Back Up to Five

I went out to the park ahead of the group this evening and ran 3 miles on the road and then ran another 2 miles with Hans. On the way back to the Nature Center, we were stopped twice and asked if we had seen smoke. They said a pilot reported smoke in the park during a flyover. When we got back to the Nature Center, there were firemen from the Texas Forest Service standing by, along with two 18 wheelers with bulldozers. I guess they never found the fire, if there was one.

Getting Better

I think my hamstring is gradually getting better. I ran 2.7 miles on the roads in town. While I still have pain above my knee, I seem to lifting my right leg more when I run. I have another appointment for treatment tomorrow morning.

Park Roads

I had a treatment on my hamstring this morning and then met up with the group at the park this evening. I ran 3 miles on the park roads, while they ran trails. While I still ran slow and with a limp, there was not a much pain. My plan now is to switch from the marathon to the half marathon in Tyler on October 9.

Good Day

I ran 1.8 miles on the roads this evening. My hamstring was not much better, but the Cowboys beat the Redskins tonight. That makes it a good day.

Continuation

I am continuing to recover. My hamstring felt better today - until I started running. I did a 1.2-mile loop on the roads. I know that I cannot run the Tyler Marathon on October 9; the question is whether I will be able to do the half marathon option.

Fall Fun Run 5K

We had our club's annual Fall Fun Run 10K, 5K and 1-Mile this morning on the hilly out and back course along Veterans Memorial Parkway. We had a total of 43 runners for all three races. I opted for the 5K and slowly ran the entire distance. While I did so with a limp and in some pain, it was a lot more comfortable than the 5K last Saturday. We shared the course with several hundred participating in a 5-mile military ruck march. That made it interesting, especially with a B-17 (WWII bomber) flyover. Great weather, not too hot.

The Culprit

This is the back of my right leg, showing the bruise from my latest hamstring tear. Anyway, I went to the track this afternoon and ran another limpy mile. This is getting old. We have a 10K and 5K here in Huntsville tomorrow morning and I planned to do the 10K. I'm not even sure at this point whether I should even do the 5K.

Bruised

I went in for treatment on my hamstring this morning and they noticed the back of my leg above the knee was swollen and bruised. They said it was from new tears in the hamstring. The original problem was higher in my leg where the hamstring connects in the pelvic area. They think it happened when I fell at the track last week. Anyway, I still have to take it easy and continue to get treatments twice a week. This afternoon, I drove down to Memorial Park in Houston for the Houston Marathon Kickoff Party. Got to visit with a lot of good friends. Afterwards, I ran about a mile and a half on the Memorial Park trail. It was terrible to see so many dead trees from the drought. There must be thousands.

Wide Turn

If my recovery from the hamstring is making a turn, it's a wide turn. After working out at Nautilus this evening, I ran 2 miles on the roads in town. Still painful, but I did not have to drag my foot as much. Ran into my friend, Willie Fritz, Head Coach of the SHSU Football Team. He was running the other way, but we stopped for a short visit. I also ran within a couple blocks of the Walls Prison and they had the roads blocked off for an execution.

Turning the Corner, Maybe

I ran 1-mile+ on the roads at the park this evening and the hamstring was not as painful as it has been. Still slow and limping, though. Earlier today, I received a treatment at the hamstring fixing place.

Continuation

I ran a gimpy 1.2-mile course on the roads this evening. The sharp pain seems to have moved from the pelvic area to the back of my leg. Maybe that is a good sign. I have a treatment appointment tomorrow morning and I will ask.

700

According to my calculations, my current running streak is now 700 days. Of course, I have been well over 700 in two previous streaks, so it is no big deal. Over the years, I have had to do some painful one-mile runs to keep my streak alive, but usually it is just for a day or so. Today, was another one-mile run at the track. While fighting the hamstring problem, the pain in my foot (plantar faciitis) has subsided. That's good news and my new custom orthotics should be in soon. My goal this week is to get the hamstring problem fixed (have two treatment appointments) and do a 10K on Saturday and long run on Sunday.

Buffalo Stampede 5K

Marilynn and I drove an hour up to Buffalo for the Buffalo Stampede 5K this morning. It was an out and back course on a rough oil roads. I ran the first mile+, as slow and painfully as yesterday. After that, I did a combination of walking and running. Three people in cars stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. I finished with a PW and first place in the "Super Senior Division." Obviously, I was the only one in that division. Marilynn walked the entire course and got 2nd in her age group. After the race, we visited the local festival and then stopped in Centerville on the way back to Huntsville and had breakfast at the Town Cafe. My hope of recovery in time to run the Tyler Marathon on October 9 is fading fast.

Frustrating

This darn hamstring is starting to be frustrating. Another slow and painful mile at the track this afternoon. I have decided to try the 5K in Buffalo tomorrow. I will run the first mile and then if I have to, walk the rest. Don't expect me to report my finish time.

Another Mile

I went out to the park this evening after everyone else was already running trails and ran a little over a mile on the park roads. My hamstring was slightly better, but I stayed on level roads. I will see how it feels tomorrow. I have already signed up for a 5K in Buffalo, Texas on Saturday. It is a small race in a small town and they have a festival going on in the town after the race. I will decide tomorrow whether to attempt it and probably get a 5K PW (personal worst).

Ditto

I went to the track again tonight about 10 and ran a slow and painful mile. No improvement from yesterday. Maybe it will turn around tomorrow.

Slow and Painful Mile

After going to the doctor and getting a treatment on my hamstring, icing it all day and taking a lot of Ibuprofen, I went to the track tonight at 10 and ran a slow and painful mile. The good news is that I did not have pain shooting up into my back like yesterday and I never fell. The streak is still alive.

Sitting on Ice

To rest my hamstring, I decided to take a day off and run laps at the track. It was worse than I thought. On the first lap, I had sharp pains in my hip and pain shooting up into my back. I had thoughts of having to break my streak. However, I was determined to get in a mile. It was not a pretty sight, but I kept running. On the fourth lap, my leg collapsed and I fell. However, I got up right away and finished. Tonight, I am sitting on ice and watching Monday Night Football. I'll see what happens tomorrow.

9/11 Thoughts

I seldom veer from the topic of running, but today marks the 10th anniversary of a very important day in American history. I worked at the Pentagon twice. The first time from May 1962 to April 1965. I started there as a PFC in the Army and got promoted to SP4, Sergeant and then Staff Sergeant. I met my wife, Marilynn, in the Pentagon in 1965. She was working there after high school. I was assigned there again in 1979 as a Major and left in 1982 as a Lt. Colonel. So, I spent 6 years in that building and I knew it so well. In 1974-76, I was assigned to Heidelberg, Germany as a captain. One of my buddies and co-workers was Captain Tim Maude. I never saw Tim again and I retired from the Army in 1984. I found out after 9/11/01 that Tim had been promoted to Lt. General (3 stars) and was the senior military officer killed at the Pentagon on 9/11. Click here for his story.
A couple years ago, I was attended my 50th high school class reunion in Tyler, Texas. I was visiting with my classmate, William Allen. William became the Editor-in-Chief of the National Geographic Magazine and had recently retired. He was telling me that he was scheduled to be on the plane that hit the Pentagon. They were taking some kids, who had won a photo contest, on a trip. At the last minute, they were problems with the upcoming edition of the magazine, so William had to cancel and send an assistant in his place.
We lost a lot of great Americans on 9/11 and so many more since in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Back to running. I went out to the park late this morning and did a 6.9-mile solo run on the trails. My hamstrings tell me that I need to take a few days off. I still have time for some long runs before the marathon on October 9, so I may just do short runs the next few days.

Burritos and Beer

Yesterday, I ran laps at the track before heading for New Braunfels for the Gruene 10K this morning. Because of the wildfires around Bastrop and road closures, I had to take the long way to get to New Braunfels, 200 miles, 4 hours and heavy rush hour traffic in Austin. It was very painful sitting on my hamstrings that long and I had to stop and walk around several times. The race was at Gruene Hall, which is the oldest dance hall in Texas (built in the 1880's). Nice weather this morning and a nice race. There were about a thousand runners. After the race, they served burritos and beer and live country music. I finished in 1:16:38 (4th of 5 in my age group). I made the drive back to Huntsville, with several stops to get off my hamstrings. I took a 30-minute nap and then drove 100+ miles to Frankston, Texas to attend my nephew's retirement party. He is retiring after serving 32 years as a Texas State Trooper. Got back home about an hour ago. Long day.

Two Appointments Today

I had my semi-annual appointment with a doctor this morning in The Woodlands to check my skin for spots. He only froze one spot off my forehead. While in The Woodlands, I stopped at Luke's Locker and bought a bottle of Electrolyte capsules for my training and marathon season. Also stopped at Academy and stocked up on GU (carbohydrate concentrate). They had them at half price! So, I am ready for the marathon season. This afternoon, I had my appointment with my regular doctor for my annual physical. I have to go to the lab tomorrow morning for blood work.
I did not have time to work out at Nautilus, but I did go out to the park to meet up with the group. I ran a 6.5-mile loop on the trails and finished just before dark.

Late Morning Run

I got in a short 1.3-mile road run this morning before heading to Houston for my appointment with Podiatrist, Dr. Jeff Ross. His wall is covered with photos of him crossing the finish lines at marathons with people, such as Rick Perry and Mike Huckabee. Also, plenty of photos of he and both President Bush's. We had Dr. Ross as a guest speaker at our club meeting several years ago and other podiatrists showed up to hear him speak. He is the best. He prescribed some treatments for my sore plantar faciitis and cast my feet for new custom orthotics. I should get them in a couple weeks. In the meanwhile, it will be a challenge to train for the marathon on October 9.

Gotta Love this Cooler Weather

There was no high wind today and I have not heard of any new wild fires in our county. I had an appointment today for treatment of my hamstring. It does not seem to be doing much good. It is especially painfull when I drive and first get out of my vehicle. After a couple miles running, the pain subsides. My plantar faciitis is still very painful. Tomorrow afternoon, I have an appointment with Dr. Jeff Ross in Houston to be fitted for new custom orthotics. Hopefully, he can give me something for the pain in the meantime.
I ran 4.8 miles on the trails at the park this evening and was careful not to do anything to aggravate the hamstrings or sore foot.

Not as Hot

I could get use to running in this less than 100 degree weather. While it was not as hot today, there was smoke in the air from the wild fires in the area. No rain lately and none in sight. I went to the track this evening and ran a couple miles on the roads. Earlier, I mowed my lawn, or what's left of it.

Sunday Night 5K

I went down to The Woodlands this evening for the monthly Sunday Night 5K. For the first time in a long time, the temperature was not around 100. I finished in 35:25. While this is still a couple minutes slower than my usual, it is my best in a couple months. Maybe the hamstrings are getting better.
This race was also a minor milestone; it was my 550th race since I started racing in 1983.

15 Miles

I went out to the park this morning and did a 15-mile solo run on the trails.

Appointments Next Week

I was just looking at my calendar. Next Tuesday, I have an appointment with the chiropractor for treatment of my hamstring. The next day, I have an appointment with Dr. Jeff Ross, podiatrist in Houston, to get my plantar faciitis checked out and get fitted for new custom orthotics. On Thursday morning, I have an appointment with Dr. Yee, plastic surgeon in The Woodlands for a periodic check of my skin to make sure I do not have any pre-cancerous spots that need to be burned off. Later on Thursday, I have an appointment with my doctor in Huntsville for my annual physical. Later this month, I have my dental checkup. So, by the end of this month, I should be in good shape and ready for the Tyler Marathon on October 8. Glad I have good insurance.
It's Friday and I plan on doing a long run tomorrow, so I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Mid-Afternoon Trails

Since I was going to the Sam Houston State/Western Illinois football game at 6 this evening, I went out to the park at 3 p.m. and did a 5-mile solo run on the trails. Hot and dry. Did not see a person or other creature on the trails.
Sam won 20-6.