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.

Rain at Last

We finally got a ton of rain on Thursday. It was so nice. The temperature plummeted into the mid-70s as it rained for two hours and rivers of water ran down the streets. As opposed to last time, this time there was too much for the dry ground to absorb and there was water in the creek this morning. I went 3 miles with intermittent walking and running since it was quite humid. We have more rain coming in the over the next few days, so I'll get in my exercise as I can.

Work and Walk

Interesting outing today. Went for w walk during the last call of the day, which really was a fyi for me. I didn't have to participate until about 2 miles into 3 total. And since I walked it all I could pause in the shade and say my piece. After that I listened to the podcast the rest of the way home. According to the forecast this might be one of our last 100 degree days. I'm going to have to find some future motivation because I love the heat.

Half Run

I went 3 miles again today, half of it walking and half running. The temperature was above 90 degrees and plenty humid, so alternating walk/run seemed like the right thing to do. It went pretty well, especially considering I did it later in the morning. I needed breakfast and coffee first today, though, hence the delay. I saw a few people out but there were probably more earlier in the morning. I considered waiting until tomorrow but decided I didn't really want to. I've also been listening to a new podcast, or at least new to me, called History That Doesn't Suck. The guy starts with American colonies and moves quickly over the first few episodes into the battles that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. So far, so good. I'm enjoying it.

How About Some Rain?

Yesterday I went for my normal off-day walk, and it went pretty well. It was cloudy, and when I checked the radar everything was sliding past us to the west. The wind picked up, and toward the end I saw lightning about a mile away. That's usually my signal to head for cover. I ended up a little under 2 miles. When I got home it went like usual for a while. The storm was heading toward us and then split to completely go around. It's like we were an anti-magnet. That finally ended about 6:30 when we had actual rain for the first time in months. For an hour or so. It was fantastic. And the temperature dropped to 75 degrees. This might be normal elsewhere but not around here, and not lately.

Today would normally be a running day, but that didn't happen. I walked 3 miles, thought about running a few times, and decided against it. The temperature was 98 degrees with heat index of 102. What was interesting was the condition of the creek I normally run past and then run next to several times. I thought after yesterday the water might be higher and moving a little, but instead it was muddy pools along the creek bed. Apparently the rain we received yesterday was so needed that the ground just sucked it up and runoff was non-existent. Here's hoping for more rain.

No Rain

Typical day here lately at the old homestead. Clouds rolled in, rain fell...but none of it here. Still haven't had any measurable rain in a couple of months. Nevertheless, the temperature fell into the mid-80s and it was nice enough to go outside. I tried to escape work but I got an annoying instant message that I should have ignored, but apparently I'm too stupid. I didn't get out until almost five p.m. but I couldn't pass up this day. I went 3 miles total, running about 80% of it. Including a sprint at the end. Yes, nice cloudy outing and enjoyed it. How often has that happened lately? Oh, and walked 3 miles yesterday as well when the forecast was 98 degrees but turned into 102.

Enjoying Summer

Went for a 3-miler this morning. I ran only a half-mile of it, feeling that it was better to walk today for some reason. Plus it kept me out longer. Plenty of sweat, plenty of summer still left to go. Saw several people out on bicycles, running, and walking. Seems a little different from a few days ago, but maybe it was the time of day. Or of the week. Looks like school is about ready to start again since there was something going on at the high school this morning and the parking lot was full. I'm also defrosting the beer fridge and spent a few hours in the garage enjoying the heat. Later it's over to a friend's for a pool party and some food. All pretty good for a Saturday.

Ain't Nobody

Wasn't nobody out this afternoon. Except me. 102 degrees, 105 heat index. Which is actually not that bad for August in Texas. I went 3+ miles, total, with 1 mile of it running. I could tell how hot it was when the wind at my back cooled me off. That rarely happens, The only other people I saw out today were people in cars with their a/c on. Can't blame them.

I also realized somewhere during the run that I am more willing to get out in 100+ degrees than I am in winter when it's 50 degrees. That has to change this year.

Non-Lazy Saturday

Started the morning off walking with The Wife, and then when she went to the pool I continued on my merry way. The walking part consisted of probably a couple of miles, and then I went a couple more, mostly running. I figure I put in 4 miles today, mostly running the latter half. Then I came home and mowed, did some clean-up around the house, and finally decided to chill a little bit. The temperature was supposed to be in the mid-90s today, but right now it's actually 103 with heat index of 114. That means it's humid, and when I sat on the back patio to smoke a cigar I could definitely the humidity. We had about five minutes of rain yesterday, and when I say rain I'm being generous. It sprinkled, barely, but it's the first moisture we've had in probably a couple fo months. It wasn't much, but apparently enough to bring out the humidity. No complaints here, though. I sweated a lot for the first half of the day. All good.

Walking Week

We're still in the 100s every day, which I love. However, this week is a little different since a couple of late afternoons are blocked for other things. So Monday and today (Wednesday) I went for a walk. Monday was the just-over-a-mile route, and then today I added on the north side of the neighborhood to get close to 3 miles. I ate too many snacks yesterday, so I need to get that under control. The century mark on the thermometer is slated to continue for several more weeks. I'll run when I can but also make sure I'm getting out and sweating as much as possible. Like this week.

Getting My Butt Out There

This morning I took a different approach from last Saturday. I slept in a little but then got my butt out the door to run before anything else messed with my schedule. Plus, it was a little cooler, only about 80 degrees at run time. I went 4 miles and ran 75% of it, walk breaks throughout of course. Lots of people out getting in some exercise before it gets up to 100 again today. After breakfast and coffee I mowed the lawn, so all that's out of the way, too.

There Was Actual Running Involved in This Run

What a difference 10 or 11 degrees makes. When I walked yesterday it was 108 degrees. Today it was "only" 97. So I ran part of the 2.8 miles, actually half of it. Not all at once, of course, but it was actually okay. Most of what I ran was in the sun, but I guess that helped me get back to the shade quicker. I did see one other person out walking, but he was going really slow. All in all a good, sweaty outing.

108

There was no running today. Walking yesterday, a little over 2 miles, and almost 3 miles today. Work went long and I didn't get out until 5:30 p.m. At that point the temperature was 108 degrees with heat index of 113. Strangely enough, I didn't see a single soul out walking, running, or cycling. It seems I was the only one crazy enough to be out there, but to be honest, it really didn't seem that bad. A nice breeze came out of the south. I wouldn't say it was cooling, but at that temperature any air movement is better than none.

Midday Walk/Run

I was going to get out earlier, like 10 a.m., but ended up going around noon since Honorable Daughter #3 showed up. It was in the 90s so I walked about a half-mile, ran a half-mile, and so on. I went 2.5 miles total and ran about a mile of it. It went well and that seems to be a good choice. I missed running on Thursday since I was in Austin and drove back yesterday. We're in the middle of a stretch of 100-degree days, with a mild break of a degree or two once in a while. I love Texas summer!

Totally Walking

I walked yesterday, a little over 2 miles, and then today went almost 3 miles in the other direction. I seriously thought about running today, but decided to just keep up a good pace and sweat. Interesting tidbit, though: it was over 100 degrees today plus another 5-6 degrees for heat index, and I didn't really start perspiring until a half-mile into the walk. Even in direct sunlight. I suppose that's called being acclimated to a certain degree. See what I did there?

Mostly a Walk

It was 94 degrees at 10 this morning, and my intent was to walk instead of run. I did go 3 miles but threw in about a half-mile run in the last mile. That was because a guy was walking slower than me on the way back so I decided to just run a little bit to pass him. It actually worked out nicely since I was warmed up. The breeze was almost non-existent, another reason I'd decided to walk. My main goal today was to sweat. Mission accomplished.

Baby It's Hot Outside

Meanwhile here in Texas, the temperature made it up to 101 degrees with a 106 heat index. I don't know, it might be a little hotter than that. I went 2.5 miles today, but ran only the first and walked the other 1.5. It seemed like the right thing to do. I should have gone for a walk yesterday but it was a holiday and I was smoking a brisket. I did sit outside pretty much all day and did plenty of sweating, so that has to count for something. We'll see how the rest of the week goes since I have something every evening. Not a fan of that but sometimes it happens.

What a Week

Work was crazy busy this week, and particularly Thursday. By the time I made it to the end of the work day I was spent, and for the first time in three weeks I missed an outing. I got back to it this morning, where it was 86 degrees by 9:30 a.m. and plenty humid as well. I went 3 miles and even now, an hour later as I write this on the back patio, I'm still sweating. At least it's a long holiday weekend and I can relax a little bit.

Forgot My Hat

I was at the end of the block when I realized I'd forgotten my hat, the latest running accessory. I decided to go without it since it was a pain to walk back. So I ran 3 miles, probably half in shade, which wasn't so bad if running hatless is the exception. Plus it was only 90 degrees today, almost like a cold front came through.

Still going strong with the walking and running schedule, with another 2 miles of walking yesterday. It was also a mild day. Gotta enjoy it while I can.

Juicy

Since some people don't like the word "moist," I'm going to say that this morning's run was juicy. As in humid. I still got my butt out the door before it gets too hot today, and went 4 miles. Overall not a bad run. I walked every half-mile, as seems wise when the heat at 8 a.m. is over 80 degrees. No complaints, though. Saw a few walkers and cyclists, but not much else beside me in the running department. One guy passed me early coming out of the neighborhood but I think that was about it.

Two Weeks

That's two, two, two weeks in a row of doing this walking and running thing five days a week. Walk Monday, run Tuesday, walk Wednesday, run Thursday, run Saturday. And all in the heat of summer. Makes winter me feel lazy for not taking advantage of the nicer temperatures. Or maybe I just like to get out and sweat. Whatever the case, I walked a little over 2 miles yesterday and ran 3 miles today. I'm feeling more energetic, not a ton but enough to make a difference. Work has been brutal but I'm not as run down as I was before the last couple of weeks. Who knew that exercising could help increase your energy level?

Tuesday Hot

Detecting a theme in the titles of these posts? Yes, it was 98 degrees and heat index 104 today. And about the same yesterday, when I walked about 2.5 miles. Today I went 3 miles with about 70% running. I think. I'm not tracking it down to the yard or meter, whichever measurement you prefer. Instead, I'm just trying to stay in the shade as much as possible and make it through all the sweat. As a person who actually likes hot weather, this is a great time of year. For those of you who don't? We can still be friends.

Saturday Hot

It's soggy this morning. And by that, I mean it's hot and humid. I slept late and went for a run about 9:45 a.m., by which point the temperature was in the upper 80s. And very humid. People have been remardking that it's early in the summer for it to be getting this hot. I think they're afraid of how July and August will turn out. Anyway, I did my 3 miles and overall felt pretty good. This past week has been very helpful in acclimating to the heat. I plan to continue mixing in walks with running days. It certainly can't hurt.

More Walking and Running

The temperatures remain around 100 degrees and I'm still getting my butt out the door. Yesterday I walked again, same route, which turned out to be about 2.15 miles.

Today the breeze was lighter, which made the heat feel...hotter. I only went 2 miles, mainly because I forgot my hat. Since I had a couple of spots frozen off my head a few weeks ago I'm trying to be careful, at least until they heal. Also, I caught my toe on an uneven section of sidewalk right outside the neighborhood and almost went down. I kept upright, but even that little bit of jarring feels less good the older I get.

Kicking Butt

Yesterday I felt like it was better to get out and sweat than to sit on the back patio and drink a cold beer. So I walked about 45 minutes in 100 degree heat. At least it was very breezy. I figure I probably went over 2 miles but I didn't wear my GPS so we'll just go with that estimate.

Then tonight, with similar temperatures, I ran/walked 3 miles. I walked a minute every half-mile and then the last third of a mile or so. Even with the heat it wasn't too bad. At least I got to sweat as planned. Trying to kickstart some activity and get rid of that lazy butt. Tomorrow I'm planning on walking again. It's a good motivator to get through otherwise long days of work.

Lazy Butt

Work kicked my butt this week. I was worn out every afternoon by the time I finished, and even worse by Thursday. It probably would have helped relieve stress if I'd gone out and run, but my developing sense of laziness did not help. Today I finally got my act together and headed out for 3 miles. I ended up running about half of it, due to my old friend humidity. When I started out the temp was 77 degrees and was up to 84 by the time I made it home. As I write this in the afternoon it's 100 degrees with heat index of 111. Summer has arrived!

Let's Run

Last night and early this morning it rained, a nice thunderstorm that woke us up a few times. That made it a little humid but also knocked down the temperature. When I ran 3 miles today it was only 82 degrees. Not bad for the beginning of June in Texas. I only saw three other people out on the trail, all three on bicycles. The stream cutting under Lake Forest was the fullest I've seen it so far this year, I think. Not a bad thing.

Memorial Day Outing

This morning I walked with The Wife and then followed up with my own run/walk. The temperature had climbed into the 80s by the time I ran so I added in the usual walking. My "run" was 3 miles, a little rough with the heat and humidity. Not too much to complain about, though, since we haven't hit the 100-degree days yet. I also figured it was good to get in a run today since I have a work outing tomorrow and it would be tough to fit in the time to run and then clean up. Among other activities for the day I fixed the toilet in the master bath (replaced the valve), made green chile salsa, and went to the store. It's been a busy day and I think I'll chill for the rest of it.

68 and Running

No, 68 is not my age. It was the temperature this morning, a day I had off from work. It was sunny and almost no wind. Very nice. BTW, I was right about the rain on Tuesday. It didn't hit until evening when we were at a restaurant with my sister and nephew. I watched the forecast all day and the chance of rain kept getting later and later. What was 100% at noon became a lower percentage later. Seriously, I don't know how those people keep their jobs.

Anyway, today I ran another 4 miles. Felt good, and then I came home and mowed the lawn. I think tomorrow will be a good day for smoking some pork. At least, that's how it looks from here.

Planning Ahead

It's supposed to rain starting in the early morning hours and all day tomorrow. Sure. We've heard this song and dance before and ended up with nothing. If you believe the potato heads who predict the weather we'll get over two inches before it's all said and done. I don't believe them. Regardless, because I have a dinner commitment tomorrow evening I decided I should go ahead and run today.

It was in the mid-70s, unseasonably cool for Texas. Almost no wind. After all the strong gusts we've had over the last week who thought I'd be wishing for a breeze? Also, I ran 4 miles. Without walking (except for the hill, of course). Felt good all the way and enjoyed a really nice day. It would have been a shame to waste it.

Super Humid

This morning a non-rainstorm came through. What I mean is that weather radar showed a green patch over us for about a half-hour but no rain actually made it to the ground. What it did cause was a nice spike in humidity. When I went out to run before lunch it was super-humid. Along with a little sun it was not my favorite condition for running. I went 3 miles with a few walking breaks, which seemed reasonable given the day. I sweat a lot, which was the main goal anyway. Now as I sit and type this on the back patio it's still warm and humid and I'm sweating after I took a shower. Oh well. I'll have to take one tomorrow anyway.

Too Much Vacation, Not Enough Running

Went to the beach last week and into this week, which meant vacation and no running. Actually, I did run briefly but it was to chase some punks who stole stuff from under our canopy on the beach. Didn't catch up to them, unfortunately.

Today at home was very nice, and since I'm still off work I got to run in the morning instead of late in the day. I only went 3 miles and kept a slow pace as I start working off the vacation gluttony. No more vacations in the foreseeable future.

Walk and Run and Walk and Run

Another warm day, and humid as well, plus the sun was out. I ran/walked 3 miles total. I have to say I wasn't feeling that great at the beginning but it was a good choice to get out and sweat a little. Really, that's the only reason I went. More than exercise itself I just felt like a good sweat was in order. And as always, glad I did it.

Summer on the Way

Been another lazy week with no excuse for not running. Also a couple of late nights, with a concert Thursday night and men's conference last night. And this evening a playoff hockey game. I'm getting too old for so many late nights in a row.

Anyway, got out for 3 miles today. Spring, what we had of it, is over and today's high is around 90. I walked at the mile markers and the last bit up the hill and into the neighborhood. I felt okay and got in some good sweating. No complaints here.

Let's Go 3

The wind kicked up this afternoon, but it was fine since the temperature made it into the low 80s. I thought about going a little bit more but settled on 3 miles without walking. That was a good choice since I felt good all the way through. I sprinted the last bit and even made it to a 7:30 pace. On the downhill, of course. I'm not a speedster. Overall, though, a good day and I enjoyed the outing.

What a Day

The temperature was only about 73 degrees this afternoon, and even better, barely any wind. A nice change from the past week and beyond. I ran 3 miles and enjoyed it. Plenty of people out and about, as they should be. Today was also The Boy's birthday, and we went out for a Baker's burger for lunch. That slowed me down on the run, I'm sure, but it was worth. As was the birthday cigar after the burger. Not a bad day, all in all.

Attack of the Allergies

Last Sunday, Easter, I went out and sat on the back patio for about 15 minutes. Apparently that was not a wise choice. The rest of that day and all of Monday I had a horrible allergy attack. The Wife says it was one of the worst, if not the worst, she's ever seen me with. People who don't have allergies have no idea how it feels. I was blowing my nose every couple of minutes and sneezing every sixty seconds. On Monday evening I tried something new. I took a slug of Nyquil at 6:30, managed to stay up another couple of hours before going to bed, woke up at 11:30 and took another shot of the stuff, and then slept the rest of the night. I woke up in much better shape. I took some Dayquil on Tuesday and felt a lot better. I should have tried this approach years ago. The rest of the week was a slow climb back toward normalcy, although today I have a touch of it again after running 3 miles and then mowing the lawn. Plus it's ultra-windy still, and that never helps with the allergies. More medicine might be in store for today. 

Hat Day

I ordered a hat to provide some extra coverage for my mostly-bald dome and today was my first day to run with it on. Not sure I like it. It felt a little hot even though the day wasn't that warm and the sun wasn't even shining. I think a lot of body heat is released through my head, and without that I felt warmer than usual. Or it could be that it was also humid. I'll try it again and we'll see if it's going to work.

I went 4 miles today just before lunchtime. I thought there would be more people out but turned out to be not as much as I expected. Regardless, I'm just glad to get out and enjoy a nice run.

Top-Notch Day

Thunderstorms and laziness rolled through the area on Tuesday, but today was a red-letter day in Harper Valley. Temps in the low 70s, sunshine, only a slight breeze - it was a gorgeous day. If I hadn't run today I would have had to do some sort of penance in foot-deep snow for a month. I gazed longingly out the window all day and finally made it out for 3 miles after work. You'd think the paths would have been thick with people but ended up being not nearly as many as I expected. Maybe people were surprised by the nice weather. Who knows. Regardless, it was a day to remember.

First April Run

Here it is the 10th of April and today was my first run. Well, kind of. I went 3 miles total, running the first half and walking back against the wind for the last half.

A couple of weeks ago I did a couple of afternoons of yard work, some of which involved digging up a circle around the tree in the back yard and moving a bunch of bricks into a level position. I'm not sure if that's what caused the problem, but I felt a pain on the outside of my left knee a few days afterward, and ever since, although it's feeling better. I iced it a couple of times and obviously didn't run or do much else. I felt it just a little in the first mile of today's run, which is why I walked the latter part. I do need to get back into shape before beach time this summer.

Saturday Five

It was another beautiful spring day. I slept in a bit, had breakfast and coffee, worked on my new book, and then went out for a 5-miler. It was nice and relaxing. Strangely, I barely saw anyone else out the first two miles. After that, though, the floodgates opened up near Hardin and I found a lot of people out and about. It was a little breezy from the south but overall not bad. I was glad to get in three runs this week and enjoy the great weather.

Two in a Row

Today was a day much like yesterday in the weather department. I was feeling like another run was in order so I went for it. Plus, in Texas you have to take advantage of the decent days since the 100-degree days are on the horizon.

I ran 4 miles again. It felt good, even two days in a row. Tomorrow I'll take a break and enjoy a Friday. I'm guessing if I went back and tallied up which days I run on the most and least over the years, Friday would far and away be the winner for least. It just seems wrong to burden Friday with a run.

Delayed Run

It got cool again here yesterday. Well, actually Monday night when a storm blew through with high winds and rain. It was only in the upper 40s yesterday with a very stiff breeze from the north. I stayed inside.

Today was much better. Even though there was still a strong breeze from the north the temperature was about 15 degrees warmer. The sun was shining, which was nice. I went 4 miles, even against the wind. I really wanted to go yesterday and was feeling that call to run, but waiting a day turned out to be the right choice.

Outstanding Day

I don't think it could be much nicer than it was today. It started off cool this morning when The Wife and I were at the flea market up on 380. We were looking for bird baths but apparently we'll have to find a statuary place if we want one. Anyway, it warmed up to about 70 degrees this afternoon. Spent some time writing and then went for a 5-miler. There was a light breeze from the south to keep things from feeling over-warm. I know that seems weird since we're nowhere near 100 degrees, but it's all relative to how the weather has been up and down the past several weeks. In a couple of months 70 will be absolutely chilly. Until then I'll enjoy the great weather and go spend some time doing yard work.

Walking in the Wind

It's a bit...breezy today. And by breezy I mean the wind is over 20 mph with gusts up to 45. I ran 4 miles today, or most of it. There were a couple of walks thrown in there when the wind was blowing against me too much. Other than that the day was just fine. Sunny, over 70 degrees, and I felt decent. I felt like I struggled a little with the wind, maybe rushed somewhat when I started and then battling against it at times. I tried to relax as much as I could, knowing I wasn't in a race.

Spring Forward

I hate the time change. But I covered that in the last installment. The only good thing is that the sunlight lasts longer into the evening. It was a nice day on top of that, and I'm sitting on the back patio as I write this. I went 3 miles today, which I figured was a good start to the running week. The temperature was 70 degrees at run time. To be honest it felt a little warm in the sun. That's probably because of the swinging pendulum on the thermometer. The long-range forecast says we won't get to freezing again. I'll believe it when I see it.

Seriously, Winter

Another cold front with freezing precipitation came through this week. I thought we were done with that already, but apparently not. Maybe this is the end.

Yesterday it was bitterly cold here. The wind was brutal and temperature actually fell during the day. I woke up this morning to sunlight and milder weather. I went 4 miles and it felt very good. It was slow and I got passed by a woman at the first mile marker, but that's okay. I'm not trying to win a race, just trying to get back in shape. I didn't sleep well last night so today's good run was a little surprising. I'll take it, though. Tonight it's off to a hockey game and then the clocks jump forward an hour. I hate these stupid time changes. I've said it before and I'll say it again - if a politician of either major party will do away with this nonsense they'll get my vote.

Third for the Week

I had every intention of running on Thursday but Youngest Daughter came over and I'll be darned if I'll miss the chance to hang out with her. It was a beautiful day, too. Oh well. I'd rather spend time with one of my kids than run any day of the week. Sorry, running.

Today was nice but very breezy, about 20 mph. I ran 3 miles and it wasn't great. The main goal was to get out and sweat a little bit, and that's what I did. Now on to grilling steaks and a relaxing evening at home.

Two in a Row

Yeah! Two days in a row. Of course I didn't feel up to running today and kept telling myself that I ran yesterday and it's okay, no need to do it again today. That's the type of laziness that's kept me from developing a routine. Plus, it was a beautiful day with temperature of 70 degrees and sunshine and no wind. I took the hill route and went 4 miles. It felt good and as usual, I'm glad I ran.

More Winter

I thought we were done with winter but no such luck. Last week another storm rolled in with sub-freezing temperatures and precipitation. In fact, we got sleet/freezing rain that made the roads and surfaces slick until late in the week. I keep thinking that's gotta be the last of it. Maybe I'm right this time.

In spite of that, I did better last week with less food and drink. Today's 3-mile run didn't feel nearly as much of a struggle as last week's. My plan is to run again tomorrow and keep up the routine. As we all know, that hasn't been the actual execution of the plan lately, but I'm going to keep trying until it sticks.

Slug

I've been a slug lately. Most of it was the run-up to my birthday and just generally not doing much beyond work. That's over and now it's time for some colder weather again. I got out today for 3 miles, and it was not a good 3 miles. My lack of doing anything really paid off in a crappy run. Tim to stop being a slug.

Another Texas Beauty

It was another beautiful Texas day. Sunny, temperature in the 70s, a light breeze - it was all great. I ran 4 miles, as I've been doing lately. A hot air balloon was out and gradually receded to the northeast as I made my way along the usual path. If every day was like this then everyone would live here. Good thing it gets hot in a few months to keep away the riffraff.

Winter Storm 2022

If I'm counting correctly, this is our seventh winter in Texas. In the first five it snowed exactly one time that I recall, and that was only a dusting that melted right away. Last year, of course, was Snowpocalypse 2021, which knocked out our electricity for several days and where temperatures reached zero. By last year's standards, this year was almost a nothingburger. Last Wednesday it rained and turned into freezing rain overnight. We didn't actually get snow until mid-morning on Thursday, and that ended about 1 p.m. after dumping a few inches. Power stayed on the whole time and the only bad thing was a big limb off the tree in our front yard that collapsed. I got out the chainsaw and took care of that on Saturday after things warmed back up and the sun came out.

Today the sun is out and the temperature in the mid-60s, a far cry from late last week. I ran 4 miles, part of it against a stiff breeze out of the south. No complaints, though. Felt pretty good and hopefully last week was all the winter we have to deal with this year.

Before the Storm

The usual accurate weathermen (that was sarcasm) are predicting rain starting tomorrow evening and then snow overnight into Thursday, with several days of freezing temperatures to follow. I'll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, today was 70 degrees and mild. I made sure to get out for one more run before the weather turns cold and went 4 miles. It was a little more of a slog than I expected, mainly because I felt like I was running against the wind for the entire first half. I also stopped along the way to examine the bloody tracks I saw last weekend, figuring they'll be gone after the upcoming storm. I'm not a tracker by any means, but pretty sure the victim didn't survive that episode.

Even Nicer

It's getting better before it gets worse, weather-wise. Snow is in the forecast for later next week. In the meantime, today it's 66 degrees. I ran at mid-day, sun shining and a nice breeze from the north. Felt good and ran all 5 miles, except for the big hill, of course. Several families out pushing strollers, and plenty of dog walkers, too. I hadn't been on the other side of Hardin for a few weeks, at least that I remember, and was sad to see one of the trees along the path had been cut down. There was another also down in Creekview, but that one had been damaged in a storm and blown over, so it made sense. Maybe that's what happened to the other one. In another interesting twist, a splash of blood on the sidewalk past the bridge caught my eye. On the way back, I saw it again and then bloody footprints leading up to it. Looked like a raccoon. My thought is it was attacked on the near side, ran across the bridge, and then met its final end where the bigger amount of blood ended up. And so it goes.

49 Degrees

I remember a time when we lived in KC that a 49-degree day in January would have been outstanding. Here in Texas, it's still a bit on the cold side. In reality, it's actually a good temperature for running, no matter where you are.

I ran 4 miles and tried to follow a path in the sunlight. I ran on the north side of the Creekside neighborhood. In the last mile on my way back the sun was blocked by a cloud bank. In the heat of August the shade would have been welcome. On a day like today, not so much. 

Monday Outing

It was a busy weekend, and today I really felt the need to get out for a run. I was unsure of how far to go, thinking three miles would be okay, but ended up going 4. Mainly because at my turnaround for three I would have seemed like a creeper to the lady who just ran by me going the opposite direction, as well as the couple with the dog. Another mile didn't kill me, and actually was a good choice. The weather looks to be mild over the next week or so. I need to keep reminding myself to get out regularly before it heats up again in a couple of months, not that I mind running in the hot Texas sun that much. I certainly sweat more in that part of the year.

Overcoming Laziness

Maybe I've used that title before. Regardless, I felt lazy today. Yesterday the wind blew hard and the temperature was cold. Late afternoon the temp was about 26 degrees and wind chill about 15. Today was much nicer. The sun is shining and it got up to 51 degrees with only a slight breeze. I sat out in the hammock for quite awhile, enjoying the sunshine. I'd put on my running clothes earlier, which turned out to be a good motivation since I seriously considered not going. I guess I can't smoke cigars and drink beer all day every day. By the time I was in about a mile I was glad I went. I went the regular 4-mile route and overall felt fine. The Wife has been sick the last few days but looks like I avoided it. I needed the exercise and the fresh air.

Beautiful Spring Day...in January

72 degrees was the high today, and it was really nice out. Work threatened to carry over late but I made it a priority to get out the door for a run. It was worth it. I went 4 miles with a sprint at the end. Lots of bicycles out today, and a handful of runners. Many more bikes than people on foot, including a couple of families. Nice to see people enjoying the beautiful day.

First of the Year

I'm going to stop talking about how I have to get consistent. Every time I mention it I go a length of time without running. Today was actually my first run of the year, ten days into 2022. I should feel bad, and I kind of do. Plenty of excuses, bad weather, truck issues that I worked on all weekend, etc. The truth of it is that I finally got my butt out the door today and ran 3 miles. Temperature was in the low 50s, but sunny and not windy. A nice day, and a good first one to kick off the running season again.

The 5k I was supposed to run on New Year's Day in Kansas was postponed due to extremely cold temps (single digits, wind chill in the negative numbers). My nephew and I did our packet pick-up anyway, and ended up with coffee mugs. I called it the most expensive mug I've ever bought. It was disappointing to not get to run it with him, but at least we had one outing at the park a few days before the end of the year. Next time we'll have to pick a race with less chance of bad weather, if that's even possible.