Crowded park

I went out to run trails at the park late this morning and had to wait in line at the gate for a while.  Holiday weekend.  I ran 4 miles on the trails.

Park roads

I went out to the park late this evening and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Trails, again

I had an appointment this morning for the ultra-sound on my heart.  The technician implied that I have an electrical problem and my heart is still skipping beats and they usually fix that with medication or a pacemaker.  I turned in the heart monitor and am now free of all the wires.  I still have to take the medicine that makes me sleepy until I see the doctor on September 18.  In the meantime, I have to take and record my blood pressure and heart rate twice a day and continue my normal routine.  Speaking of normal, I went back to the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Late laps

I had to go down to The Woodlands this afternoon and did not get back until later this evening.  So, I went to the track and ran laps about 8 p.m. 

No Lyme disease

I got a call from the doc today to tell me that my Lyme disease test came back negative.  Guess that means that I am stuck with the Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis and whatever long term medication comes with that.  I have two more days on the heart monitor and get an ultra-sound on the heart this Thursday.  In the meantime, I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening.  Running streak day 3,600.

Another nap day

This was another day of frequent naps, but I went out to the park late this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Still tired and sleepy

I am not sure which illness or medication I am on that is causing it, but I still felt tired and sleepy all day.  About 6 this evening, I went out to the park and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Heat Wave 5K

I ran the club's annual Heat Wave 5K in Waterwood (east of Huntsville) this morning.  I purposely ran as slow and finished in 47:26.  So looking forward to getting these wires off my chest.

Short avenues run

I felt tired and sleepy most of the day, but drove to the track this evening and ran 1.3 miles in the hilly avenues.

Keeping the streak going

Seven more days of being wired up with a heart monitor.  I spent several hours doing yard work today and was tired this evening.  I met up with the group and ran 1.5 miles on the park roads.

More testing

I talked to my Rheumatologist today and suggested that I be tested for Lyme Disease.  I read somewhere that one symptom for Lyme is heart problems.  He pointed out that one of the side effects of steroids is an increased heart rate.  He reduced my steroids, but sent me to the lab for Lyme testing.  I should get the results back in 3 to 5 days.  In the meantime, my heart rate is under control and I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening.

First full day of hookup completed

I completed my first full day of being hooked up to wires for heart monitoring.  I was in HEB this morning and found a wire that had come loose hanging down out of my T-shirt.  No one called from what ever company monitors the hook up to see what was going on.  Anyway, I met the group at the park this evening and ran 1.5 miles on the park roads.  No problem.  So far, the streak continues.

Another medical issue

It has been a tough last 6 months or so.  Last week, my health insurance provider sent a nurse to my home for an in-home health assessment.  The nurse found that my heart was skipping beats and told me to see my doctor.  I saw him last Thursday and he referred me to a Cardiologist.  So, I took it easy on my runs since Thursday.  At my appointment with the Cardiologist this afternoon, they found my resting heart rate to be 144 (normally in the low 50's).  They ran some blood tests and put me on medication to bring the heart rate down.  I go back in 10 days for an ultra-sound on my heart.  In the meantime, I have to wear a heart monitor (3 wires to the chest hooked to a pager-looking device) for 10 days.  Some company is looking at the results 24 hours a day and will call my doctor if they see something bad.  With the medication, the rate was in the low 40's this evening.  I ran 1-mile+ plus on Veterans Memorial Parkway just before dark this evening and never got a call from anyone.

Late evening run

I had to go down to Conroe this afternoon for my grand daughter's birthday party, but ran an unplanned course in the avenues later this evening.  It turned out to be 1.75 miles.  Today's run marked 9 years and 10 months on my current streak.

Watermelon Run for the Fallen 5K

I drove over to Hempstead this morning to run the Watermelon Run for the Fallen 5K.  It is a un-timed "5K" to honor fallen military from Texas.  After military ceremonies, everyone is required to walk 2 laps around the stadium track (total 1/2-mile).  Then, if you want to, run 2.8 miles to downtown Hempstead for watermelon and more military ceremonies.  Good friends, Bill and Bridget Moeller ran with me from the track to downtown.  I have no idea what my time was, but I am sure it was slow.

Laps

As usual for many Fridays, I ran laps at the track this morning.

Regular Thursday

I met up with the group this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Rain in the area

No rain at my house, but I drove through heavy rain a mile away going into town.  I finished up measuring the course for our club run next month and then went out to the park and ran 2 miles on the wet park roads.

Back situation

Today marks three weeks since I hurt my lower back.  I thought the pain would be gone by now, but it lingers.  However, it seems to be improving and I will assume that it will continue to get better.  Between the back and lower dosage of steroids for my RA, my running has been definitely affected.  I will just have to accept the slower times.  My goal is to run a few half marathons and the Texas 10 Series 10 milers this season.  In the meantime, I ran 2.5 miles on the trails this evening.

Around town

After working out at Iron Works, I drove to the track and then ran an unplanned loop around the town.  It turned out to be 2.2 miles.

Course measurement

Our running club is putting on a new 5K in September and the course is in the hilly avenues.  I walked most of it this afternoon with an engineer wheel to measure the distance.  Afterwards, I went to the park and ran 2.1 miles on the roads.

Run the Woodlands 5K - 1,100th race

I ran the Run the Woodlands 5K this morning and finished in 44:54.  Hot and humid, as expected in August.  This was my 630th 5K and my 1,100th race.

Morning laps

With a 5K in the morning, I ran laps at the track this morning.  Running streak day 3,582.

Iron Works and Trails

A regular Thursday evening.  I worked out at Iron Works and then ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.

Roads

I did another light workout at Iron Works this evening and then ran 3 miles on the roads at Huntsville State Park.

Monday and Tuesday

I forgot to blog last night, but I ran 2 miles on the state park roads.  This evening, I did a light workout at Iron Works and then ran 2.5 miles on the trails at the park.  According to my truck thermometer, it was 100 degrees when I started the run.  Today marks two weeks of back pain.  I thought it was be gone by now. I'll see how it goes this week.

Sunday Night 5K

For the 101st time, I ran the Sunday Night 5K in The Woodlands this evening.  It was also my 1,099th race.  I finished in 44:21, a few seconds slower than the same race last time and about 2 minutes faster than my 5K yesterday.

Southern Star Brewery 5K

For the 5th straight year, I ran the Southern Star Brewery 5K in Conroe this morning.  It's nice to only have to travel 30 minutes to a race.  There was a light rain throughout the race, but none at my house in Huntsville.  My back was still hurting and I finished in a slow 46:05.  I was 5th of 6 in the 70 and over age group and I was the oldest runner of 558 finishers.  My time was about 3 minutes slower than at the same race last year.  The beer was good and it was great visiting with a lot of friends.

Laps

With a 5K in the morning, I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.  Still treating the lower back; it's been nearly 2 weeks since I pulled it or whatever I did to it.

Another trail run

I met up with the group at the park this evening and ran 2.5 miles on the trails.