Storm on the Horizon

When I left the house today I thought a storm coming in from the northeast would miss us. Still, dark clouds moved closer and I decided to go 3 miles instead of 4. That turned out to be the right choice. As I turned into our part of the neighborhood it started raining. The Wife was backing out of the garage to go someplace, so I talked to her briefly and got a little wetter. Not too bad, though, and it came down even more after I made it inside. Again, this is Texas, we need rain, and no hard feelings on my part. For the outing, I bookended it with half-mile walks, with a 1/2 mile run, 1/4 walk, 1/2 mile run, 1/4 mile walk, and 1/2 mile run in the middle. That means I ran half of it, which was pretty good for a very humid day at 88 degrees.

More Walking and Running

I went 4 miles again today, and here's how it worked out: walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk .4 miles, run 1/2 mile, walk .1 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk the rest of the way home. Even though the temperature was just below 80 degrees, the humidity was (and is) very high. I got in about 8k steps through all that. I saw plenty of people walking, running, and riding. The most curious was the guy on the powered scooter who whizzed by. Kudos to him for getting outdoors, but does that actually count as exercise?

Stepping In

Last time I mentioned the step challenge at work coming up in September. Not a fan of carrying the iPhone everywhere in order to count steps (21st-century problems, I know), so today I ordered an Apple Watch. Due to the program we have at work for rewarding co-workers and people who make a difference, I had enough accumulated to get one. Except for fifty cents that I had to pay out of my own pocket. Again, those 21-st century problems.

With today's 4-mile run/walk, where I ran half of it in different segments, I'm close to 10k steps. Not that I'm that anal retentive about it, but I haven't done this since I had a FitBit back when we lived in KC. That's been 7+ years ago. And as for today's outing, it was good. Above 90 degrees, but the hundreds seem to be out of the picture for the time being. Until we get below 80 I'll still be walking from time to time.

Post-Rain Outing

We finally got a ton of rain yesterday. We were supposed to be doused on Sunday, but the weatherman whiffed on that one. Near downtown Dallas it flooded, but in our area it was dry until early Monday. It even drizzled a little bit most of the morning and into the afternoon today. I was thinking about running the whole way this afternoon but the temperature got into the mid-80s and it was huuuuuumid. I went 3 miles and ran half of it in three different sections.

At work we're doing a step challenge in September. I've been carrying my phone recently to listen to podcasts but it wasn't tracking my steps. Let's just say it was harder than it needed to be to find out how to turn it back on to track. I'm good now and did over 7k steps today. If I was training for a marathon I'd probably win the challenge hands down.

Rain at Last

We finally got a ton of rain on Thursday. It was so nice. The temperature plummeted into the mid-70s as it rained for two hours and rivers of water ran down the streets. As opposed to last time, this time there was too much for the dry ground to absorb and there was water in the creek this morning. I went 3 miles with intermittent walking and running since it was quite humid. We have more rain coming in the over the next few days, so I'll get in my exercise as I can.

Work and Walk

Interesting outing today. Went for w walk during the last call of the day, which really was a fyi for me. I didn't have to participate until about 2 miles into 3 total. And since I walked it all I could pause in the shade and say my piece. After that I listened to the podcast the rest of the way home. According to the forecast this might be one of our last 100 degree days. I'm going to have to find some future motivation because I love the heat.

Half Run

I went 3 miles again today, half of it walking and half running. The temperature was above 90 degrees and plenty humid, so alternating walk/run seemed like the right thing to do. It went pretty well, especially considering I did it later in the morning. I needed breakfast and coffee first today, though, hence the delay. I saw a few people out but there were probably more earlier in the morning. I considered waiting until tomorrow but decided I didn't really want to. I've also been listening to a new podcast, or at least new to me, called History That Doesn't Suck. The guy starts with American colonies and moves quickly over the first few episodes into the battles that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. So far, so good. I'm enjoying it.

How About Some Rain?

Yesterday I went for my normal off-day walk, and it went pretty well. It was cloudy, and when I checked the radar everything was sliding past us to the west. The wind picked up, and toward the end I saw lightning about a mile away. That's usually my signal to head for cover. I ended up a little under 2 miles. When I got home it went like usual for a while. The storm was heading toward us and then split to completely go around. It's like we were an anti-magnet. That finally ended about 6:30 when we had actual rain for the first time in months. For an hour or so. It was fantastic. And the temperature dropped to 75 degrees. This might be normal elsewhere but not around here, and not lately.

Today would normally be a running day, but that didn't happen. I walked 3 miles, thought about running a few times, and decided against it. The temperature was 98 degrees with heat index of 102. What was interesting was the condition of the creek I normally run past and then run next to several times. I thought after yesterday the water might be higher and moving a little, but instead it was muddy pools along the creek bed. Apparently the rain we received yesterday was so needed that the ground just sucked it up and runoff was non-existent. Here's hoping for more rain.

No Rain

Typical day here lately at the old homestead. Clouds rolled in, rain fell...but none of it here. Still haven't had any measurable rain in a couple of months. Nevertheless, the temperature fell into the mid-80s and it was nice enough to go outside. I tried to escape work but I got an annoying instant message that I should have ignored, but apparently I'm too stupid. I didn't get out until almost five p.m. but I couldn't pass up this day. I went 3 miles total, running about 80% of it. Including a sprint at the end. Yes, nice cloudy outing and enjoyed it. How often has that happened lately? Oh, and walked 3 miles yesterday as well when the forecast was 98 degrees but turned into 102.

Enjoying Summer

Went for a 3-miler this morning. I ran only a half-mile of it, feeling that it was better to walk today for some reason. Plus it kept me out longer. Plenty of sweat, plenty of summer still left to go. Saw several people out on bicycles, running, and walking. Seems a little different from a few days ago, but maybe it was the time of day. Or of the week. Looks like school is about ready to start again since there was something going on at the high school this morning and the parking lot was full. I'm also defrosting the beer fridge and spent a few hours in the garage enjoying the heat. Later it's over to a friend's for a pool party and some food. All pretty good for a Saturday.

Ain't Nobody

Wasn't nobody out this afternoon. Except me. 102 degrees, 105 heat index. Which is actually not that bad for August in Texas. I went 3+ miles, total, with 1 mile of it running. I could tell how hot it was when the wind at my back cooled me off. That rarely happens, The only other people I saw out today were people in cars with their a/c on. Can't blame them.

I also realized somewhere during the run that I am more willing to get out in 100+ degrees than I am in winter when it's 50 degrees. That has to change this year.

Non-Lazy Saturday

Started the morning off walking with The Wife, and then when she went to the pool I continued on my merry way. The walking part consisted of probably a couple of miles, and then I went a couple more, mostly running. I figure I put in 4 miles today, mostly running the latter half. Then I came home and mowed, did some clean-up around the house, and finally decided to chill a little bit. The temperature was supposed to be in the mid-90s today, but right now it's actually 103 with heat index of 114. That means it's humid, and when I sat on the back patio to smoke a cigar I could definitely the humidity. We had about five minutes of rain yesterday, and when I say rain I'm being generous. It sprinkled, barely, but it's the first moisture we've had in probably a couple fo months. It wasn't much, but apparently enough to bring out the humidity. No complaints here, though. I sweated a lot for the first half of the day. All good.

Walking Week

We're still in the 100s every day, which I love. However, this week is a little different since a couple of late afternoons are blocked for other things. So Monday and today (Wednesday) I went for a walk. Monday was the just-over-a-mile route, and then today I added on the north side of the neighborhood to get close to 3 miles. I ate too many snacks yesterday, so I need to get that under control. The century mark on the thermometer is slated to continue for several more weeks. I'll run when I can but also make sure I'm getting out and sweating as much as possible. Like this week.

Getting My Butt Out There

This morning I took a different approach from last Saturday. I slept in a little but then got my butt out the door to run before anything else messed with my schedule. Plus, it was a little cooler, only about 80 degrees at run time. I went 4 miles and ran 75% of it, walk breaks throughout of course. Lots of people out getting in some exercise before it gets up to 100 again today. After breakfast and coffee I mowed the lawn, so all that's out of the way, too.

There Was Actual Running Involved in This Run

What a difference 10 or 11 degrees makes. When I walked yesterday it was 108 degrees. Today it was "only" 97. So I ran part of the 2.8 miles, actually half of it. Not all at once, of course, but it was actually okay. Most of what I ran was in the sun, but I guess that helped me get back to the shade quicker. I did see one other person out walking, but he was going really slow. All in all a good, sweaty outing.

108

There was no running today. Walking yesterday, a little over 2 miles, and almost 3 miles today. Work went long and I didn't get out until 5:30 p.m. At that point the temperature was 108 degrees with heat index of 113. Strangely enough, I didn't see a single soul out walking, running, or cycling. It seems I was the only one crazy enough to be out there, but to be honest, it really didn't seem that bad. A nice breeze came out of the south. I wouldn't say it was cooling, but at that temperature any air movement is better than none.

Midday Walk/Run

I was going to get out earlier, like 10 a.m., but ended up going around noon since Honorable Daughter #3 showed up. It was in the 90s so I walked about a half-mile, ran a half-mile, and so on. I went 2.5 miles total and ran about a mile of it. It went well and that seems to be a good choice. I missed running on Thursday since I was in Austin and drove back yesterday. We're in the middle of a stretch of 100-degree days, with a mild break of a degree or two once in a while. I love Texas summer!

Totally Walking

I walked yesterday, a little over 2 miles, and then today went almost 3 miles in the other direction. I seriously thought about running today, but decided to just keep up a good pace and sweat. Interesting tidbit, though: it was over 100 degrees today plus another 5-6 degrees for heat index, and I didn't really start perspiring until a half-mile into the walk. Even in direct sunlight. I suppose that's called being acclimated to a certain degree. See what I did there?

Mostly a Walk

It was 94 degrees at 10 this morning, and my intent was to walk instead of run. I did go 3 miles but threw in about a half-mile run in the last mile. That was because a guy was walking slower than me on the way back so I decided to just run a little bit to pass him. It actually worked out nicely since I was warmed up. The breeze was almost non-existent, another reason I'd decided to walk. My main goal today was to sweat. Mission accomplished.

Baby It's Hot Outside

Meanwhile here in Texas, the temperature made it up to 101 degrees with a 106 heat index. I don't know, it might be a little hotter than that. I went 2.5 miles today, but ran only the first and walked the other 1.5. It seemed like the right thing to do. I should have gone for a walk yesterday but it was a holiday and I was smoking a brisket. I did sit outside pretty much all day and did plenty of sweating, so that has to count for something. We'll see how the rest of the week goes since I have something every evening. Not a fan of that but sometimes it happens.