Annual physical

I limped into my doctor's office this morning for my annual physical.  He thought I was in pretty good shape, except for my sore heel, RA, Afib and a sore left shoulder, which I am having checked an orthopedic surgeon next week.  He prescribed some pills for the sore heel.  I picked them up from the drug store this evening, but have not taken any yet.  This afternoon, my heel seemed much better.  Still sore, but I ran 2 miles on the park roads this evening without much pain.

And, another short run

The swelling and pain in my heel continued today, so I ran 1.3 miles on the park roads this evening.  I have my annual physical exam tomorrow morning.  Maybe the doc can fix it.

Continuing

My foot was about the same today.  I ran 1.1 miles on the roads at the park.  The first quarter mile was tough.

Paid the price

I guess I paid the price for running a 5K yesterday on a sore heel.  When I woke up this morning, my whole foot was sore and swollen.  I stayed off it most of the day and went to the park this evening and ran a little over 1 mile on the trails.  It was ugly, but I got it done.

Sweat IV Vets 5K

My heel was still very sore this morning, but I decided to go ahead and try to run the Sweat IV Vets 5K in Humble, which I signed up for many months ago.  By the time I parked and walked around a bit at the race site (Harris Co. Sheriff's Training Center), my heal was tolerable.  Perfect running weather and a perfectly flat and smooth asphalt course.  After a half mile or so into the race, my heel was not a problem (probably numb).  I finished in 44:12, almost 5 minutes slower than the same race last year.  Must by my RA.  In any case, I was first in the 70 and over age group (only one).  My son, who lives in Houston, was there as my support crew, so that made it a good time.  By the time I got home, the heel was as sore as ever.  I guess it will have to run its course.

Streak challenge

Late last night, I started getting pain in my right heel.  It was extremely sore this morning and all day.  I realized that it was probably gout.  When I had it in the past, it was always in my big toe joint.  I have been taking a pill every day for years to avoid it.  However, one of the pills that the doctor told me to quit taking daily was that pill.  So, I spent all day, icing it, rubbing it with icy/hot, putting icy/hot pads on it and taking some of the pills that I had quit taking.  It was a challenge to get up at 7 p.m. tonight and go run.  I went to the track and ran one slow painful mile.  It feels a little better tonight.

Nice running weather

A frant came through last night.  By this afternoon, the rain stopped and the temp was in the low 50's.  I ran 3 miles on the trails at the park.

Ditto on the run

After Iron Works, I met up with the group at the park and ran the same course as yesterday.  2.2 miles, half on the trails and half on the roads.

Cardiologist appointment

I had an appointment with the cardiologist this morning.  The results from my chest scan last week were negative.  In other words, no blockage that would be causing the Afib.  Over this last weekend, I slept in an apparatus that checks for sleep apnea, which can also cause Afig.  Those results are not back yet.  The doc did eliminate one of the medications that I had started taking to reduce my pulse rate.  Maybe that will help.  Anyway, after working out at Iron Works this evening, I ran 2.2 miles at the park, about half on the trails and half on the roads.

Went back to Iron Works today

Due to RA issues and pain in my left shoulder, I have not been to Iron Works for the last week.  I went there this afternoon for a light workout and then a 2-mile road run at the park.  Cardiologist appointment tomorrow.

Park roads

The RA is slowing me down, but I got in 2 miles on the park roads this afternoon.  Running day 10 years and 3 days.

Short trail run

Busy day, but I went to the park this afternoon and ran a 1.4-mile loop on the trails.

Huntsville Quarter Marathon

I ran our club's annual Huntsville Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles) this morning.  The race is less than a mile from my house, so it is nice to sleep in before a race.  I finished in 1:39:52, right at 6 minutes slower than last year.  I was the only one in the 75-79 age group, so I got first.

10 Years Done

With a race tomorrow morning, I went to the park this morning and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Park roads, again

I met up with the group at the park and ran 2 miles on the park roads.

Park roads

This afternoon, I ran 3 miles on the park roads.  Nice cool weather.

Getting close

After my 2-mile road run at the park this evening, I have 3 more days to reach 10 years on my streak.

Back to summer

After it got down into the 40's a few days ago, it was back into the 80's today.  I ran 2 miles on the roads at the park late this afternoon, about half in a light rain.

Texas 10 Series Cypress 5-Miler

I got up at 4:30 this morning to make it down to Cypress for the Texas 10 Series 5-Miler.  I was originally signed up for the 10-mile race, but switched to the 5.  The weather was perfect, 50's and low humidity.  When I finished the 5-mile loop, I was tempted to go around again.  I finished in 1:14:23 and was 5th of 5 in the 70 and over age group.

Saturday trip to Tyler

With a race tomorrow morning, I ran 1.3 miles on the roads in town this morning.  Then I made a trip to Tyler this afternoon for a family affair and got back late this evening.

Cold and rainy

We suddenly went from summer to winter.  A storm came through overnight and the temperature was in the high 40's this afternoon.  I ran 2.4 miles on the trails at the park this afternoon, most of it in the rain.  One week to 10 years.

More testing

More testing today, in relation to the heart issue.  Had a CTA (???) scan on my chest.  I am not sure when I will get the results.  This evening, I met up with the group at the park and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Trails

late this afternoon, I got in 2.4 miles on the trails at the park.

Cardiologist appointment

I had an appointment with the cardiologist this morning.  I have to go to the hospital on Thursday for a scan.  In the meanwhile, they are monitoring my heart via the thing embedded in my chest.  Then, they removed the five staples from the incision in my chest.  My plan is to run the Texas 10 Series 5-miler in Cypress next Sunday and the Huntsville Quarter Marathon on October 19.  Hopefully, I can get to back to the 10-mile distance by November 3 (Texas 10 Series Katy).  I met up with the group this evening and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  Ten days to ten years.

Another change in medication

I received a call from my cardiologist's office this morning.  They have been monitoring my heart (from the implant in my chest) and found that my heart rate sometimes gets too low.  So, they reduced the dosage of the medication I am taking that slows it down.  Apparently, the device does not have a GPS, because they did not say anything about how slow I'm running.  Anyway, I hope the reduced dosage will result in a corresponding reduction in side effects.  I went to the park this evening and ran 2 miles on the roads.

Wylie and laps

I drove up to Wylie (NE of Dallas) Friday night to visit family for the weekend.  The new medicine is worse than the old.  I really felt tired, sore and unsteady all weekend.  I got a a short 1.2-mile road run in Wiley on Saturday and then ran laps at the track in Huntsville this evening.  I was signed up to run the Space City 10-Miler this morning in Houston, but was advised by the doctor not to do, since I ended up the ER last Sunday.

Doctor appointment

I had an appointment with my Rheumatologist this morning.  Due to my fatigue and other side effects, he changed my RA medicine.  Maybe that will help.  Later this afternoon, I went to the park, and despite five staples in my chest, ran 2 miles on the trails.  Two weeks to 10 years.

Iron Works and the park

I made it back to Iron Works for a workout this afternoon, followed by a 3-mile road run at the park.

Tuesday at the park

After errands in The Woodlands and Conroe this afternoon, I ran 2 miles on the state park roads.