Usual Friday

As usual on Friday with a race on Saturday, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  This morning, I had the 6th of 7 treatments on my hip.  It still hurts a little, but that might be from all the treatment.

Aided a biker

I met up with the group at the park this evening to run trails.  They all went in another direction and I went to run my normal 2.5-mile course.  I got to a park bench about 2 miles in the run and found a biker on the bench with a broken $7,000 bike.  He said that he was lost and dehydrated.  I was the first person he had seen in 3 hours.  He was only 2/10th of a mile from the nearest camping area.  I walked him to the camping area, where he was able to get water.  I ran a mile on the road back to the Nature Center and then drove back to where I left him.  Someone had driven him back to get his car and he was loading up his bike.  He had told me that he was an ex Delta Force member in the military and had just been laid off from his job in Houston.  He was really stressed out and I'm glad that I was able to help him.  I suppose I ended up running 3 miles.

Avenues 5K Course

I went out to dinner with the family at 5 this evening, so I waited until 8 to run.  I drove to the track and ran the very hilly Avenues 5K course.  This morning, I had my 5th treatment on my hip at the Physical Therapy Associates.  With all the work on it this morning, I felt the hip in the last mile this evening.  Two more treatments to go.  Earlier this afternoon, I had my quarterly appointment with the skin doctor.  He froze a couple spots, one on my leg and one on my forearm. but no surgery needed at this time.

Lightning

Melissa and I were the only ones at the park this evening.  I intended to run 2.5 miles, but as I past the half mile point, it started lightning in the immediate area.  I turned around and ran back.  I got in a mile, but survived.  Brave Melissa kept going and finished up a long run, which included very heavy rain for most of the run.

Busy day

This morning, I ran an unplanned course around the city and campus.  It turned out to be 2.8 miles.  Then, I mowed the lawn, ate lunch and went to my therapy appointment at 2 p.m.  Got out at 3:30 and went down to Humble (northwest of Houston) to get my camera fixed.  I thought I would have to leave it, but as it came out, the problem was the removable lens.  I bought a new lens at the camera shop and the camera is working fine now.  From there, I drove down to Houston for a 7 p.m. presentation by Laura Lee Huttenbach, author of the book, Running with Raven.  I appreciate getting to meet her and two other runners at the presentation who had run with the Raven.

Campus run

This afternoon, I ran 2 miles on the roads around the campus.

Polish Pickle 5K

For the 22nd consecutive year, I ran the Polish Pickle 5K in Bremond.  Drove through heavy rain on the way to the race.  There was light rain during the race and then none after the race.  All in all, it was relatively cool.  I finished in 38:15, about a minute slower than last year.  No problem with my hip, even though I felt a dull pain.  I usually place in this race, but not today.  I was 4th of 7 in the 75-79 age group.

Friday laps

I had a long treatment session today at Physical Therapy Associates.  I as more sore from the treatment than I was before going in.  With a 5K tomorrow, I ran laps at the track this afternoon.

Found time for a run

I still have a house full of visiting family, but found time to get in 2 miles around the campus this afternoon.  We went out to dinner tonight, so I missed running trails with the group this evening.

Campus run

I had my second treatment at Physical Therapy Associates this morning and ran 2 miles around the campus this afternoon.

Back to the trails

I met up with the group this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.  No pain in the hip and I felt like I ran my normal slow pace.

First therapy appointment

I had my first appointment this morning for therapy work on my hip.  Six more to go.  With a lot of visiting family, I slipped out of the house this afternoon and ran an unplanned route in the hilly avenues.  It turned out to be 1.4 miles.

Lots of family visiting

Starting today, I will have a house full of visiting family for a few days.  I squeezed in laps at the track this afternoon for running streak day 2,800 (7 years and 8 months).

June Bug 5K

I ran our club's annual June Bug 5K this morning at the hilly Spring Lake Sub-division.  As intended, I ran a slow 43:16.  No sharp pain in my hip, just a dull one.  This race was my 961st race and 2,799th consecutive day of running.

Doctor's appointment

I had an appointment with the doctor this morning to have my hip pain checked out.  It is an inflammation of the IT band where it connects to the hip, not the hamstring.  He gave me a cortisone shot.  I ran laps at the track this afternoon and iced it.  Feels much better tonight.  My insurance company approved 7 treatments at Physical Therapy Associates and I start there Monday.  At this point, I will skip Cryotherapy and save that out-of-pocket expense.  I will attempt a 5K race in the morning, but will run slower than my normal slow.

Ventured off the track

The Cryotherapy place never called today, so I never made it there for treatments.  Maybe tomorrow after my doctor's appointment in the morning.  I went to the track this afternoon, but decided to try the roads.  I ran a careful 1.3-mile loop without much difficulty.

Call from the doctor's office

I have been waiting for a call from Physical Therapy Associates and an appointment to start the treatment on my hip.  This afternoon, I got a call from the Physicians Assistant in my doctor's office telling me that I have to be seen by their office before being referred for treatment.  The referral on Monday should not have been sent.  The first available appointment at the doctor's office is this Friday morning.  Damn.  I am suppose to get two Cryotherapy treatments tomorrow.  Maybe I will be completely healed after that.  For the fourth day in a row, I ran laps at the track and there was less pain.

Still waiting for treatment

I had hoped to get into Physical Therapy Associates to start treatment today, but did not get a call.  I did get back to the track this evening for a careful and steady one-mile run.

Pending treatment

I got a quick referral from my doctor this morning and a quick appointment at Physical Therapy Associates to evaluate my hamstring problem.  Now, I have to wait for them to get approval on a treatment plan from my health insurance company.  In the meantime, I tried to get an appointment for Cryrotherapy, but it looks like I have to wait until Thursday when they get a new shipment of nitrogen gas.  I ran another mile at the track this evening with much pain and iced it when I got home.

The streak lives

I took Ibuprofen today and spent an hour or so on a heating pad.  Late this evening, I went to the track and managed to run one mile.  It was painful, but I don't think I damaged the hamstring further.

Greyhound 5K

For the 6th straight year and 7th time, I ran the Greyhound 5K in Kosse, Texas.  This is a small town about 88 miles from my house.  It turned out to be a bad day.  About a half mile into the race, I experienced a bad pain in my right hip.  I suppose it is where the hamstring connects to the butt.  I nearly collapsed.  I thought that I need to stop and go back, but I started thinking about the fact that I have never had a DNF (Did not Finish).  I kept going, although slowly.  I kept an easy pace and the pain dulled somewhat.  It started grabbing me again with about a half mile to go.  I limped across the finish line in 45:53 (2nd in 70 and over age group).  After the race, a couple good friends and I had breakfast at the Kosse Cafe.  When I got home, I went back to the heating pad and Ibuprofen.  Right now, I cannot imagine running even a mile tomorrow.  Monday, I need to go to the doctor and start getting it treated.  Maybe Cryotherapy will help.

Laps

It's Friday, I have a 5K tomorrow and my hip is still sore.  I ran laps at the track this morning and took Ibuprofen.

More heat

My hip was still sore today, so I applied heat and ran only 2 miles on the trails at the park this evening.

The Big Run 5K

I ran the Big Run 5K in The Woodlands this evening to celebrate Global Running Day.  The race was put on by Fleet Feet and started and finished at their store.  Entry was free, but they gave away T-shirts, beer and other refreshments.  It was not timed, but my watch indicated a 38:21 finish for me.  I put heat on my sore hip earlier today and took more Ibuprofen.  I felt okay during the run this evening, but am a little sore tonight.

Another recovery day

My hip was still sore today.  I put a heat pad on it for a while and took Ibuprofen.  The evening, I met the group at the park and did a short 1-mile+ run on the trails.

Sore hip

I woke up this morning with a sore hip.  Am not sure where that came from.  I managed to get in a 1.3-mile run on the roads in town this evening.  It was at least very uncomfortable.

USO Freedom 5K and Sunday Night 5K

For the first time, I ran the USO Freedom 5K in downtown Houston this morning.  It started and finished at the St. Arnold's Brewery.  I finished in 39:40, which was good for 2nd place in the 65 and over older age group.  This evening, I went down to The Woodlands and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 38:30.

Short run in Tyler

I drove up to Tyler yesterday afternoon to attend a Friday night wedding.  I ran 1-mile+ on the roads in Tyler before driving back to Huntsville this afternoon.  Two races tomorrow.

Friday morning run

I have to go up to Tyler for the rest of the day, so I ran a 2-mile loop on the streets around the campus this morning.

Trails after a heavy rain

We had a short, but heavy, rain at the park this evening.  I met up with the group shortly afterwards.  No rain during the run, but it was hot and steamy for my 2.5-mile trail run.