Frosty Saturday

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

Nice Day in Kansas

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

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

More Nicety

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

Perfect Weather

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

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

Run Ugly

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

The World is Burning

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

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

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

Off a Day

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

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

Late Saturday Run

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

More Crop Circles

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

Running in Circles

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

Floody Run

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

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

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

Buggy Run

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

Some Shade

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

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

Social Run

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

Gooey Run

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

Some Hills

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

Skipped Saturday

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

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

Rain in the Distance

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

They didn't.

Butt Sprain

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

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

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

Tough One

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

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