Sidelined

Well it wasn't appendicitis, which is good in one way, but worse in another. The scan last month showed the appendix was good, and by process of elimination it's an abdominal strain. So I haven't run since then, and probably won't for several more weeks. An operation and recovery would have been cut and dry (no pun intended). Now I have to wait for the strain to heal and then hope to not hurt it again.

Today I went for a walk of 2 miles, the first real exercise I've had since the middle of last month. I'll know tomorrow if even that was too much. I have done nothing in the past four weeks or so. Before Thanksgiving I bought some KT tape to help shore up the area. It seems to have helped to some degree. Whether that's actually physical or more mental is open to debate. On the mental side it's helped me remember to not do anything too crazy. I know I have more time to go, though, since last week in Austin I ran a couple of steps to catch an elevator at the hotel, and felt a tweak. I don't think I injured it any further, but it was a reminder that it's still tender.

This is not how I'd hoped to end my running year.

Back to the Trail

I traveled the first part of the week and didn't get in my Tuesday run. Fortunately I had time at the end of today and went my regular 6 miles on the tried and true trail. It was low 60s as the sun started going down, with no breeze and lots of sun.

I went to the doctor Monday about the pain in my side, which is a chronic appendix, or at least that's what they told me last time I had it checked out. I have a CT scan tomorrow to take a look at it. The PA at the doctor's office told me if that's the case I need to have it taken out, which would mean several weeks away from running. That kind of stinks because this is the time of year when it's cooled off and I can enjoy the lower humidity as well. We'll see what happens.

Autumn Arrives

Finally had an autumn-feeling day today. It was 37 degrees when I left to run about 10:30 a.m. and rose to 47 while I was out. Just a slight breeze from the north, which means it was a nice day to run. I went 7 miles. I didn't get to run this week due to travel. When I went to run on Thursday at lunch before the rain moved in, I got sprinkled on as I was walking to my starting point, and it looked like it was going to pick up. I went a grand total of .17 miles as I immediately turned around and went home. Today's outing was much better. As I turned off Hardin onto the path toward the park a guy coming up Hardin fell in behind me and maintained the same distance behind me for over a mile. I could hear his footsteps on the path and over the bridges. When I finally turned around I saw he was a taller guy with a longer stride than mine (which isn't hard to do). It helped me keep a steady pace and reminded me of being in a race. Speaking of which, I need to find one in the near future.

No Blundering Today

I've blundered into the middle of races multiple times, but today I was on my game. When I woke up and checked the weather the date sounded familiar, and sure enough, when I checked I discovered that it was the date of the McKinney half. I looked at the race route and planned my alternate route to avoid the crowd. So I ran up to Creekview, back down Lake Forest, across Virginia to Ridge, and down Ridge to Eldorado followed by a left onto Lake Forest and back home again. This route ended up at 8.3 miles or so, which was close to what I wanted to run when I set out. The morning was blustery but sunny. Shorts with a long-sleeved technical t-shirt covered by a cotton race t-shirt made up my ensemble. Saw plenty of other people out. Now back outside for some yard work.

Staying in the Sun

After spending the past seven months or so trying to run in the shade, today my goal was to run in the sun. The temperature was 60 degrees but very breezy from the north. I wore shorts with a long-sleeved technical t-shirt and never felt chilled but was cooler than normal. I ran my normal 6-mile route, keeping it slow most of the time due to the knee issues from the last couple of times along with a dull ache in my lower right side. That last one could be a chronic appendix or maybe even a sports hernia, shudder the thought. I will probably go to the doctor when I get back from my trip next week. At the moment it doesn't feel bad at all, so I think my slowness paid off. I did do my leg exercises yesterday and for the most part my knee felt better, with just a couple of twinges, but overall much better.

80 Degrees

It was 80 degrees this afternoon but quite breezy, so it didn't feel quite that warm. Got back from Guys' Weekend yesterday and slept good last night. Today's 6-miler was right around 10 minutes/mile, and then I walked up the big hill against the wind. A few times I felt that same gimpiness in my knee like I did the last outing, which makes me think I need to hit the ankle weights and leg exercises again. It's been awhile.

Running Between Meetings

Yesterday I got in my third run for the week between meetings. It was a pretty tight fit and I'd planned on running more than 6 miles but had to "settle" for that. The day was overcast after rain Wednesday night, but I was a little surprised when I walked out the door and found it was misting. Fortunately the precipitation didn't do more than that. I had to clear off my shades a couple of times but for the most part it was decent enough to run at a little more than 10-minute/mile pace. I felt a little out of kilter on my right side as I re-entered the neighborhood, and slowed way down so as to hobble less. I think it was just some weirdness with my right knee and hip, but nothing hurts and I think it was just a momentary blip.

Two in a Row

My legs felt a little heavy at the start of today's run, probably because of running two days in a row, but as I went along and stretched out they felt better. The temperature was 70 degrees and the breeze was light. I went my usual 6-mile route again, seeing several people out for a run, walk, or ride. Also saw a few dogs out, but most of them were just walking. Dogs riding would have been pretty funny, though.

Back to the Normal Route

Drove home yesterday, and this morning did my workout and ended with a run this afternoon. It seemed pretty cool even though it was in the low 60s. Must not have been too bad since I wore shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt and never really got to the point of feeling cold. I ran my usual 6 miles. Since I'm off for a guys' weekend coming up I figured I should run today, tomorrow (Tuesday), and Thursday in order to get my three runs in. I missed a day last week in Kansas, mainly due to cold weather and laziness, but mostly laziness.

Frosty Saturday

I didn't realize I'd missed adding my post for Saturday's run in Kansas. I got up and ran at 8 a.m. at the ballfields. The temperature was 38 degrees and I felt a little bad for the poor kids who had to play soccer in it, and especially for the parents and siblings watching. I ran 7 miles, which worked out to 8 laps around the complex. It wasn't as bad as it sounds since I listened to the British History Podcast the whole time. The first lap I realized my hands were cold and I stopped at the truck to get my mittens. Other than that I was fine, with long pants and t-shirt. Actually not bad for a run since the breeze didn't pick up until later in the day.

Nice Day in Kansas

Back to Wamego and good thing, too, since the weather is nicer here than back home. It started out cold and I had to scrape frost off my truck, first time in over three years. By afternoon the temperature was in the low 60s and the sun was shining. Back home it's rainy and in the 40s. I ran 6 miles, going around the ball fields several times before heading down to the city park for a couple of circuits.

On my first time around the ball fields I ran up behind my mom and sister, the latter of whom had just arrived and I hadn't had a chance to see her yet. I yelled loudly, "On your left!" as I approached from behind and fortunately neither of them had a heart attack.

More Nicety

Today was another beautiful day for a run. It was a few degrees cooler than yesterday but still shorts and t-shirt weather in north Texas. I contemplated running hills, but wasn't quite feeling it when I walked out the door, so I ran my regular path. I went the usual 6 miles at a pace just a little above 10 minutes/mile, a little slower than yesterday but probably a product of running two days in a row. Loving the weather, though, and certainly the lower humidity.

Perfect Weather

Due to some travel later this week I planned on running Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I waited too late into the afternoon on Monday and the storm front rolled in, raining the rest of the day and all day Tuesday. So today, Wednesday, was my first chance to run this week, and it was perfect.

The temperature was 70 degrees, the sky was clear, and a nice breeze rode in from the northwest. I ran 6 miles in a mostly under 10-minute/mile pace. The "mostly" is due to blundering, as I sometimes do, into a race. This one was a middle-school cross-country race. On my way out the runners were on the path and then up turned up the newer sidewalk toward the school, the curving uphill path that was torture on me in the last bit of the half-marathon I ran earlier this year. It was no problem for them. On my way back I heard the gun go off and paused at the turn off Hardin so an even younger pack could pass by. Those pauses were what put me over the 10-minute mark in those miles. Other than that it was a good strong run on fresh legs. Not as many people (other than the racers) out as I would have thought with the weather as nice as it was.

Run Ugly

Somebody has a new album out called "Cry Pretty," which made me think that yesterday's outing should be called "Run Ugly." It was warm and extremely humid. I was sweating like crazy after the first half-mile and it didn't get any better. I went a total of 7 miles, but the last two of those included walks every half-mile. Maybe the problem was that I didn't walk until mile four and then it snowballed. Whatever the case, it was probably the last day of the year where temperatures were in the 80s in the morning and into the 90s in the afternoon. I ran late enough in the morning to catch the remnants of a 5k/10k where all but a few people were done (walkers). That couldn't have been fun.

The World is Burning

While politics burns down the country, I went for a run this afternoon. It seemed like the thing to do. And it wasn't a normal run.

The van was in the shop, and nobody was home or nearby to help get it. So I ran north along my normal path for a mile, then turned around and headed back. Did I mention it was also in the high 80s with heat index of 97? I walked up the big hill, which was before mile 2, and then again at about the 3-mile mark just because I was feeling the heat. Other than a few pauses at intersections I ran the rest for a total of 5.15 miles according to the GPS.

I felt a little bit bad about shaking the guy's hand when I picked up the vehicle, but he offered both times. Plus I figure his hand has been a lot dirtier than my sweat. I know mine has when I work on a car or truck. Nevertheless, hope he hit the hand sanitizer pretty hard afterward.

Off a Day

I wanted to get up and run early yesterday (Tuesday), and the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. And then since we drove to Southlake to meet up with some longtime friends I didn't have time in the afternoon. I could have totally skipped a day, but I had that fidgety feeling today and decided that even with a morning workout that I would still get in my miles. It was 88 degrees when I left but I ran the whole 6 miles other than the big hill. I was helped by a nice breeze out of the south and keeping the pace slow.

I ran the normal route, which was under water last time I tried to go that way. There were plenty of signs showing where the water had been. In several places caked dirt covered the path. I guess that'll slowly erode as more rains wash them clean. All in all not too bad, though, considering how much rain we got a couple of weeks ago.

Late Saturday Run

Saturday was cool and rainy most of the day in Kansas. I went to a late lunch with Sister #2 and her boyfriend, and had plenty of fried food and drink. After getting back to Mom and Dad's house I sat around for a few minutes and decided that I should go ahead and run since it had warmed up to 65 degrees. I was also a little stiff from the effort the day before in changing rotors and brakes on my truck and thought a bit of stretching would help. I managed 4 miles before deciding my stomach was done with me after subjecting it to pub food and then taking it for a run. Still, a little was better than nothing.

More Crop Circles

Okay, maybe not crop circles, but the same routine as Tuesday where I circled the park five times. It was again nice and cool, but this time I ran my 6 miles at midday. Sunny and a slight breeze from the west kept it nice. Enjoyed running in Kansas once again, with one more outing teed up for Saturday.

Running in Circles

I'm in Wamego for the week and yesterday (Tuesday) was a nice day for a run. Temperature was in the 60s and it wasn't too windy. I set out around the park to the south of Mom and Dad's house, but the construction crews are building a water park and there was too much activity. So I ran up to the ball fields and did five laps. It actually wasn't as bad as it sounds since I'm continuing my journey through the British History podcasts. I got in my 6 miles and it felt good, especially after eating too much on this trip, as usual.

Floody Run

It rained quite a bit yesterday, and our electricity went out for five hours last night. Not sure if it was due to the rain, but I'm sure it didn't help.

I found a hole in the storm and went out late morning today. The bridge over the stream on Lake Forest provided vantage to a very swollen creek below, which had been higher overnight judging by the grass lying down. When I got to the neighborhood up Lake Forest with the pond I found the normal way blocked by an overgrown pond. Then I ran through the neighborhood to the other side and found that way also underwater. On my way back out I encountered a woman who warned me about copperheads. I kept my eye on the sidewalks and grass the rest of the way.

Getting back to Lake Forest I headed south all the way to Eldorado and back. It didn't start raining on me until the last mile. No thunder, for which I was glad. Overall I ended up at 7.75 miles. I'm just glad I was able to get out on an otherwise very rainy day.

Buggy Run

Got up early this morning to run and it was dark. Ugh. Took my light with me and managed to avoid to running into the McKinney Boyd runners on the trail. Also glad that I run with my mouth closed since I apparently ran into insect clouds at several points along the way. Probably got hit in the face over a half-dozen times during the 6 miles. Temperature was in the low 70s but humidity was very high. We're almost out of the high temps in the 90s and I don't mind running later, but it was nice to actually get it done early today for a change.

Some Shade

It was in the upper 80s today with heat index in the mid to upper 90s, and of course...humid. I had clouds the first couple of miles, which was a big help. I didn't walk until I got to mile 3, and then each mile thereafter plus the big hill. It actually wasn't too bad, and I'm glad I walked since it meant I wasn't completely worn out at the end.

Considering a half-marathon in early November. I think I'll see how this Saturday's long run goes before pulling the trigger on registering for it.

Social Run

Ran over to the church today for a running/walking group, walked about 45 minutes, and then ran back. The running total was 2 miles but I got in lots of sweat. The temperature wasn't too bad but at least the humidity was high.

Gooey Run

The clouds started clearing out today after about a week and left plenty of humidity behind. Youngest Daughter asked me how the run was when I returned and I said, "Gooey." She objected to the term, but she didn't just run 6 miles. I walked every mile and about half of the big hill since the temp was in the upper 80s and heat index was in the high 90s. Seemed like the prudent thing to do.

Some Hills

The rain cleared out this morning although it remained cloudy into the evening. Before I walked out the door I had resolved to run hills if it wasn't too humid, and by golly it wasn't. So I changed my route for the first time in quite awhile and headed west instead of east for my 6-miler. It actually felt good to run a varied route. I was able to run the whole way, and my mile up the biggest hills was faster than some of the flat miles I've been running in the heat and humidity. Oh, did I mention it was below 80 degrees? That helped, too.

Skipped Saturday

It rained all day yesterday, and I thought a couple of times about going out anyway since there was no lightning involved. I ended up cleaning up the garage and decided that was enough exertion for the day, and it also looked like Sunday morning would be pretty nice for a run. And it was.

I ran 8 miles and saw a fair amount of people out on the paths. I wanted to see how the creek looked, which was pretty high but not as bad as I'd thought, and was a little surprised that there was only one part of the path blocked by water and mud. Temperature just below 70 degrees and plenty humid, but I ran the whole without walking (other than through the mud). The long-range forecast looks like we've broken out of the 90s and highs will be in the upper 80s this week. Better running weather but I do enjoy the heat.

Rain in the Distance

Lots of black clouds to the south, and a little lightning at one point, but I was able to get in my run. It was the usual path of 6 miles. Very humid with the recent rain and the clouds. I walked at miles 1, 2, 3, and 4, but ran the rest of the way to get in before any storms hit.

They didn't.

Butt Sprain

File this one in the annals - no pun intended - of getting old. Last night we took the family out for a round of bowling, and toward the end I felt like I strained a muscle in my butt. I could sugarcoat it and be medically correct, but that's the truth. And it's not like I even bowl that well. Anyway, it was sore the rest of the evening and most of the day. I figured I'd have to give up today's run.

Seems like I've had this happen before, though. And it felt mostly better by late afternoon. So I decided to give it a try with the knowledge that if it was not going to work I'd know that pretty soon after starting.

Funny thing is it never even gave me a twinge. This is what I remember from before, that it was probably good to get out and stretch it. I went my usual 6 miles. Even though the temperature was marginally lower, in the upper 80s, the humidity made up for it and it was a sweat-a-thon. Glad that I didn't miss any running time from my bowling injury.

Tough One

I felt progressively worse on Thursday, like the late night and drive home were catching up to me, so I chose to not run. Hence no post for that day.

This morning I decided to run 9 miles, and for the first part it went well. On the way past the dog pond I began to encounter racers, pretty much all women, and soon passed a water station. I kept going past the cricket field and by the time I turned around the first ones were heading for the finish in the parking lot. I started to feel the heat and humidity at the 6-mile mark and so I walked a minute. Then at the next mile marker I walked two minutes. And when I hit 8 miles I probably walked three minutes or so. Not the best finish to a run but I made it. On a hot Texas morning in September I was able to get in a decent run. Now it's time to relax for the rest of the weekend.

Humid Morning in Austin

Yesterday morning I got up early and went for a run with the FVRP along the river in downtown Austin. It was pretty mild as far as temperature goes in August, but the humidity made up for it. We went 4 miles at a very slow pace. Now that I'm back home I'm thinking about a regular run later this afternoon, but I'm also tired from staying up really late to catch the Spazmatics. We'll see.

And 5 on Monday

Traveling tomorrow and won't get in my normal Tuesday outing, so I decided to run this afternoon. It was 96 degrees and plenty humid, but at this point in the year I'm pretty well used to it. I went 5 miles, walked every mile as usual, and had a pretty good run.

I suited up with my phone so I could listen to my sister's first podcasts, and heard about 1 1/2 of them. It was really good, geared toward military spouses but with some life lessons that go beyond being married to someone in the service. I would have to give it, oh, five stars I suppose. 😏

8 on a Saturday

Lots of people out this morning, and plenty of dogs, too. Even the Cub Scouts enjoyed an outing along the path by the pond and up to Hardin. I decided 8 miles was a good round number and ran the whole way, with the exception of the big hill. The south breeze was nice when I was running in that direction, but beyond that it was a bit humid. The temperature was not horrible, about 80 degrees. I had thought about running an extra mile, but at the end the distance was just right. I followed up the run with mowing the lawn; emptying, defrosting, and refilling the freezer; laundry; and smoking some ribs. No wonder I'm tired. Time to crack an ice cold beer and lounge about the rest of the day.

Galveston Interlude and Bad Night's Sleep

Missed Tuesday's run since the family and I were in Galveston at the beach for a couple of days. Then I set my alarm for 6 a.m. this morning to run while the temperature was about 70 degrees. At about 2 a.m. I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep for about 90 minutes. After an hour of that nonsense I changed the alarm and decided to run later in the day, which is what I did. It was about 4:45 p.m. before I got out in 95 degrees and very humid air to run my 6 miles. I did the walk every mile routine, which worked pretty well. At the end of the evening I'm pretty wrung out, though, between the bad night's sleep and a hot run.

Humid but Good

For my Saturday morning run I determined to go 7-8 miles (I ended up with 7) because the temperature would be somewhat okay but the humidity...not so much. I was right. A reasonable number of people out but not a ton. My pace was around 11 minutes/mile, without walking until the Big Hill, but that worked to my benefit. My focus was running in the shade, and even though I felt like walking a few times I waited. A decent run overall and somewhat draining, but also what I would expect in August in Texas.

6, 97, 104

I decided to wait until later in the day to run given that the humidity early was going to be off the charts. I traded that for temperature. I ran 6 miles, the temperature was 97 degrees, and the heat index was 104. Honestly it didn't feel that bad. I had shade on probably half the route, and walked every mile. As usual I managed my run so that it turned out pretty well. I actually felt pretty good at the end, if a little bit sweaty. Okay, a lot sweaty.

Post-Rain

It's rained most of the past few days and finally broke today. I was smart enough to sleep late and run after work. The temperature was about 80 degrees and plenty humid, but a breeze out of the south helped. I ran my usual 6-mile route and saw a few people but not as many as usual. I went the whole route without walking and pace was just over 10 minutes/mile. A good solid run on a gray day.

Addicted to Running

It rained all morning and into the afternoon, and when I looked at the radar map and realized it wasn't lightning and thundering I figured I could get in a run today after all. I hit a seam in the storms and was sprinkled on only briefly just past a mile in. Other than that the 7 miles were humid but not too bad from the temperature perspective. Either everyone else ran in the rain this morning (riiiiight) or decided to forego the opportunity today. I only saw two other runners, both guys going around the pond in the neighborhood to the north, so I figure they were residents of that subdivision getting out while they could. The first guy gave me a big thumbs up, which was pretty cool. One of those runner things where we can appreciate the other guy's addiction and getting out on a day where nobody else does.

Kicking My Butt

This morning my alarm went off at 6, I got up to do what needed to be done to get ready for a run, and decided an hour-plus of sleep would serve me better. As I've said before, not really the time to make that decision. So I slept until 7:30 and ran 6 miles at 4:45 p.m. when the temperature was 99 degrees. I walked a minute after every mile until mile four, at which point I had a couple more walks of longer duration. Plus up the big hill. I estimate I walked a half-mile out of the last two, but I made it.

And then after I cooled off I mowed the lawn. Quite a busy afternoon that could have been much better if I'd just bucked up and run when the alarm first sounded.

Dog Day

Yesterday morning, a Saturday, was a dog day of summer. Not because it was overly hot (it didn't even crack the century mark) but because lots of people were out walking their pooches. One poor guy had a big dog that was barking at everything that went by and straining at the leash, but for the most part all the other dogs I encountered were well behaved. Which is why we don't take our dogs out like that - they would be the crazy barking dog. I went 7 miles on a day that was a little more humid than the past couple of weeks. It was a good start and I spent the rest of the day smoking a pork shoulder, bologna ring, and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers.

Had some restful slumber last night but a good run early this morning. Once again it was "cool", about 71 degrees when I set out on the road for a 6-miler. Once again I thought the weather played toward a faster run, but as before, I was not really running any faster. At mile 3 I decided to up the pace a little bit, and at the next mile marker I checked in at 9:42. That was a full minute faster than the previous one. I settled back down to the normal pace for the rest of the run. I guess we'll consider that a mile-long fartlek.

70 in July

Here it is the last day of July and this morning the temperature was 70 degrees. Wow! It made for a nice run. I thought my 6 miles might be a little faster pace than the recent 11-minute miles, but it was only marginally so. I think until it really cools down and I get used to running fast again that I'll just plod along at my own slow pace. Whatever the case, I can't be too upset about this nice morning run.

Lucky in July

I got up about 7:30 this morning and found the sky overcast and the temperature about 82 degrees. It stayed cloudy the whole way through my 8 miles and I consider myself very lucky that this weather hit on my long-run day. The humidity also wasn't too bad. I was able to run the whole way without any breaks, again a benefit of the weather. For late July in Texas, well, I can't complain too much.

Another Good One

Got up early again this morning, even though it was tougher than a few days ago and the pull of going back to bed was strong, but glad I did it. The morning was marginally more humid than Tuesday but overall still not bad. I went the full 6 miles since the sidewalk was open again near the pond. Also ran the whole way, which is much easier to do when the temperature is 80 degrees as opposed to 100.

Little Humidity

Last week ended up pretty much being a lost week for running since I only got out once, but today was really nice. After a week-plus of 100-degree temperatures, it was only 77 when I set out at 6:20 a.m. The best part was the low humidity. I don't know how low it was, but this was the least I've sweat in a couple of months while running. Usually I'm wiping sweat from my face by the half-mile mark and frequently thereafter. By contrast it feels like I hardly perspired at all today. I went 6 miles along the usual route, and if I'd know it was going to be so nice I might have gone the hill route.

Heat Wave

This week I went to Austin on a business trip. Because of our schedule I chose to not even pack my running gear, which was the right choice. My first run of the week was going to be on Thursday late afternoon when we returned, but the temperature was 111 degrees. I decided to wait until this morning, which was once again the right choice.

It was only 78 degrees when I got out at 6:15 a.m. but plenty humid. I ran the whole way, although the sidewalk was closed near the pond and my turnaround point. I think the official total was 5.64 miles or something similar. In this case I'm rounding up - 6 miles. Close enough.

Lots of People Out

A Saturday morning, sunny weather, and temperature not as high as it was forecast to go. Plenty of runners, walkers, and cyclists out along the paths. Even the McKinney Trail Team guy was out and walking. I decided to go 7 miles and it went pretty well. I walked at miles 5, 6, and up the big hill. Once again thankful for a good breeze at certain points. I spent the rest of the day smoking a pork shoulder, so it was a very profitable Saturday in every regard.

Unintentional Speedwork

I was watching the weather radar this afternoon. At one point I thought my chance to run was past since there was a storm near Greenville heading west on 380 right toward us, with more storms trailing behind it. After about a half-hour of watching it I finally realized I should just get out and run as much as I could. I kept an eye on the clouds to the east, which was weird because that's not usually how storms roll in, and when I got to the 1.5 mile mark considered whether or not to turn back. The air was quite moist after an earlier rainstorm, but I've run through worse. Going to 2 miles out would add another 10 minutes to the run, and I decided I had time.

The way back was a little quicker with the wind at my back. As well as the threat of lightning and thunder. Mostly lightning. Thunder is just loud, lightning can kill. My last mile was probably close to a nine-minute pace, and right as my GPS beeped the 4-mile finish line a big drop hit me on the head. I thought that was perfect timing, but that was it. When I returned home and checked the weather radar again the storm had split and moved around us. Oh, well. At least I had a good, strong run with a faster pace.

Waiting Out the Rain

To be clear, it never actually rained at the house. The storms passed us by to the north and south. I sat on the back patio for a few minutes late in the afternoon, watching the clouds to the south. Plenty of thunder and a few strokes of lightning kept me from going out when I wanted. After about 20 minutes I realized the lightning had stopped, which of course meant so had the thunder. The weather radar showed that the storms were weakening. I hustled upstairs, threw on my running clothes, and out the door I went.

My normal podcast had a short 22 minute episode, and then one that was an update of about two minutes. With the cloud cover and lower temperature I was able to run the whole way, including up the big hill, and didn't feel like I wanted to stop and change my iPod over to some music. I was actually able to enjoy some silence and my own thoughts for more than half of the 6-mile run.

Guess I need to update the iPod. Who wants to run for 40 minutes with only their own thoughts to keep them company?

Ode to a Saturday Morning

Was going to get up at 7 and run, but it ended up that I woke up at 8 and then ran. I don't think there was too much difference with the extra hour since the temperature was about the same and the path was shaded in all the right places. Humidity canceled the benefits of the lower temperature but even so I only walked at mile 2, 4, and up the big hill. All in all my 7-miler was a nice easy run on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning. Now to chill for the rest of the day and enjoy the Texas summer.

Waiting on Thursday

I was going to wake up early to run but did not sleep well last night (some idiot was popping off a firecracker about every 7-8 minutes for an hour or so) so I reset my alarm. It was a risky move since today was the birthday of The Youngest, but it worked out okay. I had time while dinner preparations were taking place. I ran my 6 miles, temperature was 94 degrees, and I did my routine of walking every mile. All told it was a decent run in July.

Early Tuesday

This morning I got out early, as opposed to the evening runs I've been doing lately. The reason for this is our timing for dinner tonight. I actually ran the 6 miles today without stopping, except for the big hill, keeping to the shade by veering off into the neighborhood to the north and using the treeline to ward off the early morning sun. It was definitely more humid than my evening outings, but the temperature of 76 degrees helped - 25 degrees lower than recent runs. I might do the same on Thursday. We'll see.

Late Sunday Run

Yesterday was too busy to get out, with a men's breakfast at church in the morning and a graduation party for The Boy in the late afternoon. I pondered getting up early today but passed because I knew it would be humid. When I ran about 4:30 this afternoon it probably wasn't much lower in the humidity department, unfortunately. I could tell the difference between today and my recent late-afternoon runs when I started sweating on my warm-up walk. I usually don't break a sweat until the half-mile mark of the actual run.

I went 6 miles on my "long" run because I decided that was plenty. It was another case of no marginal benefit for going an extra mile. It was 102 degrees out when I left and 100 when I returned. The great thing today was even though it was humid and hot a bunch of clouds moved through and I copped a lot of extra shade that I normally don't get, even on a late afternoon run.

102

Today's temperature topped the century mark. I'm still liking this thing of running in the late afternoon when there's a little bit of shade and a nice breeze, even though it's 102 degrees outside. I stayed true to my pattern and walked every mile along the 6-mile route, and up the big hill. I don't know that it felt much hotter than the upper 90s of the last few runs, but it was definitely a hot one. I've become acclimated to it over the last few weeks, and I think that is why I didn't see any other runners out and very few cyclists. It takes time and hopefully the people who are usually evening runners are waiting longer or getting out earlier.

Another Day, Another Hot Run

Today's 6-miler was late in the afternoon - well, okay, it was actually at dinnertime. I got out after 5:30 p.m. and returned a little before 6:45. The temperature was 98 degrees with a heat index of 105, but once again it wasn't so bad when you factor in shade and walking every mile. I thought about running a different route, but that would involve more hills and at this point in the summer I'm just trying to maintain. My new shoes came in today (they were scheduled for tomorrow) and that was a nice treat. They felt good.

Steamy Saturday

I probably should have run earlier today when there was cloud cover and temperature in the 70s, but The Wife and Daughter #3 flew in this morning from a week in El Salvador. So I waited until later in the day. It wasn't horrible. Temperature 95 degrees, heat index 108. Just like the last run it didn't feel that hot, even though I sweated more because of the higher humidity. The wind was a little stronger from the south, and that helped in certain spots. I decided 7 miles was plenty for a long run. I'd thought about going an extra mile, but on a day like today there's not really any marginal benefit to it.

Thermometer Was Wrong

When I returned home from today's run at about 6:15 p.m. the weather app read 101 degrees. There's no way it was that hot. The humidity was way down, which was surprising after yesterday's rain episodes. The reason I say the thermometer was wrong is because this was the least I've sweat on a run in a few months. I know what you're thinking - when you overheat you stop sweating and that's a bad sign. Well that's not the case here. I walked at every mile marker, and I know what it feels like to overheat. This was not one of those days. Maybe it was just the lower humidity and a run that was half in the shade.

My GPS also malfunctioned somewhat, which has happened before. At a little over 8 minutes into the run my watch beeped that I'd finished the first mile, and I was still at least two-tenths away from the actual marker. I've run this route enough to know where that is. Plus, I wasn't running an 8-minute mile. I recharged the GPS yesterday, so I need to see if that's the pattern when this happens. To compensate I ran to the markers I know for the whole 6 miles and walked at each mile. For a hot day it was actually a good run, thermometer and GPS notwithstanding.

Rain and Lower Heat

Today was mostly cloudy - until I went out for my run. I was delayed a few minutes by a brief shower, and then I found that it was moderately humid and the temp was only about 80 degrees. I ran the whole way, other than about a minute up the big hill. My pace was in the upper 10s range, which was about the same as if I'd walked every mile. A nice breeze from the south helped along the way. I felt my right calf cramping a few times, even in the first mile, but it was just barking at me and not seizing up like it does in races. I'm pretty glad about that.

Foot Pain

When I ran on Thursday my shoe insert was apparently not set correctly into my shoe. I felt it late in the run pounding into the middle of my right foot on the ball and to the right, and the past couple of days it's been sore. I adjusted the insert a little bit before today's run, but 1.5 miles into it I felt like the ball of my foot was bruised and getting worse. At that point I decided I either needed to fix it or turn around and walk all the way back home. With the temperature at 97 degrees the second choice wasn't looking too bad.

I stopped on the path, and because I'm walking at every mile marker and not worried about time it wasn't a big deal. I moved the insert substantially to the right, the opposite of where I'd adjusted it before the run, and when I started running again I felt instant relief and knew I could complete the run.

Once again I ran late in the day in higher temperature but marginally lower humidity, and with the minute walk every mile made it the whole 7 miles. I accomplished my 5-6-7 plan for the week and feel like I'm doing pretty well in the summer highs. Time to pick out a race for the fall.

98

I waited until late in the day to run and got out about 5 p.m. Even though the temperature was 98 degrees when I finished a little over an hour later it was worth it since probably half the route was shaded and the humidity was lower. I went back up to 6 miles on this one, as planned. I've been doing this long enough that when I reached mile 1 I knew it was best to walk for a minute, even though I felt good and that I could probably go another mile or two before a break. As usual it paid off and I made it through the whole run with a walk at every mile and up the big hill. Lots of sweat but a good run overall.

A Little More

I went out today about lunch time, after a couple of work calls were canceled or rescheduled, which was nice. This being Texas in June it was hot and humid, no matter the time of day. I wanted to get out earlier because the sky was somewhat overcast, and combined with the other two conditions it can make a difference whether or not the sun is shining. For most of the run it was good. I ran 5 miles and decided right at the halfway mark to turn around and do a 5-6-7 cadence this week. Hopefully that will pan out on the next two runs.

Back in the U.S.A.

Returned from Europe yesterday and to the house about 6 p.m. I figured today would be somewhat of a recovery day since I haven't run since the 30th of May, and I was right. Plus it's back to the high heat and humidity and I need a few runs to transition. Not that Europe was much cooler. Most of the time I was there the temperatures were in the low 90s and I felt like I spent most of each day sweating.

My plan today was to run 6 miles and then ratchet up a little bit next weekend. As I drew closer to the 2-mile mark I heard the PA at the middle school on Hardin and realized there was a race going on today. The only question was whether it was in progress or not. The answer was mixed. When I got to Hardin a row of cones blocked the path (which I could have ignored) and a few people were pushing strollers. I decided that 4 miles would be plenty and turned around, deciding to avoid the crowds. It was a wise decision, I think, since about a minute after I turned around I heard the horn to start the race and a big cheer. I walked at each mile marker but did run up the big hill. It was a decent first run back from vacation. I'm glad I didn't plan on running in Europe since I got in plenty of walking and there wasn't really time to do so. We'll work on increasing mileage while still dealing with the heat in the coming weeks.

Last Run for a Bit

Heading to Europe tomorrow, so today's run was the last for the next ten days or so. I'm not planning on running there since I'll get in plenty of walking every day, plus I don't want to pack stuff that's going to get sweaty and sit in my suitcase for an extended period.

I waited until later in the day, avoid humidity for higher temperatures. I went my usual 6 miles and walked every mile while keeping the pace slow. Overall it was a decent run, about as good as you can expect in this climate at this time of year. Now to take an extended break before coming back and getting into the heat again.

Humid Memorial Day

I ran at about 7:30ish this morning and it was, in a word, humid. I ran 6 miles, with a walking spell every mile starting at the halfway point, and up the big hill. There was a 5k starting from the high school, but it didn't start until 8:30. I encountered the pack on my way back, and one woman and her couple of friends shouted at me, "Dude, you're running the wrong way!" I smiled. I don't think a 10k or half-marathon would have gone over too well on a day like this.

Back from Vegas

Las Vegas sucks. Too many people, and no good places to run. Plus too much work. So I missed running on Tuesday. The plan was to get up at 7:30 and run by 8 since the first meeting wasn't until 11 or so. Instead I woke up at 7:30 and within sixty seconds got a text that we had a meeting at 8 that I hadn't been invited to until that moment. Great.

Back in Texas I slept late today (due to working all day Sunday) and ran in the heat. It was okay since I decided beforehand to walk every mile. It always starts out the same - hey, this first mile isn't so bad, I can probably run most of it. Today I ran at mile one and every mile marker thereafter, as well as up the big hill. That was a good decision. At times I questioned the 6-mile goal but in the end I made it. And Texas does not suck.

A Lovely Slog

As is usually the case at this time of year it was incredibly humid. I ran 7 miles and broke quite the humid sweat by the first half-mile. Plenty of people out on a nice Saturday morning that started with decent temperatures, sun, and a little bit of a breeze. Headed out of town later today for a business trip and taking my running gear with me. Hoping to get in at least one run while away from home.

In Summer Mode

Today's run was later in the morning than normal, which meant the humidity was down (barely). It was also in the 80s, and I decided that it would be best to walk every mile. I started at mile 2 and carried it on every subsequent mile through the end of the 6 miles, with a walk up the big hill as well. It was a nice sunny day and an enjoyable run. Started a new Hardcore History podcast episode that should last me through a few more runs since it's 4-1/2 hours long.

Cooler but Still Humid

Since I have a work call tonight at 10 p.m. I thought it would be best to get out earlier in the day for a run. The temperature was around 70 degrees but the humidity was still sky-high. I ran the 6 miles at a good slow pace and went the whole way without walking, due to the wind out of the southeast that kept me somewhat cooled off the last mile.

Slow and Humid

I was the slow part of the title of this post, and the humid piece was taken care of by Mother Nature. Fortunately it was cloudy most of the run when I got out this morning a few minutes after eight. I went 7 miles, and seriously thought about walking a couple of times. But then I realized my pace was so incredibly slow that walking wouldn't have made much of a difference. I was bathed in sweat before the first mile marker due to the exceptional humidity. Plus the temperature was about 80 degrees. I made it all the way to the big hill before I finally caved and walked. Not a great run today, but a necessary one to start acclimating to the humidity and heat again.

Warming Up

I had a horrible allergy attack on Monday and by Tuesday was just starting to recover. I decided it would be prudent to skip a run that day and let the healing continue, which turned out to be a wise choice since I had my best night of sleep in weeks - weeks, I tell you - and felt much better Wednesday. So today I feel almost back to normal, and ran my usual 6 miles. Well, with a couple of walks at miles 4 & 5 and up the big hill, but that's because it's getting much warmer in a short span of time. I felt good, but not stupid enough to keep running when I could feel the heat getting to me. Temperature was in the upper 80s, and this is just part of getting used to it again and being smart enough to keep from pushing myself too far.

Unfettered

Today was a really nice spring day in Texas, and I got out this morning to run my 6 miles. I thought there would be more people out, but I only saw about four other runners and a couple of people walking. I went without any devices, either iPod or GPS, and it was a great day for it. The wind was calm and I enjoyed listening to the sounds all around. I'm thinking it's going to be nice to be home for a couple of weeks after a lot of traveling in April.

The Elusive Friday Run

Didn't get a good chance to run yesterday due to general busyness, so my second run this week came on a Friday. Looking back over the years, I would guess Friday is the day of the week I've run on the least, followed by Wednesday, Sunday, and finally Monday. Of course Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are the most frequent. Mondays come into play more when I'm training for a race and running four days a week.

I'm still in Wamego and heading home tomorrow. I drove over to KC today for lunch with friends, and made it back in time to finish up the work day and still get in 5 miles before heading to my sister's for a cookout. All in all a good day and a good week, but I will say that I'm ready to head for home. Seems like I've been gone a lot lately, which I have.

A Run in Oz

Wamego is home to several Wizard of Oz tourist destinations, including a museum, an actual yellow brick road, a house with a witch's legs sticking out from underneath, and of course a winery. Today it also hosted a stiff breeze from the south. It was my first run since the race, and I intentionally took it easy and ended up at 4.14 miles.

After race day (a Saturday) it took until Tuesday for my right calf to stop aching. I was going to run at some point last week in Austin but decided it was best to let my legs recover. A wise choice since today I felt pretty good in spite of a little rust.

Cracking 2

It's been a few years since I was in a race that wasn't extremely humid or just insane terrain (I'm looking at you, Bataan Memorial Death March), but today proved to be a good day. Up until the time I woke up this morning it looked like rain could wash out this race, but fortunately the race organizers didn't trust the weathermen. The line of storms passed north, and by the first mile I knew it wasn't as humid as some other races I've been in recently. So I decided to keep a pace in the low 9's and then see where it could take me from the halfway point.

When I hit 6 miles, not quite halfway, I figured I could try and get this one in under two hours. Actually, around mile 4 I had a downhill that I gave in to gravity, but sure, we'll go with a few miles further on for the purposes of this story. I had tried to keep the 2:00 pace group within sight but lost them several times. I probably ran a little too fast through miles 7-10, but that's what saved me in the end.

At mile 11 I passed the ladies carrying the flag for the 2:00 group, talked with them for a few hundred yards, and then continued. At mile 12 I heard footsteps behind me and a guy came up beside me and asked how it was going. I said I think we'll make it, plus we beat the rain. I had a few calf twinges around mile 8 and then more frequently as we went on, but the worst was a new sidewalk right before the mile 13 marker. It wound from the path I usually run up the hill to the middle school track, and every step felt like my calves were painful lead weights. When it finally leveled out the pain subsided and I made the 3/4 of the way around the middle school track to the finish in 1:58:09. That was good for 69th place out of 272.

When I looked at the results 7 of the top 10 were female, and so was the overall winner. That is incredibly cool. I was just outside the top 25%, but at this age and not training to run fast I'll take it. In fact, I wish I'd done more speed work. I finished fourth in my age group by less than a minute from the person in front of me. Oh well, I ran my race and I'm happy. That's what it's all about.

Final Tune-Up

A short 3-miler this morning in Austin just to stretch out a little bit. The wind was chilly to start off  but warmed up a little by the end. The weather forecast for Saturday is rain but later in the morning, hopefully after I'm done. It's also supposed to pretty cool and breezy, so maybe this morning was a preview.

This site also says this is my 1,400th post on this blog. To my loyal reader (I assume that's probably just me since I don't think my Mom even knows this site exists) I say wow, that's a lot of running.

Short in Austin

In Austin this week for meetings, and I don't really like the location of the hotel we're staying at when it comes to running. I ran with the FVRP and we did 3.3 miles, which was good for me to stretch out here during race week. Part of the run was along a frontage road, but we stumbled into a campus with a nice wooded path. It wasn't horrible but I still prefer staying downtown where the running and scenery is better.

Cold and Windy

In a big reverse from Thursday, at least in the temperature department but not the wind, today was very cool with temperature in the 40s. I ran 7 miles in my last long run before next Saturday's race. The wind out of the north was ridiculous and almost snatched away my stocking cap a few times.

We're headed to the Old 97's County Fair in downtown Dallas this afternoon. I'm thinking I will probably take my heavy coat since it's bound to be downright cold once the sun goes down.

Warm and Windy

Temperature was in the upper 70s today, and very windy. I ran hills and felt good, and the wind helped keep me cooled to an appropriate level. I went at lunch, which was also nice since I didn't have to try and crowd 6 miles into my schedule. Looking forward to a shorter long run on Saturday (an oxymoron) and then a race in a little over a week. Here's hoping for good weather.

Closer to Spring

This morning was still cool, but sunny and starting to get that Springtime feel in the air. My morning meetings didn't start right away, which was a nice change. I thought about running hills, but with the temperature in the upper 40s it seemed like a good time to do some speed work. That's a relative term, btw. So I ran my regular route and at the 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 marks I ran a half-mile tempo. My GPS screwed up early on and marked me at a mile a couple hundred yards and a minute early, but by the time I got back to the neighborhood it marked me at 6 miles correctly. I had to rely on landmarks to get in the correct, or close to it, intervals. My times showed under 9 minutes/mile, which seems awfully optimistic. Regardless, it was good to run a little faster on the off chance that the 21st shows up with good weather where I can shoot for a faster time.

Not Spring Yet

Yesterday a big storm front came through, and then this morning the temperature was down near freezing. When I ran a little after lunch it was about 40 degrees and breezy. Normally it would be Spring, or close enough to it where we wouldn't have such a cold day. I wore long pants and t-shirt, as well as a stocking cap and mittens. I went 11 miles and the cold weather actually made it a good run. I doubt that the race in two weeks will be such good running weather.

Back Home

Yesterday was a nice day to run once I got back home. I ran 6 miles in the late afternoon, enjoying some German language lessons along the way. I wouldn't say it was a great run, but it was good enough on a day after I'd eaten too much Rudy's for dinner. You'd think by now I'd be smart enough to know I shouldn't eat that much on a night before a planned morning run. You'd be wrong.

Austin Storm

On Tuesday I drove up to a park in north Austin (where I was this week for work) and set out on a run. A bank of ominous clouds scuttled in from the north, and about a mile out I decided I should head back to the car in case the heavens cracked open. By the time I got back to my rental car and looked at the radar map on my phone it appeared the storm had passed by enough for me to be safe. I got no rain or lightning but plenty of wind, which was my undoing.

On the way back to the car the trough among the hills was filled with dust and pollen, mostly pollen, lifted into the air by the wind. I spent the next four miles wheezing and trying to breathe. Somehow I made it on a windy path through a neighborhood, apartment homes, and then back around by the parking lot; through a sports complex where people were playing softball, baseball, soccer, and skateboarding; and then I finally made it to my 6-mile mark.

It was a pretty severe allergy attack and several times I felt like stopping, but I decided long ago that if I waited until I felt great and let allergies have their way with me then I'd never run.

Training Run

I went out early, especially early for a non-summer Saturday, but it's Daughter #2's birthday and I wanted to run before taking her out to breakfast. It was cool when I started and mild when I finished my 10 miles. Overall it was pretty good, steady and just below a 10-minute pace. I had a mild strain in my back a few days ago and so I wore my compression t-shirt under a regular technical. It worked out just fine. Since I signed up for a half-marathon earlier in the week this means I'm three weeks out from that race. It'll be a nice Spring goal and then I can enter summer with thoughts of doing a full toward the end of the year.

Sunny Again

The morning started out foggy but by mid-afternoon the sun was out and it was beautiful outside. I started out the door and down the block for my normal route, but as I turned the corner I decided to run hills. This time went better than last and I felt good the whole way. The nice breeze helped, as did the 70-degree temperature. It was 6 miles of good running.

Pre-Rain Run

The chance of rain tomorrow is 100% with a possibility of flash flooding. Which means probably it will be cloudy and a few sprinkles here and there. Or exactly like they say. Whatever. Anyway, I decided to go ahead and run today so that I'm not trying to fit in an outing between storms. Oh yeah, I also did my cross-training punching bag routine this morning as scheduled. Which made my legs feel a little bit dead on my 6-mile run.

I persevered, and even though the temperature was 83 degrees the wind helped cool me off some, and I only walked up the big hill on Lake Forest, against the wind. It seemed like the smart thing to do. Meanwhile, I should have a couple of days off due to storms.

Respite

Today was the one non-windy day in the forecast for at least the next week. I originally thought about going 11 miles or so, but yesterday afternoon decided a 9-miler was plenty. And yes, it was. The temperature was in the upper 70s, which took quite a bit out of me for a run as I work to acclimate to the higher degrees. At mile 7 I was a little overheated and walked for about 90 seconds. After that I was good, and overall the run was enjoyable.

The electricity went off this morning about 7:30, and I thought I was going to end up without coffee. Fortunately it came back on shortly after 9 and I got my caffeine jolt before running. Kind of funny for a guy who used to despise even the smell of coffee. Hey, people can change.

Windy on the Hills

Today was a crap day with 9 out of 10 work hours on the phone. I was ready to go for a run way before the last call. It was sunny and nice, in the 70s, but also very windy from the south. Running against it was quite a slog, and in fact most of it in any direction felt that way. When I got to the first mile mark I thought it was one of the longest miles I've ever run.

Anyway, I went for the hills today, which may or may not have been a good decision. I got in my 6 miles in spite of all the work, and for that I am grateful. I remind myself that even a crazy busy day today is still better than my last job. And I'm grateful for that, too.

Windy Afternoon

Tuesday's run in the early afternoon was nice and sunny but a little bit chilly. I got out between conference calls and when I returned found I'd missed one that somehow ended up not being on my calendar. User error. Nevertheless, my 6-mile run was good and pretty quick, and also included two and a half German lessons. Making progress, at least with numbers and some other basics.

Back on the Trail

Today warmed up nicely. We started the day at The Celt for a St. Patrick's Day breakfast, and I finally made it out for my run about 1:30 p.m. I went 8 miles, and the temperature warmed up into the high 70s with lots of sun. Not a lot of wind, just enough breeze to cool me off enough to enjoy it. I'm back in town this week with hopefully no breaks in my normal running schedule. We can only hope.

Interlude

Wednesday was my one day in town during the week, sandwiched between a NM road trip for fun and a work trip to Austin. I was able to get out and run late in the afternoon and get in my 6 miles. It was good and a nice day.

I was unable to get out during in NM due to an early day up in the mountains on Saturday to wait for the best bbq on the planet at Mad Jack's, sleeping too late on Sunday after the time change, and rain on Monday morning. It was a long time to go without running but it was a fun trip.

Carving Out Time

Today was a 10-hour day at work, and I was trying to sandwich in a run between my last call and having to take The Boy to one of his activities. My last call went 45 minutes over. Fortunately I'd already dressed and was ready to go, but it almost went too long. I guess I could have shortened my run but that wasn't my first choice. I was able to get in my 6-miler at a fairly brisk pace. The moderate temperature helped and I got home just as the sun was about to call it a day. Glad I was able to go since it was very nice and refreshing to run after a long day of phone call after phone call after phone call - you get the idea.

Cold Bones

Today I felt like I never really got warm, probably because yesterday it got up to 75 degrees and The Wife turned on the a/c. It was late morning before it registered with me that the heat wasn't on. By the time I ran in late afternoon I was still not very warm but at least the temperature had risen enough outside to offset the harsh bite of the wind. It was extremely windy from the northwest. I ran my 6 miles and listened to my German lessons. Overall it wasn't too bad of a run, wind and all. I wore shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt, so can't complain too much.

Looking Forward

Yesterday I was really looking forward to today's run. Sometimes that happens. I feel some anticipation, maybe a little mix of cabin fever, and expectation. And it did not disappoint.

I ran 10 miles on a very nice, sunny day. Temperature was around 60 degrees, and humidity was pretty low. I think my pace ended up in the low 9's. Several people out today walking dogs, and plenty of bicycles.

I think people walk along paths like they drive their cars. One couple I passed three times. The guy was on the right with a metal cane-like deal, and the female on the left, a couple of steps ahead. The problem was that they both occupied the sides of the path. The first time I said, "On your left," and she flinched and moved to the right. The next couple of times I figured they weren't smart enough to get the picture so I ran right through the middle of them. I missed a fourth time by about 30 seconds of completing a loop before they arrived. It's annoying when people are oblivious to those around them. I wouldn't be surprised if I've encountered them on one of the local roads, puttering along, not using their turn signals, and unaware that they are unaware.

Another Good One in Austin

Today's run in downtown Austin was a 6-miler that went pretty well. It was windier than the other day, but the sun was out and it was a good day for a run. Lots of people out with dogs getting some exercise. There was no rush since my flight home was later in the morning, but it also meant I didn't get breakfast until almost lunch time. Somehow I survived.

Soupy in Austin

Tuesday morning's run in Austin was a little soupy. Some mist and low clouds, but at least the temperature was nice. I went 5 miles because the FVRP was a few minutes late meeting me in the hotel lobby. At least this time there was some light out when we started and I didn't need my light. The run was followed up by a nice omelette. That's always good motivation.

Watery Week

I don't mind running in rain, but when it rains for six days straight and the temperature hovers above freezing? Well, not gonna happen.

I slept late this morning because a thunderstorm rolled through and I had no motivation to get up any earlier. However, the line moved through just about noon and miracle of miracles, the sun actually came out. Even though I missed two runs this week I was still able to run 8 miles with no problems. Well, no problems other than navigating the sections of the path covered by water. Even so, it was nice to get out and enjoy a nice afternoon after numerous gray, gloomy, wet days.

A Good Long Run

Today started out rainy and gray, but by the time afternoon rolled around it wasn't too bad. I went 10 miles and listened to a lot of German on my iPod. Overall it was a pretty easy run, averaging around 9:30/mile. I thought this would be a good one before my next birthday, a nice round number.

I forgot to mention that on my Thursday run the GPS was totally whacked. It was cloudy and a high wind, which seems to distort the GPS sensitivity. I knew I was in trouble when the second mile took only 8:30 and I was still nowhere near where I knew the mile marker to be. Today I thought I might run into some trouble, even though it was nowhere near as windy. The alert for mile 3 was way beyond where it normally is. Even so, it seemed to average out in the end since I was within about 50 feet of the end point when I got the finish. Plus I wasn't going to sweat a few extra yards overall.

Wind and Hills

It was warm, gray Thursday. Twice as warm as my Tuesday run, as a matter of fact. A lot of wind, but that's a challenge, not a deterrent. I went out for a hill run. Why not?

The wind was out of the south and the first mile was tough. A half-mile in I thought my calves were cramping and this might be a bad day. I continued, figuring at that point I could walk back if needed. The next couple weren't horrible, but even so I felt like I wasn't in sync. I thought about walking up the hills somewhere between mile 4 and 5 but I was distracted by my iPod and switching between albums. Before I knew it I was up the last hill and on my way to finishing my 6-mile run.

80 degrees, hills, and 6 miles in February. Memorable.

Cold and Runny

The Wife said I looked cold when I was out running today because I wore a long-sleeved shirt, a stocking cap, and shorts. It was in the low 40s but I never felt cold. In fact I ran my 6 miles feeling pretty well, trying to hurry back for a phone call. To which I ended up being five minutes late. Guess the cold wasn't enough motivation to run any faster than I did.

Back to the Cold

It was colder this week in Dallas than it was in San Francisco. That was certainly true today where the temperature was 32 degrees with a lovely cold wind out of the north. The first mile was a pain, but once I turned it got much better. I ran 8 miles in total, and by the time I turned around for the return I was warmed up just fine. Miles 5-7 were against the wind and there were a few moments where I did not enjoy myself. But the last mile was fine and the wind at my back helped. This was one of those days where living in KC for so many years paid off in a wardrobe that helped me stay warm.

Third in SF

I was looking to see what I posted this week while in San Francisco and it took me a few seconds to realize the days were off. My Tuesday post was actually for Monday and the one that showed up on Wednesday was likewise off a day. Looks like the time zone difference came into play since I ran Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. This is for the latter, even though it looks like a double post if you try to put it into the context of the other runs.

The Thursday run of 4 miles was a little tougher, mainly due to the amount of food and drink on Wednesday evening. Still, made it through without any major problems. The temperature was noticeably cooler since when I stepped out the hotel doorway I could see my breath. But my luggage packing skills worked in my favor since I hadn't put in a third short-sleeved shirt and ended up having to wear a longer sleeved shirt. Three good runs in SF this week.

Another Four in CA

It was another 4 miles in San Francisco this morning. Still dark, a little cool but manageable. No breakfast afterward, though. In fact, I came back to my hotel room and worked longer than I expected with a phone call to a sales rep in Canada and then one of my team members. On my Lyft ride to the office my stomach kept rumbling and I was wishing I'd eaten breakfast earlier. I ended up eating 4.5 hours after I woke which was not necessarily a recipe for success.

This week I'm on track to get my usual 12 miles in three runs instead of two. That's okay because I think the FVRP is getting a kick start out of this.

Bay Run

Got out (very) early this morning on the Bay south of the San Francisco airport. I ran over to the hotel where the FVRP was staying and we ran three miles together, then went in for an omelette. After that I jogged back to my hotel for a total of 4 miles. It was cool but also humid, and not a bad morning for a quick run. Today would have been better if I hadn't worked for 14 hours, but what can I say? Sometimes you just have long days of starting early and working late.

Refreshing Long Run

This doesn't happen very often, but I felt like doing a long long run today. I'd been trying to find a half to do relatively soon but didn't have much luck. When I woke up this morning I was thinking about today's run and was actually kind of excited about doing a longer run. Even though it was pretty cold and windy I still went 11 miles. I layered up and about halfway through took off my stocking cap, but other than that it was good that I'd put on long pants and shirt. The wind makes it tougher, but in reality the temperature actually makes it a good running day. Not as many people out as normal, but that's fine with me either way. I started listening to an English history podcast and made it through almost the first five episodes. Good stuff so far.

The Windy Hills of Texas

I went the hill route today for my 6-miler, and it was quite breezy from the north. Overall the run was a good one, but I'm still suffering from allergy congestion. I felt like I was running with a little more breath than last week, but even so it wasn't full capacity. My pace ended up being 9:15/mile, so I guess I can't complain too much.

Windy and Running with Daughter #3

I was going to do a hill run today, but right before I went upstairs to change Daughter #3 told me she was going to run. I asked where and she said toward the path where I usually run. Spending time with her trumps a hill run any day of the week. We went the first mile together and then she turned around and headed home while I did the rest of my 6 miles. It was nice to run with one of the kids.

The wind was out of the southeast, which made for a fun run out and not as bad on the back except for the last mile. Fortunately the day had warmed up enough to compensate for the wind. More breezy days expected this week but that's what happens in Texas this time of year.

Learning Deutsch on the Run

I went 9 miles on a cool Saturday morning, and listened to almost 90 minutes of German. I've been learning over the past few months, with some of it a refresher from high school, since I'm heading to Europe in about four months. It's a good way to pass the time on a run. The run went well and there were plenty of people out on a cool breezy day.

After I got home I pressure washed part of the garage floor as well as the front porch. It looks way better. Plus I carried some bins up to the attic and then put dishes away. By the time dinner rolled around I was pretty tired. Can't complain, though, since no one would listen. In English or Deutsch.

Lovely Afternoon

The temperature this afternoon was about 60 degrees, sunny, and a nice breeze from the southeast. I went to the pub for lunch but showed restraint since I knew I had to run. Fortunately I did *not* taste fish and chips and Guinness during the run. I went my usual 6 miles at a pretty good pace, and picked it up at the end. I've been suffering a little from the Texas crud which pops up every year around this time. Not sure if it's cedar or what, but the allergies constrict my breathing to some degree. Regardless, I ran through it and enjoyed the lovely day.

Early and Cold

A schedule packed full of work calls today so I got up early and ran. At least the sun is starting to come up earlier and heading out a few minutes after 7 a.m. isn't total darkness any more. I passed all the high school runners heading back to school just north of McKinney Boyd and then saw barely anyone else the rest of the way. I ran 6 miles, once again with abbreviated warm-up and cooldown walks. The temperature said 41 degrees when I left but I don't think it was that warm. The past 3-4 days had been very windy and I'm glad that died down to almost nothing today. That would have made the run a lot different.

Nice Warmth, Strong Wind

Two days after running in near-freezing temperatures it was back up to 65 degrees today. That included a very strong wind out of the south, so much so that I walked up the big hill on Lake Forest rather than trying to run it. I went 7 miles and it felt like more because of being battered by the wind. I also probably ran too fast since my pace was in the low 9's again, with one of the miles coming in at 8:46. When I saw that on my GPS I said no way since I felt like I wasn't running that fast. Nevertheless it was a good run.

Texas Freeze

Back home in Texas and the weather is chilly. At least the sun was out and we broke above the freezing mark. I ran the usual 6-mile route, although I shortened my warm-up and cool-down walks so I could use the end of the block as the marker and avoid a little time in the breeze. The cold really helped my pace, though, and I finished at 9:04/mile. Definitely not the norm for me around here unless it gets this cold.

Saturday in Vegas

Made the annual trek to Las Vegas for our Sales Kickoff this past weekend. My intentions always outweigh the results. I ran Saturday and got in my 6 miles in 65 degree weather. It was a little bit of a slog but that was probably because of the altitude. It was good to get it in before all the meetings started.

I put my clothes out Sunday night for an early morning Monday run, but took awhile to get to sleep and woke up once at 2:30, all no doubt because of a cup of afternoon coffee. I reset my alarm during the trip to the bathroom. After that there was no real chance to run so all I got was the one on Saturday. Missed a run early in the week but was still glad to get one done.

Windy January

The wind picked up over the last couple of days and made today's outing a little more interesting. I probably overdressed but it was still cool enough to layer up. I could have gone with a little less but it worked out okay. I ran the usual 6-mile route, listened to some German lessons along the way, and made it a decent pace in spite of the wind. I'd have to go back through my posts to see the last time I ran on a Wednesday. Also when was the last time I did a long run on Friday, like I'm planning for this week?

M-W-F

I modified the usual running schedule this week because of a trip out of town on Saturday. That means today was the first run of the new week, a 6-miler in a nice cool breeze. It was still warm enough to wear shorts and a t, and I kept up a low 9's pace although it seemed like somewhat of a strain at times. I dialed it back once or twice but the needle on my pace stayed pretty constant. Overall a decent run even though I didn't feel the best.

A Nice Saturday

Went 8 miles on a sunny Saturday. There was a breeze out of the south that was okay, especially since the temperature was in the 50s. I actually sweated on today's run, a seeming oddity during the winter. I've been listening to German lessons on some of these runs, and today I listened to almost three modules. Plenty of people around today and I tried to tone down the parts where I was repeating the phrases out loud.

I got a couple of new technical t-shirts for Christmas and today I wore the second, the first one used on my previous run on Wednesday. It's nice to have some new gear, including socks, and I also ordered a new pair of shoes which should be here tomorrow. The ones I'm using right now have plenty of mileage from my marathon training. I found a good deal online and ordered them on my phone from the plane after we landed in Dallas on Thursday evening. Gotta love some of the conveniences of living in the 21st century.

First Run of 2018

Traveled yesterday, my normal running day, and so my first run of the year was in San Francisco this morning. I got up early and hit the Bay Side Trail well before dawn. I wish I'd brought my light since there were a few sections that were pretty dark. Fortunately I'd run it before and knew it well enough to not stumble and fall off the path. Unfortunately I ran out of path just south of the airport. By the time I got back to the hotel it was right at 5 miles, which I considered good enough.

The temperature was about 50 degrees and almost cool when I started off but when I warmed up it was fine. A good start to  the year. I'd like to run again in the morning but it's raining and it's supposed to continue into tomorrow. Guess this will be a week with less mileage.