Late afternoon run at the park

I made it out to the park late this afternoon and ran 4 miles, 3 on the trails and 1 on the roads.

Sunday Night 5K

 I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this Easter evening.  Being loaded down with the defib vest and heavy battery pack and underperforming heart, I did not have great expectations.  I finished in 55:26, a few seconds faster than yesterday.

Spindle Tree 5K Park Run

 It has been a while, but this morning I drove down to Magnolia and ran the Spindle Tree 5K Park Run,  With my heavy attachment and less than full heart output, I ran a slow 55:34.  Got to visit with some good friends.

Park filling up for Easter weekend

 I went to the state park late this morning to run.  It is really filling up for Easter weekend.  I ran 3.4 miles, mostly on the trails.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran 1.2 miles in town late this morning, just before a heavy rain.  This evening, I drove down to Conroe and ran another 2 miles from the Fass Brewery.  3.2 miles total.

Caught in the rain

 I started a trail run at the state park this evening.  I should have checked the weather forecast before hand.  After 3/10th of a mile, the rain started.  Normally I would keep going.   However, with the defib vest, battery back and wires, I thought it was best to return to my truck.  I waited until the storm passed and then ran 2.6 miles on the park roads.  Total 3.2 miles.

Group night at the park

 As normal for Tuesday, I met up with the group at the park this evening.  Ran 3.4 miles, mostly on the trails.  That gives me 112.1 miles for the month of March (average 3.61 miles per day).  I have run at least 3.1 miles every day now for 20 months..

Spring break crowds at the park are gone

The state park seems to be back to normal now that the spring break crowds are gone.  I went out to the park late this afternoon and ran 3.2 miles, mostly on the trails.

Snake Number 2 and Vietnam Veterans Day

I ran 3.1 miles at the park this afternoon,  mostly on the trails.  Encountered my second snake on the trails this year.   It was a gulf coast ribbon snake.  Have not seen one of those for several years.  Today  was Vietnam Veterans Day.  The photo was my 1967/68 tour with the 101st Airborne Division.  My wife and I attended the annual Vietnam Veteran Dinner in Huntsville tonight. 

Wired up

 No race this Saturday morning.  Instead, I went to my granddaughter's Taekwondo tournament in Conroe.  This afternoon, a representative from my cardiologist's office came to my house to deliver a defibrillator vest,   It monitors my heart and shocks it if necessary or I do not push a button saying I am okay.   I have to wear it as a precaution until the doctor figures out why and corrects my low heart function.  The device is a vest worn under my shirt with a lot of wire and it connects to a strap around the waist with a very heavy battery pack.  I can only take it off to shower.  Very complicated; it took him over an hour to explain everything.  After he left, I went into town and ran 3.5 miles.  Except for carrying the extra weight, I felt okay.  Better than the last few days.  Maybe the new medication he prescribed is helping.

Easy run at the park

 I had an appointment with my cardiologist this morning.  He took some blood and changed one of my medications.  More tests to follow.  Then, I went to the park and ran 3.1 easy miles, mostly on the trails.

Split run

 Pending an appointment with  my cardiologist tomorrow, I took it easy today and did a split run.  This afternoon, I ran 1.2 miles in town.  Tonight, I drove to Conroe and the Fass Brewery Run.  However, I ran just 2 miles.  3.2 for the day.

Spent most of the day in the ER

 My weakness continued this morning, along with dizziness, shortness of breath and a build-up of fluid in my legs and gut.  I went to ER and got checked out.  Got out of  there late this afternoon and went straight to my cardiologist's office.  The bottom line is that my heart is not pumping as much blood as it should.  I start two new medications tomorrow and will probably have several new procedures done.  One may be a new pacemaker.  I am not sure when my current streak will end, but I know it is not today.  I went to the park before dark tonight and ran 2 miles on the roads.  I went home and took a nap and then got up and went to the drug store and picked up my new medication.  Then, went to the track and ran  1.1 miles for a total of 3.1 for the day.

Burning at the park

 I met up with the group at the park this evening.  They started the controlled burn on the other side of the lake.  Luckily, the wind was blowing the other way and I did not get smoked.  Ran 3.3 miles, mostly on the trails.

New controlled burns at the park

 When I arrived at the state park late this afternoon, the relatively new park superintendent checked me in at the gate.  Guess he gave the normal  crew off.  The gate supervisor introduced me to him and we had a brief visit.  He told me that they were going to be doing some controlled burns at the park this week.  I took off running on the trails and in less than a mile, found a "trail closed" sign.  I stayed on the trails, but got creative with my course.  I ended up with 3.2 miles.