Wet Saturday

Saturday was wet but not because it was raining, it was all about the humidity. Plus hot temperatures in the 80s on a Saturday. I went 6 miles but just like the previous run there was a lot of walking in the last couple of miles. My take is that at least I'm getting out there and sweating. I feel like I'm still acclimating to the hot temperatures since our spring was pretty mild.

Hot Walking

Thursday was in the 90s for the temperature, and very sunny. The humidity was off the charts and my weather app showed a heat index of 114 degrees. That might be a little over the top but maybe not as much as I originally thought. I got out a little after 4:30 p.m. and wisely decided to go just 4 miles. Even so there was a lot of walking in that last mile, probably overall a half-mile for the whole outing. I still sweat plenty so there's that.

Summertime

Back to the regular route today, and regular summer temperatures. It was in the low 90s with lots of humidity. I ran my 6 miles with a walk at each marker. It was also a little breezy from the south, which usually affects the GPS. It was off quite a bit today, about 100 yards at least on the first mile marker, and when I got to mile 3 I went by the regular natural markers that I know and ignored the GPS. It's amazing how much the wind will change the readings, but by now I think I've figured it out.

A Hill or Two

The usual route takes me to a lake and a park, and today the city was scheduled to dedicate the new additions: more trails, new playground, and new amphitheater (I think). So I avoided that scene and for the first time in a long time ran the hill route to the west.

This being a Saturday morning it was humid but not too bad as far as the temperature goes. It's my long run day, but with the hills I kept it to 6 miles, which was just about right. Overall I felt pretty good, although as I came back onto Ridge I walked up the curved sidewalk to the road, and then walked again up the huge hill on Virginia. The first was because I felt like I need to, and the second was more for injury prevention. There was a good wind out of the southwest and that definitely helped keep me cool enough for this outing.

No Bobcat

Ran the regular route today and saw no bobcats. Which is good. The 6 miles went well, with a minute walk every mile marker because of the sun and heat. Even though the heat wasn't bad, in the mid 80s, I was sick late Tuesday and half of yesterday so I thought it prudent to walk occasionally and it proved to be the right choice.

Bobcat

Didn't feel good most of the day yesterday. My throat was a little congested and I felt like I was catching some of the cough The Boy has had recently. But since it was all neck up I went and ran 6 miles. And actually felt pretty good at the end.

As I got to the end of the north side of the bridge on Lake Forest I saw a bobcat down below. It was right at the edge of the grass where the concrete fans out, picking at something. I stopped and watched it for about 90 seconds. I coughed once and it looked up, determined I wasn't a threat, and then went right back to pawing at the grass. I finally continued and as I looked back it had started to walk into the trees, but stopped for a moment to watch me before continuing. I'm wondering what it survives on in this area. Must be a lot of squirrels in its diet. Anyway, I ran my whole 6 miles, and wondered if that bobcat was watching me from the woods as I ran by the area where I'd seen it.

Later on as I was heading upstairs for bed I got the chills and the coughing got worse. I ended up sleeping late and when I finally got up at noon it had broken. It's been about three and a half years since last time I was sick, which means I can't complain about a sickness that lasts less than a day.

Humidity in the Air

The sky was overcast yesterday afternoon, and the breeze out of the south helped, but the humidity was way up and temperature was about 90. I thought about trying to run the whole way, but knowing my Achilles' heel is humidity I decided to walk at each mile marker along the 6-mile route. Plus I knew I was going to mow the lawn when I got home, which gave me more incentive to avoid overdoing it. In spite of the humidity it was a good run.

Back to 7

Got up early this Saturday morning -well, at 7:15, which seemed early - and ran 7 miles. Heading to Oklahoma today for a concert with Old 97's and wanted to run before heading north. It was a nice 70 degrees, sunny, and lots of people out on a beautiful morning. I wore the compression shirt once again and that seemed to help. It was great to get back to a little bit of a longer outing.

Sweating with the Oldies

Well, the oldie on this run was me, but I went 6 miles. It was in the mid 80s and high humidity after a lot of rain the past couple of days. It was nice to do a normal run on my normal route, though. I added K-Tape to my abdomen for today's outing but left the compression shirt at home. I might use it on Saturday. I feel the dullest of aches on that side, which tells me there's something lingering there that I don't want to re-injure. I'm doing my best to try and stay fit while not hurting myself to the point of having to take time off again.

Out for 5

This was the first time in modern remembrance where I ran without KT Tape or a compression shirt. I was feeling good, did some pushups this morning, and was ready to run after work. I went 5 miles and afterward still felt good enough to mow the back lawn. As always the acid test will be how it feels tomorrow. At his point I think I should be okay. Even though there were a couple of times it seemed like the lower abdomen was throwing warnings at me it still feels okay tonight.

Busy Morning

I had a lot going on this morning and debated about running today versus tomorrow. I had a brisket to trim, rub, and put on the smoker. Also needed to run to the store real quick, as well as eat breakfast. I did all those in fairly short order and figured it was best to get in a run today. I ran 6, and the last 1.25 was probably about half walking. Up until then it was fine, but I should have walked earlier than the turnaround at mile three. It was warm, windy, and I realized I was dehydrated. Lesson learned.

By the way - the brisket turned out to be the best I've ever made.

The 90 Degrees Angle

Flew back home this morning and made it back by mid-afternoon. The temp was right at 90 degrees with a stiff breeze out of the south. I decided 5 miles was good for today and then I can add an extra mile or two on Saturday for a longer run. Still feeling good, and today was the first day that it took several hours after waking before I realized it's the first time I wasn't feeling any pain in my rib area. It was a nice feeling.

Saturday in the Park

Made it back up to 6 miles last Saturday. I felt good, listened to a podcast, and all around just had a good run. It's nice to be back and (hopefully) past all the injuries. I missed my Tuesday run due to being in Vegas for work. My schedule was too packed. Plus it's also not a good place to run, at least when you're staying on the strip.

Five More

Another nice sunny day, with temperature in the mid 80s. I ran 5 miles, feeling good. The past few times I've felt like I had fresh legs due to the restricted running of the past several months, and today they felt fine still but overall I was a little lethargic. Or at least that's how I perceived it until I realized my pace was still in the 10 minute/mile range. That won't last once it gets ten degrees warmer and summer really kicks in.

Sun Run

Weather is back to Texas normal today and temperature is in the low 80s. I ran 5 miles in the sun and it felt nice. The only walk was up the big hill, but other than that I kept a pretty decent pace at or just below 10 minutes/mile. Not bad for a day a bit warmer than the previous couple of weeks.

A Rainy Saturday

I waited and waited today for the rain to move out. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and The Youngest needed to go downtown to roam and search for a gift. I took her and settled in at the pub for a couple of pints, and by the time we left the weather had improved. When we got home it was still cloudy but no longer threatening. I wore my compression shirt again and went 6 miles this time. Overall I'm feeling good still, and I think the shirt is helping. At a couple of points, especially the beginning, my abdomen felt tender. I was thinking of how it's been over six months with that particular issue, and we'll see how it feels tomorrow.

Wrapped Up

The temperature today was outstanding for a run, in the low 60s. I decided to wear my compression shirt to help out with the bruised ribs. I think it helped, at least so far, since I ran 5 miles with no ill effects. There was a nice northerly breeze which also helped, and I ran up the big hill. All in all not a bad run. As with every run over the last six weeks or so the acid test will be how it feels tomorrow.

Lunch Outing

I had some time to run at lunch today so I did. Went 4 miles and still feeling good. My left pec is feeling sore, of all things, but I don't think that's because of running. I don't know what it is, other than the lingering effects of the scooter incident.

Also, I ordered new shoes on Sunday and the UPS driver dropped them off about 10 minutes before I was going out. Talk about perfect timing! It was nice to run with shiny new shoes.

Adding On

As I mentioned a few days ago I added on an extra mile to make it a 4-miler. My worry is the rib cage, but so far so good. My legs feel fine and I could have gone longer, but I'm trying to be smart. This time. Which has not always been the case, apparently.

Another One

Back home after a trip to Austin and ran another 3-miler today. Still feeling good and thinking I might add another mile on Saturday. We'll see what the weather is like.

Running Home

Went to the eye doctor for a follow-up exam this afternoon and it took way too long so I left. I had my wife drop me off so I could run home, which I did. Once more I did 3 miles and this time I feel like I'm almost back to normal. It was a good run, and I feel stronger than I have in weeks. I'd say I'm about 90% now and a few more days will get me all the way. back.

Rising Above Stupid

This morning we went and saw the last installment of the Avengers, or at the least the current incarnation of it, which left me some time this afternoon to run. I've suffered no ill effects from Thursday's outing, which led me to do the exact same today. I ran 3 miles, in 80 degree heat, but it was a good run and afterward still feel no pain. My plan is to ramp up slowly. On the good news side of things, I've sneezed about five times today without feeling like my rib cage was going to explode outward. Maybe I've finally moved past stupid.

Still Stupid

About that last run...yeah, I regret that one. It put me on the shelf for two weeks. After that outing, where I ran too far while injured, my ribs took a couple of steps back on the healing front. In fact, maybe more. We've all had that feeling where a ligament, maybe elbow, knee, or hip, pops over a joint and you know that's not natural. I had that feeling in my upper left chest, where - get this - there's not a joint. That went on for several days and finally went away after about 5-6 days. The other problem was sneezing. Even as late as Monday of this week I started to sneeze, stifled it, and still felt like I blew a gasket. It's only yesterday and today where I woke up without pain. 

It's been beautiful (other than rain all day yesterday) and I felt it was time to get out for at least a walk and maybe a run. Today I set out running and felt fine. I decided 3 miles was the limit, and that went well, at least at the time. My right side is a little sore, but we'll see how it feels tomorrow. This was my first time without K-Tape on my abdomen or ribs in a few months. We'll see if my next post is about how I'm beyond stupid.

Still Painful

Today was cooler, in the upper 60s, but it was a painful 6 miles. My rib cage is still tender, but I figured since you don't run with your ribs it would be fine. It wasn't, but not so much so that I regret doing it. I needed to get out and run, and I'm sure I'll be better for it long-term. My ribs are at about 80% but that last 20% is a bear.

I Am a Idiot

Ran 4 miles today, first in what? Ten days? All because I am a idiot. Not an idiot. A idiot.

So last week I went with some friends to St. Louis for Opening Day. Fun time, lots of sights, food, and drink. On Wednesday three of us each rented a scooter and went from downtown to our bnb in Soulard. That went fine and was actually pretty fun. Then we went from there to Anheuser Busch for a brewery tour, also good. Over the next couple of days we used them periodically when available, and on Thursday night I was heading to where the gang was hanging out. As I veered off the street onto the sidewalk one of the big concrete squares was missing and I took a nice spill. Hurt my ribs pretty good and it's taken several days to get to the point where I'm not in pain all the time. Still can't sneeze but figured I was about 75% today.

Therefore I ran (slowly) and stayed upright (posture) and made it the 4 miles. It was also 92 degrees, quite a jump up the ol' thermometer. I walked every mile and that made it doable. We'll see if all that jostling was good for me or not. I know the sweating was definitely good.

Blown Away

Today's run went much better than the last, mainly due to the fact I didn't scarf down a double bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on it. In fact, this was a really good one since I went 7 miles. I actually had to layer up because there is a horrible northwest wind of about 25 mph, knocking the actual feel down into the low 40s. I felt the elusive runner's high a couple of times, believe it or not, both times as I was heading north after the turnaround. I think it was because I relaxed and just tried to not struggle or push too hard against the wind. All in all a good day and a nice long run in spite of the weird weather.

Big Burger

I ate a big burger from Baker's at lunch and paid for it on my run yesterday. I don't regret the hamburger and onion rings because they were great, but I felt slow and bloated for my 6-miler. I walked for a minute at the halfway point and then again up the big hill. Otherwise I slogged through it and ran the rest of the way. I suppose it was my way of trying to atone for the gluttony. The wind was pretty stiff out of the south, which helped because the temperature seemed warm with the sun and in the 70s.

Back to Normal Distance

Today marked my first 6-miler on a weekday in about five months. It was a gorgeous spring day, sunny and a little breeze out of the north. Still feeling good, although a little tired after all the home improvement projects of the last couple of weeks. Nevertheless my pace was about 10 minutes/mile, which is pretty good as I build back to the point where I can do long runs on the weekends again.

Between the Storms

Today was one of those days where it's windy, cooler, and storms are definitely scattered. But it was an excellent day because I made it back up to 6 miles. I listened to a Spanish lesson and then some music along the way. It felt nice, almost routine, to run my normal route without worry. Even with all the extracurricular activities, like moving almost two tons of rock and materiel over the past week, I still feel good.

I think back to what might have caused the injury in the first place. I wonder if it was when I was replacing the front brakes on my truck up in Kansas, and maybe strained too much trying to loosen some bolts. I don't know. Not even sure if the timing works out. Whatever the case I'm going to do my best to not have to go through this again. I don't do well with taking it easy for such a long period of time.

Midday Run

Was going to head out before lunch but realized the electrician was on his way, so I went ahead and ate and then ran. It's a nice sunny day with a slight breeze out of the north, about 70 degrees. I ran 5.5 miles, the first time I've been in that part of the park to the east since November. I'm still feeling good and continuing to build the mileage. I wanted to get in today's run early since I have some yard work to do later.

Making a Path

I planned to run 5.5 miles on Saturday but that didn't work out. I spent the morning at Lowe's getting all the material to make a path along the side of the house to the shed, and then spent the afternoon making the path. By the time I finished it was about six in the evening and I was well beyond spent.

Fast forward to today and I went 5 miles. The temperature was up to 70 degrees with a nice breeze, and I ran the whole way without walking. I'm almost back to 100%, probably 90%, and feeling no ill effects from the run or the push-ups I've started doing again. I also have been doing leg exercises on the off days so that my knees and hips don't feel so wobbly.

Stiff Breeze

Yesterday afternoon I had a brief window of time to run before a work call, so I got out the door and hustled to make it back by 4:30 p.m. I ran 5 miles, which I'm feeling fine so far as I ramp up the mileage incrementally, and pace was under 10 minutes/mile. And then when I walked back in to sit down for the meeting I found it was moved to today. Oh well. At least the run felt good.

Building Miles

Yesterday I walked out the door in shorts and a long-sleeved technical t-shirt. I made it about 10 yards down the sidewalk and walked right back in. It was a little cooler and windier than it appeared through the front windows, so I changed into long pants. Glad I did.

I ran 4.5 miles and felt good about it. With the cooler temp I was able to run the whole way, which was great since I'm still building up my mileage again. This will be the first week in several where I can run three times and hope to keep the momentum going.

Back from Florida

Went to Florida on Wednesday for work meetings on Thursday and stayed for my first Spring Training game on Friday. All of which meant I didn't get to run due to the packed schedule. I did read my new Runner's World issue on the plane, which I guess means I did something related to running.

Today I went out for a 5-miler. It was 75 degrees and felt way warmer than it actually was. It was also extremely windy after a storm blew through before my plane got home. I walked a tenth of a mile at each marker starting with the second mile to combat the heat and my excesses yesterday evening in Florida. Plus today is the )*#$! time change, which I hate. Time to go to bed.

Another Cold Run

Today the temperature got up to the 40s, at least, but it was still not warm. I took the opportunity to add another half-mile to my total to get to 4.5 miles for the day. I'm off for another business trip and another skipped run on Thursday, but I should be back in plenty of time to run on Saturday. Added bonus: it's supposed to be much warmer. *fingers crossed* Maybe winter is finally behind us.

Milestone

Today was a big milestone in my running life. It wasn't the longest or fastest I've run. It was the first time I've run without walking since mid-November. Since I was in the Bay Area this past week and it rained pretty much the whole time, I didn't have any outings since last weekend. Today I went 4 miles. No pain, no pushing it too hard. I feel good later in the day after spending the afternoon painting the garage. I hope this is the first step toward getting back to my regular routine, but as always I'm not going to ramp up too fast. Nice and easy seems to be working so far.

A Windy One

Gotta love Texas weather. Most of the week it was cold and raining. Today was high winds and a temperature near 70 degrees. I didn't mind the wind too much. I went a total of 5 miles, running 4.25 out of that total. Still feeling good, and my side's not hurting. I also replaced two outdoor light fixtures and mowed for the first time this year. All in all a productive day.

Out for a Birthday

The past few days it's been cold and raining. Today it was much nicer, plus it was also my birthday. I did my normal 4-mile routine, which means I actually ran 3.5 miles. My side is feeling much better, with almost no noticeable pain or twinges during the day or even at night when I turn over. That's a great improvement over even a month ago. I'm hopeful that this gradual return to activity will pay off. Some people would say that it sucks to get old, but my goal is to be active for many years to come.

Incremental Addition

I didn't run Thursday because I had to get up at 4 in the freaking morning to go to the airport. Today was cool and and grey, but actually not bad running weather. I upped the overall mileage to five, of which 4 was running. I did an eighth of a mile each interval and walked the rest. Still feeling pretty good, and my side is less and less noticeable as far as any aches or hindrance. I'm still not to the point yet of going all out for a run with no walk breaks, but feel like I'm getting closer.

Another Successful Outing

Today was nicer, in the 50s and a light NW breeze. I ran 4 miles again, this time in the .85, .9, .9, and .85 succession. A couple of those miles were in the 10:30 range, including the walking part, and I felt the strongest yet in my journey to recovery. I didn't feel like I was running too fast, although at one point up a slight hill in the second mile I felt like I was doing my old routine of attacking hills. It was a good feeling.

Tape and Run

I used the KT tape today (again) and it seemed to help, especially since today was a little tougher with cold, sprinkles, and wind. I went the 4-mile route and succesively ran .85, .85, .9, and .65 + .25 in the last one for a total of 3.5. I'm still feeling pretty good but as always, tomorrow will be the real test. Not sure I'm up yet to running the route without stopping, but hoping the tenderness continues to decline over the next few weeks.

Doing More

Today was Texas cold, in the low 40s or upper 30s and wind chill in the low 20s, but in the afternoon it was sunny. I went out before 4 o'clock and even though the wind from the north was stiff I still got in my 4 miles and with a .8 mile tally for each mile plus a little extra made it to 3.25 overall. Not bad as I continue to build up the mileage. KT Tape is my friend and pending how I feel in the morning I'm hoping to get to 3.5 on Saturday.

Upping It

No pain after Sunday's run, so today I decided to up the running. I still went 4 miles, but I ran 3/4 mile and walked 1/4 each mile, for a total of 3 miles running. We'll see how this feels tomorrow.

Super Run

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, a day on which I refuse to watch football. People and their politics have ruined professional football for me, so I find it better just to avoid altogether. Well, they've ruined many other things, too, but I'll leave it at that.

After Thursday's outing my abdomen didn't hurt but I would describe the feeling as "tender". So The Wife and I walked yesterday, and then I felt well enough today to do the run half-mile/walk half-mile routine over the course of 4 miles. The temperature was about 70 degrees and actually made me sweat. My hair is the longest it's been in about twenty years and if I'd had clippers with me I probably would have cut it all of by mile three. I didn't, and my longer hair lives on for a few more days.

Getting There

Today was another cool day, but not as bad as the "Polar Vortex" up north. Plus I just got back from a work trip for the last five days and needed the exercise. The last two days I've had no pain at all, not even when I turn over in my bed or walk up stairs. Today I started out running a half-mile and then walking the other half, which I repeated over the course of 4 miles. Still feel good afterward and hoping for the same tomorrow.

Another Cold Outing

It's been Texas cold here lately, which means the temperature has been in the 20s at night and highs in the 40s during the day. Today was sunny and rose into the upper 40s, so I decided I should take the opportunity to get out before I head out of town this weekend. I did the same routine as last weekend (after which I felt no pain, fortunately) and felt pretty good today as well. 4 miles total, and hopefully in the next week or two I can start running again regularly.

First Run

Well I did it. I've been doing lots of walking the past week-plus, and today I decided to try a little running in the mix. I walked five days in a row last week before the temperature plummeted and wind went crazy, several times up to an hour and close to four miles. My side has felt much better, and a couple of times recently I woke up with no pain at all. One good tell was that for weeks I could feel the strain every time I turned over in bed, and lately that has not been the case. So I thought it was time to give running a try. This is the longest I've been without a run in over fifteen years, and frankly it's been way too long.

I walked a half-mile, ran a half-mile, repeated, and then ran from the 2.5 marker to 3.5 since the last half-mile is up the big hill and I did not want to run that on the first day back. Through the run I felt just fine, albeit slow, and right now I feel okay. The verdict will be how it feels tomorrow. If everything is good I will walk again, and then the day after that mix in some running again. I'm going to take this slow if everything goes well. If not then I'll just have to keep walking. Today the temperature was about 40 degrees and fortunately not too breezy, with plenty of sun. It really was a good day for a run, and looking forward with hope to more in the coming days.

Still Walking

I'm still sidelined and walking when the weather cooperates. The pain in my side is mostly gone, although it still shows up when I sneeze or cough. I'm doing my best to not re-injure it by doing something stupid, like lifting or pulling something too heavy. I walked yesterday for almost an hour and probably covered close to 4 miles, and I'll walk again this afternoon. My guess is that I'm still a couple of weeks away from running again. I've put on a few pounds and am up to 160 for the first time in a couple of years. That's as much due to my eating too much over the holidays as it is to lack of running. Time to get that under control in the new year.

Sidelined

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

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

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

Back to the Trail

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

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

Autumn Arrives

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

No Blundering Today

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

Staying in the Sun

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

80 Degrees

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

Running Between Meetings

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

Two in a Row

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

Back to the Normal Route

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

Frosty Saturday

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

Nice Day in Kansas

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

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

More Nicety

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

Perfect Weather

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

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

Run Ugly

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

The World is Burning

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

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

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

Off a Day

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

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

Late Saturday Run

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

More Crop Circles

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

Running in Circles

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

Floody Run

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

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

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

Buggy Run

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

Some Shade

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

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

Social Run

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

Gooey Run

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

Some Hills

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

Skipped Saturday

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

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

Rain in the Distance

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

They didn't.

Butt Sprain

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

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

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

Tough One

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

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

Humid Morning in Austin

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

And 5 on Monday

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

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

8 on a Saturday

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

Galveston Interlude and Bad Night's Sleep

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

Humid but Good

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

6, 97, 104

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

Post-Rain

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

Addicted to Running

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

Kicking My Butt

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

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

Dog Day

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

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

70 in July

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

Lucky in July

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

Another Good One

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

Little Humidity

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

Heat Wave

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

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

Lots of People Out

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

Unintentional Speedwork

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

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

Waiting Out the Rain

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

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

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

Ode to a Saturday Morning

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

Waiting on Thursday

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

Early Tuesday

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

Late Sunday Run

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

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