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.