Tuesday, November 28, 2023

More in the Fall

Another nice autumn day here in north Texas. Just a few degrees under 60 with sun and hardly any breeze to speak of. I went 3.5 miles this time and thought about going another half-mile but decided I felt a little dead-legged. Saw a hot air balloon to the east and a couple of guys walking their dogs, but not much else. Pity since it was such a nice day.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Post-Turkey Run

That stomach virus earlier this week helped me shed four pounds or so, and I did my best to make it back the last couple of days. So today was important for doing my best to maintain some semblance of fitness over the holiday weekend. Temperature was in the low 50s but sunshine-y with a light breeze. I ran 4 miles plus the walking at the beginning and the end. Overall, a pleasant outing that saw me start off wondering if I'd go the distance but ended up making it with gas still in the tank. Plus, gotta take advantage of the cooler weather while it's around and bearable.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Turkey Trot 2023

Ran a turkey trot today for the first time since we moved to Texas from KC, I think. We used to do the Parkville Turkey Trot as a family, but kind of got away from the tradition as the years went by. Daughter #2 asked if I wanted to do one this year, so we did. Got in my 3.11 miles first thing and now it's on to breakfast and more. My run earlier this week was derailed by a fast-moving stomach virus. It hit Monday and left Tuesday, but I didn't feel 100% and decided it would be smart to skip it in lieu of resting. There it is, proof once in a while I actually do something smart.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Darn Near Perfect

Temperature in the upper 50s and sunshine today, almost a perfect day. Tiny breeze out of the north, barely enough to mention. I ran 4 miles overall and felt good the whole way. Plenty of people out today, including a father/son group along the bridge by the pond in the neighborhood to the north. Mostly blocking it on the way out and only slightly on the way back. Other than that, I didn't see a ton of people out, which is kind of amazing considering how nice it is. I'm ready for the Turkey Trot next week. Other than packet pickup, of course.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Avoiding the Dogs

Maybe it's just a function of the times. I ran 3.4 miles but it should've been 3.5. I turned around right before I got to a couple walking their dogs so I wouldn't have to pass them one way and immediately going the other. Then when I got back in the neighborhood I ran by the first house, with a fence running the length of the sidewalk. It was missing a small piece last week and now another, bigger, piece close to street. That dog is a dick. He snapped at me through the missing plank and if it was up to him would've crashed through and eaten me for an appetizer. Last week there was the dog across the street barely a hundred yards west. Maybe I should start carrying dog spray. Anyway, it was a beautiful day and a nice run, dogs notwithstanding. And this is from a dog person.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Pleasant Run

The day was mostly overcast but the clouds parted a bit this afternoon. Temperatures reached the upper 60s and it was a very pleasant day for a run. I thought about going longer than 3 miles but since I'm planning on running a couple more times this week I decided to ramp up on the next couple of runs. Looks likes it's supposed to stay this nice at least through Saturday before a chance of rain moves in. I'll take it.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

This is the Week

I count today's run as part of the past Monday-Sunday week, so that means I got in two outings the past week. Better than the previous week. I think this is the week I get back on track. Not the track, just on track. Wanted to clarify. I ran 3 miles today with a temprature in the mid-60s. It was a nice afternoon for running. Last week I signed up for a Turkey Trot with Daughter #2. At least I can run that distance with no issues these days.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Slow Month

Yes, October ended up being a slow month for running. Last week I kind of let it all slide with my parents in town and lots of work obligations. Today I had a chance to get out before it got dark (screw you, daylight savings time) with a temperature of 84 degrees on a November day. The breeze was high and it felt good, but after more than a week off I walked most of a 2.5-mile walk. I ran about .4 of a mile early on but decided to take it easy. Not sure about running on Thursday since rain is in the forecast. We'll see. Hoping to make this a less-slow month.

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Between Storms

Lots of rain overnight and this morning, and more expected this evening. Fortunately, a gap between storms arrived this afternoon and I had the chance to get out. I ran 4 miles with the temperature about 60 degrees. The creeks and ponds are way high and I expect they'll rise even more by the time the rain is all done. I walked up the big hill, as usual, and sprinted the last bit into the neighborhood. Overall, a good outing in good conditions.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

A Little Water

It's amazing to me how we can go pretty much five months without rain of any kind to a couple of days of rain that causes the creeks to overflow. I guess the ground can't soak it all up or something. The creek I run over on Lake Forest was over its banks and probably has gone down a little bit today. We're due for more rain over the weekend so we'll see how it goes. Rain was the reason I didn't get out on Tuesday.

Today was a different story. I ran at lunchtime since I have a late call this afternoon and went 3.3 miles total. Just like before, I started running from my old spot after a short walking warm-up. Once again it felt pretty good and I think on Saturday, as long as it's not raining, I can run a bit longer. Even though I do love summer, it's nice to run when the sky is overcast and the temperature is only 72. A bit humid, but that's okay.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Multiple Outings

 I walked 1.25 miles with The Wife this morning and then stopped by the house to pick up my iPod before embarking on another 3.3 miles. The extra .3 is because I started running at the old spot, which used to be the usual mark for tracking my mileage. It's .15 miles from the house, so multiply it by two to get the .3. This is the first time I started running from the neighborhood in a long while, and I ran the whole 3 miles except for the big hill on the way back. It's a nice day, a little overcast, but the temperature and breeze feel good. After getting back I harvested the turd crop in the backyard and then mowed, putting me over 12,000 steps before noon. Time to relax the rest of the day.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Three Again

A nice day again, about 74 degrees at run time with sun and a light breeze. Another 4 miles with a half-mile walk to begin and end, a whole three miles in the middle without stopping. I figured I should go for it since I probably won't be able to get out on Thursday. Maybe tomorrow, but it will be just a walk if I do.

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Eclipse Run

Solar eclipse today in Texas, and as I ran it started. It was pretty cool to see the crescent sunlight on the ground as it filtered through the trees. I went 4 miles total and ran 3 miles straight. It helped that the temperature was in the 50s with a cool breeze from the north. I actually ran a few hundred yards once I got back to the neighborhood since I spotted The Wife walking ahead of me. It was nice to run without breaks and the momentum toward higher mileage continues.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Around Work

I found an unexpected gap in my work schedule today and got out for a walk/run, which was nice because I have a late afternoon meeting that puts a crimp in my exercise schedule. It's a gray, cloudy day and temperature is only around 70 degrees with a breeze from the south. Almost underdressed in shorts and t-shirt but somehow survived. I went 3 miles total, with half of that running, once again in half-mile increments. I sprinted at the end of the third one and overall felt good. Still planning to increase mileage as the weather cools.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Anniversary Walk

Missed a few days of exercise due to a trip to Georgia to see family I did get in a little walking on Saturday when I took my nephew to a UGA football game. We got back yesterday and today is our anniversary, so The Wife and I went for a nice 3-mile walk. Temperature was only 71 degrees and it's a pleasant day, in many ways. Hard to believe we've been married this long, especially the part where someone would stick with me so many years. Every one of those years has been a gift.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

I Love the 80s

Okay, the title is a reference to the temperature today, but I also did love the '80s. It was pleasant outside, sunny, with a nice breeze from the south. Rain is supposed to move in tomorrow night but as I've said before, I'll believe it when I see it. I walked 3 miles today, mainly due to soreness from yesterday when I was snaking a bathroom drain. Interesting that contorting myself into unnatural postions under a sink results in aches and pains the next day. Such is life for someone who lived through the '80s.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Late-Morning, Post-Coffee

The Wife and I went out to breakfast this morning, which was nice but delayed my exercise by a few hours. I went for a 4-miler and ran 2.5 miles of it in .5, 1.5, and .5 mile increments. The temperature wasn't too bad, nor was the humidity, and a nice breeze out of the southwest hit me at some good moments. I still feel like I'm doing well on the road to increasing mileage back to what it was a few years ago.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

94?

The temperature says 94 degrees but it doesn't feel like it. Maybe it's because I went out for my walk/run after 5 p.m. as the sun was getting lower. I ran half of the 3 miles in half-mile increments, as I've done before. Even sprinted the last few hundred yards for a literal change of pace. There wasn't much breeze, which again makes me wonder why it didn't feel as hot as the thermometer said. Oh, well, I'll take it.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Sunny Walk

We finally got some rain Sunday night, which cooled things off briefly, but today we're back into the low 90s with lots of sun. I determined this was another good time to walk instead of running. It was a brisk pace, especially since usually I take a little bit to warm up. I can tell we're heading toward the end of the year as the shadows from the fences and trees grow longer. Overall, 3 miles and nothing unusual about it.

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Normaler

Today seemed like a normal Saturday, temperature this morning in the upper 70s. I went 4 miles total, running half of that in half-mile intervals. I got out before 8 a.m. so I could come home and eat breakfast and drink my coffee at a leisurely pace. Running felt fine, although at the end I upped the pace and got the heart rate up nice and high. Yeah, that's normal, too.