A Little Walking, A Little Running

Today I got out for a 3-miler with storm clouds on the western horizon. I walked a half-mile, ran a half-mile, walked two-tenths of a mile, and was going to run another half but stopped after a quarter. All I can say about that is my knees felt...rickety. Not sure the cause, but I decided to walk the rest of the way. They feel fine now, a couple hours later, and whatever was going on was apparently temporary. I also mowed the back yard after returning home, where I got a few spits of rain but not much else. Youngest Daughter and I went out for dinner and I used the windshield wipers on the truck a little, but again, not much to report from the "storm."

40 Degrees

What a difference 40 degrees makes. A couple of weeks ago I was walking in 107 degrees and this morning started off at 67. Wow.

I missed Thursday's outing due to allergies. They kicked my butt starting Tuesday and by Wednesday I felt like I'd been beaten up multiple times. Seems like the allergy attacks have been more intense the past few years, almost putting me down for the count for multiple days. It sucks. Yesterday I felt almost back to normal. Today I was going to run as much as possible, but in the second interval I felt the effects of the allergies with breathing, so I stuck to 3 miles and ran half of it. Here's hoping the allergies take a hike and I can enjoy running more in the cooler weather.

Seriously

Today the temperature not only stayed in the low 80s but we also got a trace of rain this morning. Which means, of course, that it's time for my allergies to make a grand entrance. Seriously???????

About noon I felt sinus pressure and my head felt stuffy, and then as the afternoon wore on the mucous started running. Again I ask, seriously? So much for getting a chance to enjoy the nice weather.

Regardless, I went out for a walk. I'd planned on running but walked 3 miles instead, with plenty of snot rockets along the way. I got in my exercise, but seriously???????

Broken

The heat broke today and it looks like summer is on the way out. Mostly. Today's high is still 94 degrees but it was only 74 when I headed out for a walk/run. I ran 2.25 miles of the 4 miles and gotta say it felt pretty good. With milder temperatures I should be able to run more frequently and build up the mileage. I'd like to get back to the days of doing six-milers on a regular basis and getting back to the point where I can run a half marathon. It's been awhile but that's my plan over the coming months.

Is This It?

Is this the last time this year I'll be out for a walk where the temperature is over 100 degrees? Could be. Today was 105, tomorrow is supposed to be 107. I'm not walking tomorrow. Then Saturday's high is 99 but I'll be out in the morning before it reaches that point, and after that it trends to the low 90s before plummeting to a high of 78 on Tuesday with rain in the forecast. I went for a 3-mile walk today and it honestly felt like a blast furnace. Maybe it was just the thought this might be the end of the high heat. Whatever the case, I'll start enjoying some cooler walks and runs. At least until next year.

More Summer

Today we made it back over 100 degrees, with a lovely reading of 101 when I went out for a walk after work. Supposedly, this week is it for the high temps. As I've started before, we'll see. I enjoyed a nice 3-mile walk, listening to a podcast for a change. Nothing remarkable about today and the walk. Sometimes you're just in the groove and it all goes according to plan.

Another Delay

Yesterday I smoked a brisket and some other fine meats, meaning I didn't get out until today. Which was a little sad, since the temperature was 68 degrees yesterday morning.

Today wasn't bad, though. We clocked in at 80 degrees when I headed out, and I kept it to 3 miles since I ran half of it. Once again, it was nice to get in a little bit of running in half-mile increments. I also mowed the lawn and cleaned off the patio. Now it's rest time.

Lunch Walking Again

The temperature is actually below 100 degrees in Texas and that called for a midday walk. Still thinking about running and now that my new shoes have 10 miles on them I think it's almost time. Today I walked the usual 3 miles and did so at a pretty fast pace: just over 16 minutes/mile. I know, if I was speedwalking that wouldn't be very impressive, but normally when I walk the first mile is well over 17 minutes/mile. At least it was a nice day and as always it felt good to get out.

Delayed Walk

Yesterday I had a work activity in the afternoon and a concert in the evening, leaving no time to walk. I took the rare Wednesday walk instead. What a difference 10 degrees makes. The temperature was only 96 degrees and for a portion of the return journey the sun hid behind a cloud. I went 3 miles as usual and felt less worse than normal when I got home. The forecast has us hovering around 100 degrees over the next ten days but maybe the season of 106+ degrees is over. We'll see.

Saturday Outing

Once again I walked the 4-mile route where I kept to the shade for a good portion in the middle part. I thought about running since the temperature this morning was in the 80s, but I was breaking in a new pair of shoes and decided not to. It looks like we're in for temps lower than 100 in the coming week, so maybe I can start mixing in some running again. We'll see since I don't actually trust the forecasts.

Earlier Weekday Walk

I walked earlier than normal today since I have plans tonight and didn't want to rush around to get in some exercise. The added benefit included getting out before the temperature went over a hundred degrees. Fortunately, I have a gap in my calendar today between meetings so I went out for a 3-miler. I considered running but even the temperature was only 94 degrees the humidity was pretty high. I decided the best course was to walk. So I did.

Weird items by the side of the road observation: a pair of crutches in the grass along Lake Forest and a baby bottle in the drainage area right inside Creekwood. I wondered if the crutches had been cast aside because someone was miraculously healed, but the reality is probably that one of the McKinney Boyd students threw them aside on the way to school. The baby bottle? Not a clue.

Still Sweating

Today's high was only 102 degrees. "Only." The long-range forecast looks like we get down to the upper 90s for highs next week and then back to the century mark for Labor Day weekend. Like they know.

The breeze today felt good even thought it was hot. I walked 3 miles and when I walked up my street the neighbor next door was putting out his trash bins and asked me how my run was. I laughed. I ain't running in this. I'll continue this pattern and trying to keep up at least a minimum level of fitness until I can run again.

Saturday Morning Walk

The weather app I use cracks me up sometimes. The message this morning was that today is forecast to be cooler than yesterday. Ha ha. Yesterday was 109 degrees, today's high will be 107. WAY cooler.

This morning I walked 3.5 miles. I could have and probably should have gone the extra half-mile, but I wanted to get home for some coffee. Seems lazy of me, doesn't it? Right now I'm on my last cup and at the moment it seems like I made a good choice.

Midday Shade

I had a break between calls after lunch plus a late call on the calendar, so I took the opportunity for a midday walk. I wondered how it would go with the noonday sun, but it was actually okay. The shade under the trees was actually better in some areas. I went out while the temp was in the upper 90s, as opposed to 106 degrees now when I would've had to go out. I walked 3 miles and was happy to see minimal work emails had arrived in my absence. Maybe I should do this more often.

Break in the Heat

For the first time this month we didn't get to 100 degrees today. It topped out at 93 degrees and you could feel the difference. A temperature almost 15 degrees lower than the usual is noticeable. I walked 3 miles total and ran a mile of it in two half-mile increments. It took a little to get back into the rhythm and not feel like I was dying. The breeze helped. I know this won't last but it was nice to get in a little running.

Getting it Done

I went out around 8:30 this morning and got in my 4-mile walk. I considered running part of it since there was a nice breeze and temperature was in the mid-80s, but decided against it. I saw a few people out cycling but not much in the way of other walkers or runners, just a couple. The high today is supposed to be 106 so I'm glad I got it done early and mowed the lawn before the heat sets in this afternoon.

Dog Days

Up to 105 degrees today with heat index of 116. We could sure use some rain. I went my usual 3 miles today, encountering a work crew blocking the sidewalk at one point. Looked like they were stubbing in a fire hydrant, which involved a Bobcat to move some of the earth around. They were gone when I made the return journey. Time to relax in the a/c with a nice cold beverage.

100?

The answer to the question of whether or not it made it 100 degrees today is unclear. On my watch it says 101, but if I look at my phone, which the watch is linked to, the weather app there says 98. On the other weather app on my phone it says 96, but the website on my computer for the same provider says 102. What am I supposed to believe?

Regardless of the temp, we experienced some cloudiness for the first time in a while. That's probably what kept the digits around 100 instead of the 105 in the forecast for tomorrow. And the next day. And 106 the three days after that. Followed by 108, 107, and 107. It's going to be a great week.

In the meantime, I walked my 3 miles today. I'll do my best to keep it going.

See Randy Walk

Maybe I should change the name of this blog to See Randy Walk since that's what I've mainly been doing lately. Today I walked 4 miles and then came home and mowed the lawn. I already have almost 10,000 steps in and it's barely 11 a.m. Pretty normal for a Saturday, I guess. I walked a little different route today to capture more shade in the morning hours and that worked well. Now it's time to relax a little before heading out for a concert tonight, during which I'll be standing the whole time. I think a nap is in order this afternoon.

The Fun Continues

Got up to 105 degrees here today but plummeted to 104 by the time I finished work and got out for a walk. I did the usual 3-mile out and back routine. I was thinking about how getting used to the heat takes a little time. When you start off when the norm is 80 degrees and stick with it as things warm up over weeks and months, hitting the century mark isn't really as big a deal. Although walking for an hour is a lot different than working an eight-hour day on a roof or doing lawncare. Hydration plays a lot bigger role in those cases.

Welcome to August in Texas

Has it cooled down any? Of course not! First day of August and today's high was 104 degrees. The heat index reached 111. When I look at the extended forecast we're supposed to be above 100 through Sunday, although I'll believe that it'll cool down when it actually happens. I went on my 3-mile walk this afternoon and actually saw a guy running. I thought I was crazy...

Pre-Heat Walk

This morning it was 84 degrees when I headed out for a walk. I considered running part of it, but with the humidity as it was I decided walking 4 miles was better than trying to run, too. So, I walked all of it. Seems like that was a good choice since I also needed to mow the lawn. Eleven o'clock in the morning now and I've done my exercise and chores. Guess I'll chill out the rest of the day.

Walk On

Another 100-degree day, another 3-mile walk. It was incredibly similar to Tuesday's outing with a breeze out of the southeast. I must be getting more used to the heat since I didn't really start dripping sweat until I climbed the big hill in the last half-mile. I guess there's something to this acclimatization thing. Actually, I don't know if that's the right word but I'm too lazy too look it up.

Back to Normal

Let's just say the lower temperature from Saturday was very short-lived. Today it's back to normal, with air temp of 102 and heat index of 107. Still not as bad as when we were into the middle 110s but the foreseeable forecast has us at or over 100 for the next week+. I walked 3 miles today and it wasn't bad with a breeze from the east. I mean, it was a hot breeze, but still better than nothing.

Running!

What a nice surprise. When I woke up this morning it was 74 degrees outside. Can't remember the last time it was this cool. Anyway, I decided to get out as quick as possible, before even having coffee or breakfast. The humidity was also pretty darn low, so it actually felt like 74. And wonder of wonders, I even ran! I went 4 miles total and ran 2.25 of it in intervals. I was wondering when I'd be able to run again, thinking it might be September before the chance arrives, but instead I enjoyed this rare summertime opportunity.

Hottie

Today was another hottie, but not the good kind. Temperature was 102 with heat index of 111, a little bit higher than yesterday. It'll be nice when I can get back to running again. Instead, it was another 3-mile walk. Can't complain too much, though, since I wasn't sure I'd get one in today with a work meeting schedule 'til five o'clock. Fortunately, it ended early and I headed right out the door.

Make-up Day

I missed yesterday due to other obligations and decided I should make it up today. Last night the weather app said "Tomorrow's temperature is forecast to be COOLER than today." Which was hilarious, because yesterday's high was 106 degrees and today's 103. Yeah, waaaaaay cooler. Anyway, today at walk time it was 103 degrees with a heat index of 109, which means the humidity is down a little. Lots of sun, obviously, but a good walk nonetheless. I really needed after work today.

A Good Long Walk

This morning we spent time giving out homemade cookies to the local fire department crews, part of a service day at church. Once we made it home I went for a 4-mile walk. I suppose I could've run a little, but it was a bit humid and the sun was out in full force. The temperature was only 92 degrees but heat index was 105. Still plenty of moisture in the air. Now I'm off to mow the lawn.

Texas Never Disappoints

Today the temperature got up to 102 degrees with heat index of 115. I can't say I'm disappointed in this Texas summer. I walked 3 miles and sweated like the proverbial pig. A good breeze out of the southwest helped a little, although there were times when it felt more like someone opened the oven door. At least there's shade in the middle mile. I usually take off my hat during that stretch to let some of my body heat escape. And, you know, to let the wind blow through my hair.

Humid Like a River

Rain the past couple of days, followed by abundant sunlight, equals a very humid day. I didn't even think about running today, choosing to walk 3 miles and sweat profusely. My plan worked. I think we're heading back toward a streak of hot weather, this time with less rain. Still, here we are almost mid-July and it hasn't been off the charts bad so far. I'll still take this over ice and snow any time.

July Reprieve

This morning it was only about 84 degrees, a nice temperature for July in Texas. Plus a breeze from the south. I went a total of 4 miles. That included a mile run in the middle bracketed by walking and two half-mile runs. I thought about going an extra mile but plan on walking at some point today with The Wife. The high today is in the low 90s, another plus. I thought we might get a little rain but it ended up sprinkling just a little with nothing to show for the cloudiness. Oh well, it's a nice day to sit on the back patio and relax.

Training Walk

My calendar has late meetings on it today, and the only time I could get out was during a training session. I only had to listen instead of running it, and that worked out fine. I walked 3 miles and carried my phone in a waist pack, or whatever it's called. In case you're wondering, the session was fine. The walk was good and I considered running, but wow, it was humid. I sweat plenty just by walking. Now back to the meetings.

I Tried

Today is not as hot as it's been lately, with the temperature around 90 degrees when I went out for an Independence Day excursion. I tried to run a little, testing the waters as it were, and quickly decided it was a walking day. We had a storm blast through yesterday evening and it left the area under a nice blanket of humidity. The creek was full when I passed over, which is nice to see at this time of year. I ended up going 3 miles, and that was plenty. After my brief running trial, which lasted about a third of a mile, I felt the fingers of calf cramps and knew the humidity was too much. But it was a nice walk overall.

Not So Hot

Today is much cooler than it's been the past few weeks. It was only about 86 degrees with a heat index of 93 plus cloud cover. I'm smoking a brisket today and didn't want to be gone too long, so I planned on going 3 miles and ended up at 2.82 because of people walking along the path around where I would normally turn. And here's the bigger deal: I actually ran part of the route today. About 1.3 total, with a pickup at the end. Not bad for a Saturday in July in Texas.

109 on a 100 Base

Today's temp got up to 100 degrees with a heat index of 109. Par for the course these days. I went on another 3-mile walk that felt much like the one a couple of days ago. I have to say the only other people I saw out were the guys doing lawn care work. 50 minutes or so for a walk feels pretty draining; I can't imagine doing it all day. God bless those guys.

Heat Index

This is about as high as the heat index has risen, at least while I've been paying attention. It was 102 degrees with heat index of 116 when I left the house for today's walk. Strangely enough, it wasn't really that bad. A breeze from the southeast helped, as well as shade at various points along the route. I walked 3 miles and then came home and mowed the lawn. Yeah, I'm kind of stupid that way.

Water in the Creek

There's water in the creek again after a surprise thunderstorm late yesterday afternoon. I thought the storm was going to stay north of us but we caught the southwestern edge and got hammered for a good 45 minutes or so. We needed it. Of course, that made this morning humid but that's fine by me. I walked 3 miles. I'd rate it as a good walk since I was in no hurry and had no place to be. Lots of stray thoughts throughout the walk, which is probably better to do at noon than in the middle of the night.

Walk and Mow

Yesterday the temperature plummeted to the low 90s and the humidity actually kept the heat index below 100. I still walked instead of running and went 2.5 miles. When I got home the lawn needed a trim, so I got in a little more walking. We're headed to the century mark over the next week, which means I'll likely continue the walking with little to no running. 

See Randy Walk

Maybe I should rename this website. When it's 97 degrees with heat index of 115 outside, there's not gonna be much running going on. I needed to get outside, though, and do something. I walked 3 miles and generated a nice bucket of sweat. It wasn't that bad. Really. I knew I would walk the whole way and no pressure to run. Summer is here, although it officially starts tomorrow according to the calendar. Either way, it's arrived in Texas already.

Running While Smoking

Today I put a pork shoulder on the smoker, and figured even though that requires attention I still needed to get out for some exercise. I went 3 miles, half of it running. Still very humid around here, and I heard that Wednesday and Thursday were some of the most humid (humidest?) days on record in the Dallas area. I believe it. At least I got in my exercise for today as well as mowing the lawn. Now it's time to enjoy the long weekend.

Welcome Back, Summer

Yesterday we hit 94 degrees, a nice jump up in temperature. A nice breeze out of the southeast helped, at least when running against it. I went 4 miles total and ran half of it in half-mile blocks. All the walking in between helped me make it the whole way and also seemed to keep my heart rate from getting too high. Plus the areas of shade along the route were also most welcome. I've been wearing a hat due to some spots on my forehead (more like a six- or seven-head) that had to be removed last year, and the hat is supposed to keep more from developing in the harsh Texas sunlight. At least in the areas of shade I was able to take off my hat and that helped cool me down in those instances.

Misty June Day

Definitely not a normal June day. It was cool, only getting up to about 80, and cloudy all day. It finally rained about the time I was heading out, although it was more of a mist than actual rain. Maybe a little more than mist. Whatever the case, it wasn't too bad. It picked up a little bit around the mile mark, so I ended up going only 2.5 miles. The good news is that I ran 1.6 of that with a pickup at the end. I got in some sweat regardless of the weather. The forecast looks like after tomorrow we start getting into real summer weather. This might be the coolest run I have for a while.

Disassociated 5k

Another day, another 5k. That's 3.1 miles out of the 5-mile outing. It was another nice Saturday morning with clouds on the horizon but nothing overhead. Fortunately, there was a very nice breeze which kept me cool. The temperature was in the high 80s and it looks to get hotter over the next week. I appreciate the chance to acclimate to the upcoming warmth. Or hotness. Whatever you want to call it, it's summer in Texas.

1 of 3, 2 of 4

The 1 of 3 in the title refers to the baseball games I attended the previous three nights. The good guys (Cardinals) were in town to play the bad guys (Rangers). The good guys won only 1 of the 3 games, which was actually better than I expected since the bad guys are playing lights out so far this year and the good guys...aren't. Had fun anyway, although it meant missing my Tuesday outing.

Today I ran 2 of 4 miles, the latter half of the title above. The temperature is still hovering in the upper 80s with a nice touch of humidity. I ran four half-mile intervals with a pickup the last quarter-mile or so. It was good to get out and sweat again. This time the heart rate seemed reasonable although I wasn't watching it that closely 'til the end.

Someone asked me the other day if I still run and if I want to do any more marathons. Yes, I still run, I replied, and I'd like to run more halfs and fulls. The problem for me is the time commitment, which first of all means getting into good enough shape to be able to start a real training program. Something to consider.

Another 5k

In today's 5-mile outing I ran 3.1 miles in intervals. Interestingly, I cut short the next-to-last interval because my heart rate seemed too high. It got up to 165, and as I've mentioned before, that's above the max heart rate if you use the normal calculation. At the very least it was in the 90%+ range. It got up to the same rate toward the end of my final half-mile interval, but I stuck it out so I could get to the 5k mark in running. I didn't feel horrible during any of it but I did feel like I was laboring a little more than usual. Temperature was about 80 degrees but humidity was way up. Or maybe it was tougher because I didn't find a hundred-dollar bill this time. 

Feeling Like a Hundred Bucks

I actually found a hundred-dollar bill on my run today. Yes, I searched around quite extensively to see if someone was looking for it, but I saw not a soul. Like nobody was out today running or cycling. Yes, I kept it. I've found a twenty and once a fiver on previous runs, but this one takes the cake.

What's interesting is that if I'd given in to a shorter run like my mind kept telling me, I wouldn't have found it. The money was almost at the turnaround point for two miles out and then two back. In fact, I didn't see it when I passed it the first time. It was on the return. I considered turning around at 1.5 miles, and then had almost convinced myself to turn at 1.75 and do a 3.5 mile run, which I rarely do. Instead, I thought another quarter mile out wasn't that far.

I know, I'm making too big a deal of it. Especially since it's going in the offering plate at church to help the food pantry or the local homeless ministry. Hey, it wasn't mine to begin with and it's a chance to pass it along to someone who does.

Running? Yeah, 4 miles total with 2.5 in intervals. The temperature was in the mid to high 80s but a breeze out of the southeast kept things reasonable. Still recovering from the wedding weekend and sweating for an hour or so felt good.

Revelry

I certainly intended to get out for some exercise while we had a bunch of family in town for a big wedding, but somehow it just never happened. After all the revelry and some people leaving this morning, I desperately needed a walk/run. A big thunderstorm rolled through yesterday about dinner time, leaving us to bask in the humidity today. I went 3 miles and ran only one out of that, but today was more about just moving than any serious effort. Still have stuff going on next weekend and early next week, but let's see if I can make the exercise happen.

Just a Walk

Due to scheduling this week, I decided today was the day to get out for some exercise. My knees felt...puffy? Not sure of the right word, but maybe it was because of the running two days ago. Or because I'm old. Or maybe both.

So, I walked. I walked 3 miles. It was a nice, semi-brisk walk. Beyond giving my knees a chance to recover, I think it was also good to be out in warmer weather without sweating up too much of a storm. It's the part of the year where I need to acclimate again to the heat and I'm well on my way. If I can run tomorrow, I will, but if not then at least I'm not going too long without exercise.

More Run than Walk

Today has to be the longest continuous run I've done in I-don't-know-how-long. I mean, I could go back and look at previous posts but that would take effort. Instead, I'll just say I ran 3.7 miles out of 5 total, with a run in the middle of 3.2 miles. Today was great here in Texas for a run like that. A little humid but nice breeze out of the north to make it palatable, and temperature only 70 degrees. In fact, when I first woke up it was almost too cool to sit on the patio and drink coffee. After a few errands it was time to run, and so I did. It feels nice to have that accomplishment in the bag and primes me nicely for the upcoming hot weather.

Failed Flying

Tuesday I was supposed to travel to Toronto for work. Short story: I got the whole experience of boarding and deboarding without ever leaving the airport. Delays kept accumulating so I finally ended up canceling the trip. The downside was I was worn out from the experience plus all the work I did when I got home so I skipped running that day.

Today was different, with sunshine, a nice southerly breeze, temperature in the mid-80s, and no aborted plane flights. It was humid, as usual, so I went 4 miles and ran 2.25 of that in four intervals. Not bad and keeps me feeling good about continuing to get back and stay in shape.

5k Out of 5 Miles

All that rain we were supposed to get over the last three days? Not a drop. Definitely par for the course.

Today was humid, though, with temperature in the low 80s. I went 5 miles total and ran 3.1 of that, or 5k. I did intervals of .5, .75, .67, .75, and .5. Actually, I guess that adds up to 3.17, a little more than 5k. The running parts felt just fine, even though I felt my left hip was a little sore for some reason when I started. I tried to concentrate on propelling myself with both legs equally, making sure I wasn't favoring one over the other. A little bit of extra focus in that area seemed to help. Now it's time to mow the lawn.

Some Humidity in the Area

We had a little rain yesterday. Not as much as forecast, but enough to put some water in the creek and up the humidity some. It was noticeable today and I took a walk at the halfway point of my 4-mile run, which means my total running distance was 1.8 miles with the rest walking. I think it was a wise choice and I made up for the extra walk by adding some speed to the last tenth of a mile or so. Remember, speed is relative and I ain't as fast as I used to be. Not that I was ever that fast, but still.

Two for the Show

Ran two of the 4 miles today, in the usual interval pattern. I have to say I feel pretty good about it since the temperature was 84 degrees and a little humid, which I'm still getting used to. At least there was a nice breeze to cool me down in certain parts, and of course, some shade. We have intermittent rain in the forecast starting tomorrow through Monday, but if the weathermen keep up their usual success rate we won't get much of anything. Which means I'll be able to run as scheduled.

Back from the Great White North

Spent the last week in Minnesota, where it was still not spring. I took running clothes, but apparently not enough cold/cool-weather gear. The temperature was mostly in the 50s with nighttime lows in the 30s, and plenty of wind to refrigerate things even more. Needless to say, running did not occur.

Yesterday I changed brakes on Daughter #2's car, a process that took more than twice as long because some idiot engineer decided the long screws securing the bracket needed Allen wrench heads instead of hex bolts. And recessed them inside a short collar. What a crapfest. Plus, the temperature skyrocketed to the low 90s, quite the change after the week in colder climes. I say all this to say I got plenty of activity yesterday, which impacted my outing today.

The older I get, the more those types of activities leave me sore. Today I kept the outing to 3 miles to stretch out after ten days or so of no exercise followed by the brake-changing debacle. Also it was the first time running with higher temperatures (in the 80s) so easing back in seemed appropriate. I did run half of that in half-mile increments and the wind was a nice relief. I plan on walking the next few days to continue stretching out the sore muscles.

Got Out Regardless

Unexpectedly due to a late work schedule, rain in the forecast, and potential yard work, I ended up getting out. The total was 3 miles, but at least I got out when I didn't think I would. The least reliable of all those delays is clearly the forecast. The weathermen around her suck and they have been wrong so many times over the last few months, predicting 90%+ chance of rain and the storm totally bypass the entire county. Their inaccuracy is my gain.

Saturday 5

Went 5 miles today. Three 3/4 mile intervals bracketed on both ends with half-mile intervals for a total of 3.25 miles of running. Overall it felt good and it was a beautiful day for running. I finished writing a new book this morning and then had some great thoughts about next steps with it. That often happens when I'm out running and my mind clears. I didn't get to run on Thursday due to work and bad weather. I was planning on running five then, but postponed until today. It all worked out, so no complaints.

Blustery

Very windy today and cooler as well, but not too cool. I went 3 miles and ran half of that. Cloudy and gray but at least it wasn't raining. Although we can always use rain in Texas.

Fourshadowing

I ran at midday on a Saturday. Not much in the way of shade, just enough to keep me from overheating. My heart rate climbed up to about 160 a few times, which caused me to start thinking about maximum heart rate once more. If I go by the common method, I was almost at max. Even though I felt the effort I still wouldn't say I'd maxed out. Plus, I feel like I'm still building back up to my previous fitness level, so not really surprising my heart rate got a little higher than expected.

4 miles was the total, with 2.5 of that in running. The breeze was strong but felt good when running against it. Lots of sunshine and no complaints there. The temperature was in the high 70s and I'll take it for now and enjoy.

Powering Through

It's hard to breathe when your throat is constricted from allergies. It wasn't horrible today, but it also wasn't good. I decided to keep the mileage at 3, which turned out to be the right choice since my iPod died a mile before I finished. If I'd gone an extra it would have been a useless weight for half my run. I was also still feeling the effects of soreness from earlier this week, and the first interval of running was tough. For the last interval I actually ran faster to try a different cadence and stretch muscles in a different way. I think it worked to change things up a little. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Allergies Are Back

Sunday - Easter Sunday - I felt miserable. I changed the brakes on my truck in the afternoon and by evening had a massive allergy attack. We had people over for dinner and I went upstairs before they left. Pretty crappy of me, but I felt horrible and wasn't good company. Yesterday I felt like someone had beat me with a baseball bat.

Today was better and not as bad with the allergies, but still not 100%. I walked a half-mile and then gave running a try. After a couple of minutes I determined it was best to just walk and stretch out the sore muscles. I went 3 miles total and feel okay for now. We'll see how the allergies treat me this evening.

Travel Week

Spent the first half of this week in Toronto for work and the early morning plane ride back on Wednesday was a complete debacle due to weather. Then Thursday and Friday were windy and cool and nasty, so today was my first real chance to get out again. I did another 4 miles with the same intervals as I've been doing. Today felt really good. Looks like the up-and-down weather patterns are done and temperatures should be more consistent going forward. I'm looking forward to it.

Another

Something was going on Thursday where I couldn't run but now I can't remember what it was. Probably work-related. Yesterday, Saturday, ended up being wonky with one of the kids and breakfast and so on. Today I was determined to get in a run before rain hits later in the day, and I did. Same routine as the last couple, although it felt a little humid and I walked two minutes halfway through the longest interval and total running was probably 2.3 miles out of the 4 miles total. Glad to get in some exercise before the work week starts.

Feeling the Running

Did the same routine today as I did Saturday and for the first time in a long while the running part felt normal. I've walked a lot and become used to that cadence, I think. On my last half-mile interval today I had that thought about not thinking about it. It was a nice moment. Not necessarily a runner's high but still good. 4 miles total with 2.5 of it of the running variety. 

Coming Back

Every time I go out and put some running in with the walking, I tell myself I'm coming back from injury and laziness, but mostly laziness. Today was beautiful, with temperature in the high 60s and sunny. I went 4 miles total, with 2.5 of that running, including 1.5 miles straight running in the middle. I'm starting to feel better about running, stronger and not getting winded as easily. I also think the days and nights where we get down to freezing or lower are over. I'm fine with that.

Back to Sweating

What a difference from Monday and the last couple of days. Today was warm, topping out over 80 degrees, and while there was plenty of wind at least it wasn't the bitterly cold kind. I was able to get out after lunch for 3 miles, running half of that. Looks like the cold weather is finally over for us, but then again, you never know for sure. It was nice to get out and sweat again.

First Day of Spring

According to the calendar, winter is over and spring is here. The freezing overnight temperatures and cold wind this morning from the southeast disagree. Fortunately, the rest of the week it's supposed to be in the 70s. Since I have a crappy schedule for work today and tomorrow in the afternoons, I went for a 2-mile walk with The Wife this morning. Let's just say the weather was brisk and leave it at that. Here's hoping that was the last of it.

Slicing

The wind out of the northeast sliced right through my clothes on today's outing. The temperature was supposed to be 48 degrees but felt like 42, or so said the weather app. It felt colder than that. In fact, at the first blast a couple of blocks from home I almost turned around and went back. But then I decided I'd gone to all the trouble to get dressed that I might as well follow through. I went 4 miles total, running half that in half-mile intervals. If it hadn't been for that darn wind it would have been a really good outing. I even stopped when a woman and her four friends were taking a picture and offered to take it for them so they could all be in it. That's me, walking, running, and making friends.

Double Post

This is a two-fer.

Yesterday went for a morning walk with The Wife. It was a bit cool and we bundled up. The wind was out of the northeast and blasted us pretty good about two blocks into it but we decided to keep going. Once we warmed up it was better and we went 3 miles. The trip back, going south, was better. At least it was sunny the whole way.

Today I took advantage of a gap in my work calendar and got out for a little over a half-hour. The total mileage was 2.4 miles, an odd total. That was because I had a time limit and included running for about a mile of it. Again, a nice day. I was motivated to do it today since tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, too many meetings for work, and a chance of rain. The days I'm getting out are not necessarily the normal ones, but at least I'm able to wedge in some activity.

Enjoying the Weather

Today's temperature is supposed to get us up into the 80s. When I went for a walk/run at about 11:30 it was still in the high 60s and overcast. Two hours later it's 78 and sunny. Still enjoyed it, though, and decided to go 3 miles total today. I ran half of it in half-mile increments. Felt pretty good. It was a little breezy out of the south but that was a feature, not a bug.

Third Day

This was the third day in a row I went for a walk and it was another beautiful one. I went about 3.2 miles this time. The temperature was above 80 degrees, not bad for Texas in early March. Once again I considered running but my hips felt tight after several days in a row of exercise. Seems kind of lame, no pun intended, but I'm trying to develop consistency without hurting myself. I don't know if I'll get out tomorrow but we'll see how the day goes.

Follow-Up

Today was another beautiful day and I went for a 4-mile walk. I considered running a little but decided to go for the extra mile instead. If I can get back on track with 3-4 outings a week then I will start adding running into the mix again. Walking was a good choice for today.

Lost Week

What a week. Once again making a living cut into my time to get out and exercise. Plus I went to New York City on Wednesday and flew back Friday. I missed a big windstorm that come through on Thursday. Fortunately, today was extra nice. The Wife and I got out for a 3-mile walk and enjoyed temperatures in the low 70s. As I've said before, I need to prioritize exercise and that's my plan in the next week. I find I get a little grumpy without exercise. Nobody wants me to be grumpy.

Short Walk

The Wife and I went for a short walk today. We'd thought about going yesterday but it was blustery and decided to wait until today. This afternoon it was a decent temperature and we had a few minutes before she had to take a loaf of bread out of the oven. All told we probably walked less than 30 minutes but at least we got out and about for a few.

Midday Walking

I was off work yesterday, for the most part, so I took a lunchtime walk. Ended up being 2.9 miles but I'm rounding up. It was a beautiful day and the temperature was about 80 degrees on its way to 87 later in the afternoon. Nice breeze, and when I looked in the mirror later in the day it was clear I'd gotten a little sun. Nice to see the weather in Texas behaving like it's supposed to.

Sporadic Walk

Last week the weather turned bad again, and by that I mean cool and extremely windy. We had a thunderstorm warning one day and got...nothing. Still, it was a week of not getting out and by today I definitely needed to do something. The Wife and I went on a 3-mile walk in early afternoon and it was indeed nice to get outdoors. Even though yesterday was nice I smoked a brisket, but hopefully nicer days are in the near future. Gotta find some consistency again..

2.5 + 3 = 2

Equals two days in a row. I missed Saturday due to cleaning up some home improvement project remnants and went for a walk on Sunday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, in the mid-60s and sunny, and I went 2.5 miles. I was going to go longer but when you reach a certain age your bladder tells you when it's time to turn around and go home before bad things happen.

Today was about the same temp, but overcast and a bit breezy. I still went 3 miles, though, and ran three intervals of .5, .6, and .5. So, if my math is correct, unlike the title of this post, that means I ran over half the distance today. Tomorrow is supposed to be extremely windy with some rain early, and same on Wednesday. We'll see how it goes.

Back At It

Since last weekend when I went to concerts two nights in a row and stood for 5+ hours at each, my lower back has been achy. Not too bad, but I felt it today when I ran on my outing. I went 3 miles total and ran two half-mile segments. The weather was too nice to miss a run today and I'm glad I went. Being out in the sunlight is a nice pick-me-up, especially in what would normally be the dead of winter.

Felt Like More

Today was particularly windy, like the 25+ mph type of wind. With gusts stronger than that. It was also the day before rainstorms make an appearance so I decided to brave the wind and get in another walk. I went 3 miles again, but it sure felt like more. I think I deserve extra credit for this one.

Three of the Walking Variety

Last week the cold weather came back with a vengeance, leaving behind ice for several days. I may not be a smart man, but I do know better than to tempt fate by trying to walk a few miles on a sheet of ice. The last couple of nights I went to concerts and stood for six-plus hours each time. When the sunny day showed temperatures in the 60s I was happy to get out for a walk. I thought about running some but my knees and lower back are still recovering from so much standing. I walked 3 miles and hope for nicer weather in the coming week. Rain is in the forecast, but we'll see.

Cold and More

A cold front moved in Tuesday and we even got a little snow, although that didn't even last until morning. Naturally, I chose to stay warm. Today was better, with a nice sunny afternoon and temperature of 52 degrees. I only went 3 miles but it was nice to get out in the sunlight. I ran about 1.75 miles of that. Felt a little stiff but not horrible. I think Saturday is supposed to be warmer but there's also a chance of rain. We'll see.

Building Back Better

It was tempting to be lazy again today and stay home, but the day was too nice. Temperature in the mid-50s, sunshine, and light breeze from the south. Tempting, but I also know we will still have our fair share of really cold days in the next couple of months and missing out on a day like today would be regrettable.

I resolved to run most of today's 4-miler and ended up running three miles straight. I'm still not sure if the heartbeat count on my Apple Watch is correct since I got up to 156 but like I said previously, didn't feel like I was near the limit. It felt good to continue building back up to continuous running. The foundation is there, just gotta keep at it.

Out of Town

I was out of town the last week, part personal and part business. I did not get in any walking or running while I was gone, which I knew was going to happen. The work part included a 5k run every morning, but I've taken my gear before and then it suits in my suitcase, so this time I didn't even take it.

Today was a light day workwise since everybody is getting back from the conference and I was able to get out for a 3-mile walk. It was nice to get out in the fresh air after being held hostage in a Vegas hotel for four days. The sunlight felt great even though it was a little on the cool side with a breeze from the north. No complaints, though.

Building Up

I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon with The Wife, which was nice. We went another 3 miles and enjoyed a nice day.

Today was really nice gorgeous. Temperatures in the 70s and hardly a breeze, which I could tell when I ran by the big pond and there were no ripples from the wind. I went 4 miles total, and ran 2.75 of that in longer segments. After a walk, I ran 1.45 miles, walked .15, and ran another 1.3, followed by a cooldown walk. I figured it's time to start building up again to the point where I can run without walking. I'm on my way.

More Walking and Running

Yesterday morning I went for a walk with The Wife for a total of 3 miles. I had the opportunity to get out for it before work.

This morning I walked with her again for a little over a half-mile and then I took off for a little running. I ran four intervals: .5 miles, .7, .9, and .5 again, for a total of 2.6 miles out of 4.4 total. If I can keep this going then I should be back to running continuously again soon.

I became curious about maximum heart rate during the run since during the longest interval I went up a rise against the wind and my watch showed heart rate of 162. I know I'm not in prime shape, but my memory of the maximum heart rate formula is 220-age, which means 165 would be the number. And I'm no mathematician, but 162 is pretty close to 165. I didn't feel like I was pushing that hard, though, and I know how it feels to get to max heart rate. I just looked it up and one formula for fit people would put my max at 175, and another for people over 40 would be 170. Both of those sound more realistic based on how I felt at that point in the run. Not a major deal but like I said, it did pique my curiosity.

New Year, New Me

Not really, it's the same old me. Here it is the fourth day of the year and I'm just now posting. I think I went out earlier this week but the days have blended together after starting up work again. I was going to go yesterday but the Bat Signal went out from the cigar shop, and well...I responded as a superhero would. Today I went 3 miles and walked the whole way. Temperature was in the mid-50s but it felt a lot cooler with a breeze from the north.

I also got a new phone yesterday, and much to my chagrin the Walk to Mordor app I was keeping track of running and walking was no longer available in the app store. I was halfway there! I guess this means Sauron wins.

Final 2022 Outings

Yesterday I went 4 miles, all walking. I'd been out Monday and Tuesday, then Wednesday did other stuff and Thursday was horribly windy.

Today I did another 4 miles, with half-mile runs inserted. I even sprinted the last interval, or at least ran it faster than the others.

How can I describe 2022? The word inconsistent once again comes to mind. This is the lowest number of outings I've had in 15 years, which is not a good trend. I'm thinking about what I want to do in 2023, and a race would be a good start. We have a couple of spring weddings in the family so not sure how a race would fit in, but it's worth a look. Goodbye 2022, and welcome 2023!

Cold Snap

We definitely hit the cold weather mark last week. On Thursday morning the temperature dropped 20 degrees in one hour, and we made it into single digits that night. We also had winds over 30 mph and wind chill below zero. All that to say, it wasn't the most wonderful time of the year. We managed to stay warm and celebrate Christmas with the kids. All in all, a good holiday.

I got an ear infection about the middle of last week, waking up in the middle of the night with sharp pain in my right ear. Fortunately, that was the worst of the pain, although it's stayed clogged up every night since, moving to the left ear last night. I was feeling lethargic and low-energy, usually a sign I need exercise. The sun came out this afternoon and the breeze was okay, so I walked 4 miles and already feel better. I don't know if that'll take care of the ear problems, but it can't hurt.

Christmas Break

I'm off work the rest of this week, which means I can do my exercising during the day when the sun's out. I replicated Saturday's outing with walking and running and the 4-mile distance. It's a cool day again but at least the sun is shining. Not a whole lot of people out. In fact, I think I only saw one other person, and she was walking her dog. The only other people I saw were the lawn crew at the Mormon church, blowing leaves out onto Lake Forest. Wish I could get away with that. I filled two lawn bags with leaves from the front yard on Sunday, which is interesting since my tree doesn't drop leaves. They all belong to the neighbors who don't rake their lawns. I could return the leaves to the rightful owners, but I'm sure they'd just blow into my yard again. Sigh.

Cold Front

It was only about 40 degrees today when I left for a walk. At least the sun was shining and the breeze from the north wasn't too bad. I felt pretty good and decided to throw in some running to the outing. Overall, I went 4 miles and ran a total of half that in half-mile increments. It was nice to run. Walking is fine, but it takes soooooo long to go any distance. Running cuts down on that, not that I'm that fast.

I was also able to get out for a walk on Wednesday of 3 miles. Work has been too crazy the past couple of weeks but that should stop as I have some time off around the holidays. It's supposed to stay pretty cold for the next week but with no work I should have the opportunity to get out more often and in warmer parts of the day.

A Few More

I did manage to get out Tuesday for another walk, this one of the shorter variety at 2 miles. It was another nice day before the rain and work intervened to keep me caged up until today. That's okay, though, since I never mind getting rain around here.

Today was one of those days where it's cooler outside than the temperature. With a little breeze out of the north it kept things interesting until I warmed up. I went 4 miles total, walking, and saw very few people out on the path. I guess the weather kept people from wanting to take a walk, but not me. At least not today.

Midday Sunny Sun

Nice day today, with the temperature in the low 70s. That's a big difference from last week when it struggled to get up to 50 most days. Since I have late-afternoon check-in calls with a customer every day for the next two weeks I decided to get out and enjoy the sunshine during a break in my schedule. It was gorgeous and I actually wore shorts and a t-shirt. Walked 3 miles, hoping to build back my stamina. I did do a bit of walking on Saturday when I went to the Big 12 Championship game, but I wouldn't say I really focused on that as exercise.

A Few Walks

Sunday turned out to be really nice, so The Wife and I went for a 3-mile walk in the sunshine. Yesterday was also very nice, 75 degrees, and I walked for just over 2 miles. I enjoyed them both since I knew it was going to get very cool again, just as it did this morning with a start right at the freezing mark. 

A Run of No Running

No excuses for the past couple of weeks, really. A little rain and cooler temperatures, but I could have gotten out plenty of times. For some reason, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, I got lethargic as far as exercising goes. I keep saying I need to get back in the routine, and I do. Today I walked 3 miles as a start. I think tomorrow is supposed to be rainy all day. Maybe I can get in some exercise at a break, if there are any, or I can aim for Sunday.

Where Did Summer Go?

It was in the low 40s in the late morning when I left for a run. At least it was sunny, but as in most cases when it's cold early in the season I underdressed. I should have worn gloves, but at least I was smart enough to wear long sleeves. I ran 1.25 out of the first 2 miles and then ran into a guy I know from the pub. Hadn't seen him in a while so I walked most of the next mile as we chatted. I ran most of the last mile at a faster paced and then sprinted the last .15 or so. All in all I did 4 miles and it was quite...invigorating.

Bag of Old Tricks

I walked a couple of miles yesterday after the "failed" running attempt on Tuesday. Today I wanted to try running again, so I dusted off a few tricks from the old bag. 

First, since I've experienced this before and the pain on Tuesday was similar, today I didn't start running until I got to level ground. The twinge started the other day on a downhill section. Today, no twinge.

Second, I used another trick called "running faster." Yes, I've found that changing my pace can also change my gait enough to get it back into whack. I've been running at the same speed (slow) for months. This time I sped up just enough to fool my legs and knees into a different mindset, if that makes sense. Whatever the case, it worked.

Finally, I still walked when I needed to. On a slight downhill just past a mile in, over and back a slight rise right before the turnaround, and up the downhill from the first part of the walk. No expectations, just trying to get back into better shape. Today's total was 3 miles and hopefully the weather will stay nice enough over the weekend for me to get out again.

Knee Muscles

I was at a guys' weekend and got back yesterday, meaning today was my first outing in a week or so. I figured I would do a light walk/run to try and get back in shape, but stopped running after about a third of a mile. I felt a twinge in my knee and when I started walking after that and an ache on the outside of my left knee. I attribute this to weakness in the muscles around my knee, which makes sense with all the inconsistent exercise of the last month. And by inconsistent, I mean lazy. So today I went about 3 miles total, but at least I got in some outdoor time. We also turned the clocks back last weekend, and I am not fond of that since it gets dark so early.

Running to Vote

I wanted to run over to the fire station yesterday where I usually vote, but the washing machine repairman ran behind and a 2 p.m. appointment became a 4 p.m. appointment. That's okay, clean clothes took priority over voting in this case since it's been 17 days since we got back from Ireland. First World problems, I know, but going to the laundromat is an inconvenience when you've paid for a washing machine that should work.

Yesterday was beautiful weather, and fortunately today was as well. The route west and back totaled up about 3.6 miles, and I ran close to 3 of that. Since this is early voting season, I only had to wait about five minutes or so. Nice and easy, and now that's done. Plus, I finally got in some exercise after some rain last week and general laziness, mostly general laziness. *salutes* General Laziness.

Perfect Day?

Was this a perfect day? I don't mean my running, of course. I mean the weather. The sky was blue. The wind was a slight breeze from the south. The temperature was 72 degrees.

I mean, seriously? This was a gorgeous day. It's a Wednesday, for crying out loud. I don't run on Wednesdays. But I did today.  And I ran 2.75 miles out of the 4-mile outing. It was one of those days where I would have been mad at myself if I didn't get out. 

And I also saw The Wife twice in the exact same place on Raincrest. She was coming back from the grocery store the first time, and the second time she was coming back again because they'd overcharged her six dollars on three items. You'd think they would learn their lesson.

Sunday Wind

Yes, I was extremely behind this week in getting back to exercise. It took a few days to stop waking up at 4 a.m. at least once a night and going back to sleep. On the plus side, during one of those waking sessions I came up with a new book idea and started writing it on Thursday morning. So that's a good thing, and completely unexpected.

Yesterday I smoked a brisket and sat outside in the wind all day. Today is equally windy, but I went out for 4 miles. The temperature was 84 degrees, maybe our last hurrah before storms move in tomorrow. I ran half of that distance, intermittently of course, a half-mile or so at a time. The sun was shining and there were only a few people out for a walk. Maybe they got their exercise in yesterday while I was being lazy.

Walking in Ireland

Spent the last two weeks in Ireland and we walked like crazy. We never walked less than 10,000 steps a day, and there were several days we walked 7-8 miles. We saw a lot of great stuff and enjoyed ourselves, of course. I'd have to say all that walking helped keep off some of the usual vacation weight gain.

We started in Dublin, then drove around the island. First to Cork, then Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Ballycastle, and finally Belfast. With a lot of points in between. I keep saying it was the trip of a lifetime and I mean it. The island was gorgeous, the food outstanding, and the people friendly. Now it's back to Texas and getting into the routine of walking and running.