North

Spent the last week in Minnesota, where it was still not spring. I took running clothes, but apparently not enough cold/cool-weather gear. The temperature was mostly in the 50s with nighttime lows in the 30s, and plenty of wind to refrigerate things even more. Needless to say, running did not occur.

Yesterday I changed brakes on Daughter #2's car, a process that took more than twice as long because some idiot engineer decided the long screws securing the bracket needed Allen wrench heads instead of hex bolts. And recessed them inside a short collar. What a crapfest. Plus, the temperature skyrocketed to the low 90s, quite the change after the week in colder climes. I say all this to say I got plenty of activity yesterday, which impacted my outing today.

The older I get, the more those types of activities leave me sore. Today I kept the outing to 3 miles to stretch out after ten days or so of no exercise followed by the brake-changing debacle. Also it was the first time running with higher temperatures (in the 80s) so easing back in seemed appropriate. I did run half of that in half-mile increments and the wind was a nice relief. I plan on walking the next few days to continue stretching out the sore muscles.

Got Out Regardless

Unexpectedly due to a late work schedule, rain in the forecast, and potential yard work, I ended up getting out. The total was 3 miles, but at least I got out when I didn't think I would. The least reliable of all those delays is clearly the forecast. The weathermen around her suck and they have been wrong so many times over the last few months, predicting 90%+ chance of rain and the storm totally bypass the entire county. Their inaccuracy is my gain.

Saturday 5

Went 5 miles today. Three 3/4 mile intervals bracketed on both ends with half-mile intervals for a total of 3.25 miles of running. Overall it felt good and it was a beautiful day for running. I finished writing a new book this morning and then had some great thoughts about next steps with it. That often happens when I'm out running and my mind clears. I didn't get to run on Thursday due to work and bad weather. I was planning on running five then, but postponed until today. It all worked out, so no complaints.

Blustery

Very windy today and cooler as well, but not too cool. I went 3 miles and ran half of that. Cloudy and gray but at least it wasn't raining. Although we can always use rain in Texas.

Fourshadowing

I ran at midday on a Saturday. Not much in the way of shade, just enough to keep me from overheating. My heart rate climbed up to about 160 a few times, which caused me to start thinking about maximum heart rate once more. If I go by the common method, I was almost at max. Even though I felt the effort I still wouldn't say I'd maxed out. Plus, I feel like I'm still building back up to my previous fitness level, so not really surprising my heart rate got a little higher than expected.

4 miles was the total, with 2.5 of that in running. The breeze was strong but felt good when running against it. Lots of sunshine and no complaints there. The temperature was in the high 70s and I'll take it for now and enjoy.

Powering Through

It's hard to breathe when your throat is constricted from allergies. It wasn't horrible today, but it also wasn't good. I decided to keep the mileage at 3, which turned out to be the right choice since my iPod died a mile before I finished. If I'd gone an extra it would have been a useless weight for half my run. I was also still feeling the effects of soreness from earlier this week, and the first interval of running was tough. For the last interval I actually ran faster to try a different cadence and stretch muscles in a different way. I think it worked to change things up a little. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Allergies Are Back

Sunday - Easter Sunday - I felt miserable. I changed the brakes on my truck in the afternoon and by evening had a massive allergy attack. We had people over for dinner and I went upstairs before they left. Pretty crappy of me, but I felt horrible and wasn't good company. Yesterday I felt like someone had beat me with a baseball bat.

Today was better and not as bad with the allergies, but still not 100%. I walked a half-mile and then gave running a try. After a couple of minutes I determined it was best to just walk and stretch out the sore muscles. I went 3 miles total and feel okay for now. We'll see how the allergies treat me this evening.

Travel Week

Spent the first half of this week in Toronto for work and the early morning plane ride back on Wednesday was a complete debacle due to weather. Then Thursday and Friday were windy and cool and nasty, so today was my first real chance to get out again. I did another 4 miles with the same intervals as I've been doing. Today felt really good. Looks like the up-and-down weather patterns are done and temperatures should be more consistent going forward. I'm looking forward to it.

Another

Something was going on Thursday where I couldn't run but now I can't remember what it was. Probably work-related. Yesterday, Saturday, ended up being wonky with one of the kids and breakfast and so on. Today I was determined to get in a run before rain hits later in the day, and I did. Same routine as the last couple, although it felt a little humid and I walked two minutes halfway through the longest interval and total running was probably 2.3 miles out of the 4 miles total. Glad to get in some exercise before the work week starts.

Feeling the Running

Did the same routine today as I did Saturday and for the first time in a long while the running part felt normal. I've walked a lot and become used to that cadence, I think. On my last half-mile interval today I had that thought about not thinking about it. It was a nice moment. Not necessarily a runner's high but still good. 4 miles total with 2.5 of it of the running variety. 

Coming Back

Every time I go out and put some running in with the walking, I tell myself I'm coming back from injury and laziness, but mostly laziness. Today was beautiful, with temperature in the high 60s and sunny. I went 4 miles total, with 2.5 of that running, including 1.5 miles straight running in the middle. I'm starting to feel better about running, stronger and not getting winded as easily. I also think the days and nights where we get down to freezing or lower are over. I'm fine with that.

Back to Sweating

What a difference from Monday and the last couple of days. Today was warm, topping out over 80 degrees, and while there was plenty of wind at least it wasn't the bitterly cold kind. I was able to get out after lunch for 3 miles, running half of that. Looks like the cold weather is finally over for us, but then again, you never know for sure. It was nice to get out and sweat again.

First Day of Spring

According to the calendar, winter is over and spring is here. The freezing overnight temperatures and cold wind this morning from the southeast disagree. Fortunately, the rest of the week it's supposed to be in the 70s. Since I have a crappy schedule for work today and tomorrow in the afternoons, I went for a 2-mile walk with The Wife this morning. Let's just say the weather was brisk and leave it at that. Here's hoping that was the last of it.

Slicing

The wind out of the northeast sliced right through my clothes on today's outing. The temperature was supposed to be 48 degrees but felt like 42, or so said the weather app. It felt colder than that. In fact, at the first blast a couple of blocks from home I almost turned around and went back. But then I decided I'd gone to all the trouble to get dressed that I might as well follow through. I went 4 miles total, running half that in half-mile intervals. If it hadn't been for that darn wind it would have been a really good outing. I even stopped when a woman and her four friends were taking a picture and offered to take it for them so they could all be in it. That's me, walking, running, and making friends.

Double Post

This is a two-fer.

Yesterday went for a morning walk with The Wife. It was a bit cool and we bundled up. The wind was out of the northeast and blasted us pretty good about two blocks into it but we decided to keep going. Once we warmed up it was better and we went 3 miles. The trip back, going south, was better. At least it was sunny the whole way.

Today I took advantage of a gap in my work calendar and got out for a little over a half-hour. The total mileage was 2.4 miles, an odd total. That was because I had a time limit and included running for about a mile of it. Again, a nice day. I was motivated to do it today since tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, too many meetings for work, and a chance of rain. The days I'm getting out are not necessarily the normal ones, but at least I'm able to wedge in some activity.

Enjoying the Weather

Today's temperature is supposed to get us up into the 80s. When I went for a walk/run at about 11:30 it was still in the high 60s and overcast. Two hours later it's 78 and sunny. Still enjoyed it, though, and decided to go 3 miles total today. I ran half of it in half-mile increments. Felt pretty good. It was a little breezy out of the south but that was a feature, not a bug.

Third Day

This was the third day in a row I went for a walk and it was another beautiful one. I went about 3.2 miles this time. The temperature was above 80 degrees, not bad for Texas in early March. Once again I considered running but my hips felt tight after several days in a row of exercise. Seems kind of lame, no pun intended, but I'm trying to develop consistency without hurting myself. I don't know if I'll get out tomorrow but we'll see how the day goes.

Follow-Up

Today was another beautiful day and I went for a 4-mile walk. I considered running a little but decided to go for the extra mile instead. If I can get back on track with 3-4 outings a week then I will start adding running into the mix again. Walking was a good choice for today.

Lost Week

What a week. Once again making a living cut into my time to get out and exercise. Plus I went to New York City on Wednesday and flew back Friday. I missed a big windstorm that come through on Thursday. Fortunately, today was extra nice. The Wife and I got out for a 3-mile walk and enjoyed temperatures in the low 70s. As I've said before, I need to prioritize exercise and that's my plan in the next week. I find I get a little grumpy without exercise. Nobody wants me to be grumpy.

Short Walk

The Wife and I went for a short walk today. We'd thought about going yesterday but it was blustery and decided to wait until today. This afternoon it was a decent temperature and we had a few minutes before she had to take a loaf of bread out of the oven. All told we probably walked less than 30 minutes but at least we got out and about for a few.

Midday Walking

I was off work yesterday, for the most part, so I took a lunchtime walk. Ended up being 2.9 miles but I'm rounding up. It was a beautiful day and the temperature was about 80 degrees on its way to 87 later in the afternoon. Nice breeze, and when I looked in the mirror later in the day it was clear I'd gotten a little sun. Nice to see the weather in Texas behaving like it's supposed to.

Sporadic Walk

Last week the weather turned bad again, and by that I mean cool and extremely windy. We had a thunderstorm warning one day and got...nothing. Still, it was a week of not getting out and by today I definitely needed to do something. The Wife and I went on a 3-mile walk in early afternoon and it was indeed nice to get outdoors. Even though yesterday was nice I smoked a brisket, but hopefully nicer days are in the near future. Gotta find some consistency again..

2.5 + 3 = 2

Equals two days in a row. I missed Saturday due to cleaning up some home improvement project remnants and went for a walk on Sunday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, in the mid-60s and sunny, and I went 2.5 miles. I was going to go longer but when you reach a certain age your bladder tells you when it's time to turn around and go home before bad things happen.

Today was about the same temp, but overcast and a bit breezy. I still went 3 miles, though, and ran three intervals of .5, .6, and .5. So, if my math is correct, unlike the title of this post, that means I ran over half the distance today. Tomorrow is supposed to be extremely windy with some rain early, and same on Wednesday. We'll see how it goes.

Back At It

Since last weekend when I went to concerts two nights in a row and stood for 5+ hours at each, my lower back has been achy. Not too bad, but I felt it today when I ran on my outing. I went 3 miles total and ran two half-mile segments. The weather was too nice to miss a run today and I'm glad I went. Being out in the sunlight is a nice pick-me-up, especially in what would normally be the dead of winter.

Felt Like More

Today was particularly windy, like the 25+ mph type of wind. With gusts stronger than that. It was also the day before rainstorms make an appearance so I decided to brave the wind and get in another walk. I went 3 miles again, but it sure felt like more. I think I deserve extra credit for this one.

Three of the Walking Variety

Last week the cold weather came back with a vengeance, leaving behind ice for several days. I may not be a smart man, but I do know better than to tempt fate by trying to walk a few miles on a sheet of ice. The last couple of nights I went to concerts and stood for six-plus hours each time. When the sunny day showed temperatures in the 60s I was happy to get out for a walk. I thought about running some but my knees and lower back are still recovering from so much standing. I walked 3 miles and hope for nicer weather in the coming week. Rain is in the forecast, but we'll see.

Cold and More

A cold front moved in Tuesday and we even got a little snow, although that didn't even last until morning. Naturally, I chose to stay warm. Today was better, with a nice sunny afternoon and temperature of 52 degrees. I only went 3 miles but it was nice to get out in the sunlight. I ran about 1.75 miles of that. Felt a little stiff but not horrible. I think Saturday is supposed to be warmer but there's also a chance of rain. We'll see.

Building Back Better

It was tempting to be lazy again today and stay home, but the day was too nice. Temperature in the mid-50s, sunshine, and light breeze from the south. Tempting, but I also know we will still have our fair share of really cold days in the next couple of months and missing out on a day like today would be regrettable.

I resolved to run most of today's 4-miler and ended up running three miles straight. I'm still not sure if the heartbeat count on my Apple Watch is correct since I got up to 156 but like I said previously, didn't feel like I was near the limit. It felt good to continue building back up to continuous running. The foundation is there, just gotta keep at it.

Out of Town

I was out of town the last week, part personal and part business. I did not get in any walking or running while I was gone, which I knew was going to happen. The work part included a 5k run every morning, but I've taken my gear before and then it suits in my suitcase, so this time I didn't even take it.

Today was a light day workwise since everybody is getting back from the conference and I was able to get out for a 3-mile walk. It was nice to get out in the fresh air after being held hostage in a Vegas hotel for four days. The sunlight felt great even though it was a little on the cool side with a breeze from the north. No complaints, though.

Building Up

I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon with The Wife, which was nice. We went another 3 miles and enjoyed a nice day.

Today was really nice gorgeous. Temperatures in the 70s and hardly a breeze, which I could tell when I ran by the big pond and there were no ripples from the wind. I went 4 miles total, and ran 2.75 of that in longer segments. After a walk, I ran 1.45 miles, walked .15, and ran another 1.3, followed by a cooldown walk. I figured it's time to start building up again to the point where I can run without walking. I'm on my way.

More Walking and Running

Yesterday morning I went for a walk with The Wife for a total of 3 miles. I had the opportunity to get out for it before work.

This morning I walked with her again for a little over a half-mile and then I took off for a little running. I ran four intervals: .5 miles, .7, .9, and .5 again, for a total of 2.6 miles out of 4.4 total. If I can keep this going then I should be back to running continuously again soon.

I became curious about maximum heart rate during the run since during the longest interval I went up a rise against the wind and my watch showed heart rate of 162. I know I'm not in prime shape, but my memory of the maximum heart rate formula is 220-age, which means 165 would be the number. And I'm no mathematician, but 162 is pretty close to 165. I didn't feel like I was pushing that hard, though, and I know how it feels to get to max heart rate. I just looked it up and one formula for fit people would put my max at 175, and another for people over 40 would be 170. Both of those sound more realistic based on how I felt at that point in the run. Not a major deal but like I said, it did pique my curiosity.

New Year, New Me

Not really, it's the same old me. Here it is the fourth day of the year and I'm just now posting. I think I went out earlier this week but the days have blended together after starting up work again. I was going to go yesterday but the Bat Signal went out from the cigar shop, and well...I responded as a superhero would. Today I went 3 miles and walked the whole way. Temperature was in the mid-50s but it felt a lot cooler with a breeze from the north.

I also got a new phone yesterday, and much to my chagrin the Walk to Mordor app I was keeping track of running and walking was no longer available in the app store. I was halfway there! I guess this means Sauron wins.

Final 2022 Outings

Yesterday I went 4 miles, all walking. I'd been out Monday and Tuesday, then Wednesday did other stuff and Thursday was horribly windy.

Today I did another 4 miles, with half-mile runs inserted. I even sprinted the last interval, or at least ran it faster than the others.

How can I describe 2022? The word inconsistent once again comes to mind. This is the lowest number of outings I've had in 15 years, which is not a good trend. I'm thinking about what I want to do in 2023, and a race would be a good start. We have a couple of spring weddings in the family so not sure how a race would fit in, but it's worth a look. Goodbye 2022, and welcome 2023!

Cold Snap

We definitely hit the cold weather mark last week. On Thursday morning the temperature dropped 20 degrees in one hour, and we made it into single digits that night. We also had winds over 30 mph and wind chill below zero. All that to say, it wasn't the most wonderful time of the year. We managed to stay warm and celebrate Christmas with the kids. All in all, a good holiday.

I got an ear infection about the middle of last week, waking up in the middle of the night with sharp pain in my right ear. Fortunately, that was the worst of the pain, although it's stayed clogged up every night since, moving to the left ear last night. I was feeling lethargic and low-energy, usually a sign I need exercise. The sun came out this afternoon and the breeze was okay, so I walked 4 miles and already feel better. I don't know if that'll take care of the ear problems, but it can't hurt.

Christmas Break

I'm off work the rest of this week, which means I can do my exercising during the day when the sun's out. I replicated Saturday's outing with walking and running and the 4-mile distance. It's a cool day again but at least the sun is shining. Not a whole lot of people out. In fact, I think I only saw one other person, and she was walking her dog. The only other people I saw were the lawn crew at the Mormon church, blowing leaves out onto Lake Forest. Wish I could get away with that. I filled two lawn bags with leaves from the front yard on Sunday, which is interesting since my tree doesn't drop leaves. They all belong to the neighbors who don't rake their lawns. I could return the leaves to the rightful owners, but I'm sure they'd just blow into my yard again. Sigh.

Cold Front

It was only about 40 degrees today when I left for a walk. At least the sun was shining and the breeze from the north wasn't too bad. I felt pretty good and decided to throw in some running to the outing. Overall, I went 4 miles and ran a total of half that in half-mile increments. It was nice to run. Walking is fine, but it takes soooooo long to go any distance. Running cuts down on that, not that I'm that fast.

I was also able to get out for a walk on Wednesday of 3 miles. Work has been too crazy the past couple of weeks but that should stop as I have some time off around the holidays. It's supposed to stay pretty cold for the next week but with no work I should have the opportunity to get out more often and in warmer parts of the day.

A Few More

I did manage to get out Tuesday for another walk, this one of the shorter variety at 2 miles. It was another nice day before the rain and work intervened to keep me caged up until today. That's okay, though, since I never mind getting rain around here.

Today was one of those days where it's cooler outside than the temperature. With a little breeze out of the north it kept things interesting until I warmed up. I went 4 miles total, walking, and saw very few people out on the path. I guess the weather kept people from wanting to take a walk, but not me. At least not today.

Midday Sunny Sun

Nice day today, with the temperature in the low 70s. That's a big difference from last week when it struggled to get up to 50 most days. Since I have late-afternoon check-in calls with a customer every day for the next two weeks I decided to get out and enjoy the sunshine during a break in my schedule. It was gorgeous and I actually wore shorts and a t-shirt. Walked 3 miles, hoping to build back my stamina. I did do a bit of walking on Saturday when I went to the Big 12 Championship game, but I wouldn't say I really focused on that as exercise.

A Few Walks

Sunday turned out to be really nice, so The Wife and I went for a 3-mile walk in the sunshine. Yesterday was also very nice, 75 degrees, and I walked for just over 2 miles. I enjoyed them both since I knew it was going to get very cool again, just as it did this morning with a start right at the freezing mark. 

A Run of No Running

No excuses for the past couple of weeks, really. A little rain and cooler temperatures, but I could have gotten out plenty of times. For some reason, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, I got lethargic as far as exercising goes. I keep saying I need to get back in the routine, and I do. Today I walked 3 miles as a start. I think tomorrow is supposed to be rainy all day. Maybe I can get in some exercise at a break, if there are any, or I can aim for Sunday.

Where Did Summer Go?

It was in the low 40s in the late morning when I left for a run. At least it was sunny, but as in most cases when it's cold early in the season I underdressed. I should have worn gloves, but at least I was smart enough to wear long sleeves. I ran 1.25 out of the first 2 miles and then ran into a guy I know from the pub. Hadn't seen him in a while so I walked most of the next mile as we chatted. I ran most of the last mile at a faster paced and then sprinted the last .15 or so. All in all I did 4 miles and it was quite...invigorating.

Bag of Old Tricks

I walked a couple of miles yesterday after the "failed" running attempt on Tuesday. Today I wanted to try running again, so I dusted off a few tricks from the old bag. 

First, since I've experienced this before and the pain on Tuesday was similar, today I didn't start running until I got to level ground. The twinge started the other day on a downhill section. Today, no twinge.

Second, I used another trick called "running faster." Yes, I've found that changing my pace can also change my gait enough to get it back into whack. I've been running at the same speed (slow) for months. This time I sped up just enough to fool my legs and knees into a different mindset, if that makes sense. Whatever the case, it worked.

Finally, I still walked when I needed to. On a slight downhill just past a mile in, over and back a slight rise right before the turnaround, and up the downhill from the first part of the walk. No expectations, just trying to get back into better shape. Today's total was 3 miles and hopefully the weather will stay nice enough over the weekend for me to get out again.

Knee Muscles

I was at a guys' weekend and got back yesterday, meaning today was my first outing in a week or so. I figured I would do a light walk/run to try and get back in shape, but stopped running after about a third of a mile. I felt a twinge in my knee and when I started walking after that and an ache on the outside of my left knee. I attribute this to weakness in the muscles around my knee, which makes sense with all the inconsistent exercise of the last month. And by inconsistent, I mean lazy. So today I went about 3 miles total, but at least I got in some outdoor time. We also turned the clocks back last weekend, and I am not fond of that since it gets dark so early.

Running to Vote

I wanted to run over to the fire station yesterday where I usually vote, but the washing machine repairman ran behind and a 2 p.m. appointment became a 4 p.m. appointment. That's okay, clean clothes took priority over voting in this case since it's been 17 days since we got back from Ireland. First World problems, I know, but going to the laundromat is an inconvenience when you've paid for a washing machine that should work.

Yesterday was beautiful weather, and fortunately today was as well. The route west and back totaled up about 3.6 miles, and I ran close to 3 of that. Since this is early voting season, I only had to wait about five minutes or so. Nice and easy, and now that's done. Plus, I finally got in some exercise after some rain last week and general laziness, mostly general laziness. *salutes* General Laziness.

Perfect Day?

Was this a perfect day? I don't mean my running, of course. I mean the weather. The sky was blue. The wind was a slight breeze from the south. The temperature was 72 degrees.

I mean, seriously? This was a gorgeous day. It's a Wednesday, for crying out loud. I don't run on Wednesdays. But I did today.  And I ran 2.75 miles out of the 4-mile outing. It was one of those days where I would have been mad at myself if I didn't get out. 

And I also saw The Wife twice in the exact same place on Raincrest. She was coming back from the grocery store the first time, and the second time she was coming back again because they'd overcharged her six dollars on three items. You'd think they would learn their lesson.

Sunday Wind

Yes, I was extremely behind this week in getting back to exercise. It took a few days to stop waking up at 4 a.m. at least once a night and going back to sleep. On the plus side, during one of those waking sessions I came up with a new book idea and started writing it on Thursday morning. So that's a good thing, and completely unexpected.

Yesterday I smoked a brisket and sat outside in the wind all day. Today is equally windy, but I went out for 4 miles. The temperature was 84 degrees, maybe our last hurrah before storms move in tomorrow. I ran half of that distance, intermittently of course, a half-mile or so at a time. The sun was shining and there were only a few people out for a walk. Maybe they got their exercise in yesterday while I was being lazy.

Walking in Ireland

Spent the last two weeks in Ireland and we walked like crazy. We never walked less than 10,000 steps a day, and there were several days we walked 7-8 miles. We saw a lot of great stuff and enjoyed ourselves, of course. I'd have to say all that walking helped keep off some of the usual vacation weight gain.

We started in Dublin, then drove around the island. First to Cork, then Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Ballycastle, and finally Belfast. With a lot of points in between. I keep saying it was the trip of a lifetime and I mean it. The island was gorgeous, the food outstanding, and the people friendly. Now it's back to Texas and getting into the routine of walking and running.

Out for a Bit

I walked 4 miles on Wednesday, and then yesterday (Thursday) I did another 4 miles. That one was half running, half walking. It's been a little while since I actually got in any running, but the temperature was down to 81 degrees so it seemed like the right thing to do.

I'll be out for the next couple of weeks, mostly walking but probably not posting anything here. See you on the flip side.

Lots o' Walking

On Saturday I walked twice, both morning and afternoon. Yesterday (Monday) I went 4 miles on a walk. And today was about 2.5 miles. I would have gone for a run on a normal Tuesday, but it's getting close to vacation time and I need to break in my new boots. So The Wife and I went over to Creekview and walked along the path there. My boots are Clark's and probably don't need to be broken in, but the time to find out I should have done so is not when I'm wearing them constantly in Ireland. The good news is they fit just fine and I think they'll be okay.

99 in September

It's still summer here in Texas. I was ready to run a bit yesterday but the temperature was 99 degrees. I think we're almost to the end since it plummets into the upper 80s by Monday, but for now it's still walking weather. I walked 4 miles yesterday, still getting in my steps. Today being Friday was a no-go on more, but tomorrow I'll make up for it.

Also, still liking the Apple Watch almost a month in. I was sitting in the cigar shop late this afternoon and it said my pulse was over 100, which it was not. So maybe not always entirely accurate, but I like checking it on my walks/runs.

Two for One

Yesterday I had meetings until almost 6 p.m. Needless to say, it was a long day and I was not up for anything else. This morning I changed things up and went for a walk at about 6:10 a.m. It was the normal-almost-3-miles course that I normally do on Mondays and Wednesdays. The local cross country team was out and about. If only they knew that guy walking along the sidewalk before the sun comes up has run ten marathons. Not that it would make a difference.

After work I did a 4-mile walk. I'm so slow. Or at least, walking is so slow compared to running. Not that I'm fast, but a walk drags on in comparison. By the last mile I was speed walking. I thought about running, but that's for tomorrow. Plus the temperature here in the last half of September was 97 degrees. I consider this part of getting in shape for the upcoming Ireland trip. After that, let's see how we can maintain or do even better.

Humid Saturday

Yesterday I wasn't sure how the outing would go. It was humid, more than I expected, but I was game. I ended up going about 4.3 miles, and ran half of it. It really wasn't as bad as I thought, or else I was just oblivious. Either way, the run/walk was a good one. The temperature is still in the 90ish range every day, which means summer is still hanging on by a thread. That's okay by me, and most evenings have been very nice around here.

Some Running

It's taken awhile to recover from being sick, and feeling at about 60% of myself this week. Today I felt a bit better and went for an early afternoon walk/run due to late meetings. Overall I went about 3.75 miles and ran about half of it. One segment of running was .9 miles. That's good as I work on building back the mileage, my long-term goal over the winter months. I just have to not be a weenie when it's "cold" outside. This is Texas, for crying out loud.

Walking in Pittsburgh

Spent the weekend in Pittsburgh for a baseball series, which the good guys (the Cardinals) won two of three despite getting their butts kicked in the first game. No running while I was there, but a LOT of walking. I think that and the pace at work caught up with me and I ended up sick the last day and missed the last game. Overall, I really enjoyed the city. It was beautiful, clean, and scenic. It would be good for running along the river, while it wouldn't take much of a diversion off those paths to get in some hill work. The baseball park did not disappoint. It often shows up on the top of the list for best baseball parks, and I can see why. I had a great time and would love to go back someday.

As for today, I decided to walk to get in my steps. Running was not in the realm of possibility due to recently being sick and still feeling like I'm recovering. I needed some sunshine and walking seemed to be the best way to get it.

Two Fer

Just realized I didn't post my Saturday run/walk, so this becomes a two-fer. I went that morning about 10 a.m. for a total of 5 miles. It was a nice morning and good outing. I know it's been rare that I've gone that far recently so it was nice to go that extra mile.

Today was humid after more rain yesterday evening, but as always, no complaints. It was another run/walk since the temperature was in the low 90s. It felt like a Monday but fortunately I realized it was a day to mix in running during the 4 miles. I think with the rain I'm feeling a little bit of allergies as plants come back to life after the rainless summer. I also realized it was the ninth day in a row I've had an outing. I'm looking to keep the streak alive.

Rainy Walk

I walked Wednesday, and then yesterday was supposed to be the normal run/walk day as of late. Rain moved in late in the afternoon, but it wasn't heavy and there was no lightning. So I donned a windbreaker and went out for a walk. Overall it was about 3 miles and I probably could have done the run thing, too, but at least I got out. We're doing a step challenge at work this month and I didn't want to post a zero the first day. Instead, I made the 10k step mark and got in some sweating. This morning I went for a walk with The Wife and the kicked off the holiday weekend with some exercise. It was nice.

Storm on the Horizon

When I left the house today I thought a storm coming in from the northeast would miss us. Still, dark clouds moved closer and I decided to go 3 miles instead of 4. That turned out to be the right choice. As I turned into our part of the neighborhood it started raining. The Wife was backing out of the garage to go someplace, so I talked to her briefly and got a little wetter. Not too bad, though, and it came down even more after I made it inside. Again, this is Texas, we need rain, and no hard feelings on my part. For the outing, I bookended it with half-mile walks, with a 1/2 mile run, 1/4 walk, 1/2 mile run, 1/4 mile walk, and 1/2 mile run in the middle. That means I ran half of it, which was pretty good for a very humid day at 88 degrees.

More Walking and Running

I went 4 miles again today, and here's how it worked out: walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk .4 miles, run 1/2 mile, walk .1 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk the rest of the way home. Even though the temperature was just below 80 degrees, the humidity was (and is) very high. I got in about 8k steps through all that. I saw plenty of people walking, running, and riding. The most curious was the guy on the powered scooter who whizzed by. Kudos to him for getting outdoors, but does that actually count as exercise?

Stepping In

Last time I mentioned the step challenge at work coming up in September. Not a fan of carrying the iPhone everywhere in order to count steps (21st-century problems, I know), so today I ordered an Apple Watch. Due to the program we have at work for rewarding co-workers and people who make a difference, I had enough accumulated to get one. Except for fifty cents that I had to pay out of my own pocket. Again, those 21-st century problems.

With today's 4-mile run/walk, where I ran half of it in different segments, I'm close to 10k steps. Not that I'm that anal retentive about it, but I haven't done this since I had a FitBit back when we lived in KC. That's been 7+ years ago. And as for today's outing, it was good. Above 90 degrees, but the hundreds seem to be out of the picture for the time being. Until we get below 80 I'll still be walking from time to time.

Post-Rain Outing

We finally got a ton of rain yesterday. We were supposed to be doused on Sunday, but the weatherman whiffed on that one. Near downtown Dallas it flooded, but in our area it was dry until early Monday. It even drizzled a little bit most of the morning and into the afternoon today. I was thinking about running the whole way this afternoon but the temperature got into the mid-80s and it was huuuuuumid. I went 3 miles and ran half of it in three different sections.

At work we're doing a step challenge in September. I've been carrying my phone recently to listen to podcasts but it wasn't tracking my steps. Let's just say it was harder than it needed to be to find out how to turn it back on to track. I'm good now and did over 7k steps today. If I was training for a marathon I'd probably win the challenge hands down.