14-Day streak at the park

With a half marathon in the morning, I did a short 1.3-mile trail run at the park this afternoon.  That's 14 consecutive days of trail runs at the park - every day since the Santa Hustle Half Marathon on December 17.

Morning trail run

There were a bunch of friends running trails at the park at 7:30 this morning.  Since I did not get up until about 8:30, I finally got to the park after they all finished.  I ran 3 miles on the trails and am declaring my foot pain free.

A little more distance

The foot seemed even better today.  So, I ran 5 miles on the trails at the park.  It was still a little sore, but I am confident that I can run the half marathon on Monday.

Pain almost gone

My foot was better today, the pain almost gone.  I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.4 miles on the trails.  The temperature was about 41, but it seemed much colder.

Finally got to see the doc

My doctor's office reopened today and I got an appointment immediately.  Got my prescription renewed for my foot and got some new stuff to take for a couple weeks.  Hopefully, the pain will be gone soon.  It was cold (30's) and rainy all day, but I did get out to the park this afternoon and run 2.3 miles on the trails.  Running streak day 2,992.

Doctor's office was closed

I went to the doctor's office this morning, but they were closed.  The medicine I take for my gout are small purple pills.  I looked in the draws in my bathroom and found 4 in the back of one of the drawers.  No telling how old they are.  I took two today and cut my trail run to 1.3 miles this evening.  The foot feels a little better tonight.

Merry Christmas

I left visiting family again this afternoon and went to the park and ran 3 miles on the trails.  This evening, my foot starting getting inflamed again.  Darn.  I took the last of the medicine that I have.  Looks like I will be at the doctor's office tomorrow, getting an appointment and/or a prescription renewal.  I have a half marathon a week from today, so I must get back to normal by then.

Christmas eve

I left visiting family this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.  They understand.

Six day streak at the park

For six straight days, I have run trails at the state park.  While I still have pain in my foot, it seems to lessen after I run on it for a while.  I ran 2.4 miles this afternoon on the trails.  Hopefully, the worst is over.

Still inflamed this morning

My foot was still inflamed and very sore this morning.  In fact, it seemed to be getting worse.  I took a lot of pills today and drank a lot of tart cherry juice.  Later this afternoon, it seemed to be doing better.  My friend, Jon Walk from Spring, was in Huntsville on business today.  So, we met at the park this afternoon and ran 3 miles on the trails.  My foot hurt, but it was tolerable.  We had a good visit.

Thought it was getting better

I woke up this morning and my foot seemed much better.  However, as the day went on, the pain increased.  I met the group at the park this evening and ran on a trail that I have not been on for years, because it was smoother.  Am not sure how far I ran, but I ran for 25 minutes  I guess 1 mile+.

Extended the pain

Despite taking medication and drinking tart cherry juice today, the inflammation in my big toe joint has not lessened.  I went to the park this evening and attempted 2 miles on the trails. I got nearly a mile and decided it would be less painful to run on the road.  While running back on the road, a lady jokingly asked if I want to borrow her bicycle.  In any case, I got in close to 2 miles.  Running streak day 2,985 done.

Painful run

I woke up this morning with gout in my left big toe joint.  This was my first attack in years.  Gout is where the uric acid in your system crystallizes in the coldest joint in your body (big toes joint).  The crystals are like little needles in the joint.  Very inflamed and painful for a week or so.  If you take the medication early, it may head off the worst.  Hopefully, I did that.  I went out to the park this evening and managed to get in 1.3 miles on the trails.  Painful, but nothing to break the streak over.

Short trail run

After Iron Works this afternoon, I went out to the park and did a short trail run (1.3 miles to be exact).  A storm blew in just as I was finishing.

Race 1,000 - Santa Hustle Half Marathon

I drove down to Galveston yesterday to run the Santa Hustle Half Marathon at Moody Gardens this morning.  They were suppose to give me bib 1,000, but instead I got 13 thousand something.  They asked me to check in this morning before the race about the bib.  I did that at 6 a.m. this morning.  They said that my bib was accidentally left at the corporate office.  So, they did some cutting and pasting and made up one for me.  They are nice people and put on a good race.  There was no rain or wind during the race and the temperature was in the 50's.  Really nice.  I finished in 3:05:23 and was 5 of 6 in the 70 and over age group.  This was my 94th half marathon.  My wife walked the 5K.

Different Friday

I usually run laps at the track on Friday, pending a race on Saturday.  No race tomorrow, so I went out to the park and ran 2.4 miles on the trails.  The ankle is nearly back to normal, so I am not worried about the race on Sunday.

Doing better

Both my PC and my ankle are doing better.  The ankle was so sore yesterday, but is much better day; hard to believe that it improved so much in one day.  I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening without much pain.  Looking forward to race 1,000 on Sunday.

PC in the shop

My PC was in the shop yesterday, so I missed a blog entry.  I ran 2.3 miles at the park yesterday, mostly on the trails.  I woke up this morning with a very sore ankle.  Not sure where that came from; I did not knowingly hurt it yesterday.  In any case, I iced it and took Ibuprofen and laid around much of the day.  I managed to get in a limpy 1-mile run at the track this evening.  My experience with pains that come on quickly is that they go away quickly.  With that said, hopefully the ankle will be much better tomorrow.  I got the PC back this evening, complete with a new hard drive.  Nice having a fast computer again.

Trails

After a busy weekend, I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.4 miles on the trails.  I felt completed recovered from the half marathon yesterday.

BCS Half Marathon - Race 999

I ran the BCS Half Marathon in College Station this morning.  It was my 3rd year for running this half after running the full marathon there for 4 years.  It was in the 30's and 40's throughout the race.  Clear and no wind.  I finished in 3:10:51 and was 6th of 8 in the 70 and over age group.  Got to visit with a lot of good friends before and after the race.  This was my 999th race.

Reindeer 5K

I made the 80-mile drive over to Lufkin this morning to run the Reindeer 5K.  The temperature was 28 degrees and the race did not start until 8:35.  I finished in 38:07 and was 2nd of 2 in the 71 and over age group.  This was my 998th race.  I drove back to Huntsville for a shower and a nap.  After that, I drove to College Station to pick up my packet for tomorrow's half marathon.  Got the packet, visited with a few friends and picked up something from a store for my wife before heading back to Huntsville.  After getting back to Huntsville, went to church, ate supper and went to the Sam Houston - Kennesaw State football game.  I stayed through the 3rd quarter and came home to thaw out.  Long day.

Short trail run

I usually run laps at the track on Friday when I have a race on Saturday.  The track was too muddy, so I went out to the park and ran about 1.5 miles on the trails.

Snow

No one else show up at the park this evening.  So, I ran 2.3 miles on the trails.  I had a club officer meeting at 6:30, so I got back in plenty of time to shower and change.  When I got out of the meeting, it was snowing.  I have lived in Huntsville for 31 years and it snow a few times.  However, I think this was the most.  I photographed it from my front door tonight;  I'm sure it will be gone tomorrow.  After the meeting, I took my wife out to dinner to celebrate her birthday.

Cold and rainy

It was cold (about 40) and it rained all day.  The park was closed, so after Iron Works, I went to the track and ran 1.3 miles on the roads from there.

Park is closed for squirrel hunting tomorrow

The state park closed at 5 p.m. today for squirrel hunting tomorrow.  So, I went out earlier today and ran 2.4 miles on the trails.  I warned all the squirrels.

Back to the trails

After Iron Works this afternoon, I drove through rain to get to the park to run trails.  It stopped about the time I got to the park and I ran 2.4 miles on the trails.

Texas 10 Series Conroe

I ran the Texas 10 Series 10 Miler in Conroe this morning.  I finished in 2:23:07 and was 3rd of 3 in the 70 and over age group.  I was not pleased with my time, but my hip was giving me problems and I slowed down so as not to aggravate it.  My bib number happened to be 668.  My cell phone number is 668-0668.  It must be a lucky number because they drew it for a $100 bill door prize after the race.  This was my 997th race and my 2,968th consecutive day of running.

St. Nick 5K

Drove over to College Station this morning and ran the St. Nick 5K.  This was my 996th race.  I finished in 39:54 and was 3 of 5 in the 60 and over age group.  My friend, Gretchen, went over with me and we had a Mexican breakfast at the LoCo Mexican restaurant in Bryan after the race.  I go there every chance I get.  Took a nap after I got home and then went to the Sam Houston State - South Dakota football game here in Huntsville.  10-mile race in the morning.

Friday laps

With a couple races this weekend, I ran laps at the track this morning.