Good News and Bad News

I had my appointment with the doctor this afternoon to get the results of the MRI on my back last week. He had speculated that the arthritus in my lower back was pinching the sciatic nerve and that was causing my left left to occasionally collapse. He said the good news was that there was nothing touching my sciatic nerve and that my spine looked good. The bad news was that he did not know what was causing my leg to collapse. He said that if it continued, he would refer me to a neurologist. Well, darn; I like to get things fixed and move on.
I ran 3 miles on the roads in town in the heat of the early afternoon. I was stopped by Ramona Gonzalez, who drove by and saw me. She use to run with us, but left town about 14 years ago. She was in Huntsville for a concert. What a surprize! We had a nice visit. Then, I went to the hospital for a 6 p.m. meeting on a mud run they are putting on in Huntsville on October 29. I missed the group run at the park, but I made it out there in time for the post-run hydration. Tonight, I signed up for the new BCS Marathon in College Station on December 11. That will be the day after the Texas Trail 50K here at Huntsville State Park. I ran two marathons in one weekend two years ago, but this will be my first back to back 50K and marathon. We all need a good challenge once in a while.

Squeezed in a Run

I attended a meeting at the Chamber at 3 p.m. this afternoon to help them put on a new 5K race in December. It was after 5 p.m. when I got out of the meeting. I went home, changed clothes and went back into town for a run. Ended up running a mile on the roads and a lap around the track. I had to be somewhere at 7 p.m., so I had just enough time to get home, shower and be back in town at 7.

Late Post

Got busy on the computer tonight and forgot to post before midnight. As usual on Tuesday evening, I met up with the group at the park. We ran 3 miles on the trails.

Wife's Back

I just got back from picking up my wife at the airport in Houston. She has been visiting our daughter in North Carolina for 2 weeks. I got up this morning and helped Steve move all the running club signs and equipment to a new and larger storage room in town. I squeezed in a 2-mile run on the roads in town and then cleaned the house. With all those wild parties these last 2 weeks, it was a mess. Then, I went to Huntsville State Park for a meeting with the park superintendent and the director of a new marathon to be held at the park in February. Busy day.

Regular Three

I ran my regular 3-mile loop on the roads in town this evening. It was under 100 degrees, which made it relatively cool.

Bronze in Bremond

I was up early this morning for the 90-mile drive to Bremond. Courtney, Darren and Ben rode up with me. There were 560 runners there for the Polish Pickle 5K. The population of Bremond is only 860. It was hot, as usual, but you expect that in late June. My leg felt better and I finished in 33:59. I'm not sure how many runners were in the 70 and over age group, but I won third place.

Resting for the Pickle

I will be running the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond tomorrow morning - for the 16th straight year. Given my sore leg, I am not sure how I will do. Probably slow, but when you are in the 70 and over age group, you are not expected to run fast, anyway. To rest up, I went to the track this evening and ran laps.

Humid Trails

After a heavy rain yesterday, it was very humid on the trails at the park this evening. I ran 3.4 miles and my leg held up okay. Now, I suppose we will return to the normal drought.

Day Off

I took the day off and ran laps at the track this evening, after working out at Nautilus.

MRI Done

I went in this morning and got the MRI done on my lower back. It was cold in the place and my bare feet sticking out of the end of the big tube almost froze. Long 20 minutes. Now, I have to wait until June 30 to see the doctor and get the results. This evening, I worked out at Nautilus and ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.

Tentative Three

After a workout at Nautilus this evening, I ran a tentative 3 miles on the roads in town. Even though it is still sore, my leg held up okay. I have to go in for an MRI tomorrow morning. I am really anxious the hear the results on June 30.

Tentative Two

Considering my leg problem, I ran 2 miles this evening, very tentatively. Can't wait to get the MRI done this Tuesday and the problem identified and fixed. In the meantime, I have two of my streak races coming up. The Polish Pickle 5K is in Bremond next Saturday and Stu's Country Mile 5K is in Centerville on July 4. This will be my 16th consecutive year for running both. There is no way that I will skip those races.

June Bug 5K

Got up early this morning to put out the signs and set up the race clock for the June Bug 5K here in Huntsville. Even at 8 a.m., it was hot. I ran the race and set a new PW (personal worst). Not only was it hot, the course is very hilly. My goal was not to let my left leg collapse. I ran very tentatively and it showed in my time of 37:36.

Took it Easy

I took it easy today and ran laps at the track this evening. We have a 5K club run tomorrow. I have to get up early (ugh) to set up the race clock and put out the signs.

Doctor Results

I had my appointment with the doctor this afternoon. He did a rather thorough examination and then took an xray of my hip and lower back. He found arthritus in my lower back and thinks that is interfering with the sciatic nerve. That would be consistent with the symptoms that I have. He scheduled me for an MRI next Tuesday and another appointment with him on June 30. If that is the problem, he would recommend a shot of cortisone in the lower back. No mention of surgery.
This evening, I ran 3 miles on the trails with the group. It was somewhat painful, but tolerable.

Doctors Appointment Tomorrow

I called the doctor's (orthopedic surgeon) office this morning and have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I gave the nurse my symptoms and she immediately diagnosed it as a sciatic nerve problem. She gave me the appointment, but thinks that I will be referred to a back specialist. I was talking to one of my friends at Nautilus this afternoon. He had the same symptoms and ended up having back surgery to fix the sciatic nerve problem. My only question is: Can I have back surgery and run the same day? I'll wait and see what the doctor says tomorrow before I worry too much about it. In the meantime, my leg was still very sore today and I ran a mile at the track.

Back from Tyler

I was in Tyler yesterday for a family get-together. While there, I slipped out for a 1.25-mile painful run on a concrete running trail. I got back to Huntsville this evening in time to meet the group at the park. My leg was still hurting, so I did a gimpy 1 mile run on the trails. Tomorrow, I'm calling the doc for an appointment.

Just when I thought it was getting better

I was just over a mile into my run on the streets this evening, when my left leg almost gave way. The pain was from the calf to the hamstring. The shortest distance back to the track was a little less than a mile. I ran back, but with a big limp. Guess I need to get it checked.

They both beat me

Two of my grandkids, Sara, 10, from Wylie, TX and Phillip, 7, from Yuma, AZ raced me at the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning. They ran with my older son, George, and stayed just ahead of me the entire race. So, I gave them both $100. The race director, Melissa Keith, was nice enough to make a presentation of the envelopes and Sara and Phillip enjoyed the recognition. They have been training for the event and they did well. They both play sports and, hopefully, they will also take up the sport of running. My finish time was 35:36.

May get expensive tomorrow

I had a lot of family at the house today. Tomorrow is the day my grandson is going to try to beat me in a 5K race for $100. Now, I found out my 10 year old granddaughter, Sara, is challenging me also. So, I could be out $200 after the Run the Woodlands 5K tomorrow. I did slip away from the crowd at the house this evening and get in a 2-mile run on the roads.

Park Roads

My daughter and two grandkids came in today from Yuma, AZ. Phillip, 7, is challenging me at the Run the Woodlands 5K this Saturday for $100. He will have two uncles running with him to keep him on pace. I had to go to a meeting at the hospital at 6 this evening about an upcoming local run. I left the meeting early to get out to the park to run trails. By the time I got there, the group had been running for 45 minutes. So, I ran two miles on the park roads and then socialized with the group.

Run Dirty Early or Clean Late

I did yard work all afternoon, including mowing, edging and spraying insecticide around the house. I finished all my work and went to take a shower. No water. City workers were working on a broken pipe down the street. Rather than run dirty, I waited for them to fix the pipe and get the water running again. I was finally able to take a shower about 7:30 p.m. Then, I went to Nautilus for a workout and ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

Steamy Trails

After the rain yesterday and maybe a little this evening, it was hot and steamy on the trails this evening. The group consensus was to run 3 miles, rather than the normal 4.2. I did not argue. In fact, my leg felt a little better. I am debating with myself about going to the doctor and getting a referal for treatments at the pain clinic.

Resting the Sore Leg

After working out at Nautilus this evening, I went over to the track and ran laps.

Sunday Night 5K

It is the first Sunday of the month, so I went down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K. Leah Koester and Curtis Barton from our club in Huntsville were there. I also met Tiffany Long, who was running her first race ever. She is from Huntsville and about to graduate from Sam Houston State. The temperature in the area was over 100 degrees today, but it had cooled down to 96 by race time at 7 p.m. I finished in 34:44.

I'm starting to like this new age group

I got up early this morning and drove 70 miles down to Houston to run the Heights 5K. The course was out and back on perfectly flat Heights Blvd. It was hot, but most of the course was shaded by trees. My leg bothered me the entire distance and I finished in 34:15, a little slower than normal. However, I won 1st place of 5 runners in my 70 and over age group. If I ran in my old 65-69 age group, I would have placed 13 of 18. This new age group ain't bad.

Grandkid Challenge

Last year, I told all five of my grandkids that I would give them $100 if they beat me a 5K race. I did this to encourage them to take up the sport of running at an early age. My grandson, Phillip, who is 7, is the first one to challenge me. He will race me at the Run the Woodlands 5K next Saturday, June 11. He and his family are moving from Arizona to North Carolina and they will be visiting next week. His dad is a Marine and is already in North Carolina. His mom has been training him in the Arizona heat. I wish him luck. The good news for him is that my leg is still sore. I took some Ibuprofen with my lunch, ran a mile at the track this evening and took more Ibuprofen with dinner. I have two 5K's this weekend and will take it easy in both.

Continuation of Leg Problem

I went out to the park this evening to run trails with the group. While my left leg was not too bad in Lufkin yesterday, it hurt today. So, I cut my run to 2.7 miles. I suppose that I should take some Ibuprofen tomorrow.

National Running Day

Today was National Running Day. The Lufkin Area Pacesetters, of which I am a member, got together for a trail run this evening to celebrate the occasion. I had not been over there for a while, so I made the 85-mile drive to the park on the other side of Lufkin. We ran a loop on the trails. The distance was about 3.2 miles. Thanks to Carla Morgan for setting up the event and even providing beer and a commemorative T-shirt. It was good to see my old friends, Ray Stanfield, Scott Harper and Cindy Springs and meet other members of the group.