Squeezed in a Run

I had an appointment for treatment of my hamstring today and had to be in Houston at 4 p.m. for a family thing, so I went out to the park early this afternoon and ran 2.2 miles on the trails.

Nursing the Foot

I called the Podiatrist's office today and was able to move my appointment up one day to September 7. They suggested that I buy and use over the counter orthotics in the meantime. I had bought a pair several years ago and still had them. I put those in my shoes and ran 3 miles on the trails at the park this evening. I was careful with my footing so as not to aggravate my plantar faciitis. At one point, the pains were sharp, but I iced it when I got got home.

Road Run

This morning, I made a September 8 appointment with Podiatrist, Dr. Jeff Ross in Houston. He made custom orthotics for me before and he is suppose to be the best. Governor Rick Perry is one of his patients. In the meantime, I went to the track this evening and ran the roads from there. I had some sharp pain in my foot and limited my run to 2.5 miles.

Run and Ice

I went out to the park this morning and ran 2.8 miles on the trails and then went home and iced my plantar faciitis. Tomorrow, I will get an appointment with a podiatrist for treatment and probably, new orthotics.

Falling Apart

Now, on top of knee problems and two pulled hamstrings, my right plantar faciitis is hurting. It started a couple days ago and it was very painful running the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning. Stinging pain. I had problems with it many years ago and ended up having the spurs in that heel surgically removed. I have been running with custom orthotics for at least 10 years and have had no more problems with it until this week. The Army made a pair for me about a year ago and I suspect they were made without much care. For example, they took a lazer image of one foot and reversed the image to get an image of the other foot. My plan is to see a podiatrist next week and go from there. I ran 36:25 in the 5K this morning. My plan was to do a long run at the park tomorrow. I iced it a couple times today and will wait and see how it feels tomorrow.

Woke Up to High Temperatures

The rain yesterday morning must have been a fluke. Today, it was back to the 100+ temperature and sunny skies. Tomorrow, it is suppose to get up to 107. It's Friday and I have a race tomorrow, so I ran mid-day laps at the track. No one else there to run with. This evening, Ben and I went fishing again at the same pier as a few days ago. The same darn alligator was there at the pier eating or scaring away the fish. From what I saw, the alligator got one and Ben and I got none.

Woke Up to the Sound of Rain

I woke up this morning to the rare sound of rain. After so long without rain, it was nice to get enough to wet the ground. However, there is no more rain in the forecast and it is suppose to get up to 108 on Sunday, when I plan to do a long run. Heat or not, I have to train for that first marathon of the season on October 9.
This evening, I ran an easy 3 miles on the trails, being carefult not to trip and aggravate the hamstrings.

Marathon Changes

If you have read my blog for a while, you will realize that I not only run every day, I have races that I do every year and even marathon series that I do every year. Guess I'm a streaker at heart. One streak I am breaking this year after 9 consecutive years is the Bearkat Bash 5K in Spring. They increased the early entry fee to $30. I called the race director and told her it was too high for a 5K. While it is probably for a good cause, the general running public (including me) does not care what the cause is. I race for other reasons.
I just found out today that the Texas Trail 50K (I have completed the last 15 years) has been moved from December 10 to December 3. I had planned to run it on the 10th and then drive over to College Station (50 miles) and run the BCS Marathon the next day. Now, the Texas Trail 50K is the day before the White Rock Marathon in Dallas, which is part of the Marathons of Texas series (White Rock, Houston and Austin), which I have done for the last two years. So I am thinking about skipping White Rock and Austin and the Marathons of Texas series this year, which means that I would not have to do two marathons in a weekend twice this season. I'll probably just wait and see how my training goes and how my hamstrings hold up in my first marathon of the season in Tyler on October 9.
In the meantime, I am signed up for the Reliant Stadium Indoor Marathon in Houston on November 19. I have contacted a lot of runner friends and cannot find anyone else running the marathon or the half marathon event. I emailed the race director and asked how many are signed up. He answered my email, but did not answer the question. My guess is that there are not many. He said that they are putting out a news release for the Houston Chronical in a couple weeks. I hope that they are not thinking about cancelling the race. I am looking forward to running a 1.2 mile course across the playing field and up and down the ramps to three levels - 22 times.
I went to the track this evening and ran a new course on the roads in town. The college students are back in town, so I avoided the streets around the campus. While I was running, a thunderstorm blew in and I headed back toward the track. I ended up running 2.1 miles. While it rained in town, there was very little rain at my house, three miles west. Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe I'm Getting Use to the Heat

This was another usual day with 100+ heat, yet it was not bad at the park at 6 p.m. The group split up into two groups, running different courses and distances. I ran 4.1 miles on the trails with one group. My hamstrings and knee did not bother me too much. My friend, Loren Sheffer from Houston, joined us for the first time.

Now, a Knee Issue

After doing the 10 miles on the trails yesterday, I developed pain in my left knee. I have been treating it with Topricin, which my friend, Loren Sheffer, gave me earlier. It felt better later today and I ran 1.6 miles on the roads in town. The good news is that it took my mind off the hamstring pain.
I spent a couple hours in meetings at the Chamber of Commerce today, helping them get a new 5K off the ground on December 3, 2011. They are getting a lot of support from the community and I am sure it will be a successful race.

Double Digits, Finally

With my first marathon of the season less than 2 months away, I finally got in a 10-mile run today. I went out to the park about 9 this morning and ran the whole thing on the trails. I ran slow and was careful not to trip on roots and aggravate my hamstrings. I'll see how the hamstrings are tomorrow.

Heat Wave 5K

We had our club's annual Heat Wave 5K this morning. It is an out and back course on the sidewalk along hilly Veterans Memorial Drive. The race name fit the conditions. Hot and no shade. We had 46 runners. I finished in 37:27, about 3 minutes slower than last year. A bunch of us went to the Cafe Texan on the downtown square for breakfast after the race.

Fishing at the Park

I usually blog about running at Huntsville State Park, but this afternoon, my son, Ben, and I went fishing at the park. We did not catch anything. I believe that the alligator at the fishing pier had something to do with it. He (or she) kept coming from beneath the pier and swimming past our fishing lines and then going back under the pier.
This evening, I went over to the track and ran laps. Race tomorrow.

Run in the Rain

The group seemed to go in different directions and distances at the park this evening. I was 2 miles into a 3-mile park road run, when a thunderstorm came through. The lightning was bad, so I took cover in the lodge entry way for a few minutes. The mile back to the Nature Center was in a light rain. It was the first rain in several weeks and it felt great. As I drove the 9 miles back to Huntsville, I noticed that the streets were dry. Then, as I got to my neighborhood 3 miles west of Huntsville, it was obvious that it had rained. I am sure that most of it went into the cracks in my yard, but it was the first rain in so long.

Easy Day

After 5 miles yesterday, my hamstrings were very sore today. So, I ran an easy 2 miles on the roads in town this evening. I was at the doctor earlier for treatment. It's less than 2 months until my first marathon of the season and I am getting concerned about being ready.

Another 5

I was tempted to run trails with the group this evening, but I did a 5-mile solo run on the park roads, instead. I have another appointment with the doctor for electronic treatments on my hamstring tomorrow.

Seemed Cooler

I know that it was over 100 again today, but for some reason it seemed cooler this evening when I ran 3 miles on the roads in town.

5 Miles

I got to the park later this morning than I had planned. It was hot and my hamstrings were hurting. I resisted the temptation to run trails and ran 5 miles on the park roads, instead. The heat index was well over 100 and I was soaked with sweat by the time I finished.

Blues Capital of Texas 5K

I drove 45 minutes this morning over to Navasota for the 1st Blues Capital of Texas 5K. There were 71 runners in the race. Half the course was cross country. The only problem with that is the ground had large cracks from the drought. I had to slow down some to avoid stepping in a crack or hole. The race was at 8 a.m., but the heat was tough. I was drenched with sweat when I finished. Wet socks and shoes, included. My time was 36:36 (2nd in age group). After the race, I drove to The Woodlands for an interview with the Shoe Manager at Luke's Locker. I have to write my column for the newspaper this weekend and I am writing on what's new with running shoes. I got back to Huntsville in time for the Seven Hills Running Club picnic. Had a good visit with a lot of friends and ate too much.

Trip to Lufkin

The Lufkin Area Pace Setters (LAPS) had an appreciation dinner for the outgoing prez, Mike Burton. I am a member and Mike has done a great job in putting together a very successful running club. Lufkin is an hour and a half from Huntsville, but a nice easy drive. I went over for the dinner tonight and had a great visit with Mike and other members. Before leaving Huntsville, I went to the track and ran laps in the 100+ heat of the afternoon. Tomorrow, I have a 5K in Navasota, Texas and a 20% chance of rain here in Huntsville. Of course, that means that there is an 80% chance that it will not rain.

Cooler Weather Must be Near

The NFL Pre-Season has started, so cooler weather must be near. It did not start today; maybe tomorrow. It was 102 when we got to the park to run this evening. Because of the hamstring problem, I ran 3 miles on the roads at the park while everyone else ran trails. Maybe it is the Ibuprofen I have taken the last couple of days, but my hamstrings were not as sore today. This weekend, I need to test them with a long run.

Continuing Hamstring Saga

I had breakfast this morning with my son, Ben, at the Cafe Texan on the downtown square. (It is the oldest continually operated restaurant in Texas). Later this morning, I went to the doc for more electronic treatments on my hamstring. It does not seem to be getting better and I am concerned about all the marathons that I have signed up for. In the heat of the afternoon (about 104), I went to the park to finish measuring the course for the Orphan Hope Marathon in February. While there with the measuring wheel, I went ahead and measured some other trails that we run on a regular basis. So, I ended up walking about 5 miles with the measuring wheel. I finished up and drove 10 miles home and then realized that I left my measurement notes on the top of my truck and drove off. I went back to the park and luckily found them in the parking lot. Whew! I then went to Nautilus for a workout and then to the track and from there, a 2-mile run on the roads.

Lots of Sand on the Trails

It has been so long since we have had rain, that some sections of trails at the park are becoming sand pits. The temperature was over a 100 when the group ran this evening. We ran 3.8 miles.

Later Run

We went out to dinner early and I waited until after 7 to workout at Nautilus and go run. My hamstrings were hurting worse than usual. I ran a couple miles on the roads and then a half mile at the track. It is so dry here in Huntsville, that there are wide and deep cracks in the track, sorta like my yard.

Sunday Night 5K

For the 21st time, I went down to The Woodlands this evening to run The Woodlands Running Club's Sunday Night 5K. Bill Dwyer also does a great job in putting on this race. The temperature was in the high 90's with over 70% humidity. I finished in 36:16, about 2 minutes slower than the same race last month, but about 1 minute faster than my last couple of 5K's. It was the day after the Sunday Night 5K last month when I pulled the hamstring in my right leg in the 5K in Centerville. While both hamstrings hurt, I am encouraged by my improvement tonight. Maybe all the electronic treatments I have gotten in the last 3 weeks are helping.
On the way down to The Woodlands this evening, I stopped at the Health South Rehab Center just north of The Woodlands to visit my friend and age group competitor, Jerry Flanagan. He broke his hip in the race in Huntsville last Saturday and had surgery to replace parts of his hip on Monday. He is suppose to be in the Rehab Center for 7 to 10 days. He seems to be recovering well.

Late Run

I spent several hours in the heat of the day at Huntsville State Park with John and Elaine from Houston measuring the course for the Orphan Hope Trail Marathon on February 11, 2012. I think the course takes in the best trails that the park offers. We got most of it done. We walked 10 miles with a measuring wheel. I should be able to finish it up this week. I look forward to running the race in February. Click HERE for a link to registration.
I was busy for the rest of the day. We went to church at 6 this evening and then out to dinner. Finally, I went to the track after 10 p.m. and ran laps.

Finding Jesus

Every day now it is over 100 degrees and the forecast shows the same for the next 8 days. I ran 3 miles on the roads about 6 this evening. I recall a few years ago that an elderly lady stopped me while I was running on a hot summer evening and chewed me out for running in the heat. She said that she hopes that I find Jesus, so He would teach me not to run when it was so hot. Of course, the reason I run is so I don't meet Him too soon.

Hot

Just like in most parts of the country, it was hot in Huntsville today - 105 degrees this afternoon. I ran 3.8 miles at the park with the group this evening and when we finished about 7 p.m., it was 102. In my email correspondence with my son in Afghanistan, we always have discussion about the heat. I suppose the heat is worse over there. I always remember the heat and humidity in Vietnam. We had to drink water all day to stay hydrated.

When are they going to get better?

My hamstrings are still hurting, especially the right one. It has been a month tomorrow since I pulled it. I had treatments today and another appointment on Friday. With three different electronic stiumulation treatments, it always seems worse after the treatment. I am now convinced that my left leg collapsing several times this past year is a left hamstring problem. It is just over 2 months until my first marathon of the season and I am starting to wonder if I will be ready. Plus, it is so darn out, 105 degrees today and the same tomorrow. I was short of time this evening and kept my run to 2 miles on the road at 6 p.m.

Trails-Roads

The group met up at the park this evening, but we all seemed to be running a different course. I ran about 2 miles on the trails (being careful not to trip and worsen my hamstrings) and then about 1 mile on the park roads. I have to get my distance up soon; its just so hard when the temperature and humidity is so high, not to mention hurting hamstrings. Maybe I need to change my lifestyle and get up early in the morning to run. Ugh!

Clearing Woods

I woke up this morning to the sound of bulldozers. They were clearing the wooded lot next to my house. Several months ago, they cleared the other side of my lot to build a road. I left 50 feet of woods in the back when we cleared out lot to build, so that is safe.
I ran a different course on the roads this evening. With the heat, the course seemed a lot longer than it was. I checked it afterwards and it was 2.8 miles. Later this evening, I visited my friend, Jerry Flanagan, in the hospital. He had surgery this morning to fix his broken hip from Saturday's 5K race. He is doing well, but he will not be running for a while.