New Route in Austin

Today I flew in to Austin for a few days of work and late this afternoon ran a mostly new route. The path took me into a big park on the north side of Austin after running along I road I've been on before. Once I got into the park I was a little worried since it was pretty warm, humid, and uphill going back. It wasn't too bad, though, and the path in the park was less uphill than I feared. I did walk a couple of times due to the heat, but overall it was a good run. I'm also trying to eat well even when I'm on the road and stuck with street tacos instead of a big dinner of bbq, steak, or seafood with accompanying big mug of beer. It was tough but it also feels good to not go off the deep end. That'll be tomorrow night.

Good Pace

I waited until after noon for today's run since it was on the cool side this morning. When I checked the temperature at run time was 53 degrees. That turned out to be a fantastic zone for my run. I originally put on a long-sleeved technical t-shirt, but decided at the last minute to switch to short sleeves. That also turned out to be a good move.

I usually run according to what feels comfortable as opposed to shooting for a specific time, at least when I'm not in training for a race. When I hit the first mile I was surprised to see my time in the low 9's, and the second mile was a second faster. Each successive mile went by faster, and by the time I was into the fifth and sixth miles I was under 9. I never felt like the effort was too much, and the temperature and almost non-existent breeze kept me feeling good. At the end of my 7-miler my overall pace was 9:09. Not too bad of a non-race Saturday run for a guy who just turned 50.

Hot and Windy

Hot being a relative term, of course. The temperature was 86 degrees when I hit the sidewalk this afternoon, with a nice wind out of the southwest. The wind was great when it was behind me, but not so good head-on. I was smart (I think) and at mile 2 started walking a minute at each subsequent mile marker. Plus the big hill, of course, since I didn't want to kill myself running uphill against the wind. I got in my 6 miles and in spite of the weather actually felt pretty good about it. Plus I played some of my birthday playlist and the variety was nice after several weeks of history podcasts.

6 at 50

Actually it's 6 miles the day after turning 50. I took the day off work in order to recover from the festivities of the weekend, and ran late morning. It was another nice day, quite breezy, but still runnable. It was warm, though, and I walked at miles 4 and 5 as well as up the big hill. That's probably due also to only one run last week, but now that the birthday weekend is over I'm back on track.

Almost 50

Actually it was over 50 degrees today, but I'm almost to that mark myself. This was another gorgeous day that was begging for me to go running, and I did my 6 miles in pretty good time at a 9:39 pace. Not bad for a guy who's almost to the half-century mark. Not as many people out as I thought there would be, but still a fair amount. One more run planned before my birthday, but with family coming to town that's going to be optional. We'll see.

Bad Run, Good Walk

I had good plans for today. Run 9 miles, smoke a couple of pork shoulders, and chill. The last two came to pass, but the first one not so much. When I exited the house between 9:30 and 10 this morning the temperature was already was already in the mid 70s, sunny, and windy. My heart rate felt elevated early on and I walked a minute at Mile 1 and same at Mile 2. After Mile 4 the walking increased, and by the time all was said and done I probably walked close to a mile out of the 6 total. At least I sweated quite a bit and got the work in, even though I wouldn't consider it a quality workout.

Today's final tally was a high of 87 degrees. On 11 February! I'll take it, even though the run didn't turn out quite so well.

More Sun

It was another nice day, although not as warm as Tuesday - only in the upper 50s. Still, the sun was shining and it was a good early February day. I ran my 6 miles and even conquered the big hill. My right knee felt a little gimpy as I ran back through the neighborhood, but a 30-second walk seemed to solve the problem. Not a lot of people out today, probably due to the breeze, but those of us who were out seemed to enjoy it.

Spring in February

Today was really nice. Upper 70s in the afternoon, sunny, and just a hint of a breeze. It seems weird this early in February, but then again, this is Texas. I ran 6 miles and it went well. I started out feeling a little fatigued, but that faded away as the run progressed. I walked only a little up the big hill.

I had a physical yesterday and everything seems okay, although their scale came in five pounds heavier than our home scale. Oh well. At least my weight is down about ten pounds from its height, and I plan on continuing good habits. Going to the beach in June is somewhat of a motivation, albeit one that probably isn't as primary as it might be if I really cared what people thought about me. I won't be posing for anyone.

A Good Saturday

The weather today is cool and overcast once again, and I wore basically the same outfit as the last run. This weekend run I stretched to 8 miles, and for the most part it went well. A little after the 6-mile mark I walked for about thirty seconds since my left knee felt a bit out of whack. That helped since the rest of the outing went well, other than walking up the big hill against the wind again.

One of my sisters texted me this afternoon about possibly running a marathon with her toward the end of the year. Wait - did I just agree? Guess I just set a goal.

Groundhog Day Run

Seems like I've run this route before. Yesterday it was 80 degrees, today topped out at 46 with a lovely breeze. I donned the long pants and shirt along with mittens and a stocking cap and ran my 6 miles. I've run in worse. Only saw one other runner on the usual route and one couple walking around the pond. I did run up the big hill, though, and took off the cap on my way up to avoid a repeat of the wretching episode a few weeks ago. My pace ended up under 10 minutes and overall I felt good, increasing speed as the run unfolded.

Closing Out the Month

As January comes to a close in Texas, we're sitting at a balmy 74 degrees. It was an outstanding weather day for a run, the only flaw a stiff breeze from the southwest, but even that was helpful in cooling me off. It was a late one last night as we went to a Mavericks game in downtown Dallas, which meant a shorter sleep time. My legs felt a little tired so I tried to keep the pace a little slower during the 6 miles, and mostly succeeded. I walked a minute up the big hill again due to an elevated heart rate, but overall I'd rate this as a fairly average run. Glad I did it and especially glad for the beautiful weather.

Allergy Run

Yep, it's definitely allergies that have me feeling so bad most of the last week. People who don't have allergies are fortunate. When it hits like this it's like having the flu. Your whole body aches, your mind is cloudy, and you have no energy. Still, I forced myself on a run since I refuse to give in. I ran 7 miles, with a short walk at 6 uphill against the wind, and another partway up the big hill when I felt like my heart rate was getting too high. It wasn't a horrible run, but it wasn't the best, either. I'm glad I did it since it keeps me on track with my resolve to exercise more consistently this year. Plus I'm already down about seven pounds in about ten days, mainly due to a better diet and exercise. Don't tell The Wife, though. She might be a little jealous.

Lethargy

Not sure if it's a cold or allergies, probably allergies, but I was feeling pretty lethargic today. Even took a half-hour cat nap this afternoon, which helped somewhat. At least I felt well enough to run 6 miles in 50-degree weather, with a slight breeze from the north. Also, to be a little gross, it was beneficial to be outside to hawk up some loogies and snot rockets to clear out the system a little bit. Now for a hot shower that should also help.

Is this January?

Today the thermometer rose to 76 degrees. I'm loving Texas winters. I ran 6 miles and felt pretty good, even though I was a little worried about my knees at first. On Sunday we went to an indoor ropes course/activity center and played some archery tag, gaga ball, and of course the ropes. My knees felt horrible that evening, probably because of the gaga ball but also because I dropped to my knee at various times on the thinly padded concrete. I iced both knees and felt better in the morning, when I realized I had a bruise on my right knee. Fortunately yesterday was not one of my running days, and I waited until later today to get out, which I think paid off. At first it felt like things could go bad, but surprisingly the rest of the run went okay. And actually the only worries I had toward the end concerned my right ankle, which felt like it was going to buckle a couple of times but held up all right. Is this what it feels like to get old? If so I better keep running.

In a Race

I decided to run the usual route today, and quickly found out it was in use for a race. It looked like there was a 1-mile fun run, a 5k, and a half-marathon. On my way out it looked like most of the 5k field was returning, so I adjusted my aim and went through the neighborhood instead of around the lake. Once I rejoined the regular path and crossed under Hardin the first of the half-marathon runners passed by on their way back. I saw about a dozen or so before I turned, and then I was passed by a few before I deviated from the path again.

The day was cloudy and a little breezy but nice enough to where I ran up the big hill and into the neighborhood to complete my 6 miles. I think it was a little humid because I perspired more than expected, but can't complain too much since it turned out to be a good run.

Post-Vegas Run

I took my workout clothes and shoes to Las Vegas and they never got out of the suitcase. When you're there for work and they keep you busy from eight in the morning until ten at night it's a little difficult to get in a run. Last year at least I got in one, but that was by skipping a session. None of that this time around.

Today I was glad to get back out there, and my goal is to get back to a regular cadence. No more of this missing a run each week. Today the temperature was mild and there was a strong south wind. I ran 5 miles knowing that the wind would be with me on the way back for the most part. I walked up the big hill because I was not going to run uphill against that wind. Other than that walk my pace was in the 9:30s, probably a little too fast but it didn't turn out too bad since I was running on fresh legs.

New Trail

I decided to head west this morning rather than east, and even ran in the morning as opposed to later in the day like I've been doing. I used my maps app to check out the possibility of running some hills, but I didn't want to go all the way to Stonebridge. Too much traffic to dodge during the morning rush. Instead of that I ran to Ridge and took a right. Just up the road there is a path (new to me) running behind a nice neighborhood. It comes out close to Stonebridge, which I ran up about a quarter of a mile before turning back. This morning was quite humid and I pondered walking several times, but I didn't give in until the way back I walked the last half of the big hill going east from Ridge up Virginia Parkway. All told I ran just over 5 miles. It was good to get that in and do a little hill work in the process.

Back to Normal

Today was a 5-miler that was pretty much back to normal. The temperature this afternoon was about 76 degrees and there was no weirdness at the end like on Saturday. It could also be because I walked up the big hill instead of trying to run it. I haven't slept well the past couple of nights and wavered between exercising or not. The deciding factor was the nice day outside. This morning it was really windy and gusty, but that died down by the time I made it out. I ran into one of my church buddies on the running path where he was talking to another guy who I met for the first time. Several families out with their kids - as usual I'm glad I ignored the part of my brain (actually most of it) that wanted to skip it.Stupid brain.

Strange Ending

Today was actually almost perfect weather for running. The temperature was right at freezing, the sun was shining, and the breeze was almost non-existent. Donning long sleeves, mittens, and a stocking cap, I ran about 5.8 miles with no issues. As I ran up the big hill before entering the neighborhood I suddenly felt like I was going to throw up. I coughed and retched a couple of times as I walked and then turned the corner. Three more times I was prepared to vomit in the side yard of the lucky person with the first house in the development. I started feeling overheated and took off my cap, and as soon as I did the feeling vanished. The only thing I can figure is that I was overheated even though I didn't really feel like it. After another half block of walking I finished up the run at 6 miles. The weirdness hasn't returned since then. Strange, but something to remember next time I layer up for a run in the cold.

Managing the Wind

Another cold (33 degrees) day with a nice wind out of the northwest. I went 5.5 miles and felt pretty good. The path by the pond would have been nicely exposed to the wind on the return route, so I decided to manage the wind and run back through the neighborhood. By running that route I went due west through the development with the houses serving as a windblock. The wind chill wasn't horrible. Heck, I've run in worse. And as much as I didn't run during all the heat and humidity this past year I figure I need to run while I can, and do it without stopping at that.

5 in the Wind

New year and time to get back into the routine. Last week I only ran on Tuesday, with an impromptu trip to Austin messing up things toward the end of the week. Today the temperature was supposed to be in the mid-50s, but it never even reached 50 degrees and it got progressively colder as the day went on. It was cold, gray, and windy, but I got in 5 miles. Either fresh legs or the cold prompted to run faster than I wanted. My pace overall was below 9:30, and even though I kept dialing it back I would soon find myself running too fast.

Looking back on 2016 I can say that I got to take part in a race I'd wanted to do for several years, the Bataan Memorial Death March, and it was humbling experience. Beyond that my running record was spotty and never consistent. As I reach a milestone birthday this year my goal is to resume consistent running, with hopefully a half early in the year followed by a full marathon, whether in the spring or fall I don't know yet. Either way I want to stay fit for several more decades, and running is the way I'm going to do it.

A Nice Day

It's definitely winter in Texas, with a high around 70 degrees today. And tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer. I waited until late afternoon and it paid off. I ran 5 miles in almost-perfect weather. I felt a little bark in my left hip, which means I need to keep at the exercises. I also walked for about 30 seconds in the last half-mile because of a catch in my right knee. Hopefully with a better diet and more self-control in the next few months, after the excesses of the holidays, some of these aches and pains will recede.

Christmas Eve Run

I missed Thursday, mainly due to laziness, but I knew today I needed to get out and run. I went 5 miles, with a couple of walks. I'm going to chalk those up to higher humidity since it was foggy and overcast most of the day, with a little run earlier. The temperature was nice, though. Christmas tomorrow in Texas is forecast to be in the low 70s. I love it!

Holiday Run

I'm off work all this week and went out today with a friend from church for a nice 3.5 (approx.) miler. He hasn't run in a few weeks so we took it nice and easy. The temperature was right at the freezing mark, but the sun was shining and the wind was almost nonexistent, making for a nice morning to run. The rest of the day is to be followed by a Lord of the Rings movie marathon, which is the only kind of marathon I've trained for this winter. I think I can make it to the finish line on this one without calf cramps. At least I hope I can.

Hobbled

Since my last run I've been paying closer attention to my left hip. I haven't run since the Thursday before last, but starting on Sunday I added my ankle weight routines into my workouts and the hip pain has departed. I tend to skip that piece of my workout when I don't have time, and it always comes back to bite me in the rear, or at least close to it. Today is Saturday and I did the ankle weights five times this past week, skipping only Thursday when I was traveling to Austin. By mid-week the pain was pretty much gone. Just goes to show I shouldn't skip those routines.

Today I got in 5 miles, with a couple of walking intervals, but not too bad. I also stopped for a minute or so on the big hill when I spotted a $5 bill in the leaves, and when I turned around it took a minute to find because the wind had blown it to the other side of the sidewalk. I've seen plenty of pennies on the ground, but this was a new one for me. Beyond that, the lack of hip pain was even better.

Coldness

The temperature here in north Texas has plummeted into the 30s, and today's run took place at about 36 degrees. I never had any doubt about running in it since I've run in much worse. In fact, I keep thinking about how a day like today would seem balmy back during my KC winters. There were times I would have been thrilled for the temperature to get above the freezing mark. Plus it's a good chance to keep the pace up. I ran for 6 miles and much the same as Tuesday made it into a tempo run after a mile of warmup. I didn't plug in the GPS to get my pace, but I would guess a little slower than the last one.

My left hip is sore this evening. Not sure what that's about, and I've done a little stretching and took some ibuprofen. We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

Getting Faster

Today's 5-miler in 49 degree weather went very well. I wore my new shoes, shorts, and long-sleeved technical t-shirt. I kicked up the pace from miles 2-4, which carried over some into the last mile as well. My overall pace was 9:19/mile, which apparently is the fastest I've run that distance since I got the new GPS. That tells me how long it's been since I've done any real speed work since I should have much faster times than that. With the cooler temperatures hopefully I can improve on that.

Slipped One In

I didn't think I was going to get in a run today. I woke up to rain and it stayed cloudy and misty/drizzling all day long. Finally in mid-afternoon the radar showed a break in the storm, so I ducked out of decorating for Christmas and managed a nice 6-miler. Apparently not many other people took advantage of the break as I saw one guy walking in the first half, a lady trailing behind about six or seven kids in the second half (they clearly weren't hers, but she was no doubt helping them with cabin fever), and a guy riding his bike with a mile to go. Otherwise the paths were clear of people but not necessarily water. I finished once again with a pace under ten minutes/mile. Nice.

Better Run

I think I had a slight muscle pull in my left quad last week, as mentioned before, but taking off Sunday and Monday before running later in the day Tuesday seems to have done the trick. I also slept better last night, and today's speed work felt more powerful and less restrained. I ran the 4-mile course again. Even though I'm not getting in the mileage as in times past, at least I'm getting in the intervals. I listened to the Man Cave Movie Podcast, which is usually pretty entertaining. This one was on Caddyshack, and I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud a couple of times. Hopefully anyone who noticed thought I was just having a good time.

A Little Tired

Several nights of not sleeping well seemed to catch up to me today toward the end of my run. I ran 4 miles with four fartleks in miles 2 and 3, but by the time I reached the big hill heading up to the neighborhood I ran out of gas. I've always considered sleep an important piece of the overall training picture. This week (post-Thanksgiving) I'm trying to get back into my exercise routine. No travel upcoming for several weeks, and normal days and weekends at home. Hopefully I can also get some good sleep and shed some of the extra poundage picked up over the last several months.

Post-Turkey Trot

Today warmed up into the low 60s, but even so it still felt cooler because of the breeze out of the southeast. After the holidays I knew I needed to get out for a run. I ran in mid-afternoon, and I don't know if it was because of that or not, but very few people were out. I saw one person on the way out and probably five on the return journey. Regardless, I ran 6 miles without stopping and overall felt good about it. Early on I had a big twinge in my left quad, but nothing beyond that. It's a little sore tonight but only if I concentrate on it. Weird. Both of the knees are fine and I think the speedwork of the last week has really helped with that.

More Speed

Daughter #1 is in town for the holiday and we decided to take everyone to the gun range for some fun this afternoon. Unfortunately their wait time was too long and we couldn't get a lane. I had planned on that taking a good chunk of time, but instead we arrived home earlier than planned, which meant I had time for a run. Once again it was a beautiful sunny day with great temps. I ran the 4-mile route with fartleks again, this time with an extra one in the last mile but no sprint at the end. Once again everything felt good and it's nice to get some variation in the running.

We haven't found a Turkey Trot in the area for the family this year, but then again we didn't look very hard. Maybe next year we can revive that tradition.

A Little Faster, Please

After last Thursday's run, and missing Saturday to give the knee a rest (or was it just plain laziness?), I decided to run on a Monday afternoon. First, it was perfect weather outside and tomorrow there's a chance of rain. Second, I needed to do something physical and working out inside didn't appeal. And third - did I mention how nice it was outside?

I decided to run only 4 miles today and up the pace a little. My first mile clocked in at 9:50, and then I ran some fartleks over the next two miles. I sped up four times, running down the path to a spot I picked out beforehand. I felt the difference in my stride and strangely enough my left hip gave me a little more grief than the knee. Neither felt really bad, though, and the change seemed to help. I also sprinted at the end into the neighborhood. All in all, a nice pre-holiday outing that felt good.

Pause for the Knee

Today was blustery, but in a Texas fall way. The temperature was still nice, and the wind actually helped cool the sweat. I ran 6 miles total, although the last one was probably half-walking. About mile 4.5 I felt out of kilter with my right knee, so I stopped and walked about twenty yards. It felt fine until I made it onto Lake Forest after mile 5, and so I walked a little more. After another attempt at jogging I decided it was best to walk the rest of the way.

One thing I noticed was that I was trying to slow my pace, and that seemed to contribute to the pain. When I made it to the top of the big hill I decided to try a sprint to the finish to see how the knee would respond. It felt fine. Maybe my problem is running too slow, or thinking about it too much. Either way apparently I need to pick up the pace when I feel like something is out of whack.

Office Day

Today was an in-office day, but I was able to escape early enough to run before dusk. The day was really nice, sunny and upper 70s. Daughter #3 wanted to run with me, which was a nice treat. We ran 1 1/3 miles together before I dropped her off at the house, and then I ran the rest of the 5 miles on my own. It was fun to run with one of my kids since they're better companions than the FVRP.

Back Home

Was out of town this week for work, and didn't get in any runs due to schedule and early darkness. This morning was perfect weather and a great 5-miler. I saw more people out on bikes than running, but as usual that didn't stop me. I probably could have gone another mile, but really the distance I did was just fine. I've spent the last several hours pruning the bushes in front of the house, which turned out to be a bigger chore than I expected. Time to relax.

Wamego Run Part 2

Yesterday I got out again in the afternoon, after some storms rolled through in the morning, and ran a nice 5-miler. Rather than going around the baseball and soccer fields the whole time, I went down to the park and ran around it a couple of times first. The humidity wasn't too bad, certainly not as horrible as this past summer. I felt good the whole way. The only other person I saw on the paths was a guy who was walking and switching directions each time around like I was. About the fourth time we passed each other he said that at least we're persistent. Probably, but I was also getting dizzy from going in circles.

Wamego Run

Hanging with the parents this week in Wamego, and today was an odd day. It started off cool, maybe even sub-50s, and stayed pretty cool until about 2 p.m. The sun finally came out and the temperature soared to 80 degrees. I went for my 4-mile run about 4 o'clock and it wasn't too bad out with a breeze and not much humidity. There's a park near here that I ran around 3 1/2 times before heading back to the house. The park is interesting, a couple of nicely manicured baseball parks and some soccer fields, all with signs that say practice on these fields is forbidden. At least they look nice.

Weekly Run

Today was likely my only run of the week, due to work on Tuesday and driving to Kansas on Saturday. The temperature was a lovely 85 degrees this afternoon, and I ran my 4 miles without stopping. It was a nice run and the humidity was relatively low, making the temp not seem as bad as it could have. I'll be taking my running gear to KS and hope to get in three runs next week.

Evening McKinney Run

Today The Wife and I took a LTC class and then spent some time on the range. When we exited the building it was a beautiful day. I quickly changed when we reached home and headed out the door. We have new neighbors moving in across the street and I stopped by to say hello, then headed out for 6 miles. The neighborhood by the path was holding a gathering complete with bouncy houses and a train, which required a little dodging around on the way out as well as the return trip. At the dog park a stage was set up by the pond and some semi-annoying music blasted over the water. A few families were out riding bikes, as well as an older couple walking their dog, but for the most part the path was clear.

I ran the whole way, and felt a little better than the run a couple of days ago. Hopefully it's a good week before I head north to Kansas for a few days.

Evening Austin Run

Spent the week in Austin. I should have run last Saturday or Sunday but just didn't, and then was busy all week with work. I finally caught a break on Thursday evening and got out for 4 miles. My legs felt pretty dead at points, but I made it through. I hadn't run in that part of town before, and I had to dodge cars coming out of side streets and almost had to pause for a train crossing the road. By the time I got back it was getting dark and the wind had picked up. Regardless, it was good to get out and do something healthy, which doesn't always happen on a work trip.

Pleasant Outing

I took time out of the day this morning to run 5 miles, and it was a really nice day. The weather was cool, about 60 degrees, with a nice breeze from the north. Almost perfect weather for running. I kept a pace around 10 minutes/mile, with a nice sprint at the end. Too bad not every day is like this, but if it was then everyone would want to live here.

Tuesday Afternoon

My schedule was so packed on Tuesday even though I worked from home, and I didn't get to run until after 4:30 p.m. The temperature was just above 80 degrees, and humid of course. I ran 4 miles and only walked briefly up the hill. It was a good follow-up to Sunday's race and I was glad to find the time to at least get out and sweat a little bit.

Impromptu 5k

One of my friends from church told me about a 5k scheduled for Sunday. Since the registration was only $25 I thought I would go for it and help support a worthy cause - 100% of the fees go to families who are battling cancer. Plus the start was at the high school right across from our neighborhood, and the route was along my usual path.

The temperature was right at 50 degrees when I left the house to walk over to the school. It was a pretty good sized crowd of several hundred, a high percentage of them being students. I registered and then waited with my friends for the start. I left the line pretty slow, which wasn't surprising since I've been running ten-minute-plus miles for the greater part of the year. The bad thing was I felt like I was running fast, which is never a good sign. Nevertheless I kept the pace in the mid-nines.

After the turnaround I added on to my pace and felt good about it. I passed my friend and did my usual negative split, picking off people all the way to the finish line. When I turned the last corner in the school parking I cranked into a higher gear and left the people around me in the dust. It was a good feeling.

By my watch I finished in 27:15. Not blazing fast, but not bad for a guy pushing 50 and who hasn't done any serious speed work in a long time. The results haven't been posted yet so no idea how I fared in my age group. Still, it was fun to run a race pretty much on a whim.

Saturday Route

Yesterday morning I ran a different route than usual, looking to break things up and try a run I've only done a couple of times. I ran south on Lake Forest to Eldorado ,then west to Ridge, and up Ridge to the golf course, where I cut back over to Lake Forest. I don't like all the traffic and noise that came along with it, but it was good to try something different. The final tally was 6.23 miles. It was a beautiful morning and perfect for a nice outing. Plenty of people were out walking, running, and cycling. I guess I wasn't the only one who enjoyed the nice weather.

Late Morning Run

Once again I chose to sleep longer and run more toward the middle of the day - one of the benefits of working from home. I ran my 4 miles in pretty humid conditions, cloudy and breezy. The wind out of the south helped, and I learned something along the way. If I run up to the high school parking lot at the bottom of the big hill, and then cut through the left turn lane, I tend to run the whole hill rather than walking. Probably because by the time I get to the sidewalk on the west side of the street I've already run half the hill. I even did it today against the wind.

On another note, my sister was diagnosed today with a stress fracture in her hip. She's taken up running in the past year and talked about doing a marathon next year. Instead she's going to be laid up for 4-6 weeks. She's bummed that this will reset her training base back to ground zero, but also says she'll be able to someday say she ran a marathon after suffering a stress fracture. That will be an awesome day!

Evening Run

Because of my averseness to getting up early these days, I ran after going into the office. It was about 80 degrees and a little humid, but not as bad as the mornings even a month ago. I ran 4 miles with a stiff breeze out of the south, which actually felt good. I walked up the big hill since it was going into the wind.

Been feeling fat lately, and when I weighed on Monday morning I was at 175 lbs. That's too much on my frame, and I need to trim down. I've been feeling that way for several weeks (okay, months). I feel like I've been doing pretty good at eating less, although there are meals where I'm not doing so well. Hopefully the return to running as well as the added punching bag workouts will help.

Just Nice

The weather is absolutely perfect, and today's run was close to it. I ran 6 miles in lower temperatures and humidity, in Texas terms, and it was nice. The knee felt good still. The only time I had to walk was when I came off the path in the neighborhood north of here, and just for a couple of blocks. I attribute that more to the week off than anything else. A lot of people out walking dogs, running and pushing strollers, biking, etc. A day that restores your faith in...well, nice days.

Cooler Weather

This morning's run took place in temperatures around 60 degrees. My overall pace was 9:57/mile, which has to be the first time in about six months that I've been under 10. It's amazing what a 35 point drop in both temperature and humidity will do. It was a good 4 miles, and the knee feels just fine. I'm looking forward to running over the next few months.

Also, on Monday and Wednesday I tried out the punching bag and enjoyed it, working up a good sweat both times. I also found that The Clash is good workout music, which I already knew for running but it's also great for cross-training.

The Rare Sunday Run

The knee was feeling better today, although not 100%, but I decided to test it out after a rainy Sunday. If I looked back and compiled statistics on which day of the week I've run the least, Friday is probably #1 and Sunday a close second. And that's only because many races are on Sunday, giving Friday the edge. I ran 4 miles without stopping and sweat like crazy because of the humidity. At five o'clock on a Sunday afternoon I didn't see anyone else out, except Daughter #2 walking the dogs when I walked back onto our block. I guess the rain, end of the weekend, or Sunday football kept people inside.

Afterward my knee feels fine. There were a couple of times I felt out of kilter, but I concentrated and tried to get my stride back in line. We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

On another note, we hung a punching bag in the garage, mostly for the kids, but I tried it out on Saturday and actually enjoyed the change of pace. Planning on trying it again tomorrow. This method was waaaaaaay cheaper than trying a month at one of the trendy boxing workout places.

Sitting Out

On Saturday morning I started out my run pretty well, the right knee not giving me any immediate problems. By the half-mile point it was starting to bark at me, and I decided right there to turn around and not risk further aggravation. If you're doing the math at home, that means I ran 1 mile. Since then the knee has that feel that makes me know it's there, but it's not really that sore or anything. Not really even an ache, just a tenderness of some kind. Since I'm traveling this week for work I plan on sitting out the week and taking it easy. Hopefully by next Saturday I'll be good to go.

Run with a Tweak

This morning's 4-miler went okay for the most part, but a couple of times I felt a little wonky in my right knee. Nothing too bad, but I think it relates to the strength of the muscles around it. I used to do ankle weight exercises that would help out with hamstrings and hips. I apparently need to get back to those. I walked a couple of times and tried to relax, and that seemed to help. At one point, though, I felt like I was limping and that caused me to walk. Not good, but at least I caught it before hurting myself.

Unlazy

It was a Monday morning, and I actually got up and went for a run. The temperature was down, and even the humidity was a little lower than usual. I could tell because I didn't start sweating profusely until almost the mile mark. All in all it was a pleasant morning. Saw the usual people out walking their dogs. It was a nice 4 miles. Let's see if that holds.

Lower Temperature, Higher Humidity

Rain was forecast for this morning, and I decided since it was going to be cloudy I would sleep in a bit and then run. The rainfall wasn't much, but I was right about the clouds sticking around. It was 69 degrees when I headed out, the lowest temperature I've run in since...what, April? March? I enjoyed that part of the run, but the humidity had to be in the 90s. My sunglasses were so fogged by the first mile that I decided to forego them before I stumbled into someone or something.

Not a whole bunch of people out on the 6-mile route, but at one point two guys pushing strollers passed in front of me. I felt left out, but not *that* left out. Reminded me of riding a bike 15+ years ago in Tulsa with Daughter #1 in the seat on back, and some wag pulls up beside me and says, "Faster!" I thought to myself, dude, you put a 30 lb. sack of flour on the back of your bike and then we'll talk. Anyway, it was a good run, no walking, and I enjoyed it, even with wiping sweat off my head the whole way. I started off listening to "Comfortably Numb", followed by the whole of Momentary Lapse of Reason, and then "Comfortably Numb" again. It seemed fitting. Plus it was the cut from Delicate Sound of Thunder, the best live version of the song in my opinion. Gilmour shreds the solo at the end and the distortion and feedback must have been something to hear live.

Continuing My Lazy Streak

Monday was a holiday, Tuesday was an early call and a day in the office, and Wednesday was just plain lazy. I think to some degree trying to wake up early and run now that it's dark later every morning. Today I was going to get up early, but once again went back to bed, knowing my meeting schedule was light and I could get out later. Since the temperature is still in the mid-90s I didn't want to run too late, so I headed out at 10 a.m. The sun was shining brightly, and I ran my 4 miles, with walks at each mile, progressively longer. By the time I hit mile 3 my heart rate was up and it was a struggle. I walked about 3 1/2 minutes there and then up the big hill. Once again, not one of the best runs ever but at least I got out there.

Back to 6

It's been four weeks since I ran 6 miles, and that time it involved hills. I was a little less aggressive this time and just ran my regular route. It went well, with a walk break at the 4- and 5-mile marks, but that was just in acknowledgment of the continued high humidity. Even though the temperature was lower the humidity was still up. Fortunately this morning there was a nice breeze, and it really helped on the first half and the last mile. The middle part was with the wind and I struggled a little through that section. When I turned the corner onto Lake Forest and felt the breeze in my face I sighed out loud because it was such a relief.

A Little Better

I hoped the difference in temperature of about 7-8 degrees from yesterday to today would prove helpful, but...not so much. It was still sunny and humid, but this time I was a little smarter. I ran my 4 miles but didn't feel so beat up afterward. After the first mile I walked a minute, even though I felt fine, and at the halfway point walked two minutes. I also did the same after the third mile and then walked up the big hill. Probably a similar amount of walking as yesterday but spaced out better. Once again I learn little lessons along this journey that will hopefully keep me running for decades to come.

Another Gap

Busyness and laziness took their toll on my running schedule this past week. I ran last Thursday and all of a sudden I look up and it's the next Wednesday. I set the alarm Monday morning to get up early and run, but I went back to bed instead. Not one of my finer moments. Today I decided I would run at lunch instead of trying to get up early since my work schedule was actually open. I went out a little before 11 a.m. and the temperature was already in the upper 80s, and very humid. As usual, the first half went okay, and then the last half of my 4 miles ended up with several bouts of walking. At least I sweated a lot. Tomorrow should be more of the same.

Followed by a Thursday Run

School started again on Monday, which I forgot to mention. The early-morning zombies clog the sidewalks out of the neighborhood, starting at their cell phones as they shuffle along the sidewalk. On Thursday morning I got out 15 minutes earlier than normal, which allowed me to avoid the horde. I ran the 4 miles, pretty much the same was Wednesday. Not as strong on the second day in a row, but still managed to get through it in good shape.

A Wednesday Run

Because of early meetings and having to get kids where they needed to be on Tuesday, I ended up running on Wednesday instead. It was a good run, the usual 4 miles, and the usual run up the hill followed by a sprint at the end. I ran both days this week without headphones so far, and it's been kind of a nice break.

Vacation

I didn't intend to take a week off from running, but between rain in Austin and a vacation in Oklahoma it just worked out that way. I'm glad to be back to it this morning, even though the alarm seemed like it rang awful early. I ran my 4 miles in a nice temperature, even though the humidity was still up due to the rains of the last few weeks. I feel like it's time to start getting back up to 6 miles each time out, and I'll be easing back into that routine. It was a good start to the week.

A Little Rain

I was surprised when I stepped out the door this morning and it was sprinkling. I paused a few moments to see if it was going to intensify, but it trailed off and I set out for my Monday morning 4-mile run. About 1.5 miles in it started sprinkling again and kept that up for the rest of my run. It wasn't too bad at any point, though, and even more important, there was not any lightning. That would have sent me back inside quickly. When the alarm went off I thought several times about staying put, but I'm glad I got out the door. All in all it was another good run, with the ending run up the hill followed by a sprint. This is becoming a tradition. Or something.

Quality over Quantity

My plan was to run 6 miles on Saturday morning. About two hundred yards into the run I was sweating from the humidity already, due to rain on Friday. I quickly pondered my options, since I usually don't get the humidity sweats for at least a half-mile. Option 1 was to go ahead and try to kick out 6 miles, knowing that I would probably have to walk several times. Option B was to run 4 miles and run it the whole way, including up the hill with the sprint at the end. I chose Option II and I think it was the wiser choice.

Friday was the last hundred degree day of the season, although we'll still have temperatures in the 90s for several more weeks. Hopefully the humidity will also start a decline and I can do some more speed work and pick a fall race.

Thursday's Run

It was another good run on Thursday morning. Either I've finally become accustomed to the humidity here at the end of summer, or the humidity is lower. It's not, so I'm going to have to go with the first option. I ran my 4 miles a little faster than normal, by only 30 seconds or so for the first few miles, but I still had enough gas to run up the big hill and sprint the last bit in the neighborhood. Today (Friday) is actually supposed to be the last day of hundred degree weather. Sad. Even though the next week looks like more rain and cooler temperatures, I'm sure summer isn't ready to give up the ghost yet.

Back to Normal

This morning I ran my 4-mile route and it went well. I was a little worried since I started sweating from the humidity at the half-mile mark, well before it usually hits. Beyond that it really wasn't much worse than all the other runs lately. I also ran up the big hill and sprinted the last fifth of a mile. Not bad for a run on a day where the temperature later spiked up to 101 degrees.

Saturday Hill Run

It's been awhile since I ran hills, and decided Saturday was the day. I also wanted to run 6 miles, which counts as a "long" run during the dog days of summer. The first three miles went okay, but out of the second half I probably walked more than a mile. It was sooooo humid, and barely any breeze at all. In fact, I don't remember a breeze other than from passing cars. Still, I needed to get out and sweat a little before going to a Frampton concert that night. Which by the way, was really really good.

Another Good One

Today was just as good as, if not better than, Tuesday's run. Same course, same running all the way, and even better sprint at the end. The 4 miles went by without incident, which is all you can ask sometimes. The sun is rising a little bit later every day. In a few months I suppose I'll have to think about running at lunch, if my work schedule will allow. It wouldn't have worked very well this week.

Ran Yesterday

It was another 4-miler on a Tuesday morning, and believe it or not I ran the whole way. Including up the big hill. And a kick at the end. Not sure if the humidity was down slightly or what else happened, but it felt good. The temperatures this week are in the upper 90s and around 100, which means any morning cooldowns are still in the future. My weight, which I usually ignore, is up higher than normal, and think I need to run more hills since that always helped in the past. That's my plan for Saturday morning's longer run.

Still Trying

My Saturday run went the way of many other recent runs - I skipped it. I kept feeling more and more congested after my delayed plane flight on Wednesday, no doubt from sitting on the plane for over three hours because of delays instead of the hour it should have taken. My sinuses dried out and the I'm sure I caught a little something from all the recirculated air. Instead of getting up to run on Saturday morning I turned off the alarm and slept another three hours. By the time the alarm went off this morning I felt much better. I ran my 4 miles and felt pretty good the whole way, much better than the last outing. Hoping to get in all my planned runs this week.

Inconsistency

If there's one word to describe my running this year, it's this one: inconsistency. I didn't plan on taking a week between runs, but last weekend I helped the FVRP put up a pergola on successive days with temperatures almost to the century mark. Then I was in Austin for three days and chose to leave my gear behind since I knew my chances to get out were basically none. Finally, this morning I slept in to recover from the trip and the delayed flights.

At about 10 I decided I could get out at lunch rather than skipping a couple more days. The temperature wasn't too bad, mid-80s, and the sky a little overcast. The first two miles were okay, a little faster than they should have been, but after the turn I walked a few times. That's okay, I wasn't going for speed, I was going for sweat. I certainly achieved that. This 4 miles was the start, I hope, of some renewed consistency in my running schedule.

Slog

When I woke up this morning my first, second, and third thoughts were that I should go back to bed. As I walked out the door I was thinking I should turn around and go back inside. Ten steps into my run I thought this was going to be a bad run and I should just loop around the block and go home.

I was wrong.

The run didn't feel that great, and a couple of times I felt like walking. When the 4 miles were done, though, I had run it all and conquered the part that kept telling me to stop. Not a huge victory and I don't want to overplay it, but even after all these years of running I still get those thoughts and have to overcome them. I'm glad I did. That breakfast of bacon and eggs tasted much sweeter after all that.

Better Tuesday

I conquered the hill today, fighting the mental battle the whole way. I did the same 4 miles and tried to keep myself in the right frame of mind the whole way. My right calf felt tight once, as opposed to yesterday, and probably because I used the foam roller yesterday afternoon.

The FVRP and I were talking yesterday about how much I love the hot weather. I really do. Summer is my favorite time of year, and for the most part the heat doesn't bother me. It's the humidity that gets me on these runs. It takes a good half hour to cool off once I'm done, and that's after only 4 miles. I don't know that I could sweat any more at that distance, but I certainly can't sweat any less.

Monday Outing

It was another humid morning, and my right calf seemed pretty tight. I did my 4 miles without seeing many people out at the first of the week. I don't know what it is about these shorter runs, but I walked up the big hill, which I didn't do on the longer run Saturday. I think it's just the humidity, which was maybe a little lower on the previous run but it's rained since then. I don't know. Maybe it's mental. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Four in a Week

Finally met my goal of four runs in a week, which I've been wanting to do because of the heat and corresponding decreased mileage on my normal outings. This morning was plenty humid again, but I lucked out. I got out about 7 a.m. and the sun stayed behind the clouds, which kept me from overheating. I ran my normal 6-mile route and did it without walking. I was able to get in four runs in spite of traveling this week, but this next week should be easier if I can avoid laziness.

Early in Austin

Tuesday morning I was in Austin and went out early for a 4-mile run. My hotel was downtown by Town Lake, the Colorado River, Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin...whatever you want to call it. I went out about 6:15 to avoid the heat, and there were plenty of people out already. I ran west a couple of miles, or almost, until I hit a dead end. There are some parts of the path that terminate at various points, and if you're not familiar with the paths you'll find those spurs. I ran east and then wasn't paying attention to my turnoff and ended up running an extra quarter-mile or so, but that wasn't too big a deal. Overall it was a good run and one of my favorite places to enjoy the local scenery.

Back to Normal

This morning was a non-eventful 4 miles. No armadillo, and not even any people until almost the halfway point. Seems like the regulars slept in today. This was my third run of the week, and I'm gunning for #4 on Saturday. Not a big fan of getting up early, but it needs to be done in order for me to get these in before the day gets too hot.

The Running Armadillo

Strange that we've lived in Texas over a year now and Monday was the first time I've seen an armadillo on one of my outings. I was running my 4-miler down the path by the pond, and I saw a little animal chugging along to the right. I did a double-take because I've seen lots of rabbits and squirrels, but sure enough, this time it was an armadillo. He ran along in the grass for about ten yards and then ducked into the shrubbery. At least I was going faster than he - or she. Couldn't tell for sure and I respect its privacy.

Three for the Week

Saturday morning, which was yesterday, started with the alarm going off at 6 a.m. Yes, on a Saturday. I wanted to get in my third run of the week, and I was willing to get up early to do it. The start to the day was typically muggy and trending toward warm, but I ran my 6 miles with only two walks - one at 4.5 miles and the other up the big hill. It was nice and quiet out, and it wasn't until I got over by the dog park that I started seeing people.

I'd planned on the early rise being coupled with a nap at some point later in the morning, but I took The Boy to a demo day at McKinney airport. We talked to some people about aviation school and then took a ride in a Cessna. To my memory I don't recall ever flying in a single-engine plane, and it was kind of cool. There were only a few times where I was really conscious of being in a smaller plane, but overall it wasn't bad. The Boy loved it, of course, and if he started college tomorrow instead of in a couple of years he'd be going for aviation. He still might, but we'll see what happens between now and graduation.

Two in a Row

Today's run was identical to yesterday - 4 miles, high humidity, same route, same podcast, walked up the big hill...oh wait, there was one difference. The sprinklers were going off at the trail head, so I had to jump over a very low wall to avoid them, and then run in the street on the way back since they were still running. Other than that it was like the movie Groundhog Day. I felt the effects of running two days in a row, but I needed to do it to kickstart my need to get back to at least three sessions a week, if not four shorter runs to make up for being used to longer runs.

The Usual

I didn't run on Saturday, making today my first run in July. On a Wednesday, no less. I smoked ribs on Saturday and basically took the whole holiday weekend off from exercising and trying to be healthy. Plus the upstairs a/c broke down on Saturday as well and it's been typical Texas summertime hot. Anyway, I slept downstairs last night, which felt much better than the previous three nights, and got up this morning to run my 4 miles. Looking back, it's been awhile since I ran three times in one week and I'm hoping to change that this week by running today, tomorrow, and Saturday. Even though it's hot and humid it's time to get my act together.

Lower Humidity

I could tell when I walked out the door this morning that the humidity was lower. I was initially taken aback by the holes in the front bed where some creature apparently dug for food overnight, and then in the neighbor's yard where you could see tracks of the critter in the dew-covered grass. Still, the drop in humidity from 90% to about 85% was noticeable, and made the run that much more enjoyable. I went my 4 miles and felt good. Ran up the big hill and think I'm going to add a little more distance on Saturday. Plus within a couple of weeks I'm going to have to get up earlier to beat the sun, but that's a good problem to have.

Moist

As is the standard lately, the morning was humid. I ran my 4 miles and was drenched in sweat by the end. I walked up the big hill because my heart rate was up even though I kept the run slow. I'd planned on running yesterday (Monday) morning but when my alarm went off an extra 1.5 hours of sleep seemed like the better option. One of these weeks I'm going to get back to running four times.

Building Up

The humidity remains high, especially in the early morning, but I still got my 4 miles in today. Ran the same route as Tuesday and hoping to build up the mileage in the coming weeks. Not sure if the humidity will go down much, but hopefully my tolerance will go up.

Good Tuesday Run

It was a good Tuesday run even though the humidity was high and the breeze was next to nonexistent. I ran my (lately) usual 4 miles, but this time on the way back I took a right at the pond and stuck to the treeline and the shade. The distance worked out exactly the same and I think that might be my new route, especially during summer. For the first time in forever I listened to a podcast, and I think the change-up made the run go better, at least in my mind. I ran the whole way once again.

More of the Same

This morning was eerily similar to Thursday morning's run, except with less of a breeze. I got up early - on a Saturday! - and ran my 4 miles in the high humidity. This time, though, I was able to run the whole way without walking. I'd like to get back to a point of running six every time, but the humidity's going to have to drop for that to happen, especially on weekday runs.

Off the Couch

First time to run in a week, and it sure felt like it. I read the latest issue of Runner's World this past week and that had me itching to get outside. As I said in my last post, I certainly spent a lot of time on the couch and finally figured that one week out from cyst removal it was time to get off the couch.

I went 4 miles, which seems to be the standard lately with all the humidity. And yes, it was over 90% humidity at 6:15 this morning. I was sweating profusely by the time I'd gone a quarter-mile, although at the time I figured that just because of my recent inactivity. Not true. I walked the distance of three telephone poles just after mile three, and then up the big hill. I wanted to go the whole way but know  when my heart starts beating that fast that it's time to back off. At least there was a breeze, but it wasn't enough to offset the humidity.

It's nice to be back in the game. No idea when the humidity will let up after all the rain from the past couple of months. Maybe November.

Fogged Sunglasses

I remember seeing Fogged Sunglasses open for Simple Minds back in '87...

Seriously though, folks, I ran in the early morning hours again but as has been standard lately the humidity was very high. Before I'd reached the end of my warmup walk my sunglasses started fogging, and by the time I reached the halfway point of the run there was no point in wearing them any more. I ran 4 miles and was glad to get it in before having some bumps removed from my back this morning, which means I can't run until next week. Guess I'll have to practice my couch potato skills for a few days.

A Little More Humidity

On Tuesday morning I was hoping it would be less humid, but I was wrong. It actually wasn't as horrible as it has been, and I went 4 miles. A good run, ran all the way, and it was good. Let's do it again on Thursday.

The Whole Way

For some reason it felt like I hadn't run in weeks, even though it's only been since Tuesday. I laid around in bed for longer than I should have, but I figured it was going to be cloudy and humid all morning. Imagine my surprise at being correct.

I decided that today's run would be limited to 4 miles, and if I needed to walk I would. The difference between today and my last run was that there was a slight breeze. That made me realize I could go the shorter distance but without walking. My 10:30 or so pace was perfect, and I did indeed run the whole way, including the big hill. At one point I thought about going an extra mile but realized that might take me out of my ability to run without walking, so I settled for the four. Looks like the rain is moving out for at least the next week. I don't expect the humidity to go down much, but at least I won't have to worry about dodging storms.

A Good Half Run

This morning was my first time to run since last Tuesday's horrible run in Austin. I got up early, hoping to beat the sunshine. I did. But I didn't beat the humidity. Apparently it followed me north. I ran 2.5 miles with mostly no issues, but at the turn I walked and then three more times in the last half. Not one of my better runs, but man, that humidity just kills me. One thing I've learned over the years is to not push it if I don't need to, and today I didn't. Once again it was like being out in a sauna. With rain forecast for the next several days I have no idea when the humidity will decrease. At some point I guess the heat will take over and the rain will move away, but for now it's going to be tough going. Glad I'm not training for a race.

Even Humider

I ran Tuesday in Austin and that might be the humidest weather I've ever run in. About five steps into the run downtown I was ready to turn around. I made it through 4 miles, with plenty of walking and lots of sweating. Humidity usually kicks my butt, and this time was no different. Austin is one of my favorite places to run, but wow, that was brutal.

I was so worn out when I got back on Wednesday that when my alarm went off on Thursday morning I decided I needed the extra 1.5 hours of sleep as opposed to a run. I think it was a good choice.

Extra Humidity

I should have taken a towel with me on today's run. I was wiping sweat off my face and head from the beginning. We've had humidity the past few weeks, but this is by far the worst. I know right away I would be walking some, and I did so at mile 2 and 3, and then every half mile from that point. I kept my pace slow and easy. I wanted to go 7 miles but quickly downgraded to 6 miles once I realized the humidity level. It wasn't the best of runs, but at least I sweated a lot.

Probably the Last Afternoon Run for a While

I knew it would be raining this morning so I slept in til the usual 7:30 with a couple of taps on the snooze button. The rain moved off to the east and even though it remained cloudy I figured there was a chance to run in the afternoon. I went out at 3:30 and ran my 6 miles through the lovely humidity. Once again I ran without a break, including the big hill. This could be the start of a nice trend. Anyway, I was glad to run while the temperature was in the low 60s. I think the weather pattern is about to change and it will probably be a long time before I can run in the afternoon again.

Almost Raining

I got up early to run this morning, and it wasn't until I made it downstairs that I realized it was raining. Fortunately it wasn't too bad, and the weather map showed it was moving away. Even though I was strongly tempted to go back to bed for an hour, I went ahead and ran and I'm glad I did. Of course it was humid, but once again I ran the whole 6 miles without stopping. With my timing I missed the rush around the school, which was nice. I only saw three other people out on the path, two regulars and some other gal. Usually I see about four or five times as many people, but I guess they gave into that temptation and stayed in bed.

Saturday Six

Slept in on Saturday morning and then took the dogs for a walk before my run. I could tell it was a little humid, but not as bad as in weeks past. I did 6 miles and ran the whole way, even though a couple of times I felt like walking. Even ran up the big hill on Lake Forest. It's nice to be back home and running the usual paths.

Oakland Runs

Apparently one of the major pastimes in Oakland is graffiti. We're staying downtown and ran over to Lake Merritt, where we ran once around the lake and back. Plenty of nice building art along the way. Both Monday and today it was a 4.7 mile run, and not bad. Got up early both days, although in Central Time it wasn't as early as local. Lots of people out running and walking, great weather, and a little exercise. It was a good start to the day both times.

Sweaty Run

I went 8 miles today, the first five of which was good. The last three, not so much. It was very humid today, and I could tell early on I was sweating nicely. By the time I turned around at the midpoint I knew I would probably have to do some walking. The other problem was that on the return part of the route the breeze was at my back, which didn't help in cooling me off. By the time I was in the last mile and heading south into the breeze it felt really nice. All in all I probably walked over half a mile combined, but I figured that was fine since I live to run another day.

Another Nice Day

This morning was much like Tuesday, just a few degrees warmer, and humidity was low again. It was a nice 6-miler. Very few people out, which was somewhat surprising. I ran up the big hill again. I guess it's a little easier when the temperature cooperates. I'm enjoying these mild days while I can.

Tuesday Morning Run

Got up at 6:30 this morning and out the door by 6:45 for a 6-mile run. The temperature was in the 40s and nice and cool, still with a little humidity. It was a good time. My pace kept picking up and I finished at 59:30, which isn't too bad for as little running I've done lately. The sun is also coming up earlier and I'm going to have to start getting up earlier soon.

Family 5k

Saturday morning was great for a run - overcast, cool temperature, and hardly any wind. We all ran the Run Baby Run 2016 5k, and had a good time. I ran with The Wife and she did a great job walking even less than the week before. The kids ran on their own, and Daughter #3 actually got second place in her age group. We left before the awards, unfortunately, but she was still proud when she found out about it the next day at church. Speaking of which, we had a large contingent from Genesis, and they even announced it before the race.

It was a very well-organized event, with several tents for exhibitors, and some good snacks afterward, including a donut for yours truly. Several groups of kids were out with signs along the trail, which was pretty cool. The signs read like a 'best of' from other races I've been in. For me it wasn't the most strenuous of outings but it was good to have fun with the family. Looks like something we can do again next year.